James 1:17 – The Goodness of God

by Dr. Gary Linton | Updated February 18th, 2023

James tells us all that is good and perfect is from above and comes solely from God. We serve a God who is pure, unadulterated goodness. There’s not even a shadow in His goodness. When we receive anything good in life, it comes down from the Father of lights.

James 1:17 – “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.”

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Mankind is a Beneficiary of God’s Goodness

We all benefit from the goodness of God, the evil and the good, the just and the unjust. In a general since, God is good to all mankind. There are aspects of His goodness that is bestowed upon us all.

Matthew 5:45 – “He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Evil Does Not Come From God

To say that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” makes it clear that anything that is not good and perfect is not from Him. Evil does not originate with God (James 1:13). Anything and everything bad in life does not come from above. It does not come from God. It’s interesting to me that when a tornado, hurricane, tsunami, earthquake or any natural disaster happens it’s labeled an “Act of God.” How is it that we blame God for the bad things in life and so frequently fail to give Him credit for the good in life?

All that God does is good. In the record of creation in Genesis 1, all that God created, He saw that it was good. Then why is there evil? Why do bad things happen? Jesus referring to the devil said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Instead of calling natural disasters an “Act of God” we should more rightfully label them an “Act of Satan.” That said, we do live in a fallen world. The earth was originally created perfect and as the result of sin our world is in a fallen state. Paul referring to the fallen world in which we live said,

“For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:20-22).

God’s goodness is displayed to all mankind, however, His goodness is manifest to His people in a special way. His favor and goodness is bestowed upon those who trust in, follow, are committed to Him in ways that it isn’t bestowed on those who don’t serve Him. Jesus was anointed to release the favor of God to His people (Luke 4:18-19).

Scriptures on the Favor of God

Exodus 33:14 – “And He said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”

John 3:27 – “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.”

Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”

Isaiah 44:3 – “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring.”

Isaiah 66: – “For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being, declares the Lord. But to this one will I look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My Word.”

Luke 4:18-19 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”

Numbers 6:24-26 – “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”

Deuteronomy 15:6 – “For the Lord thy God blesseth thee, as He promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.”

1 Chronicles 4:10 – “Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that Thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that Thine hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13 – “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (not of calamity), to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.”

Isaiah 14:24 and 27 – “The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?”

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Zephaniah 3:17 – “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty – A victorious warrior; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will quiet you in His love, He will joy over thee with singing – with shouts of joy.”

Joel 2:20, 23 and 25 – “I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done monstrous things. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He has given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you.”

Romans 15:13 – “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

2 Chronicles 16:9 – “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him – completely His.”

Revelation 3:8 – “Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it!”

Isaiah 43:19 – “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

Scriptures on the Goodness of God

Psalm 27:13-14 – “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”

Exodus 33:19 – “And He said, I Myself will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.”

Deuteronomy 30:5 – “The Lord thy God… He will do thee good, and multiply thee.”

Deuteronomy 30:9 – “The Lord thy God will make thee plenteous – prosper you abundantly in every work of thine hand, for good: for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good.”

Psalm 34:7-10 – “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. O fear the Lord, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”

Psalm 84:11 – “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” It should be noted, that though we are called to live uprightly, any uprightness we have is of Him and Him alone (Isaiah 64:6 and Philippians 3:7-9).

Psalm 103:5 – “Who satisfieth thy mouth (years) with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Romans 11:22 – “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness.”

James 1:17 – “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.”

Hebrews 9:11 – “Christ being come an high priest of good things to come.”

Financial Blessings

Philippians 4:19 – “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 9:8 – “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

Isaiah 60:5 – “Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.”

Proverbs 10:22 – “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.”

Proverbs 13:22 – “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.”

Psalms 35:27 – “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, which favor My righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, Who hath pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”

Deuteronomy 8:18 – “It is He that giveth thee power to get wealth.”

Isaiah 48:17 – “Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.”