Big Buts of the Bible

But When You Are Tempted

Have you ever heard this one: “God won’t give you more than you can handle?” 

I hate to tell you, that’s not in the Bible. In fact, I’d suggest that is a particularly cruel misquote of scripture—my experience has been that God often gives us more than we can handle, because it is in those times that we really recognize our need for Him. 

So, what does 1 Corinthians 10:13 actually say? Glad you asked.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

It’s crucial to view things in their proper context. 

Have you ever been asked by a waitress, “How is everything?” Chances are that you understood—because of your surrounding context—that she was referring to your meal, not everything.  

She doesn’t care if you are really unhappy at your job; your boss is a jerk; your next-door neighbor’s dog keeps using your yard as a bathroom and you’re forever stepping in … 

Context clarifies, no temptation will ever be more than you can bear, because God will always provide a way out. 

Context tells us, the temptations we face are not unique. They are common to mankind. You’re not alone in this. Certainly, some have succeeded while others have failed, but the point is that others have been here before. 

Next, notice that the focus shifts quickly from the specific temptation to God—God is faithful.  

His faithfulness has been attested to in the fact that He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. The big but of the passage shows us how He will accomplish this:

But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

The lesson here is that when we face temptation, we should be prayerfully looking for a way of escape. We need to look to Him because He not only provides a way of escape, but He is the source of strength through which we can make that escape.  

In 2 Corinthians 12 we are taught that “His strength is made perfect in our weakness.” Where temptation is concerned, we need to take Him up on that.

I think this passage is especially meaningful to followers of Jesus in its proper context. If God doesn’t allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, then we have no excuse for caving in. When we fall—and we will from time to time, because we’re human beings—we should feel conviction in our conscience, that this behavior isn’t consistent with our identity as a child of God, and be moved to confession, leaning into the mercy and grace and love our Lord offers us when we come as we are. As 1 John 1:9 says:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

Now that’s a promise to stand on!

Want to ponder further? The old King James Version of the Bible uses three big buts in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that really capture the emphasis:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

You’ve got to love the king’s English! 

God is active in the everyday lives of His people. Don’t miss that. Don’t leave home without Him.