Every Good and Perfect Gift from Above James 1:17

After sharing from where “temptation” really comes, James, “the servant of God” exhorted his “beloved brethren” not to “err”. In chapter one and verse seventeen of his letter, James continued his exhortation as he told them about “every good” and “perfect gift” where we read:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

The verse begins, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights,...” James began with the word “Every” or “each, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things and everything” which is considered to be a “good gift” which means “useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy, excellent and distinguished sharings, talents, acquisitions and pecuniary gifts” “and every” or “each, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things and everything” “perfect gift” which refers to “bounty, benefaction and bestowment which is brought to it's end, finished, complete and wanting nothing” “is from above” or “from a higher place such as the things that come from heaven or God”, “and comes down” or “descends, falls and is cast” “from the Father” or “departed and separated, befalls, comes and is taken from the one who stands in a father's place and looks after another in a paternal way” “of lights” which means “the extremely delicate, subtle, pure and brilliant quality of truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it”. There is no “gift” whether “good” or “perfect” that is not given to people from God above. He is over all the “lights” of the sky, and He certainly has more than an ample supply of “gifts” to bestow.

The verse goes on to say, “...with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James continued, “with whom” or “at, by, beside and within this Father of lights” “is no variableness” or “change, transmutation or fickleness”, “neither shadow” or “shade which is cast by one object on another” “of turning” which means “revolution, alteration or modification”. When the Lord “bestows” His gifts upon people, He doesn't waver or “turn” away from benefits He gives.

When we consider these words of James, we should understand there are no “benefits” given to people whereby the Lord is not the author of them. We might sometimes marvel how some people seem so “gifted” in areas and others are not. These “gifts” originate with God who created and made all the “lights” of the sky and the enlightenments among men. The greatest gift He gives is His Son Jesus Christ who was sent to save people from their sins, and after this, we may enjoy more and more of His precious goodnesses. May we realize the value and source of everything that has been afforded to us, and may we bless the Lord Jesus for His precious “gifts”.

Next time James tells his readers they were designed to be “the first-fruits of his creatures”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.