Plan for Temptation.
February 15, 2023
I remember standing at the window of our hotel room looking out over the city nine years ago wondering just how bad it would get. My wife and I knew the snow and ice would affect roads for a few days, but we had not expected to go to work on that Tuesday, February 11, 2014, and end up staying in a hotel for three days.
Fortunately, the hotel was just one block from our office, so the short, treacherous walk to work wasn’t too bad. The ice and continued cold temperatures kept many roads closed. While we had a short walk to the office, getting to food wasn’t as easy. Restaurants were closed or the distance we had to walk to get to them wasn’t worth the risk.
Overall, we enjoyed our three-night hotel stay and felt good that we could do our jobs in the office, even when many could not get to the office.
We got home after the storm; glad we’d made the decision to plan for a stay even though we hadn’t expected to stay.
Plan for Temptation. #hope #joy #writingcommunity Click To TweetOne of Solomon’s proverbs goes like this…
“Prepare your work outside, and make it ready for yourself in the field; afterward, then, build your house.” (Proverbs 24:27, NASB)
There are several interpretations of this proverb. Most center around setting priorities. It is likely at this time in the Old Testament, the writer advised his readers to do the highest priority activities first. Get your fields ready, then build your house. The crops are needed to survive. Focus on them first, then build your permanent place to live. If you spend your time on building your house with no food, you’d end up in a bad place.
Similarly, it means we should plan ahead.
Sarah and I didn’t know what would happen over the next few days when we got in our car at four o’clock that morning. The snow could have stopped. Less ice could have formed. Temperatures could have risen and melted roads and sidewalks quicker. But not knowing what to expect, we planned for what may happen. To us, it made sense to be prepared by focusing on being ready for a stay, even if it wasn’t needed.
Aren’t there other areas of life that would apply?
I think about planning for temptation. Temptation may not come our way. Or if it does, we may successfully cast it aside. But why take the chance? We can spend time focusing on the priorities as described in the proverb. Read God’s Word. Talk with Him through prayer. Spend time with other Christians. These are the basics we need to be prepared should we face temptation.
I’d love to know your thoughts and if you have other areas of life the proverb can help with.
I have always been fascinated by this Proverb. It changes the order of what we normally would think to do first, as most of God’s Word does. You put it all into perspective very well. In Haggai God points out the people were building their own houses first and not building God’s house. (Haggai 1:4) Maybe another way to look at the verse is to put God’s priorities first (Feed yourself with His Word first), and then your life choices will fall into place better as you build your house.
You are so right, Jane. Your last statement about putting God’s priorities first is right on. Thank you.
Thanks for the post, Tim. You always write great analogies.
Thank you so much, Joni.