The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 26:20-23, “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
23 Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross are burning lips and a wicked heart.”

I was born with a critical nature. But, before you build a negative mental picture of me, let me say that a critical nature is not necessarily bad. One definition of critical is someone “inclined to find fault or to judge others with severity.” The same dictionary gives the definition as a “skillful judgment as to truth, or the merit” of something, say an idea.

My dear late wife used to quote verse 20 above, saying if critics were to cease and desist with criticisms, everything would quiet down and life would be peaceful. Occasionally, I must confess, her words were directed to me. A critic, however, is one who spends time assessing a situation or the meaning of a passage, say of Scripture. I have a long-time friend with whom I often discuss the possible meanings of some very difficult Scripture passages. In this process, we are both “critics,” hopefully of the better kind.

The words that comprise our four verses above, however, seem forcused upon an unknown person who is highly contentious. It focuses on a person who “sows seeds of dischord” in the minds and hearts of others. “Did you hear what Gussie said about you the other day?” The obvious intention in such a statement is to “kindle strife.” That critic’s words will then be turned over and over in the hearer’s mind, until his heart burns with with furious anger.

Would you take something as worthless as hardened clay and overlay it with silver? Of course not! Solomon says doing that would be equal to “burning lips and a wicked heart.” May we soften the criticisms that permeate our world by critiquing only the wholesome things – things that build up confidence in those with whom we share this shakey globe. Maybe we could just start by telling them about Jesus.

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 24:13-18, “My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;
14 Know that wisdom is thus for your soul; If you find it, then there will be a future, And your hope will not be cut off.
15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; Do not destroy his resting place;
16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.
17 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.”

I suppose we’ve all been in situations where others were doing us wrong and we felt a responsibility to answer in kind. In some of those times, we simply did not know how to deal with the situation. Should we “do unto them as they have done unto us”? Surely not. But, unless someone does something, it might serve as an “open door” for more difficulties in the future.

The wisdom of King Solomon is clearly depicted in his “honey and wisdom” lecture in the verses above. Honey is sweet to the taste, but wisdom is sweetness to the soul. Finding wisdom secures one’s future; whereas planning to destroy the dwelling of another virtually secures calamity for the planner.

Solomon warns the wicked not to lift a hand against the righteous. Simultaneously,he assures the righteous that the wicked will stumble on his own. “Don’t rejoice!” Solomon says to the righteous. The enemy of the righteous will stumble and fall. Just don’t rejoice over his stumbling. To rejoice over the misfortune of others may one day may result in our own stumbling. Be wise and let the sweetness of wisdom rule in your life.

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 24:17-22, “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