Understanding God's Goodness

Introduction

Chapter 1 will show us that Faith on the Outside is Seen in our Response. In vv. 2-18 we will see James’ instruction to us regarding our responses to trials. James wants us to have a consistent and undivided commitment to God through Christ Jesus.

So again vv. 2-18, James is teaching us how to respond in trials.

Last time in vv. 2-4 we saw that we need to respond correctly to trials, which first and foremost is with joy, then the work of maturing and perfecting ourselves will continue.

In vv. 5-8 we saw that we needed to be aware of our greatest need wisdom. That we must ask in undivided and focused faith for God’s generous and ready supply of wisdom.

In vv. 9-12 we learned that we need to keep the right perspective. James uses the trials of finances and blessings of finances to show the two extremes - that both situations need to look to their heavenly reward - that we shouldn’t evaluate our true state by our heavenly condition.

Now we’re going to see a final section dealing with helping us overcome temptation by recognizing it for what it is.

James 1:13–18 AV

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

A man was on a diet and struggling. He had to go downtown and as he started out, he remembered that his route would take him by the doughnut shop. As he got closer, he thought that a cup of coffee would hit the spot. Then he remembered his diet.

That’s when he prayed, “Lord, if You want me to stop for a doughnut and coffee, let there be a parking place in front of the shop.” He said, “Sure enough, I found a parking place right in front—on my seventh time around the block!” As Robert Orben said, “Most people want to be delivered from temptation but would like it to keep in touch” (Reader’s Digest [8/86], p. 35).

1. Recognizing the True Nature of Temptation

vv. 13-15

This passage in James is going to show us a few things about temptation - we need to recognize it’s origin, it’s power, and it’s result

A. The Origin of Temptation

vv 13-14

Temptation is the same word as trial in vv. 2,12. But obviously here it has two different sense.

God does try our faith but he doesn’t tempt us to sin.

Psalm 11:4–5 AV

4 The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. 5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

1 Peter 1:6–7 AV

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Let’s look at two key points about the origin of temptation

We cannot blame God when we are tempted to sin.

Remember in the garden Adam tried to blame God for giving him Eve

Genesis 3:12 AV

12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Then Eve blamed the serpent

Genesis 3:13 AV

13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

But we are all like this

Proverbs 19:3 AV

3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

But God cannot have any involvement with sin and He certainly wouldn’t tempt us to so in, no matter how desperate our circumstances may be.

Habakkuk 1:13 AV

13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?

So temptation to sin cannot come from God, however, note our second key point:

Temptation comes from our own sinful desires.

While the devil does tempt us to sin, James wants to start at ‘home’ so to speak.

Whatever sin we get involved in was sourced from us.

We’re tempted when we are drawn away by lust - or sinful desire here.

Romans 6:6 AV

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

While we are tempted to sin from our internal lusts, we don’t HAVE to sin.

Romans 13:14 AV

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

So temptation to sin doesn’t come from God, but from us - our own internal thoughts and desires.

Now lets move on from the origin of temptation to recognize something else;

B. The Power of Temptation

It has the power to draw us away in v. 14. This is a fishing illustration - a fish sees a shiny lure thinking it’ll be a good meal. But soon finds that there’s a hook in it that’ll draw him away.

Jeremiah 17:9 AV

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

There’s a powerful deceptive element to temptation here. The deception can be strengthened by our feelings, perceptions, or circumstances.

So it’s a short point here but important to understand that temptation starts in our heart and is powerfully deceptive.

C. The Result of Temptation

James gives us a simple step by step result here in v. 15. Lust = sin = death. Ultimately we have destruction.

Look at the contrast of death with verse 12 and the crown of life.

This road leads to death and destruction.

“Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

so now we have a good understanding of temptation to sin - it’s not a trial from God - it’s from our own hearts. It’s powerful, in that it can deceive us and draw us away; and it’s result is death.

Now let’s get and understanding of the nature of God in all this.

2. Recognizing the Goodness of God

vv. 16-18

So we’ve developed a true understanding of internal temptation - now we get to putting our title in action - understanding the Goodness of God.

A. We Must Be Resolved

v. 16

There’s a simple challenge here - not to err. This lines up with v. 14 and the drawn away and enticed. Don’t be deceived.

James is now giving a pastoral challenge - stop being deceived. maybe some were considering the bait!

We say things like, “If God is so good why is he letting me suffer? If He is omnipotent, he could stop it?

We must remember that God has His own purposes and we cannot use the trial as an excuse to fall to a temptation.

Amos 3:6 AV

6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

Job 2:10 AV

10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

We must be resolved to not err or be deceived in the trial — don’t let it become and excuse to sin.

B. Trust in God’s Goodness

v. 17

This is such a great verse! What a contrast to what Satan said to Eve in the garden!

Genesis 3:1 AV

1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Genesis 3:4–5 AV

4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Satan always like to convince us that God is holding out - and we quite easily believe it.

Verse 17 ties back to verse 2-4 in that trials are one of God’s good and perfect gifts, because when we persevere in them he uses them to mature us.

It’s easy to think of the wonderful things in life as good and perfect gifts - creation; food; family, etc. But look at these verses:

Psalm 119:67–68 AV

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

Father of lights refers to the heavenly bodies - the sun and moon. There is no shadow with him - its astronomical language - he is never eclipsed, his light is never dimmed, his goodness never wavers - even in the trial!

You must consider your trial in the light of God’s heavenly light and goodness.

Psalm 43:5 AV

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

When you are tossed about in that trial you must recognize that you cannot be deceived in that trial and that it is the outworking of God’s goodness.

C. Trust in God’s Care

v. 18

We end here with a promise. He is in control - he has saved us. We didn’t do that, He did. He’s in charge.

And since trials come from Him, he will take care of us! If you can trust him for salvation, you can trust him in the trial.

And also we see that he has a purpose - of course going back to vv 2-4 tell us that, but here also we see the design for us to be firstfruits.

This comes from the OT - this was the offering that Israel would give from their crops to God. What does this all mean.

He owns us and is free to use us as He chooses. We’ve been bought by the blood of Christ and ‘offered’ to him.

We are to bear fruit - we are just the firstfruits!

John 15:16 AV

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

CONCLUSION

So we’ve finished our first major section, vv. 2-18. What are you going to do with your trial?

Respond in joy - God is maturing and perfecting you.

Ask for Wisdom - we definitely need it and He wants to give it.

Keep the right perspective - look to your heavenly reward not your earthly situation.

Rely on God’s goodness - even the trial is a good gift from God - don’t be deceived and use it as permission to sin.