1, 2. (a) What qualities will help us to endure trials successfully? (b) What is faith? Give an example.

JEHOVAH’S service brings us joy. But we still have problems like everyone else. And we may suffer for doing what is right. (1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Peter 3:14; 5:8, 9) To endure these trials successfully, we need faith and courage.

² What is faith? The apostle Paul wrote: “Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.” (Hebrews 11:1) Another translation reads: “Faith is the title-deed to the things we hope for. Faith is being sure of things we cannot see.” (The Simple English Bible) A “title-deed” is a document that proves that a property belongs to us. Because we have faith that God always does what he promises, it is as if we have received a valuable “title-deed.” We are absolutely convinced that what God has promised will happen and that everything he tells us in his Word is the truth, even “things we cannot see.”

3, 4. (a) What is courage? (b) What is one way to strengthen our faith and courage?

³ Courage is the strength to speak and act without fear when we are in difficult and dangerous situations. To have courage is to be confident and brave, even willing to suffer for what we believe.​—Mark 6:49, 50; 2 Timothy 1:7.

⁴ We may feel that we need more faith and courage. The Bible speaks of thousands of servants of God who were good examples of faith and courage. So one way to strengthen these qualities in us is to think carefully about some of those examples.

JEHOVAH WAS WITH JOSHUA

5. To be a good leader, what did Joshua need?

⁵ We can think of something that happened about 3,500 years ago. This was 40 years after Jehovah had delivered millions of Israelites from Egypt. The prophet Moses was their leader. He was 120 years old when he went to the top of Mount Nebo and saw the Promised Land. Then he died there on top of the mountain. The next leader of Israel was Joshua, a man “full of the spirit of wisdom.” (Deuteronomy 34:1-9) The Israelite army was ready to take the land of Canaan. To be a good leader, Joshua needed wisdom from God, faith, courage, and confidence.​—Deuteronomy 31:22, 23.

6. (a) According to Joshua 23:6, we need courage to do what? (b) What do we learn from the words of Acts 4:18-20 and Acts 5:29?

⁶ The wisdom, courage, and faith Joshua showed must have strengthened the Israelites during the many years they fought to take the land of Canaan. They needed courage not only to fight in battle but also to obey God. Just before Joshua died, he told them: “You must be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses by never turning away from it to the right or to the left.” (Joshua 23:6) We too need courage to obey Jehovah at all times, especially when humans tell us to do something that is against God’s will. (Read Acts 4:18-20; 5:29.) If we pray for Jehovah’s direction and trust in him, he will help us to have the courage we need.

HOW YOU CAN “MAKE YOUR WAY SUCCESSFUL”

7. To act with courage and have success, what did Joshua need to do?

⁷ To have the courage needed to do God’s will, we must study his Word and do what it says. That is what Jehovah told Joshua to do when he took Moses’ place: “Be courageous and very strong to take care to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you.” He added: “This book of the law should not depart from your mouth, and you must in an undertone read in it day and night, in order that you may take care to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way successful and then you will act wisely.” (Joshua 1:7, 8) Joshua was successful because he followed that counsel. If we do the same, we will have greater courage and will be successful in God’s service.

8. What scripture is the yeartext for 2013 taken from? How do you feel that those words will help you?

⁸ Jehovah next told Joshua: “Be courageous and strong. Do not suffer shock or be terrified, for Jehovah your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) Jehovah is with us too. So no matter what trials we may suffer, we do not need to be afraid. We are especially interested in the words: “Be courageous and strong. . . . Jehovah your God is with you.” Those words of Joshua 1:9 have been chosen as the yeartext for 2013. These words to Joshua and the example of others who showed faith and courage will give us great confidence in the months ahead.

THEY COURAGEOUSLY CHOSE TO DO GOD’S WILL

9. In what ways did Rahab show faith and courage?

⁹ When Joshua sent two spies into Canaan, Rahab the prostitute hid them and then sent their enemies in the wrong direction. Because of her faith and courage, she and her family survived when the Israelites destroyed the city of Jericho. (Hebrews 11:30, 31; James 2:25) Of course, Rahab abandoned her immoral life so that she could please Jehovah. Some who have become Christians have had the faith and courage to make similar changes in their lives so that they could please God.

10. In what situation did Ruth choose to worship Jehovah? How did Jehovah bless her?

¹⁰ Ruth, who was from Moab, lived after Joshua. She probably knew something about Jehovah because she had been married to an Israelite. She had the courage to worship Jehovah. Her mother-in-law, Naomi, had lived in Moab, and when her husband and sons died, she decided to return to Bethlehem, in Israel. On the road, Naomi told Ruth to return to her own people, but Ruth said that she would not turn back to Moab. Ruth said: “Your people will be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16) In time, Ruth married Boaz, a man from Naomi’s family. They had a son and, from him, later came David and Jesus. It is clear that Jehovah blesses those who show faith and courage.​—Ruth 2:12; 4:17-22; Matthew 1:1-6.

MANY RISKED THEIR LIVES!

11. How did Jehoiada and Jehosheba show courage? Because they acted courageously, what was the result?

¹¹ Our faith and courage become stronger when we see that God is with those who risk their lives to do his will and to protect their brothers. For example, think of High Priest Jehoiada and his wife, Jehosheba. After King Ahaziah died, Athaliah, his mother, killed all the king’s children except Jehoash and made herself queen. But Jehoiada and Jehosheba saved Ahaziah’s son Jehoash and kept him hidden for six years, even though this was a dangerous thing to do. In the seventh year, Jehoiada made Jehoash king and ordered that Athaliah be killed. (2 Kings 11:1-16) Jehoiada later helped King Jehoash to repair the temple. Jehoiada died when he was 130 years old and was buried with the kings “because he had done good in Israel and with the true God and His house.” (2 Chronicles 24:15, 16) Because Jehoiada and his wife acted courageously, the family from which the Messiah would later come was kept safe.

12. How did Ebed-melech show courage?

¹² Ebed-melech, a servant in the house of King Zedekiah, risked his life for Jeremiah. The princes of Judah told the king that Jeremiah was discouraging the soldiers and all the people. The king allowed them to do whatever they wanted with Jeremiah. So they threw him into a deep pit full of mud and left him there to die. (Jeremiah 38:4-6) Ebed-melech asked King Zedekiah to help Jeremiah. What Ebed-melech did was dangerous, since so many people hated Jeremiah. Zedekiah agreed to help and told Ebed-melech to take 30 men with him and get Jeremiah out of the pit. Through Jeremiah, God promised Ebed-melech that he would not die when the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 39:15-18) God rewards those who show courage to do his will.

13. How did the three Hebrews show courage? What can we learn from their story?

¹³ About 600 years before Christ, three Hebrew servants of God were rewarded for showing faith and courage. King Nebuchadnezzar ordered that all important men of Babylon gather and worship a giant image of gold. Anyone who disobeyed would die in a fiery furnace. The three Hebrews respectfully told Nebuchadnezzar: “Our God whom we are serving is able to rescue us. Out of the burning fiery furnace and out of your hand, O king, he will rescue us. But if not, let it become known to you, O king, that your gods are not the ones we are serving, and the image of gold that you have set up we will not worship.” (Daniel 3:16-18) At Daniel 3:19-30, we can read the exciting account of how Jehovah saved the three Hebrews. We are probably not going to be threatened with death in a fiery furnace, but at times we do have to obey God in very difficult situations. We can be sure that God will bless us if we show faith and courage.

14. According to Daniel chapter 6, how did Daniel act courageously? What was the result?

¹⁴ Enemies of Daniel convinced King Darius to make a law that would harm Daniel. They told the king: “Whoever makes a petition to any god or man for thirty days except to you, O king, should be thrown to the lions’ pit.” Daniel showed faith and courage in this situation. As soon as he learned about that law, he “entered into his house, and, the windows in his roof chamber being open for him toward Jerusalem, even three times in a day he was kneeling on his knees and praying and offering praise before his God, as he had been regularly doing prior to this.” (Daniel 6:6-10) Daniel was thrown into a lions’ pit. But Jehovah saved him!​—Daniel 6:16-23.

15. (a) How did Aquila and Priscilla show faith and courage? (b) What do Jesus’ words at John 13:34 mean? How have many Christians shown this kind of love?

¹⁵ The Bible says that Aquila and Priscilla risked their lives for Paul. (Acts 18:2; Romans 16:3, 4) They showed courage and did what Jesus commanded: “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34) The Law of Moses required that a person love others as he loved himself. (Leviticus 19:18) So why was Jesus’ commandment “new”? Because it requires us to show love by being willing to give our life for others, as he did. Many Christians have shown love by risking their lives to protect their brothers from being hurt or killed by enemies.​—Read 1 John 3:16.

16, 17. How was the faith of some of the first Christians tested? How has the faith of some Christians in our time also been tested?

¹⁶ Like Jesus, the first Christians worshipped only Jehovah. (Matthew 4:8-10) They refused to burn incense in honor of the Roman emperor. Daniel P. Mannix wrote in his book Those About to Die that an altar with a fire burning on it was usually kept in the arena. He said that all a prisoner had to do was sprinkle some incense on the flame and he would be freed. It was explained to the prisoner that he would not be worshipping the emperor. The prisoner was told that he would simply be agreeing that the Roman emperor was a god. Even so, very few Christians accepted this offer to escape.

¹⁷ Christians who were put in Nazi concentration camps were given several opportunities to be free again and avoid death. All they had to do was sign a document that said that they no longer worshipped Jehovah. But only a few signed. During a war in Rwanda, Tutsi and Hutu Witnesses risked their lives to protect one another. God’s people need courage and faith in situations like these.

REMEMBER, JEHOVAH IS WITH US!

18, 19. What Bible examples of faith and courage can help us to do the preaching work?

¹⁸ We now have the wonderful opportunity to preach about the Kingdom and to make disciples. This is the greatest work God has ever given to his servants on earth. (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20) We are very grateful for Jesus’ perfect example. He “went journeying from city to city and from village to village, preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God.” (Luke 8:1) Like him, we need faith and courage to preach about the Kingdom. With God’s help, we can be as courageous as Noah. He was a “preacher of righteousness” in “a world of ungodly people” who were going to be destroyed in a flood.​—2 Peter 2:4, 5.

¹⁹ Prayer helps us to do the preaching work. Some of Jesus’ disciples who were being persecuted prayed that they might continue “speaking the word of God with boldness,” and their prayer was answered. (Read Acts 4:29-31.) If you are afraid of preaching from house to house, pray to Jehovah for greater faith and courage, and he will help you.​—Read Psalm 66:19, 20.a (See footnote.)

20. What help do we have as Jehovah’s servants?

²⁰ It is not easy to keep doing God’s will in this wicked world. But we are not alone. God is with us. His Son, the Head of the congregation, is helping us too. There are also more than 7,000,000 other Witnesses of Jehovah around the world. Let us all continue to show faith and preach the good news. The words of our 2013 yeartext will help us to do that: “Be courageous and strong. . . . Jehovah your God is with you.”​—Joshua 1:9.

1-3. (a) Why is Joshua a good example for us? (b) What should we remember when we make decisions?

THE choices we make are very important. They allow us to control how we use our life. This is similar to when a person is walking along a road that splits into two separate roads. He has to choose which way to go. He will likely choose the road that brings him closer to where he wants to go instead of the road that takes him farther away.

² The Bible tells us about many people who had to make important choices. For example, Cain had to choose whether he would control his anger or not. (Genesis 4:6, 7) Joshua had to choose whether he would worship the true God or false gods. (Joshua 24:15) It was important to Joshua to be on the right road. He wanted to stay close to Jehovah, so he made a choice that would help him to do so. But Cain made a choice that separated him from Jehovah.

³ Sometimes we too have to make important decisions so that we can stay on the right road. We need to remember that our choices can either bring glory to Jehovah and help us to stay close to him or they can separate us from him. (Read Hebrews 3:12.) In this article and in the next, we will talk about seven areas of life where we need to stay on the right road and make sure that our decisions do not separate us from Jehovah.

EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER

4. Why is it important to work?

⁴ Christians must work to support themselves and their families. The Bible shows that if anyone does not want to provide for his family, he is worse than an unbeliever. (2 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 5:8, footnote) So it is important to work. But if you are not careful, your decisions about work can start to separate you from Jehovah. How?

5. What should you think about before accepting a job?

⁵ What if you need to find a job? If it is difficult to find a job in your country, you might be tempted to accept any job that is offered to you. But what if there are Bible principles that tell you this is not a good kind of work to accept? Or what if the job requires so much of your time that you cannot spend enough time with the congregation or with your family? Should you take the job because you think that it is better to have a bad job than to have no job? Remember, your choice could help you to stay close to Jehovah or separate you from him. (Hebrews 2:1) Whether you need a job or are thinking about changing your job, how can you make a wise decision?

6, 7. (a) What are two reasons a person might accept a job? (b) Which reason shows that he wants to stay close to Jehovah? Why?

⁶ Your choice will depend on what you want to do with your life. Ask yourself: ‘What do I want a job to do for me?’ If your main reason for having a job is to support yourself and your family so that you can keep serving Jehovah, he will help you. (Matthew 6:33) Jehovah knows how to help you when you suddenly lose your job or when the economy gets bad. (Isaiah 59:1) He “knows how to deliver people of godly devotion out of trial.”​—2 Peter 2:9.

⁷ What if your main reason for having a job is to make a lot of money? You might be able to do that. But it is dangerous to work only so you can be rich. (Read 1 Timothy 6:9, 10.) If money and your career are the most important things in your life, then you will separate yourself from Jehovah.

8, 9. What questions should parents ask themselves about their job or career? Why?

⁸ If you are a parent, remember that your children learn from the way you make decisions. What do they think is the most important thing in your life? Your career? Or your friendship with Jehovah? If you keep trying to become important or make a lot of money, do you think your children will make a similar bad choice when they grow up? Or could they lose respect for you as a parent? One young Christian says that for as long as she can remember, her father made his job the most important thing in his life. “At first, it seemed that he worked so hard because he wanted our family to have the very best. He wanted us to be well cared for. But in recent years, something has changed.” Her father works all the time and buys expensive things that the family does not need. As a result, their family is known for having a lot of money, not for encouraging others to serve Jehovah. She says that she would be happier if her father worked hard to keep their family close to Jehovah instead of working hard to make a lot of money.

⁹ Parents, make sure that you do not allow your career to separate you from Jehovah. Be an example for your children. Show them that you truly believe that having a relationship with Jehovah is much more important than money or things.​—Matthew 5:3.

10. What should a young person think about before choosing the kind of work he will do?

¹⁰ If you are a young person who is thinking about what kind of work you will do when you grow up, how can you make a good choice? As we have already learned, your choice will depend on what you want to do with your life. If you are thinking about getting training for a certain kind of work, will that work help you to make Jehovah’s service the most important thing in your life? Or will it separate you from Jehovah? (2 Timothy 4:10) Do you want to be like the people in the world who are happy only when they have a lot of money? Or will you have confidence in Jehovah, as David did? He said: “A young man I used to be, I have also grown old, and yet I have not seen anyone righteous left entirely, nor his offspring looking for bread.” (Psalm 37:25) This is like choosing which road to take. Remember that one choice will separate you from Jehovah and the other choice will give you the best life you could ever have. (Read Proverbs 10:22; Malachi 3:10.) Which choice will you make?a​—See footnote.

RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT

11. What does the Bible teach us about recreation and entertainment? What should we remember?

¹¹ The Bible does not say that it is wrong to have fun, and it does not say that enjoying recreation and entertainment is a waste of time. Paul told Timothy that it can be beneficial to get exercise. (1 Timothy 4:8) The Bible even says that there is “a time to laugh” and “a time to skip about,” and it encourages us to get enough rest. (Ecclesiastes 3:4; 4:6) But if you are not careful, recreation and entertainment could start to separate you from Jehovah. How? By your spending too much time on recreation and entertainment or by your choosing the wrong kind.

12. What should you think about when choosing recreation and entertainment?

¹² First, let us think about what kind of recreation and entertainment we should choose. It is definitely possible to find good recreation and entertainment. But much of the entertainment in the world is about things that God hates, including violence, spiritism, and immoral sex. So you have to be careful about what kind of recreation and entertainment you choose. Think about questions such as these: How does my entertainment affect me? Does it encourage me to be violent or to feel proud of my nation? Does it make me think I always have to win? (Proverbs 3:31) Does it cost too much money? Would others be offended if they knew I chose this kind of recreation or entertainment? (Romans 14:21) What kind of people would I be with? (Proverbs 13:20) Does it make me want to do something wrong?​—James 1:14, 15.

13, 14. Why should you think about how much time you spend on recreation?

¹³ Think, too, about the amount of time you spend on recreation and entertainment. Ask yourself: ‘Do I spend so much time on recreation that I have little time for field service and the meetings?’ If you spend too much time on entertainment, it will not be as enjoyable as it could be. In fact, those who are careful not to spend too much time on recreation enjoy their recreation even more. Why? They know that they did the more important things first, so they do not have to feel guilty about having some fun.​—Read Philippians 1:10, 11.

¹⁴ Although it may seem fun to spend a lot of time in recreation, it could separate you from Jehovah. A 20-year-old sister named Kim had that experience. She said she used to attend parties every weekend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Now, though, she sees that there are more important things to do. She says: “For example, as a pioneer, I wake up at 6:00 a.m. for field service, so I can’t be at gatherings until one or two in the morning. I know that social events are not all bad, but they can be a huge distraction.” She has learned that she has to be careful not to spend too much time at social events.

15. How can parents help their children to choose good recreation?

¹⁵ Parents have to provide what the family needs. They also have the responsibility to help the family to stay close to Jehovah and to feel happy and loved. If you are a parent, do not think that all recreation is bad. Of course, some kinds of recreation and entertainment are bad. (1 Corinthians 5:6) But if you make the effort to choose your recreation and entertainment carefully, you can find ways for your family to have a good time together.b (See footnote.) In that way, your choices in entertainment will not separate you from Jehovah.

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

16, 17. What sad situation have many parents experienced? How do we know that Jehovah understands their sadness?

¹⁶ It is natural for a parent and a child to love each other very much. Jehovah even said that he loves his people as a mother loves her child. (Isaiah 49:15) When a family member leaves Jehovah, it is normal for us to be very sad. One sister whose daughter was disfellowshipped said: “I was devastated. I wondered, ‘Why did she leave Jehovah?’ I felt guilty, and I blamed myself.”

¹⁷ If you are in this situation, Jehovah understands how you feel. He himself “felt hurt at his heart” when his first human son rebelled and later when most of the people living before the Flood did not listen to Noah. (Genesis 6:5, 6) Those who have never been in this situation may not understand how much this can hurt. But it would be dangerous to allow the wrong conduct of your disfellowshipped family member to separate you from Jehovah. How can you cope with the sadness when a family member leaves Jehovah?

18. Why should parents not blame themselves if their child leaves Jehovah?

¹⁸ Do not blame yourself for what happened. Each dedicated and baptized family member must “carry his own load” and choose whether he will serve Jehovah. (Galatians 6:5) Jehovah views the sinner as responsible for his decision. God does not blame you. (Ezekiel 18:20) Also, do not blame others. Have respect for the way Jehovah disciplines his people. Do not blame the elders, who are protecting the congregation. But take your stand against the Devil, and do not let this situation separate you from Jehovah.​—1 Peter 5:8, 9.

19, 20. (a) How can parents of disfellowshipped ones cope with their sadness? (b) What hope do these parents have?

¹⁹ What would happen if you chose to be angry with Jehovah for what happened to your child? Your feelings could separate you from Jehovah. Really, your precious family member needs to know that you are determined to love Jehovah even more than you love your family. So to endure your sadness, work hard to keep your relationship with Jehovah strong. Associate regularly with your faithful Christian brothers and sisters. (Proverbs 18:1) Pray to Jehovah, and honestly tell him how you feel. (Psalm 62:7, 8) Do not try to find reasons to go against his command about disfellowshipping. We should not look for reasons to spend time with a disfellowshipped family member or have a relationship with him through e-mail. (1 Corinthians 5:11) Stay busy in Jehovah’s service. (1 Corinthians 15:58) The sister who was quoted above says: “I know that I must stay busy in Jehovah’s service and keep myself in a spiritually strong condition so that when my daughter does come back to Jehovah, I will be in a position to help her.”

²⁰ The Bible says that love “hopes all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4, 7) It is not wrong for you to hope that your loved one will return to Jehovah. Each year, many who have been disfellowshipped decide to repent and come back to Jehovah’s organization. Jehovah does not remain angry with them after they repent. Instead, he is “ready to forgive.”​—Psalm 86:5.

MAKE GOOD CHOICES

21, 22. What kind of choices do you want to make in life?

²¹ Jehovah has given humans the right to make choices in their lives. (Read Deuteronomy 30:19, 20.) But this means that we have a responsibility to make good choices. Each Christian should ask himself: ‘Have I been making choices that keep me on the right road? Have I allowed my employment and career, recreation and entertainment, or family relationships to separate me from Jehovah?’

²² Jehovah never stops loving his people. So nothing can separate us from Jehovah unless we make bad choices. (Romans 8:38, 39) But that does not have to happen! Make sure that you allow nothing to separate you from Jehovah. The next article will talk about four more areas of life where we need to be careful about our choices.

1, 2. (a) How does Satan try to mislead people? (b) What will help us to draw close to God?

JEHOVAH GOD created humans with the need to have a close relationship with him. But Satan wants us to think that we do not need Jehovah. Satan has been trying to make humans believe this ever since he lied to Eve in the garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:4-6) And since then, many people have thought that humans do not need God.

² We do not need to make the same mistake. The Bible has explained to us the ways Satan tries to mislead people. (2 Corinthians 2:11) He tempts us to make choices that will separate us from Jehovah. The previous article explained how we can make good choices about our work, our entertainment, and our family. This article will talk about four more things that Satan uses to tempt us: electronic devices, health concerns, money, and pride. If we make good choices in these areas, we can “draw close to God.”​—James 4:8.

COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES

3. In what different ways can a person use computers and similar devices?

³ More and more people are using computers and other electronic devices. When we use these devices in the right way, they can be very helpful. But when we use them in a wrong way, they can separate us from our heavenly Father. Computers can help us. Our brothers use computers to write and publish The Watchtower. Computers can help us do research and communicate, and they can be fun to use. But if we really like computers, we might spend too much time thinking about them and using them. There are many advertisements that tell us we must have every new device that is made. One young man wanted a certain computer so much that he secretly had one of his kidneys removed and sold it so that he could buy the computer. What a sad thing to do!

4. How did one brother change his bad habit of using the computer too much?

⁴ It is even worse to allow electronic devices to harm our relationship with Jehovah. We could spend too much time using them or use them in wrong ways. One brother named Jon, who is almost 30, said that he was spending too much time on the computer instead of studying.a (See footnote.) He often stayed up late using the Internet. He said that the more tired he was, the harder it was to stop chatting or watching videos, even some bad ones. He wanted to change this habit, so he programmed his computer to shut itself off automatically at the time when he is supposed to go to bed.​—Read Ephesians 5:15, 16.

5, 6. (a) What must parents do for their children? (b) How can parents make sure that their children have good association?

⁵ Parents, you do not have to control everything your children do, but you do need to control how they use their computers. Do not allow them to go to immoral or spiritistic Web sites, play violent games, or associate with bad people on the Internet. If you let them do whatever they want just so they do not bother you, they might think that these things are not wrong. As parents, it is your job to protect your children and teenagers from anything that could separate them from Jehovah. Even animals will fight when someone threatens their young. Parents too need to protect their children from danger.​—Compare Hosea 13:8.

⁶ Help your children to associate with Christians of all ages who make good choices. And remember, your children need you to spend time with them! Laugh, play, and work with them. That will help you all to stay close to Jehovah.b​—See footnote.

HEALTH

7. Why do we all want to stay healthy?

⁷ We often ask how others are feeling. People have been getting sick ever since Adam and Eve listened to Satan and separated themselves from Jehovah. Satan is happy that we get sick because when we are sick, it is more difficult to serve Jehovah. And if we die, we cannot serve him at all. (Psalm 115:17) So we want to do what we can to stay healthy.c (See footnote.) And we should care about the health of our brothers and sisters.

8, 9. (a) How can we make sure that health is not the only thing we think and care about? (b) Why is it good for us to stay joyful?

⁸ However, our health should not be the only thing we think and care about. Some spend more time talking about certain diets, health treatments, or health and beauty products than they spend preaching about God’s Kingdom. They may really believe that they are helping others. But we do not use the Kingdom Hall, our assemblies, or our conventions to sell products or advertise our ideas about health. Why not?

⁹ We meet together to discuss the Bible and to have the joy that comes from God’s holy spirit. (Galatians 5:22) It is not the purpose of the meetings to talk about health treatments and products, even if someone else wants to talk about them. We could make others lose their joy. (Romans 14:17) Let people make their own decisions about how they will care for their health. No one, not even doctors, can cure all sicknesses. And it does not help us to worry about our health all the time. (Luke 12:25) Instead, the Bible says that “a heart that is joyful” can help us to feel better.​—Proverbs 17:22.

10. (a) What does Jehovah think makes a person beautiful? (b) When will we have complete health?

¹⁰ Similarly, we need to care about how we look. But we do not need to try to look younger than we really are. The Bible says: “Gray-headedness is a crown of beauty when it is found in the way of righteousness.” (Proverbs 16:31) Jehovah thinks that the kind of person we are inside is more important than the way we look, and we too should think that way. (Read 1 Peter 3:3, 4.) So do we need to risk our health or our life by getting dangerous medical treatments or having surgeries only to improve the way we look? No matter how old we are or how healthy we are, true beauty comes from having “the joy of Jehovah.” (Nehemiah 8:10) In the new world, we will be completely healthy and look young again. (Job 33:25; Isaiah 33:24) Until then, we need to make wise choices and have faith in Jehovah’s promises. This will help us to enjoy our life now and not make health our main concern.​—1 Timothy 4:8.

MONEY

11. How can money separate us from Jehovah?

¹¹ It is not wrong to have money or to try to make money. (Ecclesiastes 7:12; Luke 19:12, 13) But if we love money, it will separate us from Jehovah. (1 Timothy 6:9, 10) “The anxiety of this system” means worrying too much about getting the things we need. This anxiety can separate us from Jehovah. “The deceptive power of riches” means we can be fooled into believing that money will make us happy and safe. (Matthew 13:22) Jesus said that “no one” can slave for God and riches.​—Matthew 6:24.

12. In what ways do people try to make a lot of money quickly? How can we avoid making bad choices?

¹² If we think that money is the most important thing, we might be tempted to do wrong. (Proverbs 28:20) Some have wanted to make a lot of money quickly, so they bought lottery tickets. Some brothers get involved in businesses that are supposed to make them money quickly, and they even promise others in the congregation that they too can make a lot of money. At other times, brothers have asked members of the congregation for a loan for a business and promised to pay back a lot more money. If we are greedy, we might accept a business offer that could cause us to lose a lot of money. So be careful not to become greedy. It is usually not possible to make a lot of money quickly.

13. How does Jehovah want us to view money?

¹³ If we put first “the kingdom and his righteousness,” Jehovah will bless our hard work to obtain what we really need. (Matthew 6:33; Ephesians 4:28) He does not want us to fall asleep during the meetings because we are working too hard. He does not want us to be worrying about money when we are in the Kingdom Hall. Many people in the world think that they have to do everything they can to make money. They do not want to have to work later in life. They often tell their children to do the same thing. But Jesus showed that this is unreasonable. (Read Luke 12:15-21.) Gehazi thought that he could be greedy and still have a good relationship with Jehovah.​—2 Kings 5:20-27.

14, 15. Why is it unwise to think that money will make us secure? Give an example.

¹⁴ Eagles have drowned because they tried to catch a fish that was too heavy. Something similar can happen to us if we try hard to become rich. An elder named Alex explained that he is normally very careful with his money. He does not even like to waste shampoo. But he thought that if he could make some extra money, he could quit his job and pioneer. So he studied how to buy and sell stocks and used all his money to buy what he could. He even borrowed money to buy more stocks! But the stocks he bought became worthless. Alex said: “I was determined to get my money back.” He thought that if he waited, the stocks would become valuable again.

¹⁵ Alex found it difficult to think about anything but his stocks. It was difficult for him to keep his service to Jehovah first, and he could not sleep well. But the stocks never got their value back. Alex lost all his money and had to sell his house. He says that he caused a lot of trouble for his family. But he learned an important lesson. He said that anyone who trusts that Satan’s system will provide real security and happiness will be very disappointed. (Proverbs 11:28) If we put all our trust in our money or our ability to make money, we are really putting our trust in Satan, who is “the god of this system.” (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Timothy 6:17) Alex has now made changes in his life so that he can again spend more time preaching the good news. This has made him and his family happier and has helped them to draw closer to Jehovah.​—Read Mark 10:29, 30.

PRIDE

16. How can pride be good? What can happen if we think too much of ourselves?

¹⁶ We should take pride in the fact that we are Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Jeremiah 9:24) Because of this, we always try to make good decisions and follow God’s high standards. But we must be careful not to become prideful and think that we know better than Jehovah, because this can separate us from him.​—Psalm 138:6; Romans 12:3.

17, 18. (a) Who is described in the Bible as being humble? Who had too much pride? (b) What did one brother do so that pride would not separate him from Jehovah?

¹⁷ The Bible tells us about people who were prideful and those who were humble. King David humbly asked Jehovah for guidance, and Jehovah blessed him for this. (Psalm 131:1-3) But Jehovah punished Kings Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar because they were prideful. (Daniel 4:30-37; 5:22-30) We sometimes are in situations that could be difficult for us if we are prideful. Ryan, a 32-year-old ministerial servant, moved to a new congregation. He thought that he would be recommended as an elder very soon. But even after a year, he had not been made an elder. Did Ryan become prideful and get angry with the elders for not making him an elder? Did he stop going to the meetings and let his pride separate him from Jehovah and the congregation? What would you have done if you were in this situation?

¹⁸ Ryan did research on how to wait for something good. (Proverbs 13:12) “I began to realize that I needed to learn patience and humility. I needed to let Jehovah train me.” Ryan started to think more about helping others in the congregation and the people he met in the ministry. Soon he had several good Bible studies. “When I was appointed as an elder a year and a half later, it came as a surprise,” he says. “I had stopped worrying about it because I was enjoying my ministry so much.”​—Read Psalm 37:3, 4.

STAY CLOSE TO JEHOVAH!

19, 20. (a) How can we make sure that the things we do will never separate us from Jehovah? (b) What examples do we have of people who stayed close to Jehovah?

¹⁹ The seven things we discussed in these two articles are not always wrong. We take pride in being Jehovah’s Witnesses. We can enjoy a happy family life and good health. Work and money are necessary so that we can take care of ourselves and our family. Recreation is good for us, and electronic devices can help us. But we have to remember that if we do anything at the wrong time, in the wrong amount, or in the wrong way, we can separate ourselves from Jehovah.

²⁰ Satan wants you to separate yourself from Jehovah. But you can work hard to protect yourself and your family! (Proverbs 22:3) Draw close to Jehovah, and stay close to him. There are many examples in the Bible of people who did this. Enoch and Noah “walked with the true God.” (Genesis 5:22; 6:9) Moses believed in God as if he could see him. (Hebrews 11:27) Jesus always did what his Father wanted him to do, and He blessed him for it. (John 8:29) Imitate these examples. “Always be rejoicing. Pray incessantly. In connection with everything give thanks.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Never let anything separate you from Jehovah!

1-3. (a) How do some feel about things they have done or have not done? How could our past mistakes affect us? (b) What can we learn from Paul’s example?

A POET named J. G. Whittier wrote that the saddest words ever written or spoken are “it might have been.” People say these words when they think of how life might have been if they had done some things differently. All of us can think of things we wish we had done differently. But some constantly feel regret, or deep sadness, because of things they did or did not do. Do you feel like that about something you have done?

² Some people have made serious mistakes or done very bad things. Others are just not sure if the decisions they made in life were really the best. Some people are able to stop thinking about their past. Others constantly feel bad about decisions they have made and think, ‘If only I had not done that!’ (Psalm 51:3) How do you feel? Would you like to do your best in God’s service without constantly worrying about mistakes you have made? Is there an example in the Bible of someone who was able to do that? Yes there is, the apostle Paul.

³ Paul made both terrible mistakes and wise choices. He deeply regretted the mistakes he had made, but he also learned to focus on doing his best in God’s service. Let us see what we can learn from his example.

PAUL’S PAST

4. What did the apostle Paul wish he had not done?

⁴ When Paul was a young Pharisee named Saul, he did things that he later wished he had not done. For example, he cruelly persecuted Christ’s disciples. The Bible says that immediately after Stephen was killed, Saul “began to deal outrageously with the congregation. Invading one house after another and, dragging out both men and women, he would turn them over to prison.” (Acts 8:3) Albert Barnes, a Bible scholar, said that “to deal outrageously with” means that Saul violently attacked the Christian congregation “like a wild beast.” Saul was a zealous Jew who strongly believed that God wanted him to destroy the Christian congregation. So he viciously persecuted the Christians and threatened to kill “both men and women.”​—Acts 9:1, 2; 22:4.a (See footnote.)

5. What made Saul stop persecuting Jesus’ disciples and start preaching about Christ?

⁵ Saul later wanted to go to Damascus, take Christians from their homes, and drag them to Jerusalem to be punished by the Jewish high court. But Jesus, the Head of the Christian congregation, stopped him. (Ephesians 5:23) While Saul was on his way to Damascus, Jesus appeared to him, and Saul was blinded by a light from heaven. Then Jesus sent him to Damascus to wait for more instructions. We know what happened after that.​—Acts 9:3-22.

6, 7. What shows that Paul realized he had made serious mistakes?

⁶ As soon as Paul realized that he was wrong, he stopped persecuting Christ’s disciples and instead began to preach zealously about Christ. Even so, Paul did not ignore what he had done. He later wrote about himself: “You, of course, heard about my conduct formerly in Judaism, that to the point of excess I kept on persecuting the congregation of God and devastating it.” (Galatians 1:13) He again mentioned his past when he wrote to the Corinthians, to the Philippians, and to Timothy. (Read 1 Corinthians 15:9; Philippians 3:6; 1 Timothy 1:13) Paul was ashamed of the things he had done, but he did not pretend that they had never happened. He realized that he had made serious mistakes.​—Acts 26:9-11.

⁷ A Bible scholar named Frederic W. Farrar wrote that when we think about how severely Paul had persecuted Christians, we can understand the deep sadness he must have felt and how much others may have criticized him. When Paul visited various congregations, it may be that brothers who met him for the first time said: ‘So you’re Paul. You’re the one who persecuted us!’​—Acts 9:21.

8. How did Paul feel about the mercy and love that Jehovah and Jesus showed him? What do we learn from Paul’s example?

⁸ Paul realized that he was able to serve as an apostle only because God showed him great kindness. He mentions God’s undeserved kindness about 90 times in his 14 letters, more than any other Bible writer. (Read 1 Corinthians 15:10.) Paul was very grateful that God had been merciful to him, and he wanted to show his gratitude. So he worked harder in God’s service than all the other apostles. What do we learn from Paul’s example? If we have faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, confess our sins, and stop doing what is wrong, Jehovah is willing to forgive even very serious sins. So if you think that your sins are too great to be forgiven by means of Christ’s ransom sacrifice, remember the example of Paul. (Read 1 Timothy 1:15, 16.) Even though Paul had persecuted Jesus, he wrote that Jesus loved him and had died for him. (Acts 9:5; Galatians 2:20) Paul learned that he had to do his best in God’s service in spite of his past, so that he would not have anything else to regret. Is this something that you have learned to do?

DO YOU FEEL ANY REGRET?

9, 10. (a) Why might we feel regret? (b) Why is it not good to keep worrying about past mistakes?

⁹ Have you done things that you now regret? Do you wish you had used your time and energy for more important things? Did you do something that harmed others? Or maybe there is something else that you wish you had done differently. What can you do if you feel this way?

¹⁰ Some people worry all the time! They make themselves sad and anxious by thinking about their mistakes over and over again. Will you solve any problems by worrying? No! Imagine trying to move forward by rocking for hours in a rocking chair. You would use a lot of energy but get nowhere. Instead of worrying, you must do all you can to solve the problem. Apologize to the person you offended, and try to make peace with him. Think about why you did what you did so that you do not make the same mistake again. Sometimes, though, you may simply have to endure the consequences of your mistake. But worrying about past mistakes will not help you. In fact, it can make it difficult for you to give your best in God’s service.

11. (a) What must we do if we want Jehovah to show us mercy and love? (b) According to the Bible, what do we need to do to stop feeling guilty about our past mistakes?

¹¹ Some feel that the mistakes they have made are so terrible that they do not deserve God’s mercy. Maybe they feel that their mistakes are too serious or that they have made too many mistakes. But the fact is that no matter what they have done in the past, they can admit their mistakes, make changes, and ask God for forgiveness. (Acts 3:19) Jehovah can show them mercy and love, just as he has shown to so many others. Jehovah will kindly forgive anyone who is humble, honest, and sorry for his sins. For example, God forgave Job, who deeply regretted the mistakes he had made. (Job 42:6; footnote) The Bible tells us exactly what we need to do to stop feeling guilty about our mistakes and to have inner peace: “He that is covering over his transgressions will not succeed, but he that is confessing and leaving them will be shown mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13; James 5:14-16) We need to confess our sins to God, pray for his forgiveness, and do all we can to show we are sorry for what we did. (2 Corinthians 7:10, 11) Then Jehovah, who forgives “in a large way,” will show us mercy.​—Isaiah 55:7.

12. (a) How can we imitate David’s good example when we have a guilty conscience? (b) Why does the Bible say that Jehovah has “felt regret”? How does the answer to this question encourage us? (See the box.)

¹² Prayer is a powerful way that God can help us. In a beautiful psalm, David expressed his faith that Jehovah had answered his prayers. (Read Psalm 32:1-5.) Before David confessed his sin to God, his guilty conscience made him feel terrible. He felt anxious, sick, and depressed. David was forgiven and felt relief only after he confessed his sin to God. Jehovah answered David’s prayers. He helped David to feel better and to continue doing what was right. In a similar way, if you worry about mistakes you have made, pray sincerely to Jehovah for forgiveness and do your best to make the necessary changes. Then believe that Jehovah has carefully listened to your prayer and has forgiven you.​—Psalm 86:5.

THINK OF THE FUTURE

13, 14. (a) What must we focus on now? (b) What questions can help us to think about what we are doing now?

¹³ It is true that we can learn from the past, but we should not keep worrying about it. Focus on the present and the future. Ask yourself questions like these: ‘Years from now, will I regret the choices I am making? Will I wish I had done things differently? Am I serving God faithfully so that I will not have anything to regret in the future?’

¹⁴ The great tribulation is now very near. It would be wise to ask yourself questions such as: ‘Can I do more in God’s service? Can I pioneer? What prevents me from becoming a ministerial servant? Am I doing all I can to put on the new personality? Am I the kind of person Jehovah wants in his new world?’ Instead of just worrying about what you have not done, think about what you are doing now and make sure that you are giving your best in Jehovah’s service. Make choices now that you will not regret in the future.​—2 Timothy 2:15.

NEVER REGRET YOUR LIFE IN GOD’S SERVICE

15, 16. (a) What sacrifices have many made to give their best to Jehovah? (b) Why should we not regret any sacrifice we have made for God?

¹⁵ Have you made sacrifices to serve Jehovah full-time? Perhaps you left a successful career or business to work harder for Jehovah. Or perhaps you chose not to marry or not to have children so that you could serve at Bethel, do international construction work, or serve in the circuit work or as a missionary. Should you regret those decisions now that you are getting older? Should you feel that the sacrifices you made were not necessary or that you made them at the wrong time? Not at all!

¹⁶ You made those decisions because you loved Jehovah very much and you wanted to help others to serve him. Do not think that your life would have been better if you had done things differently. You can be very happy about the decisions you made! You chose the best way to serve Jehovah in your circumstances. Jehovah will not forget all the sacrifices you have made for him. When you have “the real life,” everlasting and perfect life, he will reward you with blessings that are even better than any you can imagine!​—1 Timothy 6:19; Psalm 145:16.

HOW TO AVOID FEELING REGRET IN THE FUTURE

17, 18. (a) What did Paul do to avoid feeling more regret? (b) How will you follow Paul’s example?

¹⁷ What did Paul do to avoid feeling more regret later on in his life? Paul said that he stopped worrying about his past and worked hard for his reward. (Read Philippians 3:13, 14.) Paul did not keep thinking about the wrong things he had done when he was in the Jewish religion. Instead, he used all his energy to stay faithful, so that he could receive the prize of eternal life.

¹⁸ What can we learn from what Paul said? Instead of worrying about things in our past that we cannot change, we should focus on what we can do now to receive blessings in the future. We may not be able to forget our mistakes completely, but we do not need to keep feeling guilty about them. We can stop worrying about the past, give God our best now, and think of the wonderful future we will have!

1. What did Paul hear about the Christians in Corinth that made him very happy?

IN THE year 55, the apostle Paul heard that the brothers in Corinth were arguing with one another. He loved them as a father loves his children, so he sent them a letter to correct them. (1 Corinthians 1:11; 4:15) Paul also asked his friend Titus to visit them and then meet him in the harbor city of Troas to tell him what happened. Some months later, Paul was waiting in Troas for Titus to come and tell him how the brothers in Corinth were doing. He was still worried about them. Sadly, Titus did not come, and Paul then sailed to Macedonia. But he was very happy when Titus met him there some time later. Titus told him that the brothers in Corinth had obeyed Paul’s counsel and that they really wanted to see him. When Paul heard this, he “rejoiced yet more.”​—2 Corinthians 2:12, 13; 7:5-9.

2. (a) What did Paul write to the Corinthians about faith and joy? (b) What questions will we answer?

² Not long after that, Paul wrote another letter to the Corinthians. He told them: “Not that we are the masters over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy, for it is by your faith that you are standing.” (2 Corinthians 1:24) What did Paul mean by that? And what can elders in the congregation learn from those words?

OUR FAITH AND OUR JOY

3. (a) What did Paul mean when he said: “It is by your faith that you are standing”? (b) How do elders today imitate Paul’s example?

³ Paul mentioned two important qualities Christians must have: faith and joy. First Paul mentioned faith and wrote: “Not that we are the masters over your faith” and, “It is by your faith that you are standing.” Paul knew that the brothers in Corinth were serving God loyally because of their own faith in God, not because of him or any other human. He was sure that they really loved God and wanted to do what was right. So Paul did not need to control his brothers’ faith, and he did not want to do so. (2 Corinthians 2:3) Today, elders imitate Paul and believe that their brothers have faith in God and serve him with good motives. (2 Thessalonians 3:4) They do not make strict rules for the congregation. Instead, they help their brothers to make decisions by using Bible principles and by following the direction from Jehovah’s organization. Elders today are not the masters over their brothers’ faith.​—1 Peter 5:2, 3.

4. (a) What did Paul mean when he wrote: “We are fellow workers for your joy”? (b) How do elders today imitate Paul?

⁴ Paul also said: “We are fellow workers for your joy.” Who were these “fellow workers”? They were ones who had worked hard with Paul to help the Corinthians. How do we know? Because in the same letter to the Corinthians, Paul mentioned two of them when he wrote that Jesus “was preached among you through us, that is, through me and Silvanus and Timothy.” (2 Corinthians 1:19) Also, whenever Paul mentioned other “fellow workers” in his letters, he always referred to those who worked hard with him in the preaching work, such as Apollos, Aquila, Prisca, Timothy, and Titus. (Romans 16:3, 21; 1 Corinthians 3:6-9; 2 Corinthians 8:23) So when Paul said: “We are fellow workers for your joy,” he was telling the Corinthians that he and those working with him wanted to do all they could to help the congregation serve God with joy. Today, elders want the same. They want to do all they can to help their brothers “serve Jehovah with rejoicing.”​—Psalm 100:2; Philippians 1:25.

5. What question were some brothers and sisters asked? What should you do as we discuss their answers?

⁵ Recently, some zealous brothers and sisters living in different parts of the world were asked the question, “What words and deeds of an elder have added to your joy?” We will now discuss their answers. As we do, think of things the elders have said or done that have made you more joyful. And you can also think about what you can do to help your congregation be a happy one.a​—See footnote.

“GREET PERSIS OUR BELOVED ONE”

6, 7. (a) What is one way in which elders can imitate Jesus, Paul, and other servants of God? (b) Why do our brothers feel happy when we remember their names?

⁶ Many brothers and sisters said that they feel happy when elders show that they are interested in them. One way elders do this is by imitating David, Elihu, and Jesus. (Read 2 Samuel 9:6; Job 33:1; Luke 19:5.) These servants of Jehovah showed that they cared about others by using their names. Paul too knew how important it was to remember and use the names of his brothers and sisters. At the end of one of his letters, he mentioned more than 25 brothers and sisters by name. One of these sisters was Persis. Paul said about her: “Greet Persis our beloved one.”​—Romans 16:3-15.

⁷ Some elders find it very hard to remember names. But when an elder makes the effort to do so, the brothers and sisters feel that he cares about them. (Exodus 33:17) They also feel happy when elders call on them by their names to comment during the Watchtower Study or other meetings.​—Compare John 10:3.

“SHE PERFORMED MANY LABORS IN THE LORD”

8. What was one important way Paul imitated Jehovah and Jesus?

⁸ Paul also showed others he cared about them by praising them. This is another way elders can help their brothers and sisters serve God with joy. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he told them that he was proud of them. He said: “I have great boasting in regard to you.” (2 Corinthians 7:4) We can be sure that Paul’s words made the brothers in Corinth feel loved. Paul also praised other congregations for their good work. (Romans 1:8; Philippians 1:3-5; 1 Thessalonians 1:8) And after he mentioned Persis in his letter to the congregation in Rome, Paul added: “She performed many labors in the Lord.” (Romans 16:12) Persis must have felt encouraged when she heard those words. When Paul praised others, he was imitating Jehovah and Jesus.​—Read Mark 1:9-11; John 1:47; Revelation 2:2, 13, 19.

9. Why are those in the congregation happier when they praise one another?

⁹ Elders today also know how important it is to tell their brothers that they appreciate them. (Proverbs 3:27; 15:23) Whenever an elder praises his brothers, he shows that he cares about them and notices what they do. The brothers and sisters in the congregation need to hear encouraging words from the elders. A sister who is over 50 years old said that she almost never gets a compliment for what she does at work. People there do not care about others and compete with one another. So when an elder thanks her for something she has done for the congregation, she feels so much better. She said: “It makes me feel loved by my heavenly Father.” A brother who is raising two children by himself said that an elder recently told him how much he appreciates what he does. The elder’s words really encouraged him to keep doing his best in God’s service. It is clear that when an elder sincerely praises his brothers and sisters, he helps them to continue serving God with joy “and not tire out.”​—Isaiah 40:31.

“SHEPHERD THE CONGREGATION OF GOD”

10, 11. (a) How can elders imitate Nehemiah? (b) How can an elder strengthen the faith of his brothers and sisters when he visits them?

¹⁰ What is another important way elders show love for their brothers and help them serve God with joy? They act quickly to help those who need encouragement. (Read Acts 20:28.) In that way, they imitate faithful servants of God in Bible times. For example, the Bible says that when Nehemiah noticed that some of his Jewish brothers were discouraged, he did something to encourage them. (Nehemiah 4:14) Today, elders want to do the same. When their brothers are feeling discouraged, they do what they can to encourage them. Elders try to visit them in their homes and give them a “spiritual gift,” that is, they talk about something that strengthens their brothers’ faith. (Romans 1:11) How can elders do this?

¹¹ An elder needs to think carefully about those he wants to encourage before he visits them. For example, he can ask himself: ‘What difficulties does this person have? What can I say to make him or her feel better? What scripture or story of a person in the Bible would encourage him or her?’ If an elder thinks ahead of time about the brother or sister he will visit, he can say things that will really help that person instead of just talking about everyday things. When he visits them, the elder allows his brothers and sisters to speak and he pays attention to what they say. (James 1:19) One sister said: “It’s so comforting when an elder listens with his heart.”​—Luke 8:18.

12. Who in the congregation need encouragement? Why?

¹² Who need encouragement from the elders? Paul told elders to pay attention “to all the flock.” All members of the congregation need encouragement, even those who have been faithfully serving as publishers and pioneers for many years. Why do they need encouragement from the elders? Although they have strong faith in God, they sometimes feel that they can no longer by themselves endure the problems caused by this wicked world. Such brothers and sisters too need help, as we can see from a dangerous situation that happened in King David’s life.

ABISHAI “CAME TO HIS HELP”

13. (a) When did Ishbi-benob choose to attack David? (b) How was Abishai able to help David at the right time?

¹³ Soon after young David was anointed to be king, he fought Goliath, a giant from the race of the Rephaim. David was courageous and killed the giant. (1 Samuel 17:4, 48-51; 1 Chronicles 20:5, 8) Many years later, during a battle between Israel and the Philistines, David fought another giant. The giant’s name was Ishbi-benob, also one of the Rephaim. (2 Samuel 21:16; footnote) But this time, the giant nearly killed David. Why? Not because David was less courageous. The Bible says that “David grew tired.” As soon as Ishbi-benob noticed that David was tired, he thought it was just the right time to attack him. But Abishai came “at once” to help David and killed the Philistine. (2 Samuel 21:15-17) David almost died! Surely he was grateful that Abishai had carefully watched over him and immediately helped him when his life was in danger. What can we learn from this story?

14. (a) What helps us to stay faithful in very difficult situations? (b) How can elders help others to stay faithful and be happy again? Give an example.

¹⁴ Jehovah’s people around the world keep serving God even though Satan and others try to make it difficult for them. Some of us have had difficulties that seemed like giants to us. But we trusted in Jehovah completely and had the strength to stay faithful in those very difficult situations, just as David had the strength to kill Goliath. But there are times when we feel we do not have enough strength to keep fighting against Satan’s world. At times like these, it becomes easier for us to be discouraged by problems that we normally are able to endure. But an elder might notice how we feel and give us the help we need at just the right time. We then feel we can continue serving God with joy. Many of us have been helped in this way. A pioneer sister who is over 60 years old said: “Some time ago, I did not feel well, and field service tired me out. An elder noticed my lack of energy and approached me. We had an encouraging conversation based on a Bible passage. I applied the suggestions he gave me, and I benefited.” She added: “How loving of that elder to take note of my weak condition and to give me help!” It is wonderful to know that we have elders who care about us and are always ready to help us, as Abishai was ready to help David.

THEY KNEW THAT PAUL LOVED THEM

15, 16. (a) Why did the brothers and sisters love Paul? (b) Why do we love our elders?

¹⁵ Elders work very hard. Sometimes they may not sleep well because they are worried about their brothers and sisters, and they may get up late at night to pray about them or to give them help. (2 Corinthians 11:27, 28) But elders are happy to do what is required of them, just as Paul was. He wrote to the Corinthians: “I will most gladly spend and be completely spent for your souls.” (2 Corinthians 12:15) Because Paul loved his brothers, he “spent” himself, or used all his energy, to strengthen them. (Read 2 Corinthians 2:4; Philippians 2:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:8) That is why the brothers loved Paul so much!​—Acts 20:31-38.

¹⁶ We too love our elders and thank Jehovah that he uses them to care for us. We are happy that they show interest in each one of us and that they visit us to give us encouragement. And we are grateful that they are always ready to help us when we feel that we can no longer endure our problems by ourselves. Elders like these truly work hard for our joy.