James 1:12 -- 14 (Cravings, sin, and death)

September 1, 2021 (Wednesday)

 

James has addressed “trial” which generally means testing. Now he turns his attention to temptation. I get this understanding from the context, so let’s dig in to the text.

 

“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” [James 1:12 NLT] Yes, this is the same word we say in James 1:2 that means testing and or temptation. But James spins this in the next verse so we understand temptation to sin.

 

While God may test us, God does not tempt us. James states, “No one who is tested should say, “God is tempting me!” This is because God is not tempted by any form of evil, nor does he tempt anyone.” [James 1 13 CEB] There is nothing that can change the character of God. Which is why, I think, God is even capable of “tempting” anyone. Unfortunately there are lots of things that can change our character. We would like to blame Satan for temptation, but James is going to offer a different explanation.

 

Here’s the facts, just the facts, of temptation. “Everyone is tempted by their own cravings; they are lured away and enticed by them.” [James 1:14 CEB] According to James, it’s our own cravings (desire, lust) that get the better of us. These things “lure” us away. This is a fishing term. Thayer notes, “So man by lure is allured from the safety from self-restraint to sin.” The word “enticed” is also from the hunting/fishing image. Think of it this way: we are baited to sin. This is sad because, we supply the bait.

 

Let’s be honest, sin has its own pleasures and pay. It’s not all bad (see Hebrews 11:25). The problem is the cliff that we can’t see because it has the side effect of blinding us to the possibilities and realities. Or as Paul claimed, “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.…” [2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT] By “god,” I think Paul is stating that Satan is the object of worship directly or indirectly.

 

Using an image most can understand, James paints this picture, “Once those cravings conceive, they give birth to sin; and when sin grows up, it gives birth to death.” [James 1:15 CEB] Cravings, sin, and death. James is not talking about physical death. James is outlining the course of spiritual death. Is it a warning, a possibility for believers? If I told you it was not possible for a believer to die spiritually, I feel like I would not be standing on solid biblical ground. I would definitely have to disagree with James. F              I would not want to be held accountable for someone’s mistaken thought it is safe for the believer to sin. It’s safer and saner to skip the false security for a pursuit of loving God. If we do that, then the question will not matter.

 

Notice James does not blame the devil for temptation or falling into temptation. Satan has “fiery darts” but blaming the devil for our problems is an old excuse. Think about it, if we can blame someone else then we are absolved of our responsibility and guilt.  

 

Adam tried it, “The man said, “The woman you gave me, she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.” [Genesis 3:12 CEB] and Eve tried it, “And the woman said, “The snake tricked me, and I ate.” [Genesis 3:12b CEB]

 

There’s only one way back, Jesus explained, “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” [Luke 18:13 ESV]