The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 26:20-23, “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
23 Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross are burning lips and a wicked heart.”

I was born with a critical nature. But, before you build a negative mental picture of me, let me say that a critical nature is not necessarily bad. One definition of critical is someone “inclined to find fault or to judge others with severity.” The same dictionary gives the definition as a “skillful judgment as to truth, or the merit” of something, say an idea.

My dear late wife used to quote verse 20 above, saying if critics were to cease and desist with criticisms, everything would quiet down and life would be peaceful. Occasionally, I must confess, her words were directed to me. A critic, however, is one who spends time assessing a situation or the meaning of a passage, say of Scripture. I have a long-time friend with whom I often discuss the possible meanings of some very difficult Scripture passages. In this process, we are both “critics,” hopefully of the better kind.

The words that comprise our four verses above, however, seem forcused upon an unknown person who is highly contentious. It focuses on a person who “sows seeds of dischord” in the minds and hearts of others. “Did you hear what Gussie said about you the other day?” The obvious intention in such a statement is to “kindle strife.” That critic’s words will then be turned over and over in the hearer’s mind, until his heart burns with with furious anger.

Would you take something as worthless as hardened clay and overlay it with silver? Of course not! Solomon says doing that would be equal to “burning lips and a wicked heart.” May we soften the criticisms that permeate our world by critiquing only the wholesome things – things that build up confidence in those with whom we share this shakey globe. Maybe we could just start by telling them about Jesus.

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