“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).
The Bible teaches that God is a Giver and that’s what those who know Him have found to be true. James proclaimed that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Everything beneficial in our lives finds its origin in the loving heart of God. Jesus said, “He [God] causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45).
James compared God to the sun that shines on us each day, then he showed a major contrast between the sun and God. Unlike the sun, God “doesn’t change like shifting shadows.” The sun rises and sets over a twenty-four-hour period. Some of the world is in darkness while other regions experience sunshine. Clouds can leave us in darkness even though the sun is shining. Neither of those descriptions is true of God. He doesn’t change! In the original language of the New Testament, this expression described an eclipse. James was saying that God allows nothing to come between us and Him or His gifts.
A gift, however, has to be received. Faith is the way we receive God’s gifts. He is always extending His hand to us. He allows nothing to interfere with His constant love for us. All He asks is that we extend our open hand to Him so we can receive His love. God doesn’t love us one moment and not love us the next. He is consistently loving. If we believe in Him we can continually experience the sunshine of His love.
As Paul wrote at the end of the eighth chapter of Romans, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (v. 35). Then he lists things that we may think of and declares that none of them can separate us from God’s love. David, in Psalm 23, expresses the same thought. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (v.4). His love is the most amazing gift we could ever receive. May we all open our hearts to receive it.
