Everyone is not equally temptable. One person can be severely tempted by something that another person barely or is not-at-all tempted. Some people, for example, are tempted to drown their sorrows in alcohol. That isn’t a temptation for me — or at least so far in my life it hasn’t been. But I am tempted by other things, perhaps some things that you do not at all experience as temptations.

Here are two ways that knowing about variability in temptability can help us.

1. Empathy toward others who struggle: Knowing that not everyone is equally temptable in every potential area of temptation can help us not to look down on others who are weak in areas in which we are strong. “Why on earth does he keep falling into that! Why would she struggle with that? How can anyone struggle with that?”

Truth be told, someone is thinking the same thing about the areas in which you find yourself weakest. I’m sure that you would like other people to be empathetic toward your struggles, pray for you, support you and help you look to Jesus for help. You would do well to show the same empathy for those who feel temptation in ways you do not.

2. Personal focus on weak areas: Knowing that not everyone is equally temptable in every potential area of temptation will help you in your fight against sin. I remember a time in my life when I thought that I should allot equal emphasis to all aspects of my life in the pursuit of sanctification. That time has long passed. I decided years ago to simply view myself as weak (that is, temptable) in certain areas — including areas in which I have not yielded to sin for years or even decades. It is better to acknowledge your need — and regularly and consistently present your need to the Lord — than to be passive and thereby succumb to a particular sin because you didn’t stay vigilant.

Those are two ways it can be helpful to know about variability in temptability.

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