James 1:12-18 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
12 Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him.13 No one undergoing a trial should say, "I am being tempted by God." For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn't tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.
16 Don't be deceived, my dearly loved brothers. 17 Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning. 18 By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures.
It is against God’s nature to act in any way that would harm His children.
James warned against a mistaken idea about trials and temptations. No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” Sometimes we say “I have a temper” to justify hostile words and actions, or rationalize sexual immorality with “I have a strong sex drive.” It’s a way of saying “God made me this way and put me where I am, so it’s really His fault.” We couldn’t be more wrong. God is not tempted by evil, for He hates all sin. His holiness and righteousness make Him incapable of being tempted. Furthermore, He will never do wrong, nor will He ever wrong us. God allows people to be tested in order to develop Christian character – never with evil intent.
Regardless of outside factors, we are drawn away and enticed by our inward evil desires. Enticed describes using bait to hook a fish or to lure an animal into a trap. An evil desire attracts us; if we dwell on giving in to that evil desire, we are inevitably drawn into sin. When we give free reign to evil desire, it gives birth to sin. Sin then develops until it is fully grown, signifying increasing strength to dominate us. Eventually it’s control becomes self-destructive – sin gives birth to death. While believers aren’t doomed to hell for our sins, sin damages our relationships with God and other people, destroys our Christian testimony, kills our joy, and drowns us in misery.
We make a choice when an evil desire rise’s within us. We choose to resist temptation or to yield to it, to obey God or to disobey. We choose; we are responsible, not God.
James made three observations about the new birth God gives us. First, is a result of God’s own choice. Instead of destroying all of sinful humanity, God chose to redeem all who would receive Christ as Lord and Savior.
Second, God gives it by the message of truth, the gospel. Third, it’s purpose is so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures.
“Firstfruits” referred to the first portion of the harvest given as an offering to God, anticipating the harvest to come. Christians in James day were the firstfruits of God’s redemptive work in Jesus Christ.
Word Study: WISDOM Wisdom indicates more than knowledge or intelligence. Wisdom is God’s gift of spiritual insight that enables us to make practical use of knowledge. This wisdom is rooted in the “fear of the Lord” (Prov. ). Wisdom is making decisions based on the knowledge God has revealed in scripture. Wisdom thus enables us to make decisions in line with God’s purposes. It shows us how to put Godly knowledge to work in daily living. To pray for wisdom is to pray for the ability to see all of life, particularly troublesome circumstances, from God’s point of view. Wisdom helps us discern the ultimate purpose of trials and enables us to grow through enduring them. Without God’s gift of wisdom, we tend to respond to trials with worry, grief, bewilderment, disappointment, or despair.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
II Timothy 1:7
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