Jump Start # 2487

James 1:17 “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

Our verse today reminds us that with God there is no variation. That word simply means change. God doesn’t change, and that’s a good thing. It’s good for many reasons. It seems that everything else changes. As one gets older, you tend to notice changes more. Things are not the way they once were. This is part of life—it’s never stationary. It’s always changing.

For instance, seasons change, especially where I live. Within one day a person can go from having the air conditioner on to ending the day by turning on the furnace. The common thought in these parts is if you don’t like the weather, just wait, it always changes. A young man has moved up to our area from Florida. I asked him if he was ready for winter. He said, “I have a jacket.” I said, “Son, up here, you need boots, gloves, scarf, hat, and a coat. Then you need an ice scraper for your car.” He said, “That’s going to be expensive.” I just smiled and handed him a super sized ice scraper.

Stores close. Churches close. Buildings are torn down. New houses go up in what was once corn fields. The cute puppy becomes an old dog that sleeps most of the day. Cuddly little grandchildren grow up and start driving, dating and getting married. Our favorite teachers retire. Our preachers move. New software and new phones challenges us because they are different.

People shop differently today, often without leaving their house. Groceries are delivered. You can pay someone to string your Christmas lights, walk your dog and drive you to the airport. My, oh my, things change. My dear dad who is in his 90’s, lived in a house without electricity, running water or indoor plumbing. Just in his time, we’ve put men on the moon, can send a picture from a cell phone across the planet in seconds, do your banking without leaving the house, transplant hearts, replace hips, and have diapers that change colors when they need changing. Our ovens clean themselves. Microwaves heat food in seconds. Our cars have heated seats and cameras that show you what’s behind you. We can livestream our worship and even watch a sermon months after it was preached. Our copy machines can copy, fold and staple booklets in seconds. On my office wall I have a couple of framed religious magazines from the 1840’s-1850’s. Those articles were hand written and then sent to a type setter and in the course of several long days the papers were published. I could do it all before lunch with the technology today.

Life is always changing. It seems that nothing stays the same. But here are some things to keep in mind:

First, we still die. We may be living longer today, but we are still dying. There is no escaping that. That has been going on since Cain killed Able. Death brings sadness. Death casts one into eternity. Death ends things here. Whether we talk about a young family living in a log cabin in the wilderness in the early 1800’s, or in a village in Europe in the 1200’s, or in the first century, or today, we still die. Just in the news around here, a police officer was killed. A young school boy was killed crossing a street. A drug addict died of an overdose. An elderly person in a nursing home died. This could be in any town. This is every day. Some things never change.

Second, our natures do not change. Since the Bible was first written, we struggle with sin. We fight temptation. We have attitudes, some good, some not so good. We have guilt. We must decide whether or not to forgive. David, from his rooftop, looked at a woman bathing. That temptation is the same as a man looking at a porn site. King Saul was angry and threw a spear. That temptation is the same as someone grabbing a gun and shooting. The prodigal’s older brother who refused to welcome and forgive the prodigal is just about the same as a church member who avoids another because he doesn’t like him. What makes the Bible so real to us is that the people in the Bible are not much different than you and i. Choices. Right and wrong. Good and evil. That’s what Adam faced. That’s what Cain faced. That’s what you and I face. What did people back then worry about? Family. Health. Money. Some things never change.

Third, from our passage, God doesn’t change. He is the same. Yesterday, today and tomorrow. Past, present and future. God is the same. He loves you. He wants you to trust Him, obey Him and follow Him. He knows you can do it and He wants you to do it. Ancient Israel worshipped on Saturday. The early disciples worshipped on Sunday. However, faith, devotion, pleasing God remained the same. The Gospel message that saved Lydia, will save you. The hope of the Gospel that encouraged a depressed Paul, answered the questions of the Corinthians, and gave courage to the persecuted, still works on you. The way to be saved remains the same. The God that Abraham prayed to, is the same God that you can pray to. The same Bible that brought salvation to the villages of Europe, can bring salvation to your heart.

God hasn’t gotten old on us. We haven’t missed His best years. I’ve gone to concerts before where the performer couldn’t hit some of the high notes anymore. Some do not even try to sing some of their most famous songs because they can no longer do them. Their best years are behind them. It’s not that way with God. He’s just as strong, wise and loving as He has ever been. He’s got the best for you, just as He did for those early believers. God’s not going to have a bad day. You are not going to catch Him in a bad mood. God doesn’t change. The loving God that wants me to come home to Him is the same. He is the same today, as He was yesterday, as He will be tomorrow.

Some things never change. We could add that God’s message doesn’t change. Oh, some are trying to make the Bible politically correct, and make it say things that it doesn’t say, and make it accept things that God considers sin. But, it won’t work. God’s word never changes. It transcends all cultures and all times. In good times and bad times, in happy times and in sad times, one can count on the word of God being the same. The Bible is the same here as it is there. The Bible is the same today as it will be tomorrow. Some things never change.

I read about a man who is trying to marry his robot. How dumb can some become. I suppose down the road when they make a prettier robot, this guy will divorce his robot so he can marry another. What about all of that? Could it be possible? Can you marry your dog? How about marrying a hotdog? There is no end to how far some will sink. But some things never change. What God says about marriage remains the same.

So, in our changing times, it’s important to see that some things never change.

Roger

Jump Start # 2192

James 1:17 “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Technically, sin can be classified as sins of commission or sins of omission. Commission, is what you commit. It’s what you do. Generally, commission sins involve disobeying God by violating a principle or command. For instance, Paul told the Ephesians not to steal. That’s a divine principle found in both Testaments. If I steal, then I have committed a sin. It seems that most of our energy, preaching and teaching is directed to not committing sin. Obey God rings pretty clear.

The other type of sin is called omission. Someone omits or leaves out or doesn’t do what they ought to do. God tells us to engage in good deeds, and we don’t, we have not committed anything, but we have omitted something. We failed to do what God wanted. Much of our character, positive attributes, fellowship principles involve doing or becoming what God wants. Be holy, Peter told his readers. When I don’t, I have omitted something.

This is where our passage from James comes in. A person knows the right thing to do and doesn’t do it, it’s a sin to him. The one talent man fits into this. He didn’t do anything wrong. He didn’t lose the coin. He didn’t waste it, abuse it, misuse it, or even, spend it. He buried it and presented it back to the master. However, his sin was that he didn’t do anything with it. He omitted any positive results. The master called him lazy and wicked and cast him into the outer darkness and his one coin was given to the five talent man. He simply didn’t do anything.

It is easy to define Christianity in negatives. A Christian doesn’t cuss. A Christian doesn’t steal. A Christian doesn’t lie. A Christian doesn’t commit adultery. The list can be long. But at the end of the list, one still doesn’t know what a Christian is. What does a Christian do? It’s more than avoiding the bad, it’s engaging in the good and becoming like Christ.

Now, our verse presents an interesting thought. Here is a person and he knows what he ought to do. It’s not that he needs to be taught. It’s not that the thought isn’t there. He knows. He recognizes what needs to be done, what needs to be said, what he ought to do. The list could be endless. He knows he ought to go to worship, that’s the right thing to do. He knows he ought to help encourage a brother in Christ. That’s the right thing to do. He knows he ought to contribute more than what he is. That’s the right thing to do. He knows he ought to pray. That’s the right thing to do. He knows he ought to be more caring and engaged at home. That’s the right thing to do. He knows that he needs to spend more time in the Bible. That’s the right thing to do. He knows. You don’t need to tell him. You don’t have to open your Bible and show him. He doesn’t need a special sermon on why he needs to engage in good deeds. The head knows, but the feet won’t move. This is not a knowledge issue, but a problem with his will. He just doesn’t do it.

Now, why? This is what baffles preachers and shepherds. Here is someone who knows what he ought to do and he may even know the upside benefits of doing what he ought to do, but for some reason, he doesn’t.

Sometimes the person, himself, doesn’t really know why he doesn’t do what he ought to. Engaging in good deeds and doing what is right takes effort and the ability to push oneself out of his easy chair. Habits, this is a big part of all of this. One is not in the habit of praying, reading God’s word or looking around for opportunity to do good. Some just don’t see it. Some just don’t think that way. But here, in our verse, the person knows. He knows, but he just won’t do it. Laziness can get the best of us. Short cuts. Quick and fast ways are what we like. Some things take time. Some people require time. As you have opportunity, we find in Galatians, may not be the most convenient time. It may mean during the Saturday ballgame. It may mean after you have come home in the evening and you just want to stay home.

Sometimes the right thing involves risks. The right thing to do may be letting your voice be heard. It may mean saying something which others do not what to hear. It’s easy to hide and be silent. It’s easy to say to ourselves and convince ourselves, “I just didn’t want to stir things up.” Some times stirring is the very thing that is needed. The right thing to do may be raising your hand in a college class and defending the God of Heaven and earth after a foolish professor has ranted and trashed God’s holy name. It may be declaring what the Bible actually teaches around several co-workers who are mocking the Bible or misusing the Bible. It may be writing an email or sending a private Facebook message to someone you know who is not saying something accurate about God. It may mean sticking up for the kid who was bullied, whether a young person at school, or a new guy at work. It may mean telling the boss that you will not lie, cheat or steal for the sake of the company. To all of these, comes consequences. Things could get tense, ugly and hard. But the right thing is the right thing.

This passage follows immediately after James talks about future plans and the need to include God into our thinking by saying, “If the Lord wills.” Arrogance James says, is evil. Our verse begins with, “Therefore.” Therefore, include God in your plans. Therefore say aloud, “If God wills, we will do this.” Therefore, you know the right thing to do, so do it. If you don’t, it’s sin.

James wants us to realize that each day, every day, is a gift from God. He doesn’t owe us this day. He didn’t have to give you today. It was a gift. Honor Him by thanking Him. Honor Him by using it wisely. Honor Him by glorifying Him throughout the day. Honor Him by inviting and including Him in your life and in your plans. You know this, James says. This is the right thing to do. If you don’t do it, it’s sin. It’s sin because you act as if you are God. You act as if you know and you can command tomorrow. You act as if you are in control, when you are not. You act as if all your plans are going to be just as you planned, and you cannot know that.

In James’ illustration, he talks about going into a city, spending a year there, engaging in business and making a profit. A well thought out plan, expect it didn’t include God. Lots of things could happen. Maybe you get sick and you can’t make the trip. Maybe there is an earthquake and the city is ruined. Maybe you cannot afford to stay a year in the city. Maybe the business plans do not work out. Maybe you don’t make a profit. Maybe your profit is mishandled or taxes take most of it. Maybe…maybe…maybe. The point is, you don’t know. God does. You best include God. You best ask for God’s favor and guidance. You best follow His will. You best live under the “Thy will be done,” concept.

Therefore, to the one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin. What is the right thing to do? Include God into your life. Make plans with God. Live under the “Thy will be done” concept. You know that, so start doing that. This is what James is driving at.

Omission sins do not seem as bad as commission sins, at least to us. No blood. No foul. No one hurt. Yet, God kept out of our hearts and God pushed off the throne as we try to run the universe, is bad. Omission and commission sins are equally wrong and equally destructive.

Now, you know. Now, what will you do? To him that knows…

Roger

Jump Start # 2003

James 1:17 “Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above; coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.”

The day after Christmas. Two prevailing thoughts fill the air. First, “what did you get?” That’s asked by kids as well as adults. It’s an inventory of the presents we received. Second, there is an inner feeling that some have because they did not get what they wanted. That perfect gift wasn’t under the tree and now, a day later, they feel disappointed.

Buying presents for others can be hard. For young children, they want everything. Then for parents, they have everything. A person can feel unsure what to get. Here are some simple reminders as we put out bags of wrapping paper in the trash and put everything away.

First, the measure of our love isn’t based upon a gift. Why bankrupt the farm to buy something to prove that you love someone. Love isn’t expressed that way. It may have worked this year. Now, what will you do for next year? Our love is expressed by the way we talk to one another. It’s shown by time spent. I saw that with a couple of the grandkids this weekend. After the presents were opened, they seemed to have more fun chasing me with the empty tubes from wrapping paper. They giggled and ran and played and were determined to destroy the giant (that was me). Love is time. Love is care. Love is laughter. Love is concern. Anyone with enough money can buy a gift, only you can give your heart. That’s love.

Second, there can be a lot of pressure upon the young married man to find that perfect gift for his young wife. He wants to make her happy. He stresses over trying to find just the right gift. The radio blasts ads from competing jewelry stores about getting her a diamond. Those thoughts dance through his head. He visits one of those stores and leaves with a nauseating feeling in his stomach at the price that is required to purchase such a diamond. He feels that if he does not deliver he will fail her. So much pressure. The giving of a gift ought to be fun. It is more blessed to give, the Lord said.

Third, we have in our minds that the gifts that we give will be immortal. They will always remember them. Most of us can’t remember what we received a couple of years ago. Some are hard pressed to remember what they received last year. A gift is a moment. Some gifts, like a puppy, are still around and we are reminded of that, but the clothes, the electronics, the movies, the candy, they tend to be forgotten after a while. There will be other gifts—birthdays, anniversaries—gifts tend to blend together and they don’t stand out nor are remembered as we hoped that they would be.

With all that comes our verse today. Every good thing, every perfect gift, comes from above. They do not come wrapped up and placed underneath a Christmas tree. Many of those gifts are so common that we do not think about them. It’s easy to not even consider them gifts. It’s something that we tend to expect. We went to bed last night, fully intending to wake up today. Most went to bed intending to wake up feeling well today. And, we have. We just assume that, expect that, and don’t think much about that. Those are gifts.

The gift of a sound mind. We take that for granted. The gift of friendships and family. The gifts of hope, love and a future with God, those all come through Jesus Christ. The gift of the Bible, God’s wonderful will and word, so clear, so convincing, so needful and so helpful. The gift of fellowship with God’s people. To be loved, accepted and even wanted by others, what an enormous joy that is. The gift of our abilities and talents. The gift of encouragement. The gift of preaching. The gift of leading. The gift of serving. All of those touch the lives of others and makes powerful differences in their lives.

Jesus told the disciples that God knows what we need even before we ask Him. He knows that we need salvation. He knows that we need daily substance to live. He knows that we need fellowship. He knows that we need direction. He knows that we need forgiveness. He knows that we need Him. And, that is the greatest gift of all, the fellowship and presence of God.

He doesn’t hide and we have to try to find Him. He doesn’t declare, “figure things out on your own.” We couldn’t do that. He’s there. He’s the shepherd that goes looking for the one lost sheep. He’s the person who swept the house looking for the one lost coin. He’s the father who runs out to greet his returning prodigal. Seek, Jesus said, and you will find. Knock and it will be opened. The greatest gift is the presence of God in our lives. He loves you. He loves you even when you haven’t thought about Him in a while. He loves you even when you have hurt Him. He loves you when you are not very loveable. He loves you. And, He has sent the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ to redeem you and save you.

Good and perfect gifts—they come from God. They are just what we need. They come often. They come because God loves you. In this season of giving, let us not think, “I didn’t get what I wanted,” when we got exactly what we needed. And, let us not become ungrateful nor fail to express to God our thanks for all that He has done for us. Wrapped up in all these wonderful gifts from God is His patience. He waits for us. He is patient toward us. Some of us are slow at coming around to Him. Some of us do not seem to be in a hurry to get on board with God. He’s patient. Change takes time. We are being shaped, changed and becoming what He wants.

God is always thinking of you. God is giving to you. God’s gifts do not come just at a certain season of the year. They come all the time. We are truly blessed!

God has been and continues to be, good to us.

Roger