The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 23:29-35, “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?
30 Those who linger long over wine, Those who go to taste mixed wine.
31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly;
32 At the last it bites like a serpent And stings like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things And your mind will utter perverse things.
34 And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea, Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast.
35 “They struck me, but I did not become ill; They beat me, but I did not know it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink.”

Questions always provoke internal responses, whether or not the response is verbal. I encountered that recently when the scribe-nurse asked me a litenany of medical questions. Do you smoke? No. Do you drink alcohol? No.
Solomon commenced our verses today with six provocative questions. Then he proceded in the succeeding verses to denounce the consumption of the alcoholic beavrage because in the end it “bites…and stings like a snake.”

There is little question but that Solomon himself had experienced the adverse effects of wine. It affects vision so that one sees “strange things.” It wrinkles the mind, causing the user to say and engage in perverse things (Latin perversus) –things that face the wrong way. There is sufficient trouble in the world without provoking more by drinking. I was at Yankee Stadium one night when a group of young men, aged late 20s to 30s, had been drinking. They were on the verge of an all-out brawl all because one of them spoke disrespectfully of another one’s mother.

When I listen and learn what some of our elected officials are proposing for legislative approval, I have to believe that they have been drinking. “But,” you say, “people drank wine in biblical times.” Yes, but in those earlier days pure water was mixed with wine. Even the Roman, who were known for heavy drinking, mixed water with their wine –sometimes six parts of water to one part of wine! It’s interesting, too, to note that persons today, when arrested for crimes, will quite often seek to shift the blame for their illegal activities on the alcohol they had consumed.

Keep your mind free from “wrinkles.” Don’t engage in alcohol or drugs or anything that hinders clear thinking. Focus on clarity of thought. Seek to imitate Christians, who function correctly with clear intelligence. Listen to Solomon! Stick with Scripture! Let your life be always to the “praise of His glory.”

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

Dear Grands,

Proberbs 23:15-19, “My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart also will be glad;
16 And my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the LORD always.
18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.”

Every basic principle of life that I learned as a child came from my parents. My grandparents also contributed, largely by underscoring the directives of my parents. Solomon, you will recall, received his wisdom directly from God. It was wisdom for which he prayed; thus, the LORD granted his request.

Is there a parent, whose feelings of joy do not swell within them when their child demonstrates those principles he was taught? Thus, we can easily understand Solomon’s rejoicing when his son speaks truth.

At the same time, Solomon warns his son not to envy or follow the way of sinners. It is not every child’s fault that his parents failed to instruct him in the way of the LORD; nevertheless, those without spiritual instruction are never to be envied. The ways of those without the LORD are never to be embraced.

The LORD has provided us a future. How long we have, the LORD only knows. In the meantime, if we are wise, we will direct our hearts as the LORD has provided for us. That course of life is found in His Holy Word, the BIBLE! We ignore that Word at our own peril. Read its teachings every day! And follow them!

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

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 23:9-16, “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Do not move the ancient boundary or go into the fields of the fatherless,
11 For their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their case against you.
12 Apply your heart to discipline and your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Do not hold back discipline from the child, although you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
14 You shall strike him with the rod and rescue his soul from Sheol.
15 My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart also will be glad;
16 And my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.”

It used to annoy me that my parents were always right! I could offer a reasonable explanation for any activity only to discover that they knew more about it than I did! I recall an incident when one of my friends was kidnapped. The kidnapping itself actually occurred, but one element of my friend’s account was discounted by my mother. Verse nine above speaks most accurately of me (the fool) in an encounter with my mother. Had I challenged my friend, who had mistold the account, he most surely would have taken my place as the fool.

A chief possession in Old Testament times was the size of a man’s fields. No doubt, some men did move the boundary line, so as to add more acreage to their own fields. Solomon’s warning included that of the LORD Jesus Christ, as well. Such accusations will come forth in the end times, and instead of being the man’s Advocate, the LORD will be the man’s Accuser!

Discipline is mandatory for all people! We learn it first as a child through words that point us in the correct way. If words do not serve their intention, physical correction may come by way of the rod. Better the child is corrected in life than to end up on the wrong side of eternity. Godly parents want their children to act wisely in all things. Parents rejoice in heart when their children always do and say what is true. Furthermore, the LORD rejoices when we all behave according to His direction and will. Check up on yourself! We all need a self-checkup every day!

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

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 23:1-8, ”When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you,
2 And put a knife to your throat if you are a man of great appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies, for it is deceptive food.
4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it.
5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. for wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that
flies toward the heavens.
6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies;
7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, ‘Eat and drink!’ But his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, and waste your compliments.”

If you ever doubted the validity of Solomon’s wisdom, you have only to read Psalms 23 and 24. By my count, there are 19 “Do nots” in those two chapters alone. There are but three “Do not” warnings in our verses above, yet they ring with the welcome of wisdom.

It has never been my privilege to dine with a true ruler, but I will admit that I have sat at the table with a few dignitaries in their native countries. I cannot say, however, that I have ever “desired” some of their native “delicacies.” Solomon’s warning deals with some who will offer delicious food in order to entice you to undertake for them favors that are unethical or outright immoral.

Often, too, such “delicacies” are truly delicious; yet they are “deceptive food” that is disguised as a promise of enormous wealth. Far too many have fallen into such traps and lived to regret their lack of wisdom. The guarantee of honest wealth is personal engagement in honest work. Those who are deceptive seek others who are of the same mind. They openly encourage their “victims” to enjoy the food set before them; yet, Solomon warns that they are thoroughly dishonest in their endeavors.

Our news today is replete with accounts of dishonest people. It often seems that the dishonest are the only ones of whom readers are concerned to read! Yet, the admonition of Solomon to us all is that we concern ourselves and follow only that which is good and honest. The LORD Himself is both good and honest. We can submit ourselves to His offer and partake daily of His eternal and trustworthy Word. It is like the LORD Himself; it will never deceive us or lead us astray. Have you read the Bible today?

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

Dear Grands,

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, “16 Rejoice always;
17 pray without ceasing;
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit;
20 do not despise prophetic utterances.
21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
22 abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body
be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”

‘Get ready for bed; brush your teeth; and don’t forget to say your prayers.” How many children grew
up hearing those nightly directives! Quite probably, not enough. Nevertheless, a contentious parent
would seek to keep the child “on course” with health and cleanliness and spirituality.

The Apostle Paul sought the same for the Christians in Thessalonica. He commences with three
positives: “Rejoice always”; “pray without ceasing”; and “in everything give thanks.” Paul then
informed the Church that these three positives were indeed God’s will. They still are His will!

He then solemnly warns them against “quenching” (???????? sbennumi, extinguishing or ignoring) the
Holy Spirit’s directive over their lives. At the same time, he issues a positive warning against (?????????
exoutheneo, treating with contempt or ignoring) the prophecies of the Old Testament. Further still, he
instructs them to “examine everything carefully.” Then he closes with a prayer that the LORD will
preserve the Thessalonians’ Spirit, Soul, and Body.

Notice on the diagram that the Holy Spirit always works first to conquer the Spirit, then with the Soul,
finally winning the battle over man’s body. Satan, on the other hand, commences his battle with the
body, then with the soul, and finally with the hope of conquering the spirit. Salvation in Jesus Christ
unleashes the Holy Spirit’s power and He crushes the devil’s attempt to conquer the whole of man.

Our only effective weapon in resisting the devil’s onslaughts is prayer and resistance. May we will
to resist the Adversary and yield fully and completely to the LORD Jesus Christ! He won the victory
at the Cross and in the Resurrection. Our only hope of victory lies in Christ.

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