13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Andy Rowlands

This passage in James brings together two things that might seem a bit unrelated: temptation and God’s good gifts. But putting them together helps me to see how often I’ve despised God’s good gifts, rather than thanking him for them. This passage highlights sin and shines a bright light on how we try to dodge our responsibility for it. We can’t blame others for our own sin, least of all God!

When I’ve given in to the same temptation repeatedly, it is easy to start blaming the people or things that seem to prompt my evil desires to spring to life. From there, it is only a small jump to say “God is tempting me”, especially when we struggle to control those desires. But here, James reminds us that the problem is within us. When I sin, I cannot blame God, for he has given me good gifts – perfect gifts, which I twist to my own evil desires. It is my own evil desires that lead me to sin, and that brings about death in me.

And because the problem comes from within me, the solution must come from outside me. Verse 17 gives me two encouragements. First, that God is good, and that he does give good gifts! Even though I might be tempted to think that some things that God gives may not be good, I can trust that they are good and that he has a good purpose for them, even if I don’t understand it yet. And second, God does not change! And because he does not change, he can change me.

Our good and perfect God, who does not change, has changed me by giving me new life through the word of truth, through Jesus, and he continues to change me. He has promised to work in me, day by day, as I put off the old self and put on the new, being conformed to the image of Christ. And so, when I am tempted, I know that I can turn to him for help. It is not easy to turn to God first, but remember: Our heavenly Father always gives good gifts. He has given us the best gift of all through Jesus, in accepting us and making us new!

So when we face temptation, let us depend on him more and more, even when we do not yet see why his gifts are good. Because God never changes in his goodness to us.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andy is one of our Student Ministers.