The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
“There will always be temptations to sin,” Jesus said one day to his disciples, “but woe to the man who does the tempting.”
Temptation, we all face it in various forms, and Jesus tells us that this will always be so while we are on earth. But have you considered whether you are a “tempter?” Perhaps it is your words, or your actions, or how you dress. If you are a Christian, you’ll likely answer that you would never intentionally tempt someone else. But is this all there is to it?
Temptation is everywhere today. But long ago, the opposite was true. Modesty in all areas was expected, and even advertised–especially in clothing… Harper’s Magazine from 1868 published the drawing of a leg, showing where a girl’s hem should fall based on her age. By the time she was sixteen, it was below the rim of her mid-calf boots! Men’s swimsuits of the era consisted of long shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. Men and women never went swimming together, and there were “bathing machines,” wooden shed-like enclosures, in which women were allowed to wade into the ocean for a swim. No modest young lady would be seen on the beach in anything other than her daily attire.
Sadly, times have changed! The challenge today is to go against what is all around us. The world is full of tempters in the form of habits, desires, and even people. The bible is clear about what this brings. “Ruinous trouble, calamity, affliction. (woe) Being a tempter brings harm not only to one’s self, but also to others.
As Christians, we must always be mindful of this warning in Luke, and be aware not only of the temptations that present themselves to us, but of how we are presenting ourselves to the world around us through actions, words, and dress. All we really miss out on is ruinous trouble, calamity, and affliction!
I liked what you had to say. We need to evaluate ourselves in this area and listen also to what others say about these issues that they may see in us that we aren’t aware of that make our walk with The Lord questionable to others. We certainly don’t want to imitate our adversary.
Thanks for reading my article!
Oh a carrot! I want the carrot! Give me the carrot! Oh wait there’s a story about temptation too!?!
You’re right, temptations are all around us. Sometimes they’re placed there by the enemy and sometimes we’re actually guilty of placing them ourselves. Like the previous comment states, we need to make sure we’re not imitating the adversary.
With all my years of Bible study that never really caught my attention. It speaks volumes about one’s spiritual walk, like you say, especially with how people dress, but it can apply to other areas too. Thank you for pointing out this verse which is found in Matthew 18:7 and Luke 17:1, among other places.
I agree, I never thought about this side of temptation either. We hear so much about being tempted that we don’t often stop and think about the other side.
Thanks for reading!