Let’s read that most encouraging verse.  James 1:17 tells us, “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.”

From this, we understand that if it is good and if it is perfect, it is from God…”from above.”  James later contrasts the origin of these good and perfect gifts with things such as envy and strife in James 3:15 where he says, “This wisdom descendeth NOT FROM ABOVE, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.”  There is that which is from above, and there is that which is not from above.  Since the good things come from above, literally they come from the hand of God, we are exhorted in 1 Peter 5:6, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”  To receive the wonderful blessings of the Lord, we must humble ourselves before Him.

So…what are these “good and perfect” gifts that come from above?  It is interesting to note that although the word ‘gift’ is used twice in this verse, they are not the same words in the Greek.  The first ‘gift’ is defined as the act of giving a gift.  The second ‘gift’ is defined as the gift itself.  This might be better translated as, “Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above…”  This is an amazing statement of God’s benevolence towards us that belong to Him.  All that we receive from Him begins with His good and perfect will and the gifts that He gives us are good and exactly what we need to have.  The gifts of God do not cater to the flesh, they are not gifts that will draw us away from the Lord by appealing to our fleshly lusts and wants.  His gifts are those which cause us to love, appreciate, and seek to serve Him according to His perfect will.  We read in Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  All that we need to live and serve Him, the Lord will provide. 

These gifts come to us from the “Father of lights.”  Here, the Lord is referred to as the Creator of all the lights in Heaven.  Light is one of the most wonderful things in the world. So much so that some heathen nations have been worshippers of the sun; but we should be thankful that we know better than that.  We do not worship light, but “the Father of lights.”

The Father of lights is said to have “no variableness…”  Even the sun, the source of light to our solar system, may be obscured by clouds, the moon, and particularly the earth in its rotation, and may frequently cause a decrease of light.  This is not true of the FATHER OF LIGHTS.  With Him, there is no variableness or irregularity.  His light is consistent and never changes.

The Father of lights is said to have no “shadow of turning.”  This might be better understood by realizing it means there is no “shadow BY turning.”  Our God, who IS LIGHT and who LIVES IN LIGHT never casts a shadow by turning this way or that.  Again, our sun can cast shadows when its light is moved.  As we have all noticed, the shadows we see from the sun in the morning are different from the shadows we see in the afternoon.  This is because of the constant movement of the earth around the sun.  Our God is only and always consistent.  He does not move in His care for us and blessings upon us.  We have that truth emphasized for us in Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not…”

Of course, the greatest good and perfect gift from God is the gift of His Only Begotten Son.  God, in his unlimited mercy and grace sent His dear Son here to die for our sins, that through faith in Him, we might have the forgiveness of sins and have eternal life.  Have you put your faith in Christ as your savior?  John 3:36 tells us, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”  I pray that if you, dear reader, have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior, that you would put your faith in Him today, before it is eternally too late.  “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”  (Acts 16:31)  (CC)  (609.4)