The Goodness of the Father in Trials

Context: All of James 1:1-18 is serving to remind us of how to respond in times of trials.

We just talked about “temptation” and “lust’s” baby - sin which grows up to be death.

In sin’s development and in times of trial we might be tempted to believe a lie. Particularly, the lie of the source of evil.

We must not believe the lie that tells us ‘God is the source of Evil.’

God is not the source of evil .

God remains good in the bad times.

A person who believes wrongly here is deceived.

We must fight the lie by knowing God.

We need to shift in our thinking from “God has allowed all these bad things to happen” to “every good thing that happens is from God.”

We deserve nothing good at all. (Rom. 3:10)

Even the difficult things can be for our good (Rom. 8:28)

God’s Character helps us in this pursuit:

His Kindness - Every good gift and every perfect gift

His Transcendence - from above, coming down

Just because his is transcendent, does not mean he is distant. - We still must know and worship Him.

In relation to the gifts, but reveals the nature of how God relates to His people. He does not remain in heaven, but comes down to earth by his works and through his presence.

His Power - from the Father of lights

Father is connected to Creator in the OT - originator of sorts.

Lights would be the heavenly lights - sun, moon, starts etc...

These lights showed his power in creation and were daily reminders of his work in the world.

God is not weak or incapable or cute; He is a strong, perfect, and magnificent God.

His Constancy - with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Yet, even the stars are changing - but God does not change.

Even when your life is spinning out of control; God remains the same.

His Sovereignty - Of his own will he brought us forth

Here we move from the stars to our hearts

“If you can hold the stars in place, you can hold my heart the same

Whenever I fall away, whenever I start to break

So here I am lifting up my heart to the one who holds the stars”

-Skillet, Stars

His initiation in salvation reveals his goodness.

Lust makes a baby that leads to death and the Lord makes a baby that brings new life (brought us forth)

God chose to save

God made it possible to be saved

God calls those who are saved

These are all good things!

His Revelation - by the word of truth

Word of truth will be given an extensive treatment in the following verses.

Word of Truth refers to the Gospel.

The truth is always good.

Trancendentals

His Redeeming Work - that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

As children we are the first “installments” of God’s redeeming plan for eternity.

Illustration - just like the firstfruits of an orange tree - we are the firstfruits of eternity in that we taste in this life the redemption made possible by Jesus through the cross and empty tomb.

This work of redemption is good.

Even in the midst of trial it helps us to remember that God is redeeming his own to himself for a perfect forever in his presence.

Conclusion: We must respond to the difficulties of life by knowing God, experiencing his work, loving his truth, and portraying his salvation in our lives. Don’t believe the lie - love the truth.