CHAPTER THREE
EVERY GOOD GIFT COMES FROM GOD
“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.” (James 1:17)
“Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above who created all heaven’s lights; unlike them, He never changes or casts shifting shadows.” (James 1:17, NLT)
There are good gifts and there are bad gifts. But every good gift comes from God. In fact, everything God deposited in man was good. However, through satanic influences, some people acquire bad gifts from the devil.
Jesus explains this better in John 8:44. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it”
Jesus says the devil is father to certain individuals who will replicate his characteristics –a murderer and a liar. Also, the devil is called the thief and the destroyer in John 10:10.
There are people who are gifted liars; but God couldn’t have gifted anyone to lie. It must behave come from the devil. It’s a bad gift. There are people who are talented thieves; they just pick up anything they see. They got that from their father –the devil. There are many murderers, destroyers adulterers and so on. God never gives such gifts to anyone. They’re all from the devil, no doubt.
Those under the influence of Satan are gifted with bad talents, but those under God’s influence exhibit good gifts. It’s simple! In 1 John 3:9-10, John the Beloved said “whosoever is born of God does not commit sin…In this, the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil; whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God…”The Apostle clearly states that there are Children of God and there are children of the devil. Everyone exhibits the gifting of whom he belongs.
With Whom is No Variableness!
God is never partial. He gave gifts to all men (Ephesians 4:8); and there is no variableness with his gifts (James 1:17). He doesn’t give powerful gifting to some and less important ones to others. Your talent is just as important as anyone else’ own. God has no respect for persons (2 Chronicles 19:7b). He’s given good gifts to everyone.
Your success depends on how you are able to utilize yours. Romans 9:12 says “…the same lord over all is rich unto all…” Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:4: “Now there are diversities (different types) of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are different administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all” (Emphasis mine).
Also, “There is One body and One Spirit, even as ye are called in One hope of your calling: One Lord, One faith, One baptism, One God and One Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:4-7).
There is a measure of the gift of Christ in everyone; and it is a pointer to each one’s destiny. We’re in the same Body of Christ but we’re given diversities of gifts to function in different areas. These gifts come from God –the Father of lights; with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning.