Episode147 - "Every good gift is from God" - James 1:16-18

James 1:16   Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will, he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

In the last episode, we saw how James transitioned from the experience of trials in our lives to that of temptations. I spoke about how trials and temptations are very different yet may be associated. When we face trials, we experience some degree and form of suffering. James says that God wants to use these trials to change us into what He wants us to become. However, it is not difficult to allow our flesh to rebel and let our trials become an excuse for temptation. The source of the temptation is never God. God does not tempt anyone. (v. 13) One might argue, “Didn’t God tempt Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden by putting a tree within it that He also prohibited them from eating?” The answer is “no.” There is no evidence they had any problem avoiding the tree until the serpent questioned God’s word, denied God’s word, and impugned God’s character and motivations. The serpent tempted humanity to think of itself over God. 

In verse 16, James implores believers to not be like Adam and Eve. He tells them not to be deceived. About what? He writes,  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” (v. 17) In other words, God is the source of everything that is truly good. Adam and Eve chose to eat what they were clearly told not to eat and that the result of their disobedience would be death. Obeying God would lead to life. In Matthew 7:9-11, Jesus taught that God’s ability to give good things to us who ask Him surpasses our own desire and ability to give good things to those we love, 

“9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:9-11)

 We cannot allow ourselves to become deceived by thinking that God is just looking for an opportunity to deny us something we need or is looking for a reason to trip us up. That is not true. God is good and wants what is good for us.

Why does he speak of God as the Father of lights? It seems to me that it speaks of illumination. Deception, trickery, and trouble originate in darkness and are hidden. When there are lights, there is illumination, and people can see their way and the dangers in their path. The good things God is and does are evident because He illuminates what He is doing. This is exactly what God was doing in sending Jesus into this world; to make God known. Jesus healed people. Jesus fed people. He taught and explained God’s truth to people and invited them to receive the good and abundant life God wanted to give them. 

The last part of James 1:17 says of God, “with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” What does this mean? It means that God doesn’t change. God can be depended upon because He is perfectly constant in His goodness, reliability, and in all of His characteristics. We say that God is immutable.

In verse 18, James says of the believers to whom he is writing, “we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” This is speaking of God bringing them to faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were among the earliest Christians. He says, “Of his own will, he brought us forth by the word of truth.” (v. 18) This is one of the good gifts the Father of lights gave them. He gave them the truth about Jesus and faith to receive this gift. James’ argument in stating this is if God gave us forgiveness of sin and hope of eternal life through Jesus, how could we possibly think that God is malicious in any way? 

Prayer of thanksgiving and trust: Heavenly Father - Thank you that you are good and trustworthy. I know I can depend on you for all things. Help me not to become deceived.