This is a text is for all temptation to covetousness which we may face. It is sufficient for almost every temptation to worldliness. If we are going to ask Christ for help, we may as well follow his example and take hold of his words.
Are we tempted? We have abilities and we have done well, and now we have the opportunity to have a huge salary. Of course, those new responsibilities will take away all Christian service, and use all our energies. How do we resist pressure, the urging of peers? By Scripture. You will accept an appointment only if you can still serve the Lord. Otherwise you say, ‘I have salvation and eternal blessings. Nothing will compare with that after this sad world is passed away.’ Scripture delivers us easily from such temptations. But if you skip the reading of it, or if you only read it with a technical interest, then you will never benefit from it or find help against temptations and tribulations. When things go wrong and problems occur, our happiness is in the Lord, in contemplation of him, in worship and service to him.
Think what is going on even in the churches. The biggest group of international churches have wanted to make social justice equal with gospel. They teach that the business of the church is to eliminate poverty, and to improve society. That is almost what Satan says here: the important thing is to emphasise good works. Christ said, you cannot make a better world, and the important thing is for him to die for souls. Do we focus on earthly things? I must have this or that. I cannot come to two services. I want my time for myself. ‘Him only shalt thou serve.’
All God’s power and protection is available to us. We must put on the full armour of God (Ephesians 6:10). We face temptations to malice, pride, self-pity, temptations to let prayer slide and not resist the flesh; we are tempted to doubt. We should know how to apply the word. We know temptation to false ways, as Christ did, temptations to use worldly methods, departing from God’s ways. The world wants everything now, but God’s people must wait for their good things in the world to come.