The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Corinthians 3:21-23, “So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you,

22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you,

23 and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.“

I may have referenced this previously, but as I was boarding the airplane for Sydney, Australia in 1965, my pastor-mentor-friend, Dr. Earl L. Pounds, shouted at me: “REMEMBER! ALL THINGS ARE YOURS!! REMEMBER THAT! DON’T FORGET IT!” I shouted in response, “I WON’T FORGET! I WON’T!” The problem

was not that I might forget. I just didn’t know what he was talking about! “All things are yours…”? Humm…

There was as much confusion in the Corinthian Church at that time, as there was in me in 1965! Remember that some were claiming Paul as their example and leader. Others insisted that Apollos was superior, while other claimed Cephas (Peter) as supreme. What a divided church! It was a mess! How could such division ever produce anything to the glory of Christ?

We may learn some things from some men that we wouldn’t learn from others. That’s natural. But to place one of the LORD’s servants over another is neither intelligent nor right. The styles of ministers’ labors differ according to their personalites. Nuances of theology are often traceable to the institutions where they studied. Paul simply emphasizes that whoever the leaders are, and whatever they teach, it’s all yours! I like the way Barnes puts it:

“Christ lived, and acted, and reigns to promote the glory of his Father…You belong to Christ;

and He to God (the Father). You are bound, therefore, not to devote yourselves to a man,

whoever he may be, but to Christ, and to the service of that one true God, in whose service

even Christ was employed.”

Thus, when a minister has a message from God, he delivers it to the people in his charge. Yet, the glory is not for the minister, but for the LORD from Whom the instruction ultimately came. Now, that instruction is yours, and it is for you to share with others. Some of those who receive your instruction, will come to faith in Christ themselves. And they are yours, because you belong to Christ. In all of this, however, Christ alone is to be glorified.

Do you personally know Jesus? If not, why not? If you do know Him, are your sharing Him with others? If not, why not? The greatest joy in life is in knowing Jesus! And the second greatest joy is knowing that someone knows Him because you shared Him with them. “All things are yours!” Never forget it.

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.”