1 James 1:12-18 Does it feel like God is out to get you? And this how you do me? Most of you probably know Steve Johnson. Receiver for the Buffalo Bills. Pretty outspoken Christian (not like Tebow but still relatively known for his faith). Doing pretty decent except for the occasional penalty for undue celebration. Do you remember last season s game against the Steelers? Huge pass, in his arms, the touchdown that would bring the Bills victory and he drops it. A good day for Jordan and Dennis (and apparently Kadin who has converted; I still haven t figured out how to deal with that) but quite a bad day for Johnson. His tweet after the game: I praise you 24/7!!!!!! And this how you do me!!!!!!! You expect me to learn from this???how???!!! Ill never forget this!! Ever!!!!THX tho. All in caps. Seemed pretty ticked off Now I am not sure whether God is following the NFL, maybe he has a fantasy team, I can t really say. Pretty sure he is not on Twitter, but who knows. It s the big point I want to speak to. Blaming God when things go wrong. ***** Perhaps you saw the slightly sacrilegious movie with Billy Connely, The man who sued God. Apparently he was denied the insurance money on his fishing boat because the lightning was an act of God. So he sued him. ***** There is a man in a Romanian jail who actually is suing God. God had apparently received different material valuables as well as prayers from him and he didn t get the better life that the contract stated. He had been baptized and the contract was therefore legal God was supposed to protect him from evil and now he was in prison for bribery and failing to fulfill commitments and he wants the Romanian Orthodox church to compensate for the God-inflicted damage in the amount of 20 million dollars. Now you may listen to these things and find them somewhat ludicrous, but let s be honest. When bad things happen to us, we are certainly tempted to blame God. If you lost your job or your home this year, I am guessing you at least wrestled with God a little bit. If a best friend or a spouse is no longer a part of your life, I am guessing you thought about tweeting And this how you do me? (well maybe not that exactly)
2 If your sister is crying over the loss of her son or your sister or daughter or mom has recently died before their time, you might be a little angry with God. I am not talking about something like not getting to an appointment on time or finding out they don t have the ingredient you needed to make the meal you planned or you won t be able to retire for another year. I am talking about some bone crushing trials. Don t you cry out to God? Sometimes, don t your cries seem a little accusatory? That seems pretty natural. Money may not be everything, but James people are going through trials and they aren t small they are being persecuted by the wealthy. The rich people are making life hard on them. They are having major financial difficulties and they see no way out. Now we all know that money isn t everything, but let s not pretend that it is nothing either. Yes, I would rather be poor and have a family and true love, but I would rather have that same true love, that same family, and have money to enjoy too. It is easier with money. Very few of us here know what it means to not have money. In the last month I have had 5 people tell me they needed to get their finances in order, they needed to figure out how they were going to survive. All of those families except one have double incomes and are in jobs that require college and some with Masters degrees. Let s just say they are making more than 80K and they gave me the idea that things aren t good financially. I am not talking about them. I am talking about people who can t feed their family. These people aren t suffering with not being able to afford Wii, they are struggling to eat. The persecution is very real and James says count it all joy. The suffering is going to lead to perseverance and completion. If you aren t sure how to make all this happen, just ask God. He will take care of you, he will give you wisdom. You may be poor but you have everything and the rich who are abusing you are dying off and then they will have nothing. That s when James gets to verse 12 and why we should indeed be happy we will receive the crown of life. A victors crown. This isn t the kings crown you might be picturing, it s a crown for athletes in Greek culture. But this is speaking of a future reward after standing firm under trial. Because I know where James is going, this looks suspiciously like an after-life with God. 1. God does not cause us to abandon him Then finally we get to the text for this morning. The text divides nicely into three parts 1. God doesn t test us, or cause us to abandon him 2. The problem is with your own evil desire 3. God gives good gifts The problem up to this point is clear:
3 I am going through all these problems and it s because God has a plan for me. He is obviously the cause of my suffering. Why should I follow him? He brought this stuff on me. And James, the good pastor, anticipates this response: 13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:13-18 NIV James has gotten through saying that God is using the trials for your good and now he needs to clarify. God isn t the one doing the testing, that s all you. What does James have to say about the doctrine of free will and sovereignty? Now wait just a second. If God is all powerful and all sovereign and all knowing and nothing happens outside of his control, then this is definitely his fault. So, let s deal with this deep doctrinal issue right from the start. James couldn t care less about it. He is not trying to lay a deep doctrinal foundation for culpability and free will. After reading the Greek over and over again here and it is confusing, and reading a dozen or so commentaries on this confusing Greek, I am just going to share my conclusions. James is simply trying to say that God cannot be blamed for your abandoning God. Of course it may seem natural to cry out or even to give up. But that is not God s plan. Tests aren t for the purpose of messing you up, they are for the purpose of growth. All of these words for tested or tempted are the same Greek word but it seems James is saying that we are tempted in some way, but not in some way. You could translate it as when you are tested don t say God tempts. James could not be saying that God doesn t test. The list in the Bible (gen 22:1, Dt 8:2, Ps 26:2) and the list in extra-canonical early Jewish literature is clear that God puts people to the test. In fact, every gift he gives us is in some sense a test. Even giving wisdom to Solomon did not end well. He gave him riches and fame and it was used to hurt God s people in the end. The main point in this verse is that God ought not to be tested by people. James recognizes that when bad things happen to people, they often blame God.
4 It almost funny sometimes Such as when boxer Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini killed a Korean boxer in a match, the athlete said in a press conference, 'Sometimes I wonder why God does the things He does.' "In a letter to a Christian family therapist, a young woman told of dating a man and becoming pregnant. She wanted to know why God allowed that to happen to her. "In her official confession, when South Carolina mother Susan Smith pushed her two sons into a lake to drown, she said that as she did it, she went running after the car as it sped down the ramp screaming, 'Oh God! Oh God, no! Why did You let this happen!' This isn t God hurting you. And you re blaming him for your failure to worship This is unacceptable 2. The fault lies in your own evil desire So if it s not God enticing you to sin, who or what is? So if it s not God enticing you to sin, what is? In Jewish literature there are three choices 1. God (James has denounced that idea) 2. The devil (James says nothing about this yet; he will later) 3. Yourself (This seems to be where James comes down right now). It comes from within. 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. It s nothing more than desire. It s not morally right or wrong. It s just desire. We all have desire. It s part of being human; it s even a good thing. What is James answer to the evil desire? In Judaism this desire is called the yetzer. Of course it could sometimes become a yetzer hara (evil inclination, bad desire). It was for this reason that God gave the Torah (Law). Reading and obeying Torah keeps you from the yetzer harah (evil inclinations). Paul says that is why God gave us his Holy Spirit to help overcome our evil inclination. James is going to find the answer to this in three things: The Holy Spirit (chapter 4), observance and obedience to the law (every chapter will talk about that) and in rebirth through the word which is what he says at the end of this section (vs 18). In fact, if you don t curb this desire by having the Holy Spirit and observing the law and being reborn, then it will lead to sin and then sin to death. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
5 The picture we have is simple. Desire (although the word epithumia is often used of sexual sin, it just means desire perfectly fine) leads to sin (not good) and that leads to death (ultimate tragedy). So, let me ask the simple question that you are probably already asking yourself: are you letting your desires lead to sin? They are enticing aren t they? They lure you in. These words enticing and luring (dragged) are fishing terms. They bait the line and then yank you up. The fish seeing the lure isn t a sin. It may be a test. Will you give in or not? God says, I have given you the power to not give in to this temptation. Just swim away little fish. Fish are stupid; their brains aren t big enough to realize that all their brothers just got yanked up by a hook to their death. They just chomp down. But we have the Law. We have new birth. We have the Spirit. But it s so enticing. The Greatest Spiritual challenges According to the Discipleship Journal, and granted it was some 20 years ago (but I think it probably would be similar today), the greatest spiritual challenges are: 1. Materialism. 2. Pride. 3. Self-centeredness. 4. Laziness. 5. (Tie) Anger/Bitterness. 5. (Tie) Sexual lust. 7. Envy. 8. Gluttony. 9. Lying. What s enticing you right now? o Is it lust? a woman at the office? Maybe a friend on Facebook? She is the prettiest girl you work with and you have flirted a little. It seems she really likes you but you know it s not okay. But a little bit of flirting can t be bad. Just makes you feel like a man again. o Is it envy and discontent: a new gun that you can t afford, but you do have a credit card? o Is it materialism: a cruise that you just deserve, because, well you deserve it o Is it self-centeredness: popularity? This is very tempting. Teens will do almost anything to be cool. Just smoke this and you will be cool. Just go all the way with him and you will be cool. Just sass the teacher and you will be cool. Just roll your eyes at your parents and you will be cool. Just treat all adults like idiots and you will be cool. o Is it lying? How about that test at school. Cheating is a form of lying.
6 You didn t study hard enough and your friend says, I have the answer key right here, take it to class and you will ace the exam. You know you shouldn t, but it s just dangling there. The lure is so attractive. o Is it laziness: is there opportunity at work if you just fudge this small thing? Or do you work hard at work but expect to do nothing when you are home? Maybe you are one of those who has purchased the new Forever Lazy Footed adult pajamas that go over your clothes so you can basically wear your blanket all the time. If this is you than we have other things we need to talk about besides laziness. Like fashion, like throwing away money. I predict it will go as far as the snuggie. Kill me now. o Is it gluttony? What about when you re on that diet and someone made brownies and there they are right on the counter. You know you shouldn t, but How do you beat these challenges? How do you beat these things? For some of these things the answer is just run the opposite direction. Like Joseph did. Chuck Swindoll says, There s a name for folks who linger and try to reason with lust: victim. [Swindoll, Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1980), 94]. There are several good protections against temptation, but the surest is cowardice. Mark Twain Just running is a good start. But the respondents to this survey said that these temptations were most powerful when they neglected their time with God. (81%), when they were physically tired (57%). That seems like a relatively easy solution. Spend time with God and sleep more. I am not saying this is easy to accomplish. I am saying it is vital. I know you have no more time in the day. I know you are stressed and overworked and just trying to keep your head above water. But as I tell you month after month, we all have the same number of hours in the day. How you use them is largely up to you. Certainly some of us will have it harder than others, but most of the time, I emphasize most, your schedule is the way it is because you have made certain choices. So, let me get back to the big picture of James. If you want to be complete, mature, not lacking anything, follow the master. Jesus is Lord. He knows the path you should take, because he created the world and sustains it still. He wants you to have joy in this life and he tells you how to live and why in the world do we continue to ignore him? Tell your wife you are taking a day off work and heading to a secluded spot to pray. Remember, if you are lacking in wisdom, ask of God who gives to all men generously. Leave the kids with the pastor and go to the nearest empty baseball field with your husband and talk through all the things you do and what must remain. Work is up for grabs, school, your home, your activities, your tv, your friends, your lifestyle. All of it up for grabs.
7 Because the world that I live in is just promoting all the things that we know aren t good but sure look good. Materialism, Pride, self-centeredness, laziness. So the first point was that God doesn t tempt anyone The second point was that we are tempted by our own desires 3. God is out for your good The third point rounds all that off by saying that God isn t out for our bad, but our good. Do you believe this? Or do you think perhaps that God is up in his throneroom coming up with new unique ways to make you miserable? 16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Don t think God did this to you 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. God gives good gifts. He doesn t go back and forth like the shadow does, he created the moon and sun and stars. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. This is super cool, but often unnoticed. What is the significance of the Word of truth The word would remind his readers of the divine word And God said which dissipated the darkness and the tohu vabohu (the formless and void chaos) and brought life and order. But it s more than his word, it s the word of Truth--the gospel of the kingdom for James. Jesus had come and unraveled the meaning of history and life and had tasked these early Jewish Christians to get the word to the Gentiles and to the entire world and the cosmos itself. That word is the gospel Jesus is King. Through this word, he gives birth to us, or to the community he is writing to at least. You know how the temptation birthed sin which birthed death in vs 15? Well, God birthed us through the word of his truth, that we might be the first fruits. This is the new birth. Regeneration. When the Holy Spirit sets us apart for mission, for kingdom proclamation. The beauty of the firstfruits privilege The first fruits seem to be similar to how Paul uses the idea. Paul speaks of one of his converts as the first fruits in Asia for Christ (Rom 16:5)
8 The Thessalonian Christians as the first fruits for salvation (2 Thess 2:13) The house of Stephanas as the first fruits of Achaiai (I Cor 16:15). James is saying, his messianic community are the first fruits. That they will bring in the universal ecclesial community and maybe the kingdom of God in fullness. That is Cosmic Kingdom. Not just salvation of souls but Matthew 19:28 speaks of the renewal of all things Peters speech in Acts (3:19-21) speaks of the restoration of everything and Paul speaks of the whole creation groaning and creation itself being liberated (Rom 8:19-24) and 2 Peter 3:1-13 and John in Reve 21:1-4 are incomparable. James says the divine delivery of the messianic community was so that it would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. James is mixing ideas here. He is bringing in creation and redemption and mixing them together. Remember Creation, God made the great lights. He made pleasure after pleasure for his people. Well, all that is a foretaste of the new creation. See, God does this by the word of his truth. Just as Adam and Eve were seen to be representative heads, eikons in his garden temple, and told to bring all under the dominion of God, so we have been created in his image and placed in his world to call others to God. To be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. To make disciples. Our redemption is recreation. Even Paul consistently calls us a new creation. A new chance to grow in knowledge and maturity under the king. Instead of like Adam and Eve, who chose knowledge outside of the king. Adam and Eve were supposed to become mature and complete but they were supposed to do it Gods way, under his dominion. But they chose to go about it differently. They chose to disobey and Scripture is one big story about restoring that completion and maturity under the true King. It s all about gaining wisdom and following the right path and the NT is clear that this right path is only found in Christ the true King. Ultimately, James readers were the firstfruits, but there is a sense in which this applies right here as well. There are a few thousand people here in Poolesville who don t follow the king. They continue to choose the wrong path thinking it is right. Here is the big picture. People who go through hard things naturally begin to blame God. But that is not okay. God isnt out to hurt you. He loves you and gives good gifts to his children. Of course you are tempted, but God is out for your good.