The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philemon 1:17-18, “If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.

18 But if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my

account.”

Philemon is one of the shortest letters in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul is

writing to Philemon, a fellow-believer, and owner of a slave named Onesimus.

Paul is not writing to uphold or encourage slavery, although it was culturally acceptable in those days. It is simply that Paul was writing against that background. (Don’t read into the Word things that are not there. That is just as wrong as omitting things that are there.)

In time, and for reasons not contained in this short letter, Onesimus escaped from

Philemon and arrived in Rome where Paul was imprisoned. Once there, he helped

Paul immeasurably; still, he was a runaway slave and must return to his master.

This is a remarkable letter! Paul was not attempting to be psychological; but he was

masterfully led by the Holy Spirit, leaving us to wonder at the mastery and ultimately

to appropriate it in our own lives.

The Bible is exceedingly practical! My mentor, the late Dr. Earl L. Pounds, drew from

this brief epistle a means of criticizing others without being offensive. You will want to

employ this fool-proof method for use throughout your lifetime.

First, Compliment them. You are a very intelligent person.

Second, Hint at a criticism. Yet, even the most intelligent have flaws in areas of

their thinking.

Third, Criticize them outrightly! Your problem is that you think you know everything

when you don’t!!!

Fourth, Relate the criticism to yourself. I know, because at one time, I was just as

egotistical as you are!

Fifth, Complement them, You still have a very intelligent mind –one of the finest I know.

What is amazing is that with all of the above being said, what the person remembers are

numbers 1 & 5! Truly, this works! Use it prayerfully. Use it sparingly.

Stay in the Word! Stay focused in Prayer! Trust in the LORD! Share Him with others!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom