This chapter of 1 Corinthians can almost be summed up in two old clichés: "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it" and "One cannot serve two masters." Both are mentioned in regards to resisting temptation to sin. I love Paul's take on this. He points out that temptation is something that everyone must face. Though each person's temptations are different, they are not unique as others have had to face the same temptations throughout history. That gives us a promise of never being alone in our fight against sin.
11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No 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. – 1 Corinthians 10:11-13
My wife and I have discussed this in a way before. Everyone is susceptible to temptation, but it is not the same thing for everyone else. This also ties in with the statement that no sin is greater than another, and in combination with both it makes prejudice seem even more nearsighted. For some people, the temptation hey struggle with may be pornography. For the next person, they may be able to resist pornography with ease, but they struggle with alcohol. For a third person, they may be able to easily shrug off alcoholism and pornography, but they struggle with homosexuality. None of these is greater than the other, but they are still temptations. We do not face these alone, but our experience with temptation can be different than others.
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