James 1:13
"Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one" (James 1:13).
Of all the truths found in Scripture that people (in general) struggle to understand, this message from James would be near the top of the list. Many of those who reject the Gospel echo mass mis-confusion around this topic. Their opinions primarily grounded in emotions prove only that who they believe God to be is subject to their experiential construct and not absolute truth.
This is essential to acknowledge though, because in truth, many within the church privately believe similar mis-confusion. They too filter truth through emotion for validity rather than the Word, and it is a serious issue we cannot gloss over.
Let us be clear in distinguishing trials that God gives to test us versus temptation. A trial is an event designed by God to refine our character, strengthen our faith, and draw us closer to Jesus and His Word. God uses trials as tests to measure the depth of faith we truly maintain as He did for Abraham, Moses, and the nation of Israel. Simply stated, a test reveals the honest, spiritual state of our heart.
In contrast, temptation lures a man into sin. It bends and twists truth to satisfy fleshly desires that elevates self over God. Temptation is never content but increases in deviance and idolatry over time like a downward spiral.
Therefore, God would never create or instigate temptation because it would purposefully lure man further away from Himself as it exists in complete opposition to who God is as revealed in His Word.
The key as stated earlier is to separate emotion from truth, which is difficult to apply in certain situations (i.e. death of a loved one, terminal illness, prodigal child, etc.).
Any of these trials could easily result in temptations to sin where people blame God. The main point James reiterates is that God tests but does not tempt and is in supreme control despite our free will.
False perception is an epidemic in the church. It lives in the heart of man and manifests itself through masks we wear publicly, thriving within the crucible of religion. It is deceiving because others get a false sense that we are more righteous than we truly are, while we convince ourselves internally that marginal application of Scripture is acceptable behavior.
This entire section on hearing and doing culminates with a call to persevere. It began with a warning on self-deception followed by an example that we could easily relate to, and now finishes with a vision of reward to those who apply the Word. James affirms us that God's Law, His Word, is perfect.
When we stare into a mirror we see a reflection of what we physically look like, but it is only a physical reflection and not a spiritual one which James points to. That reflection is demonstrated in our application of Scripture which God always sees but those around us may or may not.
No matter how you slice it, application of God's Word is the true mark of a Christ-follower. It is the fruit produced from a spiritual harvest, defining who we are in the midst of a world bent against Christianity. Bottom-line: Application is our call to obedience, not merely knowledge attainment, lest we become Pharisaical.
Just as we must put off unrighteous anger by being quick to listen and slow to speak, James admonishes that all moral sin be eradicated from our lives. It goes without saying that self-recognition of sinful tendencies and patterns is paramount (which requires great humility), for we cannot fix what we do not recognize as the root issues of sin in our lives.
Anger is a prevalent issue for men. Christian counselor, Dr. Gary Rosberg, argues that anger is the predominant emotion men filter their feelings and emotions through. Because men struggle to articulate how they're feeling, anger is the tool of choice to convey how they are feeling even though it may be sadness, frustration, disappointment, etc, that they are actually feeling, not anger.
As much as we struggle with choices on a daily basis, it is beyond comprehension knowing our sins, struggles, insecurities and failures, that without fail, God chose to have a relationship with us. And not just any relationship, but the most intimate relationship we could ever have (more so than with our wives, children, family members or friends).
There is great peace knowing God is full control, sovereign and constant. Those who reject God as creator and eternal judge stake no value in any supreme being for they declare themselves masters of their own fate. And while it is true that due to free-will we choose to accept God for who He is or reject Him, the truth remains for the Christ-follower that God's existence in no way is dependent on man.
It is easy sometimes to blow by a verse of Scripture. It's almost as if the simplicity of truth is so obvious that there is no need to really comment or spend any time reflecting. Verse 16 falls into that category. I almost lumped verses 16-18 together for a devotion but chose to rest on the truth James intended when he stated these 7 powerful words.
I've always felt this passage of Scripture was a tough pill to swallow not because I disagreed with it, but that it placed a mirror before my heart. At the core, no man wants to admit he chose to sin. We would rather say we fell into temptation as if we tripped over a bump in the road, or the devil made us do it, or we were provoked and led astray by someone else (thus blame-shifting).
Of all the truths found in Scripture that people (in general) struggle to understand, this message from James would be near the top of the list. Many of those who reject the Gospel echo mass mis-confusion around this topic. Their opinions primarily grounded in emotions prove only that who they believe God to be is subject to their experiential construct and not absolute truth.
There is a distinct advantage to the Christian faith, one that surpasses secular thinking altogether. It elevates the priority of Scripture and enables a man to reflect upon the blessing James describes as something tangible and worth seeking after. It is counter-cultural, but that is absolutely what James intended to convey when he penned these words.
There comes a point when a man looks back at his life and takes stock of his mortality. In these moments, he acknowledges the plight he has been dealt by God, whether rich or poor, and reflects upon its advantages and disadvantages.
Continuing from verse 5, James admonishes that faith is the prerequisite when asking God for wisdom. Faith is "a settled trust and confidence in God based on His character and promises as revealed in Scripture" (ESV Study Bible). So when we ask God for wisdom but do not fully trust that He can and will answer our request according to His timing and sovereignty, we are unstable in our thinking.
This next section of James 1 continues the theme of our faith being tested in trials with an emphasis on the role of wisdom. To begin, "wisdom, as in the OT, is a God-given and God-centered discernment regarding the practical issues of life" (ESV Study Bible).
James begins this teaching by calling for us believers (the church) to stop, recollect, and literally quantify how faithful the Lord has been in our lives despite the trials we have previously faced. How often do we stop and intentionally remember spiritual markers though?
There is constant friction between the flesh and the Holy Spirit that dwells in the hearts of those who have accepted Christ as personal Savior. The flesh seeks personal satisfaction above all else and will stop at nothing to gain whatever pleases its desires, while the Holy Spirit purposes the sovereign will of God that does not conform to man but convicts and holds man accountable to the standard of Scripture.