James 1:9-18: a reflection

9Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position; 10and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away. 11For the sun arises with the scorching wind and withers the grass; and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So the rich man will also fade away in his pursuits. 12Blessed is a person who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord promised to those who love him. 13Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. 15Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. The sin, when it is full grown, produces death. 16Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow. 18Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

James wants his readers to know where every good thing in their lives truly comes from. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, he says, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow. Every good thing we have comes down from God, the Father of lights; and he is unchanging, constant, with no variation or shadow of turning, unlike the shifting lights of the sky that rise and set and cast changing shadows. The source of all good is God, and he is utterly constant; the good gifts come from a Giver who does not change, whose goodness toward us is steady and unwavering.

Notice the two truths James joins: every good gift comes from God, and God does not change. The good things in our lives are not random, not merely our own achievement; they come down from God, the Father of lights, the source of all good. And this Giver is unchanging: unlike the sun and moon and stars that vary and cast shifting shadows, God has no variation or turning shadow. His goodness toward us is constant, steady, unwavering. The good gifts come from a Giver who does not change, whose disposition toward us does not shift and flicker like the lights of the sky, but remains steady. Every good thing is from God, and God is constant.

That is worth resting in, for every good gift comes from God, who does not change. We can forget the source of the good in our lives, taking it for granted or crediting ourselves, and we can imagine God's goodness toward us as shifting and uncertain; but James says every good gift comes from God, the Father of lights, who has no variation or shadow of turning. The good comes from God, and his goodness toward us is constant, unchanging. Do not forget that every good gift comes from God, nor imagine his goodness toward you as shifting and uncertain; he is the constant source of all good, with no shadow of turning. Recognize that every good gift in your life comes down from God, the Father of lights, whose goodness toward you does not change or flicker, as James says he has no variation nor turning shadow; for the source of all good is God, and he is constant, so that the good gifts we receive come from a Giver whose steady goodness toward us never shifts.

Lord, James wants his readers to know where every good thing in their lives truly comes from. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, he says, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow. Every good thing we have comes down from you, the Father of lights; and you are unchanging, constant, with no variation or shadow of turning, unlike the shifting lights of the sky. The source of all good is you, and you are utterly constant. Show me the two truths James joins: every good gift comes from you, and you do not change. The good things in my life are not random, not merely my own achievement; they come down from you, the source of all good. And you are unchanging: unlike the sun and moon and stars that vary and cast shifting shadows, you have no variation or turning shadow. Your goodness toward me is constant, steady, unwavering. The good gifts come from a Giver who does not change. Let me rest in that, for every good gift comes from you, who do not change. I can forget the source of the good in my life, taking it for granted or crediting myself, and I can imagine your goodness toward me as shifting and uncertain; but James says every good gift comes from you, the Father of lights, who has no variation or shadow of turning. Your goodness toward me is constant. Keep me from forgetting that every good gift comes from you, nor imagining your goodness toward me as shifting and uncertain; you are the constant source of all good, Lord. Help me recognize that every good gift in my life comes down from you, whose goodness toward me never shifts or flickers.