James 1:17 ESV
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.
James 1:17 is part of a passage discussing the nature of trials, temptation, and the goodness of God. In the preceding verses (James 1:13-16), St.James talks about the temptation to sin and how it is not from God but arises from one's own desires. He emphasizes that God cannot be tempted by evil and does not tempt anyone.
In verse 17, St.James shifts the focus to the character of God as the source of every good and perfect gift. The context underscores that the blame for temptation or evil cannot be attributed to God, as He is unwaveringly good. Instead, St.James emphasizes that everything good and perfect comes from God, who is consistent and unchanging in His nature. He is described as the "Father of lights," highlighting His role as the source of heavenly, enduring, and flawless gifts.
James 1:17 assures us that every beneficial and faultless gift we receive in life originates from God. It emphasizes God's constancy, highlighting that there is no variation or shifting shadow in Him. This implies that God's nature, His love, goodness, and faithfulness, remain constant and unaltered despite the changing circumstances or seasons of life. Therefore, we can trust in God's unwavering character, relying on Him for every good thing that comes our way.
