The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

James 1:19-21, “This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

21 Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”

James pastored, what in New Testament times, would have been considered a sizable congregation. He has just spoken to them of the LORD’s will and that it included them being witnesses of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection from the dead. Then, he compliments them by saying, All of that you know, my beloved people. Certainly, James was honest in his appraisal of the church he served, but he was preparing them for a scolding they richly deserved.

The three-worded phrases he uses says it all: quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. Far too often we, too, are eager to hear something bad about someone –even within the church body. Why is that? Are we not all Christians? Yes, we are, but we have not fully renounced our sinful natures. Moreover, as soon as we hear it, we cannot wait until we have told someone else! Are we so spiritually small, that we think telling something on someone else makes us look bigger, more intelligent, more sophisticated? I’m afraid so.

What is worse than being a tattle-tale, or more correctly, a gossip? Whoa! says James. Be slow to anger, also. Being angry achieves nothing, especially not the righteousness of God. Is it for anger that He saved us? Absolutely not!

If you were a lost person and looking for a spiritual answer to your problems, would you trust the witness of a gossip? –someone who loved to share bad things about other people? Someone who was controlled by anger? Absolutely not!

Now you can understand James’ warning. So put aside those things that are evil-producing! Be humble, like the LORD Jesus Christ, and truly receive and believe His Word that led you to salvation by faith in Him. For it is then, that we are free to share our faith in Him with those looking for a spiritual answer to their problems. God bless you! Now, get out there and GO!

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.”