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 ALL GOOD GIFTS

James 1:16-18

“16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 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. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures.”

Abilities, propensities, talents, and potential for good and great things do not originate in humanity. They are not the product of human effort any more than a baby is responsible for its own conception. True, abilities and giftedness can be developed and enhanced through diligent practice and application, but the ground of any gifting for good comes from God, Himself, alone.

People speak of natural talent or what seems to be innate brilliance in some for music, math, art, science, thought, and reason. These things, these good things come from God. That creativity in so many forms whisper that and hint that humans do bear the image of God, albeit a broken image, it is still reflected in goodness.

It is also true that all talents and abilities can be twisted and become the instruments of evil. Sin inherited from Adam does that all too often. But the endowment for good, gifts and abilities designed to display goodness and excellence come from God.

Beauty endowed by God was never to be the seed-bed for pride in appearance. God gave Pavarotti his voice to develop and hone. God gave some to be strong, not to be used to control others but to defend the weak. Those abilities, those good gifts are meant to point us to the One Who gave them to us. Everyone has been given some sort of good gift.

Kindness, compassion, empathy, courage, mercy, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, joy, peace, patience, and love are gifts that display the very character of God through those who seem to other to be devoid of the things the world defines as “giftedness”, but they are even more certain to display the goodness of God.

Every good gift and endowment come from God and by the Holy Spirit, we are empowered and enabled to live with meaning and purpose that is grounded in God, Himself. I can boast in nothing. It is not in some mean way, but God is not impressed with my giftedness, for He gave it to me in the first place. It does bring Him honor and praise when it is submitted to Him and yielded to Him for the purpose He endowed those gifts and abilities to me. Humble thanks and gratefulness that He enables me to cooperate with Him is His Great Story makes the heart glad.




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