The first study article shows how important it is for men to be in subjection to their Head, the Christ, and to imitate him in their dealings with others. The second article explains how Christian women should view the statement: “The head of a woman is the man.”

STUDY ARTICLES 3, 4 PAGES 24-32

For many today, the thought of making personal sacrifices for someone else does not have much appeal. The first article is designed especially to assist baptized men to examine their view of self-sacrifice and the shouldering of responsibility as ministerial servants or elders. The second article explains how we can avoid grieving God’s holy spirit.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Early Christianity and the Gods of Rome 3

Why Honor the Elderly? 6

Remain Spiritually Strong While Caring for a Sick Relative 17

Haran—An Ancient Hive of Activity 20

Questions From Readers 21

Continue to Exercise Your Perceptive Powers 22

Early Christianity and the Gods of Rome

pp. 3–6

Early Christianity and the Gods of Rome

IN A letter to the Roman Emperor Trajan, Pliny the Younger, the governor of Bithynia, stated: “This is the course I have taken with those who were accused before me as Christians. I asked them whether they were Christians, and if they confessed, I asked them a second and third time with threats of punishment. If they kept to it, I ordered them for execution.” As for those who denied Christianity by cursing Christ and worshipping a statue of the emperor and the images of the gods that Pliny had brought into court, he wrote: “I thought it right to let them go.”

Early Christians were persecuted for their refusal to render worship to the emperor and to images of various gods. What about other religions throughout the Roman Empire? Which gods were worshipped, and how did the Romans view them? Why were Christians persecuted for refusing to sacrifice to the gods of Rome? Answers to these questions will help us to deal with similar present-day issues involving loyalty to Jehovah.

Religions of the Empire

The variety of deities worshipped throughout the Roman Empire was as vast as its differences in language and culture. However strange Judaism might have seemed to the Romans, they considered it a religio licita, or recognized religion, and protected it. Twice each day in Jerusalem’s temple, two lambs and an ox were sacrificed for Caesar and the Roman nation. Whether these sacrifices appeased one god or many gods was irrelevant to the Romans. What did matter to them was that this gesture provided sufficient proof of Jewish loyalty to Rome.

Paganism in a variety of forms was prevalent in local cults. Greek mythology had gained wide acceptance, and divination was common. So-called mystery religions from the East promised devotees immortality, direct revelation, and approach to the gods through mystic rites. These religions spread throughout the empire. Popular in the early centuries C.E. were the cults of the Egyptian god Serapis and goddess Isis, the Syrian fish-goddess Atargatis, and the Persian sun-god Mithra.

The Bible book of Acts clearly portrays the pagan atmosphere surrounding early Christianity. For instance, the Roman proconsul of Cyprus kept company with a Jewish sorcerer. (Acts 13:6, 7) In Lystra local people mistook Paul and Barnabas for the Greek gods Hermes and Zeus. (Acts 14:11-13) When he was in Philippi, Paul had an encounter with a servant girl who practiced divination. (Acts 16:16-18) In Athens the apostle remarked that its inhabitants ‘seemed to be more given to the fear of the deities than others were.’ In that city, he had also seen an altar inscribed “To an Unknown God.” (Acts 17:22, 23) Residents of Ephesus worshipped the goddess Artemis. (Acts 19:1, 23, 24, 34) On the island of Malta, people said that Paul was a god because he had suffered no ill effects from a snakebite. (Acts 28:3-6) In such settings, Christians needed to be on guard against influences that could corrupt their pure worship.

Roman Religion

As their empire grew, the Romans accepted new deities that they encountered as different manifestations of gods they already knew. Rather than eliminating foreign cults, the Roman conquerors accepted and adopted them. Rome’s religion thus became as varied as her multicultural population. Roman religious sensibilities did not demand exclusive worship. People could worship several different deities at the same time.

Supreme among Rome’s native gods was Jupiter, dubbed Optimus Maximus, the best and the greatest. He was thought to manifest himself in wind, rain, lightning, and thunder. Jupiter’s sister and consort, Juno, who was associated with the moon, was said to watch over all aspects of the lives of women. His daughter Minerva was goddess of handicrafts, professions, arts, and war.

The Roman pantheon seemed endless. Lares and Penates were family gods. Vesta was the goddess of the hearth. Two-faced Janus was a god of all beginnings. Each trade had its patron deity. The Romans even deified abstractions. Pax safeguarded peace, Salus health, Pudicitia modesty and chastity, Fides fidelity, Virtus courage, and Voluptas pleasure. Every act of Roman public and private life was thought to be subject to the will of the gods. So in order to ensure a favorable outcome in an endeavor, the appropriate god had to be propitiated by ritual prayers, sacrifices, and festivals.

One way to ascertain the will of the deities was to look for omens. Chief among these practices was the examination of the entrails of sacrificed animals. It was thought that the condition and appearance of these organs indicated whether the gods disapproved of or favored the enterprise at hand.

By the late second century B.C.E., Rome had come to identify her chief deities with those of the Greek pantheon—Jupiter with Zeus, Juno with Hera, and so on. The Romans had also adopted the mythology that went along with the Greek deities. These legends were by no means flattering to the gods, who had the same flaws and limitations as humans. For example, Zeus was depicted as a rapist and a pedophile who had sexual relations with mortals and supposed immortals. The shameless adventures of the gods—often wildly applauded in ancient theaters—gave devotees license to indulge their basest passions.

Likely, few educated people accepted the legends in a literal sense. Some interpreted them as allegories. This may account for Pontius Pilate’s famous question, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) It has been taken to express “a prevalent feeling of cultivated men, that the attempt to ascertain anything certain on these things is vain.”

Emperor Worship

The reign of Augustus (27 B.C.E. to 14 C.E.) saw the birth of emperor worship. Particularly in the Greek-speaking provinces of the East, many felt genuine gratitude toward Augustus, who had established prosperity and peace after a long period of war. People wanted ongoing protection by a visible power. They desired an institution that could overcome religious distinctions, promote patriotism, and unite the world under its “savior.” As a result, divine honors were bestowed on the emperor.

Although Augustus did not allow others to call him a god when he was alive, he insisted that the personification of Rome as a goddess—Roma Dea—be worshipped. Augustus was deified posthumously. Local religious sentiment and patriotism in the provinces were thus directed toward both the center of the empire and its rulers. The new imperial cult, which soon spread to all the provinces, became a way of expressing homage and loyalty to the State.

Domitian, emperor from 81 to 96 C.E., was the first Roman ruler to demand worship as a god. By his time, the Romans had distinguished Christians from Jews and opposed what was viewed as a new cult. It was likely during Domitian’s reign that the apostle John was exiled on the isle of Patmos for “bearing witness to Jesus.”—Rev. 1:9.

The book of Revelation was penned during John’s exile. Therein, he refers to Antipas, a Christian killed in Pergamum, an important center of emperor worship. (Rev. 2:12, 13) By then, the imperial government may have begun to demand that Christians perform the rituals of the State religion. Whether this was so or not, by 112 C.E., as indicated in the letter to Trajan mentioned at the outset of this discussion, Pliny was demanding that the Christians in Bithynia perform such rituals.

Trajan praised Pliny’s handling of the cases brought before him and directed that Christians who refused to worship Roman gods be executed. “However,” wrote Trajan, “where the party denies he is a Christian, and shall make it evident that he is not, by invoking our gods, let him (notwithstanding any former suspicion) be pardoned upon his repentance.”

Roman thinking could not conceive of a religion that demanded exclusive devotion from its adherents. Roman gods did not require it, so why should the God of the Christians? It was felt that worship of State deities simply indicated recognition of the political system. Therefore, refusal to worship them was considered treason. As Pliny found out, there was no way to force most Christians into compliance. For them, such an act would signify unfaithfulness to Jehovah, and numerous early Christians preferred to die rather than perform idolatrous emperor worship.

Why should this be of interest to us today? In some lands, citizens are expected to revere national symbols. As Christians, we certainly respect the authority of secular governments. (Rom. 13:1) When it comes to ceremonies involving national flags, however, we are motivated by Jehovah God’s insistence on exclusive devotion and the counsel of his Word to “flee from idolatry” and “guard [ourselves] from idols.” (1 Cor. 10:14; 1 John 5:21; Nah. 1:2) Jesus said: “It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.” (Luke 4:8) May we therefore continue to maintain our loyalty to the God we worship.

[Blurb on page 5]

True Christians give their exclusive devotion to Jehovah

[Pictures on page 3]

Early Christians refused to worship the emperor or images of the gods

Emperor Domitian

Zeus

[Credit Lines]

Emperor Domitian: Todd Bolen/Bible Places.com; Zeus: Photograph by Todd Bolen/Bible Places.com, taken at Archaeological Museum of Istanbul

[Picture on page 4]

Christians in Ephesus refused to worship the popular goddess Artemis.—Acts 19:23-41

Why Honor the Elderly?

pp. 6–7

Why Honor the Elderly?

ALONG the coast of California, U.S.A., is one of the world’s most photographed trees. It is known as the Lone Cypress. Reportedly, this tree is over 250 years old. Noted for its endurance, this beautiful tree has received attention in several ways. For instance, it has been fortified with supportive cables and with stonework around its base.

The Lone Cypress may remind us of the older Christians in our midst, who show remarkable endurance. One outstanding way that they do this is by proclaiming the good news. The prophet Joel foretold that “old men” would declare the Bible’s message. (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-21) Just think of the countless hours such ones spend earnestly helping others to learn about the “good news of the kingdom”! (Matt. 24:14) Some of these elderly Kingdom proclaimers have endured years of persecution or other difficulties. If a mere cypress tree is noted for endurance and is fortified with stonework and cables, how much more do the older ones among us deserve to be recognized and treated with dignity and honor!

Jehovah God commanded his ancient people: “Before gray hair you should rise up, and you must show consideration for the person of an old man.” (Lev. 19:32) Among Jehovah’s servants today, we find excellent examples of faithful ones who have been ‘walking with God’ for decades. (Mic. 6:8) As they continue applying Scriptural principles, their gray-headedness is indeed “a crown of beauty.”—Prov. 16:31.

The apostle Paul instructed young Timothy: “Do not severely criticize an older man.” Rather, Timothy was to “entreat him as a father” and “older women as mothers.” (1 Tim. 5:1, 2) In effect, Timothy was to “rise up” before gray hair. Clearly, then, Jehovah expects our manner of speech to reflect such honor.

“In showing honor to one another take the lead,” states Romans 12:10. Overseers in the congregation certainly show honor to elderly Christians. But all of us are to take the lead in showing honor to one another.

Of course, family members have a special responsibility toward their parents and grandparents. In the case of the Lone Cypress, people have looked for ways to help preserve it, and they continue to do so. Surely, then, we should look for ways to help preserve the dignity of our aging parents and grandparents. For example, being a good listener will keep us from insisting on doing things our own way without regard for their feelings.—Prov. 23:22; 1 Tim. 5:4.

The elderly ones among us are very precious to Jehovah. He does not abandon them. (Ps. 71:18) The true God actually fortifies them to keep on serving him faithfully. May we too continue to support and honor the elderly.

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As the Lone Cypress needs support, older ones need to be treated with dignity and honor

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American Spirit Images/age fotostock

Men, Do You Submit to Christ’s Headship?

pp. 8–12

Men, Do You Submit to Christ’s Headship?

“The head of every man is the Christ.”—1 COR. 11:3.

1. What shows that Jehovah is a God of order?

“YOU are worthy, Jehovah, even our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power,” states Revelation 4:11, “because you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created.” By reason of his Creatorship, Jehovah God is the Supreme Sovereign of the universe and is above all of his creation. That Jehovah “is a God, not of disorder, but of peace” can be seen by the way in which his angelic family is organized.—1 Cor. 14:33; Isa. 6:1-3; Heb. 12:22, 23.

2, 3. (a) Who was Jehovah’s first creation? (b) What position does the firstborn Son have with respect to the Father?

² Before anything was created, God existed by himself for countless ages of time. His very first creation was the spirit creature known as “the Word” because he was the Spokesman for Jehovah. The Word is the one through whom all other things came into existence. Later, he came to earth as a perfect human and became known as Jesus Christ.—Read John 1:1-3, 14.

³ What do the Scriptures say about the relative positions of God and his firstborn Son? Writing under inspiration, the apostle Paul tells us: “I want you to know that the head of every man is the Christ; in turn the head of a woman is the man; in turn the head of the Christ is God.” (1 Cor. 11:3) The Christ is under the headship of his Father. Headship and subjection are essential for peace and order to prevail among intelligent creatures. Even the one ‘by means of whom all other things were created’ is required to submit to God’s headship.—Col. 1:16.

4, 5. How did Jesus feel about his position with respect to Jehovah?

⁴ How did Jesus feel about submitting to Jehovah’s headship and coming to earth? The Scriptures state: “Christ Jesus, who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God. No, but he emptied himself and took a slave’s form and came to be in the likeness of men. More than that, when he found himself in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient as far as death, yes, death on a torture stake.”—Phil. 2:5-8.

⁵ At all times, Jesus humbly submitted to his Father’s will. He said: “I cannot do a single thing of my own initiative; . . . the judgment that I render is righteous, because I seek, not my own will, but the will of him that sent me.” (John 5:30) “I always do the things pleasing to [my Father],” he declared. (John 8:29) Toward the end of his life on earth, Jesus said in prayer to his Father: “I have glorified you on the earth, having finished the work you have given me to do.” (John 17:4) Evidently, Jesus had no problem with recognizing and accepting God’s headship over him.

Submission to the Father Brings Benefits to the Son

6. What wonderful qualities did Jesus display?

⁶ When on earth, Jesus demonstrated many wonderful qualities. Among them was the great love he displayed for his Father. “I love the Father,” he said. (John 14:31) He also demonstrated great love for people. (Read Matthew 22:35-40.) Jesus was kind and considerate, not harsh or overbearing. “Come to me, all you who are toiling and loaded down,” he said, “and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am mild-tempered and lowly in heart, and you will find refreshment for your souls. For my yoke is kindly and my load is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30) Sheeplike people of all ages, especially those who were downtrodden and oppressed, found great comfort in Jesus’ delightful personality and uplifting message.

7, 8. Under the Law, how was the woman with a flow of blood restricted, but how did Jesus deal with her?

⁷ Consider how Jesus dealt with women. Throughout history, many men have treated women very badly. That was true of the religious leaders in ancient Israel. But Jesus treated women with respect. This is made evident in his dealings with a woman who had been sick for 12 years with a flow of blood. “She had been put to many pains” by physicians and had spent all her resources trying to get well. Despite all that effort, she “had got worse.” Under the Law, she was considered unclean. Anyone touching her would also become unclean.—Lev. 15:19, 25.

⁸ When the woman heard that Jesus was healing the sick, she joined the crowd surrounding him, saying: “If I touch just his outer garments I shall get well.” She touched Jesus and immediately got well. Jesus knew that she should not have touched his garment. Nevertheless, he did not scold her. On the contrary, he was kind to her. He understood how she must have felt after all those years of illness and discerned that she was desperate for help. Compassionately, Jesus told her: “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be in good health.”—Mark 5:25-34.

9. When Jesus’ disciples tried to prevent children from coming to him, what was his response?

⁹ Even children could feel at ease in the presence of Jesus. When people brought children to him on one occasion, his disciples reprimanded them, evidently feeling that he would not want to be bothered with children. But that is not the way Jesus felt. The Scriptural account tells us: “At seeing this Jesus was indignant and said to [the disciples]: ‘Let the young children come to me; do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to suchlike ones.’” Further, “he took the children into his arms and began blessing them, laying his hands upon them.” Jesus did not just tolerate children; he warmly welcomed them.—Mark 10:13-16.

10. How did Jesus come to possess the qualities that he displayed?

¹⁰ How did Jesus come to possess the qualities he displayed during his life on earth? In his prehuman existence, he observed his heavenly Father for aeons of time and absorbed his ways. (Read Proverbs 8:22, 23, 30.) In heaven, he had seen Jehovah’s loving way of exercising headship over all His creation and had made that way his own. Would Jesus have been able to do that had he not been submissive? It was a delight for him to be in subjection to his Father, and it was a pleasure for Jehovah to have such a Son. When on earth, Jesus reflected perfectly the marvelous qualities of his heavenly Father. What a privilege it is for us to be in subjection to Christ, God’s appointed Ruler of the heavenly Kingdom!

Imitate Christ’s Qualities

11. (a) Whom should we work hard to imitate? (b) Why should the men in the congregation especially strive to imitate Jesus?

¹¹ All in the Christian congregation, especially the men, should continually work hard to imitate Christ’s qualities. As already noted, the Bible declares: “The head of every man is the Christ.” As Christ imitated his Head, the true God, Christian men should strive to imitate their head—the Christ. Upon becoming a Christian, the apostle Paul did just that. “Become imitators of me,” he exhorted fellow Christians, “even as I am of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1) And the apostle Peter said: “To this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely.” (1 Pet. 2:21) The admonition to imitate the Christ is of particular interest to men for still another reason. They are the ones who become elders and ministerial servants. As Jesus found joy in imitating Jehovah, Christian men should find joy in imitating Christ and his qualities.

12, 13. How should elders deal with the sheep in their care?

¹² The elders in the Christian congregation are under obligation to learn to be like Christ. Peter gave the older men, or elders, this exhortation: “Shepherd the flock of God in your care, not under compulsion, but willingly; neither for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly; neither as lording it over those who are God’s inheritance, but becoming examples to the flock.” (1 Pet. 5:1-3) Christian elders are not to be dictatorial, domineering, arbitrary, or harsh. Imitating Christ’s example, they endeavor to be loving, considerate, humble, and kind in their dealings with the sheep entrusted to their care.

¹³ Those taking the lead in the congregation are imperfect men, and they should constantly be aware of that limitation. (Rom. 3:23) So they must be eager to learn about Jesus and imitate his love. They need to ponder over the way that God and Christ deal with people and then strive to imitate them. Peter exhorts us: “All of you gird yourselves with lowliness of mind toward one another, because God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones.”—1 Pet. 5:5.

14. To what extent should elders show honor to others?

¹⁴ In their dealings with God’s flock, the appointed men in the congregation are to exhibit fine qualities. Romans 12:10 states: “In brotherly love have tender affection for one another. In showing honor to one another take the lead.” Elders and ministerial servants show honor to others. Like Christians in general, these men are ‘to do nothing out of contentiousness or out of egotism but with lowliness of mind are to consider that the others are superior to them.’ (Phil. 2:3) Those taking the lead should certainly view others as being superior to them. By doing so, the appointed men will be following Paul’s counsel: “We, though, who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those not strong, and not to be pleasing ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor in what is good for his upbuilding. For even the Christ did not please himself.”—Rom. 15:1-3.

‘Assigning Wives Honor’

15. How should husbands deal with their wives?

¹⁵ Consider now Peter’s counsel to married men. He wrote: “You husbands, continue dwelling in like manner with [your wives] according to knowledge, assigning them honor as to a weaker vessel, the feminine one.” (1 Pet. 3:7) To honor someone means to hold that individual in high esteem. Thus, you would consider the opinions, needs, and wants of such a person and may defer to that one where there is no vital issue at stake. That is how a husband should deal with his wife.

16. What warning does God’s Word give to husbands in regard to honoring wives?

¹⁶ When telling husbands to honor their wives, Peter adds a warning: “In order for your prayers not to be hindered.” (1 Pet. 3:7) That clearly shows how seriously Jehovah views the way a man treats his wife. Failure to show honor to her could hinder his prayers. Moreover, do not wives generally respond positively to being treated honorably by their husbands?

17. To what extent should a husband love his wife?

¹⁷ On the matter of loving one’s wife, God’s Word counsels: “Husbands ought to be loving their wives as their own bodies. . . . For no man ever hated his own flesh; but he feeds and cherishes it, as the Christ also does the congregation . . . Let each one of you individually so love his wife as he does himself.” (Eph. 5:28, 29, 33) To what extent should husbands love their wives? “Husbands,” wrote Paul, “continue loving your wives, just as the Christ also loved the congregation and delivered up himself for it.” (Eph. 5:25) Yes, a husband should be willing even to lay down his life for his wife, just as Christ did for others. When the Christian husband deals with his wife tenderly, considerately, attentively, unselfishly, it is easier for his wife to submit to his headship.

18. What help do men have in caring for their responsibilities in marriage?

¹⁸ Is assigning honor to wives in this way too much to expect from husbands? No, Jehovah would never ask them to do something that is beyond their capabilities. Besides, Jehovah’s worshippers have access to the greatest force in the universe—God’s holy spirit. Jesus said: “If you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!” (Luke 11:13) In their prayers, husbands can ask that by means of his spirit, Jehovah will help them in their dealings with others, including their wives.—Read Acts 5:32.

19. What will our next study article consider?

¹⁹ Indeed, men bear a heavy responsibility to learn how to be submissive to Christ and imitate his headship. But what about women, wives in particular? The next article will discuss how they should view their role in Jehovah’s arrangement.

Do You Recall?

• What qualities of Jesus should we imitate?

• How should elders deal with the sheep?

• How should a husband treat his wife?

[Pictures on page 10]

Imitate Jesus by showing honor to others

Women, Why Submit to Headship?

pp. 12–17

Women, Why Submit to Headship?

“The head of a woman is the man.”—1 COR. 11:3.

1, 2. (a) What did the apostle Paul write about Jehovah’s arrangement of headship and subjection? (b) What questions will be considered in this article?

JEHOVAH has established the orderly sequence that the apostle Paul mentioned when he wrote that “the head of every man is the Christ” and “the head of the Christ is God.” (1 Cor. 11:3) The preceding article noted that Jesus considered it a privilege and a joy to be in subjection to his Head, Jehovah God, and that Christian men have Christ as their head. Christ was kind, gentle, compassionate, and unselfish when dealing with people. Men in the congregation need to be that way toward others, especially their wives.

² What, though, about women? Who is their head? “The head of a woman is the man,” wrote Paul. How should women view this inspired statement? Does the principle still apply when the husband is an unbeliever? Does submission to man’s headship require that the wife be a silent partner in marriage, having no say when decisions are made? In what way does a woman procure praise for herself?

“I Am Going to Make a Helper for Him”

3, 4. Why is the headship arrangement in marriage beneficial?

³ The headship arrangement is of divine origin. After Adam was created, Jehovah God went on to say: “It is not good for the man to continue by himself. I am going to make a helper for him, as a complement of him.” Following Eve’s creation, Adam was so delighted at having a companion and helper that he said: “This is at last bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” (Gen. 2:18-24) Adam and Eve had the marvelous prospect of becoming the father and mother of an entire human race of perfect people, who would live forever in happiness in a global paradise.

⁴ Because of the rebellion of our first parents, the perfect situation in the garden of Eden was lost. (Read Romans 5:12.) But the headship arrangement remained in effect. When properly followed, it brings great benefit and happiness in marriage. The result becomes similar to how Jesus felt about being in subjection to his Head, Jehovah. In his prehuman existence, Jesus was “glad before [Jehovah] all the time.” (Prov. 8:30) Because of imperfection, men are no longer capable of being perfect heads, nor are women able to demonstrate perfect subjection. When husbands and wives continue to work at doing the best they can, however, the arrangement results in the greatest possible contentment in marriage at this time.

5. Why should marriage mates take to heart the counsel found at Romans 12:10?

⁵ Crucial to the success of a marriage is that the marriage mates apply this Scriptural counsel meant for all Christians: “In brotherly love have tender affection for one another. In showing honor to one another take the lead.” (Rom. 12:10) Also, both husband and wife should work hard to “become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate, freely forgiving one another.”—Eph. 4:32.

When the Mate Is Not a Believer

6, 7. What may be the result if a Christian wife is in subjection to an unbelieving husband?

⁶ What if your marriage mate is not a servant of Jehovah? Often, it is the husband who is not a believer. In this case, how should the wife treat him? The Bible answers: “You wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, in order that, if any are not obedient to the word, they may be won without a word through the conduct of their wives, because of having been eyewitnesses of your chaste conduct together with deep respect.”—1 Pet. 3:1, 2.

⁷ God’s Word tells the wife to maintain a submissive attitude toward the unbelieving husband. Her good conduct can influence him to consider what it is that motivates her to behave in such a fine manner. As a result, the husband may look into the beliefs of his Christian wife and eventually accept the truth himself.

8, 9. What can a Christian wife do if her unbelieving husband does not respond favorably to her fine conduct?

⁸ What, though, if the unbelieving husband does not respond favorably? The Scriptures encourage the believing wife to display Christian qualities at all times, however difficult this may be. For example, we read at 1 Corinthians 13:4: “Love is long-suffering.” The Christian wife does well, then, to continue to behave “with complete lowliness of mind and mildness, with long-suffering,” putting up with the situation in love. (Eph. 4:2) With the help of God’s active force—his holy spirit—it is possible to maintain Christian qualities even under difficult circumstances.

⁹ “For all things I have the strength by virtue of him who imparts power to me,” wrote Paul. (Phil. 4:13) God’s spirit enables the Christian mate to do many things that would not be possible otherwise. For example, harsh treatment by one’s spouse may make it tempting for one to retaliate. However, the Bible tells all Christians: “Return evil for evil to no one. . . . For it is written: ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.’” (Rom. 12:17-19) Similarly, 1 Thessalonians 5:15 counsels us: “See that no one renders injury for injury to anyone else, but always pursue what is good toward one another and to all others.” With the backing of Jehovah’s holy spirit, what is impossible in our own strength becomes possible. How appropriate that we pray for God’s holy spirit to provide what we lack!

10. How did Jesus handle the unkind words and actions of others?

¹⁰ Jesus set an outstanding example in dealing with those who said or did unpleasant things to him. “When he was being reviled,” states 1 Peter 2:23, “he did not go reviling in return. When he was suffering, he did not go threatening, but kept on committing himself to the one who judges righteously.” We are exhorted to follow his fine example. Do not be provoked by the bad behavior of others. As all Christians are admonished, be “tenderly compassionate, humble in mind, not paying back injury for injury or reviling for reviling.”—1 Pet. 3:8, 9.

Only Silent Partners?

11. In what great privilege will some Christian women have a share?

¹¹ Does submission to a husband’s headship mean that women are silent partners in marriage, having no voice in family matters or other subjects? Not at all. Women as well as men are given many privileges by Jehovah. Just think of the great honor that 144,000 individuals have in being kings and priests in heaven under Christ when he rules over this earth! That number includes women. (Gal. 3:26-29) Obviously, Jehovah has given women an active role in his arrangement of things.

12, 13. Give an example to show that women prophesied.

¹² In Bible times, for example, women prophesied. Joel 2:28, 29 foretold: “I shall pour out my spirit on every sort of flesh, and your sons and your daughters will certainly prophesy. . . . Even on the menservants and on the maidservants in those days I shall pour out my spirit.”

¹³ Some 120 disciples of Jesus who were gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost in 33 C.E. included women as well as men. God’s spirit was poured out on this entire group. Peter could therefore quote what the prophet Joel had foretold and apply it to men and women alike. Peter stated: “This is what was said through the prophet Joel, ‘And in the last days,’ God says, ‘I shall pour out some of my spirit upon every sort of flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy . . . ; and even upon my men slaves and upon my women slaves I will pour out some of my spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.’”—Acts 2:16-18.

14. What part did women play in the spread of early Christianity?

¹⁴ In the first century, women played a significant part in spreading Christianity. They preached to others about God’s Kingdom and did things related to that preaching work. (Luke 8:1-3) For example, the apostle Paul called Phoebe “a minister of the congregation that is in Cenchreae.” And in sending greetings to fellow workers, Paul mentioned a number of faithful women, including “Tryphaena and Tryphosa, women who are working hard in the Lord.” He also noted “Persis our beloved one, for she performed many labors in the Lord.”—Rom. 16:1, 12.

15. What part do women play in the spread of Christianity in our time?

¹⁵ In our time, a large part of the more than seven million people preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom throughout the world are women of all ages. (Matt. 24:14) Many of them are full-time ministers, missionaries, and members of Bethel families. The psalmist David sang: “Jehovah himself gives the saying; the women telling the good news are a large army.” (Ps. 68:11) How true these words have proved to be! Jehovah values the part women play in declaring the good news and accomplishing his purposes. His requirement that Christian women be in submission surely does not mean silent subjection.

Two Women Who Spoke Up

16, 17. How does Sarah’s example show that women are not to be silent partners in marriage?

¹⁶ If Jehovah grants women many privileges, should not husbands consult their wives before making serious decisions? It would be wisdom on their part to do so. The Scriptures mention several incidents in which wives spoke or acted even without their views being solicited by their husbands. Consider two cases.

¹⁷ Sarah, the wife of the patriarch Abraham, kept on telling him to dismiss his secondary wife and her son because of their lack of respect. “The thing proved to be very displeasing to Abraham”—but not to God. Jehovah told Abraham: “Do not let anything that Sarah keeps saying to you be displeasing to you about the boy and about your slave girl. Listen to her voice.” (Gen. 21:8-12) Abraham obeyed Jehovah, listened to Sarah, and did what she requested.

18. What initiative did Abigail take?

¹⁸ Think also of Abigail, the wife of Nabal. When David was fleeing from jealous King Saul, he spent time encamped near Nabal’s flocks. Instead of taking any of this wealthy man’s many possessions, David and his men protected his property. However, Nabal “was harsh and bad in his practices,” and he “screamed rebukes” at David’s men. He was a “good-for-nothing man,” and ‘senselessness was with him.’ When David’s men respectfully asked for some provisions, Nabal refused. How did Abigail respond when she heard what had happened? Without telling Nabal, she “hastened and took two hundred loaves of bread and two large jars of wine and five sheep dressed and five seah measures of roasted grain and a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs” and gave them to David and his men. Did Abigail do what was right? “Jehovah struck Nabal,” states the Bible, “so that he died.” David later married Abigail.—1 Sam. 25:3, 14-19, 23-25, 38-42.

‘The Woman Who Procures Praise’

19, 20. What makes a woman truly praiseworthy?

¹⁹ The Scriptures commend the wife who does things Jehovah’s way. The Bible book of Proverbs praises “a capable wife,” saying: “Her value is far more than that of corals. In her the heart of her owner has put trust, and there is no gain lacking. She has rewarded him with good, and not bad, all the days of her life.” Moreover, “her mouth she has opened in wisdom, and the law of loving-kindness is upon her tongue. She is watching over the goings-on of her household, and the bread of laziness she does not eat. Her sons have risen up and proceeded to pronounce her happy; her owner rises up, and he praises her.”—Prov. 31:10-12, 26-28.

²⁰ What makes a woman truly praiseworthy? “Charm may be false, and prettiness may be vain,” states Proverbs 31:30, “but the woman that fears Jehovah is the one that procures praise for herself.” Included in the fear of Jehovah is the need to submit willingly to the divine arrangement of headship. “The head of a woman is the man,” just as “the head of every man is the Christ,” and “the head of the Christ is God.”—1 Cor. 11:3.

Be Grateful for God’s Gift

21, 22. (a) What reasons do wedded Christians have for being grateful for God’s gift of marriage? (b) Why should we show respect for Jehovah’s arrangements for authority and headship? (See box on page 17.)

²¹ Christians joined in wedlock have so many reasons to express gratitude to God! They can walk hand in hand as a happily married couple. Especially can they be thankful for God’s blessed gift of marriage because it affords them the opportunity to blend their lives and walk with Jehovah. (Ruth 1:9; Mic. 6:8) He—the Originator of marriage—knows exactly what is required for marital happiness. Always do things his way, and ‘the joy of Jehovah will be your stronghold,’ even in today’s troubled world.—Neh. 8:10.

²² A Christian husband who loves his wife as he does himself will exercise tender, considerate headship. His godly wife will be truly lovable, for she will be supportive and will show him deep respect. Most important of all, their exemplary marriage will honor our praiseworthy God, Jehovah.

Do You Recall?

• What is Jehovah’s arrangement of headship and subjection?

• Why should marriage mates honor each other?

• How should a believing wife treat her unbelieving mate?

• Why should husbands consult their wives before making serious decisions?

[Box on page 17]

Why Show Respect for Authority?

Jehovah has established among intelligent creatures arrangements for authority and headship. This has been done for the good both of spirit creatures and of humans. It affords them opportunities to exercise their free will and to honor God by serving him in a unified, harmonious way.—Ps. 133:1.

The congregation of anointed Christians recognizes the authority and headship of Jesus Christ. (Eph. 1:22, 23) In recognition of Jehovah’s authority, eventually “the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.” (1 Cor. 15:27, 28) How fitting it is, then, that humans dedicated to God cooperate with the headship arrangement within the congregation and in the family! (1 Cor. 11:3; Heb. 13:17) By doing so, we benefit ourselves as recipients of Jehovah’s approval and blessing.—Isa. 48:17.

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Prayer can help a Christian wife to display godly qualities

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Jehovah values the part women play in advancing Kingdom interests

Remain Spiritually Strong While Caring for a Sick Relative

pp. 17–19

Remain Spiritually Strong While Caring for a Sick Relative

AFTER a tumor was found near her spine, Kim, a Witness, was diagnosed with cancer.a “Once the tumor was surgically removed,” says her husband, Steve, “Kim underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy. As a side effect of the treatment, she became quite weak. Her ability to move about was severely limited.”

Can you imagine the anguish Steve felt as he watched his cherished companion struggle with this debilitating illness? Perhaps you have a close family member who suffers from a degenerative illness or from the effects of old age. (Eccl. 12:1-7) If so, you know that in order to care for your loved one effectively, you must take care of yourself. If you become spiritually weak, your emotional and physical health can also begin to suffer and you may be unable to provide the support your family member needs. How can you maintain your spiritual balance while caring for a relative who is sick or elderly? What, if anything, can other members of the Christian congregation do to show consideration for such sick ones?

Maintain Balance—How?

To maintain your spiritual balance and physical health while caring for a sick relative, you need to be adaptable and to budget your time and energy. “Wisdom is with the modest ones,” states Proverbs 11:2. In this context, the word “modest” means being aware of one’s own limitations. To make sure that you do not expend yourself beyond your limits, you may need to examine your schedule and your responsibilities.

Steve displayed wisdom and modesty by reevaluating his workload. In addition to his secular employment, he served as the coordinator of the body of elders and the service overseer in the local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Ireland. He was also a member of the Hospital Liaison Committee for his area. “Kim never complained that I was neglecting her by giving these responsibilities too much attention,” notes Steve. “But I knew that I was overextending myself.” How did Steve address the situation? “After prayerful consideration,” he says, “I decided to step aside from serving as the coordinator. I continued serving as an elder, but by handing over to others some of my congregation responsibilities, I was able to give Kim the time and attention she needed.”

In time, Kim’s health stabilized. Steve and Kim reassessed their situation, and with his wife’s support, Steve was able to resume his former responsibilities in the congregation. “We have both learned to work within the limitations the illness created,” Steve explains. “I am so grateful to Jehovah for his help and to my wife for her uncomplaining support despite her poor health.”

Consider, too, the experience of Jerry, a traveling overseer, and his wife, Maria. They had to adjust their goals to care for their aged parents. “Both my husband and I had the goal of serving as missionaries in a foreign field,” says Maria. “Jerry, though, is an only child, and his parents were in need of care. Hence, we decided to stay in Ireland to care for them. By doing so, we were able to be in constant attendance when Jerry’s father was hospitalized before he died. Now we keep in contact with Jerry’s mother each day, and we are within easy reach if she needs help. The congregation with which Jerry’s mother is associated has been very helpful and supportive, allowing us to remain in the traveling work.”

How Others Can Help

When discussing what material provisions should be made for elderly widows in the congregation, the apostle Paul wrote: “If anyone does not provide for those who are his own, and especially for those who are members of his household, he has disowned the faith and is worse than a person without faith.” Paul reminded fellow Christians that if their course of action was to be “acceptable in God’s sight,” they must care financially for their own aged parents and grandparents. (1 Tim. 5:4, 8) However, others in the congregation can and should provide practical assistance.

Note the case of Hakan and Inger, an elderly couple who live in Sweden. “When my wife was diagnosed with cancer,” says Hakan, “it was a shock to both of us. Inger had always been healthy and strong. Now we had to visit the hospital daily for treatment, and the side effects of her medication were debilitating. Inger stayed at home during this period, and I needed to stay with her to care for her.” How did the local congregation help Hakan and Inger?

The elders in the congregation arranged for the couple to tie in to Christian meetings via the telephone. In addition, the brothers and sisters kept in touch by means of personal visits and telephone calls. They also sent letters and cards. “We felt the support of all the brothers as well as Jehovah’s help,” says Hakan. “This attention was essential to our remaining spiritually strong. Thankfully, Inger has recovered, and once again we are able to attend Christian meetings at the Kingdom Hall.” When congregation members do what they can to help the sick and elderly among them, they prove themselves to be ‘true companions who are loving all the time, and brothers who are born for when there is distress.’—Prov. 17:17.

Jehovah Appreciates Your Efforts

Caring for a sick relative can certainly be taxing. Yet, King David wrote: “Happy is anyone acting with consideration toward the lowly one,” such as a person who is in need of help because of illness.—Ps. 41:1.

Why can those who care for ailing or suffering ones be happy? “He that is showing favor to the lowly one is lending to Jehovah,” states Proverbs 19:17, “and his treatment He will repay to him.” The true God takes a particular interest in his loyal servants who are suffering illness, and he blesses the one who shows them favor. The psalmist David sang: “Jehovah himself will sustain [such a person] upon a divan of illness; all his bed you will certainly change during his sickness.” (Ps. 41:3) We can be sure that if the one providing loving care were to experience hardship or calamity himself, Jehovah would help him.

How good it is to know that Jehovah God notices and approves of what we do in caring for a sick relative! Although rendering such assistance may require effort on our part, the Scriptures assure us that “with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”—Heb. 13:16.

[Footnote]

a Names have been changed.

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Maintain spiritual balance and accept help from others

Haran—An Ancient Hive of Activity

p. 20

Haran—An Ancient Hive of Activity

TO THOSE familiar with the Scriptures, the mere mention of the name Haran immediately brings to mind the faithful patriarch Abraham. On his journey from Ur to the land of Canaan, he and his wife, Sarah, as well as his father, Terah, and his nephew Lot stopped at Haran. There, Abraham accumulated much in the way of material possessions. After his father died, Abraham continued on his journey to the land that the true God had promised. (Gen. 11:31, 32; 12:4, 5; Acts 7:2-4) Later, Abraham sent his oldest servant to Haran or a nearby area to find a wife for Isaac. Abraham’s grandson Jacob also lived there for a number of years.—Gen. 24:1-4, 10; 27:42-45; 28:1, 2, 10.

The ultimatum presented by Assyrian King Sennacherib to King Hezekiah of Judah lists Haran among “nations” conquered by the kings of Assyria. The designation “Haran” here referred not only to the city but to the surrounding district as well. (2 Ki. 19:11, 12) Ezekiel’s prophecy mentions Haran as one of Tyre’s main trading partners, confirming Haran’s role as an important commercial center.—Ezek. 27:1, 2, 23.

Haran is now only a small town located near Şanlıurfa, in eastern Turkey. But at one time, the ancient city of Haran truly was a hive of activity. Haran is one of very few ancient settlements still retaining the name used for it in the Bible. Its Assyrian form, Harranu, can mean “Road” or “Caravan Road,” thus indicating that Haran was situated on major trade routes between larger cities. According to inscriptions unearthed in Haran, the mother of King Nabonidus of Babylon was the high priestess at the temple of Sin, the moon god of Haran. Nabonidus reportedly restored this temple. Thereafter, Haran witnessed the rise and fall of various empires.

Today, Haran is vastly different from what it was in the past. Ancient Haran was a highly developed and important city, especially during certain periods. Present-day Haran, however, is only a collection of houses with domed roofs. Surrounding it are the ruins of ancient civilizations. In the new world of God’s making, many who once lived in Haran—including Abraham, Sarah, and Lot—will be resurrected. Very likely, they will be able to tell us much more about Haran, an ancient hive of activity.

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Ruins of Haran

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Houses with domed roofs

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Panoramic view of Haran today

Questions From Readers

p. 21

Questions From Readers

Since Jehovah forbids idolatry, why did he not punish Aaron for making the golden calf?

When Aaron made the golden calf, as recorded in Exodus chapter 32, he broke God’s law regarding idolatry. (Ex. 20:3-5) As a result, “Jehovah got very incensed [at Aaron] to the point of annihilating him; but [Moses] made supplication also in behalf of Aaron at that particular time.” (Deut. 9:19, 20) Did the supplication of the righteous man Moses have “much force” in Aaron’s case? (Jas. 5:16) Yes. Because of such supplication and for at least two other reasons, it seems that Jehovah answered Moses’ prayer and did not punish Aaron.

One reason apparently had to do with Aaron’s record of faithfulness. When Moses was commissioned to appear before Pharaoh and to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, Jehovah appointed Aaron to accompany Moses and speak representatively for him. (Ex. 4:10-16) These two men obediently appeared before the king of Egypt many times, bearing the brunt of Pharaoh’s hard-heartedness. While still in Egypt, therefore, Aaron built up a record of loyal, steadfast service to Jehovah.—Ex. 4:21.

Consider also what led up to Aaron’s making the golden calf. Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days. When “the people got to see that Moses was taking a long time about coming down from the mountain,” they persuaded Aaron to make an idol for them. Aaron cooperated and produced a golden statue of a calf. (Ex. 32:1-6) However, Aaron’s subsequent actions indicate that his heart was not with this idolatrous movement. He evidently gave in to pressure. When Moses brought the issue of idolatry to a dramatic culmination, for example, all the sons of Levi—including Aaron—firmly took sides with Jehovah. Three thousand idolaters who bore the prime responsibility for the idolatrous conduct were slain.—Ex. 32:25-29.

Moses thereafter told the people: “You have sinned with a great sin.” (Ex. 32:30) Thus, Aaron was not the only one who bore a measure of guilt for the wrongdoing. Both he and the people benefited from Jehovah’s great mercy.

After the incident with the golden calf, Jehovah commanded that Aaron be installed as high priest. “You must clothe Aaron with the holy garments and anoint him and sanctify him,” God told Moses, “and so he must act as priest to me.” (Ex. 40:12, 13) Evidently, Jehovah forgave Aaron for his weakness. At heart, Aaron was a loyal upholder of true worship, not an idolatrous rebel.

Continue to Exercise Your Perceptive Powers

pp. 22–23

Continue to Exercise Your Perceptive Powers

WHAT a delight it is to see a skilled gymnast make graceful movements with agility! The Bible encourages Christians to train their thinking ability even as a gymnast trains himself.

In his letter to the Hebrews, the apostle Paul wrote: “Solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their perceptive powers [Lit., “sense organs”] trained [like a gymnast] to distinguish both right and wrong.” (Heb. 5:14, ftn.) Why did Paul exhort the Hebrew Christians to exercise their thinking ability even as a trained gymnast exercises his muscles? How can we train our perceptive powers?

“You Ought to Be Teachers”

When explaining Jesus’ position as “a high priest according to the manner of Melchizedek,” Paul wrote: “Concerning him [Jesus] we have much to say and hard to be explained, since you have become dull in your hearing. For, indeed, although you ought to be teachers in view of the time, you again need someone to teach you from the beginning the elementary things of the sacred pronouncements of God; and you have become such as need milk, not solid food.”—Heb. 5:10-12.

Evidently, some first-century Jewish Christians had not moved forward in understanding and had failed to make spiritual progress. For example, it was difficult for them to accept increased light regarding the Law and circumcision. (Acts 15:1, 2, 27-29; Gal. 2:11-14; 6:12, 13) Some found it hard to leave traditional practices associated with the weekly Sabbath and the annual Atonement Day. (Col. 2:16, 17; Heb. 9:1-14) Paul therefore encouraged them to train their perceptive powers to be able to distinguish right from wrong and told them to “press on to maturity.” (Heb. 6:1, 2) His admonition must have moved certain ones to reflect on how they were using their thinking ability and likely helped them to make spiritual progress. What about us?

Exercise Your Perceptive Powers

How can we exercise our thinking ability in order to become spiritually mature? “Through use,” said Paul. Like gymnasts, who through exercise train their muscles and body to perform beautiful and complicated movements, we should exercise our thinking ability to distinguish both right and wrong.

“Exercise is the single best thing you can do for your brain,” says John Ratey, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. According to Gene Cohen, director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University, “when we challenge our brains, the brain cells sprout new dendrites, which results in increased synapses, or contact points.”

We are wise, then, to exercise our thinking ability and increase our knowledge of God’s Word. By doing so, we will be better equipped to do the “perfect will of God.”—Rom. 12:1, 2.

Develop a Taste for “Solid Food”

If we desire to “press on to maturity,” we need to ask ourselves: ‘Am I progressing in my understanding of Bible truth? Do others view me as a spiritually mature person?’ A mother is happy to feed her infant milk and baby food while it is a baby. But imagine her concern if the years pass by and the child does not eat solid food. In a similar way, we are pleased to see an individual with whom we study the Bible make progress to the point of dedication and baptism. What, though, if the individual fails to make spiritual progress thereafter? Would that not be disheartening? (1 Cor. 3:1-4) The teacher hopes that in due time the new disciple will also become a teacher.

Using our perceptive powers to reason on matters requires meditation, and that calls for effort. (Ps. 1:1-3) We must not allow distractions—such as television watching or hobbies, which do not require much mental exertion—to get in the way of meaningful reflection. In order to develop our thinking ability, it is necessary for us to acquire and satisfy a taste for study of the Bible and the publications of “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matt. 24:45-47) In addition to a regular program of personal Bible reading, it is important for us to set aside time for Family Worship and in-depth study of Bible subjects.

Jerónimo, a traveling overseer in Mexico, says that he studies each issue of The Watchtower as soon as it becomes available. He also sets aside time to study together with his wife. Jerónimo says, “As a couple we have the custom of reading the Bible together every day, and we use such aids as the ‘Good Land’ brochure.” A Christian named Ronald mentions that he always keeps up-to-date with the congregation Bible reading. He also has one or two long-range personal study projects. “These projects make me look forward to my next study period,” says Ronald.

What about us? Are we devoting sufficient time to Bible study and meditation on the Word of God? Are we exercising our thinking ability and gaining experience in making decisions according to Scriptural principles? (Prov. 2:1-7) May it be our aim to be spiritually mature individuals, blessed with the knowledge and wisdom possessed by those who have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong!

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We exercise our thinking ability “through use”

Brothers—Sow to the Spirit and Reach Out!

pp. 24–28

Brothers—Sow to the Spirit and Reach Out!

“He who is sowing with a view to the spirit will reap everlasting life.”—GAL. 6:8.

1, 2. How is Matthew 9:37, 38 undergoing fulfillment, resulting in what need in the congregations?

YOU are witnessing history in the making! A work spoken of by Jesus Christ is in full swing. “The harvest is great, but the workers are few,” said Jesus. “Therefore, beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” (Matt. 9:37, 38) Jehovah God is answering such prayers in an unprecedented way. During the 2009 service year, the number of congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide increased by 2,031, reaching 105,298. On average, 757 individuals were baptized each day!

² Such growth creates a need for qualified brothers to take the lead in teaching and shepherding in the congregations. (Eph. 4:11) Over the decades, Jehovah has raised up qualified men to care for the needs of his sheep, and we are confident that he will continue to do so. The prophecy recorded at Micah 5:5 assures us that during the last days, Jehovah’s people will have “seven shepherds” and “eight dukes,” representing a considerable number of capable men to take the lead among them.

3. Explain what it means to ‘sow with a view to the spirit.’

³ If you are a baptized male Witness of Jehovah, what can help you to want to reach out for service privileges? A key factor is that you ‘sow with a view to the spirit.’ (Gal. 6:8) Doing so involves living in a way that allows for God’s holy spirit to operate freely in your life. Be determined not to ‘sow with a view to the flesh.’ Avoid letting such things as comfort, leisure, and entertainment dampen your desire to expend yourself in God’s service. All Christians should ‘sow with a view to the spirit,’ and in time, men who do so may well qualify for privileges in the congregation. Because there is a great need for ministerial servants and elders today, this article is especially directed to Christian men. Therefore, brothers, we urge you to give it prayerful consideration.

Reach Out for a Fine Work

4, 5. (a) Baptized men are urged to reach out for what privileges in the congregation? (b) How does one reach out?

⁴ A Christian man does not automatically become an overseer. He must reach out for this “fine work.” (1 Tim. 3:1) It includes serving fellow believers by genuinely caring for their needs. (Read Isaiah 32:1, 2.) A man who reaches out with proper motives is not ambitious. Instead, he is filled with an unselfish desire to benefit others.

⁵ One seeks to qualify as a ministerial servant and reaches out for the office of overseer by striving to meet the qualifications set out in the Scriptures. (1 Tim. 3:1-10, 12, 13; Titus 1:5-9) If you are a dedicated male, ask yourself: ‘Do I have a full share in the preaching work, and am I assisting others to do so? Am I building up my fellow worshippers by taking a sincere interest in their welfare? Do I have the reputation of being a good student of God’s Word? Am I improving the quality of my comments? Do I diligently care for the assignments entrusted to me by the elders?’ (2 Tim. 4:5) Such questions merit serious consideration.

6. What is a key factor in qualifying for congregation responsibilities?

⁶ Another way to qualify for congregation responsibilities is to “be made mighty in the man you are inside with power through [God’s] spirit.” (Eph. 3:16) Becoming a ministerial servant or an elder in the Christian congregation is not a matter of being elected to an office. This privilege is attainable only through spiritual growth. How is spiritual growth achieved? One way is for you to “keep walking by spirit” and cultivating its fruitage. (Gal. 5:16, 22, 23) As you give evidence of the spiritual qualities needed to handle added privileges and as you apply counsel for improvement, your ‘advancement will be manifest to all persons.’—1 Tim. 4:15.

Needed—A Spirit of Self-Sacrifice

7. Serving others involves what?

⁷ Serving others involves hard work and requires a spirit of self-sacrifice. Because Christian overseers are spiritual shepherds, the problems of the flock concern them deeply. Notice how the responsibilities of his shepherding work affected the apostle Paul. He told fellow believers in Corinth: “Out of much tribulation and anguish of heart I wrote you with many tears, not that you might be saddened, but that you might know the love that I have more especially for you.” (2 Cor. 2:4) It is evident that Paul put his heart into his work.

8, 9. Give Bible examples showing how men cared for the needs of others.

⁸ A self-sacrificing spirit has always been the hallmark of men who have labored in behalf of Jehovah’s servants. For example, we can hardly imagine Noah telling others in his household: ‘Let me know when the ark is finished so that I may join you.’ Moses did not tell the Israelites in Egypt: ‘I will meet you at the Red Sea. Get there the best way you can.’ Joshua never said: ‘Let me know when the walls of Jericho fall.’ And Isaiah did not point to someone else and say: ‘There he is! Send him.’—Isa. 6:8.

⁹ Our foremost example of a man who allowed God’s spirit to motivate him is Jesus Christ. He willingly accepted his assignment to serve as mankind’s Redeemer. (John 3:16) Should not Jesus’ self-sacrificing love evoke an appreciative response in us? When describing his feelings for the flock, one longtime elder said: “Jesus’ words to Peter—shepherd my little sheep—deeply move me. Over the years, I have come to appreciate how a few loving words or a simple act of kindness can lift another person’s spirit. Shepherding is a work that I enjoy very much.”—John 21:16.

10. What can move Christian men to imitate Jesus’ example in serving others?

¹⁰ When it comes to the flock of God, dedicated men in the congregation surely want to reflect the attitude of Jesus, who said: “I will refresh you.” (Matt. 11:28) Faith in God and love for the congregation move Christian men to reach out for this fine work, not thinking that the price is too high or that it is too demanding. What, though, if one is not particularly inclined to reach out? Can a brother cultivate the desire to serve the congregation?

Cultivate the Desire to Serve

11. How can one cultivate the desire to serve others?

¹¹ If feelings of inadequacy have prevented you from reaching out, it is proper that you pray for holy spirit. (Luke 11:13) Jehovah’s spirit will help you to cope with any concern you may have in this regard. The very desire to serve is God-given, for it is Jehovah’s spirit that motivates a brother to reach out and then supplies the strength to render sacred service. (Phil. 2:13; 4:13) Therefore, it is fitting to ask Jehovah to help you to build a desire to accept privileges of service.—Read Psalm 25:4, 5.

12. How may a person gain sufficient wisdom to handle responsibilities entrusted to him?

¹² Because he observes that the needs of the flock appear taxing and complicated, a Christian may decide not to reach out. Or he may feel that he lacks sufficient wisdom to handle responsibilities. If this is the case, perhaps he can gain wisdom by being a more diligent student of God’s Word and Bible-based publications. He might well ask himself, ‘Am I setting aside time to study God’s Word, and am I praying for wisdom?’ The disciple James wrote: “If any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep on asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching; and it will be given him.” (Jas. 1:5) Do you believe this inspired statement? In answer to Solomon’s prayer, God gave him “a wise and understanding heart” that enabled him to discern between good and bad when rendering judgment. (1 Ki. 3:7-14) True, Solomon’s case was special. Yet, we can be confident that God will give wisdom to men entrusted with congregation responsibilities so that they can care for his sheep properly.—Prov. 2:6.

13, 14. (a) Explain how Paul was affected by “the love the Christ has.” (b) How should “the love the Christ has” affect us?

¹³ Another aid in cultivating the desire to serve others is that of thinking deeply on all that Jehovah and his Son have done for us. For example, consider 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15. (Read.) How is it that “the love the Christ has compels us”? The love Christ showed in laying down his life in our behalf according to God’s will is so outstanding that as our appreciation grows, our heart is deeply moved. Christ’s love controlled Paul. It restrained him from acting selfishly and helped him to confine his objectives to serving God and fellow humans inside and outside the congregation.

¹⁴ Meditating on the love Christ has for people stirs up gratitude within us. As a result, we realize that it would be most unfitting for us to keep on ‘sowing with a view to the flesh’ by pursuing selfish goals and living largely to gratify ourselves. Instead, we adjust our affairs to give first place to the work God has given us to do. We are moved to “slave” for our brothers out of love. (Read Galatians 5:13.) If we view ourselves as slaves working humbly in behalf of Jehovah’s dedicated servants, we will treat them with dignity and respect. Certainly, we would not imitate the critical, judgmental spirit promoted by Satan.—Rev. 12:10.

A Family Effort

15, 16. What role do family members play if a man is to qualify for appointment as a ministerial servant or an elder?

¹⁵ If a brother is a married man with children, the situation existing in his family is taken into consideration when determining if he qualifies to be a ministerial servant or an elder. Indeed, the spirituality and reputation of his family have a direct bearing on his appointment. This underscores the importance of the family’s role in supporting the husband and father as he seeks to serve the congregation’s interests as a ministerial servant or an elder.—Read 1 Timothy 3:4, 5, 12.

¹⁶ Jehovah is pleased when Christian family members cooperate with one another. (Eph. 3:14, 15) It takes balance for a family head to handle congregation responsibilities and preside over his household “in a fine manner.” Hence, it is vital that an elder or a ministerial servant study the Bible with his wife and children so that all can benefit from Family Worship every week. He should participate in the field ministry with them on a regular basis. By the same token, it is important for family members to cooperate with the efforts of the head of the household.

Will You Serve Again?

17, 18. (a) If a brother no longer qualifies for appointment, what may be needed? (b) What view can well be taken by a brother who served as an elder or a ministerial servant in the past?

¹⁷ Perhaps you were an elder or a ministerial servant at one time but are not presently serving in that capacity. You love Jehovah and can be sure that he still cares for you. (1 Pet. 5:6, 7) Were you told that you need to make some adjustments? Be willing to admit a fault and work on it with God’s help. Guard against becoming bitter. Be wise, and manifest a positive spirit. An elder who had served for years but who lost his privileges of service stated: “I was determined to maintain the same level of meeting attendance, field service, and Bible reading I had while serving as an elder—a goal I was able to achieve. I learned patience because I thought I would regain my privileges in a year or two, but it took almost seven years before I again could serve as an elder. During that time the encouragement not to tire out but to continue to reach out greatly helped me.”

¹⁸ If you are a brother in the situation just described, do not become discouraged. Reflect on how Jehovah is blessing your ministry and your household. Build your family up spiritually, visit the sick, and encourage the weak. Above all, cherish your privilege of praising God and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.a—Ps. 145:1, 2; Isa. 43:10-12.

Take a Fresh Look

19, 20. (a) All baptized males are urged to do what? (b) What will be discussed in the next article?

¹⁹ The need for overseers and ministerial servants is greater today than ever before. We therefore urge all baptized males to take a fresh look at their circumstances and ask themselves, ‘If I am not a ministerial servant or an elder, should I analyze the reasons why I am not serving?’ Let God’s spirit help you to get the right focus on this vital matter.

²⁰ All members of the congregation stand to benefit from the godly self-sacrificing efforts of their fellow believers. When we engage in kind, unselfish acts, we reap the joy that comes from serving others and sowing with a view to the spirit. As the next article will show, however, we must not grieve God’s holy spirit. How can that be avoided?

[Footnote]

a See The Watchtower, August 15, 2009, pages 30-32.

How Would You Answer?

• Of what does the prophecy recorded at Micah 5:5 assure us?

• Explain what a spirit of self-sacrifice involves.

• How can one cultivate the desire to serve others?

• How important is family cooperation if a man is to qualify to serve as a ministerial servant or an elder?

[Pictures on page 25]

What can you do to reach out?

Do Not Grieve Jehovah’s Holy Spirit

pp. 28–32

Do Not Grieve Jehovah’s Holy Spirit

“Do not be grieving God’s holy spirit, with which you have been sealed.”—EPH. 4:30.

1. What has Jehovah done for millions of people, and what duty do they have?

JEHOVAH has done something special for millions of people living in this troubled world. He has made it possible for them to draw close to him through his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. (John 6:44) You are one of these individuals if you have made a dedication to God and are carrying it out. As a person baptized in the name of the holy spirit, you have the duty to conduct yourself in harmony with that spirit.—Matt. 28:19.

2. What questions will we consider?

² We who ‘sow with a view to the spirit’ put on the new personality. (Gal. 6:8; Eph. 4:17-24) But the apostle Paul gives us counsel and warns us not to grieve God’s holy spirit. (Read Ephesians 4:25-32.) We will now take a close look at the apostle’s counsel. What did Paul mean when he spoke of grieving God’s spirit? How could anyone dedicated to Jehovah ever do such a thing? And how can we avoid grieving Jehovah’s spirit?

What Paul Meant

3. How would you explain what is meant by the words recorded at Ephesians 4:30?

³ First of all, note Paul’s words recorded at Ephesians 4:30. He wrote: “Do not be grieving God’s holy spirit, with which you have been sealed for a day of releasing by ransom.” Paul did not want his beloved fellow believers to endanger their spirituality. It was with Jehovah’s spirit that they had been “sealed for a day of releasing by ransom.” God’s holy spirit was and still is a seal, or an advance “token of what is to come” for anointed integrity keepers. (2 Cor. 1:22) The seal signifies that they are God’s possession and are in line for heavenly life. Those finally sealed number 144,000.—Rev. 7:2-4.

4. Why is it important to avoid grieving God’s spirit?

⁴ Grieving the spirit can be the first step leading to the total loss of the influence of God’s active force in a Christian’s life. That this is possible is evident from what David said after he had sinned in connection with Bath-sheba. David repentantly begged Jehovah: “Do not throw me away from before your face; and your holy spirit O do not take away from me.” (Ps. 51:11) Only those anointed ones who prove “faithful even to death” will receive the “crown” of immortal life in heaven. (Rev. 2:10; 1 Cor. 15:53) Christians with an earthly hope also need holy spirit if they are to maintain integrity to God and receive his gift of life on the basis of faith in Christ’s ransom sacrifice. (John 3:36; Rom. 5:8; 6:23) Hence, all of us must guard against grieving Jehovah’s holy spirit.

How Could a Christian Grieve the Spirit?

5, 6. How could a Christian grieve Jehovah’s spirit?

⁵ As dedicated Christians, we can avoid grieving the spirit. This is possible if we ‘keep on walking and living by spirit,’ for then we will not be overcome by wrong fleshly desires and will not manifest ungodly traits. (Gal. 5:16, 25, 26) But that could change. We could grieve God’s spirit to a degree by allowing ourselves to drift slowly, perhaps almost imperceptibly, toward conduct condemned in God’s spirit-inspired Word.

⁶ If we continually went contrary to the direction of holy spirit, we would be grieving it and Jehovah, the Source of that spirit. An examination of Ephesians 4:25-32 will show us how we should conduct ourselves, and it can help us to avoid grieving God’s spirit.

How to Avoid Grieving the Spirit

7, 8. Explain why we must be truthful.

⁷ We must be truthful. According to Ephesians 4:25, Paul wrote: “Now that you have put away falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are members belonging to one another.” Since we are united as “members belonging to one another,” we certainly should not be devious or deliberately try to mislead our fellow worshippers, for that is the same as lying to them. Any who were to persist in such a course would end up having no relationship with God.—Read Proverbs 3:32.

⁸ Deceitful words and actions could disrupt the unity of the congregation. Therefore, we should be like the trustworthy prophet Daniel, in whom others could find nothing corrupt. (Dan. 6:4) And we ought to bear in mind Paul’s counsel to Christians with a heavenly hope that each member of “the body of the Christ” belongs to all the others and needs to remain united with Jesus’ truthful anointed followers. (Eph. 4:11, 12) If we hope to live forever on the Paradise earth, we too must speak the truth, thereby contributing to the unity of our worldwide brotherhood.

9. Why is it vital that we comply with Ephesians 4:26, 27?

⁹ We must oppose the Devil, giving him no opportunity to harm us spiritually. (Jas. 4:7) Holy spirit helps us to resist Satan. For instance, we can do so by guarding against unbridled rage. Paul wrote: “Be wrathful, and yet do not sin; let the sun not set with you in a provoked state, neither allow place for the Devil.” (Eph. 4:26, 27) If we do become justifiably angry, an immediate silent prayer can help us to be “cool of spirit,” displaying self-control instead of acting in a way that could grieve God’s spirit. (Prov. 17:27) So let us not remain in a provoked state and give Satan a chance to induce us to do something evil. (Ps. 37:8, 9) One way to resist him is by settling disputes quickly in harmony with Jesus’ counsel.—Matt. 5:23, 24; 18:15-17.

10, 11. Why must we not steal or do what is dishonest?

¹⁰ We must not succumb to any temptation to steal or be dishonest. Regarding theft, Paul wrote: “Let the stealer steal no more, but rather let him do hard work, doing with his hands what is good work, that he may have something to distribute to someone in need.” (Eph. 4:28) If a dedicated Christian were to steal, he would actually ‘assail the name of God’ by bringing reproach on it. (Prov. 30:7-9) Even poverty does not justify theft. Those who love God and neighbor realize that stealing is never justified.—Mark 12:28-31.

¹¹ Paul does not just mention what we should not do; he points out what we should do. If we are living and walking by holy spirit, we will work hard so that we can care for our family and also have “something to distribute to someone in need.” (1 Tim. 5:8) Jesus and his apostles set aside funds to help the poor, but the betrayer Judas Iscariot carried off some of the money. (John 12:4-6) He surely was not led by holy spirit. We who are guided by God’s spirit “conduct ourselves honestly in all things,” as Paul did. (Heb. 13:18) We thus avoid grieving Jehovah’s holy spirit.

Other Ways to Avoid Grieving the Spirit

12, 13. (a) As shown at Ephesians 4:29, what kind of speech should we avoid? (b) What should be the nature of our speech?

¹² We must guard our speech. Paul declared: “Let a rotten saying not proceed out of your mouth, but whatever saying is good for building up as the need may be, that it may impart what is favorable to the hearers.” (Eph. 4:29) Again, the apostle does not merely say what we should not do; he tells us what we should be doing. Under the influence of God’s spirit, we will be moved to ‘say what is good for building up so that it may impart what is favorable to the hearers.’ Furthermore, we should not let a “rotten saying” come out of our mouth. The Greek word rendered “rotten” has been used to describe putrefying fruit, fish, or meat. Just as we are repulsed by such food, we hate speech that Jehovah considers bad.

¹³ Our speech should be decent, kind, “seasoned with salt.” (Col. 3:8-10; 4:6) People should be able to discern that we are different when they hear what we say. So let us help others by speaking what is “good for building up.” And may we feel as did the psalmist who sang: “Let the sayings of my mouth and the meditation of my heart become pleasurable before you, O Jehovah my Rock and my Redeemer.”—Ps. 19:14.

14. According to Ephesians 4:30, 31, we must rid ourselves of what?

¹⁴ We must rid ourselves of bitterness, wrath, abusive speech, and all badness. After warning against grieving God’s spirit, Paul wrote: “Let all malicious bitterness and anger and wrath and screaming and abusive speech be taken away from you along with all badness.” (Eph. 4:30, 31) As imperfect humans, all of us need to work hard to control our thoughts and actions. If we were to give free rein to “malicious bitterness and anger and wrath,” we would be grieving God’s spirit. The same is true if we kept score of wrongs committed against us, manifested a resentful attitude, and refused to become reconciled to the offender. If we even begin to ignore the Bible’s counsel, we might develop traits that could lead to sinning against the spirit and we might experience disastrous consequences.

15. If some wrong is done to us, what should we do?

¹⁵ We need to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving. Paul wrote: “Become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate, freely forgiving one another just as God also by Christ freely forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32) Even if we are deeply hurt by some wrong done to us, let us forgive, as God does. (Luke 11:4) Suppose a fellow believer has said something negative about us. In an effort to straighten matters out, we approach him. He expresses true sorrow and asks for forgiveness. We forgive him, but we need to do more. “You must not take vengeance nor have a grudge against the sons of your people,” says Leviticus 19:18, “and you must love your fellow as yourself. I am Jehovah.”

Vigilance Is Needed

16. Give an example showing that we may need to make adjustments so as not to grieve Jehovah’s spirit.

¹⁶ Even in private, we could be tempted to do something displeasing to God. For instance, a brother may have been listening to questionable music. Eventually, his conscience becomes troubled because of ignoring Bible counsel presented in publications of “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matt. 24:45) He may pray about this problem and may recall Paul’s words recorded at Ephesians 4:30. Firmly determined to do nothing that would grieve God’s spirit, he resolves to avoid questionable music from now on. Jehovah will bless the spirit the brother shows. Therefore, let us constantly guard against grieving God’s spirit.

17. What could happen if we are not vigilant and prayerful?

¹⁷ Unless we are vigilant and prayerful, we could succumb to an unclean or wrong practice that would constitute a grieving of the spirit. Because the holy spirit produces qualities that are expressive of our heavenly Father’s personality, when we grieve it we grieve, or sadden, him—something we surely do not want to do. (Eph. 4:30, ftn.) First-century Jewish scribes sinfully ascribed Jesus’ miracles to Satan. (Read Mark 3:22-30.) Those enemies of Christ ‘blasphemed against the holy spirit’ and thus committed sin that was unforgivable. May we never end up that way!

18. How can we determine that we have not committed unforgivable sin?

¹⁸ Since we do not even want to come close to committing unforgivable sin, we need to remember what Paul said about not grieving the spirit. But what if we have erred seriously? If we have repented and have been helped by the elders, we can conclude that God has forgiven us and that we have not sinned against the holy spirit. With God’s help, we can also avoid grieving the spirit again in any way.

19, 20. (a) What are some things we need to avoid? (b) We should be determined to do what?

¹⁹ By means of his holy spirit, God furthers the love, joy, and unity of his people. (Ps. 133:1-3) Therefore, we should refrain from grieving the spirit because of engaging in harmful gossip or by saying things that would undermine respect for those who are spirit-appointed shepherds. (Acts 20:28; Jude 8) Instead, we ought to promote unity and respect for one another in the congregation. Surely, we should not encourage cliques by forming exclusive groups among God’s people. Paul wrote: “I exhort you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among you, but that you may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought.”—1 Cor. 1:10.

²⁰ Jehovah is willing and able to help us avoid grieving his spirit. Let us continue to pray for holy spirit and be determined not to grieve it. May we keep “sowing with a view to the spirit,” earnestly seeking its guidance now and forever.

How Would You Answer?

• What does it mean to grieve God’s spirit?

• How might a person dedicated to Jehovah grieve his spirit?

• In what ways can we avoid grieving the holy spirit?

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Settle disputes quickly

[Picture on page 31]

Which fruit best illustrates your speech?