Living Wisely With the Unchanging God - James 1:16-18

Change is the nature of weather. One day it can be extremely hot and the next quite a bit coller. Weather changes because the atmosphere is in a constant state of change.
It’s the same with shadows. Shadows change because the position of the sun changes in relation to where you are and we are constantly changing our position.
But God is not like the weather or the sun or us. God does not change, therefore the very best thing you can do with your life is entrust it to Him, follow His word and remain loyal to the Lord throughout your life.

In this passage James gives us four reasons to rest the weight of our lives with the unchanging God.

God is for us. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. (vs. 16)
Don’t be fooled or misled by circumstances, ungodly advice or the enemy. God is not out to get you, harm you, experiment with your life or make you miserable just to teach you a lesson. Beyond that God does not send nor allow challenges, changes or situations in your life that are ultimately bad for you.
We’re misled if we believe that God is somehow cruel, unfair, harsh, and mean or in some way means to cause us actual harm and distress just for the sake of it. Being misled in this way is dangerous and foolish because it can cause us to consider pulling back from or walking away from God to handle life on our own.

We live wisely with the God who is for us by constantly seeking His help, direction and provision in whatever circumstances we're in.

God has favored us. 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. (vs. 17)

Good and perfect here are defined as that which is useful, sound, virtuous and of high quality, mature, fully developed, complete, full grown. The idea James is getting at is that God gives us those things that are beneficial for us in our pursuit of following and knowing Him. In scripture good refers to that which conforms to God’s character, will and general purposes for His creation. That which is good isn’t confined to the religious or spiritual arena of our lives. Our work, relationships, recreation and other things that contribute to our overall well-being are part of God’s goodness. That’s why Jesus could say that God’s goodness is shown to those who are evil and unjust as well as to the godly and just. What are some of those things God has given us for our well being?

There are natural gifts given to all humanity.

All of us have a set of abilities and skills useful to provide for our needs and build up our communities. All of us have been given the capacity to learn, adapt and grow for our own good, the good of our families and communities. God has given us a world that just so happens to work in just the right way for our ongoing survival and flourishing. God has blessed us with the capacity to organize into communities, cities and countries for the greater good of all.

There are special gifts given to His people.

God has given us His word that reveals His character and nature, His express will and His intention in our salvation that centers on His Son. He has given us His Spirit who empowers us to strive for holiness, press His agenda, proclaim His gospel and function in His church.
God has given us His church which is His own special community in which we enjoy a common salvation, a common unity, a common purpose and a common destiny. He has given us the example of His Son Jesus Christ who demonstrated what the abundant living is during His time on earth. His life therefore serves as a blueprint concerning how we ought to orient and live our lives.
God has given special gifts to His church to instruct, challenge and encourage us in our ongoing walk with the Lord. He has given us special spiritual gifts to be used within and among His church so that it will function well and continue to pursue the mission to which He has called it.
God has providentially shepherded us throughout our lives so that even our bad experiences can be useful in our ongoing witness of His gospel.
Finally, God gave us His Son to take the punishment for our sin. It is this gift of life and salvation that's the greatest gift of all.

We apply God's favor by thinking about and being thankful for it, instead of complaining or lamenting what we don't have or what our present circumstances are.

God doesn't flip-flop. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17  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

Why do people change?

We change because we need to improve. We change because we get new information about something or someone. We change because we’re displeased with or disappointed in something about ourselves.
We change because we come to see that our current course of action won’t work. We change because something makes a difference in the way we think or feel. We change because we come to believe that a particular action, way of thinking or way of living is wrong.

But God does not need to improve. He has no defect of character that needs to develop and get better.
God will never get new information since His knowledge is perfect, absolute and exhaustive. God has no moral defect in Himself that is cause for disappointment or displeasure. God is perfectly pleased and content with His plan of salvation, where that plan is now and how that plan will culminate which is in the universal adoration and worship of His Son Jesus Christ. God has no need to change how He feels or thinks about Himself, His Son, His salvation, humanity, what is right, what is wrong, what sin is and what it is not. God’s ways and actions are perfectly holy, perfectly righteous, perfectly just to the degree that He has never wronged anyone, cheated anyone, misled anyone, misread anyone’s motives, owes anyone an explanation or is indebted to anyone.

God is not like the weather, the atmosphere, the sun or people. There are no conditions within Him or outside of Him that will cause Him to change in His essential nature, character, being, and ways.

We live wisely with the unchanging God by diligently obeying His word with the conviction that He will in fact guide our lives to the wisest, most fruitful and most blessed end possible.

God has freed us. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (vs. 18)

By an act of His grace and His grace alone God initiated the new birth. We were unable and unwilling to give ourselves new life. This new life led to our understanding the gospel and our need for it which eventually led us to believe in Jesus Christ. The new birth freed us from the grip of our regular human nature thus empowering us to hear, comprehend and desire the things of God.
God gives new life as the gospel is declared in a public or private setting. This can happen one on one or within a group of people. It is God's express will to bring people to new life through the declaration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is in this way that the Father works through the Spirit to bring people to express saving faith in the Son. The new birth is the basis for a change of attitude and appetite which eventually leads to a permanent change of living.
The gift of new life is precious because it rescues us from having to live an unwise, unfruitful and ungodly life.

Thus the God who does not change has made a permanent change in us so that we will change and grow to be more like Him.

We therefore live wisely by enbracing the changes God is making in our character even though there are times when He will use unpleasant people, things and situations to do so.

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Questions for reflection:

Do you ever find yourself thinking that God is somehow being unfair with you or not favoring you in the way He should?

Do you tend to measure God's goodness by your current circumstances or what the Lord has done for you in salvation?

What gifts has God given to you that affect your natural and spiritual life?

Are you generally thankful for what God has given you or do you find yourself lamenting things you don't have or wondering why God hasn't given you a different life situation?

Is there anything in your life that might cause you to believe that God will change His attitude toward you?If so do you understand how the scriptures and the gospel correct that belief? If not, what is your understanding of the gospel?

Deep down do you desire or have an appetite for the things of God or not? Do you genuinely want to obey the Lord and grow to more and more imitate the character of Jesus Christ?

To Him Who Loves Us...
Pastor Lance