Temptation

Line By Line - James 1:1-8
post 154

James 1:1 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”

This James has been believed to be the same brother of Jesus and perhaps of Jude described in Mark 6:3 “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon?”
We know that Jesus Brother was indeed an apostle of Jesus as shown in Galatians 1:19 “But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.” And so it is reasonably safe to conclude the writer of James was indeed the apostle and brother of Jesus, but we are not directly told so.
Jude 1:1 “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”
We do not have enough information to make a clear determination, but since we know Jesus brother James was an apostle, it follows that Jude is claiming to be a brother of James, as James is connected to Jesus.
Therefore it is only slightly less sure that Jude was also the Jude of Mark 6:3, indeed Jesus brother.
Why go into all this here?
Because of the topics these (possible) brothers chose to write about;
Jude wrote to the saints about the corrupted doctrine we today call Eternal Security, that is the belief that after salvation sin no longer matters regarding salvation;

“It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares… turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,..” Jude 1:3-4
But that is for another study.

Here in verse 1 we see that James was writing to the Jewish mind, the Jews of all twelve tribes which Rome had recently scattered because of persecution unto death. But don’t miss the fact that it was the Christians who were heavily persecuted, and so it is my belief that James was writing to Jews converted to Christ.
If what James has to say, works for the persecuted believers, it can easily work for us!

James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations;”
This verse states coming and various temptations as fact. They will come. And they should not be seen as strange, or troublous, or because of sin. Temptations to the believer have a purpose for our benefit.

James 1:3 “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” 5281
Patience; hupomone; from 5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy.

It is my experience that temptations and failures, and temptations and overcoming, create a depth of faith through drawing close to know God, which grows the stability in Christ to overcome, from a very deep source far stronger than the temptation.
The resulting consistent victory over temptation is a clear indication of your successful growth in the faith.
Temptations then afford us the opportunity to seek the face of God in a new and deep way. This knowledge creates joy when we see new temptations approach if we are prepared to face them in practiced faith in Christ.
But to be unprepared, is to result in sure failure, which then shows you where you need to seek after God.
In this way, the result of success or failure in facing temptation is merely a tool to be used for growing deep faith!
With this understanding we can see that we can in deed count it joy to face a new and different temptation.
IF God were to punish us, or cast off our salvation if we fail the temptation, then James could not tell us to count the temptations joy.
This verse then is a confidence that as saints in Christ, endeavoring to build our faith, we need not fear the temptation, whether we fail or overcome.
This is the original and valid understanding of Eternal Security before the doctrine was corrupted.

As an apprentice carpenter, my job was to drive nails.
And at the beginning, the whole crew would laugh at me for the nails I bent.
I was failing at an alarming rate.
But there was no fear of being fired, because I was learning.
Soon I was pretty good.
And then came the new (diverse) challenges of harder woods, difficult angles, ect. ect.
As long as I had the spirit of learning, I did not need to fear for my job, even though I was frustrated for my failures!
The frustration I felt, simply shortened the learning period, by motivating greater desire to succeed.

None of this has anything to do with the lazy punk that had no care if he bent nails or not.
He lost his job on the second day.
This part of the letter from James is not written to that guy.
Jude was written for that warning. Don’t be like him!

James 1:4 “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
OK, so temptation brings a challenge to learn the ways of Christ in overcoming.
Learning these ways produces happy confidence of a sound faith that actually works. (patience)
And this patience produces security and boldness in faith, knowing you are strong in the Lord.

But what if after years of temptations I continue to fail them? This indicates there is something not right. Some understanding missing.
What then?

James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth 3679 not: and it shall be given him.”

Upbraideth; oneidizo; from 3681; to defame, i.e. rail at, chide, taunt.

I love this verse!
James clearly knows the heart of him who needs this verse! And so (through the Holy Ghost) he writes this verse so clearly! He goes to extra length making sure we get it!
If you can't figure out what you are doing wrong, ASK GOD.
God will give you the answer. And not just a little bit, God gives to anyone that asks A LOT of answer!(liberally) How much more clear and comforting can he write this?
But that is not all…
GOD DOES NOT RAIL ON YOU FOR FAILURE!
Can't you see what this is saying?!
Temptations are not to be feared, because how you come through them is not judged.
The temptations are your tools of education.
(Now your fellow workers might lovingly embarrass you for your failure, but this is not a bad thing. It encourages you to strive for success.
Even though God does not chide you for your failures, the present consequences are very real. The nail gets bent.
This too is encouragement to succeed.)
Some figure it out sooner, some struggle a long time learning.
Go to God and ask him for the wisdom in the temptation that you seem to be lacking.
God will give it to you, because he wants you to succeed!
But the application of that wisdom is practiced in temptation.
Practice makes perfect as they say!

* * *

Now just like all groups of laborers on the job, there is always the guy who is there, but clearly doesn’t really want to be. He is just there for the check.
This guy has a problem, but his problem is not related to the nail bending apprentice.
And so James has to include here a disclaimer;

James 1:6 “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”
It is too easy to religious-ize this stuff, and we mentally add so much confusion to the simplicity.
We already know by the previous verses that God is not an angry boss holding our jobs over our head if we fail the temptation that comes.
And we already know that if we can't figure out why we keep failing, we can ask God for wisdom regarding our problem.
BUT.
If you are the guy on the job because you just want a free ticket to heaven, you got a surprise coming.
You cannot ask for wisdom from God if you are not IN (committed to) the faith, or if you are not asking because you want to succeed at your job. (the faith) *1
If you are asking for selfish reasons, or with a halfhearted mindframe, then you have no stability, you have no foundation on which to build understanding.
In otherwords it is important that you have a job minded perspective in seeking the answer. Is your heart really wanting to succeed in overcoming the temptation because you want to be a deeper Christian? Or because you don’t like to fail?

I once had a young apprentice who wanted to learn all my “tricks-of-the-trade” so he could leave me and start his own business. He was a great kid, but his heart was wrong. As much as I really wanted to help him, I held back from him. His pride was something I did not want to feed. But on the same job I had less talented kids to whom I gave all the knowledge they could receive.

James 1:7 “For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”
Apparently God has the same perspective!

God does not play well with uncommitted people.
Today the Church is full of people who really don’t want to try real hard at the faith.
They only want to know just enough to get the check, as long as it doesn’t disrupt the rest of their lives.
This person can ask God for wisdom until they are blue in the face, God will give them nothing.
This is not a trick. This is not “God’s out” so he doesn’t have to come through for you.
If God does not come through for you, it is because he can see that you are wishy-washy;

James 1:8 “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
You get mad at God because you ask for wisdom, but this passage of verses tells you God PROMISES to come through A LOT (liberally), for those who are right with him.
Therefore; instead of getting mad at God for failing you. You need to recognize that although you are SURE you are OK with God, God is not OK with you.
You are the person of James 1:6-8.
Now fix that because you are so screwed up, you have no idea which way is up!
You are convinced you are not the problem, therefore God must be a liar.
What is wrong with your head?

Unstable is a word that describes a lack of bearing, uncertainty of direction, nothing solid to build on.
We call Nitro-Glycerin unstable because of its ready explosive nature when shaken.
We call a whacko who shoots a bunch of people at a conference; Unstable.
A double minded man has this kind of potential destruction in every thing he does!
You don't think concluding that the fault must lie with God because you think you are faultless, is unstable?
This is a serious problem!
Don’t miss the concept that this instability is in opposition to the stability found as a result of temptations testing your faith.

What is double minded?
That is a mind that wants two opposing things and cannot chose between them. The lack of definite choice for one at the exclusion of the other, is what causes instability.
Americans with their focus on success and finances, and pleasures, and toys, pride and reputation, looks and cool, have a very hard time turning a full face to God because our culture now says you don’t need to let go of the stuff.
To prove this, I just struck a nerve with most readers.
If you would react so defensively regarding your faith, I would say you have no problem with your stuff. But to even suggest you must chose between stuff and God, raises your blood pressure in defense. This should tell you, Here is the problem!

“And again I (Jesus) say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25, Luke 18:25.
Now if you know anything about the purpose of the four gospels telling the same story from different angles, you will know that because this passage is found in three of them, that this important knowledge is given to Jew, and Gentile, rich and poor, slave or free man. This concept is universal to all men. (John was written regarding Jesus' Divinity and so this passage does not apply in that Gospel)

Who is Rich?
It is important to realize that even low-income people in America are the rich man of the world. While they go hungry because they can't find food, we watch TV, go Online, grab a mocha at the corner shop, etc. etc.
So rich is not a matter of perspective. It matters not if YOU think or feel you are rich, it only matters; Do you have the heart and mind of the rich? And God is the judge of that, not you!
Truly poor people have virtually nothing to loose in turning to God.
Rich people place value on who and what they have made themselves, and fear what they might loose if they turn to God.
Now, are you rich?

I do not wish to leave this topic without answering the question; What do I do if I suddenly realize I am the double minded person this passage is speaking about, and the proof is that I get no wisdom for my problems though I have asked God many times?

The answer is actually quite clear, but very hard to achieve;

Make a choice.

Will you turn wholly to God, or remain clinging to your current life you love and hate?
This is the answer.
You work on that, and you will begin to find answers.


* * * * * * *
*1 Matthew 22:11-14 On the job, but not for long.