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 return 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!
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.
1 This 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!
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But 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. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
9 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The 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.
12 God 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. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 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. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So 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.
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But 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.
26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure 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.
