“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variable-ness, neither shadow of turning. Of His own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:12-18)
TEMPTATIONS AND TRIALS
In these verses we return to the subject of temptation and trials. This was the first and opening subject of the epistle and was introduced to us in verses 2-4. There we saw the proper attitude to have toward the manifold or many-colored trials we encounter. We also were given a glimpse into the reason why God has allowed them to be a part of our common experience in this life.
TWO POINTS OF VIEW
We should call attention here to the fact that temptations can be looked at from two points of view. We could call them heaven’s point of view and earth’s point of view.
Heaven’s point of view we have already discussed in chapter one. There we saw temptations as opportunities to prove our faith, loyalty, and love for God and his ways. The result was that it all led to greater endurance, strength of character, and personal maturity.
From earth’s point of view however, temptations are viewed as over-powering, and men as weak victims who can do nothing but yield. This conclusion is understandable when we remember that the man of the world is a slave of his own sinful nature. The purpose of our present text, however, is to give the believer insight into the truth of the matter concerning temptations when viewed as opportunities to sin and fail.
A CLOSER LOOK
In our text we are brought to see the possible end of these trials; that is, where they
can lead us. And in the light of this what our conduct ought to be. Also, we have revealed to us the sources of temptation, and finally, the position of our Heavenly Father all the while.
NEVER SAY, “I AM TEMPTED OF GOD”
What are we are told as to the source of these temptations and trials? It is immediately made clear to us where they do not come from. They do not come from God, our Heavenly Father. We are not only told that God tempts no man and that he himself cannot be tempted with evil or wrong doing, but we are warned not to even speak in such a way that would imply that God was capable of tempting us to evil. With that important point settled, are we surprised to have the finger turned back to us? Would we not feel better if Satan would have been brought into the picture so we could point our finger at him? But then we would be doing what Eve did in the garden. “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” (Gen. 3:13) Adam pointed his finger at the woman. (Gen 3:12) But the Holy Spirit points the finger at our own hearts and ultimately our will. Note the warning in verse sixteen. In a short but terse sentence he says, “do not err (or be not deceived) my beloved brethren,” i.e., concerning these matters.
THE THINGS INVOLVED
A man is tempted “when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.” Three things are mentioned here. First, “his own lust,” second, his being “drawn away,” and third, his being “enticed” after he has been drawn away.
UNDERSTANDING THE TRUTH
Now I believe in order to properly understand this very important subject, which is brought before us time and again in scripture, we must approach it carefully and prayerfully. For it seems there is much erroneous thought and consequent confusion connected with this matter of temptation.
DON’T BLAME IT ON THE DEVIL
As we have already noted, Satan has not been mentioned in connection with temptation in this passage. Indeed, he has not been referred to at all. Now we know that the scripture very plainly teaches that Satan is the tempter and that he does tempt. However, our present text is not dealing with Satan’s work of tempting, but rather, with our being tempted. We learn from scripture that these things are two very distinct and separate things.
The fact that Satan is busy about the work of tempting does not in itself provide a foregone conclusion that we are being tempted. For example; the fact the Satan tempted our Lord Jesus in the wilderness to do evil does not say that our Lord was, from his point of view, tempted to do evil. I do not believe He was at any time. He was not drawn away by His own lust and enticed. So in one sense the Lord was tempted. The suggestions a propositions were being put to him by Satan. But in another sense, or from His side, he was not tempted, for His delight was to do the will of the Father. From this He was not drawn aside.
IT’S WHAT WE DO THAT COUNTS
It is from this side we will now discuss the subject of temptation or trials. This is what our text deals with and really is the most important for our personal victory. Satan’s activity is not mentioned here. We continue then with the three things mentioned in verse 14 which are involved when a man is tempted: his own lust, his being drawn away, and his being enticed.
First, his own lust. The word translated lust literally means a longing or desire. The word is used in the New Testament for both good and bad desires. The point being, the desire itself does not necessarily constitute the temptation. A man is tempted when he is drawn away by this desire. Drawn away from what? From what is right, or proper, or pleasing to God. We have the Word of God, the expressed will of God, a guide to both character and conduct from which we should not allow ourselves to be drawn aside. Our Lord was hungry after His forty-day fast in the wilderness. That means He had a desire for food. Satan’s suggestion and challenge were real. But He did not allow that desire to draw Him aside from the Father’s perfect will because to Him that was still more real. He answered not only Satan but His own desire for food when He quoted the Word of the Father, saying, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4)
DRAWN ASIDE TO THE TRAP
It is only after a man has been “drawn away” by “his own lusts” that he can be enticed. The word literally means “entrapped.” We must see to it that we do not allow ourselves to be “drawn away” from that which would be pleasing to our Heavenly Father. It is this illicit union of human desire and satanic proposition that causes desire (or lust) to conceive and as a result sin is begotten. Sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.
BE STRONG WITH THE LORD’S STRENGTH
I said we must see to it that we do not allow ourselves to be drawn away. I would not imply that we are strong enough or wise enough in ourselves to save or keep ourselves in this respect, or that we could even count ourselves as being above temptation. Our Lord is our example. He was led by the Holy Spirit. He was faithful and obedient to that leading. As a result, He came forth after He was tried “in the power of the Spirit.” (Luke 4:14) He was the Son of God, but He was also the son of Man. It was as representative man, not as God, that He faced the testing. God cannot be put on trial as we have seen, but as Son of Man, the Lord Jesus Christ could be ” in all points tempted like as we are.” (Heb. 4:15) And like Him, we too can win the test, as those who are partakers of His life. But it will be by the power of His Holy Spirit, and through obedience to the Word, and with faith in God. Jesus warned His disciples, saying, “watch and pray, that ye not enter into temptation.”(Matt. 26:41)
LOVE … ENDURETH ALL THINGS
The one who endures, and stands true through the test will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love Him. “Them that love Him,” is the Holy Spirit’s description of the ones who are endeavoring to live according to the Word of God. What better way could those that serve God be described? For God will not force His ways on any one. Those who serve Him and obey Him do so because they love Him. Heaven will be inhabited only by lovers of God. No one else will be there. It would be well to remember here that while some tests are short lived, and pass momentarily, there are those that last for long periods of time and require great endurance. Not only faith but our very love of God is put to the test and proven. By His grace He has equipped us for these times and has granted to us the sacred privilege of an audience with Him in prayer as a means of renewal in strength and courage. “Blessed is the man that endureth.”
FROM GOD COMES ONLY GOOD
Verses seventeen and eighteen declare to us that God is the source only of good. Every good act and every good thing are from above and have come down to us from Him who is the Father of lights. There can be no variation with Him, not even a shadow of change. We can think of Him as the universal constant, the point of reference for all that is good and all that is right. No doubt we are told this here for our comfort as we consider trials and temptations, lest we experience our faith begin to waver and are tempted to have second thoughts, and like the Baptist ask, “art thou He or should we look for another?” (Luke 7:19)
But even as the cry of our heart rises to Him in prayerful worship, His answer to us is on its way. If we will but listen, His answer will be sufficient to calm our restless heart and assure us again of His constant love and ceaseless activity. For He is continually setting before the world His message of redemption and reconciliation, an activity of which we have become a part of as lights in the world. How wonderful is our God who anticipates beforehand the way we must go and the things we must suffer for His name’s sake.
OUR BEING BORN AGAIN … IT WAS GOD’S IDEA
After assuring us that He is only capable of the highest good, He goes on to point out that it was by His own choice that He begat us by the word of truth. Here we have reference to the “new birth.” Our thoughts are directed back to that very event which brought us into the family relationship with our wonderful heavenly Father. This wonderful event not only brought us under His tender and loving care, but under His discipline as well. For He “dealeth with us as sons,” and “whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.” (Heb 12:6-7)
All this attention we are privileged to receive from Him who is capable of only the highest good. And we are admonished not to despise the chastening of the Lord. For we are to “be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures,” members of a new order. For this we were born again, and to this we must be faithful. And we are reminded that the seed of this new birth by which we were conceived is the Word of God. Just as the words of Satan were the seed of conception that brought forth death, so the Word of God is the seed of conception that brings forth eternal life.