A US columnist writes of encountering hundreds of people who, she says, "essentially live for the future, taking refuge in visions of a relaxed, rewarding personal and family life somewhere down the road". She calls this "the tomorrow trap" - a kind of mirage that people chase while in reality they are burying themselves in work and other pursuits". ( Sue Shellenbarger, "Work & Family", The Wall Street Journal. )
Could this apply to JW families? Most would say their families are important to them but could it be that they don't live as if they are. Perhaps without realising it, they have devalued today in favor of an imagined tomorrow that may never come.
The WTS exhorts to "buy out the opportune time". Notice these 'prods' from The Watchtower magazine over the years:
"The kind of reasonable self-sacrifice that Jehovah requires is for us to limit our personal desires so that we can serve his cause more fully. That cause centers around God’s incoming government for all the earth, his heavenly kingdom in the hands of Christ. Since that government will soon be earth’s only ruling authority, all who want to live under its righteous administration need to learn its laws, principles and purposes. They also need to promote its interests, ‘preaching this good news of the kingdom’ among mankind today." The Watchtower, August 1, 1978, page 22
"While a person may not be engaging in gluttony and drunkenness, he may nevertheless be pursuing a course that is interfering with spiritual wakefulness. He may be letting recreation occupy too prominent a place in his life and thus weakening his desire to help others to come to an accurate knowledge of God’s truth. It is vital for each dedicated servant of God to examine his attitude and way of life." The Watchtower, January 15, 1973, page 57
"Some dedicated servants of Jehovah God, however, are not experiencing this happiness even though they may not be given to excesses in food or drink or the pursuit of pleasure. What is their problem? Their hearts have become ‘weighed down with the anxieties of life,’ that is, they have become overly concerned about making a living. Their concern about providing food, clothing and shelter has robbed their hearts of the calm assurance that Jehovah God will supply everything his servants need. When this happens, the motivations of the heart become centered on materialistic things. The desire to share with others the marvelous promises of Jehovah God diminishes. Planning a secure future for oneself and one’s family becomes the main thing in life. This may lead to taking on time-consuming business ventures, much extra secular work or extensive building operations.
Should your heart ever incline you in that direction, what should you do? Prayerfully consider where we are in the stream of time. Ask yourself: Is it reasonable to carry on affairs of life in such a way as to ignore that this present system will soon come to its end?" The Watchtower, January 15,1973 page 58
"However, what of “the works belonging to darkness”? These are the worldly works, the things that materialistic people delight to do without thought of God and his way of light. So we should avoid them. ... These are the worldly things that would creep into our Christian lives and into the congregation if we permitted it. They are to be guarded against. In more prosperous lands, people generally attach great importance to leisure and material things. In many places, the working week becomes progressively shorter, the love of pleasures correspondingly greater, and pressure is exerted on God’s people to become like the world. Will we meet this challenge in the Christian spirit of self-sacrifice?" The Watchtower, October 1, 1978 page 18
Even having children is "discouraged". Oh yes, they don't actually say so but we all understood the hidden meaning, didn't we?
Notice the article "Responsible Childbearing in This Time of the End":
" So the matter of childbearing in this time of the end is a personal one that each couple must decide for itself. However, since “the time left is reduced,” married couples would do well to weigh carefully and prayerfully the pros and cons of childbearing in these times. (1 Corinthians 7:29) Those who do choose to have children should be fully aware not only of the joys childbearing can bring but also of the responsibilities involved and the problems that can arise for them and the children they bring into the world.
When Unplanned
Some may say: ‘That’s all very well, but what if a child comes along unexpectedly?’ This has happened to many couples who were fully aware of the fact that this is not the ideal time to bring children into the world. Some of them had been in the full-time service for years. How should they view the arrival of the unexpected newcomer?"
(March 1, 1988 page 26)
So what does this mean in practice? Things which impact on the lives of average JW families in their daily lives:
Fathers
*When are Kingdom Ministry Schools held? Here in Oz they are invariably in the annual summer School holidays. So fathers who are elders have to sacrifice annual vacation time to attend. Of course, the families share in that sacrifice. When will this year's KMS be held?
*Time for family? Not with 5 meetings per week, field service, etc.
Children
*High school students in Australia sitting for their Higher School Certificate have the added stress of taking time out of their exam schedule to attend District Conventions which are always held at that time of the year. For years youths in Australia have had that added pressure.
*Children are still encouraged to leave school early without completing all their schooling. Why? Go pioneering. Nothing else matters. Yes, the magazine may claim otherwise, but that's not what is still coming across from the platform.
All
*Hobbies. Don't have them!
*Friends. Don't have them!(unless they are not zealous JWs that is)
*Visiting. Much better to share with your friends while engaging in field service.
*Reading. Only if it's published by WTS. After all spending time reading is not a worthwhile pursuit "in this time of the end".
*Music. Discouraged. You can listen to the Kingdom Melodies.
Dare we add to the list having children? See quote above.
Can you add to the list? One Bethel elder here in Oz said to me that with all his responsibilities he didn't "have time" to just sit and meditate.
So what can you add to the list?
Of course, a Christian has the hope as expressed by the apostle Paul of seeing God "face to face" (1 Cor. 13:12). Awaiting such a glorious prospect does not minimise the importance of living "today".
Cheers,
Ozzie
"A lie which is half a truth is ever the blackest of lies"
ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON, The Grandmother