The Pilgrim’s Progress is one of the most read Christian books. For more than two centuries after its publication, it ranked just behind the King James Bible as the most common and important book in evangelical Protestant households. It has been translated into more than two hundred languages, including eighty in Africa alone. It is an allegory of the Christian life. Christian is the main character, who leaves his home, the City of Destruction, on a journey to the Celestial City. He is motivated to find freedom from the heavy burden that he carries constantly on his back. His search brings him in contact with many different characters, one significantly directs him to a wicker gate, up a hill to a cross, where he finally loses his heavy burden. This a picture of the freedom that we receive from the guilt of sin by trusting in Jesus Christ. Continuing on his journey he follows the straight and narrow pathway of the King which eventually leads him to the house of the Interpreter where he would gain important instruction for his journey. The Interpreter is the Holy Spirit, and under his instruction we have many valuable things to learn about how to remain faithful to God in our life. Let’s pick up the story as Interpreter leads Christian through his house from room to room:
“The Interpreter took him upstairs to a pleasant room, which looked like a nursery. Two little boys were sitting there, each in his own chair. One of them appeared to be quiet and happy, but the other was crying and seemed very angry and discontented. “These two little boys are staying here for a time,” said the Interpreter. “The one who is crying is called Passion, and his brother’s name is Patience.” “Why is Passion crying?” asked Christian. “He is a foolish boy,” replied the Interpreter. “There are some beautiful gifts coming soon from the King, and the children are each to have their share. Patience is willing to wait for them, but Passion is vexed because he cannot enjoy them immediately. He wishes to have his pleasure right now, instead of at the proper time.” Just then the door opened, and a man came in, carrying an armful of toys, candy and all sorts of fun things, which he spread upon the table in front of Passion. The boy was delighted, and wiping away his tears, began to look at is treasures. Among them was a bag filled with bright golden coins, and when Passion saw these, he held them up in his hands and laughed at Patience, who had nothing with which to amuse himself. “Passion is very happy now,” said the Interpreter, “but in a short time all his coins will be spent, and his candy will be eaten, and his pretty things will be torn and broken and spoiled, and when the King’s gifts come, he will have no share in them. Then he will wish that he had waited as Patience is waiting now.” “Are the King’s gifts better than these?” asked Christian. “Far better, they are treasures that cannot be spoiled, and Patience is very wise to wait for them,” replied the Interpreter. “Passion is laughing now,” said Christian, “but I think Patience will have the best of it.” “I’m sure he will,” said the Interpreter. “You must remember that everything I show you is meant to teach you something, and you may learn from this that it is not wise to wish too eagerly for pleasant things until the King sends them. He knows exactly what is good for each of us, and he will always give us what will make us really happy. If we behave like Passion and try to be happy in our own way, we are sure to be disappointed.”
- We are faced with temptations and trials in life that demand a response from us. Each of us choose between passion or patience. James has mentioned trials in verses 2, 3, 12, this calls for endurance; and temptations in verses 13-15, this calls for resistance. Both responses are a form of patience.
- Patience is the result of perspective and perception; insight as to what we are experiencing; how we see things in our life; what we set our minds and hearts on; what we value.
- Hence, James exhortation in verse 16, “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers” about the nature of trials and temptations. What the world has to offer brings only temporary satisfaction and fleeting pleasures. The power of Satan’s lure is in the lie: “God is holding out on you; he doesn’t want good for you; he doesn’t really care for you; You had better take things into your own hands and look out for yourself.” It’s the same thing we are prone to believe when we face suffering and difficulties.
- This is the lie the enemy has used since the Garden of Eden; that brings into question the goodness and generosity of God.
- What is the truth? God gives! This is the main idea of these few verses:
“God is the great Giver of life, trust his promises!”
James offers 5 truths about the generosity of God, they are intended to lift our perspective higher than the trials and temptations of life; to give us insight about what is truly valuable in life; he gives us some God shaped lenses in which to see our lives more clearly.
1. God Gives Beneficially – He gives “good” gifts.
- There are two kinds of good in this life: there is butterscotch ice cream good and there is asparagus good. James is describing the later good: useful, profitable, beneficial. It has a good purpose.
- God sovereignly and specifically chooses what is the best gift for us. If it comes from God it is for our good.
Matthew 7:11, Jesus asks the question: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
- We don’t always see the goodness in his gifts.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Like the Apostle Paul’s struggle with his experience of personal suffering. He referred to it as his “thorn in the flesh.” Something painfully distracting; a problem that restricted him in some form; an affliction that took from him. At first Paul admitted that he failed to see any usefulness in his difficulty: it was nothing more than a curse, a hindrance in his life, weakening him, resulting in frustration.
– But he speaks of a transformation in perspective that takes place as he pleads with the Lord to free him of this disability:
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (The Message Bible), “At first, I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, ‘My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.’ Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness.”
- Paul’s problem turned out to be a blessing, an effective means of “Keeping him from becoming conceited.” Pride is an attack on the supremacy and sovereignty of God. Pride isolates us from others and from God. It is a serious character problem, more severe than physical affliction.
- The gifts that God gives to us are meant to bring about our highest good. You may not see that in your own experience, but endure through it believing it is true and he will be with you through it to help you. God gives good gifts.
2. God Gives Perfectly
- He gives “perfect” gifts. The word means, “complete, lacking nothing, integrated, whole.”
- When I was a child one of the most disappointing experiences about Christmas or birthdays was to receive a gift without the necessary batteries to operate it. Printed on the side of the box, “Batteries not included.”
- When God’s gifts to us, are lacking in no way. He does not give in half measures. His gifts are not some random expression of a whimsical decision or reaction. Everything in your life is integrated into his supreme plan for his glory and your good. Everything he gives you is intended to contribute to that goal.
- You never need to go to any other source to complete or supplement your life. We have everything that we need in Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.”
- He has called us to something that is higher than what we can experience in this world; He has called us to his glory and excellence.
- His perfect gifts are “from above, coming down from the Father.” Think about that for a moment. What is it like above? Things of higher value and enduring results. The gifts that God gives reflect him, they are of eternal worth and durability.
Colossians 3:1–3, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” God gives good and perfect gifts.
3. God gives constantly
- His giving never ceases for his children. His gifts are “coming down”. The phrase is in the present tense. His gifts are coming down continually. He keeps on giving. Not occasionally; but constantly. Even when we don’t see it or feel it.
- The Old hymn composed from an Anne Johnson Flint poem expresses this truth so vividly:
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
Don’t doubt his ability to give!
God constantly gives good and perfect gifts.
4. He gives consistently
- I want you to see that God not only constantly gives, but he gives with consistency.
- His giving comes from “the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” In God there is no variation, no change or alteration. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
- As a child, we played a game on called shadow tag, where we tried to step on the shadow of someone else to tag them. The game was more challenging depending on the time of day. In the early morning or late afternoon, the shadows are longer. The shadows change with the passing of time because our planet is moving, it doesn’t remain in the same place relative to the sun. The sun stays in its place and our planet is constantly moving around it.
- God is the “Father of lights.” He is the source and sustainer of all light. He casts no shadow because he is the light. Never changing.
- The story is told that Alexander the great had conquered the ancient world and returned to Greece, he visited his old teacher, Aristotle, to tell him all that he had accomplished. When he found Aristotle, he was at home taking a bath. Alexander told his old mentor all of the conquests that he had done. And then he said, “Now I am prepared to do anything in the world that you desire. What do you want?” Aristotle looked up and replied, “I want you to get out of my light!” No matter how great we may appear to be, the best any of us can do is cast a shadow. But there is no shadow in God at all! – R.C. Sproul writes, “God’s shadow never moves, because he has no shadow. God dwells in blazing light. His very being is the fulness of light. His glory is radiant. Even the sun that floods our planet with light has dark spots. There are no spots on God – no hint of darkness.”
- He is described as a “covenant-keeping God,” faithful to his word. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as he kept his promises to his children in the past, he will do for you today.
- He is consistent, reliable, worthy of your trust and allegiance.
- We are living a world that is plagued by disaster. Everything is changing, multiple voices are demanding attention and solutions, the outlook is bleak, sorrows abound.
- But we have a Father who is above all this; he knows what’s going on; he has not been caught off guard; he isn’t wringing his hands wondering what to do next; his purposes have not changed or diminished at all.
5. God gives Life.
- James says, “Let me give you an example of God’s faithful generosity: 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.”
- Consider the greatest of all his good and perfect gifts: he has given us life! Here James is referring to new birth, that comes to us by the word of truth. Just as he spoke the universe and this earth into existence, he has caused us to be born again by his word. He has given us eternal life through the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. He has made us children in his forever family.
- Notice the contrast: verse 15 says passion gives birth to sin, and sin gives birth to death. Verse 18 says God gives birth to life, we become the first-fruits of his creatures.
- As God’s redeemed people, we are the first-fruits, the first results of God’s vast plan to renew this sin stained planet. Paradise will be restored! God will renew all things someday. You and I are the first crop in his ransomed creation.
Romans 8:28, 31-32, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. . . What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
- In weariness, confusion, temptation and suffering, remember, God is not holding out on you, child of God. He gives good and perfect gifts, constantly and faithfully producing his life in us. Don’t be discouraged and lose heart! Don’t be deceived into choosing anything else than what he desires for you.
- Verse 12, “Blessed is the person who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” You are loved by the eternal faithful God, his promises are true, they are far greater than anything you are experiencing now in this world.