God doesn’t tempt…but sometimes we do…

God doesn’t tempt…but sometimes we do…

You probably have more influence than you think you do, but are you responsible for someone else’s sin? 

James 1 tells us everyone is responsible for their own sin…

…each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.  

Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin,

when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:14-15

But Luke 17:1-2 tells us that we should never be the one to introduce temptation to sin.

And he (Jesus talking) said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Luke 17:1-2 RSV

Looking at these two verses together, it feels as if although I am not responsible for someone else’s sin, I am responsible for my own sin of tempting someone to sin.

Knowing that, it seems important to ask ourselves if there are ways we are tempting people to sin.  What are some ways we may be tempting people to sin…

·      If someone shares a story of how they were mistreated, do we urge them to retaliate or to forgive?

·      Does my coarse joking (forbidden in Ephesians 5:4) tempt someone to their own coarse language?

·      Does my being a jerk to my wife tempt her to be angry in a way she wouldn’t otherwise respond to me?

·      Do I try to talk someone out of the good they feel like they should do?  E.g. Ever try to talk someone out of giving money to someone asking for money by saying the person will probably just use it for drugs anyway or that it’s probably their own fault for being in that situation?  If so, you may be tempting them to the sin of not doing the good they feel like they ought to do.

As usual, the Bible offers us great options of Christ-like things to do instead of the things we should not do.  Instead of unintentionally encouraging to sin, we can intentionally encourage to do good.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  Hebrews 10:23-25