Sunday, 9 September 2007 | 3:15 pm

I was distracted...

Hi friends, this isn't mel blogging... yup its Chris Tan, the blog borrower (because he can't be stuffed to make his own one)

I'd like to share something which has been on my heart for a while now. As I was reading the story of Joseph for the tenth time or so, I was yet again amazed by this individual. He was born into a ordinary family like you and me, but he was overly favoured by his father. This creates sibling rivalry to the extent that his brothers sold him to slavery in Egypt. He experienced betrayal, hopelessness, despair, temptations, and when you thought things couldn't get worse, it did. He was thrown in prison because of a false accusation. Anyways, the story goes on and I'll have to explain it another day. Right now, the thing that struck me most was the TEMPTATION part.

Genesis 39:6 onwards says that "Joseph was handsome in form and appearance." (I did admire this guy, but after that verse, I changed my mind :P). Verse 7 goes on to say that "his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, 'Lie with me.'" I read on, and it says that after Joseph refused, she spoke to him day by day but Joseph did not heed her. Some time later, when they were alone she got violent and grabbed his garment, and Joseph hastily fled and ran away. I have to understand that Joseph at this age was a young adult, and it must be tough, especially since she continually returns to tempt him.

Ok, it may seem like I'm straying a bit and you might be asking "what has this got to do with me?" As a high schooler, this example may be a bit extreme, but I can't help but to imagine what was going on Joseph's mind. Now Joseph's life was essentially messed up, as I mentioned earlier, and he might as well have some fun before he went to jail. But he never once forgot the plan his Lord had gave him, and he knows that every action has its consequences. I tried to imagine what might have happened if he succumbed to the temptation. He would probably be hanged without mercy. He wouldn't be able to save the whole of Egypt from the famine if he was dead. So it has occured to me to ask myself when faced with a temptation: what will happen next?

For the past week, after my Dad went overseas on a business trip, I feel like I haven't been studying as much as I should. There's just way too many distractions and no one to impose some sort of discipline on me. There would always be something i'd rather do than concentrate on my work. It gets harder when I'm on msn (arghh). Now, whenever I'm supposed to study, but i'm tempted by something, be it games, or books, or msn, or even sleep, I have to think "What would the outcome be if I succumbed to the temptation?" Chances are I'll have to work harder later, or I just simply won't get the grades that I wanted. How easy it is to procrastinate and think that you still have time. I keep telling myself that I shouldn't stress myself so much. But what happens if you ended up without time? There's always a worst case scenario; can I afford that to happen?

Joseph makes it seem so easy, and he literally "ran away" from the temptation. Of course, he had God on his side, but still, I find it really important for us to not get sidetracked, with final year exams around the corner. I encourage everyone like me who has trouble handling temptations to ask themselves, "Is it really worth it?"

On a lighter note, imagine the holidays after VCE. I could be enjoying myself to the max knowing that I did my best in the exams... Or I could be wallowing in self-pity and regret, wishing that I had worked harder before. I know it's pretty obvious, but I wonder just how many of us actually take the time to reflect, in a world where everything is fast-paced?

Anyways, good luck everyone. Pray that each of us will perservere. For those who's interested in the story, grab a bible and find Genesis 37- 47. I hope Mel doesn't kill me for all this religious references ><.

God Bless

Chris~

"When faced with temptations, always remember there's more at stake."