The Flea And The Ox

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

James 1:13

An Aesop’s fable tells of a flea who questioned an ox, saying, “Why do you, being so huge and strong, submit to the wrongs you receive from men and slave for them day by day, while I, being so small a creature, mercilessly feed on their flesh?” The ox replied, “I do not wish to be ungrateful, for I am loved and well cared for by men, and they often pat my head and shoulders.” “Woe is me,” said the flea. “This very patting which you like, when it happens to me, brings with it my destruction.”

When we experience trials, we should be grateful because God only allows such testing in order to bring out the good—to strengthen us. But when Satan tempts us to sin, he is looking to bring out the worst in us—to bring about our destruction. We must be careful to examine every situation and discern whether it is a trial from God or a temptation from Satan, lest we get knocked down by sin when we expected a pat on the head.

Temptation may be an invitation to hell, but much more it is an opportunity to reach heaven.

CHARLES H. BRENT