16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

Right in the midst of James’ explanation and warning of the process of our own desires, that have not obviously been renewed and refocused to love and desire what it is that God approves of and wants in the believers lives, James inserts this blatant warning about deception.

This plays out in my mind this way – “You are making good progress, don’t let yourself be derailed by a fleshy desire getting in the way of powerful spiritual forward momentum”. Any lost time is a real tragedy and something we must be so conscious of avoiding. Sinful practices equate to wastage of life itself. So much time and energy lost pursuing wrong things.

It's critical to think of sin participation as a form of a deception. And James is saying “don’t be deceived”!

He then follows that up with:

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. When good things happen, we aren’t “lucky”!

Absolutely not – it’s either a blessing of God and our Lord Jesus Christ or it’s a harvest from our worthwhile seed sown. Remember Colossians 3:16-17

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:23-25

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

Mark 4: 26 And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Ephesians 6:8 - 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.

Friends, we will never escape the process and system of seed/plant/harvest.

There is no such thing as “lucky” it’s either a blessing of God and our Lord Jesus Christ or it’s a harvest from our worthwhile seed sown.

Once again, a genuine faith is Christ Jesus helps us understand these processes well, for not only our own benefit but also to ensure we definitely bring benefit and value to other peoples lives. That is the Christian way.

Amidst all of the problems, trials and the enticing of sin – BE REMINDED that good things are God engineered.

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.

The Father of Lights - the God that created all light – light be and light was! – the Father of lights is unchanging in his Character – Jesus Christ, the same yesterday today and forever – God doesn’t change like the transition from day to night back to day – God doesn’t change like a moving shadow – be grounded in the truth that our Good God wants good things for His people!

Many people have a problem with that – you need good, useful things – so you can do good works – James goes on and in verse 27, mentions visiting widows and orphans in their affliction – why – in their affliction? So that when you arrive they are not afflicted any more – you are there to practically help not visit and chat!

There’s a fascinating truth I’ve been meditating on in Genesis 1:26-28

Verse 28 – the very first two words ever heard by a human ear:

BE and FRUITFUL

To BE or BECOME the person that does and achieves all these things in V28 and do it from a fruitful and useful perspective.

DO SOMETHING – USEFUL!