How temptation at work can get the best of us

James Bruyn March 8, 2019

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Temptations can ensnare and paralyze, impacting not only your life, but the lives of your family and friends. You may think you’ve outsmarted temptation when you find yourself flat on your face in sin. However, when temptations trip you up, remember that God is One who forgives and the blood of Christ cleanses you from all unrighteousness. 

Let’s look at some of the temptations Satan throws our way when we are at work.

1. Lifestyle choices

One of the temptations you may face at work is identifying with the lifestyle of your coworkers. These temptations can be as subtle as emulating their responses to people at work or their conversations about decisions the company makes or copying their attitudes towards their work. 

Sometimes these temptations can be as blatant as emulating their pursuits for the lusts of the flesh. Even the apostle Paul struggled with this admitting that “I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing”(Romans 7:19). 

Satan does a marvelous job of making these lifestyle choices very attractive. But the Holy Spirit offers you the choice to choose something better—the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). 

If Satan can’t tempt to you to choose to identify with the lifestyle of your coworkers, he may try to tempt you to isolate yourself from them, tempting you with a self-righteous attitude. As God’s instruments of righteousness and grace, we each must learn to love each person. 

2. Fatalism

Another temptation is fatalism, which says, “Things are the way they are and nothing can be done about them so we should just take care of ourselves as best we can.” 

A fatalistic attitude denies the fact that God is all-powerful, active in this world and has placed you where you are for a specific reason. When the Holy Spirit guides you to act, he will give you the wisdom to be an instrument of God’s blessing, healing power and redeeming presence in your workplace.

3. Impatience

Of course, if Satan can’t paralyze you with fatalism, then he will lure you with impatience. In a world of fast-food and instant gratification, why should you wait for God to fulfill his promises? “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). 

When the Holy Spirit guides you to leave a situation in God’s hands, the Holy Spirit will give you the patience to wait for God to act

4. Pragmatism

If Satan fails to tempt you with fatalism or impatience, he may try to tempt you with pragmatism. Yes, Satan will even twist the good things that God has created and use them to trip you up. Pragmatism may tempt you to say, They don’t know I exist; I should stay in the background; why should I expose myself or my skills and make potential enemies?

Pragmatism is a very subtle temptation because sometimes it is the best course of action. Only the wisdom of the Holy Spirit can guide you as to what the right choice is to make. 

5. Pride

Pride rears its ugly head when you least expect it. It invites you to draw attention to yourself and what you have accomplished. Sometimes pride is those questions you ask about your performance after a presentation, speech or project. 

One of the best antidotes to pride is to choose beforehand that when you finish with a project, speech, presentation you will acknowledge that God gave you the ability for what you did or said. 

6. Stubbornness

When was the last time you fell into the trap of believing that you were right? Stubbornness loves to deceive and keep you from experiencing God’s best. The next time stubbornness knocks on your door, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to His perspective. 

You are not alone in your temptations! Jesus has been tempted in every way as you will have been or will be. Yet Jesus was without sin. God alone can keep your heart pure and your hands clean at work. Through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, He will show you an alternative choice to the temptations you face. 

Photo source: istock 

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James Bruyn is a bi-vocational visionary leader, writer and speaker who enjoys helping individuals integrate their faith in God with their daily life. He leads a ministry to Christians in the marketplace in Calgary, provides leadership coaching, and consults for the rail industry. He writes a weekly devotional and also has a devotional book, 31 Days with God at Work (Marketplace 2018). Learn More »

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