Every Good and Every Perfect Gift

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”  James 1:17

“Every good gift and every perfect gift…” James uses two different nouns both of which are translated “gift.” The first means “the act of giving” (DOSIS). The second, DOREMA, refers to results, thus, “the thing,” the gift itself. Therefore, the text literally means, “every good giving and every perfect gift is from above.”

He is the Father of lights. The sun, moor and stars declare Him: Genesis 1:16. He made the greater light, the sun, the lesser light, the moon, and the stars.

He never changes. With Him there is no variableness. “Variableness” translates PARALLAGE, a word which refers to change or variation. Our English equivalent is the word PARALLAX. It conveys the idea of changing one’s point of view.

Illustrate this concept of changing your point of view. Extend your right arm and hold up your index finger. Now don’t move it. Cover your left eye with your left hand. Don’t move that right index finger. Rapidly move your left hand and cover your right eye with it. Do this back and forth a few times. It looks like the right index finger moves, but it doesn’t. Your view might change, but His doesn’t.

“Shadow of turning” pictures the late evening lengthening shadows resulting from the earth’s rotation. God is constant; He doesn’t turn. He never changes. God doesn’t change like a shifting shadow.

Every good and perfect gift is from God. Gain His perspective and you will never need to change it.

A worthy prayer: 

Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Psalm 25:4