Comments You Will Not Hear at the 11-30-03 WT Study Review comments will be in black and parentheses ()
WT quotes will be in
red and quotes ""Quotes from other sources will be in
blue
TO WIN THE PRIZE, EXERCISE SELF- CONTROL! "Every man taking part in a contest exercises self-control in all things."-1 CORINTHIANS 9:25.
All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.
?1 Corinthians 9:25 (NLT)
Opening Comments
I find it helpful to look at the title of the article. "To win the prize," what is the prize? Is the prize the same for everyone? How do you win the prize? Is this a case of works = salvation?
Do you look for WT buzzwords such as "meaningful." As in "meaningful share" in the ministry which is determined to be the national average.
Look for quotes from other sources without the name of the publication, author, or page.
Translation: Self-control means doing only what the WTS says to do. Anything else puts your prize in jeopardy.
START OF ARTICLE
I
F YOU were baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, you went on public record that you were willing to engage in a contest that has eternal life as its prize. You said yes to doing Jehovah's (as interpreted by the WTS) will. Before making a dedication to Jehovah, many of us had to make significant changes so that our dedication would be meaningful (buzzword), acceptable toCertain features of the old personality that prospective Witnesses of Jehovah must put away are directly condemned
(implying there are those that are indirectly condemned, such as smoking) by God's Word. Paul enumerated some in his letter to the Corinthians, saying: "Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God's kingdom." He then showed that first century Christians made necessary personality changes, adding: "Yet that is what some of you were." Notice, were, not are.-1 Corinthians 6:9-11.Paul suggested that additional changes might also be necessary, for he continued: "All things are lawful for me; but not all things are advantageous." (1 Corinthians 6:12) Thus, many today who desire to be Jehovah's Witnesses see the need of saying no even to things that although lawful are of no advantage or are of little lasting value. These may be time-consuming and could sidetrack them from pursuing things of greater importance. (sports, movies, music, exercise, woodworking, TV, boating, fishing, hunting)
WT 6/1/93 p
22Do I need this expensive purchase or this well-paying, time-consuming job more than the millions of other people who must live without it?
Could I perhaps better spend my money or my time in expanding my share in true worship, in supporting the worldwide preaching work, or in helping people less fortunate than I am?WT 9/1/93 p
14One of the biggest impediments to this is that time-consuming apparatus that holds the place of honor in many homes?the TV. This presents a challenge?does TV control you, or do you control it? Controlling TV requires firm resolve?including the willpower to turn it off.
WT 1/15/92
p. 28"Keep Yourself Free to Serve Jehovah." How is this done? By keeping free from pursuing worldly careers, time-consuming hobbies, and materialistic goals.
WT 7/1/92 p
28True, a certain level of secular education may be necessary to obtain employment. But in the time-consuming pursuit of advanced worldly education, some have harmed themselves spiritually.
WT 12/15/92
p. 15We cannot walk part of the time in the truth, giving merely token service but then pleasing ourselves by taking detours to indulge in excessive recreation or to enter on a time-consuming career
WT 6/1/84 p 8
Do I spend more time watching television, pursuing sports or doing other pleasurable but time-consuming things than I devote to God?s service?
Kingdom Ministry 11/99
p. 6Think, too, of the amount of time that it takes to keep up with a large quantity of E-mail. Interestingly, the book Data Smog stated: "As one spends more and more time online, e-mail quickly changes from being a stimulating novelty to a time-consuming burden, with dozens of messages to read and answer every day from colleagues, friends, family, . . . and unsolicited sales pitches."
Family Book chap. 8 p. 101
Social gatherings
can also be a rewarding form of recreation. When they are well supervised and not outlandishly large or time-consuming, they can give your children more than just fun.Dedication to God
is made willingly, not grudgingly, as if it entailed a huge sacrifice. Dedicated Christians agree with Paul, who said after he became a follower of Christ: "On account of [Jesus] I have taken the loss of all things and I consider them as a lot of refuse, that I may gain Christ." (Philippians 3:8) Paul gladly said no to things of little value so that he could continue to say yes to God.Paul exercised self-control in running his spiritual race
and was finally able to say: "I have fought the fine fight, I have run the course to the finish, I have observed the faith. From this time on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me as a reward in that day, yet not only to me, but also to all those who have loved his manifestation." (2 Timothy 4:48) Will we someday be able to make a similar expression? We will if in faith we exercise self-control while running our Christian race without letup and through to completion.But what was Paul?s goa/rewardl? Everlasting life in heaven as one of the kings and priests ruling with Jesus. Is this article suggesting that is the goal of over 6,000,000 millions JWs?
Self-Control to Do Good
The Hebrew and Greek words translated "self-control" in the Bible literally denote that a person has power or control over himself. They often convey the thought of restraining oneself from doing bad. But it is obvious that a measure of self-control is also required if we are to use our bodies in doing good works. The natural tendency of imperfect humans is to do wrong, so we have a two-fold struggle. (Ecclesiastes 7:29; 8:11) While refraining from doing bad, we must also compel ourselves to do good. In fact, controlling our body in order to do good is one of the best ways to avoid doing bad.
Clearly, self-control is vital if we are to follow through on our dedication to God. We need to pray as did David: "Create in me even a pure heart, O God, and put within me a new spirit, a steadfast one." (Psalm 51:10)
(after having sex with Uriah?s wife then murdering him I would guess he needs a new heart/spirit) We can meditate on the benefits of avoiding things that are morally wrong or physically debilitating (David failed to mediate on those things) . Think of the possible harm of not avoiding such things: serious health problems, disturbed relationships, even premature death (Uriah and the "adulterine child" died prematurely!). On the other hand, think of the many benefits of holding to the way of life thatMost of us know from experience that the unwilling flesh often tries to extinguish the fire of a willing spirit. Take, for example, Kingdom preaching. Jehovah takes delight in the willingness of humans to participate in this life-giving work.
(Psalm 110:3; Matthew 24:14) For most of us, learning to preach publicly did not come easy. It required-and perhaps still requires-that we control our body, "pummel" it and "lead it as a slave," instead of allowing it to dictate the course of least resistance.-1 Corinthians 9:16, 27; 1 Thessalonians 2:2.Translation: People are slacking off in the field service. Their "willing spirity" is being extinguished. Too many JWs are taking the path of least resistance, yes materialism is rearing its ugly head.
"In All Things"?
The Bible's counsel to exercise "self-control in all things" indicates that more is involved than just controlling our temper and refraining from immoral conduct. We may feel that we have achieved self-control in these areas, and if so, we can indeed be grateful. Yet, how about other areas of life in which the need for self-control may not be so obvious? To illustrate, suppose we live in a relatively affluent country with a high standard of living. Would it not be wise to learn to say no to unnecessary spending? Parents do well to teach their children not to buy whatever they see just because it is available, is appealing, or is financially within their reach. Of course, if such instruction is to be effective, parents must set the proper example.-Luke 10:38-42.
Translation: Too many JWs are buying/building homes, buying new, fancy cars, getting their kids evil video games. They aren?t giving all their time and money to the WTS. What is "unnecessary spending"?
WT 8/1/92 p 11
However, it would be a serious mistake to allow oneself to be so involved with the fun and games of life, be they recreation, trips, gadgets, or even unnecessary pursuit of secular work, that one merely stands on the sidelines, so to speak, with no desire to increase one?s share in the disciple-making work or to reach out for spiritual advancement and responsibility.
Learning to do without can strengthen our willpower
. It can also enhance appreciation for the material things we possess and can make us more sympathetic toward those who must do without some things, not by choice, but out of necessity. True, a modest course runs counter to such popular attitudes as "be good to yourself" or "you deserve the best." The world of advertising promotes the desire for instant gratification, but it does so for the sake of its own commercial profit. This situation may impede our efforts to display self-control. A magazine (which one?why not cited) from a prosperous European land recently noted: "If keeping undesirable impulses under control requires an inner struggle on the part of those living under the agonizing circumstances of extreme poverty, how much more so is that true of those living in the land of milk and honey in today's affluent society!"(Spending) If we have difficulty distinguishing between what we want and what we truly need (as defined by the WTS), it might be helpful to take steps to ensure that we do not act irresponsibly.
For example, if we desire to counteract a leaning toward uncontrolled spending, we may want to resolve not to buy on credit, or when shopping, we may take only a set amount of money. Recall that Paul said "godly devotion along with self-sufficiency" is "a means of great gain." He reasoned: "We have brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out. So, having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things." (1 Timothy 6:6-8) Are we? Learning to live a simple life, free of the excess baggage of self-indulgence-in whatever form-calls for willpower and self-control. It is, though, a lesson worth learning.(Meetings) Attending Christian meetings, assemblies, and conventions
also involves a particular manifestation of self-control. For instance, that quality is necessary lest we let our mind wander during the program. (Proverbs 1:5) It may take self-control not to disturb others by whispering to our neighbors rather than giving the speaker our full attention. Adjusting our schedule so that we can arrive on time may require self-control. Further, self-control may be needed to set aside time to prepare for the meetings and then to participate in them. (The WTS treats its members like children)We can see what is important to the WTS. Why not discuss gossiping and slander, the active tongues of too many at the KH?
(Small things) Exercising self-control in small things strengthens our ability to do so in larger matters
. (guilt inducing) (Luke 16:10) Thus, how fine it is to discipline ourselves to read God's Word and Bible publications (always the Bible and the publications, reading the Bible alone is dangerous) regularly, studying them and meditating on what we learn! How wise it is to discipline ourselves concerning inappropriate jobs, friendships, attitudes, and personal habits or to discipline ourselves to say no to activities that could rob us of precious time for God's service! Staying busy in Jehovah's service is certainly a fine protection against things that could draw us away from the spiritual paradise of Jehovah's worldwide congregation.Become Full-Grown Through Self-Control
A newborn infant is not noted for self-control
. A pamphlet by experts in child behavior explains (which one...why no citation?) "Self-control does not happen automatically or suddenly. Infants and toddlers need parental guidance and support to begin the process of learning self-control.... With parents guiding the process, self-control increases throughout the school years." A study (what study was that?this one on marshmallow) of four-year-old children revealed that those who had learned to exercise a degree of self-control "generally grew up to be better adjusted, more popular, adventurous, confident and dependable teenagers." The ones who had not begun learning this lesson "were more likely to be lonely, easily frustrated and stubborn. They buckled under stress and shied away from challenges." Obviously, to become a well-adjusted adult, a child must learn to exercise self-control.http://www.daycare.com/fastfacts/discipline.html
Daycare.com would like to thank American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for this information in striving to make daycare and childcare a more productive and efficient service. You can contact them at: 3615 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20016-3007 voice: 202-966-7300 fax: 202-966-2891.The ability to delay gratification is a masterful skill, a triumph of the reasoning brain over the impulsive one, according to Daniel Goleman, Ph.D., who wrote the book, Emotional Intelligence (Bantam Books; 1995). The author concludes that people, who are able to exercise patience by delaying gratification, are more likely to succeed in life.Goleman documents a study that took place in the 1960's in which a researcher invited children into a plain room one by one and gives each young child a marshmallow. "You can have this marshmallow right now," he says, "but if you wait while I step out for a moment, you can have two marshmallows when I get back." And then he leaves.Apparently, some of the children grabbed for the marshmallow right way and some waited a few minutes before they finally caved into their temptation. But others were determined to wait. They covered their eyes, sang to themselves, put their heads down, played games or even fell asleep. They did whatever it took to hold out. When the researcher returned, he gave them their hard-earned second marshmallow.A survey of the children's parents and teachers found that those who, as four-year olds, had the ability to hold out for the second marshmallow generally grew up to be better adjusted, more popular, adventurous, confident and dependable teenagers. (2)(2) Nancy Gibbs, Time Magazine, (Time, Inc., Principal Office, Oct. 2, 1995) Vol. 146: No. 14. The EQ Factor, pp. 60-69. Information in the article is based on the book written by Harvard psychologist Daniel Goleman, Ph.D., Emotional Intelligence (Bantam, 1995).http://www.themoneyclinic.biz/psychology.html
Likewise, if we are to become full-grown Christians, we must learn to manifest self-control. A lack of it indicates that we are still spiritual babes. The Bible admonishes us to "become full-grown in powers of under-standing." (1 Corinthians 14:20) Our goal is to "attain to the oneness in the faith and in the accurate knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of stature that belongs to the fullness of the Christ." Why? "In order that we should no longer be babes, tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in contriving error." (Ephesians 4:13, 14) Clearly, learning to exercise self-control is vital to our spirituality.Who practice "trickery of men" and are "cunning in contriving error"?
The end will come in 1914, 1925, 1975.
The superior authorities are 1) 1889 secular governments, 2) 1929 Jesus and Jehovah 3) 1962 secular governments.
Transplants are acceptable until 1967, 1967-1980 a disfellowshipping offense, 1980 a conscience matter.
Will the people of Sodom and Gomorrah be resurrected?
http://quotes.jehovahswitnesses.com/sodom_gomorrah.htm
Cultivating Self-Control
To cultivate self-control, we needHow to Strengthen Self-Control (or the WTS 8-Step Plan to Help Pedophiles in the congregation)
· Cultivate it even in little things
· Meditate on its present and future benefits· Replace what God forbids with things that he encourages· Reject improper ideas immediately · Fill your mind with spiritually upbuilding thoughts· Accept the help that mature fellow Christians can give· Avoid compromising situations· Pray for God's help in times of temptation How comforting to know that Jehovah values our efforts when we try to pleaseConcluding Comments
Self-control gets us what prize? The same one the apostle Paul was hoping for? Immortality in heaven with Jesus?
And what must be controlled?
TV
Hobbies
Career
Sports
Education
Recreation
Social Gatherings
Shouldn?t the title have been: To Gain the Prize, Let the WTS Control You.Blondie (who will be sleeping in Sunday and reading the paper as she sips her coffee)