Every Good Gift
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. (James 1:17-18) James tells us that every good and perfect gift comes to believers from above. In James' mind, nothing good rises to God from the earth. If it is good, it is of God and comes down from God, and there are no exceptions. Every suitable work we do in the service of God is born of the Spirit dwelling in us. James speaks of this as "the meekness of wisdom," which is quite different from the forceful and strident spirit some display. James calls worldly wisdom earthly, sensual, and demonic. The tell-tale signs of this type of spirit are envy, selfishness, confusion, and every other evil thing. God has called us to something much better. He has called us to Himself in Jesus, and He...