Having refuted the idea that God is behind our temptations, James goes ahead to explain the source. The desires of people are the pawns in Satan’s chessboard of temptation. If we take our text from the King James Version, we get the idea that James is not talking of simple desires that makes life meaningful. He refers to lusts. “but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:14 KJV). Lust is understood to mean a strong longing, especially for what is forbidden. Whenever you have a lust, temptation is not far-fetched.
“Lust is understood to mean a strong longing, especially for what is forbidden. Whenever you have a lust, temptation is not far-fetched…The devil has no foothold in a good desire to cause temptation.”
Judas Iscariot presents a test case of lust-temptation dynamics. The devil did not swoop on him brazenly at once to lead him to betray Jesus. Satan only worked with existing lust in his heart. Once, a woman brought precious ointment to anoint Jesus. Judas raised an eyebrow against that gesture. He wondered why the oil was not sold and the proceeds given to the poor. The Bible tore through his hypocrisy, noting that the protest was not so much for his love of the poor, but that he kept the ministry’s purse and helped himself with what was in it. Crying wolf was his attempt to replenish the purse and have more to steal. The lust to illegally enrich himself was already in place before the time of betrayal. Satan only helped him along his well-beaten path. Here is the point: the way to victory starts with an assessment of desires that we entertain in our hearts. Proverbs 10:24 concludes with an assurance, that the desire of the righteous shall be granted. The reason for this is explained in another line – “The desire of the righteous is only good…” (Proverbs 11:23 KJV). The devil has no foothold in a good desire to cause temptation.