So, what’s the difference in a trial or a temptation? Both the temptation to sin and the trial to be endured in this passage are based on the same Greek root word, meaning “To test or prove.” So, what James is explaining here is that the differences are these:
A trial is appointed by God. 1 Cor. 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
- A trial must be endured by the believer.
- There is happiness and light when a believer is victorious in a trial.
- God does not appoint temptations, but He allows them. A temptation cannot come from God. They always come from the flesh.
- A temptation is anything in the world that causes the flesh to weaken and start the sin process.
- When a temptation completes its course in weakened flesh and sin, there is darkness, guilt, shame, and possibly, physical death.
Do you see the difference? The trial is 40 days without food. The temptation is the devil’s suggestion to the human form of Christ that He should turn the stones into bread.
The trial was real and it hurt. The temptation was also real, but could be avoided. Temptations can be avoided but not ignored. If you attempt to ignore a temptation, it will jump up and surprise you. Your flesh loves to do that to you. We have to get aggressive with our sin patterns. The Lord said figuratively, “If your hand offends, cut it off.”
In verse 14, the phrase, “…he is carried away and enticed by his own flesh…” is the Greek word for “drawn away” as in the use of a bait to lure a wild animal into a snare or trap. A “desire” is any lust of the flesh that causes the believer to stumble into sin. It can be sexual lust, lust for money (greed), approbation lust (the lust for the approval of people), or covetousness for anything someone else has that you don’t have. The sin process starts with this desire of the flesh. It then begins to metabolize in your soul as a sin of the mind, a sin of the tongue, or a sin of action. And they all happen in a dark place in the soul.
If you are very sensitive to the Holy Spirit, you’ll see or hear the warning sign of that temptation of the flesh. You see, we get a warning before the sin happens. We have a thought that is going to grow up to be a sin if it isn’t arrested at that point. A friend of mine is always saying, “A believer always come from a state of righteousness into sin, so a believer has to plan his sin.”
So Trials and Temptations are very different. Trials come from God. Temptations come from our flesh. But have you ever noticed how often they come together? If the trial is the death of a family member, so often it is immediately accompanied by the flesh tempting us into self pity, anger, or even greed. How many families are split over the way the estate is divided? The trial and then the temptation.
If the trial is long term illness or injury—very serious pain to be endured for years, it may come with the same temptations to self pity, anger, or bitterness.
If the trial is financial loss, count on its being accompanied by the temptations of self pity, anger, greed, coveting, etc.
If the trial is financial success, look out. It may be followed by narcissism, arrogance, or even approbation lust or materialism.
If the trial is persecution, you should expect temptations to self pity, anger, bitterness, revenge or hatred. And these are just the beginnings of these sin patterns. They can result in full born sins of malice in adultery, murder, maligning, gossip or theft.
Failing to avoid a temptation and its ultimate sin cannot cause a believer to lose his or her salvation. But it can cost you your physical life. 1 John 5:16 & 17, “If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.” Caution young people.
When I think about trials and temptations, it seems to me that both are always going on, but it seems to me that America had an era of trial that ran from about World War I until the end of World War II. It’s had an era of temptation that ran from the end of World War II through the present day.
Because Trials are from God, and prove us To God, they are for our good. Romans 5:3-5, “ And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Here’s a caution though. So often, doesn’t it seem that when we have passed a test, and we’re in that glorious glow of obedience and the love of God being poured into us, that we are so very vulnerable to a temptation of the flesh? Be very careful immediately after a victory. I think most believers are least on guard then.
Conclusion. Light and happiness result when a trial is endured or a temptation is rejected. Either way, we win. When we are in the light, we are in God’s purpose, taking tests, passing some, resisting temptation—then failing, falling into darkness, confessing, coming back into the light and being God’s children.
Darkness is a nothing. Light is a something. I’ve always thought it humorous that it is fashionable in post christian America to say that you are “agnostic.” The academics will tell you that it means they see know empirical evidence of God. But the greek root of their “agnostic” means “don’t know.” Another way to say that would be “an expert on nothing.” “I know nothing. That’s what I believe.”
Light defines darkness and is the substance worthy of our study and focus. Light is beauty and glory. Light is truth and right. Our Father of Lights has but one purpose for us, that we would fall in love with His light. Where is the light to be found? In the face of Jesus. God’s purpose for us is that we get “Blessed,” that we get happy, that we get joyful about WHOM He Is.
I want to quote from Sam Storm’s little book, ONE THING.
“Enjoying God sounds good, but it needs substance. What exactly does it mean to ‘relish and enjoy Jesus?’ When I first began to explore this question, I experienced great frustration …I turned to the thesaurus. You were made to be:
- Enchanted-enamored-engrossed with God
- Enthralled-enraptured-entranced with God
- Enravished-excited-enticed with God
- Astonished-amazed-awed with God
- Astounded-absorbed-agog with God Beguiled and bedazzled
- Startled and staggered
- Smitten and stunned
- Stupified and spellbound
- Charmed and consumed
- Thrilled and thunderstruck
- Obsessed and preoccupied
- Intrigued and impassioned
- Overwhelmed and overwrought
- Gripped and rapt
- Enthused and electrified
- Tantalized, mesmerized, and monopolized
- Fascinated, captivated, intoxicated, infatuated, and exhilirated with God!”
This is a wonderful list and a start at how we can appreciate the Glory of God, the Light of God. I want to look at just one more scripture to close. Here’s a light we can all look forward to admiring. Revelation 22:5, "And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.”
All quotes New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
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