The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 24:17-22, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
18 Or the LORD will see it and be displeased, and turn His anger away from him.
19 Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked;
20 For there will be no future for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; do not associate with those who are given to change,
22 For their calamity will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin that comes from both of them?”

Everyone likes to win! Whether it’s a sports event whose players are totally unknown or a contest where every entry is known. The name of any game is “winning.”

At the same time, the Bible teaches us “not to rejoice when (our) enemy falls.” It may seem natural to be glad when those who have bragged about their abilities, then stumble and embarrass themselves; but the Scriptures say we are not to rejoice over someone else’s failure.

There is a consequence to having a bad attitude. When we belong to the LORD, the situation (whatever it may be) is best left in His hands. “But, he’s my enemy!” you say. Yes, but the LORD knows all the circumstances and He declares that there is “no future for the evil man.” Take note of those who stay straight and always commit everything to the LORD. Otherwise, calamities will befall you. You can’t do wrong and get by.
Instead, fear (????? yare, reverence) the LORD and calamity will fall upon those depart from Him.

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 24:1-6, ‘Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them;
2 For their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble.
3 By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;
4 And by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increases power.
6 For by wise guidance you will wage war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.”

A part of the reason we are in trouble is that we company with evil men and look to them for counsel. The minds of evil men calculate only to do evil. They are constantly in trouble because they constantly talk of trouble.

Those who employ true wisdom, build strong houses and complement them with riches and all things precious. Yet, Solomon speaks not merely of physical houses in which we live, but of life itself. When life utilizes wisdom, all things in life are filled with pleasantries.

Men who follow the LORD are truly wise. They are strong and powerful and able to confront any evil that would guide them into mischief and violence. The spiritual are strong and able to overcome those who would war against them. They win victories unlimited because they elect to follow the guidance of the LORD. Yes, it is Solomon who speaks through these verses; but it is the LORD who implanted the wisdom in Solomon. He will do the same for you if you trust Him and follow Him as His Word counsels you daily.

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 23:29-35, “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