Faithful Living - Studies from the Book of James
No 6 "The Giver of Perfect Gifts" v 17 - by Pastor Jack Anderson
Introduction James has and continues to draw a picture of God, and how He works in
the life of His children. He has been teaching about faith, through the
means of trials and temptations. That measure of faith is the premise upon
which the Christian life is built.
Trials, we are all too familiar with them.
Temptations, there is not one of us who escapes. Temptations touch us all.
1:16 do not err, my beloved
brethren. Do not be deceived. Do not blame God for the temptation, for He is a Holy
God who cannot be tempted and it is not in His character to tempt anyone.
13. Let no man say when he is
tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (KJV)
Nothing is more tragic than for a person to
have a wrong conception of God, for this one great error will effect one’s thinking and their character and at the end of
the day it will have eternal consequences.
We are not to be deceived concerning the way
sin works. Don't be deluded and led astray. The pattern is always the same,
desire, deception, sin, and death.
Having pointed out that God is not the source
of anything that is evil, James now proceeds to show that God is the source of
everything that is good. Do not be deceived -- serves as a
link between what has just been said and what follows.
17 Every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Not all of life is made up of trials and temptations. There are those
"good" days squeezed in between, and James recognizes the goodness of
God that works in the trials for the building of our faith, and that helps us
overcome the tempting times of life.
One of the Devil’s great tricks of deception is to convince people that
God is always holding something back; He deprives and does not give.
In the Garden of Eden, Satan deceived Eve by sowing the seeds of doubt.
Gen 3:4 and the serpent said
unto the woman, ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the
day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods,
knowing good and evil.
God is holding back and is robbing you of that which is good. Once we
doubt God’ goodness, we are attracted to Satan’s offers and the natural desire
will reach out and take the bait.
When Eve doubted God’s goodness she then yielded to Temptation. God is the source of
all goodness, the giver of every good and perfect gift, the hand behind every
mercy and blessing that we receive.
Moses warned the Israelites, that they were not to forget the goodness of God
when they entered into the blessings of the land of promise. This is a warning
that is applicable to the Redeemed of the Lord today, " Do not forget the goodness of God".
The
Goodness of the Gift
V17 Every
good gift
We are reminded that God gives only good gifts. Everything good in
this world comes from God. If it is not good, it is not of God. Do you and I recognize God's giving goodness?
His Excellent Goodness
The problem we have of seeing the goodness of God,
is that we want to define what "goodness" is. If things are going
well, we are enjoying good health, and the bills are paid, then God is
being good to us. But what happens in the times of testing and temptation is
that we fail to see God's goodness at work in our lives.
There are two Greek words used for the word
"Gift" in verse 17. The first word is "Dosis" which means the act of giving.
The second is "Dorema" which places the
emphasis on the gift itself. What James is saying is, when God gives, both the
gift and the act of giving are good. This is not always so with human giving.
1.
There may not be Sincerity in our giving
Some give in order to get. They speculate to
accumulate. There is a kind of giving that is calculated to fill the pockets
rather than to empty them. Secondly, the value of a gift can be diminished by
the way the gift is given.
For example—The Birthday present that we feel obligated to give.
The last minute Christmas present that we rush out to buy, because we have
received an unexpected present from someone.
We feel compelled to give because we have
received. Giving can be made to look like generosity when it is but ingenuity.
When God gives there is always sincerity in His giving, there are no
ulterior motives, and He gives in a loving and gracious manner. The real
good of every gift is that the giver be in the gift--as God always is, for
He is love- When in all gifts we find Him, then in Him we shall find all
things.
Illustration. Warren Wiersbe, writes, in his autobiography
"If life is to have meaning, and if
God's will is to be done, all of us have to accept who we are and what we are,
give it back to God, and thank Him for the way He made us.
What I am is God's gift to me; what I do
with it is my gift to Him. In Human giving --
1. There may not be Sincerity
in our giving
2. There may not be
Suitability in our giving
Human giving is not always suitable. Though
there may be goodness with our intentions, we can give gifts, which are not
needed by the recipient.
The Bride to be is really pleased when she examines her
presents and gifts from her family and friends.
She then notes that she has, six sets of knives
and forks, four toasters, six kettles, eight sets of table- mats, ten tables cloths, but no Table or chairs.
Our heavenly Father always gives gifts, which are suitable, His divine
wisdom is aware of exactly what we need.
3. There may not be Sensibility
in our giving
A wealthy man may give his wife many
presents, and to his son the latest
gadgets and computer games. He thinks that they have everything, which they
need to be happy, but he deprives them of himself because he is so involved in
his business.
We cannot condemn him for the gifts he has
made. There was an element of goodness in them, but his giving was not
sensible. His gifts were a pathetic substitute for himself.
4. There may not be
Sufficiency in our giving
We hear of an appeal for finance to help
where there has been some kind of natural disaster; we send a gift to help.
There is goodness in this act, perhaps even sacrifice. Yet Human
giving can be helpful, useful, or beneficial and still not be sufficient.
Giving is good but it is limited by our
humanity. It may not always be sincere and sufficient. This brings us to the
heart of what James is saying. V 5 "God gives to all men liberally"
He gives out of His great love. His gifts are
always Sincere, Sensible, suitable and sufficient. His gifts are free from all
earthly alloy; they are perfect in every way. The act of giving is as important
as the gift itself.
1.The Goodness of the Gift
2. The
Generosity of the Gift
V 17 every good gift and
every perfect gift is from above, In His giving the Lord
gives to us gifts, which display His nature and character.
Perfect --
This indicates that the gift given is everything it should be. It is complete
and lacks nothing. Perfect is one of the Bible’s favourite words in describing
our heavenly Father.
The Work of God is Perfect. The handiwork of men
may look good on the surface; the work of a master craftsman might look almost
perfect.
But, put man’s work under the Microscope and
it will reveal flaws and failures. The closer you examine anything that is made
by man, the more imperfect you see it to be. –
Michelangelo, said, "A true work of art is but a
shadow of divine perfection" The
more you look at God’s work the more you see it to be perfect.
The Work of Creation--- The Bible says over and over again "
God saw that it was good" Gen 1:31
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And
the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (KJV)
God’s work of creation is Perfect.
God Work of Redemption is
Perfect
The generosity, the liberality, and the
Perfection of God’s giving are clearly seen in the gift of His Son.
Rom 8:32 He that spared not
his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things? (KJV)
Every day should be a day of thanksgiving for
the child of God, for our heavenly Father has given to us all things. His Son,
His Spirit, His Word, His very own life and he have never charged us for one
single mercy or blessing.
Naught
have I gotten but what I received
Grace
hath bestowed it since I have believed,
Boasting
excluded, pride I abase
I
am only a sinner saved by Grace.
Concerning God’s great work of Redemption,
the Prophet writes
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his
soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant
justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (KJV)
This statement tells us, that when man’s existence on planet earth has come to
an end, the Lord will look back over His own work of redemption and He will be
satisfied.
The Work of God is Perfect.
The Way of God is Perfect
Psa 18:30 As for
God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a
buckler to all those that trust in him.
David the Psalmist wrote these words when he had been through a time of
testing and trial. Saul, in anger had been pursuing David. These were days of
misery for the Lord’s anointed.
Yet as he looks back over this experience
he testifies Psa 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: 32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh
my way perfect.
I have been through the valley, through the deep waters of testing and now I can see
that these things were for my good, as God brought me to maturity.
Through it all I have learned to trust in
God, who works out all things for the good of His people. "As for God His
way is Perfect"
The Will of God is Perfect
The perfect will of God takes us beyond God’s Work and His Ways; this takes
us into the deep counsels of His heart. God’s sovereign purpose and design is
always perfect in every detail.
The Apostle Paul tells us this; Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this
world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Oh, the generosity of the Gift of God’s
perfect will to the believer.
The Word of the Lord is Perfect.
Psa 19:7 the law of the LORD is perfect,
converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the
simple.
James underscores this statement
1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer,
but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
How we thank God for the generous gift of
His precious Word. The Bible is never out of date, and it is never out of touch
in any generation, because it is Perfect.
Father
of mercies in Thy Word
What
endless glories shine?
For
ever be Thy Name adored
For these celestial lines.
A. God’s gifts are Perfect---
B. God’s Gifts are Persistent V 17 "and cometh down from the
Father"
The term "Cometh down"
is a present participle, (keeps coming down" God does not give just
occasionally He gives constantly and persistently, even when we may not even
recognise His gifts.
God is never less than generous even when we are less than
grateful!
1. The
Goodness of the Gift
2. The
Generosity of the Gift
3. The
Greatness of the Giver.
V17 every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with
whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Here God is called the "Father of
Lights"
A. God is the Father of
Natural Light
All the great luminaries, the sun, the moon, the stars are His wonderful
creation and His gifts to mankind which are essential for man’s well being.
God has created these things for our blessing
and they are among His perfect gifts.
Psalm 2 v2,3
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth
his handiwork.
Day unto day uttereth
speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There
is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
B. God is the Father of
Spiritual Life.
He is the Light of the world
Through the tender mercy of
our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 32 A light to
lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
To give light to them that
sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the
way of peace.
"In him was life; and
the life was the light of men".
The Apostle Paul reminds the Ephesians Eph 5:8 for ye
were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as
children of light:
1. God is the Father of
Natural Light
2. God is the Father of
Spiritual Life.
3. God is the Father of
Unchangeable Light.
"With whom there is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning"
God is not unpredictable and changeable
like men. We are variable and wavering, but God is not. God does not change.
Sunlight changes, moonlight changes, therefore we have, dawn, high noon,
twilight, and dusk. The turning of the earth and the sun produces shifting
shadows, but God does not change and with Him there is no shadow of turning.
Quote. A W. Pink said, " God cannot
change for the better, for He is already perfect, and being perfect He cannot
change for the worse. God Himself had declared I am
the Lord I change not" Mal 3:6 KJV
Life has many shadows but they are never caused by God’s turning. His
turning does not cause the shadows in the believer’s life, for with Him there
is no shadow of turning.
If there are shadows in our lives, they are not there because God "the Light"
has moved. They are there because we have allowed something to come between our
God, and us, the One, who is the light and the life of men.
If you stand exactly under a street lamp, no shadow is cast. Take one step away from the light
and you will find a little shadow. Take a few more steps and you will see just
how much the shadow grows.
If there are shadows in your life, it might
well be that you have changed your position and have moved away from God’s
revealed will.
Turn back to the place of love and light turn
back to an unchanging faithful Father and seek His forgiveness and His Grace.
God is the author of light,
and with Him there is no darkness at all, not even a shadow.
Great
is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father
There
is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou
changest not, Thy compassions they fail not
As
Thou hast been, Thou for ever will be!
Light purifies! Who
has not heard of the ultraviolet ray? Light makes growth and life itself possible!
Light makes
it possible for us to move about in safety. It protects us, gains our
attention, and points the way.
Illustration--Among the Jews of Jerusalem, the dawn of the Day of
Atonement was eagerly awaited. A watchman stood on the walls watching for
sunrise. When he saw the first rays he would shout,
"Light! Light! I have seen the light!"
The Apostle John writes 1John 1: 5 This then is the
message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light,
and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have
fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But
if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth
us from all sin.
James 1:17 Every good gift
and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of
lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (KJV)
The
Spirit lives in you and me, Walk in the light
His
light will shine for all to see walk in the light
Walk in the Light, Walk in the light of the Lord.