Jessica BriggsMatthew 4 holds a story about Jesus‘ time in the wilderness. He is joined by the tempter, and travels with him to the highest point of the temple- the southeast corner. When they arrive, the tempter says “throw yourself down,” and then quotes Psalm 91 to Jesus, inciting that surely the angels can rescue Jesus. The question the tempter poses is this: “Don’t you have faith in God? Won’t he take care of you?”
This question has become the mantra of Modern Christianity. The lyrics of George Michael boil our faith down to this: “You just got to have faith.” If you just believe, you’ll receive. If you can quote a verse about blessing, God will come through.
We see the poor on the street and we pray: “God provide for them!” Yet we never open our wallet. We see the broken-hearted and we say “God has a plan!” Yet we refuse to journey with them through their valley of grief. We see crumbling marriages and we say “God hates divorce! Just go to this marriage retreat or read this book. It holds the secrets to improve your marriage.” Yet every night spouses sleep in different rooms, so hurt and wounded they can’t find common ground.
Jesus‘ response to the tempter is one we can all take more seriously. In Matthew 4:7, Jesus says “do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
Trying to put God to the test is it’s own crisis in Christianity. We think there are formulas for getting what we need from God. We really live from a belief of magic or superstition most of the time. God is not a king in heaven to be bribed or manipulated by gifts, prayers or deeds.
We see evidence of this mentality of God as a genie in a bottle. Why are powerful people so inclined to go off the rails? Wouldn’t more power or money make us better people? Yet when we look to the ultra rich, we see the fruit: bullying, entitlement, sexual harassment, arrogance, elitism, excessive consumerism. Power seems often to corrupt. It’s why Jesus said “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20).
Jesus teaches us that power is not for the benefit of the powerful. He shows us in his temptation that power was meant to benefit the powerless. Power is for with-ness, for relationship. Gaining power over the kingdoms of the world seems like a noble and right thing to do, but we see in Jesus’ life He didn’t come to gain power over anything.
Maybe temptations aren’t always about the things we could sin by doing. Thomas Merton said
“the greatest temptations are not those that solicit our consent to obvious sin, but those that offer us great evils masking as the greatest goods.”
Sometimes temptations come to help us find our priorities. Sometimes temptations come to help us remember we are empowered, but should not be powering over anyone else.
The Temple Jesus stood atop during this discourse is intentional I think, and points to a larger application. Jesus didn’t use the temple to display his power or glory. He didn’t use his position to tower over the world or display spiritual authority. The temple today is us. Whole-hearted faith includes both our spiritual self and our humanity. Whatever it is we have, it is not for us. Our wealth is not to for the benefit of being wealthy; it is for being with the poor. Influence is not primarily for the benefit of the influential; it’s for using influence to empower the weak.
What’s in your hand? Surrender it and see it for what it is. You didn’t hustle and earn it. You were given it to help others. Choose whom you will serve today.
