Desire

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”’ for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. James 1.13-16

Desire is a conscious impulse toward something that promises enjoyment or satisfaction. It is longing, craving, coveting. It is passion—sometimes driving us to do things which are impetuous and irreversible. The word can be used in a positive sense, but that is not the sense it carries in the passage we consider today. Here, desire can be deadly.

James begins by prohibiting anyone from blaming God by saying that He is tempting them to sin. Our pride compels us to seek cover when confronted with wrong-doing by trying to attach the responsibility to someone else. But God’s holiness being such a central aspect of His nature makes it impossible that sin ever be attributed to him in any form. It would be entirely inconsistent with His nature for Him to seduce anyone to commit that which He condemns.

James lays the responsibility for your sin and mine right at our own feet. He explains that our own desires are the threshold through which temptation passes. The particular word translated here as desire refers to an impulse and a motion of the will commonly called lust. Selfishly, lust says, “I want it and I must have it now!”

“But each one is drawn away and enticed…” The phrase “drawn away” was used to describe the method of baiting a trap to draw prey away from their place of safety. The word “enticed” literally refers to the bait a fisherman places on the hook to lure the fish to bite. In both cases, the bait promises satisfaction, but ultimately brings death. It is your own desire that lures you, your passion that traps you, your lust that sets the hook.

James goes on to use one more word picture explaining the deadly progression of sin. Desire conceives and gives birth to sin, sin grows up to maturity and brings along offspring of his own by giving birth to death. When you allow your lustful desires to carry you away sin is conceived. Sin is progressive if unchecked. Without active opposition sin will take more and more ground in your soul striving for complete destruction. Sin wants you dead.

As a state leader, it is easy to rationalize wrongdoing—to justify yourselves by pointing to the myriad of temptations you face because of your position. “Hogwash,” is James’ reply. It is your desires you’d better be worried about. Stop to reflect on this sober warning. The secret desires of your heart are not inconsequential, but a deadly poison. Would you, this moment, ask God to purify your heart?