James (lesson 3) God cannot be tempted by evils, neither does God himself tempt anyone. Rather, everyone is tempted by his own desire dragging him away and enticing him, James 1:13b-14. Temptation is something which originates within. The reason being, man was created free with an inclination towards God and creation yet also endowed with an imagination so he can be creative like God in whose image he is made. With the imagination at his disposal, man can think abstractly formulating ideas in his head which have no physical or concrete existence. To be drawn to act upon the idea is what we call the urge to be creative, when it is good and temptation, when it is bad. If we refuse to act upon the evil we imagine we resist temptation. If we act upon the creative urge we bring good things into existence! Temptation by itself is neither good nor evil; it becomes evil the moment we consent to act upon it. Jesus was tempted yet did not consent to act upon it, he did not create evil. He was tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15 Therefore, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18.The good news is, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But … will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 By resisting temptation, the godly character is strengthened and built up: By giving into temptation we fall under the control of warped thinking and desires, and we become double minded and filled with anxiety and fear. Now we’ll continue with our text in James 1 The following exhortation points us towards victory in our struggle against double-mindedness and sin. 9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation— The point is humility is the desired quality! The humble will be lifted up and the rich brought down! “Many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Mark 10:31 The humble occupy a position of high esteem but the only hope of the proud and the rich is to be humbled. Furthermore pride and conflict are interrelated, for where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Proverbs 13:10 Permit me to say this, if we have strife in our lives it is caused because we think we are more right than others! In other words we lack the humility to listen to and take advice from others! As a result, a dualistic separation between us and others is created: I’m right versus you’re wrong. This dualism puts me in conflict and conflict is at the very core of double-mindedness! However, there is no place for pride in our lives, humility is the desired quality! 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. >>>If we get rid of pride, strife will be gone as well and all our relations will improve!
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 23:25:20 +0000
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