The words of God have been compiled into a great book called the bible. This book has so many things of importance because these words guide our life and shows us how to live. However, as most things in life, sometimes somethings stand out more than others. One such thing is Satan tempting our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:1-11).

The reason this is so pivotal, is because Jesus the son of our God was tempted without exemption, and made Himself acquainted with our sorrows and grief. As humans,  we also are regularly tempted and we must obtain insight into overcoming our own temptations, and this can be done by examining His.

The first thing we notice when Satan came to Jesus was, he picked his timing well. Jesus fasted for 40 days but it wasn’t until the fast ended and Jesus was Hungry that Satan appeared. I am sure Jesus was hungry from the first day, but Satan did not appear at that moment. Instead, he waited, and waited until Jesus was physically at His weakest to start to speak doubtful and untrue words to Jesus. This clearly shows that Satan is a strategic enemy who plans and selects opportune times to attack.

Yes, my friend, when Jesus was at the peak of His hunger that is when Satan went in for the first blow. Based on this, I would like to tell you, “be careful what you are hungering for”. This is why the Bible tells us a man is tempted when his own desires and longing draw him away (James 1:14-15).  

Once desires are birthed and fully grown, this is when the devil aggressively shows his face to apply his strategies. He says, “You are hungry and desiring something, then simply look at me, for I can give it to you”. In these moments, Satan is quick to give us what we are hungering for, but we get it in the wrong timing, or via the wrong person, or object.

I would like to point out that everything feeds off something else. For example, the trees feed off the soil, the honeybee feeds off the flowers, a bird feeds off insects, man feeds off the land, a dancer feeds off the music they hear and the list can go on. The devil, well; he feeds off the things we hunger and desire for.

The devil says, “You are hungering for a husband, then take this wrong husband”. You are hungering for a job, then take this wrong job which will frustrate and depress you. You are hungering for money and power, then take this opportunity for it will corrupt you! I remind us all again, “be careful what you are hungering for”. Your hunger can lead you to hell, or more aptly put, the wrong hunger and desire can lead you to hell.

Yes, this strategy by the Devil of filling our fleshly needs has worked many a times over and will continue to work in the future. This is why God said to desire the things that are above (Colossians 3:2) and set your heart on it. When we desire and seek after heavenly things, God will not hide or withhold them from us.  So my question to you is, “is your hunger in the right place”?. For whoever hungers and thirst after righteousness will be filled (Matthew 5:6). Actually, most times when someone is deeply hungry for something, they often times attain their desires.

Apart from giving us what we desire, the devil also works in the opposite way and tries  to grow our hunger by withholding and starving us of the things we need. He withholds the thing that can satisfy the hunger thereby causing us to doubt and question God due to the lack of supply. For example, we start to get angry with God when the job opportunities or promotion does not come. You know why, the devil’s intent is to hold back from us and frustrate us so we see God in a less than glorious light. I sum up Satan’s two-pronged approach to testing and tempting this way, “his strategy is to satisfy quickly, or withhold indefinitely”.

Moving away from our enemy for now and focusing on us, I will say this. Not only are we to be careful of what consumes our minds and makes us hunger for things. We should also be aware of the things that trigger our hunger. For example, alcohol might be the hunger but the trigger is an argument with your wife or a tough day at the office. Your hunger might be gambling, but the trigger is financial problems. Yes, we need to ensure our hungers are in check, but we must also be mindful of the triggers which act as a catalyst for them.

Allow me to state this, “the reward for the actions behind our desires is always eternity”. If we desire the things that are above, then we will gain access to heaven for all eternity. If we desire the things of this world, then we will be placed in hell for all eternity.

1 John 2:16, 17 (NASB) • “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the  eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

My friends, there are so many things to learn from the temptation of Jesus as we navigate our own testing and temptations. Therefore, I encourage us all to navigate wisely and keep pressing and toiling on, for it will soon dawn a brighter day. Never forgetting, that the reward of everyone is eternity. But which eternity will it be? Well, I leave this question for each of us to answer individually.

 PS: Dane Miller was last seen at a restaurant called “Life” and looking to change his order on the menu.

Your Brother in the Lord,

Dane Miller – “God is the Author, I am the Pen”

Authored Book – What is the Woman Saying – Lessons from Biblical Women.

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