Father of Lights
James memorization, Week #7, James 1:16-17
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
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.”
Most of us enjoy stability. We are comforted when life is the same; the same routines, the same regulations, the same people, and even the same sins (although we should not be comfortable with that!) enable us to be settled and comfortable. The antithesis is also generally true: we detest instability in life.
James has been addressing trials and temptations in chapter one. Interestingly, trials and temptations both come from the same root word. One, James argues, is good and positive because it develops steadfastness in our faith. The other is negative because it plays upon our sinful desires and leads us down a pathway to death.
Which of the two–trials or temptations–would you imagine to be a normal, stable presence in the life of a believer? I would guess that most of us would consider the temptations part of the stability of life. They are normal; we are used to them; we deal with them everyday. But the trials? Now there is instability!
How ironic is it, then, that in God’s perspective, the trials bring stability (or steadfastness) to our faith? It is the temptations that bring instability! God has no part in tempting His people with evil. That is not part of His character. He is the epitome of stability; He does not change. The shadows may move and shift throughout the day according to the placement of the sun, but God does not shift or move. He is stable, unwavering. We must not think that God is part of the instability of temptations.
On the other hand, His good gifts to us, those to which James refers, include making us like himself. He develops steadfast stability of faith in us through trials. That’s another reason to count trials as a joyous opportunity to grow! God’s work of chiseling us into the perfect shape to mirror Him is filled with such good and perfect gifts. So the next time you are inclined to grumble about a trial, give thanks for that good and perfect gift from the Father of lights to bring stability into your life and faith.
Oh this is so timely for me. Thank you for breaking it down. I have been complaining about everything being really frustrating. From cars to kids to crowds in the supermarket. And here, these are the frustrations that are chiseling me. I try to keep a cool head because I’ve heard it said that these trials may come as a test, and if you keep failing the test, you’ll keep getting it until you pass. I’ve failed many patience tests for sure. I’m learning to pass. But I feel I can only do it with God’s help. Because my flesh wants to respond the wrong way.
I was just reading in Proverbs that he who is slow to anger is mightier than he who takes a city. Wow. That is quite a picture.
Thank you for your post. It is a blessing.
February 24, 2011 at 10:57 am