Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (CL)

James 1:12-18

¹² Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ¹⁸ Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

What does it mean to be tempted? Is temptation sin? Is sin only produced when temptation bears fruit, through our desires? If I desire not to sin, does my desire still conceive and give birth to sin? There are a lot more questions that I could easily ask, but the point still comes down to: what is the correlation between sin and temptation?

We know that we suffer in this life on account of sin. Have you ever thought they you receiving healing to tempt you into sin. I know that many of us put a lot of trust in places other than God. When things are good we are thankful to friends, family, and others who have helped and provided. But when things are bad and times are hard, we turn to God to yell, complain, and blaspheme. 

James reminds us that God is not tempting you. He does not draw people into sin, but leads us away from temptation. It is our own desires that lead us not to listen to God, and his promises to strengthen us. But this does not answer the question of the relationship between sin and temptation. For James sin is almost the direct result of temptation. Thus, God can not be tempted, because he can not sin.

God does not likewise lead people away from himself, but points us to the cross. It is there where we can see both the price we owe, and the task our desires would never let us undertake. Our desire to live with suffering and pain is always greater than our desire to live with the unexpected, or unknown. But eventually we will all have to face our judge, Jesus Christ who died in our place. This is likewise the greatest good gift of salvation, this truth of forgiveness is given to you, for the forgiveness of sins.