Article August 16, 1975 Issue

Struggling with Temptation?

SHARON SLATON HOWELL

Many people hold to firm moral standards; temptation seems to pose no problem. But there are others who don't appear to possess such strength of character. For them it can be a real struggle to do the right thing—to be honest, to obey the moral law, to refuse to give evil either presence or activity in their thinking. The Bible gives this promise, which is also a spiritual fact: "Sin shall not have dominion over you."^{Rom. 6:14;} Broadly speaking, sin is failing to recognize and to demonstrate in one's life the allness of God, good, and man's unity with Him. Yet God has given to His idea, man, the consciousness of good and good alone. Knowing this empowers us to think and act according to the law of God.

Christian Science can help any person who is weary of the struggle with wrongdoing to realize this God-given dominion. Through its study one gains the moral fiber he needs for turning away temptation. Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health, "Let the slave of wrong desire learn the lessons of Christian Science, and he will get the better of that desire, and ascend a degree in the scale of health, happiness, and existence."^{Science and Health, p. 407;}

What is it that makes wrong desire so often seem tempting? What would make anyone want to risk possible penalty for indulging it, disgrace, and loss of freedom or, at the very least, damage to his self-respect? There are no doubt many reasons. But a principal motivation may be that one thinks he'll gain something he now lacks.

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