1, 2. (a) How did marriage begin? (b) What could the first man and woman have realized about marriage? (See opening picture.)

IT IS normal for people to get married. But how did marriage begin, and what is its purpose? Knowing that will help us to have the right view of marriage and its blessings. God created the first man, Adam, and asked him to name the animals. Adam saw that all the animals had a mate, “but for man there was no helper as a complement of him.” So God made Adam fall into a deep sleep, and he took a rib from him and made a woman. Jehovah brought the woman to Adam, and she became his wife. (Read Genesis 2:20-24.) As we can see, marriage is a gift from Jehovah.

² Many years later, Jesus repeated what Jehovah had said in the garden of Eden: “A man will leave his father and his mother and will stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh.” (Matthew 19:4, 5) Because God took a rib from Adam to create the first woman, the couple must have realized that they belonged together. Jehovah never wanted a husband and wife to divorce or to have more than one mate at the same time.

MARRIAGE IS PART OF JEHOVAH’S PURPOSE

3. What was an important purpose of marriage?

³ Adam was delighted with his wife, whom he later named Eve. She was his complement and helper. Together, Adam and Eve would be happy as husband and wife. (Genesis 2:18) An important purpose of marriage was to populate the earth. (Genesis 1:28) Sons and daughters would love their parents but would eventually leave to get married and start their own families. Humans would fill the earth and make the whole globe a paradise.

4. What happened to the first marriage?

⁴ The first marriage was ruined when Adam and Eve disobeyed Jehovah. “The original serpent,” Satan the Devil, deceived Eve and told her that eating fruit from “the tree of the knowledge of good and bad” would give her special knowledge. Satan claimed that if she ate from the tree, it would allow her to decide what was good and what was bad. Eve did not show respect for Adam as the head of the family when she decided to eat the fruit without talking to him about it first. And Adam disobeyed God when he accepted the fruit from his wife.​—Revelation 12:9; Genesis 2:9, 16, 17; 3:1-6.

5. What can we learn from Adam’s and Eve’s responses to Jehovah?

⁵ When Jehovah questioned them, Adam blamed his wife. He said: “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, so I ate.” Eve, in turn, blamed the serpent for deceiving her. (Genesis 3:12, 13) Adam and Eve gave weak excuses for their disobedience, and Jehovah judged those rebels. Indeed, their example is a warning for us! For marriage to succeed, husbands and wives need to obey Jehovah and take responsibility for their own actions.

6. How would you explain Genesis 3:15?

⁶ Despite what Satan did in Eden, Jehovah made sure that mankind had a hope for the future. This hope is found in the first Bible prophecy. (Read Genesis 3:15.) That prophecy revealed that Satan would be crushed by the “offspring” of “the woman.” The many righteous spirit creatures serving in heaven have a close relationship with God. They are like a wife to Jehovah. He would send someone from that group of spirit creatures to “crush” the Devil. The offspring would make it possible for obedient humans to enjoy what the first human couple lost. Obedient mankind would have the opportunity to live forever on the earth, just as Jehovah had purposed.​—John 3:16.

7. (a) What has happened to marriage since the rebellion of Adam and Eve? (b) What does the Bible require of husbands and wives?

⁷ Adam and Eve’s rebellion badly affected their marriage and all marriages after that. For example, Eve and all her female descendants would have severe pain during childbirth. Women would have a deep desire for their husbands, but husbands would dominate their wives, sometimes even abusing them as we see today. (Genesis 3:16) Jehovah expects husbands to be loving family heads, and he expects wives to be submissive to their husbands. (Ephesians 5:33) When Christian mates work together, many problems can be eliminated.

MARRIAGE FROM THE TIME OF ADAM TO THE FLOOD

8. What is the history of marriage from the time of Adam to the Flood?

⁸ Before Adam and Eve died, they had sons and daughters. (Genesis 5:4) Their first son, Cain, later married a female relative. Cain’s descendant Lamech was the first man mentioned in the Bible as having two wives. (Genesis 4:17, 19) From the time of Adam to the time of Noah, only a few people worshipped Jehovah. Some of those faithful ones were Abel, Enoch, and Noah and his family. In Noah’s time, “the sons of the true God began to notice that the daughters of men were beautiful,” says the Bible. “So they began taking as wives all whom they chose.” But this was unnatural, and those angels and women had sons who were violent giants called Nephilim. During that time, “man’s wickedness was great on the earth” and “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only bad all the time.”​—Genesis 6:1-5.

9. What did Jehovah do to the wicked in Noah’s day, and what lesson should we learn from what happened at that time?

⁹ Jehovah said that he would bring a great flood to the earth to destroy all the wicked people. “Noah, a preacher of righteousness,” told those people about the coming Flood. (2 Peter 2:5) But they did not listen to Noah because they were too busy with their daily lives, including getting married. Jesus compared Noah’s time to our time. (Read Matthew 24:37-39.) Today, most people do not listen to our message about the good news of God’s Kingdom. We are preaching this message before this wicked world is destroyed. What lesson can we learn from the time of the Flood? We should not let things such as marriage and having children become so important to us that we forget that Jehovah’s day is close.

MARRIAGE FROM THE FLOOD TO JESUS’ DAY

10. (a) In many cultures, what sexual practices became a way of life? (b) How did Abraham and Sarah set a good example in their marriage?

¹⁰ Noah and his three sons each had only one wife. However, after the Flood, many men had more than one wife. In many cultures, sexual immorality was common and was even a part of religious customs. When Abraham and Sarah moved to Canaan, they were surrounded by immoral people who showed no respect for marriage. Jehovah destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because the people there were very immoral. Abraham was different from those people. He was a good family head, and Sarah set a good example as a submissive wife. (Read 1 Peter 3:3-6.) Abraham made sure that his son Isaac married a woman who worshipped Jehovah. And Isaac did the same for his son Jacob, whose sons became the ancestors of the 12 tribes of Israel.

11. How did the Mosaic Law protect the Israelites?

¹¹ Later, Jehovah made a covenant, or an agreement, with the nation of Israel. He gave them the Mosaic Law, which helped to protect husbands and wives in their worship of Jehovah. For example, there were laws regarding marriage customs, including polygamy, and the Israelites were not allowed to marry false worshippers. (Read Deuteronomy 7:3, 4.) When serious problems arose in a marriage, the elders would provide help. There were also laws against being unfaithful, jealous, and suspicious. Divorce was allowed, but rules were in place to protect each mate. For example, a man could divorce his wife for “something indecent.” (Deuteronomy 24:1) The Bible does not explain what was “indecent,” but a husband was not supposed to use small mistakes as a reason to divorce his wife.​—Leviticus 19:18.

NEVER BE DISLOYAL TO YOUR MATE

12, 13. (a) How were some men treating their wives in Malachi’s day? (b) Today, if a baptized person ran off with someone else’s mate, what would the consequences be?

¹² In the days of the prophet Malachi, many Jewish husbands used all kinds of excuses to divorce their wives. Those men divorced their wives so that they could marry younger women or women who did not serve Jehovah. During Jesus’ time, Jewish men still divorced their wives “on every sort of grounds.” (Matthew 19:3) Jehovah God hated those unlawful divorces.​—Read Malachi 2:13-16.

¹³ Today, disloyalty in marriage is unacceptable among Jehovah’s people, and it rarely happens. But suppose a baptized married person committed adultery and got a divorce in order to marry someone else. If that person was unrepentant, then he or she would be disfellowshipped to keep the congregation clean and pure. (1 Corinthians 5:11-13) The person would have to “produce fruits that befit repentance” before being accepted back into the congregation. (Luke 3:8; 2 Corinthians 2:5-10) There is no specific time period that must pass before that person can be reinstated. In fact, it may take a year or more for a sinner to prove that he or she is truly repentant and to be accepted back into the congregation. And even then, the person will still have to “stand before the judgment seat of God.”​—Romans 14:10-12; see The Watchtower, November 15, 1979, pages 31-32.

MARRIAGE AMONG CHRISTIANS

14. What overall purpose did the Law serve?

¹⁴ Israel was under the Mosaic Law for more than 1,500 years. The Law helped God’s people in many ways. For example, it gave the people principles to help them solve family problems, and it guided them to the Messiah. (Galatians 3:23, 24) When Jesus died, the Law ended and God made a new arrangement. (Hebrews 8:6) However, some things that had been allowed under the Mosaic Law were no longer allowed for Christians.

15. (a) In the Christian congregation, what would be the standard for marriage? (b) What factors should a Christian consider when thinking about divorce?

¹⁵ One day the Pharisees asked Jesus a question about marriage. Jesus replied that God had allowed the Israelites to get divorced under the Mosaic Law even though this was not what He wanted from the beginning. (Matthew 19:6-8) Jesus’ answer showed that God’s original standard for marriage would now be the standard for Christians. (1 Timothy 3:2, 12) As “one flesh,” marriage mates were meant to stay together. Their love for God and their love for each other would keep them united. Marriage mates who divorce when there is no sexual immorality are not free to remarry. (Matthew 19:9) A person may choose to forgive an immoral but repentant mate. This was the case when the prophet Hosea forgave his immoral wife, Gomer, and when Jehovah forgave repentant Israel. (Hosea 3:1-5) In addition, if a person knows that his or her mate was immoral and chooses to resume sexual relations with the guilty mate, this means that he or she has forgiven the mate. There is no longer a Scriptural reason for divorce.

16. What did Jesus say about singleness?

¹⁶ Jesus said that for true Christians, sexual immorality is the only reason for divorce. Then he mentioned “those who have the gift” of living a single life. Jesus said: “Let the one who can make room for it make room for it.” (Matthew 19:10-12) Many choose to remain unmarried because they want to serve Jehovah without distraction, and they should be commended for their decision!

17. What can help a Christian to decide whether to get married?

¹⁷ What can help a person to decide whether to stay single or get married? A person needs to decide if he or she can cultivate the gift of singleness. The apostle Paul recommended singleness. But he also said: “Because of the prevalence of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife and each woman have her own husband.” Paul added: “If they do not have self-control, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to be inflamed with passion.” So a person may decide to get married in order to avoid letting strong sexual desires lead him or her to a practice of masturbation or sexual immorality. However, single ones need to consider whether they are really old enough to get married. Paul said: “If anyone thinks he is behaving improperly by remaining unmarried, and if he is past the bloom of youth, then this is what should take place: Let him do what he wants; he does not sin. Let them marry.” (1 Corinthians 7:2, 9, 36; 1 Timothy 4:1-3) A person should not be encouraged to get married just because he or she has the strong sexual desires that many experience during their youth. That person may not be mature enough for the responsibilities of marriage.

18, 19. (a) How should a Christian marriage begin? (b) What will the following article discuss?

¹⁸ A Christian marriage should begin with a baptized man and a baptized woman who love Jehovah with their whole heart. They should also love each other so much that they want to spend their lives together. Jehovah will bless them because they obeyed the counsel to marry “only in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:39) And their marriage will be successful if they continue to obey the Bible’s counsel.

¹⁹ Today, we are living in “the last days,” and many people do not have the qualities needed for a successful marriage. (2 Timothy 3:1-5) In the next article, we will consider precious Bible principles that can help Christians to have successful and happy marriages despite the challenges that surround them. This will help them to continue walking on the road to everlasting life.​—Matthew 7:13, 14.

1. Although marriage usually begins with joy, what can those who marry expect to experience? (See opening picture.)

WHEN a groom first sees his beautiful bride on their wedding day, the couple’s joy is limitless. While they were dating, their love for each other grew so much that they wanted to be married, and they thus promised to stay faithful to each other. After their wedding, as they start their life together, they will need to make changes in order to remain united. Jehovah, the Creator of marriage, wants each couple to have a happy and successful married life, so he has given wise advice in his Word, the Bible. (Proverbs 18:22) Even so, the Bible tells us that imperfect humans who get married will have problems, or “tribulation in their flesh.” (1 Corinthians 7:28) How can couples minimize those problems? And how can Christians make marriage a success?

2. What kinds of love should marriage mates show?

² The Bible teaches that love is an important quality. But there are different kinds of love that couples need to show in a marriage. For example, they need to show tender affection as well as romantic love. And if they have children, love between family members becomes even more important. But it is love based on principle that makes a marriage truly successful. The apostle Paul described this kind of love when he said: “Each one of you must love his wife as he does himself; on the other hand, the wife should have deep respect for her husband.”​—Ephesians 5:33.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF MARRIAGE MATES

3. How strong should love be in a marriage?

³ Paul wrote: “Husbands, continue loving your wives, just as the Christ also loved the congregation and gave himself up for it.” (Ephesians 5:25) Christians today imitate Jesus’ example by loving one another just as Jesus loved his disciples. (Read John 13:34, 35; 15:12, 13.) A Christian husband and wife should love each other so much that they are willing to die for each other. But when there are serious problems in a marriage, some may not feel that their love is very strong. What can help them? Love based on principle, which “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” That kind of love “never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:7, 8) A couple must remember that they made a vow. They promised to love each other and be faithful to each other. Remembering this will motivate Christian couples to seek Jehovah’s help and work together to resolve any problems.

4, 5. (a) What is a husband’s responsibility as a family head? (b) How should a wife view headship? (c) What adjustments did one married couple need to make?

⁴ Paul described the responsibilities of each marriage mate when he said: “Let wives be in subjection to their husbands as to the Lord, because a husband is head of his wife just as the Christ is head of the congregation.” (Ephesians 5:22, 23) This does not mean that a husband is better than his wife. Jehovah spoke about the valuable role of a wife when he said: “It is not good for the man to continue to be alone. I am going to make a helper for him, as a complement of him.” (Genesis 2:18) A wife should help her husband to be a good family head. And a husband needs to imitate the loving example of Jesus, who is the “head of the congregation.” When a husband does this, his wife feels secure and it is easier for her to respect and support him.

⁵ Cathy, who is married to Fred, admits: “As a single sister, I was independent and took care of myself. Marriage was an adjustment for me as I learned to rely on my husband. It has not always been easy, but we have drawn so much closer as a couple by doing things Jehovah’s way.”^[1] (See endnote.) Fred says: “Making decisions was never easy for me. In marriage, taking two people into consideration adds to the challenge. But by seeking Jehovah’s guidance in prayer and really listening to my wife’s input, it gets easier every day. I feel that we are a real team!”

6. How does love serve as “a perfect bond of union” when problems develop in a marriage?

⁶ Marriages can be strong if couples “continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely.” Because they are imperfect, both mates will make mistakes. When that happens, they can learn from their mistakes, learn to be forgiving, and show love based on Bible principles. This love is “a perfect bond of union.” (Colossians 3:13, 14) Marriage mates can show this love by being patient and kind and by not keeping “account of the injury.” (1 Corinthians 13:4, 5) When there are disagreements, a couple should try to resolve these as soon as possible, before the end of the day. (Ephesians 4:26, 27) It takes humility and courage to say “I am sorry for hurting you,” but doing so helps to solve problems and draws marriage mates closer together.

A SPECIAL NEED FOR TENDERNESS

7, 8. (a) What advice does the Bible give regarding sexual relations in marriage? (b) Why do marriage mates need to show tenderness?

⁷ The Bible gives good advice that can help a couple to have the proper view of sex in marriage. (Read 1 Corinthians 7:3-5.) It is essential for a husband and a wife to consider each other’s feelings and needs. If a husband is not tender with his wife, she may find it difficult to enjoy sexual relations. Husbands should deal with their wives “according to knowledge.” (1 Peter 3:7) Sexual relations should never be forced or demanded but should come naturally. A man can often respond more quickly than a woman. But emotionally the time should be right for both the husband and the wife.

⁸ The Bible does not give specific rules about the kinds and limits of displays of affection between a husband and a wife. But it does mention such affection. (Song of Solomon 1:2; 2:6) Christian marriage mates should treat each other with tenderness.

9. Why is sexual interest in anyone who is not one’s own marriage mate unacceptable?

⁹ When we have strong love for God and for neighbor, we will not allow anyone or anything to threaten our marriage. Some have weakened or even ruined their marriage by becoming addicted to pornography. We need to resist any attraction to pornography or other kinds of improper sexual interests. We even need to avoid doing anything that makes it seem as if we are flirting with someone who is not our marriage mate, because that would be unloving. We have to remember that God knows all our thoughts and actions. This will help us to strengthen our desire to please him and to remain loyal to our mate.​—Read Matthew 5:27, 28; Hebrews 4:13.

WHEN THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN A MARRIAGE

10, 11. (a) How common is divorce? (b) What does the Bible say about separation? (c) What will help a marriage mate not to separate quickly?

¹⁰ When serious problems are not solved, some couples may decide to separate or divorce. In some countries, more than half of all couples get divorced. Of course, this trend is not as common in the Christian congregation. However, more and more Christian couples are having serious problems in their marriage.

¹¹ The Bible gives these instructions: “A wife should not separate from her husband. But if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled with her husband; and a husband should not leave his wife.” (1 Corinthians 7:10, 11) Some couples may feel that their problems are so severe that they need to separate. However, Jesus showed how serious separation is when he repeated what God had originally said about marriage and then added: “What God has yoked together, let no man put apart.” (Matthew 19:3-6; Genesis 2:24) So Jehovah wants husbands and wives to stay together. (1 Corinthians 7:39) All of us need to remember that we are accountable to Jehovah for our actions. This can help us to resolve problems quickly before they become more serious.

12. What may lead a marriage mate to consider separation?

¹² Why do some couples experience serious problems? For some, their marriage is not what they hoped for and they feel disappointed or angry. Often, problems are a result of differences in the way people were brought up or the way they react emotionally. Difficulties with in-laws or disagreements on how to spend money or raise children can also cause problems. However, it is good to see that most Christian couples are able to find solutions to their problems because they allow God to guide them.

13. What are valid reasons for separation?

¹³ There may be valid reasons for a couple to separate. Extreme situations such as willful nonsupport, severe physical abuse, and the absolute endangerment of a Christian’s spiritual life are reasons why some have chosen to do so. When there are serious problems, marriage mates should ask the elders for help. These men have a lot of experience and can help a couple to apply God’s counsel in their lives. And when marriage mates ask Jehovah for his holy spirit, it can help them to apply Bible principles and to show Christian qualities. (Galatians 5:22, 23)^[2]​—See endnote.

14. What does the Bible say to Christians married to mates who are not worshippers of Jehovah?

¹⁴ The Bible shows that there are good reasons for a couple to stay together even when one of the mates does not worship Jehovah. (Read 1 Corinthians 7:12-14.) The unbelieving mate is “sanctified” because of being married to a servant of God. The couple’s young children are considered “holy” and are therefore under God’s protection. Paul encouraged Christian mates: “Wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Or, husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?” (1 Corinthians 7:16) There are many good examples of Christian husbands and wives who have helped their mates to become servants of Jehovah.

15, 16. (a) What counsel does the Bible give Christian wives whose husbands are not servants of God? (b) What is the position of a Christian “if the unbelieving one chooses to depart”?

¹⁵ The apostle Peter counsels Christian wives to be in subjection to their husbands, “so that if any are not obedient to the word, they may be won without a word through the conduct of their wives, because of having been eyewitnesses of your chaste conduct together with deep respect.” Rather than speaking about her beliefs all the time, a wife may be more likely to help her husband accept the truth when she shows a “quiet and mild spirit, which is of great value in the eyes of God.”​—1 Peter 3:1-4.

¹⁶ What if an unbelieving marriage mate chooses to separate? The Bible says: “If the unbelieving one chooses to depart, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not bound under such circumstances, but God has called you to peace.” (1 Corinthians 7:15) Although separation may bring some peace, the Christian mate is not free to remarry according to the Bible. But he does not have to try to force his mate to stay. In time, the unbelieving mate may decide to return, wanting to restore the marriage. And in the future, the unbelieving mate may even become a servant of Jehovah.

WHAT IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY IN MARRIAGE?

17. What should be the first priority of Christian married couples?

¹⁷ Because we live at the end of “the last days,” we experience “critical times hard to deal with.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5) That is why we need the protection of a strong relationship with Jehovah. “The time left is reduced,” wrote Paul. “From now on, let those who have wives be as though they had none, . . . and those making use of the world as those not using it to the full.” (1 Corinthians 7:29-31) Paul did not mean that married couples should neglect their mates. But because we are living in the last days, we need to give priority to our worship of Jehovah instead.​—Matthew 6:33.

18. Why is it possible for Christians to have a happy and successful marriage?

¹⁸ In these difficult times, we see many marriages failing. Is it possible to have a happy and successful marriage? Yes, if we remain close to Jehovah and his people, apply Bible principles, and accept the guidance of Jehovah’s holy spirit. When we do this, we honor “what God has yoked together.”​—Mark 10:9.

1, 2. (a) How has Isaiah 60:22 come true in this time of the end? (b) What needs now exist in the earthly part of Jehovah’s organization?

“THE little one will become a thousand and the small one a mighty nation.” (Isaiah 60:22) Those words are being fulfilled now in this time of the end. In fact, during 2015, there were 8,220,105 of Jehovah’s servants who preached the good news of the Kingdom around the world! God said about the increase among his people: “I myself, Jehovah, will speed it up in its own time.” So as time goes on, there will be more work for all of us to do. Are we doing all we can now to preach and teach the good news? Many brothers and sisters are already serving as regular or auxiliary pioneers. Some have moved to another place to help with the preaching work, and others are working hard to build Kingdom Halls.

² Every year, about 2,000 new congregations are formed. These congregations need elders and ministerial servants. Each year, thousands of ministerial servants need to become elders and thousands of other brothers need to become ministerial servants. Clearly, there is “plenty to do in the work of the Lord,” and not just for brothers, but for sisters too.​—1 Corinthians 15:58.

WHAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE SPIRITUAL PROGRESS?

3, 4. What does making spiritual progress mean to you?

³ Read 1 Timothy 3:1. The apostle Paul commended brothers who were “reaching out” to be overseers. For someone to reach something that is far away, he would need to make an effort and perhaps stretch out his arm to get it. Now imagine a brother who would like to qualify as a ministerial servant. He realizes that he needs to make an effort to improve his Christian qualities. Then, after he begins serving as a ministerial servant, he continues to work hard so that he can qualify to become an overseer.

⁴ Some brothers and sisters are making changes in their lives because they want to do more in Jehovah’s service. For example, they may want to pioneer, work at Bethel, or help to build Kingdom Halls. Let us see how the Bible can help all of us to keep making progress.

KEEP MAKING SPIRITUAL PROGRESS

5. How can young people use their strength in Kingdom service?

⁵ Young people can do much in Jehovah’s service because they are strong and healthy. (Read Proverbs 20:29.) Some young brothers in Bethel help to print and bind books and Bibles. Many young brothers and sisters build Kingdom Halls or help to repair them. Some volunteer to help when there is a natural disaster. And many young pioneers learn another language or travel to another place to preach the good news.

6-8. (a) How did one young man change his view of God’s service, and with what result? (b) How can we “taste and see that Jehovah is good”?

⁶ We love Jehovah and want to give him our best. Even so, we may feel the same way a brother named Aaron felt. He wanted to enjoy serving God, but he was not happy. Although Aaron had attended meetings and had gone out in field service since he was young, he said, “I found the meetings and field service boring.” So, what did he do?

⁷ Aaron made an effort to read the Bible regularly, prepare for the meetings, and give comments at them. He also started praying more often. All of this helped him to make spiritual progress. He got to know Jehovah better and began to love him even more. As a result, Aaron felt happier. He pioneered, helped others when there were natural disasters, and went to preach in another country. Now he is an elder and serves at Bethel. How does he feel about his life? Aaron said: “I have ‘tasted and seen that Jehovah is good.’ Because of his blessing, I feel indebted to him and am moved to do more in his service, and this results in more blessings.”

⁸ The psalmist said: “Taste and see that Jehovah is good.” He added: “Those seeking Jehovah will lack nothing good.” (Read Psalm 34:8-10.) Yes, when we give Jehovah our best, we feel truly happy because we know that we are pleasing him. And he will keep his promise to look after us.

DO NOT GIVE UP

9, 10. Why is it important for you to have “a waiting attitude”?

⁹ We may desire to do more in Jehovah’s service. But what if we have been waiting a long time for a certain privilege in the congregation or for our circumstances to change? We may need to be patient. (Micah 7:7) And even though Jehovah may allow the situation we are in to continue, we can be sure that he will always support us. We can learn from the example of Abraham. Jehovah promised him that he would have a son, but he had to wait for many years before Isaac was born. During that time, Abraham was patient and never lost his faith in Jehovah.​—Genesis 15:3, 4; 21:5; Hebrews 6:12-15.

¹⁰ Of course, it is not easy to wait. (Proverbs 13:12) But if we keep thinking about our situation and about how disappointed we are, we will feel very discouraged. Instead, we could use the time to improve the qualities we will need in order to care for certain responsibilities in the congregation.

11. What spiritual qualities can we work to develop, and why are they important?

¹¹ Develop the qualities and abilities you need. By reading the Bible and meditating on what you read, you can learn to be wise, to think and reason clearly, and to make good decisions. In fact, brothers need qualities and abilities like these to take care of the congregation. (Proverbs 1:1-4; Titus 1:7-9) When we study the Bible, we can find out how Jehovah feels about many matters. Then each day, we can use what we learn in order to make decisions that please Jehovah. For example, we will know how to treat others, how to use money, and how to choose entertainment and clothing.

12. How can members of the congregation prove themselves trustworthy?

¹² Work hard at any assignment you are given. When God’s people were rebuilding the temple, Nehemiah needed men to care for various responsibilities. He chose ones who had a good reputation. He knew that those men loved God and that they would work hard at whatever job they were given to do. (Nehemiah 7:2; 13:12, 13) In the same way today, those who are faithful and work hard will have a good reputation and may be given more responsibilities. (1 Corinthians 4:2) So whether we are brothers or sisters, we should always do our best at any work we are given.​—Read 1 Timothy 5:25.

13. How can you follow Joseph’s example if others treat you unfairly?

¹³ Rely on Jehovah. What can you do if others treat you unfairly? You may be able to explain to them how you feel. But if you keep defending yourself and insisting that you are right, you could make the problem worse. We can learn much from the example of Joseph. His brothers treated him badly. People lied about him, and he was put in prison for something he had not done. But Joseph relied on Jehovah. He thought about Jehovah’s promises, and he remained faithful. (Psalm 105:19) In those difficult times, he developed many good qualities that helped him later when he was given important work to do. (Genesis 41:37-44; 45:4-8) If others have treated you unfairly, pray to Jehovah for wisdom. He will help you to remain calm and to treat them kindly when you speak to them.​—Read 1 Peter 5:10.

MAKE PROGRESS IN THE MINISTRY

14, 15. (a) Why do we have to “pay constant attention” to the way we preach? (b) How might you adjust to changing conditions? (See opening picture and the box “Are You Willing to Try a Different Method?”)

¹⁴ Paul told Timothy to continue to improve the way he explained the Scriptures. Paul said: “Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching.” (1 Timothy 4:13, 16) Timothy had already been preaching for many years. So why did he need to improve? Timothy knew that people and circumstances change. He wanted people to keep listening to him, so he had to continue to improve and change the way he taught them. As we preach today, we need to do the same.

¹⁵ In some places, we find that many people are not at home when we preach from door to door. In other places, people may be at home, but we cannot get to their doors, perhaps because we cannot enter the building they are living in. If that is true in your territory, can you try another method to find people?

16. How can public witnessing prove to be effective?

¹⁶ Many brothers and sisters enjoy public witnessing. For example, they go to train stations, bus stations, markets, and parks to find people to talk to. A Witness may start a conversation with someone about a recent news report. Or the Witness might say something nice about the person’s children or ask a question about his work. If the person seems to be enjoying the conversation, the publisher may mention a point from the Bible and ask what the person thinks about it. Often, people want to know more about the Bible.

17, 18. (a) How might you become more confident in public witnessing? (b) Why do you find David’s spirit in praising Jehovah valuable as you engage in the ministry?

¹⁷ Perhaps you find it difficult to start conversations on the street with people you do not know. That is how Eddie, a pioneer in New York City, felt. But he found something that helped him to be more confident. He says: “During our family worship, my wife and I do research to find answers to objections and opinions people express. We also ask other Witnesses for suggestions.” Now Eddie looks forward to public witnessing.

¹⁸ When we enjoy our ministry more and improve the way we talk to people about the good news, our spiritual progress will be seen by others. (Read 1 Timothy 4:15.) And we may even help someone to become a servant of Jehovah. David said: “I will praise Jehovah at all times; his praise will be on my lips constantly. I will boast in Jehovah; the meek will hear and rejoice.”​—Psalm 34:1, 2.

CONTINUE TO PRAISE JEHOVAH BY MAKING SPIRITUAL PROGRESS

19. Why should a loyal servant of Jehovah be happy, even if he or she lives in restrictive circumstances?

¹⁹ David also said: “All your works will glorify you, O Jehovah, and your loyal ones will praise you. They will proclaim the glory of your kingship and speak about your mightiness, to make known to men your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingship.” (Psalm 145:10-12) All who love Jehovah and are loyal to him have a strong desire to tell others about him. But what if because of sickness or old age, you cannot spend as much time as you would like preaching from house to house? Always remember that you are praising Jehovah every time you speak about him to those around you, such as to nurses or doctors. If you are in prison because of your faith, you may still be able to tell others about Jehovah, and that makes his heart rejoice. (Proverbs 27:11) Also, he is very happy if you are serving him even though others in your family are not. (1 Peter 3:1-4) Even in very difficult situations, you can praise Jehovah, keep drawing closer to him, and make spiritual progress.

20, 21. If you are entrusted with more work in Jehovah’s organization, how can you become a blessing to others?

²⁰ Jehovah will certainly bless you if you keep drawing closer to him and do your best to serve him. Perhaps by making some changes in your schedule or lifestyle, you will have more opportunities to help people learn about God’s beautiful promises. You may also be able to help your brothers even more. And just think how much your brothers and sisters will love you when they see you working hard in the congregation!

²¹ No matter how long we have been serving Jehovah, all of us can continue to draw closer to him and to make spiritual progress. In the next study, we will discuss how we can help others to make such progress.

1, 2. Why must we train others to take up theocratic assignments?

JESUS worked very hard to preach about the Kingdom. He also spent a lot of time training his disciples. He showed them how to teach and how to take care of God’s people. The disciples learned to be like shepherds who take care of their sheep. (Matthew 10:5-7) Philip was very busy preaching as well, but he also trained his daughters to do the same work. (Acts 21:8, 9) Today we too need to train others. Why?

² In congregations around the world, there are many new ones who are not yet baptized. These new ones need to be trained. We must help them to understand why it is good for them to read and study the Bible on their own. And we also need to train them to preach and teach the good news. Brothers who have recently been baptized need training so that in time they can serve as ministerial servants and elders. All in the congregation can do much to help newer ones.​—Proverbs 4:2.

TEACH NEW ONES HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

3, 4. (a) How did Paul connect study of the Scriptures with a productive ministry? (b) Before we encourage our students to study the Bible on their own, what must we be doing?

³ Every servant of Jehovah needs to read and study the Bible to learn what God’s will is. The apostle Paul explained this to his brothers and sisters in Colossae when he said: “We have never stopped praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the accurate knowledge of his will.” Why was it so important for them to read and study the Scriptures? Because this would give them wisdom and help them to understand how they could “walk worthily of Jehovah in order to please him fully.” It would also help them to do “every good work” that Jehovah wanted them to do, especially preaching the good news. (Colossians 1:9, 10) So if we are studying with someone, we need to help him understand that regularly reading and studying the Bible can help him to serve Jehovah.

⁴ We cannot help our Bible students to understand the value of personal Bible study if we do not study the Bible ourselves. In fact, if we regularly read the Bible and meditate on it, this will help us in our life and ministry. For example, when we are in the ministry and someone asks us a difficult question, we will be able to use the Bible to give an answer. Or when we read about how Jesus, Paul, and others did not give up in their ministry, we will be encouraged and will continue to preach even when it is difficult. And when we tell others what we have learned from our study and how it has helped us, we may encourage them to study the Bible more deeply so that they too can have similar benefits.

5. Give a suggestion on how to help new ones to have a routine of personal Bible study.

⁵ You may ask, ‘How can I train my student to study the Bible regularly?’ Perhaps you could show him how to prepare the information in the publication you are studying with him. You might suggest that he read the related information in the appendix of the book What Does the Bible Really Teach? and look up the Bible verses that are mentioned. Next, you could show him how to prepare for the meetings so that he can give a comment. Encourage him to read every issue of The Watchtower and Awake! And you could show him how to find answers to Bible questions, for example by using Watchtower Library or Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY. When he tries these different methods of personal study, he will likely enjoy it and want to learn more.

6. (a) How can you help your student to cultivate love for the Bible in his heart? (b) What is a Bible student likely to do if he develops heartfelt love for the Scriptures?

⁶ When we study with someone, we want him to realize that the Bible is valuable because it helps him to get to know Jehovah better. Instead of pressuring him to study, we can show him how to enjoy studying. The more he learns from the Bible, the more he will feel like the psalmist who sang: “Drawing near to God is good for me. I have made the Sovereign Lord Jehovah my refuge.” (Psalm 73:28) Jehovah’s spirit will surely help someone who wants to draw close to him.

TRAIN NEW ONES TO PREACH AND TEACH

7. How did Jesus train proclaimers of the good news? (See opening picture.)

⁷ We can learn much from the way Jesus trained his apostles. Jesus took them with him when he went preaching, and they watched how he taught people. He also gave them specific instructions about how they should preach. (Matthew, chapter 10)^[1] (See endnote.) In a short time, the apostles learned from Jesus how to teach people the truth. (Matthew 11:1) Let us see two things we can train new ones to do when they are in the ministry.

8, 9. (a) How did Jesus approach individuals in his ministry? (b) How can we help new publishers to converse with people as Jesus did?

⁸ Have conversations with people. Jesus did not always speak to crowds of people. He often talked to individuals, and he did so in a friendly way. For example, he had an interesting conversation with a woman who came to draw water from a well near the city of Sychar. (John 4:5-30) Jesus also spoke with Matthew Levi, a tax collector, and invited him to be his disciple. Matthew accepted and later invited Jesus and others to his house for a meal. There, Jesus spoke with many people.​—Matthew 9:9; Luke 5:27-39.

⁹ Jesus also spoke in a friendly way to Nathanael, even though Nathanael had said negative things about people from Nazareth. Because of the friendly way Jesus spoke to him, Nathanael changed the way he felt about Jesus, who was from Nazareth. And Nathanael wanted to learn more from Jesus. (John 1:46-51) From Jesus’ example, we learn that when we talk to people in a friendly and kind way, they will be more likely to listen to what we have to say.^[2] [See endnote.] When we train new ones to speak in this way, they will enjoy the ministry even more.

10-12. (a) How did Jesus cultivate the interest others showed in the good news? (b) How can we help new publishers to improve their skills as teachers of Bible truth?

¹⁰ Teach those who are willing to listen. Jesus was very busy. But when people were willing to listen to him, he spent time with them and taught them many things. For example, one day a crowd of people gathered on the shore to listen to Jesus. So Jesus went out on a boat with Peter and taught the people from there. After that, he wanted to teach Peter a lesson too. Jesus performed a miracle by providing a huge amount of fish for Peter to catch. He then said to Peter: “From now on you will be catching men alive.” Immediately Peter and those with him “brought the boats back to land and abandoned everything” and followed Jesus.​—Luke 5:1-11.

¹¹ Nicodemus too wanted to learn more from Jesus. But since Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, he was afraid of what others would say if they saw him speaking to Jesus. So he visited Jesus at night. Jesus did not send him away but instead spent time with him and explained important truths to him. (John 3:1, 2) Jesus was always willing to use his time to teach people the truth and strengthen their faith. In a similar way, we need to be willing to visit people at a time that is good for them, and we need to spend time with them helping them to understand the Bible.

¹² When we work with new ones in the ministry, we can teach them to go back to anyone who seemed willing to talk with them again. We can also invite new ones to come with us on return visits and Bible studies. In this way, they will learn how to teach others and will see how good it feels to help such ones learn the truth about Jehovah. Then, these new ones will be excited to visit people again and study the Bible with them. They will also learn to be patient and not to give up quickly when they cannot find people at home again.​—Galatians 5:22; see the box “He Did Not Give Up.”

TRAIN NEW ONES TO SERVE THEIR BROTHERS

13, 14. (a) What do you think of the Bible examples of those who made great sacrifices in behalf of others? (b) In what practical ways can you train new publishers and young ones to show love for their brothers and sisters?

¹³ Jehovah wants his servants to love one another as brothers and sisters and to serve one another. (Read Luke 22:24-27; 1 Peter 1:22.) The Bible explains that Jesus gave everything, including his life, to help others. (Matthew 20:28) Dorcas “abounded in good deeds and gifts of mercy.” (Acts 9:36, 39) Mary “worked hard” for her brothers and sisters in Rome. (Romans 16:6) How can we help new ones understand that it is very important to do good things for their brothers and sisters?

¹⁴ We can ask new ones to come with us when we visit older ones or those who are sick. And when parents visit such ones, they can take their children with them if it is appropriate. Elders can ask young people or new ones to work along with them if they need to provide food for older ones or make repairs in their homes. When young people and new ones see how the brothers and sisters look after one another, they will learn to do the same. For example, while preaching in a rural area, one elder would regularly visit the brothers who lived there to see how they were doing. A young brother who often went with him learned from the fine example of this elder to think about what he could do to help his brothers and sisters.​—Romans 12:10.

15. Why is it important that elders take an interest in the progress of men in the congregation?

¹⁵ Jehovah has given men the responsibility to teach God’s Word to the congregation. So it is important for brothers to learn how to teach well when they give talks. If you are an elder, perhaps you could listen to a ministerial servant when he practices a talk and help him to improve. (Nehemiah 8:8)^[3]​—See endnote.

16, 17. (a) What interest did Paul take in the progress of Timothy? (b) How can the elders effectively train future shepherds of the congregation?

¹⁶ There is a need to train more brothers to become shepherds in the congregation. Paul trained Timothy and encouraged him to train others. Paul said: “Keep on acquiring power in the undeserved kindness that is in Christ Jesus; and the things you heard from me that were supported by many witnesses, these things entrust to faithful men, who, in turn, will be adequately qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:1, 2) Timothy learned many things from Paul, who was an elder and apostle, such as how to improve his preaching and how to help others in the congregation.​—2 Timothy 3:10-12.

¹⁷ Paul spent a lot of time with Timothy because he wanted to make sure that Timothy was trained well. (Acts 16:1-5) Elders can imitate Paul by taking qualified ministerial servants with them on some of their shepherding calls. In this way, ministerial servants will learn from the elders how to teach others, how to be patient and loving, and how to rely on Jehovah when caring for his flock.​—1 Peter 5:2.

TRAINING IS IMPORTANT

18. Why should training others in Jehovah’s service be important to us?

¹⁸ In this time of the end, many new ones need to be trained to improve their skills in the preaching work. There is also a need for brothers to learn to take care of the congregation. Jehovah wants all of his servants to be trained well, and he has given us the privilege to help newer ones. So it is important to work hard to train others, just as Jesus and Paul did. We need to train as many as possible because there is still much to do in the preaching work before the end comes.

19. Why should you be convinced that your diligent efforts to train others in Jehovah’s service will be successful?

¹⁹ Training new ones takes time and effort. But we can be sure that Jehovah and Jesus will help us to know how to train others in the best way possible. We will be delighted as we see those we trained ‘working hard and exerting themselves’ in the congregation or in the preaching work. (1 Timothy 4:10) At the same time, we need to keep doing our best to make spiritual progress, improve our Christian qualities, and draw closer to Jehovah.

I WAS 12 years old when I realized that I had something valuable to give. During an assembly, a brother asked me if I would like to preach. Even though I had never preached before, I said yes. We went to the territory, and he gave me some booklets about God’s Kingdom. Then he said: “You visit the people on that side of the street, and I’ll take this side.” I was nervous, but I began preaching from house to house. I was surprised when I soon placed all the booklets. Clearly, many people wanted what I had to give.

I was born in 1923 in Chatham, Kent, England. In those years after World War I, people hoped that the world would become a better place. But when that did not happen, many were disappointed, including my parents. They were also disappointed in Baptist clergymen who were too interested in getting a higher position in the church. When I was about nine, my mother began going to the hall of the International Bible Students Association, where Jehovah’s Witnesses held their “classes,” or meetings. One of the sisters there gave us children Bible lessons based on the Bible and the book The Harp of God. I liked what I was learning.

LEARNING FROM OLDER BROTHERS

As a teenager, I enjoyed giving people hope from God’s Word. I often preached from house to house alone, but when I preached with others, I learned a lot. For example, one day as an older brother and I were going to the territory, we passed a clergyman and I said, “There goes a goat.” The brother stopped his bicycle and asked me to sit down with him on a log. He said: “Who gave you authority to judge who is a goat? Let’s just be happy giving people the good news and leave the judging to Jehovah.” In those days, I learned a lot about the happiness that comes from giving.​—Matthew 25:31-33; Acts 20:35.

Another older brother taught me that to find happiness in giving, we sometimes have to endure patiently. His wife did not like Jehovah’s Witnesses. One time he invited me to his home for a snack. She was so mad that he had been out preaching that she began throwing packets of tea at us. Instead of getting upset with her, he cheerfully put the tea back in its place. Years later, his patience was rewarded when his wife was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

In September 1939, when I was 16, Britain declared war on Germany. In March 1940, my mother and I got baptized in Dover. In June 1940, I watched from our front doorstep as thousands of soldiers passed by in lorries, or trucks. They were survivors of the Battle of Dunkirk. I could see that they were traumatized and had no hope. I really wanted to tell them about God’s Kingdom and give them a hope for the future. Later that year, Germany began bombing Britain. Each night, German bombers flew over our area. We were terrified to hear the whistling sound the bombs made as they fell. The next morning, we would find whole areas of destroyed houses. These experiences helped me to realize even more that the Kingdom was my only hope for the future.

BEGINNING A LIFE OF GIVING

In 1941, I started in the full-time ministry, beginning a way of life that has made me very happy. I had been working in the Royal Dockyard in Chatham, learning how to build ships. This was a job that many wanted, and one with excellent benefits. But Jehovah’s servants already knew that Christians should not fight for one nation against another. And by 1941, we also understood that we should not support any efforts to make weapons. (John 18:36) The dockyard made submarines, so I decided that it was time for me to leave my job and begin the full-time ministry. My first assignment was in Cirencester, a beautiful town in the Cotswolds.

When I was 18, I went to prison for nine months because I refused to join the military. I felt terrible when the door of my cell slammed shut and I was left alone. But soon, guards and prisoners began asking why I was there, and I was glad to explain my faith to them.

After I got out of prison, I joined Leonard Smith,a and we preached in many different towns in the county of Kent, where we were from. In order to bomb London, Nazi planes had to fly over Kent. Starting in 1944, more than a thousand bombs called doodlebugs fell on Kent. These bombs were actually jet planes that had no pilots and that were full of explosives. When we heard the engine turn off, we knew that seconds later the plane would fall and explode. Everyone was terrified. During that time, we had a Bible study with a family of five. We would sometimes sit under an iron table designed to protect us if the house collapsed. That entire family eventually got baptized.

PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

After the war, I pioneered for two years in southern Ireland. We went from door to door saying that we were missionaries and asking for a place to stay. We offered our magazines on the street. But Ireland was so different from England. Most felt that it was silly for us to imagine that people would respond well to us in such a Catholic country! When one man threatened to hurt us, I complained to a policeman, but he said, “Well, what do you expect?” We did not realize how much power the priests had. People would lose their jobs if they accepted our books. And we were forced to leave the place we were living in.

We soon learned that when we arrived in a new area, it was best for us to preach in places where the priest did not know us. So we had to go far away from where we were staying and visit the people in those places first. After that, we preached to the people nearby. In Kilkenny, we studied with a young man three times a week even though violent mobs threatened us. Because I really enjoyed teaching the Bible, I wanted to get missionary training. So I decided to apply to the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead.

After studying for five months in New York, four of us Gilead graduates were assigned to the smaller islands of the Caribbean Sea. In November of 1948, we left New York City on a 59-foot (18-meter) sailboat named Sibia. I had never sailed before, so I was excited. Gust Maki, one of the graduates, was an experienced sea captain. He taught us some basic sailing skills, such as how to raise and lower the sails, how to navigate using a compass, and how to sail against the wind. Gust skillfully navigated our boat through dangerous storms for 30 days until we reached the Bahamas.

“PROCLAIM IT AMONG THE ISLANDS”

After preaching for a few months on the smaller islands of the Bahamas, we sailed to the Leeward and Windward islands. These small islands extend almost 500 miles (800 kilometers) between the Virgin Islands and Trinidad. For five years, we preached mainly on isolated islands where there were no Witnesses. Sometimes we could not send or receive mail for weeks. But we were very happy preaching about Jehovah “among the islands”!​—Jeremiah 31:10.

When we anchored in a bay, the villagers would get excited and would gather on the dock to see who we were. Some had never seen a boat like ours or a white man before. The islanders were friendly people who knew the Bible well. Often, they gave us fresh fish, avocados, and peanuts. Even though we did not have a lot of space on our small boat, we were able to cook, sleep, and wash our clothes.

We would go onshore and visit the people all day long. We told them that there would be a Bible talk. Then at dusk we rang the ship’s bell. It was wonderful to see the people arriving. Their oil lamps looked like twinkling stars coming down the hillsides. Sometimes a hundred people came, and they asked questions until late at night. They enjoyed singing, so we typed out some Kingdom songs for them. The four of us did our best to sing the songs. Then the people started singing with us, and their voices sounded beautiful. What happy times!

After a Bible study, some students would walk with us to the next family we were going to visit in order to join their study too. After spending a few weeks in a certain place, we had to leave. But we often asked the most interested people to continue studying with the others until we returned. It was lovely to see how seriously some of them took their assignment.

Today, many of those islands are full of tourists, but back then they were quiet places with only turquoise lagoons, sandy beaches, and palm trees. We usually sailed from one island to the next at night. Dolphins playfully swam alongside us, and all you could hear was the sound of our boat cutting through the water. The light of the moon on the sea looked like a silver path that led to the horizon.

After five years preaching on the islands, we sailed to Puerto Rico to get a new boat, one with engines. When we arrived, I met and fell in love with Maxine Boyd, a beautiful missionary sister. She had been a zealous preacher of the good news since she was a little girl. Later, she served as a missionary in the Dominican Republic until 1950, when the Catholic government forced her to leave. Because I was a member of a ship’s crew, I had a permit to stay in Puerto Rico for only one month. After that I would sail to the islands and be away for a few more years. So I said to myself, ‘Ronald, if you want this girl, you’ve got to act quickly.’ After three weeks I proposed, and after six weeks we were married. Maxine and I were assigned as missionaries to Puerto Rico, so I never went out on the new boat.

In 1956, we began in the circuit work, and we loved visiting the brothers. Many of them were poor. For example, in the village of Potala Pastillo, there were two Witness families with many children, and I used to play the flute for them. I asked one of the little girls, Hilda, if she wanted to come and preach with us. She said: “I want to, but I can’t. I don’t have any shoes.” We bought her a pair, and she came preaching with us. Years later, in 1972, when Maxine and I were visiting Brooklyn, a sister who had just graduated from Gilead School came to talk to us. She was about to leave for her assignment in Ecuador, and she said: “You don’t recognize me, do you? I am the little girl from Pastillo who had no shoes.” It was Hilda! We were so happy that we cried!

In 1960, we began serving at the Puerto Rico branch, which was located in a small house in Santurce, San Juan. At first, Lennart Johnson and I did most of the work. He and his wife were the first Witnesses in the Dominican Republic, and in 1957, they had moved to Puerto Rico. Later, Maxine sent the magazines to people who had subscriptions. She sent more than a thousand magazines every week. She enjoyed doing this work because she thought of all those people learning about Jehovah.

I have enjoyed working at Bethel because it allows me to use my energy in Jehovah’s service. But it is not always easy. For example, during Puerto Rico’s first international assembly in 1967, I felt overwhelmed by everything that I needed to organize. Nathan Knorr, who was then taking the lead among Jehovah’s Witnesses, came to Puerto Rico. He thought that I had not arranged transportation for the missionaries visiting the country, even though I had. Later, he gave me strong counsel about being organized and said that he was disappointed in me. I didn’t want to argue with him, but I felt that he had treated me unfairly, and I was upset for some time. Still, the next time Maxine and I saw Brother Knorr, he invited us to his room and cooked a meal for us.

We visited my family in England several times. Father did not accept the truth when Mother and I did. But when brothers from Bethel visited their area, my mother often had them stay in our home. My father saw that these Bethel overseers were humble. They were very different from the clergymen who had disgusted him years ago. Finally, in 1962, he was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

My dear wife, Maxine, died in 2011. I am really looking forward to seeing her again in the resurrection. How happy that thought makes me! During our 58 years together, we saw the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Puerto Rico grow from about 650 to 26,000! Then, in 2013, the Puerto Rico branch was merged with the United States branch, and I was asked to serve at Wallkill, New York. After 60 years on the island, I felt as Puerto Rican as a coquí, the popular little Puerto Rican tree frog that sings ko-kee, ko-kee at dusk. I was happy in Puerto Rico, but now it was time to move on.

“GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER”

I still enjoy serving God at Bethel. I am now over 90 years old, and my job is to encourage members of the Bethel family. Since I came to Wallkill, I have visited over 600 brothers and sisters. Some who come to see me want to discuss personal or family problems. Others want advice on how to make serving at Bethel a success. Still others want advice because they recently got married or they have been reassigned to serve as pioneers. I listen to everyone who talks to me, and when appropriate, I often tell them: “‘God loves a cheerful giver.’ So be happy in your work. It is for Jehovah.”​—2 Corinthians 9:7.

If you want to be happy at Bethel or anywhere else, you must focus on why what you are doing is important. Everything we do at Bethel is sacred service. It helps “the faithful and discreet slave” to provide spiritual food to the brothers all over the world. (Matthew 24:45) Wherever we serve Jehovah, we have opportunities to praise him. Let us enjoy what he asks us to do, because “God loves a cheerful giver.”

Why was handwashing an issue for Jesus’ enemies?

This was just one of the many things Jesus’ enemies criticized him and his disciples for. The Mosaic Law explained what would make someone unclean, for example, bodily discharges, leprosy, or touching human or animal corpses. The Law also gave instructions on how someone could be made clean again. This could be done by sacrifice, washing, or sprinkling.​—Leviticus, chapters 11-15; Numbers, chapter 19.

The Jewish teachers, also known as rabbis, added their own rules to these laws. One source says that the rabbis made extra or more detailed rules about what would make a person unclean and how he could cause others to become unclean. The rabbis also made rules about what kinds of utensils and objects could and could not become unclean and the rituals that people needed to follow to become clean again.

Jesus’ enemies asked him: “Why do your disciples not observe the tradition of the men of former times, but they eat their meal with defiled hands?” (Mark 7:5) Those Pharisees were not referring to good hygiene, that is, handwashing before a meal. The Pharisees had made the rule that before a person ate, water had to be poured over his hands as part of a ritual. The source mentioned above adds that the rabbis “also debated which vessels are to be used for the pouring, which kind of water is suitable, who should pour, and how much of the hands should be covered with water.”

How did Jesus react to all these extra laws made by men? He told the Jewish religious leaders: “Isaiah aptly prophesied about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far removed from me [Jehovah]. It is in vain that they keep worshipping me, for they teach commands of men as doctrines.’ You let go of the commandment of God and cling to the tradition of men.”​—Mark 7:6-8.