The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Timothy 6:6-12, “…godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.

7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

When the Apostle Paul mentions those who have “wandered away from the faith,” he is speaking of those who have altered their priorities. They were once focused on the faith, but having been attracted by another factor in life, they have abandoned the faith altogether. In the case of which Paul is speaking, the attraction that occasioned the abandonment was money. They simply wanted to “get rich.”

The Bible includes some godly men who were rich: Abraham (Gen. 3); Job (Job 1); and Solomon (1 Kgs 3); to name but a few. Yet, many men find riches incompatible with a godly, spiritual life. From our text above, it would seem that Timothy had identified some who wanted to get rich and fell into temptation that led to “many foolish and harmful desires” and to “many griefs.”

Someone once said: “It’s not how much you have, it’s how you hold it.” By that, he meant that it isn’t disastrous to be rich so long as the money doesn’t control the person who has it. Paul tells us to flee from things that want to enslave us; rather, “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.” I have known some wealthy men who were not controlled by what they possessed. Still, there’s a risk – and it’s not worth taking! Keep your focus on the LORD! Follow His directives! If He has allowed you to become wealthy, you owe it to Him to show you how that wealth should be used. He will let you know.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 5:15-27, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise,
16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.
24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”

Paul begins with a warning: “be careful how you walk…” The word “walk” indicates the manner of life that is to be the way of every Christian believer. The days, Paul says, are evil; therefore, we are to live under the control of the Holy Spirit. How we behave, as we live in the midst of evil, is of vital importance.

Paul states forthrightly that “…the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ also is the head of the church.” The commotion that sometimes occurs in families is often traceable to failure in adhering to this spiritual principle. We all want to have exceedingly spiritual families! The key to such lies clearly in our following the rules established by the LORD. The husband who speaks too often about “the girl at the office” is not playing by His spiritual rules. Nor is the wife who speaks of the deliveryman who converses too long and too often about things not related to his deliveries. True love adheres to Biblical principles that honor the LORD and build up the home.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Job 5:2-13, “For anger slays the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple.

3 I have seen the foolish taking root, and I cursed his abode immediately.

4 His sons are far from safety, they are even oppressed in the gate, and there is no deliverer.

5 His harvest the hungry devour and take it to a place of thorns, and the schemer is eager for their wealth.

6 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground,

7 For man is born for trouble, as sparks fly upward.

8 “But as for me, I would seek God, and I would place my cause before God;

9 Who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.

10 He gives rain on the earth and sends water on the fields,

11 So that He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.

12 He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd, so that their hands cannot attain success.

13 He captures the wise by their own shrewdness, and the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted.”

Anger and jealousy are killers! What’s more, these attitudes have a disastrous effect upon others in addition to a reciprocal effect upon the foolish one from whom they come. Such attitudes often threaten safety, even the safety of those from whom the malevolence originates. Affliction does not come out of nowhere; it originates from those associated with an intentionally bad attitude.

What avenue of escape is open to one who, in anger, has demonstrated a bad attitude? There is but one who owns and operates with a thoroughly righteous temperament and all-sufficient power: the LORD God! Regardless of the nature of the confrontation, He alone is sufficient to end the crisis. “He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd,” and “captures the wise by their own shrewdness.”

All of this is to say that there is never a situation the LORD cannot handle. He can avert evil, regardless of its dimension or its intensity. He can extricate the innocent from the malevolent hand of the aggressor. No innocent child of His need ever worry. He is ever and always in control. He has a plan that includes each of His own. The key to His protection is belonging to His Family. Do you belong? Do you know others who need to belong? Now is the time for recruiting them.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Titus 2:11-15, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,

14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.”

It’s not clearly attributable to any one individual, yet someone, somewhere, once cited “Grace” as an acronym for “God’s Redemption At Christ’s Expense.” And, yes, it’s always been expensive!

Redemption means “buy back,” and what was lost to mankind due to sin was bought back in and through the crucifixion of our LORD Jesus Christ. He forgave our sins and purchased us for Himself by the way of sacrificing the life of the LORD Jesus Christ on the cross.

When we look to Jesus on the Cross of Calvary and ask His forgiveness for our sin, He guarantees that forgiveness. Simultaneously, He instructs us “to deny (terminate) all ungodliness and worldly desires,” (known as “repentance”).

Verse 13 is almost all uphill: “…looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus…” In the vernacular of today’s world, “He took our bullet, so we could live!” Still, it’s not thoroughly automatic. When the Apostle Paul said, “…looking for…” redemption, he tied with it “purify for Himself a people…” In other words, we “exchange” our sinful selves for Jesus’ self-sacrifice on the cross for our sins. I’m a broker for Christ: believe me; that’s a positive idea!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3:5-6)

Today is someone’s “Day of Salvation!” Have you had anything to do with it?

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

2 Corinthians 1:3-7, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer;

7 and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.”

It was indeed a cold day, and it grew colder as the day began turning to night. I well remember those cold days in my youth. Yet, they never seemed cold until my boyish strength gave out. Then the cold set in, and it was good to be inside and by the fire.

My grandmother used to cover me with what she called a “comfort.” It was actually a heavy cloth simply called by that name. But it was indeed a comfort—especially to a small boy who had played too long in the cold outdoors.

As I grew older, I learned that the LORD Jesus Christ was the God of all comfort. Numerous situations required care that only He could provide. Afflictions, sufferings, and multiple things not covered by my human “comfort” were then required. I learned to lean on Jesus for divine comfort. Some afflictions require more than human comfort can provide. Further, along with His comfort is clear and careful instruction for the extrication of the hurt and future avoidance of the root cause.

Eventually, we all suffer from situations that are extremely discomforting: such as accidents, illnesses, and even the deaths of loved ones. Yet, the LORD is the Great Physician! What the best doctors and ministers cannot do, Jesus can do; and He is willing. We simply need to know He is always present to comfort and guide us. But we must first embrace Him as our LORD and Savior. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:31).

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom