Two-minute read.
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.
James 1:17
Writing about temptation, James makes the case that we shouldn’t assume it comes from God:
“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. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
James 1:13-15
When we fall into temptation, blaming God seems an easy out. But our selfish desires cause the problem. For my birthday, friends showered me with delicious treats: peanut butter meltaways from my favorite shop, homemade pumpkin spice cupcakes with cream cheese icing, and delicious dark chocolate and toffee cookies. Each desert tempted me, and I fell to the temptation, eating more than I should at one time. God didn’t cause me to overeat; my desire for sugary concoctions did. Where the Lord sent good gifts, my selfish desires caused me to overindulge.
The Lord doesn’t change; He doesn’t try to tempt us. We receive good gifts from Him, but we have a choice in what we do with them. Selfishness often overcomes submission. Instead of putting the Lord first, we put our wants first and then repent afterward. If I continued to give in to my desire for sweets, I would gain weight, put stress on my organs, and shorten my life span. Selfish desires lead to sin, which leads to death. But when we accept the Lord’s good gifts and don’t misuse them, we will find life to the fullest.
God doesn’t tempt us; He blesses us. Becoming good stewards of the Lord’s blessing enables us to enjoy and appreciate His gifts. The Creator never intended us to overindulge, but He gives us the free will to choose. And sometimes, we don’t make the right choice. But God still loves us and gives us good gifts, not to tempt us but to bless us.
Praise:
Praise God for His good gifts.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the good gifts You give us. Forgive us for letting our selfish desires prevent us from enjoying them. Please help us make the best decisions with the blessings You give us.
IJNIP. Amen
