"Blame Shifting" (James 1:13-15)
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading: Romans 6
“You make me so mad!”
“You make me so mad!”
“You’re overreacting…you’re too sensitive.”
“You make everything so difficult…complicated.”
“If you hadn’t...”
Classic blame shifting
James warns against blame shifting when it comes to temptations.
Theme: Temptations
Theme: Temptations
Is this different than trials?
It is the same root word as “trial” (vv. 2, 12).
It has the same basic meaning of testing or proving.
The difference is in the outcome, goal, or purpose.
In verses 2-4 and 12 it was faith, steadfastness, spiritual maturity.
In verses 13-15 it is sin and death.
Let’s keep this in mind as we consider the SOURCE and NATURE of temptation.
The Source of Temptation (vv. 13-14)
The Source of Temptation (vv. 13-14)
Where does temptation come from?
God? (v. 13)
James tells his readers that they should not blame God.
Which means that they could/might think/say that.
Adam did this Gen. 3:12
12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”
Israel did this Ex. 17:7 (read vv. 1-7)
7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Adam blames Eve, but who gave him Eve?
Israel blames Moses, but who gave them Moses?
By complaining about the apparent outside cause, they were complaining indirectly about God and His ways.
This is blame-shifting, when you shift the blame of your wrong
What is the cause? Other people, environment, background, etc.
Things we don’t have control over, …but who does? We know…God.
We might blame God directly, but we probably blame Him even more indirectly.
What is wrong with this? Blaming God directly or even indirectly?
You’re accusing God of wrong doing, which is what it would be.
To want someone to do the wrong thing
To influence someone to do the wrong thing
This is wrong or evil.
He’s not even tempted to do wrong like we are.
His very nature completely repels and opposes any and every wrong doing.
He could never want wrong or want anyone to do wrong.
It’s insane to think this if you understand God.
That’s why we probably won’t do it much directly, ...but indirectly?
Self (v. 14)
What/who is to blame? Not God, or anything else outside of me.
James says that it is each person’s own desire (v. 14).
We know WHO to hold accountable for our temptations. We know who is responsible. We know what/who needs to change.
Not only that, but James is even more specific - desire.
Where is desire? Inside us. In the heart (the seat of the intellect, emotions, and will).
What is desire? Simply, its’s wanting. Which can be either good or bad.
Luke 22:15 or Galatians 5:16
15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
The NASB helpfully translates it here and other places as “lust.”
We know WHAT to work on - desire (Psalm 37:4; Philippians 4:4).
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
What makes a desire wrong or bad?
The Nature of Temptation (vv. 14-15)
The Nature of Temptation (vv. 14-15)
How does temptation work? Notice is says in verse 14 “…tempted when...” and then all that follows through verse 15 defines and describes temptation. There are 3 stages:
It lures and entices.
Dragged and baited like a trap.
This is what you will feel. It will control you if you let it, but you still have a choice.
Which means we must intentionally avoid what we are being tempted to (Hebrews 11:24-26).
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
So what are we being tempted to? Sin
It produces sin.
How does desire conceive and give birth? It produces something. That something could be sin.
What can be the seed/offspring of desiring sin?
This is where we need growth in knowing what is sinful - against God and His word.
This is what makes it wrong.
Being tempted is not wrong in itself (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15).
18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
But giving in to the temptation is wrong.
This is why we need to see past the temptation/desire to the potential sin.
Not only that, but we need to remember what sin ultimately does. It kills.
It ends in death.
Fully grown - that is the ultimate end of sin
Death - generally speaking
This includes physical death brought into the world by Adam’s sin.
And spiritual death, the doom of separation from God.
So the point is, though sin may be attractive, the result is not.
This is a perspective of sin that is unique to the genuine believer. We should know better.
This is how James wants us to see temptation - it is a path of corruption and destruction.
Understanding the source and nature of temptation will help us recognize and resist temptation.
Understanding the source and nature of temptation will help us recognize and resist temptation.
When the pressure is on...
Remain steadfast (v. 12)
Resist sin (vv. 13-15)
Benediction: Jude 24-25