The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 3:25-30, “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.

27 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.

33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers, yet gives grace to the afflicted.

35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools display dishonor.”

It is difficult to apply each of the six above “do not” directives to the multiple aspects of any single human life. Apparently, the writer expected each reader to apply them to his or her life. Perhaps Alexander Pope read the above Scripture passage before he said, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” In any event, Solomon (the Scriptural author) listed sufficient “Do nots” to keep each of us busy examining our minds and hearts.

It’s so easy to criticize the speech and actions of others; yet, in all honesty, we would each (myself included) do well to examine ourselves prior to expressing our critiques of others. Nor should we overly concern ourselves with the critical thoughts of others, respecting how we handle situations that are thrust upon us. Do not the two verses above say, the LORD is “intimate with the upright” (vs. 32), and “He blesses the dwelling of the righteous” (vs. 33)? Scoffing or scorning must always be left to the LORD. In the wrap-up of all things, He will attend to who deserves what and how much. In the meantime, we need simply to attend to our own attitudes. Ouch! That hurts!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom