1. Jehovah created humans with what unique abilities?

JEHOVAH created humans with unique abilities. He gave us the ability to think, which helps us to solve problems and plan for the future. (Proverbs 2:11) He gave us power, so that we can do what we have planned and reach our goals. (Philippians 2:13) He also gave us a conscience, a sense of right and wrong that we have inside of us. Our conscience helps us to avoid sinning and to correct our mistakes.​—Romans 2:15.

2. How does Jehovah expect us to use our abilities?

² Jehovah expects us to use our abilities in a good way. Why? Because he loves us and knows that we will be happy when we use the gifts he has given us. For example, in the Hebrew Scriptures, we read: “The plans of the diligent surely lead to success,” and “whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might.” (Proverbs 21:5; Ecclesiastes 9:10) In the Greek Scriptures, we read: “As long as we have the opportunity, let us work what is good toward all,” and “to the extent that each one has received a gift, use it in ministering to one another.” (Galatians 6:10; 1 Peter 4:10) Clearly, Jehovah wants us to do what we can to benefit ourselves and others.

3. What limitations do humans have?

³ Jehovah wants us to use our abilities, but he knows that we have limitations. For example, we cannot remove imperfection, sin, and death. (1 Kings 8:46) Also, we cannot control other people, because everyone is free to make his own choices. And no matter how much knowledge or experience we have, we will never have as much as Jehovah has.​—Isaiah 55:9.

4. What will we consider in this article?

⁴ We should always allow Jehovah to guide us, trusting that he will support us and do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. However, Jehovah also wants us to think about what we can do to solve problems and help others. (Read Psalm 37:3.) We need to both “trust in Jehovah and do what is good.” We need to “act with faithfulness.” How can we do this? Let us consider the examples of Noah, David, and other faithful servants of God who relied on Jehovah. We will see that there were things they could not do but that they chose to focus on the things they could do.

WHEN WE ARE SURROUNDED BY WICKEDNESS

5. Describe Noah’s situation.

⁵ Noah lived in a world that was “filled with violence” and immorality. (Genesis 6:4, 9-13) Even though he knew that Jehovah would eventually destroy that wicked world, Noah must have been upset by what the people were doing. In that situation, Noah realized that there were things he could not do, but he also realized that there were things he could do.

6, 7. (a) What could Noah not do? (b) How are we in a situation similar to Noah’s?

⁶ What Noah could not do: Noah faithfully preached Jehovah’s warning message, but he could not force people to accept it. And he could not make the Flood come any sooner. Noah had to trust that Jehovah would keep His promise to end wickedness, believing that God would do so at just the right time.​—Genesis 6:17.

⁷ We too live in a world filled with wickedness, which we know Jehovah has promised to destroy. (1 John 2:17) In the meantime, we cannot force people to accept the “good news of the Kingdom.” And we cannot do anything to make the “great tribulation” start earlier. (Matthew 24:14, 21) Like Noah, we need to have strong faith, trusting that God will end all wickedness soon. (Psalm 37:10, 11) We are convinced that Jehovah will not allow this wicked world to continue for even one day longer than it needs to.​—Habakkuk 2:3.

8. What did Noah focus on? (See opening picture.)

⁸ What Noah could do: Instead of giving up because of what he could not do, Noah focused on what he could do. Noah faithfully preached Jehovah’s warning message. (2 Peter 2:5) This work must have helped him to keep his faith strong. In addition to preaching, he followed Jehovah’s instructions to build an ark.​—Read Hebrews 11:7.

9. How can we imitate Noah’s example?

⁹ Like Noah, we stay busy “in the work of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) For example, we may help with the construction and maintenance of our Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls, volunteer at assemblies and conventions, or work at a branch office or a remote translation office. Most important, we stay busy in the preaching work, which strengthens our hope for the future. One faithful sister said that when she talks to others about the blessings of God’s Kingdom, she realizes that people have absolutely no hope and that they see their problems as permanent. As that sister mentioned, we have a hope, and it becomes stronger when we tell others about it. This hope helps us to remain in the race for life!​—1 Corinthians 9:24.

WHEN WE SIN

10. Describe David’s situation.

¹⁰ King David was a faithful man, and Jehovah loved him very much. (Acts 13:22) Even so, David had sexual relations with Bath-sheba, which was a serious sin. Worse yet, he tried to hide his sin by planning for Bath-sheba’s husband, Uriah, to be killed in battle. David even had Uriah deliver the letter with instructions for his own death! (2 Samuel 11:1-21) Eventually, David’s sins became known. (Mark 4:22) When that happened, how did David react?

11, 12. (a) After he sinned, what could David not do? (b) What will Jehovah do for us if we repent?

¹¹ What David could not do: David could not undo what he had done. In fact, he would suffer some of the consequences of his sin for the rest of his life. (2 Samuel 12:10-12, 14) So he needed faith. He had to trust that when he truly repented, Jehovah would forgive him and help him endure the consequences of his actions.

¹² Because we are imperfect, we all sin. But some mistakes are more serious than others, and in some cases we may not be able to undo our mistakes. We too may have to suffer the consequences of our actions. (Galatians 6:7) But we trust God’s promise that if we repent, he will support us through difficult times, even when those difficulties are our own fault.​—Read Isaiah 1:18, 19; Acts 3:19.

13. How did David repair his relationship with Jehovah?

¹³ What David could do: David wanted to repair his relationship with Jehovah. How did he do that? David allowed Jehovah to help him. For example, he accepted correction from Jehovah’s prophet Nathan. (2 Samuel 12:13) David also prayed to Jehovah and confessed his sins, showing that he really wanted Jehovah’s favor again. (Psalm 51:1-17) Instead of feeling overwhelmed by his guilt, David learned from his mistakes. He never repeated those serious sins. Years later, he died a faithful man, and that is how Jehovah remembers him.​—Hebrews 11:32-34.

14. What can we learn from David’s example?

¹⁴ What can we learn from David’s example? If we commit a serious sin, we need to repent sincerely, confess our sin to Jehovah, and ask for his forgiveness. (1 John 1:9) We also need to talk to the elders because they can help us to repair our relationship with Jehovah. (Read James 5:14-16.) When we accept Jehovah’s help, we show that we trust in his promise to forgive us. In addition, we need to learn from our mistakes and continue serving Jehovah with confidence.​—Hebrews 12:12, 13.

IN OTHER SITUATIONS

15. What do we learn from Hannah’s example?

¹⁵ You can probably think of other faithful servants in the Bible who trusted in Jehovah while doing what they could in difficult situations. For example, there was a time when Hannah could not have children. She could not change that situation. But she trusted that Jehovah would comfort her. So she continued to worship at the tabernacle and pray to Jehovah, telling him how she felt. (1 Samuel 1:9-11) What an excellent example for us! When we have health problems or other difficulties that we cannot change, we throw our anxiety on Jehovah and trust that he cares for us. (1 Peter 5:6, 7) And we do what we can to benefit from the Christian meetings and other programs that Jehovah’s organization provides.​—Hebrews 10:24, 25.

16. What can parents learn from Samuel?

¹⁶ What about faithful parents whose children have stopped serving Jehovah? The prophet Samuel could not force his adult sons to remain loyal to God. (1 Samuel 8:1-3) He had to leave the matter in Jehovah’s hands. However, Samuel did what he could to remain loyal to God and please his heavenly Father. (Proverbs 27:11) Today, many Christian parents are in a similar situation. They trust that like the father in Jesus’ illustration of the prodigal son, Jehovah is always ready to welcome back sinners who repent. (Luke 15:20) In the meantime, parents can focus on remaining loyal to Jehovah, hoping that their example will motivate their children to return to him.

17. Why is the example of the poor widow encouraging?

¹⁷ Another good example was the poor widow in Jesus’ day. (Read Luke 21:1-4.) She could not do anything about the corruption at the temple, and she could not change the fact that she was poor. (Matthew 21:12, 13) But her trust in Jehovah motivated her to support true worship. She was generous and gave “two small coins,” which was all the money she had. That faithful woman showed complete trust in Jehovah. She knew that if she put her service to Jehovah first, he would make sure that she had what she needed. In a similar way, we trust that if we put God’s Kingdom first, Jehovah will make sure that we have what we need.​—Matthew 6:33.

18. Give an example of a brother who had the right attitude.

¹⁸ Many of our brothers and sisters today show similar trust in Jehovah by focusing on what they can do instead of what they cannot do. Consider a brother named Malcolm, who remained faithful until his death in 2015. During the many years that he and his wife served Jehovah, they had good times and bad times. “Life is unpredictable at times, uncertain, and even hard to deal with,” he said. “But Jehovah blesses those who lean on him.” What was Malcolm’s advice? “Pray to be as productive and as active in Jehovah’s service as you can be. Focus on what you can do, not on what you cannot do.”a​—See footnote.

19. (a) Why is our yeartext for 2017 a good choice? (b) How will you apply the 2017 yeartext in your life?

¹⁹ This wicked world is going “from bad to worse,” so we can expect to have more and more difficulties. (2 Timothy 3:1, 13) It is more important than ever that we do not become overwhelmed by our difficulties. Instead, we need to have strong trust in Jehovah and focus on what we can do. That is why our yeartext for 2017 is a good choice: “Trust in Jehovah and do what is good”!​—Psalm 37:3.

1, 2. (a) What different opinions do people have about free will? (b) What does the Bible teach us about our free will, and what questions will we consider?

WHEN making a personal choice, one woman told a friend: “Do not make me think; just tell me what to do. That is easier.” The woman wanted to be told what to do instead of using her free will, a precious gift from her Creator. What about you? Do you like making your own decisions, or do you want others to decide for you? How do you view free will?

² People have different opinions about free will. Some say that free will does not really exist because God has already decided all our actions. Others say that free will is possible only if we have absolute freedom. However, the Bible teaches that we were created with the ability and freedom to make intelligent personal choices. (Read Joshua 24:15.) In the Bible, we also find the answers to the following questions: Does our free will have limits? How should we use our freedom to make decisions? How do our decisions show how much we really love Jehovah? How can we show that we respect the decisions of others?

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM JEHOVAH AND JESUS?

3. How does Jehovah use his absolute freedom?

³ Jehovah has absolute freedom, and we can learn from the way he uses his freedom. For example, Jehovah chose the nation of Israel to be his people, “his special property.” (Deuteronomy 7:6-8) He had a reason for making that choice. Jehovah wanted to keep the promise he had made to his friend Abraham. (Genesis 22:15-18) In addition, Jehovah is always loving and fair when he uses his freedom. We can see that in the way he disciplined the Israelites when they disobeyed him. When they were truly sorry for what they had done, Jehovah showed them love and mercy. He said: “I will heal their unfaithfulness. I will love them of my own free will.” (Hosea 14:4) Jehovah set a good example for us by using his freedom to help others!

4, 5. (a) Who was the first to receive God’s gift of free will, and how did he use it? (b) What question must each of us ask?

⁴ Jehovah chose to create angels and humans with free will. Jehovah’s first creation was Jesus. He was created in God’s image and had free will. (Colossians 1:15) How has Jesus used his freedom? Before coming to earth, Jesus chose to remain loyal to God and not to join Satan and his rebellion. When Jesus came to earth, he made the choice to reject Satan’s temptations. (Matthew 4:10) Then, on the night before his death, Jesus assured his Father that he wanted to do His will. He said: “Father, if you want to, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, let, not my will, but yours take place.” (Luke 22:42) Is it really possible for us to imitate Jesus and use our free will to honor Jehovah and do his will?

⁵ Yes, we can imitate Jesus because we too are made in God’s image. (Genesis 1:26) However, we do not have the absolute freedom that Jehovah has. God’s Word explains that Jehovah has put limits on our freedom and that he expects us to accept those limits. For example, within the family, wives should be in subjection to their husbands, and children should obey their parents. (Ephesians 5:22; 6:1) How do such limits affect the way we use our free will? The answer to that question can determine our everlasting future.

THE USE AND ABUSE OF FREE WILL

6. Give an example that shows why it is important for our freedom to have limits.

⁶ Can limited freedom ever be true freedom? Yes, it can! Why? Because limits can protect us. For example, we may choose to drive to a city far away. But imagine that there are no traffic laws, and everyone can decide how fast and on which side of the road to drive. Would you feel safe traveling on that road? Obviously not. Limits are needed in order for all to enjoy the benefits of true freedom. Let us consider some Bible examples that show how the limits set by Jehovah can benefit us.

7. (a) What was one difference between Adam and the animals? (b) Describe one way that Adam used his free will.

⁷ When Jehovah created the first man, Adam, he gave him the same gift he had given the angels, the gift of free will. But God did not give animals free will. How did Adam use his free will in a good way? Adam had the joy of naming the animals. God “began bringing them to the man to see what he would call each one.” After Adam watched each animal, he gave it a meaningful name. Jehovah did not change any of Adam’s choices. Instead, “whatever the man would call each living creature, that became its name.”​—Genesis 2:19.

8. How did Adam misuse his free will, and what was the result?

⁸ Jehovah gave Adam the responsibility to make the earth into a paradise by telling him: “Be fruitful and become many, fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28) But Adam chose to eat the forbidden fruit, and by doing so he ignored the limits that Jehovah had set. Because Adam misused his free will, humans have suffered for thousands of years. (Romans 5:12) Let us remember the serious consequences of Adam’s decision. That will motivate us to use our freedom in a good way and accept the limits Jehovah has given us.

9. What choice did Jehovah give his people, Israel, and what did they promise to do?

⁹ All humans have inherited imperfection and death from Adam and Eve. However, we still have the right to use the gift of free will. We can see that by the way God treated the nation of Israel. Jehovah gave them the choice to become his special property or not. (Exodus 19:3-6) The nation chose to become God’s people and accepted the limits God set. They said: “All that Jehovah has spoken, we are willing to do.” (Exodus 19:8) Sadly, the people later chose to break their promise to Jehovah. We can learn an important lesson from that example. Let us always treasure our gift of free will and continue to stick close to Jehovah and obey his laws.​—1 Corinthians 10:11.

10. What examples in Hebrews chapter 11 prove that imperfect humans can use their free will to honor God? (See opening picture.)

¹⁰ In Hebrews chapter 11, we find the names of 16 faithful men and women who chose to respect the limits set by Jehovah. As a result, they received many blessings and a wonderful hope for the future. For example, Noah had great faith and chose to obey God’s instructions to build an ark to save his own family and future generations. (Hebrews 11:7) Abraham and Sarah willingly obeyed God and went to the land He had promised to give them. Even though they had the “opportunity to return” to the city of Ur, they focused on God’s promises for the future. The Bible says that they were “reaching out for a better place.” (Hebrews 11:8, 13, 15, 16) Moses rejected the treasures of Egypt and chose “to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin.” (Hebrews 11:24-26) Let us imitate the faith of those men and women and appreciate our gift of free will, using it to do God’s will.

11. (a) What is one of the greatest blessings of free will? (b) What motivates you to use your free will in a good way?

¹¹ It might seem easier to have someone else make decisions for us, but then we would never experience one of the greatest blessings of free will. What is that? The Bible explains at Deuteronomy 30:19, 20. (Read.) In verse 19, we read that God gave the Israelites a choice. In verse 20, we learn that Jehovah gave them a chance to show how much they loved him. We too can choose to worship Jehovah. And we also have a unique chance to use our gift of free will to honor Jehovah and show how much we love him!

DO NOT MISUSE YOUR GIFT OF FREE WILL

12. What must we never do with our gift of free will?

¹² Imagine that you gave a valuable gift to a friend. How would you feel if he threw your gift into the trash or, even worse, used the gift to harm someone? You would feel hurt. Jehovah has given us the gift of free will. So he must feel hurt when he sees people misuse their freedom and make bad choices or harm others. The Bible said that in “the last days,” men would be “unthankful.” (2 Timothy 3:1, 2) So how can we show that we are thankful for our precious gift from Jehovah? And how can we avoid misusing it?

13. What is one way we can avoid misusing our Christian freedom?

¹³ All of us have the freedom to choose our friends, our dress and grooming, and our entertainment. However, we could use our freedom as an excuse to make choices that God does not like or to follow the trends of people in the world. (Read 1 Peter 2:16.) Instead of using our freedom as an opportunity to do what is wrong, we should use it as an opportunity to “do all things for God’s glory.”​—1 Corinthians 10:31; Galatians 5:13.

14. Why do we need to trust in Jehovah when we use our free will?

¹⁴ Jehovah said: “I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit yourself, the One guiding you in the way you should walk.” (Isaiah 48:17) We need to trust in Jehovah and accept the limits he has set so that we can make good choices. We humbly admit that “man’s way does not belong to him. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.” (Jeremiah 10:23) Both Adam and the unfaithful Israelites chose to reject the limits Jehovah had set and instead relied on themselves. Let us learn from their bad example. Instead of relying on ourselves, let us “trust in Jehovah with all [our] heart.”​—Proverbs 3:5.

RESPECTING THE FREE WILL OF OTHERS

15. What do we learn from the principle found at Galatians 6:5?

¹⁵ We must also respect the freedom that others have to make their own decisions in life. Why? Since we all have the gift of free will, no two Christians will always make exactly the same decisions. This includes decisions about our conduct and worship. Remember the principle found at Galatians 6:5. (Read.) When we recognize that each Christian is responsible for his own decisions, we will respect the freedom that others have to use their free will.

16, 17. (a) How did free will become an issue in Corinth? (b) How did Paul help those Christians, and what lesson does this teach us?

¹⁶ Let us consider a Bible example that shows why we need to respect our brothers’ free will. Christians in the Corinthian congregation argued about eating meat that may have been offered to idols but that was later sold in a meat market. The conscience of some Christians allowed them to eat the meat because they knew that an idol was nothing. However, others who used to worship such idols felt that eating the meat would be like doing an act of worship. (1 Corinthians 8:4, 7) This was a serious problem that could have divided the congregation. How did Paul help the Christians to solve this important issue?

¹⁷ First, Paul reminded both groups that food would not strengthen their friendship with God. (1 Corinthians 8:8) Next, Paul warned them not to allow their “right to choose” to hurt the conscience of those who were weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9) Later, he told those with a sensitive conscience not to judge those who chose to eat such meat. (1 Corinthians 10:25, 29, 30) So in important situations related to worship, each Christian needed to make his own decision. Should we not also respect our brothers’ freedom to make personal decisions even in smaller matters?​—1 Corinthians 10:32, 33.

18. How will you show that you treasure your gift of free will?

¹⁸ Jehovah has given us the gift of free will, which brings us true freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17) We treasure this gift because it allows us to make decisions that show how much we love Jehovah. So let us continue to make choices that honor him, and let us respect others’ right to choose the way they use this precious gift.

1, 2. Why did God reject Saul? (See opening picture.)

WHEN Jehovah chose Saul to be king, Saul was modest. (1 Samuel 9:1, 2, 21; 10:20-24) But after he became king, he became presumptuous. On one occasion, thousands of Philistines came to fight the Israelites. The prophet Samuel had told Saul that he would come and offer a sacrifice to Jehovah. However, before Samuel arrived, the Israelites became afraid and many of them abandoned Saul. He became impatient, and instead of waiting for Samuel, he offered the sacrifice himself. Saul had no authority to do this, and Jehovah was not pleased.​—1 Samuel 13:5-9.

² When Samuel arrived, he reproved Saul for disobeying Jehovah. But Saul did not think that he had done anything wrong. He tried to find excuses, and he even blamed others for his mistake. (1 Samuel 13:10-14) From that time on, Saul did many other presumptuous things. So Jehovah rejected him from being king. (1 Samuel 15:22, 23) Saul’s life began well but ended very badly.​—1 Samuel 31:1-6.

3. (a) What do many people think about modesty? (b) What questions will we answer?

³ Many people today feel that they cannot be modest and at the same time have a successful life or career. They boast about themselves to appear better than others. For example, a famous actor and politician said: “Modesty is not a word that applies to me in any way​—I hope it never will.” Why, though, is it important for a Christian to be modest? What is modesty, and what is it not? In this article, we will answer these questions. And in the next article, we will see how we can remain modest even when it may be difficult to do so.

WHY IS MODESTY IMPORTANT?

4. What is a presumptuous act?

⁴ The Bible shows that presumptuousness is the opposite of modesty. (Read Proverbs 11:2.) David begged Jehovah: “Hold your servant back from presumptuous acts.” (Psalm 19:13) What is a presumptuous act? It is doing something that we have no right or authority to do, perhaps because we are impatient or proud. All of us at times have done something presumptuous because we are imperfect. But as we learn from King Saul’s example, if this becomes a habit, Jehovah will not be pleased. Psalm 119:21 says that Jehovah will “rebuke the presumptuous.” Why does he do so?

5. Why is a presumptuous act a serious mistake?

⁵ First of all, if we do something presumptuous, we are showing disrespect for Jehovah, our God and Ruler. Second, when we do things that we have no authority to do, we will likely have arguments and disagreements with other people. (Proverbs 13:10) And third, we may look foolish when others recognize that we have done something presumptuous. (Luke 14:8, 9) Clearly, we can see why Jehovah wants us to be modest.

WHAT DOES MODESTY INVOLVE?

6, 7. How is modesty related to humility?

⁶ Modesty is closely related to humility. A humble Christian is not proud but considers others to be superior to him. (Philippians 2:3) A humble person is usually also modest. He recognizes that he has limitations, and he humbly admits his mistakes. He is willing to listen to other people’s ideas and learn from them. A humble person greatly pleases Jehovah.

⁷ The Bible shows that a modest person knows himself and recognizes that there are some things he is not able to do or allowed to do. This helps him to respect others and treat them kindly.

8. To remain modest, what kind of thinking should we avoid?

⁸ Yet, we could start thinking in a presumptuous way even without realizing it. How may this happen? We may start to feel more important than others because we or those we know well have certain responsibilities in the congregation. (Romans 12:16) Or we may start to draw too much attention to ourselves. (1 Timothy 2:9, 10) We might even start telling others what they should or should not do.​—1 Corinthians 4:6.

9. Why have some become presumptuous? Give a Bible example.

⁹ We could start behaving in a presumptuous way if we do not control our wrong desires. Many have become presumptuous because they wanted glory for themselves, were envious of others, or did not control their anger. This happened to some mentioned in the Bible, such as Absalom, Uzziah, and Nebuchadnezzar. Jehovah made it clear to them that they needed to be humble.​—2 Samuel 15:1-6; 18:9-17; 2 Chronicles 26:16-21; Daniel 5:18-21.

10. Why should we avoid judging other people’s motives? Give a Bible example.

¹⁰ There may be other reasons why people are not modest at times. Think about the examples of Abimelech and Peter. (Genesis 20:2-7; Matthew 26:31-35) Were these men presumptuous? Or could it be that they did not know all the facts or acted without thinking? Since we cannot read hearts, we should not judge other people’s motives.​—Read James 4:12.

YOUR ROLE IN GOD’S ARRANGEMENT

11. What do we need to understand?

¹¹ A modest person understands his role in God’s arrangement. Jehovah is a God of order. He has given each member of the congregation a role. All of us are needed. Jehovah has given each of us different gifts, skills, talents, or abilities, and he allows us to choose how we will use them. If we are modest, we will use our gifts in the way that Jehovah wants us to. (Romans 12:4-8) We realize that Jehovah expects us to use them to honor him and help others.​—Read 1 Peter 4:10.

12, 13. What should we remember if we experience changes in our service to Jehovah?

¹² What we do in Jehovah’s service may change as time passes. As an example, think of the many changes that Jesus experienced. First, he was alone with his Father. (Proverbs 8:22) Then, he helped Jehovah to make the angels, the universe, and humans. (Colossians 1:16) Later, he was sent to earth. He was born as a human baby and then grew up to be an adult. (Philippians 2:7) After his death, Jesus returned to heaven, and in 1914 he became King of God’s Kingdom. (Hebrews 2:9) And in the future, after he rules as King for a thousand years, Jesus will give the Kingdom back to Jehovah so that “God may be all things to everyone.”​—1 Corinthians 15:28.

¹³ We too may experience many changes in our lives. At times our responsibilities may change because of our own decisions. For example, maybe we were single and then we decided to get married. Or we may have children. Later, we may decide to make some changes so that we can serve Jehovah full-time. At other times, our responsibilities may change because of our circumstances. We may be able to do more, or we may have to do less. But whether we are young or old, healthy or not, Jehovah knows how each of us can best serve him. He does not expect more from us than what we can do. And he is very happy with whatever we do for him.​—Hebrews 6:10.

14. How can a modest attitude help us to be content and happy in any situation?

¹⁴ Jesus was happy with any assignment Jehovah gave him, and we can be happy with ours too. (Proverbs 8:30, 31) A modest person is content with his assignments and responsibilities in the congregation. He does not focus on what other people are doing. Instead, he is satisfied with his own role in God’s organization. He views it as coming from Jehovah. A modest person also respects others and is happy to support them. He realizes that Jehovah has given them a role too.​—Romans 12:10.

THE RIGHT VIEW OF MODESTY

15. What can we learn from Gideon’s example?

¹⁵ Gideon is an excellent example of modesty. When Jehovah assigned him to save Israel from the Midianites, Gideon said: “My clan is the least in Manasseh, and I am the most insignificant in my father’s house.” (Judges 6:15) But Gideon trusted in Jehovah and accepted the assignment. Then Gideon made sure that he fully understood what Jehovah required of him and prayed for his guidance. (Judges 6:36-40) Gideon was a strong and courageous man, but he was also wise and cautious. (Judges 6:11, 27) Later, when the people wanted him to rule over them, he refused. After he had done what Jehovah had asked him to do, he went back home.​—Judges 8:22, 23, 29.

16, 17. How can a modest person make progress?

¹⁶ If a person accepts a new assignment or wants to do more in the congregation, it does not mean that he is not modest. The Bible says that it is good for a servant of Jehovah to want to serve his brothers more fully and make advancement, or progress. (1 Timothy 4:13-15) But do we need to have a new assignment to make progress? No. All of us can keep improving our Christian personality and the abilities Jehovah has given us so that we can better serve him and help others.

¹⁷ Before he accepts an assignment, a modest person finds out what will be required of him. He prays about it and carefully considers whether he will be able to do the work. Will he still have enough time and energy to do other important things? If not, can some of the work he is now doing be done by others? After thinking about this, a modest person might decide that he cannot properly care for this new responsibility. If we are modest, we may need to say no.

18. (a) What will a modest person do when he is given a new assignment? (b) How does Romans 12:3 help us to be modest?

¹⁸ Jehovah wants us “to walk in modesty” with him. (Micah 6:8) So when we are given a new assignment, we look for his guidance and ask him for help, just as Gideon did. We need to think deeply about what Jehovah tells us by means of the Bible and his organization. Let us remember that whatever we are able to do in his service is not because of any ability we have but because Jehovah is humble and willing to help us. (Psalm 18:35) A modest person will not “think more of himself than it is necessary to think.”​—Read Romans 12:3.

19. Why should we be modest?

¹⁹ A modest person knows that Jehovah alone deserves all glory, because he is the Creator and the Most High in the universe. (Revelation 4:11) If we are modest, we will be happy with whatever we can do in Jehovah’s service. We will respect the feelings and opinions of our brothers and sisters, and as a result, we will all be united. A modest person thinks carefully before he does something, and in this way he avoids making serious mistakes. Jehovah is very pleased with those who are modest. For these reasons, modesty is very important to God’s people. In the next article, we will see how we can remain modest when it may be difficult to do so.

1-3. What did a prophet from Judah not do, and what was the result? (See opening picture.)

KING JEROBOAM of Israel had set up an altar for false worship in the city of Bethel. Jehovah sent a prophet from Judah to give Jeroboam a message of judgment. The humble prophet obeyed Jehovah and delivered the message. The king was furious with the prophet, but Jehovah protected him.​—1 Kings 13:1-10.

² Jehovah had commanded the prophet not to eat or drink in Israel and to return home by a different road. On his way back, the prophet met an old man who lied to him, saying that he had a message from Jehovah. The old man invited the prophet to come home with him to eat and drink. The prophet disobeyed Jehovah and went with the old man. Jehovah was not pleased. On the road home, a lion attacked and killed the prophet.​—1 Kings 13:11-24.

³ We do not know why the prophet decided to listen to the old man rather than to Jehovah. But we do know that he did not continue to “walk in modesty” with Jehovah. (Read Micah 6:8.) In the Bible, walking with Jehovah involves trusting in Jehovah, relying on his guidance, and obeying him. A modest person knows that he needs to pray constantly. If the prophet had been modest, he would have asked Jehovah if his instructions had changed. Sometimes we too need to make difficult decisions, and it may not be clear what Jehovah wants us to do. But if we are modest, we will ask Jehovah to guide us so that we can avoid making serious mistakes.

4. What will we learn in this article?

⁴ In the previous article, we learned what it means to be modest and why this is important for us today. But how can we become more modest? And what situations can test our modesty, that is, show whether or not we really are modest? Let us now discuss three of these situations.​—Proverbs 11:2.

WHEN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE

5, 6. How did Barzillai show that he was modest?

⁵ The way we react when our circumstances or assignments change can show whether we really are modest. We can learn from the example of Barzillai, King David’s loyal friend. When Barzillai was 80 years old, David invited him to live in the royal court. Even though this was a great honor, Barzillai said that it would be better to give this assignment to a man named Chimham, who may have been his son.​—2 Samuel 19:31-37.

⁶ Why did Barzillai not accept the invitation? Was it to avoid responsibility or to enjoy an easy life? No, it was because Barzillai was modest. He recognized that his circumstances had changed, and he accepted his limitations. (Read Galatians 6:4, 5.) Like Barzillai, we need to be modest. Instead of focusing on what we want or comparing ourselves to others, we focus on giving our best to Jehovah. This is more important than having a special assignment or being well-known. (Galatians 5:26) If we are modest, we will work together with our brothers to honor Jehovah and help others.​—1 Corinthians 10:31.

7, 8. How can modesty help us not to rely on ourselves?

⁷ It can be difficult to remain modest if we are given more responsibility or authority. We can learn from the example of Nehemiah. When Nehemiah heard that the people in Jerusalem had many problems, he begged Jehovah to help them. (Nehemiah 1:4, 11) Jehovah answered Nehemiah’s prayer. King Artaxerxes made Nehemiah the governor of the area. Although Nehemiah was powerful and rich, he never relied on himself. He looked for Jehovah’s direction and regularly read his Law. (Nehemiah 8:1, 8, 9) Nehemiah had authority over many people. But he never used his authority to benefit himself or treat others harshly.​—Nehemiah 5:14-19.

⁸ Like Nehemiah, if we receive more responsibility or get a change of assignment, we want to make sure that we remain modest. We do not want to rely only on our own abilities or experience. How could a person start to rely on himself? For example, an elder might care for congregation matters without praying first. Or a brother or a sister might make a decision first and then pray for Jehovah to bless that decision. However, a modest person does not rely on himself, even when he is doing something he has done many times before. He always remembers that his abilities cannot compare to Jehovah’s. (Read Proverbs 3:5, 6.) In the world today, many people are selfish and try to get ahead of others. But Jehovah’s servants are not like that. We do not think that having responsibilities makes us better than others in our family or congregation. Instead, we remember our role in God’s arrangement and work together with our brothers and sisters.​—1 Timothy 3:15.

WHEN OTHERS CRITICIZE OR PRAISE US

9, 10. How can modesty help us when others criticize us unfairly?

⁹ It can upset us when someone criticizes us unfairly. This happened to Hannah. Even though her husband loved her very much, Hannah was unhappy. Peninnah, her rival, mocked her all the time. Hannah wanted to have children but was not able to. One day when Hannah was feeling very sad, she went to the tabernacle to pray. High Priest Eli saw her crying and accused her of being drunk! Hannah could have become very angry. Instead, she answered Eli in a respectful way. Later, Hannah said a prayer that showed her faith in Jehovah and her love for him.​—1 Samuel 1:5-7, 12-16; 2:1-10.

¹⁰ Modesty can help us to “keep conquering the evil with the good.” (Romans 12:21) Satan’s system is full of evil things. So we should not be surprised when we are treated unfairly. Although this can make us angry, we need to fight that feeling. (Psalm 37:1) It can be even more painful when we have problems with our brothers and sisters in the congregation. If that happens, we want to imitate Jesus. The Bible says: “When he was being insulted, he did not insult in return.” Instead, “he entrusted himself to the One who judges righteously.” (1 Peter 2:23) Jesus was humble and knew that Jehovah would correct any injustice. (Romans 12:19) We also want to be humble and “not pay back injury for injury.”​—1 Peter 3:8, 9.

11, 12. (a) How can we remain modest when others praise or flatter us? (b) How can we show we are modest by how we dress and behave?

¹¹ It can also test our modesty when people praise or flatter us. Esther received much praise and flattery. She was one of the most beautiful women in Persia. For a year she was pampered with special beauty treatments, together with many young women who were all competing to be noticed by the king. Then the king chose Esther to be his queen. But all this attention did not change her. Esther did not become self-centered. She remained modest, kind, and respectful.​—Esther 2:9, 12, 15, 17.

¹² If we are modest, we will dress and behave in a way that shows that we respect others as well as ourselves. Instead of boasting or trying to impress people, we try to have a “quiet and mild spirit.” (Read 1 Peter 3:3, 4; Jeremiah 9:23, 24) The way we feel about ourselves will eventually show in our speech and actions. For example, we might try to make others think that we are special because of what we do, what we know, or whom we know. Or we might try to make it seem as if we did something important on our own, even though others actually helped. But think of Jesus. He could have impressed people with how wise he was. Instead, Jesus often quoted from God’s Word. He did not want people to give him glory. He always wanted the glory to go to Jehovah.​—John 8:28.

WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS

13, 14. How can modesty help us to make good decisions?

¹³ We need to be modest when we make decisions or when others make decisions that affect us. When the apostle Paul was staying in Caesarea, he wanted to go to Jerusalem to finish the work Jehovah had given him. But the prophet Agabus told Paul that if he went, he would be captured. He might even be killed. The brothers begged Paul not to go. But Paul decided to go to Jerusalem. Was it because he relied on himself? No, Paul was modest and trusted completely in Jehovah. The brothers too were modest. So they supported Paul’s decision and let him go.​—Acts 21:10-14.

¹⁴ Being modest will help us to make good decisions even when we cannot know or control exactly how things will turn out. For example, we may be thinking about starting in the full-time service. But what will happen if we get sick? What if our parents get sick and need help? What will we do when we get old? We cannot answer all these questions, even if we pray and think about them. (Ecclesiastes 8:16, 17) But if we trust in Jehovah, we will recognize and accept our limitations. We will examine the facts, ask for advice and, most important, pray for guidance. Then we need to follow the direction of Jehovah’s spirit. (Read Ecclesiastes 11:4-6.) Jehovah can bless our decisions, or he can help us change our plans.​—Proverbs 16:3, 9.

HOW WE CAN BE MORE MODEST

15. How does meditating on Jehovah help us to stay humble?

¹⁵ How can we be more modest? We will discuss four ways. First of all, we need to meditate on Jehovah, thinking deeply about the kind of God he is. When we compare ourselves to Jehovah, we realize how small we are and how little we know. (Isaiah 8:13) Remember that we serve the Almighty God, not a human or an angel. Meditating on this will help us to humble ourselves “under the mighty hand of God.”​—1 Peter 5:6.

16. How does meditating on God’s love help us to be modest?

¹⁶ A second way we can be more modest is to meditate on how much Jehovah loves us. Paul compared the congregation to the human body. Jehovah made all parts of the body to be valuable. (1 Corinthians 12:23, 24) Each one of us is also valuable to Jehovah. He does not compare us to others, and he does not stop loving us when we make mistakes. We can feel safe knowing that Jehovah loves us.

17. How will we benefit if we look for the good in others?

¹⁷ Third, we will be more modest when we look for the good in others, as Jehovah does. Instead of always trying to be the center of attention or telling others what to do, we will ask them for advice and be willing to accept their ideas. (Proverbs 13:10) We are happy for our brothers and sisters when they receive special assignments. And we thank Jehovah that he allows all of us to serve him.​—1 Peter 5:9.

18. How will training our conscience help us to be more modest?

¹⁸ Fourth, we will be more modest when we use Bible principles to train our conscience. These principles teach us how Jehovah feels and thinks. When we learn to see things from Jehovah’s viewpoint, we can make decisions that please God. As we study, pray, and apply what we learn, our conscience will become stronger. (1 Timothy 1:5) We learn to put others first. If we do these things, Jehovah promises that he will ‘finish our training,’ including helping us to be more modest.​—1 Peter 5:10.

19. What will help us to remain modest forever?

¹⁹ Do you remember the prophet from Judah we discussed at the beginning of this article? He lost his life and his friendship with Jehovah because he did not remain modest. But we can remain modest even when it is difficult to do so. The examples of many faithful servants of Jehovah prove that this is possible. The longer we serve Jehovah, the more we should rely on him. (Proverbs 8:13) No matter what our circumstances are, we can still walk with Jehovah. This is the greatest honor we can have. So let us do everything we can to remain modest and walk with Jehovah forever.

1, 2. How do many people view their work?

MANY people feel that they are either important or not important based on the work they do. In some cultures, when getting to know someone, it is common to ask, “What kind of work do you do?”

² The Bible sometimes describes people by stating what kind of work they did. For example, it refers to “Matthew the tax collector,” “Simon, a tanner,” and “Luke, the beloved physician.” (Matthew 10:3; Acts 10:6; Colossians 4:14) At other times, the Bible mentions the assignments people had in Jehovah’s service. Think about King David, the prophet Elijah, and the apostle Paul. These men valued the assignments Jehovah gave them. Likewise, we too should value any assignment we have in Jehovah’s service.

3. Why do older ones need to train younger ones? (See opening picture.)

³ We love serving Jehovah and treasure our assignments. Many of us enjoy our work so much that we hope to continue doing it as long as we can. But sadly, when people grow old, they cannot do all they used to do when they were younger. (Ecclesiastes 1:4) This creates unique challenges for Jehovah’s people. Today, the preaching work keeps growing, and Jehovah’s organization is using modern technology to reach as many as possible with the good news. But sometimes it can be difficult for older ones to learn new ways of doing things. (Luke 5:39) Also, it is normal for people to lose some of their strength and energy as they grow older. (Proverbs 20:29) Therefore, it is loving and practical when older ones train younger ones to take on more responsibility in Jehovah’s organization.​—Read Psalm 71:18.

4. Why is it difficult for some to delegate authority? (See the box “Why We May Find It Hard to Delegate.”)

⁴ It is not always easy for those with authority to delegate work to younger men. It can make brothers sad to think about losing an assignment they love deeply. It may pain them to think of giving up the special work they enjoy. Or they may worry that if they do not direct the work, it will not be done well. Perhaps they feel that they do not have time to train others. At the same time, younger men need to be patient when they are not given more responsibility.

5. What questions will we discuss in this article?

⁵ So why is it important for older ones to help younger ones take on more responsibility? How can they do this? (2 Timothy 2:2) And why do younger ones need to have the right attitude as they work along with older, more experienced brothers and learn from them? To begin, let us see how King David prepared his son for a very important work.

DAVID PREPARED SOLOMON

6. What did King David want to do? What did Jehovah tell him?

⁶ For years, David was persecuted and had to move from one place to another. Then, after he became king, he lived in a comfortable house. So he told the prophet Nathan: “Here I am living in a house of cedars while the ark of the covenant of Jehovah is under tent cloths.” David longed to build a beautiful temple for Jehovah. Nathan told him: “Do whatever is in your heart, for the true God is with you.” But this was not what Jehovah wanted. He told Nathan to tell David: “You are not the one who will build the house for me to dwell in.” Although Jehovah promised David that He would always be with him, David learned that one of his sons would build the temple. How did David react?​—1 Chronicles 17:1-4, 8, 11, 12; 29:1.

7. How did David react to Jehovah’s direction?

⁷ David really wanted to build a temple for Jehovah, so he may have been very disappointed. But he still fully supported the project that his son Solomon would direct. David helped to organize the workers and to collect iron, copper, silver, gold, and wood. He did not worry about who would get the credit for building the temple, which later became known as Solomon’s temple. Instead, he encouraged Solomon, saying: “Now, my son, may Jehovah be with you, and may you be successful and build the house of Jehovah your God, just as he has spoken concerning you.”​—1 Chronicles 22:11, 14-16.

8. Why might David have thought that Solomon was not qualified to build the temple? But what did David do?

⁸ Read 1 Chronicles 22:5. David might have felt that Solomon was not ready to direct such an important project. The temple had to be “exceedingly magnificent,” and Solomon was “young and inexperienced.” But David knew that Jehovah would help Solomon to do this special work. So David did all he could to help him prepare for the enormous project.

ENJOY TRAINING OTHERS

9. How can older ones feel good about giving responsibilities to others? Give an illustration.

⁹ Older brothers should not feel discouraged when they need to give some responsibilities to younger men. We all realize that the most important thing today is Jehovah’s work. Training younger men to handle responsibilities will help this work get done. Think about this. When you were a young child, you probably watched your father drive his car. As you got older, he explained to you what he was doing. In time, you got your license and started to drive the car yourself. Even then, your father still gave you advice. Sometimes you took turns driving. But as your father got older, you did most of the driving. Was your father upset? No, he was probably happy to have you drive him around. In a similar way, older brothers are happy to see younger men whom they have trained become ready to take on responsibilities in Jehovah’s organization.

10. How did Moses feel about being honored and having authority?

¹⁰ We must be careful not to be jealous of the assignments of others. We can learn from how Moses reacted when some Israelites began to act like prophets. (Read Numbers 11:24-29.) Joshua wanted to stop them, but Moses said: “Are you jealous for me? No, I wish that all of Jehovah’s people were prophets and that Jehovah would put his spirit on them!” Moses knew that Jehovah was directing the work. Rather than looking for honor for himself, Moses wanted all of Jehovah’s servants to have assignments. What about us? Are we happy when others receive assignments in Jehovah’s service?

11. What did one brother say about giving responsibility to others?

¹¹ There are many brothers who have worked hard in Jehovah’s service for decades and have trained younger men to take on more responsibility. For example, let us consider a brother named Peter. During his 74 years in full-time service, he spent 35 years serving at a branch office in Europe. For a long time, he was the overseer of the Service Department. Then this assignment was given to Paul, a younger man whom Peter had trained. Did Peter feel unhappy about this change? No. He said: “I am so pleased that there are brothers who have been trained to accept greater responsibility and who are doing so well in caring for the work.”

VALUE THE OLDER ONES

12. What can we learn from the example of Rehoboam?

¹² When Solomon’s son Rehoboam became king, he asked the older men for advice on how to handle his new assignment. But then he rejected their advice! Instead, he followed the advice of the young men he had grown up with. The result was a disaster. (2 Chronicles 10:6-11, 19) What can we learn? It is wise to ask for advice from those who are older and more experienced than we are. Younger ones should not feel pressured to keep doing things exactly as they were done in the past. Still, they should genuinely respect the ideas of older ones and should not be quick to think that their way of doing things will not work.

13. How should younger ones work along with older ones?

¹³ At times, younger ones are given the responsibility to oversee the work of older, more experienced brothers. It would be wise for them to learn from these older ones. In the example we spoke about earlier, after Paul replaced Peter as the overseer of a Bethel department, he said, “I took time to seek out the advice of Peter, and I encouraged others in the department to do the same.”

14. What do we learn from the way Timothy and the apostle Paul worked together?

¹⁴ Timothy was much younger than the apostle Paul, yet they had worked together for many years. (Read Philippians 2:20-22.) Paul told the Corinthians: “I am sending Timothy to you, because he is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my methods in connection with Christ Jesus, just as I am teaching everywhere in every congregation.” (1 Corinthians 4:17) From this we can clearly see that Paul and Timothy worked well together and supported each other. Paul took time to teach Timothy his “methods in connection with Christ,” and Timothy learned well. Paul was fond of Timothy and was sure that he would take good care of the brothers and sisters in Corinth. Elders can imitate the apostle Paul as they train other men to take the lead in the congregation.

EACH OF US HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE

15. How can Romans 12:3-5 help us to deal with change?

¹⁵ We live in exciting times. The earthly part of Jehovah’s organization is growing in many ways. This means that things will keep changing. Some of these changes affect us personally and are not easy to deal with. It will help us if we are humble and focus on what is good for the Kingdom work rather than on what we may personally want. When we do this, we stay united. Paul wrote to Christians in Rome: “I tell everyone there among you not to think more of himself than it is necessary to think.” He then explained that just as each part of our body has a different function, each member of the congregation has a different role.​—Romans 12:3-5.

16. What can each Christian do to maintain peace and unity in Jehovah’s organization?

¹⁶ All of Jehovah’s people want to support the Kingdom and do whatever is asked of them. Older brothers can train younger ones. Younger brothers can take on more responsibility in a modest and respectful way. And married brothers appreciate it when their wives support them even when circumstances change. These women can imitate Priscilla, who faithfully worked along with her husband, Aquila.​—Acts 18:2.

17. What did Jesus train his disciples to do?

¹⁷ Jesus set the best example of being willing to train others. Jesus knew that others would need to continue his work. Of course, he knew that his disciples were imperfect. But he had confidence that they could spread the good news even further than he had. (John 14:12) He trained them well, and they were able to preach in every country they could go to.​—Colossians 1:23.

18. What work will we have in the future? What work do we have now?

¹⁸ After Jesus died, Jehovah resurrected him and gave him more work to do, as well as authority “far above every government and authority and power and lordship.” (Ephesians 1:19-21) Even if we die as faithful servants of Jehovah before Armageddon, we will live again and have plenty of meaningful work in the new world. And right now we all have the thrilling assignment of preaching the good news and making disciples. So whether we are young or old, each of us can keep on “having plenty to do in the work of the Lord.”​—1 Corinthians 15:58.

How did people in ancient times make a fire when they traveled?

IN Genesis chapter 22, the Bible says that God told Abraham to travel to a place far away from his home to offer a sacrifice. It says: “Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on his son Isaac. Then he took in his hands the fire and the knife, and the two of them walked on together.”​—Genesis 22:6.

The Bible does not explain how people in ancient times made fires. So did Abraham and Isaac light a fire and then carry that flame with them? One Bible commentator said that a flame probably could not have “kept going throughout the long journey.” Instead, Abraham and his son might have taken everything they would need to start a fire.

But others say that it was not easy to start a fire in those times. So whenever possible, people would make a fire by getting a hot coal from a fire that was already burning, perhaps a coal from a neighbor’s fire. Many scholars believe that Abraham took hot coals from a burning fire before his journey. He could have put them in a container, perhaps a pot hanging from a chain, and he would have carried the pot with him when he traveled. (Isaiah 30:14) Then he could have used the hot coals and small pieces of dry wood whenever he needed to make a fire.