
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire 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 and sisters. 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.
In these verses, James teaches us where to focus if we are to abide in God’s goodness. We can either be focused on our sins or captivated by the relationship that we have because of Jesus. I’ll explain what I mean:
Firstly, James writes about being:
1. Focused on Sin.
James speaks of people being dragged away by their own evil desires and enticed.
“Dragged away” Gk. exelko = a lure for fishing or hunting.
There are lures for all types of animals. The hunter baits, entices, and traps the animals so they can kill them. It’s the same with our evil desires. They lure or entice us, and when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Death refers to all the suffering arising from our sin (not physical or spiritual death).
Sin is serious, and we shouldn’t take it lightly. When we sin, we need to deal with it, confess it, and then move on with forgiveness and grace.
Consider these Scriptures:
1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (Confess = agree).
Psalm 51:2, Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin (Psalm 51, David’s prayer of repentance)
Psalm 103:12, As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Transgressions are wrongdoings, lapses, or indiscretions.
Romans 4:7-8, Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them. (Accounting)
If you’re battling a habitual sin or addiction, my advice is not to try to fight it on your own. Rather, confide in one or two friends who can provide a safe and nonjudgmental place for you. Confess your sin to them and ask them to stand strong with you and re-establish you in your faith and godly character. Paul wrote about this to the Galatians:
Galatians 6:1, If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. The word restore is translated as mending a fishing net in Matthew 4:21 and Mark 1:19.
It’s important to deal with our sins and seek forgiveness and renewal, but we need to be careful not to live our lives focused on sin. Don’t be sin-conscious; look where you’re going.
Psychologists refer to target fixation, a phenomenon observed in humans in which an individual becomes so focused on an observed object that they inadvertently increase their risk of colliding with the object. Look where you’re going because “Where you look is where you go.”
And so, there’s a better alternative to being focused on sin:
2. Focused on Relationship
Back to James: Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Resisting Deception (Don’t be deceived). Sin is deception (we deceive ourselves that we are missing out)
Rather than concentrating on sin, James encourages us to focus on our relationship with The Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
When we focus on the relationship we have with our Father because of Jesus, we reap all the good and perfect gifts that come with that relationship. And so, Bayside Church, look where you’re going because where you look is where you go.
Discussion Questions
Share stories of focusing on something and hitting it. It could be while driving, playing sports, or something else.
Re-read the Scripture verses above on confessing sin and receiving God’s forgiveness. Read and discuss these verses too: Ezekiel 18:30-32; Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 55:6-7; Micah 7:18-19; James 5:16.
Paul encouraged the Galatian Christians to carry each other’s burdens, for in this way, they would fulfil the law of Christ. (6:2). Discuss this in the light of Galatians 6:1.
Discuss the difference you experience when you focus on God’s goodness as opposed to paying attention to your sins, inadequacies, and weaknesses. How could you practice this more?
Chat about God’s goodness that does not change like shifting shadows. Share your experiences of the goodness of God.