How To Receive A Royal Reward Series

but the fact is it is being called into question all the time. There are

major theologies even that make God the author of evil by saying

that He predestined the sins that people commit. We need to give

heed to the strong statement of James and recognize that any

theology that makes God the author of sin and evil is a false

theology.

Do not blame God for that lust in you that makes sinful behavior

look so attractive. When you do recognize that you have an enemy

within that is enticing you to what God forbids, then you are facing

a trial that can count for the reward, for you will be trying to endure

not giving into temptation for the sake of obeying your Lord. This

can be a legitimate trial that qualifies for the royal reward. It is

Satan's testing and not God's, but if you endure and stay faithful to

God, it will lead to reward because you are doing it for Him. Most of

the trials that James is thinking of are the external trials of

persecution, but the internal trials of temptation are even more

universal, and these are the trials that most of us today will have to

endure. We are seldom persecuted, but we are always tempted. We

are not tempted by God, but our culture is tempting us every day.

The Christian does not escape the struggle with temptation. C. S.

Lewis, one of the great Christian authors of the 20th century wrote

of his struggle in a letter. "Pray for me; I am suffering incessant

temptations to uncharitable thought at present; one of these black

moods in which nearly all one's friends seem to be selfish or even

false. And how terrible that there should be even kind of pleasure in

thinking evil." Every Christian has the potential of evil thoughts of

all kinds. They may not be the same as his, but they cover the whole

world of evil. It is wise to be aware of just how evil your thoughts

can be, for then you are not shocked at what can happen inside your

head. You need to share these thoughts openly with God and

denounce them as that which is not your will, just as you know they

are not God's will. You are not evil to have such thoughts, but they

can be a temptation to follow through and do evil.

It is your responsibility of know where your weakness is, and in

what areas you need to pray for God's wisdom to overcome the

temptation. Paul says in I Cor. 10:13, "No temptation has seized you

except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let

you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are

tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up

under it." That is what James is saying in verse 5. Ask God for

wisdom, and if you ask believing, you will receive what is needed to

endure and conquer temptation, and you will then stand the test and

receive the royal reward of the crown of life.