There's no virtue in ALMOST driving off a cliff...

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself so that you too will not be tempted. Galatians 6:1

Notice that it does NOT say, so that you do not sin, or fall into sin, but rather temptation. I've never given this much thought until reading a book recently on the topic. Bob Kauflin in the book, Wordliness, writes this:

"Sometimes we pride ourselves in what we can handle, as if exposing ourselves to temptation were a virtue. That attitude reminds me of a story I once read about a group of coach drivers applying for a job. One of them would be chosen to carry the king's children up and down a narrow, winding road leading up to the king's mountain-top castle. With dozens of steep drop-offs and no guardrails, it was a daunting assignment.
The king's chief liveryman asked each candidate this question: "How close can you get to the edge without going over?"
The applicants offered various responses indicating their confidence and skill. One man boasted he could drive the horses at nearly full speed for the entire length of the road, always keeping within six inches from the edge.
The interviewer was unimpressed. Finally, one driver stepped forward and responded, "Sir, if it's the king's children, I want to stay as far from the edge as I possibly can."
He was hired."

I think all Christians, at one time or another, whether in their own hearts or in speech has boasted in how close they can get to sin without doing it, but there is no virtue in this. Scripture tells us to flee temptation. We ask to not be led into temptation in the Lord's prayer. In fleeing from temptation we flee from sin. I recently realized I'm not much different than a dog, my dog to be exact. Dodger is not allowed to have people food, however, he cleans up the kitchen floor after I cook and gets food that sometimes falls from the table so he knows exactly how yummy people food is. Sometimes when we are eating he sits right at our feet, and other times, he minds his own business and is in the other room. But when he sits right at our feet, he gets excited, sometimes whines, drools, and you can tell he is just going nuts on the inside. However, when he is in the other room, he doesn't even notice, he's calm and collected. Either way, he does not get people food, the difference is that he had to resist it so much more when he puts himself in the way of temptation and it is so much more agonizing than if he ignores it and stays far from it. I am the same way with sin, I am hopefully going to choose not to sin but how much easier and less painful if I don't even tempt myself and make it an option!

I was struggling with the sin of discontentment in the area of material things and I kept taking trips to the mall just to "look". I continued to spend money but no matter how much I bought, I always wanted more. I realized that this was a problem in my life and realized I had to cut off the temptation completely so I stopped shopping, when friends would ask me to go to the mall I would just simply say no. This was hard at first but the freedom from the lust of shopping was worth it! In 2 months I realized I had plenty of things, really too many things, and developed an appreciation for what I do have. I didn't even realize that I was in bondage to discontentment until I got rid of the temptation of finding my contentment in material things. How silly I am!

Thankfully, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.(Hebrews 4:15) Since we are only human temptation is not completely avoidable, but do not be discouraged because, No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Thank you Jesus for coming to die for me and taking on the sins in my life so that I can be set free from sin and death, you are the only way of escape!