Here’s a story I heard from Radio show host Chris Witts

Johnny arrives at school in the morning and his teacher asks him, “Where’s your homework?” Johnny replies “Sorry, Mam, I couldn’t do it because there was too much noise at home.” His teachers curiously asks, “What? Noise all evening? What kind of noise?” 

Johnny said, “It was the television, Mam. It was too loud and I couldn’t do my homework.” The teacher was trying to be helpful: “Now Johnny. You could have asked them to turn down the volume, surely?”  

“No, I couldn’t,” he replied. “There was no-one else in the room.”

We are all like Johnny to a degree, when confronted by our sin we look for ways to justify ourselves and blame others. But when it comes down to it we need to realize that there is no one else in the room who we can put the blame of our sin onto. 

In our text today James, once again goes straight for our hearts as he warns us of the dangers of blaming others, and specifically of blaming God when we encounter temptation. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOIOCX6qj1g

[Jas 1:13-18 NIV] 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.

Don’t let your guard down

When tempted,..

It says “when tempted” not “if tempted” Too many of us go around not ready for temptation, not anticipating it and not realizing that the devil is always looking for opportunities. 

Harry Houdini was a well known magician/escape artist in the 1920s. He often had people in the audience punch him as hard as they could in the stomach. On Oct 22, 1926 he invited several students into his dressing room before his performance. He had injured his ankle about week earlier so he reclined on the couch to talk with them. One of the students by the name of J. Gordon Whitehead approached Houdini and asked him if it was true that he could withstand any punch to the gut. When Houdini responded, “yes” Mr Whitehead immediately delivered 4-5 powerful and well directed and unexpected blows to Houdini’s stomach. Although Houdini hadn’t time to prepare his stomach for these blows, it seemed that he had survived them. Later that day however, he began to feel some discomfort and in another day or two he developed a fever. Eventually, he was taken to the hospital where it was discovered that the unexpected blows to his abdomen had ruptured his appendix. Unfortunately it was too late, the doctors could not save him and Houdini died of the injuries he sustained from a few punches to the gut that he was unprepared to receive.

The story of Harry Houdini’s death highlights the significant difference between being prepared for temptation vs being unprepared. 

[1Pe 5:8 NIV] 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Are you prepared for temptation?