A False Gift by Mattox at
www.sxc.hu

Sin is an attempt to obtain the pleasure that does not rightfully belong to me or evade the pain that does.¹

I personalize it this way:  Sin is taking what I cannot have or avoiding what I should experience!  

Thus temptation is when Satan tries to get us to obtain a pleasure we are not entitled to or to avoid a pain (difficulty) we should experience.

This perspective of sin is further explained in studying the temptations of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11).  These temptations would prove his moral character and loyalty to God.  Before He could rule He had to be proved worthy of such; thus the testing by Satan.

1. Turn stones to bread — This was a test of his flesh.  Would he live in accordance with the will of God and trust in Him?   Would he obtain a pleasure not rightfully His and/or avoid the pain of hunger by turning stones to bread?
2. Throw yourself down from the temple pinnacle  — Satan is appealing to Jesus’ pride.  Satan says you say you trust in God, then prove it!  Jesus says there is no reason to test someone you trust!  Artificial tests making God a puppet to our bidding is not trust, but provoking of God.  Would He seek a pleasure that was not rightfully His?
3. Worship Satan for the kingdoms of the world — This was a test for Jesus to avoid the physical and spiritual suffering of the cross.  Satan was trying to offer him a shortcut!  He could obtain the same end of glory, without the humiliation and rejection.  Would He avoid the pain and suffering that was necessary for God’s glory?

What we learn is that submission to the will of God is the way to trust God! God’s plan is best for our lives.  Satan offers us shortcuts and pleasures.  We think we are entitled to them.  They are our rights, we think!  Jesus got all that Satan offered Him on God’s timetable and in God’s way.  He refused to avoid the suffering or take the pleasure not rightfully His.

The application of this truth is difficult in our lives.  We like pleasures and shortcuts!  We fail to consider God’s will and truly trust Him.  We easily fall to depending upon ourselves.  Maybe we should ask ourselves more, “Is this a pleasure to which I have no right or a suffering I am trying to avoid?”

Think about the sins of your past.  I bet they fit in one of these two categories!  Thus, Jesus reminds us to deny ourselves and take up our cross (Mat. 16:26).

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1.  If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get out of the Boat, by John Ortberg, p. 106