The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

II Corinthians 11:17-28, “What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.
19 For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.
20 For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face.
21 To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold– I speak in foolishness– I am just as bold myself.
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ?– I speak as if insane– I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.”

How many times I have witnessed ministers boast of their
humility! What made those situations unbearable was the simple fact that there were those within the hearing of that boasting, who had encountered greater persecution than those who were
uplifting themselves.

It was the same with the Apostle Paul. What’s more, Paul’s
suffering was far greater than that of the encounter of others. Is there then a time for telling of difficult times in the ministry? Apparently, so! Yet, we all need to be careful, lest we fall into the trap of sheer arrogance.

I clearly remember a clash of some fellow-students in college. They had laid it on pretty thick regarding how invaluable they were, when an older student in the class spoke up, saying that
he had been in the military overseas. “I fought in the rain and
in the drought; I went often without sufficient food and without sleep. And then I came home and am putting myself through
school.” There was a notable silence in the comparison of sacrifices.

Yes, there is a time to speak up and a time for silence. Paul is
hardly boasting of his achievements; rather, he is drawing a comparison between his sacrifice for the LORD and that of those who viewed themselves as dedicated to the cause of Jesus Christ.

Admittedly, I am ashamed at my paultry witness when reading
of Paul’s! I’m confident you are, too. May we simply yield our-selves wholeheartedly to Him as we live “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