16Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17Every good thing that is given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the FATHER OF LIGHTS, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all He created (James1:16-18).

Moving on to James’ epistle, the first 15 verses speak of a matter concerning which I have already written much. That is the nature of the Christian life being something of a trial. Counterintuitively, James teaches that when the believer is tested and tried, he/she ought to be joyful – for such testing is necessary for perseverance which in turn leads to perfection in the sense of completeness (vv2-4), albeit we can never be entirely perfect as long as we are in this earthly body (Rom8:23).

Continuing the counterintuitive theme, those who are materially poor should delight in their exalted status (v9) – that pertains to what was considered in the previous post concerning Christians being the firstborn, reiterated shortly by James (below) in terms of being the first fruits of creation. Wealthier believers need to take care however, not to delight in their material prosperity, for that aspect of their existence may be taken away at any time and certainly will be at physical death (v11). Seemingly having more to lose, the prosperous may be tested all the more should hardship come, whereas for  poor and afflicted believers things can only get better. And ultimately they  surely will – in the form of a crown of Life (v12).

But the short passage I want to focus on in this post, quoted at the start, concerns a comment James makes concerning God being the Father of lights. He is also the Father of Light (singular) but that is not the point James is making; nor does the Greek refer to heavenly lights as the NIV augments the translation. James is referring to gifts God provides for us that I am clear are not restricted to matters of the spirit. I commented on the statement in my book from which I will briefly quote:

“As well as the light of reason and conscience, the loving Creator also works through His Holy Spirit in the gifts and talents He provides to mankind, for “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights (Jam1:17). These gifts are by no means all religious in nature. The Father of lights can reveal something of Himself and His all-embracing providence in music, art, poetry and many aspects of human endeavour. An artistic creation or composition that inspires or elevates is likely to have been the result of its human creator being themselves inspired. Anyone who genuinely admires and appreciates such work is honouring and welcoming something of God into their heart; for everything that is truly worthy, every good and perfect gift has derived from Him. Within the literary arts, any play, book, drama, even comedy that challenges people’s prejudices and encourages a more considered, open-minded or compassionate way of life is a preparation for the gospel.

And it was God, not the devil who provided wine to gladden the hearts of men (Ps104:15)for as Paul had affirmed in one of his sermons, our loving Creator wishes His human creation to be happy as well as holy (Acts14:16-17). An artistic outpouring that creates a sense of longing and wonder that people would not otherwise experience creates the void which ultimately can only be filled by God Himself. Science and learning are also gifts from the God who would not only have all men to be healed and restored but come to know the truth (1Tim2:4).

At the natural level of revelation, something of God’s providence and power are seen in the magnificence of creation and in the more wholesome aspects of human talent and industry described above, to which much could be added. The Christian is assuredly not to “despise everything pertaining to the senses” as Augustine had asserted^Cit#1 for not all that is sensed in the mind merely excites the flesh but can also uplift the spirit. These are gifts to be appreciated and cultivated; albeit not to be embraced as if they themselves were the culmination of beauty or joy, for the Christian should discern that their Apotheosis is to be perceived through them not in them.  [Citation #1 Augustine “Of the morals of the Catholic Church” chap. 20].

[Quote from The Little Book of Providence – chapter 5]

Of course, as our short extract from Hebrews concludes, the greatest gift God has given to mankind is spiritual in nature: “He chose to give us birth through the Word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all He created”(v18)

That “birth” is to be born again of water and the Spirit and is currently restricted to those who are the elect of God. But then as the passage concludes, such are a kind of first fruits of the created order, the wondrous providential implications of which I considered in some detail in the previous post concerning the Church being the assembly of the firstborn.

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