James 1:14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Temptation comes from our experiences in life and the decisions we make based on these decisions. The devil looks for opportunities stemming from our weak points. We may have made decisions at some point in our life that have left us vulnerable. God does not bring these about. They are our own decision This verse necessitates an Arminian perspective about human free will whereby people may choose right or wrong. Unfortunately, often decisions are forced upon us through external circumstances, such as physical or sexual abuse, poor role models growing up, economic hardships, or peer pressure. No matter what the source of the temptation, we can call upon God for wisdom and strength (see v. 2). God will provide a way out of our temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13). One one is through the help of the Holy Spirit who will whisper light into our darkness. James is issuing a warning to his readers in this verse. We must make a decision now about our values. What is most important to us? If we choose to please ourselves (pride and sin) or succumb to the influence of others (through shame), we will have a difficult time because these will feed temptations like putting gasoline on a fire. If we put our focus on Jesus, then we will find a resource to help us overcome the moments of temptation.
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