Week 24: Trials, Tests, and Temptations Are Part of the Character Process
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trials…Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt anyone…”
James 1:12-13
Are you in a trial, being tested, or yielding to a temptation? It helps to know the difference, and going from one to the other can be subtle. Years ago a sitting US President came to Desoto County. Northpoint students had worked on the campaign, and the local director graciously gave out coveted floor tickets (versus seats up in the stands). That meant everyone would get to stand close to the action. Somehow I ended up standing in the center, just feet from the podium where the President would speak. During the long wait I began chatting with a secret service agent. Everything looked so calm and nonchalant that I thought the security was too light. She informed me that there were sharpshooters located all over the civic center. As long as we all stayed behind the rope line, we were law-abiding citizens. The moment anyone moved over the rope line everything changed. One would go from citizen to criminal in seconds. When the President walked down to shake hands, I made sure to keep my body back while my hand extended.
Going from trial to yielding to temptation is as subtle as a few steps over the rope line, and the consequences are monumental. A trial is something that every believer goes through. Trials are good for us because they build endurance. We are told to have joy in the midst of them, and God seldom takes them away. God’s promise is skillful wisdom to endure the trial, and each trial is a test of our character. God uses such things to build us up and reveal how much we are growing. We often know we are in trials and they are testing our faith.
Temptations happen to every person. They are common (1 Corinthians 10:13), and none of us have unique ones. The problem is when we yield to them we cross the line. We step out of a trial, fail the test, and move into sinful temptation when we commit the act of sin. We are not used to saying it in this manner, but the idea is biblical. We often think of temptation as simply an urge. For example, we might feel the “temptation” to eat a donut, but perhaps we don’t. When we survive what we call temptation, we say, “I was tempted!” The truth is, you were tested. Temptation is a clear solicitation to do evil.
James tells us all of this in the first chapter. He uses all three ideas interchangeably. The word for trial that is used can mean trying, testing, assaying, or proving. As one author put it, “If a believer responds in faithful obedience to God’s word, he successfully endures a trial. If he succumbs to it in the flesh, doubting and disobeying God, he is tempted to sin (John MacArthur, James, Kindle location 233258).” God is not the author of temptation, nor does he tempt anyone. God allows trials, and he tests our faith, but he never tempts. God would not solicit you to do something evil.
You may immediately think of passages such as the one in Hebrews where we are told that Jesus was tempted in every way in which we were (Hebrews 4:15), or the classic passage in the gospels where Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted (Matthew 4:1). How do we explain those verses if God cannot be tempted, and he doesn’t tempt anyone? The answer is that in both cases Satan tempted. Jesus never yielded to that temptation, therefore, it only had a positive effect.
It’s important to distinguish between trials, tests, and temptations. What are you dealing with right now? What are your students dealing with? Some are struggling with trials and tests of their faith. They need your grace and guidance as God molds their character. Some are facing a clear solicitation to sin. They need warning, prayer, and encouragement. All of this is a common issue that is used by God to build goodness in His children. The difference between each is a few inches. Let’s pray for our students to pass the test, and let’s pray that we do as well.
Discussion Questions:
What are common temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13) that you believe your students face?
What can we do to help those whose faith is being tested?
What encouragement can we give to those who go through trials?
