The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 4:20-27, “My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them and health to all their body.
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26 Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.
27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.”

How often we are warned! –often by parents, sometimes by close friends, sometimes by pastors. Yet, we stumble, thinking we are our own best informative. We listen to what we want to hear, until it is too late.

Solomon warned his son to listen carefully to his counsel. Keep a good focus on what he taught. Let your life feed on his truth and you will be healthy. Resist perverted and devious speech. It will lead you astray. Keep your eyes focused clearly on truth; and watch with care the direction of your travel. Keep yourself from all evil. This was Solomon’s instruction.

We have so much information surrounding us these days. It’s easy to believe what we read; but such information is not always true. What one person reads is often repeated again and again. Yet, multiple repetitions of wrong never makes anything right or true.

Let me recommend the Bible! From Genesis to Revelation it is all true! Why would anyone believe the words of a man in deference to the Word of God? Sometimes people simply believe what they want to believe; never mind the consequences. But, that’s a slippery slope. Solomon also warned: “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 16:25).

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6). You can trust God’s Holy Word!

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 3:27-32, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise harm against your neighbor, while he lives securely beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways.
32 For the devious are an abomination to the LORD; but He is intimate with the upright.”

Possibly the earliest word a child learns is “No!” That is doubtlessly why the Proverbs deals so much with the negative aspects of life. As the child grows older, the negative gives way a bit to the positive. The Old Testament lays the foundation for the New Testament. Israel is the object of God’s love in the Old Testament; thus, His teaching that often commences with negative instruction, ultimately becomes positive and blossoms into Christian love.

The New Testament possesses negative instruction, too; but there the LORD is dealing with the Church. As the Church (the gathering of born-again people) learns to shrug off sin and become spiritually mature, love and grace become the focus of spiritual teaching.

Five times in the verses above, Solomon warns us saying, Do Not! Initially, he teaches us not to “withhold good things” from others when it is in our power to give it. If someone is in need and you do not possess what they need, you are under no obligation. You simply cannot provide what you do not have. If, however, you have what your neighbor needs, you are to provide it and not obligate him to wait.

We are never to devise or create harm for our neighbor. We are morally obligated to live peaceably with those who live nearby us. We are not to contend or debate with our neighbors, assuming he has caused us no harm. We are certainly not to envy those who are violent. We are to shun their ways, not respond negatively as they act toward us.

Whoever deals deviously with his neighbor is positioning himself against the LORD. For the LORD is kindly dispositioned toward those who are upright. These are principles parents are to share with their children, leading them to learn and practice the things that are pleasing to the LORD. Have you learned the LORD’s ways? Are you living by His standards? The advantage is yours when you do. Think about it.

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 3:19-26, “The LORD by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens.
20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the skies drip with dew.
21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 So they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
23 Then you will walk in your way securely and your foot will not
stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down,
your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked
when it comes;
26 For the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from
being caught.”

If you look carefully, you will notice what I first noticed about this series of verses. The first verse begins with “the LORD.” The last verse begins with “the LORD.” He is the beginning and the end of everything!

The first two verses site the wisdom and understanding of the LORD; and that He established them for the moral and spiritual benefit of mankind. Keep your eyes on the LORD and what He has constructed. It’s all for you, because all that He has and does is intended for your benefit and His glory.r

Walk carefully throughout life and “your foot will not stumble.” You will have no need to be afraid because you will always be secure in Him. Sudden fear will not alarm you regarding your wicked enemies because “the LORD will be your confidence,” and you will not fall prey to ungodly men.

All of this goodness comes to those who have confidence in the LORD. He is the only one who can keep you from falling; and His promise is to those whose feet are not caught in the traps of Satan and his wicked angels.

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 3:13-18, “How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.
14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast.”

Think for a minute before answering this question: “Is the knowledge of what is true or right, coupled with just judgment as to action, a sufficient definition for wisdom?” Possibly, it is; however, “When man trusts simply to his own attainments he is bound to go wrong.”

Solomon’s thoughts on wisdom lead to sound understanding, which in turn, leads to good judgment and honest living. That is far superior to the profit that brings gold and silver and jewels – items that are intensely sought by those without “sound understanding.”

Things in Scripture that are held in the “right hand” are always superior to things held in the “left hand.” Some things are clearly worth the price. Other things are just as clearly worthless. Wisdom is the catalyst that determines what things are genuinely good and brings them together.

Long life is clearly superior to riches and honor. Every day there is news of the passing of someone who has left enormous wealth to someone else. What is of value is whether the dead had previously laid hold of Eternal Life in Jesus Christ. Now, that same question takes focus on the inheritor of that enormous wealth. Which means the most, Eternal Life or earth’s perishable treasures?

I recommend Jesus! There is no eternal death for those who are trusting in 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 3:1-8, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
2 For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.”

“Didn’t I tell you this would happen if you ignored what I said?” Good advice; I should have listened. Ignoring sound teaching always results in trouble.

The wisdom of Solomon is clearly displayed in these verses. He is aware that his teachings can be neglected to the hurt of his son; thus, immediately following Solomon cites the value in keeping his commandments. Young lives are restless. All too often they neglect the proven truths they’ve been taught. Length of day; years of life. What does that matter to a young life. Youth tend to believe they will live forever.

Kindness and truth are uppermost, according to Solomon. Kept in the heart, they promise to preserve life. They promise the discovery of “favor and good repute” (wisdom, insight ??????) “in the sight of God and man.”

Solomon then advocates total trust in the LORD –trust in the One who is stronger than man. Listen to Him! Solomon warns: Don’t be a wise-guy, who thinks he knows it all. “Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.”

This “turn away from evil” ranks extremely high with the LORD. He is competent to affect healing, but He demands “change” in our lifestyles. Often, when in dire circumstances, we cry out to the LORD, promising to change. Yet, once we’ve experienced His healing, we slip from those promises; so He allows it all to affect our lives again.

When our promises are sincere, His results are guaranteed. Healing comes to the body, and our very bones experience “refreshment.” How good it feels when the aches and soreness are gone! The LORD’s discipline has subsided; and it will remain so, unless we again forget what we promised.

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