The Gift of Temptation

This morning’s theme is temptation and it’s not how we usually interpret it. In Gifts of the Dark Wood, temptation is not necessarily about resisting evil. Instead, the temptation gift that Eric Elnes talks about is the temptation to do the wrong good, meaning “any good work that is not yours to do. It may be someone else’s good to do, but not your own.” When we feel far away from our path, then maybe we’ve gotten caught up doing good things that need to get done, but without paying attention to whether this good is our good to do. We’re just “following the ‘shoulds’ dictated only by logic, outside expectation, or shiny ‘rewards’.”

In the Old Testament lesson, King David had to acknowledge this, and not even the prophet Nathan realized that this might be the case. God needed a house, right? This felt like something that needed to happen. But as Nathan learns that night, it was not for David to do.

My previous church had a Fellowship and Hospitality committee when I got there. Everyone could agree that fellowship is wonderful, giving us a chance to connect and build relationships. But those involved in the committee were burning out as they came up with similar opportunities every month with little support and low attendance. No one was feeling called to continue this ministry as it was, and there were some church needs that were not being met. The passion was gone, and no one had the opportunity to live into a real calling; they were just continuing the status quo. As this burnout and disinterest continued, leaders and members of the church started to reimagine this committee. I talked to those involved, along with others who had shown an interest in a new committee, and we discussed passion and interest. Those on the committee at the time discussed what they were actually interested in and saw as missing in the church. A new committee was formed: the Adult Christian Development Committee was born, or ACDC as they lovingly called it. Instead of a monthly potluck, they had the opportunity to plan events like volunteering at a local Food Bank, planting a garden, and movie events. The burnout that was happening went hand-in-hand with the temptation to just continue as is because that’s the way things were done; they were doing a good thing, but it needed to be re-imagined.

This is just a small example of how the gift of temptation can help us realize that something is wrong when we realize what’s going on. It means listening, though. When Nathan first assures King David that he was right to go ahead and build the temple, Nathan wasn’t listening for God. But that night, when all of the noise of palace life had quieted and Nathan was alone, he sensed God and realized that he had been wrong. God had other plans.

So, have you taken time to listen to God about what path brings you the most fullness?

These “good things” that lead us away from God’s path can come for other reasons as well. Maybe we feel like we need to do something because it’s good and we get stuck doing something we really aren’t called to do. But other times, we get caught up with appearances: what looks good- on a resume, to our friends and neighbors? One interpretation of the temptations Christ experienced in the wilderness, is that these would have been temptations to do good only for appearances. Jesus says no to being the person known for changing stones into bread, or the ego-trip of ruling the world, or the immediate fame and followers he’d get by throwing himself off of the highest point of the temple and surviving unscathed. He wasn’t in ministry for himself- he was in it because God had called him to proclaim the good news and be the Savior.

So, how does temptation work for you? Are you tempted to just keep going with a certain good work which is ultimately tempting you away from God’s calling? Because God has a calling for all of us, in every part of our lives. Sometimes it lines up with a job, and sometimes a job really is just the way to make ends meet. But as Frederick Buechner writes in Wishful Thinking, “By and large a good rule for finding out is this: the kind of work God usually calls you to is the kind of work (a) that you need most to do and (b) that the world most needs to have done. ... The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.” God’s call lines up where your passion aligns with the world’s needs. Face your temptations and instead open to and listen for the intuition, the small voice, inside of you nudging you in the path that brings your life fullness as you respond to the world’s needs in the way God is calling. Thanks be to God. Amen.

*Resources for this sermon include:

Marcia McFee, Gifts of the Dark Wood, “The Gift of Temptation Script: Lent 5” from the Worship Design Studio with Dr. Marcia McFee. 2018.

Eric Elnes, Gifts of the Dark Wood: Seven Blessings for Soulful Skeptics (and Other Wanderers), (Nashville, Abingdon Press, 2015), Chapter 6: The Gift of Temptation.

Eric Elnes, “Jesus' biggest temptation? Doing (the wrong) good. And yours?” https://www.darkwoodbrew.org/jesus-biggest-temptation-doing-the-wrong-good-and-yours/ 

Eric Elnes, “Series: The Gifts of the Dark Wood, Episode 6” on darkwoodbrew.org

Ryan Pemberton quoting Frederisk Buechner, Wishful Thinking: A Seeker's ABC. https://www.calledthejourney.com/blog/2014/12/17/frederick-buechner-on-calling