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.  (18) Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.  (21) Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.  (22) But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (27) Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this:  to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world 

The author of this letter is likely JAMES, the half brother of Jesus.  James was the prominent leader of the church in Jerusalem and presided over the Jerusalem Council.

In the verses we study today, James deals with how Christians should handle adversity. The Jews were inclined to expect God’s material blessings in response to pius living and conversely, felt that those who did evil would be disciplined and punished for sins – a philosophy very much of this world. But James writes of a different perspective on Christian attitudes toward adversity.  James wants both the rich and the poor ( of this world) to see their circumstances from an external perspective.

Christians are to expect suffering and trials and they have to be ready in knowledge and faith – we have to remember in times of crisis what we know in times of peace to be truth. In times of storms we don’t think clearly and are too emotional.  We must remember that God gave us the gift of salvation through Christ – we must trust God to delover us from evil. There is a connection between adversity and temptation. Some in times of stress will yield to an ungodly response, but God never tempts us with evil – He cannot. Evil comes from our sinful nature and sin yields to death of the soul – death of spiritual life.  God is not the source of our sin but of every good gift. God never changes and He is sovereign. Adversity  is used by God to perfect His saints and He provides the tools to do this. Adversity can bring out the worst in man – just as it brings out the best.  No adversity comes into the life of the believer that has not been purposed by God and He will give us the strength and wisdom too endure and be sanctified. Man must respond in God and not in themselves.

We are in God’s care – we are God’s first fruits of the resurrection And in return we are to be His message and light in this world.