Testing vs. Tempting…Does God Do Both?

"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.  But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death."  James 1:13-15

​Testing versus tempting…does God do both?

When we look at James 1:13-15, we see that God does one, but not the other.  James addressed testing versus tempting in verses 12-15.  In verse 12, James mentioned that a man that perseveres through trial would receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.  This verse is the testing that every child of God will come to face and this type of testing is from God because it produces endurance and maturation of the believer.  It is during this type of testing that God shows us His faithfulness to give us the strength, wisdom, and guidance that we need when we ask Him for His grace to help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

On the other hand, temptation is quite the opposite of a test from God.  Temptation, which James addressed, is not from God because God does not tempt anyone with evil or to do evil because He cannot be tempted by evil.  As James later revealed in verse 17, every good thing and every perfect gift comes from above because God is the Father of lights and He does not change, as a matter of fact, there is no darkness in the Father at all (1 John 1:5).  James explained that temptation, especially during trials, derives from being carried away and lured by one’s own lusts or desires.  We sin because we have yielded to a desire – something that we strongly want to do or to have (v. 15), that is contrary to what God desires us to do or to have.  Remember during a test, temptation can also arise; but do not be deceived, God will test your faith but He will not tempt you.