“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” (James 1:13)

Why would we need to be reminded of that? Why would anyone even suspect that God tempted them? Most people wouldn’t admit to it. They would not go around saying that God was tempting them to do this or that sin; much more likely they would say something like the old comedy line: “the devil made me do it!”

Yet, deep in the heart is sometimes the inclination to blame God for whatever wrong choices we make. First of all, it’s easier to blame anyone else than to face our own fallen nature and stinky selves. When sinning, most people want to get their finger out to start pointing the blame anywhere but inward.

Also, we know God is sovereign so we tend to say, “Why didn’t you help me avoid this; why did you let this temptation come in my path?” Hey, don’t be tempted to fall for such thinking. Let the scripture in James be a great reminder.

After all what is temptation except enticement or allurement to wrongdoing? Now think about God. Putting his name alongside wrongdoing is an oxymoron. God is GOOD and nothing but good, through and through good, down to the core good.

So whom should we blame? Here again, James tells us this: “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.” (Verse 14) I think James is pointing his finger in the right place.