Marsha's Musings: The Purpose of Temptations

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him. (James 1:12 ASV)

Temptations and trials are much the same.  We often think of temptations as enticements to sin and trials as circumstances that cause us discomfort in various ways. However, any trial can tempt us to doubt God and His Word, or to have sinful thoughts and actions. Both can cause us to suffer in various ways.

What is the purpose of temptations (trials)?  According to this it is to prove us.  It's the proving ground that shows wether our faith is genuine or not. 

Here is something I wrote some time ago that goes along with this:

Twenty Biblical Purposes for Suffering

by Marsha Iddings

1. to make you perfect (mature)

2. to stablish you (set fast or firm)

3. to strengthen you (make you strong)

4. to settle you (get you to the place where you come to rest in Him)

1Peter 5:10 ¶ But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

5. so that we may comfort others like God has comforted us

2Corinthians 1:4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

6. so that we would trust in God, not ourselves

2Corinthians 1:9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,

7. to teach us patience & maturity

James 1:3-4 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

8. to receive a crown of life for enduring

James 1: 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

9. to be an example of patience to others like Job was

10.to experience the pity and tenderness of God's mercy

James 5: 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

10. to allow others the privilege of ministering to us

James 5: 14 Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

12. for praise, honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ

1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

13. for purification from sinful lusts

14. to give us a more God centered focus on His will

1 Peter 4:1-2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

15. to be a partaker of Jesus' sufferings

1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

16. to learn patience which gives us proven character (experience)

17. that we might have hope because of God's love in our hearts by

the Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

18. to teach us obedience

Hebrews 5: 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

19.to confirm to us that we are the Lord's child and He loves us

Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

20.for correction

Job 5:17-18 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.