Trials, we are all too familiar with them. Temptations, there is not one of us who escapes. Temptations touch us all.

Nothing is more tragic than for a person to have a wrong conception of God, for this one great error will effect one’s thinking and their character and at the end of the day it will have eternal consequences.

We are not to be deceived concerning the way sin works. Don't be deluded and led astray. The pattern is always the same, desire, deception, sin, and death.

Having pointed out that God is not the source of anything that is evil, James now proceeds to show that God is the source of everything that is good. Do not be deceived -- serves as a link between what has just been said and what follows.

Not all of life is made up of trials and temptations. There are those "good" days squeezed in between, and James recognizes the goodness of God that works in the trials for the building of our faith, and that helps us overcome the tempting times of life.

One of the Devil’s great tricks of deception is to convince people that God is always holding something back; He deprives and does not give.

God is holding back and is robbing you of that which is good. Once we doubt God’ goodness, we are attracted to Satan’s offers and the natural desire will reach out and take the bait.

When Eve doubted God’s goodness she then yielded to Temptation. God is the source of all goodness, the giver of every good and perfect gift, the hand behind every mercy and blessing that we receive.

The problem we have of seeing the goodness of God, is that we want to define what "goodness" is. If things are going well, we are enjoying good health, and the bills are paid, then God is being good to us. But what happens in the times of testing and temptation is that we fail to see God's goodness at work in our lives.

Some give in order to get. They speculate to accumulate. There is a kind of giving that is calculated to fill the pockets rather than to empty them. Secondly, the value of a gift can be diminished by the way the gift is given.

For example—The Birthday present that we feel obligated to give. The last minute Christmas present that we rush out to buy, because we have received an unexpected present from someone.

We feel compelled to give because we have received. Giving can be made to look like generosity when it is but ingenuity.

When God gives there is always sincerity in His giving, there are no ulterior motives, and He gives in a loving and gracious manner. The real good of every gift is that the giver be in the gift--as God always is, for He is love- When in all gifts we find Him, then in Him we shall find all things.

Human giving is not always suitable. Though there may be goodness with our intentions, we can give gifts, which are not needed by the recipient.

The Bride to be is really pleased when she examines her presents and gifts from her family and friends.

She then notes that she has, six sets of knives and forks, four toasters, six kettles, eight sets of table- mats, ten tables cloths, but no Table or chairs.

Our heavenly Father always gives gifts, which are suitable, His divine wisdom is aware of exactly what we need.

A wealthy man may give his wife many presents, and to his son the latest gadgets and computer games. He thinks that they have everything, which they need to be happy, but he deprives them of himself because he is so involved in his business.

We cannot condemn him for the gifts he has made. There was an element of goodness in them, but his giving was not sensible. His gifts were a pathetic substitute for himself.

We hear of an appeal for finance to help where there has been some kind of natural disaster; we send a gift to help. There is goodness in this act, perhaps even sacrifice. Yet Human giving can be helpful, useful, or beneficial and still not be sufficient.

Giving is good but it is limited by our humanity. It may not always be sincere and sufficient. This brings us to the heart of what James is saying. V 5 "God gives to all men liberally"

He gives out of His great love. His gifts are always Sincere, Sensible, suitable and sufficient. His gifts are free from all earthly alloy; they are perfect in every way. The act of giving is as important as the gift itself.

But, put man’s work under the Microscope and it will reveal flaws and failures. The closer you examine anything that is made by man, the more imperfect you see it to be. –

God Work of Redemption is Perfect

The generosity, the liberality, and the Perfection of God’s giving are clearly seen in the gift of His Son.

Every day should be a day of thanksgiving for the child of God, for our heavenly Father has given to us all things. His Son, His Spirit, His Word, His very own life and he have never charged us for one single mercy or blessing.

Concerning God’s great work of Redemption, the Prophet writes

This statement tells us, that when man’s existence on planet earth has come to an end, the Lord will look back over His own work of redemption and He will be satisfied.

The Way of God is Perfect

Through it all I have learned to trust in God, who works out all things for the good of His people. "As for God His way is Perfect"

The perfect will of God takes us beyond God’s Work and His Ways; this takes us into the deep counsels of His heart. God’s sovereign purpose and design is always perfect in every detail.

Oh, the generosity of the Gift of God’s perfect will to the believer.

All the great luminaries, the sun, the moon, the stars are His wonderful creation and His gifts to mankind which are essential for man’s well being.

God has created these things for our blessing and they are among His perfect gifts.

Psalm 2 v2,3 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Sunlight changes, moonlight changes, therefore we have, dawn, high noon, twilight, and dusk. The turning of the earth and the sun produces shifting shadows, but God does not change and with Him there is no shadow of turning.

Life has many shadows but they are never caused by God’s turning. His turning does not cause the shadows in the believer’s life, for with Him there is no shadow of turning.

If there are shadows in our lives, they are not there because God "the Light" has moved. They are there because we have allowed something to come between our God, and us, the One, who is the light and the life of men.

If you stand exactly under a street lamp, no shadow is cast. Take one step away from the light and you will find a little shadow. Take a few more steps and you will see just how much the shadow grows.

If there are shadows in your life, it might well be that you have changed your position and have moved away from God’s revealed will.

Turn back to the place of love and light turn back to an unchanging faithful Father and seek His forgiveness and His Grace.