The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

James 5:9-12, “Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.

10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

11 Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but let your yes be yes, and your no, no; so that you may not fall under judgment.”

Have you ever noticed that the closer you get to someone, the more you learn about them; and the more you learn about them, the greater the insentive to complain about them? Especially is this true within the church. We know too much about about others and become critical, when often the things we don’t like is others are the very things that are resident in our own lives. That is why James warns us against complaining, saying that the LORD Himself is watching us and standing ready to judge us for our own sins.

If all of this seems strange, he reminds us of the suffering and patience of others. Job is James’ prime example. Job was indeed a wealthy man. He was also a spiritual man. His children used to get together often, and Job warned them against the evil that would like to compromise their lives. At the same time, Job was physically afflicted and suffered terribly.

Satan dared to challenge the LORD to put His hand against Job and insisted that Job would “curse Thee to Thy face” (Job 1:11). Job thereafter lost everything: his sheep, his camels, his oxen, his donkeys –yes, even his children. To make matters worse, Job’s wife urged him to “Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). Barnes believes “…she supposed that by indulging in blasphemy Job would provoke Him to cut him off at once… She expected that God would at once interpose and destroy him…nothing but death was to be expected, and the sooner he provoked God to cut him off from the land of the living, the better. But instead of turning away from the LORD, Job praised the LORD and rebuked his wife, saying, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10).

What was the result? Complete Restoration! “And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning, and he had 14,000 sheep, and 6,000 camels, and 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 And he had seven sons and three daughters…And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his grandsons, four generations. 17 And Job died, an old man and full of days” (Job 42:12-13; 16-17).

In the light of the example of Job, James warns us not to add to our words by swearing oaths, such as “by Heaven I will do it!”; or “as sure as God is in Heaven, I will…” Just simply say, “yes” or “no” and leave it at that. Otherwise, we may say something for which the LORD will judge us. I have often been forced to remember James’ admonition –and more often than not, I’ve forgotten. Don’t fall into Satan’s trap. Just remember the old saying, “If you can’t say something good about someone, don’t say anything at all.”

You are remembered in our prayers; may we be remembered in yours,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P.S. Rose Marie is progressing nicely. Her appetite is increasing and her strength is returning.

We heartily rejoice and thank you for your prayers.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”