Day 291: Is God to blame? – James 1 vs 9 -18

9-11 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honoured them.  And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.

12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.  14-15 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. 16-17 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. James 1:9-18 New Living Translation paraphrase. (English Standard Version link)

At the start of this letter James said that Christians should rejoice, rather than despair, when hard times came upon them. The reason for this strange statement was because hard times will require patient endurance, and that will make our faith stronger and we’ll become more mature. What do vs 9-11 suggest was one area where Christians could be tempted to despair, and perhaps even doubt God's fairness?

It's the age old problem of the 'haves' and the 'have nots'. It's difficult enough when we see people who care nothing for God prospering while we may be struggling to make ends meet. But perhaps it's even more difficult to see Christians who are very wealthy while other Christians have hardly enough for their families. This can be so true of Christians in different countries. So what was the first thing James said to those who have less and those who have lots? (vs 9-11)

He encourages poor people to take comfort and encouragement in the knowledge that God has not despised them or bypassed them, but has honoured them with the riches of His mercy and love and chosen them to be rich in faith. And he challenges rich people to put on humility in the knowledge that their riches don't impress God and mean nothing to Him. Their riches will eventually be as forgotten as grass that has withered away.

In vs 12-18 James takes the matter further and speaks about being tested and tempted. I personally think he especially has in mind tests and temptations that are linked to possessions and our desire for things. That temptation can come to both poor people and rich ones. What is the important thing about such temptations we need to keep in mind. (vs 13)

It may be that some were blaming God for not having enough and said that’s what was causing their envy, and the temptation to want more. People sometimes blame God for other things too, even things such as their sexual cravings. But James points out in vs 16-17 that God only gives things that are good and perfect. We must never blame God for things that are wrong in our life. Even if we've been born in poor circumstances or with bodily handicaps, verse 12 will still be true of us. If we patiently endure the testing circumstances God has allowed in our life – we will receive something far more wonderful in the future. What’s the real cause of temptations in our life and the struggles we have? (vs 14-15)

Yes, it’s our own desires, which, if given free rein, will drag us into all sorts of wrongdoing. We can't blame God – and we can't blame Satan either. He certainly does seek to lead people astray, but it is our own hearts we need to guard and keep watch over most. The best way to resist temptation is to keep in mind that we serve the sort of God which James described in vs 16-17. God will give us what is good and perfect for our needs if our trust is in Him.