When wrong feels right ∙∙
There is a path that seems right for each person, but it ultimately leads to death. – Proverbs 14:12
James 1:13-16
13 Remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.
14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.
A Lesson in Misguided Pursuits
Who hasn’t seen at least part of a Roadrunner and Wiley Coyote cartoon? The relentless Wiley Coyote is always in hot pursuit of the Roadrunner, yet he never manages to catch him. Despite his imaginative and audacious plans, often involving elaborate contraptions from the Acme Corporation, his schemes always fail spectacularly.
Picture this: Wiley is sprinting at full speed, laser-focused on his goal of catching the Roadrunner. In his determination, he doesn’t notice the edge of the cliff. Suddenly, he’s running on thin air. For a brief moment, he realizes his mistake, his eyes widen in horror, and then gravity takes over. He plummets to the ground below, leaving a coyote-shaped crater.
When Wrong Feels Right
Wiley’s plans always seemed so right in his mind, but they were undeniably wrong. How often does this happen in our own lives? How many times have we pursued something we thought was right, only to look down and realize we’ve run ourselves off a metaphorical cliff?
It’s all too easy to rationalize our decisions. When we desire something intensely, we turn it over in our minds, justify it, and even pray about it until it feels right. But why does this happen? The answer lies in our flawed human nature. Our desires often cater to our carnal instincts and sinful inclinations, clouding our judgment. Instead of seeking truth and wisdom, we settle for superficial analysis that aligns with what we want to believe.
The Danger of Self-Deception
When the wrong feels right, anyone, even a child of the King, can be deceived. Our inherent human limitations come into play, and we can easily be misled. Our human limitations, our emotions, biases, and desires, can lead us astray. As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:2, “You were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.”
This deception often begins subtly. We convince ourselves that our actions are justified, that our motives are pure, and that our desires align with God’s will. But in reality, we may be ignoring logic, truth, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Like Wiley Coyote, we charge ahead, confident in our plans, only to find ourselves falling into a pit of our own making.
REFLECT & PRAY
“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay” (R. Zaccharias).
Father, I cannot count the number of times I have been tempted and succumbed to doing wrong because it felt right. Temptation is always there. Encourage me to do what is genuinely right and to resist doing what feels right.
INSIGHT
Sin Happens – Understanding the Process
Sin is an inevitable part of the human experience. From the very beginning, we’ve been predisposed to shift blame, whether onto others or even onto God, when we fail. This pattern is evident in Genesis 3:12-13, where Adam and Eve deflect responsibility for their disobedience. Yet, Scripture is clear: sin is a choice. At its core, we sin because we want to. Have you ever paused to ask yourself, “How does sin happen?”
The book of James offers profound insights into this question, outlining the step-by-step process by which we yield to sin.
The Anatomy of Sin: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
Temptation Begins with Desire
James 1:14 explains, “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.”
James uses vivid imagery to describe temptation, likening it to a hunter or fisherman luring prey. Just as a fish cautiously hiding in its shelter is drawn out by bait, we too are lured by our desires. The bait appeals to our natural instincts, arousing a longing that leads us into danger.
The Greek word for “tempted” is peirazo. This word can mean “a trial or test, with no negative connotations.” On the other hand, “it can signify being tempted.” In James 1:14, peirazo means to be “put to the test, tempt, or solicit to sin.”
The Greek word translated as “lust/desire” is epithumia. Epithumia signifies “craving, longing for, or having a strong desire for something,” which can be either good or evil. Desire itself can be neutral, sometimes even good, but it becomes sinful when directed toward something forbidden by God. As Wiersbe notes, “It is when we want to satisfy these desires in ways outside God’s will that we get into trouble.”
The Lure and the Hook
James uses two key Greek terms to describe the process of being drawn into sin. The Greek word for “carried away, dragged away, drawn away, or lured” is exelkoomenos. This term evokes the image of being “baited and pulled out of safety, much like a fish leaving its hiding place.”
The term translated as enticed is deleazomenos. Deleazomenos means “being led astray.” The term “lure” refers to a “fish attracted to a hook and drawn out of the water,” while “entice” means “attracting prey to a trap with bait.” (UBS). It is difficult to determine where one ends and the other begins.
This word suggests being“led astray,” much like “prey being lured into a trap.” As Wiersbe explains, “Drawn away carries with it the idea of the baiting of a trap; and enticed in the original Greek means ‘to bait a hook.’ The hunter and the fisherman must use bait to attract and catch their prey. The idea is to hide the trap and the hook. Temptation always carries with it some bait that appeals to our natural desires . . .. It is the bait that is the exciting thing.”
The bait is designed to obscure the consequences. It looks appealing, but it conceals the hook, the inevitable pain and destruction that follow.
Evil Impulses within
James does not focus on any particular temptation. Rather than identifying the external stimuli, his purpose is “to pinpoint the source as the evil impulse within a person, thus highlighting our responsibility for sin” (UBS). Our inner appetites and misguided desires are stirred up and energized by that which is forbidden.
Paul puts it this way in Romans 7:5, “When our old nature controlled us, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires, which produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.”
The Formula for Sin
James provides an explicit formula for how sin takes root:
Temptation + Desire = Lured and Dragged Away
Temptation is like a hunter on the prowl, and we are the prey. When our desires match the temptation, we become drawn in. As Richardson puts it, “We entice ourselves with the object we desire.”
But there’s more. Like any good bait, the lure attracts us while obscuring the collateral damage and consequences. Yielding to our desires leads to sin, and sin, in turn, results in death. What a chilling, paradoxical, and oxymoronic notion.
The Consequences of Sin
James 1:15 explains the progression, “These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”
Desire itself is not sin. However, when we yield to misguided desires, we cross the line. It’s one thing to be tempted and another to act on that temptation. As Martin Luther wisely said, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from nesting in your hair.”
Sin doesn’t just harm us in the moment; it leads to spiritual death. Temptation acts like bait on a hook, hiding the potential harm it can cause. What seems appealing in the moment ultimately results in separation from God and destruction.
Escaping the Trap of Temptation
John G. Butler reminds us: “The Word of God is a better guide than that ‘which seems right unto a man.’” Thankfully, we are not powerless in the face of temptation. The Scriptures provide us with tools to resist and overcome.
Psalms 119:9 provides an answer: “How can a young person maintain a pure life? By guarding it according to your word!”
God’s Word serves as a compass, guiding us through life’s challenges and helping us steer clear of sin.
The Power of Memorizing Scripture
Many believers underestimate the power of memorizing Scripture. By hiding God’s Word in our hearts, we arm ourselves with truth that can counter temptation in the moment.
Psalms 119:11 clearly provides a solution: “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
As Charles Stanley notes, “When we stockpile portions of God’s Word in our minds, they are always accessible to provide support, help, and strength during tough times.”
An Informed Conscience
Spence-Jones emphasizes the importance of aligning our conscience with God’s will: “Conscience needs to be informed by God’s Word and ruled by God’s will to make it a safe guide.”
A conscience shaped by Scripture is a robust defense against the lure of temptation.
A Final Thought
James offers a remarkable insight into the human soul: sin is not something that happens to us; it’s something we choose. Temptation is inevitable, but yielding to it is not. By understanding the process of sin and equipping ourselves with God’s Word, we can resist the bait and walk in righteousness.
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 