1 Corinthians 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

Yesterday I spoke of the differences between urges and temptations. In that I said my doctor warned me of diabetes and was monitoring my A1C. Here Paul is performing a similar task for the Corinthians because it is his calling and duty to do so.

Paul came and established the gospel in Corinth. Those new believers then gathered together and began to fellowship together. Many of the problems that arose from those gatherings were the product of ignorant sin. They did not know any better. Because Paul loved them, he warned them.

We should remember that at this time our 66 book bible was not in circulation. Paul was writing it as he went. We have that great privilege of learning from other people’s mistakes. We can read the warnings of consequences without performing ignorant sins.

One of the great tragedies of parenthood is listening to my children say they need to make their own mistakes. Learn from the mistakes of others! Learning the lessons of consequences avoids the suffering of those consequences.

“I’m not like that!”

Have you ever uttered or heard those words? Self-diagnosis is not medical advice. Self-diagnosis is not righteousness. Self-diagnosis is not holiness.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Comforter has come to teach you were temptation lies and warns you to avoid it. His medical manual is your bible. Spiritual good health is found there in the practice of His Word.

Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Every tree God created was pleasant to the sight and good for food. That included the tree of knowledge of good and evil. There was nothing unpleasant nor harmful about that fruit. So why was eating it a sin?

Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Because God said no has been the provincial answer but often times we overlook the warning of consequences. If you eat it you shall die. God did not say no just because He could, He gave a warning as to consequences.

When does an urge graduate into a temptation? It is when one realizes there are consequences. I absolutely lust after coffee ice cream. Before you accuse me of being overly harsh with my expression of lust, you should understand that is my problem, not yours. I am weak willed when it comes to coffee ice cream. If I give into that lust as much as I desire, I would soon become a diabetic. My doctor warned me of that fact and is monitoring my A1C because of it.

I would have continued in my lust if it had not been for the warning of consequences. Could I have a scoop of coffee ice cream once a month without doing my body any harm? Sure, but since I lack self-control and a scoop for me looks like a half gallon and last about as long, it is dangerous for me to give in to temptation.

It is temptation because we know the consequence.