Have you ever tried the biggest loser contest or gone on a diet to lose weight with a group of friends? We set out defining the goal. Setup a plan of what we eat and what workout we will be doing over the week. We lay out careful plans to include cheat days so that we don’t give up to soon. Usually we would lose our focus over days. We change our cheat days. Slowly increase the cheat days and finally lose it. When questioned on we would usually answer that, “My Colleague tempted me with a free lunch when I was starving” or “My friend tempted me with an offer I could not resist”. “how do you know?” you might ask. I have done that many times and used others as an excuse.
As Christians we are called to keep away from evil things or maybe you don’t believe in Christ, But you might agree that ensuring that the rules are followed and doing good helps to be happy. But in life when we are in point of deciding whether to follow the footsteps of Christ or the world. We blame God or ask God, why He is tempting us. But going back to James to find out how to live a Christian life 24X7. We see that James tells us that God does not associate himself with evil and tempt us. It is usually out of our own evil desires do we sin. Thinking about it, it is usually our want to go grow fast in life, escape out of situations or fear of losing out that causes us to get tempted to do evil in our lives rather than God making us do evil. May before I use God as an excuse……
("James 1:8-16
8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. 12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.")