Temptation is Waving at You! Wave Back?

May kakilala ka bang lalaki na bigla na lang tinakbuhan ang mga responsibilidad niya? Yung pagkatapos ng lahat ng kanyang mga pangako at mga pagpapaasa, bigla na lang siyang nawala na parang bula. Sarap batukan ano? The moment a man runs from his responsibilities, he ceases to be a man. A man’s original design is to lead and to take charge. No matter how slow the pace, no matter how hard the situation – even if it seems insurmountable, a real man sticks and stays. 

Unfortunately, hindi lahat ganun. Some are like ghosts, nagpaparamdam then nawawala. Some are like cactus, habang nagiging close sa kanya, mas nakakasakit siya. Yung iba nga parang Ferris wheel, pinapaikot nga lang ang iba, pero aba naman ang mga biktima, nag-eenjoy pa!

Guys, man up. Wag maging ninja. Hindi past time, hindi trophy, at lalong hindi laruan ang mga babae. Women are to be pursued, hindi tinatakbuhan. Except na lang for this reason, sige allowed kang tumakbo:

Integrity

Like Joseph, run from the place of temptation.

If you are not familiar with the story of Joseph, he is a servant to a rich man named Potiphar. Lahat ng mga ari-arian ni Potiphar ay ipinamahala niya kay Joseph. He was the man in charge! Soon, Potiphar’s wife noticed this young, good-looking servant. Aba, nasobrahan yata itong si Potiphar’s wife sa kakatitig kay Joseph, nabighani nang sobra! She was head-over-heels obsessed, and it led her to think of ways to seduce the young man.

When she boldly asked Joseph to go to bed with her, the man politely declined. “in-charge ako sa lahat ng pag-aari ng asawa mo, except sa’yo!” Ang tapang ni Joseph. And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her (Gen. 39:10). Imagine, araw-araw!

Natukso kaya si Joseph? I think so. Since Potiphar is a man of authority and riches in Egypt, for sure his wife is no ordinary woman. But when you know your convictions as a man, hindi ka basta bibigay kahit pa gaano kaganda ang nasa harapan mo.

Some of us thinks this way: “palay na nga ang lumalapit sa manok, syempre tutukain na lang yun! Nature ng manok ang tumuka”. Pero bakit, manok ba tayo? Since we are made in God’s image and likeness, we can always think reasonably and with conviction.

But it doesn’t end there. When Potiphar’s wife can no longer hold herself, dinaan niya na sa pwersahan. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house (Gen. 39:11-12).

How I admire the integrity of Joseph. Wala namang tao, wala namang makakakita, pero still she refused to give in sa mga flirty moves ni Potiphar’s wife. Integrity is who you are when no one is looking. Instead of staying in that place where he knows he’ll constantly be in temptation, he ran. Tinakbuhan niya ang magandang babaeng nasa harapan niya to the point na kahit wala na siyang suot!

I like it how my Bible school teacher relates kung bakit tumakbo si Joseph: dahil kapag nag-stay pa siya nang kahit kaunti, baka bumigay na rin siya sa tukso. A man of integrity doesn’t stay inside the place of temptation. Hindi tayo palaging malakas, aminin natin, kaya bago pa man tayo matukso tumakbo na tayo.

Men are not born cheaters. I believe that. Pero it happens na nung minsang nasubukan nila, nakasanayan na lang ng iba, yung iba sobrang nag-eenjoy na, at yung iba hindi pa lang nahuhuli. But I am with all of you guys on this part: we are not born cheaters, as many women claims us to be.

But still, cheating and running away from responsibilities should not be tolerated.

Paano ba nagsisimula na mag-cheat ang isang tao? When we choose to stay in the place of temptation.

It starts with a simple “wave” sa messenger, then a few hi-hellos.

Kaunting kumustahan, kilalanan, and a little lie about “relationship status”. Nagsisimula nang maglagay ng applock sa messenger. Nagiging irritable na kapag tinatanong about “sudden demand for privacy”.

Nag-iinject na ng flattery, appreciation kuno and soon – may comparison game na between the new girl and the legit girl. Lesser affection na tuloy kay legit girl.

After series of hesitations, finally nag-agree na for meet-up.

Hanggang sa nasundan nang nasundan.

And the rest, they say, is history.

Kailan nagstart ang cheating? Kapag nag-meet na sila? Kapag may exchange na of I love you and I miss you? Cheating doesn’t grow overnight. It starts when we choose to hit that “wave” with a wrong motive. Then it grows into something obnoxious, until we realize, we’re in a big mess of our doing. Cheating starts when we choose to set aside our convictions on relationships for the sake of momentary physical and emotional excitement. Don’t stay in the place of temptation. Lumayo ka na agad. Tumakbo ka na agad, palayo.

If we’re Joseph, baka bumigay tayo if we will not be careful, if we think too loosely of our convictions, if we don’t know how to say a firm NO. If we don’t have the fear of God, we’ll easily fall into the trap. I’d like to share this warning from Proverbs 7:21-27.

With persuasive words she led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk.
All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer stepping into a noose
till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.

Now then, my sons, listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.
Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.
Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.
Her house is a highway to the grave,
leading down to the chambers of death.

Run from temptations, including sex outside the boundaries of marriage (which I think calls for another topic). Run away from, not towards, temptation.

Men, don’t allow short-term pleasures rob you of a lifetime satisfaction. Stand your ground. Hindi tayo manok.

Disclaimer: This post also applies to women. Akala niyo kami lang a. Huh! Hahaha