The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’

6 so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?’”

Reputation is what others think of you. Character is what you really are.

Which is more important? Or are they equal in importance? Recent news has focused a lot on some wealthy people, who have cooperated with evil in the effort to get their children into so-called “prestigious” colleges. A state senator in Arkansas has now pleaded guilty to numerous counts of falsification and bribery in the effort to accumulate a lot of money. Some time ago, several U. S. congressmen and senators either resigned or simply decided not to run again, due to illegalities having to do with money.

The Apostle Paul warned young Timothy (1 Tim. 6:10) that “…the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith…” The word longing means “stretching out,” going to undue lengths to acquire more and more money. It’s a thirst — an unquenchable thirst — that poisons the human spirit and leads man on a path away from the faith.

Money itself is not evil; however, the hunger for money for money’s sake takes man’s focus off of the LORD and materialize his mind. I once asked a money manager, “How much is enough?” His reply was, “There’s never enough.”

You may say, “I know what I need and money gives reality to that need.” Do you think the LORD doesn’t know? Israel had been miraculously delivered from Egypt. They had crossed the Red Sea and witnessed Egypt’s charioteers drowning; yet, they worried about not having enough food. Do we not know that the LORD is capable of providing everything we truly need? His promise is “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”

Not only will He provide all of our physical needs, He promises to protect us from those who would do us harm. What do you need? –really need?

He can provide it if we will be content with what we have and live confidently in Him. When our character is clean, there is room for all that the LORD can and will provide.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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.”