Avoiding temptation

I had a student pose a question to me. Here is the question:
Let's say a person is weak in a certain area and they struggle with a temptation, but they remove themself from or avoid any situation that would cause them to stumble and give in. Does this make the person strong for not giving in, or just safe? Because if the person were in that situation, they probably would give in.

I wanted to share my response, so here it is...

This is a great question. Let me offer a few Scriptures and then a few thoughts.

"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:12-20)

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:12-14)

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:3-16)

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:20-26)

A few thoughts...
We need to have the wisdom to discern areas of weakness in our lives. When we realize those areas, I believe that Scripture is pretty plain that we should flee from things that we know are weaknesses.
While that seems pretty clear, there is an even bigger picture we need to consider. Let me share one more verse and then a few concluding comments.

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:1-7)

Not only do we need to be aware of our own weaknesses, we must be aware of the weaknesses of others. As we continue to examine this idea of sin and community, this becomes vitally important. If what we do causes another to be tempted and sin, we are bringing sin into the community. (Go back and read that last sentence a few times.)
This has so many applications, but I will offer a few that I feel often take shape in a community of teenagers.

When a girl dresses in a way that provokes a boy's lust, she is inviting sin into the community.
When a boy flirts with a girl in a way that leads her to have an unhealthy need for relationship, he is inviting sin into the community.
When someone wears name-brand, expensive clothing (especially when it is with the intent to portray themselves as part of a certain socio-economic group) they can create division and invite sin into the community.
When someone uses hurtful words to talk about another person, whether they are there or not, it can damage the other person's worth or value and invite sin into the community.

I am sure I could come up with more examples if I had more time, but I think you get the idea.
We are called, as individuals and as a community, to discern areas of weakness to temptation and make every effort to flee from those. Not only does that mean we may need to change some of our choices for our own sake. It also means we may need to make some changes in our choices for the sake of the other. This may call us to sacrifice something that is not a temptation for us, but could be for a brother or sister in Christ. We are not just called to take steps to protect ourselves from temptation and sin; we are commanded to show love to our brothers and sisters by doing what is in their best interest as well.