Help People to “Awake From Sleep”

“You people know the season, that it is already the hour for you to awake from sleep.”​—ROMANS 13:11.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN?

Why is it so important for Christians to stay awake spiritually?

In the ministry, why should we be alert and listen?

Why should we be kind in our ministry?

1, 2. In what way do many people need to wake up?

EVERY year, thousands of people die because they get sleepy or even fall asleep while driving. Others lose their jobs because they do not wake up in time to go to work or because they fall asleep while at work. But there is a different kind of sleep that is much more dangerous. It is spiritual sleep. The Bible is warning us against this kind of sleep when it says: “Happy is the one that stays awake.”​—Revelation 16:14-16.

² As Armageddon gets closer, mankind in general is spiritually asleep. Even some of the leaders in Christendom have said that their church members are asleep. What is spiritual sleep? Why is it important that true Christians stay awake? How can we help others to wake up from spiritual sleep?

WHAT IS SPIRITUAL SLEEP?

3. How would you describe a person who is spiritually asleep?

³ People who are sleeping are usually not active. In contrast, those who sleep spiritually may be very busy, but they are not busy doing the things that can help them have God’s favor. They may be focusing on the daily cares of life or doing everything they can to have pleasure, fame, or money. They are so busy with these things that they do not think about their spiritual needs. But people who are spiritually awake realize that we live “in the last days,” so they are as active as possible in doing God’s will.​—2 Peter 3:3, 4; Luke 21:34-36.

4. What did Paul mean when he said: “Let us not sleep on as the rest do”?

⁴ Read 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8. Here the apostle Paul told Christians not to “sleep on as the rest do.” What did he mean? We “sleep on” when we do not do what Jehovah says is right and when we do what he says is wrong. Another way we can “sleep on” is by living as if Jehovah’s time to destroy the wicked was not near. We must make sure that the wicked do not influence us to think and act the way they do.

5. What do those who are spiritually asleep think?

⁵ Some people think that there is no God who will judge them for their actions. (Psalm 53:1) Others think that God is not interested in us, so we have no reason to be interested in him. And others think that belonging to a church will make them friends of God. All those who have these false ideas are spiritually asleep. They need to wake up. How can we help them?

WE MUST KEEP AWAKE OURSELVES

6. Why must we stay awake?

⁶ We can only help others to wake up if we are awake ourselves. So how can we stay awake? We must avoid the conduct of those who are sleeping spiritually. The Bible says that those who sleep spiritually are doing “works belonging to darkness.” These works include wild partying, drunkenness, immoral sex, loose or shameless conduct, fighting, and jealousy. (Read Romans 13:11-14.) It is very hard not to be like the people around us. We must be alert. Someone who drives a car must remember that if he falls asleep while driving, he could die. How much more should a Christian always remember that spiritual sleep can cause death!

7. What could happen to us if we have the wrong idea about people in our territory?

⁷ We could start to think that everyone in our territory has rejected the good news and is not going to change. (Proverbs 6:10, 11) We might think, ‘If no one is going to accept the good news, why should we try so hard to help people?’ It is true that many are not listening now, but something in their life may change and they may start to think differently. Some do wake up and accept the good news. And we can help them if we ourselves stay awake. We can do that by trying new ways to make the Kingdom message interesting to people. To help us stay awake, we need to remember why our ministry is so important.

WHY IS OUR MINISTRY SO IMPORTANT?

8. Why is our ministry so important?

⁸ Always remember that even if people do not listen, our ministry honors Jehovah. Also, he uses the preaching work to fulfill his purpose in these urgent times. Soon, God will judge people by how they react to our preaching. Those who do not accept the good news will be destroyed. (2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9) It would be a mistake to think that we do not have to work hard in the preaching work because “there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Acts 24:15) We have learned from God’s Word that those who are judged as “goats” will be destroyed forever. Our preaching is a way God shows his mercy because it gives people the opportunity to change and to live forever. (Matthew 25:32, 41, 46; Romans 10:13-15) If we did not preach, how would people have the opportunity to hear the message that can save their life?

9. How have you and others benefited from the preaching work?

⁹ We too benefit from preaching the good news. (Read 1 Timothy 4:16.) You will probably agree that speaking about Jehovah and the Kingdom has strengthened your faith and your love for God. It must also have helped you to improve your Christian qualities. And you probably feel happier when you show your love for God by preaching. Many who have taught the truth to others have had the joy of seeing God’s spirit help their students to live a better life.

BE ALERT

10, 11. (a) How were Jesus and Paul alert to the needs of others? (b) How can we be alert in our ministry?

¹⁰ There are different ways we can make the good news interesting to people. So we must be alert in our ministry. Jesus is our example. Because he was perfect, he knew that a certain Pharisee was angry even though the man had not said anything. Jesus also knew that a woman who was known to be a sinner had repented and that a widow had given everything she had. (Luke 7:37-50; 21:1-4) Jesus could help people because he knew what they needed. But we do not have to be perfect to notice the needs of others. The apostle Paul was an example of that. He preached in different ways so that he could help all people.​—Acts 17:22, 23, 34; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.

¹¹ If we are alert and notice people’s needs as Jesus and Paul did, we will know how to get their interest. For example, while going to speak to others, look for clues that can give you an idea of what their culture is, what their interests are, or whether they are single, married, or have children. Notice what they are doing at that moment and perhaps say something polite about it when you start your conversation.

12. While we are in the ministry, what do we need to remember about our conversation?

¹² If we are alert in the ministry, we will not allow other matters to take our attention away from our work. Even if we have an encouraging conversation with our partner, we need to remember that our purpose is to preach to others. (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7) So we should be careful that our conversation does not distract us from our purpose. A good way to keep our thoughts on the preaching work is to talk about what we will say to those we meet. Also, even though a cell phone can be helpful in the ministry, we should make sure that a phone call does not interrupt our conversation with a householder.

SHOW INTEREST IN THOSE YOU MEET

13, 14. (a) What can help us to know what a person is interested in? (b) In what ways can we start conversations in the ministry?

¹³ It is important to listen carefully to those you meet in the ministry. What questions can you ask people in your territory so that they will tell you what they think? Are they worried about the number of different religions, the violence in the area, or the failure of governments? Can you help some learn about God by talking about the wonderful way that living things were made or about how helpful the Bible’s advice is? Prayer is something that interests people of most cultures, even people who do not believe in God. Many wonder if there is anyone who listens to prayers. Others may be interested in questions like these: Does God listen to all prayers? If he does not, what should we do to be heard by God?

¹⁴ We can learn how to start conversations from those who have experience in the ministry. Notice how they ask questions without making the person feel uncomfortable. Notice how their voice and face reflect that they are trying to understand the householder’s opinion.​—Proverbs 15:13.

BE KIND AND USE SKILL

15. Why should we be kind when we do the preaching work?

¹⁵ Do you like it when someone wakes you up from a deep sleep? Many do not react well when someone wakes them up suddenly. Most like to be awakened in a gentle way. This is also true when you try to wake people up from spiritual sleep. For example, what should you do if someone gets angry when you visit him in the ministry? Be kind, and show that you respect how he feels. Then thank him for being honest, and calmly leave. (Proverbs 15:1; 17:14; 2 Timothy 2:24) If you treat him kindly now, he may react better the next time a Witness visits.

16, 17. How can we use skill and kindness in our ministry?

¹⁶ In some situations, it is possible to continue the conversation even if a person says that he is not interested or that he has his own religion. He may say that just because it is the easiest way to end the conversation. But with skill and kindness, you may be able to ask a good question that will help the householder to become interested in our Bible message.​—Read Colossians 4:6.

¹⁷ Sometimes when we meet people who feel that they are too busy to listen, it is best to be respectful and leave. At other times, you may feel that you can say something brief and meaningful. For example, some brothers are able to present a Bible message in less than a minute. They read a scripture, and before they leave, they ask the householder a question that they will answer at another time. This short presentation sometimes works so well that the householder decides that he is not too busy for a short conversation. Perhaps you could try to do that the next time you have the opportunity.

18. What can we do to become better at informal witnessing?

¹⁸ If we are prepared to do informal witnessing, we can help people we meet every day to become interested in God. Many brothers and sisters carry some literature in their pocket or handbag. They may also be prepared to read a specific Bible text if they have the opportunity. You may want to ask the service overseer or the pioneers in your congregation to help you prepare to do informal witnessing.

KINDLY HELP YOUR RELATIVES TO WAKE UP

19. Why should we keep trying to help our relatives?

¹⁹ All of us want to help our relatives to accept the good news. (Joshua 2:13; Acts 10:24, 48; 16:31, 32) If they rejected the message the first time we preached to them, we may not feel very enthusiastic about trying again. We might feel that there is little we can do or say that will change their attitude. But maybe things have happened that changed your relatives’ life or the way they think. Or you may have improved in your ability to explain the truth, so that you may now have better results.

20. How can we show respect for the feelings of our relatives when we speak to them?

²⁰ We should respect the feelings of our relatives. (Romans 2:4) Speak just as kindly to them as you would speak to those you meet in the preaching work. Be mild and respectful. And you may not always have to speak to your relatives about the truth. By your actions, you can show them how the truth has helped you. (Ephesians 4:23, 24) Make it easy for them to see that you live a better life because you have been taught by Jehovah. (Isaiah 48:17) Show your relatives by your example how a Christian should live.

21, 22. Give an example that shows how important it is to keep trying to help our relatives to learn about Jehovah.

²¹ A sister wrote that she has always tried to witness to her 13 brothers and sisters by her words and actions. She writes each of them every year. For 30 years she was the only Witness in the family.

²² One day this sister called one of her sisters who lives far away. Her sister told her that she asked her preacher to study the Bible with her, but he never did. When our sister told her that she would be glad to help her study the Bible, she answered: “All right, but I am telling you now: I will never be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.” She sent her sister the book What Does the Bible Really Teach? and called her every few days, but she had not opened the book yet. The sister continues: “Finally, I asked her to get her book, and for about 15 minutes over the phone, we read and discussed some of the quoted scriptures. After a few more calls, she wanted to study for more than 15 minutes. Then she began calling me for her study, sometimes before I was even out of bed in the morning and sometimes twice a day. The next year, she got baptized, and the year after that, she began pioneering.”

23. Why should we keep trying to help people to wake up from spiritual sleep?

²³ We need to use skill and to keep trying to help people to wake up from spiritual sleep. Many are still accepting the good news. On average, more than 20,000 people get baptized each month. So we should follow the advice that the apostle Paul gave to Archippus: “Keep watching the ministry which you accepted in the Lord, that you fulfill it.” (Colossians 4:17) The next article will help all of us to understand what it means to preach with a sense of urgency.

SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED

Spiritually asleep: A person who is spiritually asleep is not doing God’s will. He does not realize that we are living in the last days and that his life is in danger

Alert ministers: Ministers who notice the needs of those they meet in the ministry and keep their thoughts on the preaching work

[Blurb on page 5]

Spiritual sleep causes death, so we must help people wake up!

[Box on page 6]

HOW TO KEEP YOURSELF AWAKE

▪ Keep busy in doing God’s will

▪ Avoid works belonging to the darkness

▪ Remember the danger of spiritual sleep

▪ Have a good attitude about people in your territory

▪ Try new ways to preach to others

▪ Remember the importance of your ministry

Maintain Your Sense of Urgency

“Preach the word, be at it urgently.”​—2 TIMOTHY 4:2.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN?

Why did Christians in the first century preach with urgency?

How can we keep our sense of urgency?

Why is our preaching work more urgent now than ever before?

1, 2. What questions will be answered about preaching with urgency?

PEOPLE whose job it is to save lives usually work with a sense of urgency. For example, firefighters rush to an emergency because they know that lives may be in danger.

² As Jehovah’s Witnesses, we want to help people to be saved. That is why preaching and teaching the good news of the Kingdom is very important to us. But although our work is urgent, we do not rush around without thinking. Then what did the apostle Paul mean when he gave the counsel: “Preach the word, be at it urgently”? (2 Timothy 4:2) How can we preach with urgency? And why is our work so urgent?

WHY IS OUR PREACHING URGENT?

3. What can result if people accept the Kingdom message? What if they do not?

³ When you think about how our preaching work can save lives, you probably feel the urgent need to tell others about the good news. (Romans 10:13, 14) God’s Word says: “When I say to the wicked one: ‘You will positively die,’ and he actually turns back from his sin and carries on justice and righteousness, . . . he will positively keep living. He will not die. None of his sins with which he has sinned will be remembered against him.” (Ezekiel 33:14-16) The Bible tells preachers of the good news: “You will save both yourself and those who listen to you.”​—1 Timothy 4:16; Ezekiel 3:17-21.

4. Why did apostasy make preaching in the first century urgent?

⁴ To understand why Paul strongly advised Timothy to preach with urgency, we need to read our theme scripture and some of its context: “Preach the word, be at it urgently in favorable season, in troublesome season, reprove, reprimand, exhort, with all long-suffering and art of teaching. For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth.” (2 Timothy 4:2-4) Jesus had prophesied that there would be an apostasy. (Matthew 13:24, 25, 38) So it was urgent for Timothy to “preach the word” even inside the congregation so that this apostasy would not attract Christians and deceive them with false teachings. Their lives were in danger. What about today?

5, 6. What popular ideas do people we meet in the ministry believe?

⁵ This apostasy from true worship has grown and spread to many places. (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 8) What wrong teachings attract people today? For example, in many places evolution is taught with the same strong feelings that people have for their religion. Even though science is usually used to explain and support evolution, it is as if evolution has almost become a religion but without God. It affects how people feel about God and how they feel about other people. Another popular teaching is that God is not interested in us, so we do not need to be interested in him. Why do millions of people listen to these teachings that prevent them from having a relationship with God? Both teachings make people believe that they can do anything they want because there is no one to answer to. This is a message that many want to hear and believe.​—Read Psalm 10:4.

⁶ But there are other teachings that people believe. Some people who still go to church like to hear that no matter what they do, God loves them. Others like to hear their priests and pastors tell them that ceremonies, Masses, religious celebrations, and images can help them to be blessed by God. These churchgoers may not realize the danger of their situation. (Psalm 115:4-8) But they can benefit from God’s Kingdom if we wake them up from spiritual sleep and help them to understand Bible truths.

WHAT DOES PREACHING WITH URGENCY MEAN?

7. How can we show our sense of urgency?

⁷ A good surgeon must give his complete attention to the surgery because the patient’s life could be lost. In our Christian ministry, we can show a sense of urgency by giving our complete attention to the preaching work. We can do this by thinking carefully about what subjects, questions, or information the people we meet might be interested in. Also, we understand how important this work is, so we might want to change our schedule so that we can visit people when they are more willing to listen to our message.​—Romans 1:15, 16; 1 Timothy 4:16.

8. What does having a sense of urgency mean?

⁸ Having a sense of urgency also means that we do the most important things first. (Read Genesis 19:15.) For example, imagine that after you receive the results from a medical test, your doctor calls you into his office and tells you: “You have an urgent health problem, and you have no more than a month to do something about your illness.” What would you do? You would probably not immediately rush out of his office to do something about the situation. But you would listen carefully to what he thinks you need to do, go home, and decide what you should do.

9. Why can we say that Paul preached with urgency in Ephesus?

⁹ We can learn from Paul’s sense of urgency by reading what he told the elders in Ephesus about his preaching in the district of Asia. (Read Acts 20:18-21.) From the first day he arrived, he was busy preaching to people from house to house with the good news. For two years, he also had a regular schedule of “daily giving talks in the school auditorium of Tyrannus.” (Acts 19:1, 8-10) Paul’s sense of urgency influenced his routine. The counsel to preach with urgency is not meant to make us feel that the preaching work is too much for us to do. But the preaching work should be very important in our lives.

10. Why can we be glad that the Bible Students began to preach with urgency?

¹⁰ Before 1914 a small group of Bible Students started to preach the good news. Their example shows us what it means to have a sense of urgency. Although there were only a few thousand of them, they knew that they lived in urgent times and began preaching about the Kingdom with zeal. They had sermons printed in hundreds of newspapers and showed a program of color slides and moving pictures called the “Photo-Drama of Creation.” By the Bible Students’ work, millions of people heard about the good news. Because the Bible Students had a sense of urgency, it was possible for many of us to hear about the Kingdom.​—Read Psalm 119:60.

KEEP YOUR SENSE OF URGENCY

11. Why have some lost their sense of urgency?

¹¹ Distractions can stop a person from thinking about how important the preaching work is. Satan uses this system of things to distract us from Jehovah’s service by trying to keep us busy with personal interests and things that are not important. (1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 2:15-17) Some people who at one time put Jehovah’s service first in their life lost their sense of urgency. For example, Demas was a Christian who worked along with the apostle Paul, but he later became distracted by the world. Instead of continuing to encourage Paul during a difficult time, Demas left him.​—2 Timothy 4:10; Philemon 23, 24.

12. What opportunity do we have now? What opportunities will we have in the future?

¹² If we want to keep our sense of urgency, we need to resist the temptation to do things that distract us from our preaching work. We should work hard to “get a firm hold on the real life.” (1 Timothy 6:18, 19) You no doubt believe that everlasting life on earth under God’s Kingdom will give us endless opportunities to enjoy interesting activities. But the opportunity we have now to help others survive Armageddon will never come again.

13. What can help us to keep our sense of urgency?

¹³ Most people in the world around us do not know Jehovah. So, what can we do to keep our sense of urgency? We need to remember that there may have been a time when we did not know God and we had no hope for the future. But we learned the truth about Jehovah and Jesus, and now we have the privilege of teaching others about the truth. (Read Ephesians 5:14.) Paul wrote: “Keep strict watch that how you walk is not as unwise but as wise persons, buying out the opportune time for yourselves, because the days are wicked.” (Ephesians 5:15, 16) In this wicked world, it is important that we use our time for activities that can keep us close to Jehovah.

WE LIVE IN A VERY IMPORTANT TIME

14-16. What makes Kingdom preaching more urgent now than ever before?

¹⁴ The Christian ministry has always been urgent. But now it is more urgent than ever before. Since 1914 we have seen many events happening on the earth exactly as the Bible foretold. (Matthew 24:3-51) All humans are threatened with destruction as never before. Even though the most powerful nations in the world have made peace agreements, they still have about 2,000 nuclear missiles that can be fired at any place on the earth. Authorities report hundreds of situations where nuclear material is missing and is said to be lost. Is it possible that terrorists have some of this nuclear material? Some people say that all humans could easily be destroyed by a war started by a terrorist. But war is not the only thing to threaten mankind’s survival.

¹⁵ A 2009 report by The Lancet and University College London says about our day: “Climate change is the biggest global health threat.” It said that the effects of climate change will affect the health of most people and put the lives of billions of people in danger. Many places could be destroyed because of rising sea levels, droughts, floods, diseases, hurricanes, and wars over shortages of supplies. There is no doubt that wars and disasters threaten mankind’s survival.

¹⁶ Some people might think that the danger of nuclear war could lead to the events that would fulfill Jesus’ prophecy about the last days. But most people do not understand the real meaning of Jesus’ prophecy. For many years, we have seen events showing that Christ’s presence is real and that the end of this system is near. (Matthew 24:3) Never before have we seen so many events of Jesus’ prophecy. It is time for people to realize that they need to have a relationship with God. Our ministry can help them.

17, 18. (a) How does living in the last days affect us? (b) What could cause people to become interested in the Kingdom message?

¹⁷ We have only a short time to prove our love for Jehovah and to finish the preaching work he gave us to do in the last days. What Paul told the Christians in Rome is even more important for us today: “You people know the season, that it is already the hour for you to awake from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than at the time when we became believers.”​—Romans 13:11.

¹⁸ The events foretold for the last days can make people realize that they need to have a relationship with God. Some people become interested in the Kingdom message when they think of how human governments have failed. The governments have not been able to stop economic disasters, nuclear threats, violent crime, or the ruining of the earth. Others become interested in the Kingdom message because of problems in their own family, such as a health crisis, a divorce, or the death of a loved one. So when we are in the ministry, we can help these interested ones.

MOTIVATED BY A SENSE OF URGENCY

19, 20. How has their sense of urgency caused many Christians to make changes in their lives?

¹⁹ Because of their sense of urgency, many Christians make changes in their lives so that they can do more in the ministry. For example, a young couple in Ecuador decided to simplify their life after they heard the 2006 special assembly day program “Keep Your Eye Simple.” They made a list of things they did not need, and within three months they moved from their three-bedroom apartment to a one-bedroom apartment, sold some things, and paid off all their debt. Soon they began auxiliary pioneering and accepted the circuit overseer’s suggestion to work with a congregation where there was a greater need.

²⁰ A brother in the United States writes: “When my wife and I attended an assembly in 2006, we had been baptized for 30 years. While driving home after the program, we discussed how we could apply the counsel given on simplifying our life.” (Matthew 6:19-22) They owned three homes, land, expensive cars, a boat, and a motor home. Because they felt that they had wasted their time and energy on material things, they decided to make the full-time ministry their goal. In 2008 they joined their daughter in the regular pioneer service. It has been very rewarding for them to see how happy people are when they hear and understand the truth of God’s Word. The brother continues: “What a joy it has been to work more closely with the brothers! We have been able to serve where there is greater need. Also, the experience of doing more for Jehovah has drawn us closer to him.”

21. What knowledge makes us preach with a sense of urgency?

²¹ We know that “the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men” will soon end this wicked world. (2 Peter 3:7) Because of the knowledge we have of God’s Word, we preach with zeal about the coming great tribulation and the new world. We continue to have a deep sense of urgency in telling people about a real hope for the future. By doing as much as we can in this urgent work, we show true love for God and for people.

SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED

Sense of urgency: To be aware that preaching is important because lives are in danger and preaching can save lives

Christ’s presence: The period of time that Jesus Christ has been invisibly present after his enthronement in heaven as King in 1914

Spiritual sleep: To be unaware of or not to care about the need to know God

[Blurb on page 10]

The opportunity we have to help others survive Armageddon will never come again

[Blurb on page 11]

Events of the last days can make a person become interested in the Kingdom message

Rejoicing in Our Hope

“[There is] hope of the everlasting life which God, who cannot lie, promised before times long lasting.”​—TITUS 1:2.

CAN YOU ANSWER?

Why do we know that there is joy in heaven when one of the anointed keeps his integrity until death?

How is the hope of the other sheep connected with that of the anointed?

If we want our hope to come true, what “holy acts of conduct” and “deeds of godly devotion” should we show?

1. How can the hope Jehovah has given us help us to endure?

JEHOVAH is “the God who gives hope,” said the apostle Paul. Paul continued by saying that Jehovah can give us joy and peace so that we “may abound in hope with power of holy spirit.” (Romans 15:13) If this hope is clear in our minds, we will be able to endure difficult situations and keep our joy and peace. Difficult situations are like storms. During the storms of life, our hope is “an anchor for the soul, both sure and firm,” whether we are of the anointed or of the other sheep. (Hebrews 6:18, 19) By holding on to our hope, we will not “drift away.” Our hope will help us to keep our faith strong and not to have doubts.​—Read Hebrews 2:1; 6:11.

2. What two hopes do Christians today have? Why are the “other sheep” interested in the hope of the anointed?

² Christians living at this time of the end have one of two hopes. Those of the “little flock” who are on earth have the hope of immortal life in heaven. They will be kings and priests with Christ in his Kingdom. (Luke 12:32; Revelation 5:9, 10) The “other sheep,” who are much greater in number, have the hope of living forever on a paradise earth ruled by the Messianic Kingdom. (John 10:16; Revelation 7:9, 10) The other sheep should never forget that to be saved, they need to support Christ’s anointed brothers who are still on earth. (Matthew 25:34-40) The anointed will receive their reward, and the other sheep will certainly receive theirs too. (Read Hebrews 11:39, 40.) So let us first learn more about the hope that God gives to the anointed.

THE “LIVING HOPE” OF ANOINTED CHRISTIANS

3, 4. How does Jehovah give the anointed “a new birth to a living hope”? What is that hope?

³ The apostle Peter wrote two letters to anointed Christians. He called the anointed “the ones chosen.” (1 Peter 1:1) Peter’s letters help us learn more about the wonderful hope that the little flock have. In the first letter, he wrote: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for according to his great mercy he gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance. It is reserved in the heavens for you, who are being safeguarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last period of time. In this fact you are greatly rejoicing.”​—1 Peter 1:3-6.

⁴ Jehovah gives “a new birth” to the limited number of Christians he chooses to rule with Christ in heaven. Jehovah uses his holy spirit to adopt them as his sons and to appoint them as future kings and priests with Christ in heaven. (Revelation 20:6) This “new birth” makes it possible for them to have “a living hope.” What is that hope? Peter said that it is the type of everlasting life that can never be destroyed and is reserved for them in heaven. This wonderful hope gives the anointed good reason to rejoice. But their hope can only come true if they continue to be faithful.

5, 6. Why must anointed Christians remain faithful?

⁵ In his second letter, Peter told anointed Christians to do all they can to remain faithful so that they will receive their heavenly reward. (2 Peter 1:10) They must keep showing such qualities as faith, godly devotion, brotherly affection, and love. Peter said: “If these things exist in you and overflow, they will prevent you from being either inactive or unfruitful.”​—Read 2 Peter 1:5-8.

⁶ Christ said to the anointed elders in the congregation of Philadelphia, in Asia Minor: “Because you kept the word about my endurance, I will also keep you from the hour of test, which is to come upon the whole inhabited earth, to put a test upon those dwelling on the earth. I am coming quickly. Keep on holding fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” (Revelation 3:10, 11) The “crown of glory” has been promised to the chosen ones who remain faithful until death. If an anointed Christian becomes unfaithful, he cannot receive that crown.​—1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 2:10.

A GLORIOUS ENTRANCE INTO THE KINGDOM

7. What wonderful hope did Jude mention in his letter?

⁷ About the year 65, Jesus’ half brother Jude wrote a letter to anointed Christians. He said that they were “the called ones.” (Jude 1; compare Hebrews 3:1.) At first, he wanted to write them about the hope of salvation that all anointed Christians have. (Jude 3) Instead, he had to write about other urgent matters. But he still ended his short letter by mentioning the wonderful hope of anointed Christians. He wrote: “Now to the one who is able to guard you from stumbling and to set you unblemished in the sight of his glory with great joy, to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might and authority for all past eternity and now and into all eternity.”​—Jude 24, 25.

8. Why do we know that there is joy in heaven when one of the anointed keeps his integrity until death?

⁸ Certainly, each faithful anointed Christian wants God to protect him from “stumbling,” or from anything that may cause him to become unfaithful and result in his destruction. The hope of the anointed is that Jesus Christ will resurrect them from the dead as perfect spirit creatures. This will allow them to come into God’s presence. When one of the anointed dies faithful, there is no doubt that he will be “raised up a spiritual body” and resurrected “in incorruption” and “in glory.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44) If there is much “joy in heaven over one sinner that repents,” imagine the joy in heaven when one of Christ’s brothers keeps his integrity until death. (Luke 15:7) Each anointed one receives his reward “with great joy,” and Jehovah and the faithful spirit creatures rejoice with him.​—Read 1 John 3:2.

9. How is entrance into the Kingdom “richly supplied” to faithful anointed ones? How does this hope affect the anointed who are still on earth?

⁹ Like Jude, Peter wrote to anointed Christians about the reward they would receive if they remained faithful. He told them: “There will be richly supplied to you the entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:10, 11) When Peter said that entrance into the Kingdom would be “richly supplied” to them, he could have been referring to the fact that they would enter heaven in great glory. He may also have been referring to the many blessings that they will receive in heaven. The anointed will feel great joy and gratitude when they think of the faithfulness that they showed. This hope strengthens anointed Christians to remain faithful while they are still on earth.​—1 Peter 1:13.

“THE BASIS OF HOPE” FOR THE OTHER SHEEP

10, 11. (a) What hope do the other sheep have? (b) How is the earthly hope connected to Christ and to “the revealing of the sons of God”?

¹⁰ The apostle Paul wrote to anointed “sons of God” about their glorious hope to be “joint heirs” with Christ. Then he mentioned the wonderful hope that Jehovah gives to the unlimited number of other sheep: “The eager expectation of the creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will but through him that subjected it, on the basis of hope that the creation itself also will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.”​—Romans 8:14-21.

¹¹ Jehovah gave humans “the basis of hope” when he promised to free them from Satan the Devil by means of the promised “seed.” (Genesis 3:15; Revelation 12:9) The main part of that seed was Jesus Christ. (Galatians 3:16) Jesus’ death and resurrection made it possible for humans to have the hope of being free from sin and death. This hope is connected to “the revealing of the sons of God,” the anointed in heaven. They are the other part of the seed. They will be revealed, or made known as kings with Christ, when they help Christ to destroy Satan’s wicked system. (Revelation 2:26, 27) This will result in salvation for those of the other sheep who come out of the great tribulation.​—Revelation 7:9, 10, 14.

12. What wonderful benefits will the revealing of the anointed have for humans?

¹² The thousand years of Christ’s reign will result in great relief for humans! During that time, “the sons of God” will be revealed in another way. They will act as priests with Christ and help mankind to receive the benefits of his sacrifice. When God’s Kingdom rules over the earth, obedient humans will gradually “be set free from enslavement to corruption.” They will be set free from the results of sin and death. If they remain faithful to Jehovah both during the thousand years and during the final test that comes at the end, their names will be written in “the scroll of life” forever. They will have “the glorious freedom of the children of God.” (Revelation 20:7, 8, 11, 12) This is truly a wonderful hope!

HAVE YOUR HOPE CLEAR IN MIND

13. What makes our hope possible? When will the revelation of Christ happen?

¹³ What Peter wrote in his two letters helps both the anointed and the other sheep to keep their hope clear in mind. He explained that their hope is possible because of Jehovah’s abundant kindness, not because of their works. He wrote: “Keep balanced and set your hope completely upon the undeserved kindness that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13; footnote) “The revelation of Jesus Christ” will happen when he comes to reward his faithful followers and to destroy the wicked.​—Read 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10.

14, 15. (a) What must we do to keep our hope clear in mind? (b) What did Peter say we should do?

¹⁴ To keep our hope clear in mind, we must constantly remember that “the day of Jehovah” is coming soon. This attitude should affect our entire life. Jehovah will destroy today’s human governments, “the heavens,” and wicked people, “the earth” and its “elements.” Peter wrote: “What sort of persons ought you to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, awaiting and keeping close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah, through which the heavens being on fire will be dissolved and the elements being intensely hot will melt!” ​—2 Peter 3:10-12.

¹⁵ Then there will be “new heavens and a new earth.” Christ’s government and its righteous citizens will replace human governments and all wicked people. (2 Peter 3:13) Peter told us clearly what to do to keep “awaiting,” or to keep clear in mind, our hope of the promised new heavens and new earth. He said: “Hence, beloved ones, since you are awaiting these things, do your utmost to be found finally by him spotless and unblemished and in peace.”​—2 Peter 3:14.

SHOW THAT YOU HAVE YOUR HOPE CLEAR IN MIND

16, 17. (a) What “holy acts of conduct” and “deeds of godly devotion” should we show? (b) How will our hope come true?

¹⁶ We show that we have our hope clear in mind by the way we live. As Peter reminds us, we should make sure that we are the kind of person Jehovah approves. “Holy acts of conduct” include keeping our conduct “fine among the nations” by doing what God says is right. (2 Peter 3:11; 1 Peter 2:12) We must love our worldwide brotherhood. That includes doing all we can to keep the unity in our congregation. (John 13:35) Peter also mentioned “deeds of godly devotion,” which are things we do to keep our relationship with Jehovah strong. They include meaningful prayers, daily Bible reading, deep personal study, family worship, and regular participation in the preaching of the “good news of the kingdom.”​—Matthew 24:14.

¹⁷ Each of us wants to be the sort of person Jehovah approves and will save when he destroys this wicked system. If we are that sort of person, our hope, the “hope of the everlasting life which God, who cannot lie, promised before times long lasting,” will come true.​—Titus 1:2.

SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED

Our hope: The promise we believe of living forever either in heaven or on earth, which is certain to come true

Messianic Kingdom: God’s government ruled by Christ

The revealing of the sons of God: The time when it will be made clear to all that the anointed have been resurrected to heavenly life and are ruling with Christ

The revelation of Jesus Christ: The time when it will be made clear to all that Christ is a powerful King who rewards the faithful and punishes the wicked

[Blurb on page 18]

Our hope is possible because of Jehovah’s abundant kindness, not because of our works

[Blurb on page 19]

We keep our hope clear in mind by remembering that “the day of Jehovah” is near

[Blurb on page 20]

We show that we have our hope clear in mind by the way we live

[Picture on page 17]

Anointed Christians have “a new birth to a living hope”

[Picture on page 20]

Have your hope clear in mind as a family

Do Not Look at “the Things Behind”

“No man that has put his hand to a plow and looks at the things behind is well fitted for the kingdom of God.”​—LUKE 9:62.

CAN YOU ANSWER?

Why should we “remember the wife of Lot”?

What three things should we not keep thinking about?

How can we keep moving forward with Jehovah’s organization?

1. What warning did Jesus give? What question arises?

“REMEMBER the wife of Lot.” (Luke 17:32) Jesus Christ gave that strong warning almost 2,000 years ago. That warning is now more important than ever. What did Jesus mean? The Jews he was talking to knew exactly what had happened to Lot’s wife. While she was fleeing from Sodom with her family, she disobeyed Jehovah and looked back. Because of that, she was turned into a pillar of salt.​—Read Genesis 19:17, 26.

2. Why may Lot’s wife have looked back? What happened to her when she disobeyed?

² But why did Lot’s wife look back? Maybe she wanted to see what was happening. Or it is possible that she turned around because she could not believe that the city was being destroyed. Maybe her faith was weak. Or maybe she wanted to go back to the things she had left behind in Sodom. (Luke 17:31) Whatever the reason for her looking back, she died when she disobeyed. Just think of it! She died the same day as those wicked people of Sodom and Gomorrah. That is why Jesus said: “Remember the wife of Lot.”

3. How did Jesus emphasize that we should not look back?

³ Lot’s wife should not have looked back at what was behind her. In the same way, we should not look back at, or keep thinking about, the things we left behind. Jesus emphasized this when talking to a man who had said that he wanted to be Jesus’ disciple. The man had said that he first wanted to return to his family to say good-bye. Jesus answered: “No man that has put his hand to a plow and looks at the things behind is well fitted for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62) Was Jesus’ answer to the man too strong or unkind? No. He knew that the man was just making excuses to avoid the responsibility of becoming a disciple. Jesus said that a person who avoids his obligations to God is looking at “the things behind.” A person who is plowing a field may look back while he is plowing or put the plow down and turn to look back. Either way, he is distracted from what he should be doing, and he is not doing his work properly.

4. What should we focus on?

⁴ We must focus on the future and not on the past. The Bible clearly says this at Proverbs 4:25: “As for your eyes, straight ahead they should look, yes, your own beaming eyes should gaze straight in front of you.”

5. We have what reason not to look at the things behind?

⁵ We have good reason not to look at the things behind. What is the reason? These are “the last days.” (2 Timothy 3:1) Soon God will destroy, not just two wicked cities, but the whole system of things. What will help us to avoid being distracted as Lot’s wife was? We need to know what some of the things are that we might be in danger of looking back at. (2 Corinthians 2:11) So let us consider what they are and see how we can avoid focusing on them.

THE IDEA THAT THE OLD DAYS WERE BETTER

6. Why should we not always trust the way we remember the past?

⁶ We could make the mistake of thinking that life was better in the past. The way we remember the past might not be the way it truly was. Without realizing it, we could start to think that our problems in the past were not so bad and that we were much happier then. In other words, we start to think that things were a lot better than they really were. If we make this mistake, we may start to wish that life would go back to the way it was. But the Bible warns us: “Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these days?’ for it is not wise to ask that.” (Ecclesiastes 7:10, New English Translation) Why is this type of thinking so dangerous?

7-9. (a) What happened to the Israelites in Egypt? (b) What reasons for joy did the Israelites have? (c) What did the Israelites begin to complain about?

⁷ Think about what happened to the Israelites in Moses’ time. When the Israelites first went to live in Egypt, they were guests in that land. But after Joseph’s time, the Egyptians put over the Israelites “chiefs of forced labor for the purpose of oppressing them in their burden-bearing.” (Exodus 1:11) Later, Pharaoh even ordered his people to kill the male babies of the Israelites because he did not want the Israelites to become many. (Exodus 1:15, 16, 22) With good reason, Jehovah said to Moses: “Unquestionably I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and I have heard their outcry as a result of those who drive them to work; because I well know the pains they suffer.”​—Exodus 3:7.

⁸ Can you imagine the joy the Israelites felt when they came out of Egypt as a free people? They had seen the wonderful way Jehovah used his power when he brought the Ten Plagues upon proud Pharaoh and his people. (Read Exodus 6:1, 6, 7.) Finally, the Egyptians allowed the Israelites to go free. In fact, the Egyptians told the Israelites to leave quickly and gave them so much gold and silver that the Bible says that God’s people “stripped the Egyptians.” (Exodus 12:33-36) Later, the Israelites rejoiced when they saw Jehovah destroy Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea. (Exodus 14:30, 31) Their faith should have been very strong after they saw all that Jehovah had done!

⁹ It is hard to believe that just a short time after Jehovah had miraculously freed them, these same people began to complain. About what? Food! They became dissatisfied with what Jehovah had given them, and they said: “How we remember the fish that we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers and the watermelons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic! But now our soul is dried away. Our eyes are on nothing at all except the manna.” (Numbers 11:5, 6) So they did not remember the past the way it truly was. Because of their wrong thinking, they even wanted to return to the land where they had been slaves! (Numbers 14:2-4) The Israelites looked at the things behind, and Jehovah became angry at them.​—Numbers 11:10.

10. What lesson do we learn from what happened to the Israelites?

¹⁰ What is the lesson for us today? When we have problems, we should not keep thinking that things were much better in the past, perhaps even before we knew the truth. It is not wrong to learn from what happened in the past or to think about some of the happy times we had. But we need to be balanced and to think of the past as it really was. If we do not, we could begin to feel even more dissatisfied with our life now and want to return to the way of life we had before.​—Read 2 Peter 2:20-22.

SACRIFICES WE MADE IN THE PAST

11. How do some feel about the sacrifices they made in the past?

¹¹ Sadly, some think of the sacrifices they made in the past and wish that they had not made them. Perhaps you had opportunities to get higher education, to become famous, or to have a lot of money, but you decided not to go after these things. Many brothers and sisters had well-paying jobs. For example, they may have had a business, or they may have been famous musicians, professors at universities, or successful athletes. But they have left those jobs behind. Now time has passed, and the end has not yet arrived. Do you keep imagining what might have happened if you had not made those sacrifices?

12. How did Paul feel about the things he had left behind?

¹² The apostle Paul gave up much to become a follower of Christ. (Philippians 3:4-6) How did he feel about the things he had left behind? He tells us: “What things were gains to me, these I have considered loss on account of the Christ.” And why? We read at Philippians 3:7, 8: “I do indeed also consider all things to be loss on account of the excelling value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. On account of him I have taken the loss of all things and I consider them as a lot of refuse, that I may gain Christ.”a (See footnote.) A person who throws away refuse, or garbage, does not later regret that he threw it away. In the same way, Paul did not regret that he had left behind opportunities in the world. He no longer felt that they had any value.

13, 14. How can we follow Paul’s example?

¹³ What should we do if we keep thinking about the opportunities we rejected in the past? We should follow Paul’s example. How? Think about the value of what you have now. You have a good relationship with Jehovah, and he knows you as a faithful person. (Hebrews 6:10) The world can offer us nothing that is as valuable as what Jehovah gives us now and will give us in the future.​—Read Mark 10:28-30.

¹⁴ Paul next mentions something that will help us to continue to serve Jehovah faithfully. Paul says that he was “forgetting the things behind and stretching forward to the things ahead.” (Philippians 3:13) Paul here tells us about two things we need to do. Both are necessary. First, we have to forget the things we left behind. We must not waste our energy and time by always thinking about them. Second, like a runner at the finish line, we need to stretch forward. We must focus on the things ahead.

15. Why is it good to think deeply about the examples of faithful servants of God?

¹⁵ Think about the examples of faithful servants of God who lived in the past and who live in our day. Their examples will encourage you to keep moving forward instead of looking at the things behind. If Abraham and Sarah had kept remembering Ur, “they would have had opportunity to return.” (Hebrews 11:13-15) But they did not return to Ur. When Moses left Egypt the first time, he left behind much more than what the other Israelites later left behind. But the Bible does not say that he wanted those things back. Instead, it says that “he esteemed the reproach of the Christ as riches greater than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked intently toward the payment of the reward.”​—Hebrews 11:26.

DIFFICULT EXPERIENCES WE HAD IN THE PAST

16. How may we feel about difficult experiences we had in the past?

¹⁶ Some experiences we had in the past may have been difficult. For example, we may constantly worry about past sins or mistakes that we made. (Psalm 51:3) We might still feel angry or sad because we received strong counsel. (Hebrews 12:11) Maybe we cannot stop thinking about a time when we suffered an injustice or what we thought was an injustice. (Psalm 55:2) What can help us not to keep thinking about these experiences? We will consider three examples.

17. (a) Why did Paul feel that he was not as good as the other holy ones? (b) What helped Paul not to allow guilt to discourage him?

¹⁷ Past mistakes. Paul said that he felt that he was not as good as the other holy ones. (Ephesians 3:8) Why did he feel that way? Because he had persecuted the congregation of God. (1 Corinthians 15:9) Paul must have felt very guilty when he met brothers and sisters whom he had persecuted in the past. But he did not allow these thoughts to discourage him. Instead, Paul kept thinking about how God had shown him mercy and kindness. (1 Timothy 1:12-16) As a result, Paul felt very grateful, and he was motivated to continue in his ministry. When Paul said that he wanted to forget the things behind, he was including his past mistakes. Since we cannot change the mistakes we made in the past, we will only waste our energy if we keep thinking about them. Instead, we should keep remembering the mercy that Jehovah has shown us and use our strength to serve Jehovah now.

18. (a) What may happen if we keep thinking about strong counsel we received in the past? (b) How can we follow Solomon’s advice about accepting counsel?

¹⁸ Strong counsel. It may be that we keep thinking about some counsel we received in the past. This can make us feel sad or angry and cause us to give up. (Hebrews 12:5) Whether we immediately reject the counsel or accept it and then later give up, the result is the same. We do not allow the counsel to help us. It would be much better to follow Solomon’s advice: “Take hold on discipline; do not let go. Safeguard it, for it itself is your life.” (Proverbs 4:13) Like a driver who obeys road signs, let us accept counsel, follow it, and move forward.​—Proverbs 4:26, 27; read Hebrews 12:12, 13.

19. How can we imitate the faith of Habakkuk and Jeremiah?

¹⁹ Injustices or what seemed to be injustices. We may sometimes feel like the prophet Habakkuk, who cried out to Jehovah for justice. He did not understand why Jehovah had allowed certain unfair things to happen. (Habakkuk 1:2, 3) It is very important for us to imitate the faith of that prophet, who said: “Yet, as for me, I will exult in Jehovah himself; I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:18) Another example of faith is Jeremiah, who kept “a waiting attitude.” We can imitate him by having complete faith that Jehovah, the God of justice, will correct all things at the right time.​—Lamentations 3:19-24.

20. How can we prove that we “remember the wife of Lot”?

²⁰ We live in exciting times. Wonderful things are happening now and more will happen soon. Jehovah’s organization keeps moving forward, and we should move forward with it. Let us follow the Bible’s advice to look forward and not to look at the things behind. In this way, we will prove that we do “remember the wife of Lot”!

[Footnote]

SOME EXPRESSIONS EXPLAINED

To look at the things behind: To keep thinking about the past in a way that could discourage us or make us stop serving Jehovah

To look at the things ahead: To keep thinking about the future and about serving Jehovah forever

To make sacrifices: To decide not to go after things or opportunities in the world or to leave them behind

[Blurb on page 23]

Be careful not to imagine that the past was better than it really was

[Blurb on page 25]

Think about the value of what you have now and of what is ahead

How Do You Give Advice?

Has anyone ever asked you for advice? For example, have you been asked such questions as: ‘What should I do? Should I go to this gathering? Should I choose this as my career? Should I date this person?’

A person may ask you for help in making a decision that may influence his or her relationship with friends, family, or even Jehovah. Will you base your advice on your own opinion or on the Bible? How do you usually help people to make decisions? Whether the person’s question seems to be important or not, Proverbs 15:28 says: “The heart of the righteous one meditates so as to answer.” Think about how the following five Bible principles can help us to give good advice.

1 Understand the Situation Well.

“When anyone is replying to a matter before he hears it, that is foolishness on his part and a humiliation.”​—Proverbs 18:13.

If we want to give a person good advice, we must understand the way he thinks and understand his situation. For example, if someone called you and asked how to get to your home, what would you need to know to help him? You would need to know where he is so that you can give him good directions to your home. In the same way, if you want to give proper guidance, you need to understand the person’s situation and what he is thinking. Could there be things about his situation that you are unaware of and that might affect your advice? If we do not understand a person’s situation well, we might give advice that causes him to become confused.​—Luke 6:39.

Find Out How Much Research He Has Done. It may also be wise to ask the person such questions as: “What Bible principles do you think can help you make a decision?” “What is good and what is bad about the options you have now?” “What research have you already done?” “What help have others, such as the congregation elders, your parents, or your Bible teacher, already given you?”

The person’s answers to these questions may help us to know how much effort he has put into making a decision and if he has already asked other people for advice. We may also learn if the person just wants us to tell him what he wants to hear.​—2 Timothy 4:3.

2 Avoid Quick Responses.

“Every man must be swift about hearing, slow about speaking.”​—James 1:19.

Sometimes we may think that a quick response would be helpful to the person asking for advice. But giving a quick response is usually not wise, especially if we have not done thorough research on the person’s question. Proverbs 29:20 says: “Have you beheld a man hasty with his words? There is more hope for someone stupid than for him.”

Make sure that your advice is based on the wisdom from God’s Word. Ask yourself, ‘Have the thinking and attitude of this world influenced my thinking?’ (1 Corinthians 2:12, 13) When Jesus said that he must suffer and die, Peter advised him: “Be kind to yourself, Lord; you will not have this destiny at all.” What can we learn from Peter’s response? If we are not careful, we may base our advice, not on “God’s thoughts, but those of men.” (Matthew 16:21-23) It is good to be helpful, but we need to remember that God’s wisdom is much greater than our own experience. So it is important that we think before we speak.​—Job 38:1-4; Proverbs 11:2.

3 Be Humble and Apply God’s Word.

“I do nothing of my own initiative; but just as the Father taught me I speak these things.”​—John 8:28.

Will you say, “If I were you, I would . . .”? Even if the person’s question seems easy to answer, it is good for you to follow Jesus’ example by being humble and modest. Even though he had much greater wisdom and experience than any other human, he said: “I have not spoken out of my own impulse, but the Father himself . . . has given me a commandment as to what to tell and what to speak.” (John 12:49, 50) Jesus’ teachings and advice were always based on his Father’s will.

For example, we read at Luke 22:49 that Jesus’ disciples asked for direction on whether they should fight when he was about to be arrested. One disciple used a sword to defend Jesus. A similar account at Matthew 26:52-54 tells us that even in that situation, Jesus took the time to help the disciple understand Jehovah’s will. Jesus knew the principles found at Genesis 9:6 and the prophecies of Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, so he was able to give wise direction that saved lives and made Jehovah happy.

4 Use the Publications.

“Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?”​—Matthew 24:45.

Jesus has appointed “the faithful and discreet slave” to give us Bible publications. Before you give someone advice about important matters, do you take time to do thorough research in Bible-based publications?

We can find much information by looking in the Watch Tower Publications Index and the Watchtower Library.a (See footnote.) We should not forget to use these tools. They list thousands of topics, with many articles to help someone looking for advice. Are you able to help others use these tools to study and compare Bible principles so as to make a good decision? Just as a map can help a person decide which way to go to reach his destination, the publications can help a person make decisions that will help him reach his goal of everlasting life.

Many elders have shown publishers how to use the Index or the Watchtower Library. This helps publishers to find articles so that they can study and compare the Scriptures when they make decisions. They learn to do research and to rely on the publications Jehovah provides not only when solving problems but also when going about everyday life. By doing this, they “have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong.”​—Hebrews 5:14.

5 Avoid Making Decisions for Others.

“Each one will carry his own load.”​—Galatians 6:5.

Jehovah gives all of us the freedom to decide whether we will follow his principles or not. (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20) In some situations, a person may need to apply many Bible principles, but he is the one who must make the final decision. If someone asks us for advice, we may need to ask ourselves, ‘Do I really have the authority to answer this question?’ At times, it would be best for the elders to help him. Or if he is a young person, it would be better for his parents to help him.

[Footnote]

[Blurb on page 28]

Base your advice on the wisdom from God’s Word

[Blurb on page 29]

Follow Jesus and be humble

[Blurb on page 30]

We do not make final decisions for others

[Box on page 30]

We are thankful to Jehovah that he has used his organization to help us both to give and to receive the best advice. Ecclesiastes 12:11 states: “The words of the wise ones are like oxgoads, and just like nails driven in are those indulging in collections of sentences; they have been given from one shepherd.” “Oxgoads” are pointed sticks that are used to guide animals. Good and loving advice is like an oxgoad because it guides us in the right direction. And just as “nails” are used to build stable, solid buildings, good advice helps a person make good, solid decisions. Those who are wise are happy to follow the “collections of sentences,” or wise advice, from their “one shepherd,” Jehovah.

We should imitate our Shepherd, Jehovah, when we give advice. We are happy to listen to those who ask us for advice and help them whenever we can. If we base our advice on Bible principles, it will benefit others and help them to gain everlasting life.

[Box/​Picture on page 30]

Research Project for Family Worship

As a study project, you might want to do research on a question that someone has asked you recently. What articles and Bible principles can you find that could help the person answer his question? For example, a brother or a sister may ask you about someone they would like to date and perhaps marry. In the Index or the Watchtower Library, you might look up the topics “Dating” or “Marriage.” Then look for a subtopic that applies to the person’s situation. You may find the “See also” topics found under the main heading helpful because they may lead you to more information about the topic you are researching.

Questions From Readers

Could a Christian’s habit of viewing pornography become so bad that he must be disfellowshipped from the congregation?

▪ Yes, it could. That is why it is so important to avoid all pornography. This includes books, magazines, films, videos, and Internet sites that describe or show pornography.

Pornography is now everywhere around the world. The number of people viewing pornography has increased because the Internet has made it easy to watch pornography. Some people have seen pornography on Web sites by accident. But others have looked on purpose for Web sites that show pornography. They may feel comfortable doing this because they are at home or at the office where they think that no one can see them. Why is pornography a danger for Christians?

Jesus’ warning gives us an important reason: “Everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28) It is true that sexual relations between a husband and his wife are proper and something a couple can enjoy. (Proverbs 5:15-19; 1 Corinthians 7:2-5) But pornography shows immoral sex and causes a person to have the wrong thoughts that Jesus warned us about. So reading or viewing pornography is against God’s command: “Deaden, therefore, your body members that are upon the earth as respects fornication, uncleanness, sexual appetite, hurtful desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”​—Colossians 3:5.

What could happen if a Christian viewed pornography once or twice? He would be in a dangerous situation. Asaph was in a dangerous situation once. He later said: “As for me, my feet had almost turned aside, my steps had nearly been made to slip.” If a Christian viewed pictures of naked men or women or of a couple having sexual relations, he could not have a clean conscience and be at peace with God. He would feel like Asaph, who said: “I came to be plagued all day long, and my correction is every morning.”​—Psalm 73:2, 14.

A Christian who is viewing pornography should realize that this affects his relationship with Jehovah and that he needs help. He can get this help from the elders in the congregation: “Even though a man takes some false step before he is aware of it, you who have spiritual qualifications try to readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness, as you each keep an eye on yourself.” (Galatians 6:1) One or two elders can give him the help he needs. They can pray for him and have faith that Jehovah “will make the indisposed one well,” and his sin “will be forgiven.” (James 5:13-15) Asaph benefited by drawing near to God. Those who receive help to stop viewing pornography will also benefit because they will have a better relationship with Jehovah.​—Psalm 73:28.

But the apostle Paul said that some who sinned did not repent “over their uncleanness and fornication and loose conduct.”a (See footnote.) (2 Corinthians 12:21) Professor Marvin R. Vincent wrote about the Greek word that Paul used for “uncleanness.” He said that it means uncleanness that is dirty, or filthy. There is filthy, disgusting pornography that shows sex between two people of the same gender, group sex, sex with animals, child pornography, gang rape, cruel and violent treatment of women, and torturing or tying others up for sexual pleasure. Paul described some people in his time who were “in darkness mentally” and “past all moral sense [and who] gave themselves over to loose conduct to work uncleanness of every sort with greediness.”​—Ephesians 4:18, 19.

Paul also mentioned “uncleanness” at Galatians 5:19. A British scholar said that “uncleanness” here refers to unnatural lusts. All Christians would agree that the kinds of pornography we have discussed are filthy and cause people to have unnatural desires. Paul says at Galatians 5:21 that those who do these things “will not inherit God’s kingdom.” What would happen if someone has had the habit, perhaps for a long time, of watching filthy, shameful forms of pornography? If the person does not repent and stop this behavior, he would be disfellowshipped in order to protect the congregation and keep it clean.​—1 Corinthians 5:5, 11.

It is good to know that some who viewed pornography received help from the elders and made changes in their lives. Jesus urged Christians in ancient Sardis: “Strengthen the things remaining that were ready to die, . . . continue mindful of how you have received and how you heard, and go on keeping it, and repent. Certainly unless you wake up, . . . you will not know at all at what hour I shall come upon you.” (Revelation 3:2, 3) It is possible to repent and escape the dangers of pornography.​—Jude 22, 23.

It is much better not to be harmed by pornography at all. We should all be determined to avoid all forms of pornography.

[Footnote]

[Blurb on page 31]

A Christian who is in the habit of viewing pornography should realize that he needs help and should go to the elders