I’m Just a Guy: Resisting Temptationنموونە

Don’t Assume You’re Immune

It would be ludicrous to think, “Today is the day I’m going to ruin my (fill in the blank—marriage, finances, health, relationship with my kids).” Yet all too often, that’s exactly what happens when we entertain temptation.

I’m reminded of a close friend and the destructive path that ultimately ended his marriage. I met him and his wife shortly after their son was born. They seemed deeply in love—exactly what you’d expect from newlyweds with an infant.

We spent a lot of time together in those days—hunting, fishing, and spending late nights tinkering with cars. But something began to change in him, and it didn’t take long for me to notice. He became guarded, especially with his phone when his wife was around. One evening, when it was just the two of us, he confessed that he’d been texting another woman. “We’re just friends,” he said.

I asked if he was worried about his wife, and he replied with confidence, “We’ll always be fine.”

At that time, I wasn’t walking with Christ as I am now. I hadn’t been discipled in what it means to honor the sacred covenant of marriage. Today, that conversation would look very different—but back then, I stayed silent. What I watched unfold was the slow, painful demise of a marriage that I couldn’t save.

One text led to a call.
A call led to a meal.
A meal led to destruction.

His marriage collapsed, leaving behind a devastated wife and a young son now growing up in a broken home—all because he assumed he was immune when he wasn’t.

Sadly, his story is far too common. We often only see the wreckage, but if you peel back the layers, the root nearly always traces back to a temptation that was entertained instead of escaped.

Paul’s warning in 1 Corinthians is clear: take heed lest you fall. My friend needed someone to speak truth and life into him—to warn him about the danger ahead. Instead, I chose passivity. My words may not have saved his marriage, but my silence certainly didn’t help it stand.

In his case, it was lust that took the wheel. Lust lures us down a path that looks exciting at first, but it’s paved with self-confidence and denial. Maybe you’re reading this and heading toward a similar trap, convinced you’re strong enough to handle it. My word of caution is simple: repent and genuinely seek His will.

We can’t always control the temptations that come our way—but we can trust that God will provide a way out. Thinking we’re immune is often the first step toward destruction. What we do next determines whether we walk as genuine disciples or merely go through the motions.

No one wakes up planning to ruin their life. So whatever the Holy Spirit is convicting you to surrender today—don’t ignore it. Repent. Obey. That act of surrender may be the very thing God uses to save your life and the lives of those you love.

Reflection Questions:

• What situations in your life tempt you to react rather than respond?
• What “small compromise” in your life could lead to bigger destruction?