And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.
When God gave the prophet Nehemiah, the cupbearer to the King of Persia, a divine burden to see the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt, we learn in Nehemiah 2 that he shared that burden to see the walls rebuilt with the king and boldly asked for permission to go to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls. Miraculously, the king granted Nehemiah’s request and allowed him to go to lead the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls.
In light of the king’s granting of his request, Nehemiah could have celebrated his success. He could have boasted about his boldness in asking the king for permission to go to Jerusalem to help rebuild its walls. He, however, did none of these things. Instead, he gave God all the credit, knowing that God alone deserved the credit for this remarkable turn of events. As he shared this story in Nehemiah 2, he wrote, “And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me” (verse 8). Nehemiah knew that the only reason why he was able to return to Jerusalem was because God’s hand was at work, and He gave him all the credit.
James reminded readers that God is the one who deserves that glory for the good things in our lives in James 1. James wrote in this passage of Scripture, “Don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow” (verses 16-17). Notice the all-inclusive language in these verses: “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God.” That means anything good in our lives comes straight from God. This includes the ways He works when we take action and do something with the divine burdens that God has placed on our hearts. We can’t take credit for it because it is a gift. Our proper response to this is gratitude, thanking God for every single one of the gifts He has given us.
When it comes to your divine burden, maybe today you need a reminder that the burden is not about you. On your own power, you cannot do anything about this divine burden. On the other hand, God has the power to do anything, including acting on that divine burden that he has given you. May we never lose the perspective that God is the one who does the work, and we are simply His instruments here on earth. Praise Him for his great power and work in the world!
Moving toward action
Take time now to look back on your past and how God’s hand has been at work throughout your life. List the ways He worked, moved, provided, and took care of you. After making this list, praise God and thank Him for all he has done for you in your life, knowing it was all because His hand was at work. Then, ask God to work in the divine burden that He has placed in your life.
Going deeper
Greetings from James
1This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad.
Greetings!
Faith and Endurance
2Dear brothers and sisters,[1] when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
5If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
9Believers who are[2] poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.
12God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong,[3] and he never tempts anyone else. 14Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
16So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.[4] He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.[5] 18He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.[6]
Listening and Doing
19Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20Human anger[7] does not produce the righteousness[8] God desires. 21So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
22But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
26If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
Translation notes (8)
- 1:2 Greek brothers; also in 1:16, 19.
- 1:9 Greek The brother who is.
- 1:13 Or God should not be put to a test by evil people.
- 1:17a Greek from above, from the Father of lights.
- 1:17b Some manuscripts read He never changes, as a shifting shadow does.
- 1:18 Greek we became a kind of firstfruit of his creatures.
- 1:20a Greek A man’s anger.
- 1:20b Or the justice.
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