"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
2007-12-06 13:20:08 · 23 answers · asked by Brigid O' Somebody 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
God is always there for us. He never takes a day off, a vacation, a holiday ... He knows what is best for us. He has a perfect plan for each of us. That's why He sometimes answers our prayers with a "Yes" and sometimes with a "No!" Sometimes it's "Maybe" so that we can learn patience. His answers are always the right and perfect answers. (As humans we often can't figure out why He answers in a certain way or we are sure He has failed to answer.)
2007-12-06 15:46:10 · answer #1 · answered by celticwoman777 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ever been late to work and said "Oh thank God" when every traffic light was green and you avoided an accident as well?
THAT is my take on "good and perfect gifts"....It's all in the details!! Forget winning the lottery--be grateful for little things like being able to pay the rent and still have a bit left to buy the kids gifts for Christmas.
2007-12-06 21:35:09 · answer #2 · answered by starcrssdlover 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means every "good" and "perfect" gift is from God. Not every gift. Many gifts turn out not to be blessings. But a gift from God is one that will bless. No variableness, simply means that God is the same, today, yesterday and tomorrow, and he is everywhere at once, so there is no shadow at his turning.
2007-12-06 21:34:13 · answer #3 · answered by Capri 1230 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This verse includes two major themes. The first theme involves the greatness of what God has in mind for us. The second is the consistency of God as a source of light and all goodness.
Copied from somewhere on the web. Thank you for asking. Makes us think and be grateful for more than one thing.
2007-12-06 21:33:51 · answer #4 · answered by Darby 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
(I believe you are either searching - or taking a survey.) I interpret "...above..." to be a reference to god. In my world I spell"god" with two "o's". If she or he can continue to shower us with the occasional sunny day and gentle rain, the helpful neighbor and supportive co-worker, ... Well, that's pretty good.
Now, the application of "...no variableness, (nor) shadow of turning...." is a testament to ( a plea for.. ?) the unchanging nature of good... the hope that if we live as we know we should live - that we won't have to look back on our life and think "failure"... or, that we've really been screwed!
2007-12-06 21:43:07 · answer #5 · answered by Richard S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like he is schmoozing up to Yahweh in hopes of a reward. Even though Jimmy cant help hiding the fact that he thinks Yahweh is boring ( having no variableness sounds very bland to me). It also seems that he thinks Yahweh very shallow
having no shadow of turning must mean he is too dimensional and has no depth. But then we must remember that James was the leader of the Ebionites who Christians declared heretics
2007-12-06 21:28:49 · answer #6 · answered by Vermin 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It seems so obvious to me that I'd love to hear your "take" on it. I've copied the Bible (the New International Version) once with ballpoint pen and loose-leaf paper. It took me 7 and 3/4 years and am now working on two very orthodox Roman Catholic versions, and I love to read, in detail, each and every verse, and see what "spin" I get on it versus what I heard in church, if I heard a particular verse at all. I'd love to hear why you chose that verse, especially since it seems so obvious to me, and that makes me wonder why you chose so obvious a verse. God Bless you.
2007-12-06 21:28:03 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It simply means that our Generous Heavenly Father
does not change...
His Love, Power, Wisdom, Justice and lofty Standards remain constant
2007-12-06 21:28:50 · answer #8 · answered by Merry 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
God is unchangeable (immutable)
Psalm 102:27
But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.
Malachi 3:6
I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
2007-12-06 21:24:18 · answer #9 · answered by Holy Holly 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
That is probably the most important verse in the Book of James. It has to do with the idea that God providentially provides the energeia of change in order to accomplish a final teleological purpose.
2007-12-06 21:23:41 · answer #10 · answered by NONAME 7 · 0⤊ 5⤋