BACKGROUND:
Far from being irrelevant to New Testament Christians, the stories of people in the Old Testament provide a warning from which the believers can learn - namely, not to crave evil things as they did. Clearly, the Israelites’ status as God’s people and recipients of his love and provision did not mean that all of them loved and served God in return. Instead, many/most actually desired evil and turned away from God. The incident of pagan revelry occurred when the Israelites made a golden calf and worshiped it in the wilderness (Paul quoted Exodus 32:6). If those people who had witnessed the miracles of the escape from Egypt could so easily be tempted to turn to idolatry, then the Christians in Corinth, who were surrounded by idols, should also be on their guard.
This incident, when 23,000 Israelites died in one day is recorded in Numbers 25:1-9. The Israelites worshiped a god of Canaan, Baal of Peor, and engaged in sexual immorality with Moabite women. Because of their sin, God punished them harshly. For the believers in Corinth, the comparison would have been inescapable. Much of the idol worship there focused on ritual prostitution and sexual immorality of all kinds. God would not go lightly on those who claimed to be his but still engaged in idol worship or sexual immorality.
Paul had already affirmed that Christ, as the spiritual Rock, accompanied them in their wilderness journeys (10:4), so the Israelites’ sins were indeed against Christ. This verse recalls Israel’s complaining about having been brought out into the wilderness (Numbers 21:5). They were testing the Lord’s patience to see what he would do, and he punished them by sending poisonous snakes among them. Many died from snakebites. Those who claim to be God’s people will not test the Lord to see how much they can get away with. True believers will seek to stay near to God in order to constantly live in obedience to him (Hebrews 3–4).
This incident of grumbling occurred when the people complained against the leadership of Moses and Aaron—an event that actually happened several times. The phrase, God sent his angel of death to destroy them, probably refers to when the Israelites grumbled at Kadesh, refusing to enter the Promised Land. God punished them with a plague (Numbers 14:2, 36-37). This could also refer to the incident recorded in Numbers 16 when a group rebelled against Moses, and God sent a plague that killed the rebels. Grumbling against God or against his leaders results in divine punishment. God does not take this sin lightly either. This was another problem that the Corinthian church was facing (3:1-9).
When the Israelites disobeyed, they received punishment. Likewise, when people who claim to be Christians sin with no repentance, no desire to change, and no concern for God’s laws, they too will receive God's discipline.
Paul warned the Corinthian Christians that if they began to take it for granted, if they thought they were standing strong, that was the time to be most careful not to fall. The Corinthians were very sure of themselves, to the point of being prideful. Paul said that if the Israelites fell into idolatry, so could some in the Corinthian church. No human being is ever beyond temptation. Paul warned the believers not to let down their guard.
Temptations come into every believer’s life—no one is exempt. Temptation is not sinful; the sin comes when the person gives in to temptation. Believers must not be shocked or discouraged, or think that they are alone in their shortcomings. Instead, they should realize their weaknesses and turn to God to resist the temptation. Enduring temptation brings great rewards (James 1:12). But God does not leave his people to Satan’s whims. Instead, God is faithful. He will not always remove the temptation, because facing it and remaining strong can be a growing experience; however, God does promise to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it.
The secret to resisting temptation is to recognize the source of the temptation and then to recognize the source of strength in temptation.
Not only that, but God also promises to show you a way out so that you will not give in to the temptation and fall into sin. It will take self-discipline to look for that “way out” even in the middle of the temptation and then to take it when it is found. The way out is seldom easy and often requires support from others. One of the God-given ways of escape from temptation is common sense. If a believer knows that he will be tempted in certain situations, then he should stay away from them. Another way out of temptation is through Christian friends. Instead of trying to deal with temptation alone, a believer can explain her dilemma to a close Christian friend and ask for support. This friend can pray, hold the person accountable, and give valuable insights and advice.
The truth is that God loves his people so much that he will protect them from unbearable temptation. And he will always give a way out. Temptation need never drive a wedge between believers and God. Instead, a believer ought to be able to say, “Thank you, God, for trusting me that much. You know I can handle this temptation. Now what do you want me to do?”
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
Let me ask you a question this morning: Do you think it's easier handling success or failure? Thomas Caryle once said, "For every one hundred people who can handle adversity there is only one who can handle prosperity." I think most people can't handle being at the top. It changes them. The truth is, success destroys some people.
This morning, I want to briefly write to leaders about escaping the temptation's of leadership and holding on to your integrity. Three things from the life of Nehemiah;
#1. DEEPEN MY REVERENCE FOR GOD
I love the story of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a man who wanted to please God more than he wanted to please himself. In Nehemiah chapter 5, he confronts the leaders of the people, for they had been charging them outrageous interest on loans. When the people were unable to pay back the loans, the leaders would sell them into slavery. Unthinkable, I know. Nehemiah says "out of reverence for God I did not act like that." What does it mean to reverence God? It means two things:
1) I realize God put me in this position. Nehemiah had never forgotten that it was God who sent him back to Jerusalem. God gave him a project. He never forgot that God had put him there. Psalm 75:6 says, "For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God. He promotes one and deposes another." Great leaders realize that they are stewards. They realize that it's not their world, their church, their business; they are just the manager, the steward. Promotion comes from God, not from other people. Someone said, "You don't need to know the key men if you know the man who holds the keys." That's where promotion comes from.
2) I realize that God is holding me accountable. v. 9 "Shouldn't you walk out of the fear of our God?" The Bible says that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." One of the reasons I think people try to do things and get away with it is that they don't fear God. They think they can play games and get away with it. The Bible says, "Obey your spiritual leaders and be willing to do what they say. For their work is to watch over your souls and God will judge them on how well they do."
That verse scares me to death. God is going to judge me. There is no authority without accountability. The Bible says that pastors are accountable to God, leaders are accountable to God. "We who are teachers will be judged with greater strictness than others." That's what it means to reverence God. "You put me here and You're holding me accountable of how I serve You." As a leader I am called accountable before God. There is a deep respect there for the Lord.
#2. DEVELOP A LOVE FOR PEOPLE
Nehemiah was a man of compassion and concern. He genuinely cared for people. We get examples of this when he got angry when the people exploited others, and he was generous with what he had. Nehemiah 5:17 says, "Furthermore 150 Jews and officials ate at my table as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me. And every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this I never demanded the food allotted to the governor for the demands were heavy on these people."
Leadership Law: Losers focus on what they can get, leaders focus on what they can give. The Bible says, "David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skill he led them." The Good News says, "He shepherded them with unselfish devotion." Psalm 78:72 is one of my life verses. I pray that God will let me shepherd with integrity and with skill.
Listen to Nehemiah's reaction when he learned people were being exploited - "When I heard their outcry and these charges I was very angry." Love sometimes motivates you to get angry. When you see someone that you love being hurt, misused or abused, do you get upset? The very fact that he was angry here shows that he had a love for people.
#3. DISCIPLINE YOURSELF FOR ETERNAL REWARDS
Nehemiah 5:19 says, "Remember me with favor, O my God, for all I have done to all of these people." Why was Nehemiah not caught up in the rat race like all the other leaders? Because he wasn't looking at the temporary; he was looking at the future. These leaders who were misusing their position, abusing their power and misusing their privileges exploiting people, were only looking to get rich. We see politicians today do that all the time.
Nehemiah reverenced the Lord. He loved people. He had his eyes on a future reward.
He's disciplining himself which means he limits his own freedom. If you're going to be a leader, actually rather than your having more and more privileges as you go on in leadership on the leadership pyramid, is there less space or more space at the top? There's less. More is required of leaders, there are more restrictions on leaders. The higher you go in a position of authority, the more is expected of you, the more is restricted of you, the less freedom you really have. You give it up in order for others welfare and benefit.
Leadership Law: Losers focus on their rights, leaders focus on their responsibilities. That's the difference between a looser and a leader. The looser is always saying, "I have my rights!" The leader is saying, "I have responsibilities!"
What motivated Nehemiah to live twelve years in a position of authority, accountable to nobody except God? I think the same thing that motivated Moses. In Hebrews 11 it tells us, "Moses preferred to suffer with God's people rather than to enjoy sin for a little while."
I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course.
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