In the story of the Lord of the Rings, Frodo Baggins was trying to destroy a ring. It was an object of unspeakable evil, created by the dark lord Sauron to dominate all of Middle Earth. Some people thought the ring could be used for good, to fight Sauron, but others thought it had to be destroyed because it was utterly evil. Whether their intentions were good or bad, everyone who came in contact with the ring was tempted by it. Tempted to steal it, tempted to use it, and tempted to make themselves the ruler of Middle Earth. How these people reacted to the temptation of the ring may just tell us a few things about dealing with temptation in our own lives.

The first person in the story to be tempted by the ring was Isildur, the prince who cut it off of Sauron's hand three thousand years before Frodo was born. He was on the slopes of Mt. Doom where he could have easily destroyed it. [Video: Elrond: Isildur took the Ring. I was there the day the strength of men failed. Elrond: Isildur hurry. Follow me. Elrond: I led Isildur into the heart of Mount Doom, where the Ring was forged, the one place it could be destroyed. Elrond: Cast it into the fire! Destroy it! Isildur: No. Elrond: Isildur!!! Elrond: It should’ve ended that day, but evil was allowed to endure.]

Isildur failed because of his pride. He wanted to keep the ring as an heirloom, a trophy of their victory over Sauron. He was so proud that he didn't believe the ring would hold any temptation for him. But everyone is tempted, and temptation is not a thing to ignore or take lightly. Proverbs 11:2 says, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Disgrace found Isildur when he tried to use the ring and he was killed. Pride can make us blind to the power of temptation in our lives. Don't be so proud as to think that it won't affect you. Take it seriously. Deal with it humbly. If you think that there isn't anything that you're really tempted with, then you're probably missing something. It may be subtle, but take a humble look at your life and see.

Isildur should have know that everyone is tempted. Even Gandalf, the wisest person Frodo knows, the one that he trusts more than anyone, even Gandalf can be tempted by the ring. [Video: Frodo: Take it Gandalf! Take it! Gandalf: No Frodo no. Frodo: You must take it! Gandalf: You cannot offer me this Ring! Frodo: I'm giving it to you! Gandalf: Don't tempt me Frodo! I dare not take it. Not even to keep it safe. Understand Frodo, I would use this Ring from the desire to do good. But through me, it would wield a power to great and terrible to imagine.]

The power of the ring would corrupt Gandalf, but he resisted it. Power can corrupt us, too. Why do you think the Bible talks so much about submitting? Submit to the authorities, submit to God, submit to each other. Submission is the opposite of power. Why do you think the Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil? Because money is basically a form of power. To love money is to love power and to love power is to be corrupted by it. We have to be very careful about this. Power corrupts, that's why it was one of things that Satan offered to Jesus in the temptation in the desert.

Matthew 4
The Temptation of Jesus
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

When he was offered power and wealth by the devil Jesus, like Gandalf, knew that all the power in the world wasn't worth compromising with evil.

I want you to notice something here that is important to our understanding of temptation. Being tempted is not a sin. We know that Jesus never sinned, but he was tempted. I don't know how many times I've been tempted to do something wrong, I start thinking about it, and then I go ahead and give in because I feel like I've already sinned just by considering it. But temptation is not the same as sin. Temptation is a moment of choice, an opportunity to do the right thing. And that's what Jesus did.

He showed us a great way to resist temptation. He quoted scripture. When you hear the lies of Satan in your ear you can respond with words from God's truth. Of course, you've got to have a few things memorized to be able to do this effectively.

Along their journey through Middle Earth the fellowship of the ring stays in the elf-realm of Lorien. The queen of that realm is Galadriel, one of the most beautiful and wise elves in all of Middle Earth. Frodo talks with her about his quest and then offers her the ring. That scene in the movie is a little scary, so I'll read you the passage from the book.

'You are wise and fearless and fair, Lady Galadriel,' said Frodo. `I will
give you the One Ring, if you ask for it. It is too great a matter for me.'
Galadriel laughed with a sudden clear laugh. `Wise the Lady Galadriel may
be,' she said, `yet here she has met her match in courtesy. Gently are you
revenged for my testing of your heart at our first meeting. You begin to see
with a keen eye. I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired to ask what
you offer. For many long years I had pondered what I might do, should the
Great Ring come into my hands, and behold! it was brought within my grasp. The
evil that was devised long ago works on in many ways, whether Sauron himself
stands or falls. Would not that have been a noble deed to set to the credit of
his Ring, if I had taken it by force or fear from my guest?
`And now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of
the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful
and terrible as the Morning and the Night! Fair as the Sea and the Sun and the
Snow upon the Mountain! Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning! Stronger than
the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair! '
She lifted up her hand and from the ring that she wore there issued a
great light that illuminated her alone and left all else dark. She stood
before Frodo seeming now tall beyond measurement, and beautiful beyond
enduring, terrible and worshipful. Then she let her hand fall, and the light
faded, and suddenly she laughed again, and lo! she was shrunken: a slender
elf-woman, clad in simple white, whose gentle voice was soft and sad.
'I pass the test,' she said. `I will diminish, and go into the West and
remain Galadriel.'
(Fellowship of the Ring Page 410)

Galadriel is using another great method for resisting temptation. She makes herself aware of the results of her sin. She knows that if she takes the ring she will become a dark queen, just as evil as Sauron. I use this method a lot. Something comes up, I'm tempted to do something that I know I shouldn't and I think about what the consequences will be. And that helps me fight it. For example, just this week I was about to say something really sarcastic and mean to someone and I thought for a minute about all of the times that I've done that and then had to wonder if they're mad at me, then apologize, then feel like a jerk for a couple of days, so I just kept my mouth shut. Think about your weak spots. What are the negative results when you give in to that temptation? Now keep that in mind when you face the temptation and it may help you make the right choice. If you need some help on this, consider this passage: James 1:14-15 "Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." The final result of giving in to temptation is death. But there is hope. Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." There is hope for us when we fail, and we all will, but considering the results of our failure can help us make the right choice.

One of Frodo's companions was the human prince Boromir. He suggests that the ring should go to his country, Gondor, where it can be used to fight Sauron. His idea is rejected, but he keeps thinking about the ring until it drives him mad. [Video: (Frodo looses his footing and falls, rolling down the slope towards Aragorn) Aragorn: Frodo! (helps him to his feet. Frodo searches himself for the Ring. Finding it missing, he looks back up the slope. Boromir, sees the Ring on the snow and picks it up by its chain) Aragorn: Boromir. Boromir (looking at ring): It is a strange fate we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing... such a little thing. Aragorn: Boromir! Give the Ring to Frodo. Boromir: (hands it to Frodo) As you wish. I care not. . . . Boromir: None of us should wander alone, you least of all. So much depends on you. Frodo? I know why you seek solitude. You suffer; I see it day by day. You sure you do not suffer needlessly? There are other ways, Frodo, other paths that we might take. Frodo: I know what you would say. And it would seem like wisdom but for the warning in my heart. Boromir: Warning? Against what? We're all afraid, Frodo. But to let that fear drive us to destroy what hope we have. Don't you see that is madness? Frodo: There is no other way! Boromir: I ask only for the strength to defend my people! If you would but lend me the Ring... Frodo: No. Boromir: Why do you recoil? I am no thief. Frodo: You are not yourself. Boromir: What chance do you think you have? They will find you! They will take the Ring and you will beg for death before the end! Boromir: Fool! Boromir: It is not yours save by unhappy chance. It could have been mine! It should be mine! Give it to me! Boromir: Give it to me! Frodo: No! Boromir: Give me... Give me the Ring! (Frodo slips the Ring on and disappears. He kicks Boromir and runs away)]

Frodo escapes and then Boromir is killed in the forest by a band of orcs. Later Frodo and Sam meet up with Faramir, brother of Boromir. Faramir has a chance to take the ring. It would make his father proud and it could help him save his country. [Video: Faramir: So, this is the answer to all the riddles. (He advances on Frodo who backs up to the cave wall.) Here in the wild I have you, two Halflings, and a host of men at my call. (Faramir lifts the ring on its chain with the tip of his sword.) The Ring of Power within my grasp. A chance for Faramir, Captain of Gondor, to show his quality. . . . Faramir: Take them to my father. Tell him Faramir sends a mighty gift. A weapon that will change our fortunes in this war. Sam: You want to know what happened to Boromir? You want to know why your brother died? He tried to take the Ring from Frodo. After swearing an oath to protect him, he tried to kill him! The Ring drove your brother mad! . . . Faramir: I think at last we understand one another, Frodo Baggins. Madril: You know the laws of our country, the laws of your father. If you let them go your life will be forfeit. Faramir: Then it is forfeit. Release them!]

He was able to learn from his brother's mistake. Other people's mistakes can teach us a lot, too. 1 Corinthians 10:6 says that the stories of the Old Testament can teach us what not to do. "Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did." We can even learn what not to do from the people that hurt us.

Now we come to Gollum. He has spent 500 years saying 'yes' to temptation, and it has nearly destroyed him. He is a good example of what happens when we habitually give in to temptation. It begins to take over our lives, demanding more and more of our attention until we can think of nothing else. Today we call this addiction. Gollum was addicted to the ring and he wasted away physically and emotionally. He learned the hard way that sin is progressive. Ephesians 4:19 describes this: "Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more." A continual lust for more. When we start to give in to a small sin, it's exciting for a while and then we get bored with it. So we try something a little worse, and a little worse, giving in gradually until we've lost all self-control. If we don't do something to stop the progression of sin it will destroy us. There are ways to overcome addiction. If you have a serious problem with addiction, whether it's pain-killers, pornography, heroin, alcohol or eating, don't be afraid to get help. Addictions are tough to beat, and almost anything can become an addiction if it gets a firm hold on us. But there is hope. There was even hope for Gollum. We'll explore these things more in part III.

All of these people dealt with the allure of the ring, but the one who bore the most temptation was the simple, ordinary hobbit, Frodo. He is constantly tempted to put it on. In time it begins taking hold of him like it did with Gollum. Every step Frodo takes toward Mordor is a choice. He chooses to humble himself and realize that the ring is tempting him. He chooses to give up the power that the ring could give him and destroy it rather than use it. He chooses to learn from what happened to those that gave in to the ring, especially Gollum. And then when he finally reaches the mountain of fire and looks down into the pit where the ring can be destroyed . . . I won't give it away right now. I'll give you one more week to see the movie if you haven't, and then I'll tell what happened. I'll just say that Frodo discovers the truth of 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

God always makes a way for us to stand up under temptation. This doesn't say that God keeps us from ever being tempted, but that he always gives us a way out, the ability to choose what's right. This is a great thing to remember when you're in a moment of temptation. There is a way out. I hope these ideas from the Bible, illustrated by Tolkien's story can help you overcome some temptation in your life, but we also need to understand that we all fail. None of us is capable of winning 100% of these battles. We all mess up, but Jesus made a way for us to be right with God anyway. Roman 3:23 says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came through Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood." Put your faith in him, it's our only hope.

Films © 2001-2003 New Line Cinema
Books © J.R.R. Tolkien