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Examples of Discernment in Making Difficult Decisions or Avoiding Temptation

Examples of Discernment in Making Difficult Decisions or Avoiding Temptation

Joseph's refusal of Potiphar's wife stands as one of Scripture's clearest portraits of discernment under pressure. Sold into slavery in Egypt, Joseph rose to manage his master's household, yet when Potiphar's wife pursued him sexually, he resisted because "he had godly wisdom—he was guided by the fear of the Lord" [6]. This episode illustrates how discernment operates not merely as intellectual calculation but as moral clarity rooted in reverence for God. Joseph saw beyond immediate consequences to the nature of the act itself: a betrayal of trust and a sin against God.

Prudence as the Foundation of Discernment

Biblical wisdom literature consistently links discernment with prudence, the capacity to foresee consequences and navigate complexity. Proverbs 22:3 observes that the prudent "foresee and avoid evil" [3], a principle that requires both knowledge and restraint. The prudent person is "not ostentatious of knowledge" but rather "look[s] well to their goings" [3], suggesting that discernment involves humility and careful attention to one's path. Discretion—the ability "to tell right from wrong, the beautiful from the ugly, and good taste from bad taste" [9]—enables a person to defer anger and "pass over a transgression" [1, 10], choosing forbearance over immediate retaliation.

This restraint reflects divine character. As one commentary notes, the discreet person "is most like to God, who is 'longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth'" [10]. Discernment thus involves imitating God's patience, recognizing that not every offense demands immediate response.

Christ's Example in Resisting Temptation

Christ's wilderness temptation provides the paradigmatic model for resisting spiritual danger through discernment. When Satan offered him the kingdoms of the world, Jesus refused, demonstrating self-denial that "set an example" for all who follow him [2]. His response—grounded in Scripture and oriented toward the Father's will—shows discernment as the alignment of immediate choice with ultimate loyalty. Similarly, Christ avoided strife, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy that he would not "cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street" [4]. His refusal to be drawn into controversy when opponents sought to trap him (Matthew 21:24-27; 22:15-21) exemplifies prudence "intimately connected with wisdom" [3].

The New Testament extends this pattern to all believers. Self-denial is presented as "necessary in following Christ" and "in the warfare of saints" [2], requiring Christians to exercise discernment in "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts," "controlling the appetite," and "abstaining from fleshly lusts" [2]. Paul's athletic metaphor in 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 underscores that such discipline is essential "to the triumph of saints" [2].

Avoiding Procrastination and Recognizing Temptation's Limits

Discernment also involves timing—knowing when to act and when delay becomes dangerous. Scripture condemns procrastination in spiritual matters, urging believers to avoid delay in "hearkening to God," "seeking God," and "keeping God's commandments" [5]. The uncertainty of life makes "the present the accepted time" [5], and wisdom recognizes that deferring obedience courts disaster.

Yet discernment also requires recognizing one's limits under temptation. First Corinthians 10:13 assures believers that God "is faithful" and will provide "the way of escape" in each trial [8]. This promise does not eliminate the need for vigilance—running into temptation would be "tempting God" [8]—but it does mean that discernment includes knowing when to flee and trusting that God has made flight possible.

The Spirit's Resistance to Temptation

Even in extremity, discernment operates through the spirit's resistance to the flesh. Calvin's reading of Lamentations 3:55 describes the believer calling "out of dungeon" as the moment when "the spirit resists the flesh, and faith spurns the temptation" [7]. This interior struggle, where faith actively rejects what the flesh desires, represents discernment at its most fundamental: the choice to align with God's will despite overwhelming pressure. Such moments reveal that discernment is not merely a skill but a posture of the soul, cultivated through fear of the Lord and sustained by divine faithfulness.

Sources

  1. Proverbs “Proverbs 19:11 (Rotherham) — The discretion of a man, deferreth his anger, and, his adorning, is to pass over transgression.”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prudence — Exhibited in the manifestation of God's grace -- Eph 1:8. Exemplified by Christ -- Isa 52:13; Mt 21:24-27; 22:15-21. Intimately connected with wisdom -- Pr 8:12. The wise celebrated for -- Pr 16:21. They who have Get knowledge. -- Pr 18:15. Deal with knowledge. -- Pr 13:16. Look well to their goings. -- Pr 14:15. Understand the ways of God. -- Ho 14:9. Understand their own ways. -- Pr 14:8. Crowned with knowledge. -- Pr 14:18. Not ostentatious of knowledge. -- Pr 12:23. Foresee and avoid evil. -- Pr 22:3. Are preserved by it. -- Pr 2:11. Suppress angry fee”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Procrastination — Condemned by Christ -- Lu 9:59-62. Saints avoid -- Ps 27:8; 119:60. To be avoided in Hearkening to God. -- Ps 95:7,8; Heb 3:7,8. Seeking God. -- Isa 55:6. Glorifying God. -- Jer 13:16. Keeping God's commandments. -- Ps 119:60. Making offerings to God. -- Ex 22:29. Performance of vows. -- De 23:21; Ec 5:4. Motives for avoiding The present the accepted time. -- 2Co 6:2. The present the best time. -- Ec 12:1. The uncertainty of life. -- Pr 27:1. Danger of illustrated -- Mt 5:25; Lu 13:25. Exemplified Lot. -- Ge 19:16. Felix. -- Ac 24:25.”
  6. Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 39:6: 39:6-10 One of the major motifs of wisdom literature (see study note on 37:2–50:26) is to warn young people that immorality will lead them to disaster (cp. Prov 5–7). Joseph was able to resist temptation because he had godly wisdom—he was guided by the fear of the Lord (Prov 1:7; 9:10).”
  7. Lamentations (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Lamentations 3:55: I called out of dungeon--Thus the spirit resists the flesh, and faith spurns the temptation [CALVIN], (Psa 130:1; Jon 2:2).”
  8. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 10:13: Consolation to them, under their temptation; it is none but such as is "common to man," or "such as man can bear," "adapted to man's powers of endurance" [WAHL]. faithful-- (Psa 125:3; Isa 27:3, Isa 27:8; Rev 3:10). "God is faithful" to the covenant which He made with you in calling you (Th1 5:24). To be led into temptation is distinct from running into it, which would be "tempting God" (Co1 10:9; Mat 4:7). way to escape-- (Jer 29:11; Pe2 2:9). The Greek is, "the way of escape"; the appropriate way of escape in each particular temptation; n”
  9. Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 11:22: 11:22 Discretion is the ability to tell right from wrong, the beautiful from the ugly, and good taste from bad taste.”
  10. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 19:11: The discretion of a man deferreth his anger,.... That he does not show it immediately; but takes time to consider of the offence given him, and makes use of a proper time to resent what is fit should be resented; he is a wise and discreet man that is slow to anger, Pro 14:29. He is most like to God, who is "longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth", Exo 34:6; and it is to the honour of his "name" that he "defers his anger", and "refrains from" cutting off those that offend him, Isa 48:9; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression; to forgive an offence”
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