I noticed the more good I do, the more I am tempted. How do I deal with this?

Answer:

You're not the first to notice this.

"For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin. For I don't know what I am doing. For I don't practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do. But if what I don't desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good. So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good. For the good which I desire, I don't do; but the evil which I don't desire, that I practice. But if what I don't desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present. For I delight in God's law after the inward man, but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God's law, but with the flesh, the sin's law" (Romans 7:14-25).

The core of the problem is the basic nature of law. Laws are for our good to protect us from harm, but to do so the law must tell us what is wrong. That means the law is going to tell you about things that you might never have thought about.

"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn't have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn't have known coveting, unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead. I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. The commandment, which was for life, this I found to be for death; for sin, finding occasion through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me. Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good" (Romans 7:7-12).

In addition, we know Satan is behind temptation. The more you strive to live righteously, the more you slip from Satan's grip, and the more he tries to pull you back into his dominion. "Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings. But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you" (I Peter 5:8-10).

There, in Peter's words, is your advice: remain sober, self-controlled and watchful. You know the danger, so never relax and think you can't slip. "Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall" (I Corinthians 10:12). It is when you forget to watch for the danger that you are most likely to fall into danger.