James 1:9-18 NKJV
9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
In the heart of today’s reading, we are shown the sad results of our own sinful desires. Through the Holy Spirit James teaches us first that we are not to blame God for whatever temptations befall us: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God;’ for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He himself tempt anyone.” God is neither the cause nor source of evil or temptation, even though sometimes we feel like blaming Him for the temptations that cause us to sin. We do know, however, that God allows us to be tempted, and in His omnipotence He certainly knows all things even before they happen; but that doesn’t mean He sent the temptation.
In his meaning to the Sixth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer, Martin Luther echoes James’ words: “God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.”
James also teaches us not to be deceived and to understand that it is our own desires – egged on by the Devil – that cause us grief. We have only ourselves to blame for our weakness in fighting temptation and sin.
God allows us to be tempted and tested in order that we may draw closer to Him, trust Him, and depend on Him all the more instead of wallow in our sin and disobedience. He’s the only One who can get us through our predicaments. And through His Gospel of Christ’s suffering and death which paid for our sins and His Sacraments through which He gives us forgiveness and strength, we have everything we need to walk in this world as His beloved children and win the victory over sin and death through Him.
Let us pray: O God, the Strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without You, grant us the help of Your grace that in keeping Your commandments we may please You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.