The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 4:1-5, “Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.

3 Indeed, true comrade, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with

Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.”

Churches to stay rigidly in the Word of God and maintain a genuine love with other Christians. Here Paul starts with a positive, general note: “…my beloved brethren, whom I long to see, my joy and crown…stand firm in the LORD…”

Then he gets specific! “I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the LORD. These two women, mentioned only once in the entire Bible, had previously labored together in the work of the LORD. Then they had a “falling out.” It’s both amusing and ironic that Euodia means “good traveler” and Syntyche means “accident.” I’m sure you’ve known people like this in churches. Just to be fair (not “politically correct”), I will say that men sometimes have the same problem. Why do you suppose that occurs? Could it be the devil seeking to break churches apart by pitting one group against another? I knew two families in a church, who were “thicker than thieves,” as the saying goes. But there was a rift between them, and they sat on opposite sides of the church and in the front pews! It was ridiculous, as if each group were seeking to flount their disdain for the other –and IN THE LORD’S HOUSE ON THE LORD’S DAY! How on Earth can the LORD be glorified when His people act like the devil himself?

Oh, the devil gets to families, too. I don’t encounter quite as many people in my retirement as I once did in activity. Still, I continue to encounter people whose families are at odds over some of the silliest things you could imagine. What’s more, both sides claim Jesus as their LORD and Savior! I am not competent to diagnose the depths of their troubles or make judgments as to who is wrong, but I know that the LORD is not pleased with broken families and broken churches.

Paul’s mention of Clement, who has labored with the two women, could possibly be a subtle way of saying, “Clement, see what you can do to remedy the problem these women have!” He then closes these verses with an encouragement to “Rejoice in the LORD!” But how, Paul? We want to rejoice, but we cannot treat wrong as right! That’s why he says, “Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men.”

Forbearing has to do with present offenses. Forgiving has to do with past offences. Don’t you think we would do well to employ both?

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.”