The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Leviticus 19:15-18, “’You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
16 ‘You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the LORD.
17 ‘You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him.
18 ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.”

There is good and bod to almost everything. Some families like the freedom of living alone in the wide, open spaces; others, find comfort in living close to people in town. Everyone should be free to live where he wants and somewhat as he pleases. Personally, I like classical orchestras. I am not free, however, to play it as loudly as if it were in a concert hall. People who live around me have an equal right to peace and quiet.

The Scripture above was written in Old Testament times for Old Testament people. The principles involved, however, are just as relevant today as when they were written many years ago. Judgment in anything must always be just for everyone. We must never defer to someone simply because he is wealthy anymore than to someone who is poor. True justice treats everyone equally.

Slanderous gossip is strictly forbidden by the LORD! Neighbors may be reproved for doing things that infringe upon the rights of others, but they should never be slandered. They have rights, just as everyone else. Besides, if we have the right to live as we desire, we must grant others the same right. We are no better than our neighbors.

Personally, I have very good neighbors. I only trust that my conduct is as acceptable to them as theirs is to me. If you have difficult neighbors, pray for them and do something nice. The LORD changes people as we pray. Sometimes our prayers even change us!

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