Does God either test or tempt us?
Unfortunately, some believers do not have much understanding of this concept of test and temptation. The book of James will guide us through this question for a better understanding, and know therefore who either tests or tempts believers.
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
James 1:12-14 (KJV)
James teaches us concerning temptation and the one behind all these. He gives a clarification here that God cannot be tempted with evil but then, it is our own lust that drives us into such circumstances of sin and death. Do you think God will seek the fall of a man other than he being saved? No! God does not tempt any man to fall into perdition or destruction. The believer must know that his walk with the Holy Spirit is a journey of overcoming several temptations. These temptations are not from God but from the adversary, satan who would want you to fail and lose focus from your salvation. He comes along with several temptations including lust, anger, pride and other pleasures of this world. It is therefore the will of God also that we overcome and endure these temptations and not be victims of them. That is why He has provided us with the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily walk with Him lest we fall into temptation.
In the same chapter of this book verse number two downwards also gives us another meaning of temptation;
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:2-4 (KJV)
We should count it all joy when we fall into divers of temptation. These kinds of temptations include tribulations and persecutions of believers.
Paul also said in Romans 5:3-4 (KJV); "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope. So with these temptations, it is required of the believer to be able to endure unto the end with patience, longsuffering, meekness and other fruits of the Spirit that are needed when we fall into divers of temptation.
God tests and puts us unto trials;
What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment? Job 7:17-18 (KJV)
But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10 (KJV)
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. Zechariah 13:9 (KJV)
These bible verses above clearly show that God can put a man to the test. God's agenda behind this is not to cause you to fall into temptation but to help you keep your faith in Him to reach perfection. God tried Abraham, even his friend with his only begotten son as a sacrifice for the Lord. By this, he received a great blessing from the Lord through the angel who appeared unto him. Again, Job was put to the test by the Lord as proof of his genuine love and service unto God and not to the measure of his great riches. After this, he had twice of every kind of possession he had.
The Bible says;
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17:9-10 (KJV)
God puts us into tests so that in the day of temptation or adversity we will not leave our hope but keep our faith in Christ Jesus. We will surely be rewarded with the crown of life and righteousness after all these battles as the Bible says he will endure to the end shall be saved. God help us all...
