Lesson 2-Temptation
Temptation
(James 1:13–18)
Before you begin …
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and wisdom as you go through this lesson.
• Read James 1:13–18. This lesson references chapter 3 in Be Mature. It will be helpful for you to have your Bible and a copy of the commentary available as you work through this lesson.
Getting Started
From the Commentary
The mature person is patient in trials. Sometimes the trials are testings on the outside, and sometimes they are temptations on the inside. Trials may be tests sent by God, or they may be temptations sent by Satan and encouraged by our own fallen nature. It is this second aspect of trials—temptations on the inside—that James dealt with in this section.
We may ask, “Why did James connect the two? What is the relationship between testings without and temptations within?” Simply this: If we are not careful, the testings on the outside may become temptations on the inside.
—Be Mature, page 45
1. What is your immediate reaction to these thoughts on the relationship between testings and temptations? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
More to Consider: The story of Job is a vivid illustration of what it feels like to be tested from the outside. Job loses nearly everything he has known, yet he remains steadfast in his love for and trust in God, even after his friends offer a tempting solution to end his suffering: “Curse God and die.” What does the manner in which Job’s friends attempt to counsel him suggest about the role of discernment in determining where to turn when trials become great? What role should the church play in such circumstances?
2. Choose one verse or phrase from James 1:13–18 that stands out to you. This could be something you’re intrigued by, something that makes you uncomfortable, something that puzzles you, something that resonates with you, or just something you want to examine further. Write that here. What strikes you about these verses?
Going Deeper
From the Commentary
Certainly, God does not want us to yield to temptation, yet neither can He spare us the experience of temptation. We are not God’s sheltered people; we are God’s scattered people. If we are to mature, we must face testings and temptations.
—Be Mature, page 46
3. Write out the logical progression from temptation to death as described in James 1:13–18. How does temptation mature a Christian’s faith?
From the Commentary
A temptation is an opportunity to accomplish a good thing in a bad way, out of the will of God. Is it wrong to want to pass an examination? Of course not, but if you cheat to pass it, then you have sinned. The temptation to cheat is an opportunity to accomplish a good thing (passing the examination) in a bad way. It is not wrong to eat, but if you consider stealing the food, you are tempting yourself.
—Be Mature, page 46
4. What are the primary reasons we are tempted to accomplish good things apart from God? Are all temptations opportunities to accomplish “good” things? Explain.
More to Consider: Read about Eve’s temptation in Genesis 3:1–7. What “good thing” was Eve tempted to accomplish? How is this like or unlike the good things we attempt to accomplish today?
From Today’s World
It doesn’t take much research to find a news story about a well-known Christian leader who has given into temptation. These stories are painful to read because they display the ugly reality of sin on the front page for all to see. But they are, nonetheless, evidence that temptation is no respecter of status or station. Think back on the more recent examples of this sort of public proof of our sinfulness.
5. How does it make you feel to see Christians of such high profiles fail? How does hearing stories like this affect what you think of your ability to stand against temptation? Look at James 1:13–14. How do these verses in particular speak to the universality of temptation?
From the Commentary
No temptation appears as temptation; it always seems more alluring than it really is. James used two illustrations from the world of sports to prove his point. Drawn away carries with it the idea of the baiting of a trap; and enticed in the original Greek means “to bait a hook.” The hunter and the fisherman have to use bait to attract and catch their prey. No animal is deliberately going to step into a trap and no fish will knowingly bite at a naked hook. The idea is to hide the trap and the hook.
Temptation always carries with it some bait that appeals to our natural desires.
—Be Mature, page 47
6. Think about that phrase: “No temptation appears as temptation.” If this is true, then how do we determine when we’re facing temptation? What clues does James give us about how we can identify it? What natural desires does temptation appeal to?
More to Consider: Wiersbe writes, “Christian living is a matter of the will, not the feelings.” How does this statement line up with James’ teaching? What role, then, should feelings play in regard to the Christian life?
From the Commentary
Whenever you are faced with temptation, get your eyes off the bait and look ahead to see the consequences of sin: the judgment of God. “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).
—Be Mature, page 49
7. How much of a motivation to turn from temptation is the reality of God’s judgment? Wiersbe refers to this factor as a negative but important one. Is fear of judgment a strong enough motivator to fight temptation? Why or why not?
From the Commentary
The goodness of God is a great barrier against yielding to temptation. Since God is good, we do not need any other person (including Satan) to meet our needs. It is better to be hungry in the will of God than full outside the will of God. Once we start to doubt God’s goodness, we will be attracted to Satan’s offers, and the natural desires within will reach out for his bait.
—Be Mature, page 50
8. James makes it abundantly clear that all good comes from God and that this aspect of God’s character is unchanging. How can this truth help Christians when faced with temptation? How does using this truth as motivation for turning from temptation compare with the threat of God’s judgment?
More to Consider: Read Deuteronomy 6:10–15. In this passage, Moses warns Israel not to forget God’s goodness when they enter and enjoy the Promised Land. How is this warning applicable to Christians today?
9. Read James 1:16–18 again. Why does James make such a point to caution believers not to be deceived? What sort of deceptions might believers face concerning the source of temptation? Concerning the source of “all good things”?
From the Commentary
By granting us a new birth, God declares that He cannot accept the old birth. Throughout the Bible, God rejects the firstborn and accepts the secondborn. He accepted Abel, not Cain; Isaac, not Ishmael; Jacob, not Esau. He rejects your first birth (no matter how noble it might have been in the eyes of men), and He announces that you need a second birth.
It is this experience of the new birth that helps us overcome temptation. If we let the old nature (from the first birth) take over, we will fail. We received our old nature (the flesh) from Adam, and he was a failure. But if we yield to the new nature, we will succeed, for that new nature comes from Christ, and He is the Victor.
—Be Mature, pages 53–54
10. Verse 18 speaks of being “firstfruits” of God’s creation. What are the implications of being God’s best and brightest when it comes to temptation? God has given us everything good, including a new nature from Christ. Why then do Christians continue to struggle with temptation? How is learning to rely on the new nature evidence of a growing maturity?
Looking Inward
Take a moment to reflect on all that you’ve explored thus far in this study of James 1:13–18. Review your notes and answers and think about how each of these things matters in your life today.
Tips for Small Groups: To get the most out of this section, form pairs or trios and have group members take turns answering these questions. Be honest and as open as you can in this discussion, but most of all, be encouraging and supportive of others. Be sensitive to those who are going through particularly difficult times and don’t press for people to speak if they’re uncomfortable doing so.
11. Have you ever thought of blaming God for your temptations? What prompts this sort of thinking?
12. Consider the many ways temptation entices. What are some of the more compelling lures Satan uses to bait you? In what ways do these lures target your old nature? How would your new nature respond to these lures? How can knowing your weak areas help you better confront temptation?
13. Can you think of examples in your life experience when you recognized a temptation and turned from it? What gave you the strength to turn away? What role did fear of God’s judgment play? God’s goodness? Your new nature in Christ?
Going Forward
14. Think of one or two things that you have learned that you’d like to work on in the coming week. Remember that this is all about quality, not quantity. It’s better to work on one specific area of life and do it well than to work on many and do poorly (or to be so overwhelmed that you simply don’t try).
Do you need to work on being more aware of the sorts of lures that Satan uses to tempt you? Write that here. Do you need to discover more about God’s goodness? About what it means to be His firstfruits? What does working on this look like in practical terms? Be specific. Go back through James 1:13–18 and put a star next to the phrase or verse that speaks to your greatest area of challenge when it comes to temptation. Consider memorizing this verse so it can help you overcome temptations when they arise.
Real-Life Application Ideas: Pick a day from the preceding week and summarize the events of that day—where you went, what you said, what you did. Then go through that summary and examine it for any choices you made that may have been the result of giving in to temptation. What might you have done differently to avoid or overcome that temptation? Consider these thoughts as you move through the coming days.
Seeking Help
15. Write a prayer below (or simply pray one in silence), inviting God to work on your mind and heart in those areas you noted above. Be honest about your desires and fears.
Notes for Small Groups:
• Look for ways to put into practice the things you wrote in the “Going Forward” section above. Talk with other group members about your ideas and commit to being accountable to one another.
• During the coming week, ask the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal truth to you from what you’ve read and studied.
• Before you start the next lesson, read James 1:19–27. For more in-depth lesson preparation, read chapter 4, “Quit Kidding Yourself,” in Be Mature.