Common Sins: What Are The Most Frequent Temptations?

Sins are an important concept in Christianity, with the Bible stating that the wages of sin is death. While some sins are well-known and widely acknowledged, others are more subtle and may be committed without the sinner even realising. The seven deadly sins of pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth are considered to be the root of all other sins, with pride presented as the root of all sin. However, other common sins include holding grudges, justifying wrong attitudes, putting your desires before God, feeling annoyed by the success of others, underpaying others, criticising and finding fault, and gossiping.

Pride

Additionally, pride can lead to a sense of selfishness, where individuals focus on their own interests and desires rather than those of others. This can result in a lack of generosity and a failure to put others first.

Anger

To avoid the sin of anger, it is important to acknowledge our own weaknesses and embrace humility. We should strive to monitor our thoughts and feelings and remember that all sin is wrong and needs to be confessed.

Selfishness/Self-righteousness

Selfishness and self-righteousness are common sins that Christians often ignore but cannot afford to do so any longer.

Jesus called out the Pharisees in the New Testament for their self-righteousness and selfishness. If you feel the need to compliment yourself on something good you have done, then you are not doing it right. Many people like to display their faithful acts so that others will know what good Christians they are. However, Christ does not care what others think of your generosity. He cares about your heart and your motivation. If you need others to know about the good things you do, feel, or think in order to feel validated, then you need to re-evaluate your motivations.

The Bible says, "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:3-4).

Pride is often presented as the root of all sin, with Lucifer's primordial defiance of God forever echoed in our own lives. Greed is also seen as the basis for our selfishness and our blindness toward others.

Selfishness and self-righteousness can manifest in various ways. For example, putting your desires first (before God), feeling annoyed over the success of others, getting hurt easily and reacting out of hurt, underpaying or taking advantage of others' work, skimping on work, criticising and finding fault, focusing on worldly cares, and gossiping or speaking unkindly about those not present.

These sins are just as detrimental as any other and need to be confessed and walked away from through humble, dependent faith.

Gluttony/Coveting

Gluttony and coveting are two of the seven deadly sins in Christian theology. Gluttony is defined as the over-indulgence or lack of self-restraint in food, drink, or wealth items, especially as status tokens. The English word comes from the Latin gula, derived from gluttire, meaning "to gulp down or swallow". Gluttony is considered a sin when an excessive desire for food leads to a lack of control over one's relationship with food or harms the body.

In the Bible, gluttony is often associated with a lack of self-control and a focus on earthly pleasures over spiritual well-being. For example, in Philippians 3:19, the Bible warns against those "whose god is their belly," emphasizing the danger of prioritising bodily desires. Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 6:12-13, Paul highlights the importance of moderation and honouring God with our bodies rather than being enslaved by gluttonous desires.

The consequences of gluttony are also addressed in the Bible. For instance, in Proverbs 23:20-21, it says, "Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags." This passage highlights how gluttony can lead to negative outcomes such as poverty and a lack of self-care.

Coveting, or desiring something that belongs to someone else, is also considered a sin in Christian theology. While it may be natural to feel envy or desire for what others have, coveting becomes a sin when it leads to negative actions or a lack of trust in God's provision.

The Bible provides guidance on coveting, such as in the Ten Commandments, where one of the commandments is "You shall not covet" (Exodus 20:17). This commandment recognises that coveting can lead to a breakdown in social relationships and a lack of contentment with what one has.

Both gluttony and coveting are considered sins of excess and a lack of self-control. They can lead to negative consequences and distract individuals from their spiritual duties and moral obligations. It is important for Christians to cultivate self-control and moderation to avoid these sins and maintain a balanced and disciplined lifestyle.

Lust

In conclusion, lust is a common sin that can take many forms, from secret desires to anger and hatred. It is often a sin that people are not aware they are committing, but it is just as detrimental to our relationship with God as any other sin.

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