Comments You Will Not Hear at the 08-19-2012 WT Study (JUNE 15, 2012, pages 20-24)(SERVICE)
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WHY PUT JEHOVAH’S
SERVICE FIRST?
“My own mouth will recount your
righteousness, all day long your
salvation.”—PS. 71:15.
OPENING COMMENTS
PICTURES
Page 20---10 year old girl being baptized!!
Page 21 —Noah looks pretty young for even for a 600 year old man
Page 24 —5 pioneers
Old white man
Young Asian man
3 young women, one black
Any single parents
Any married to non-jws with 3 children
Any elders with family
The underlining and bolded words are mine in this article.
HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?
What factors determined the life
course of Noah, Moses, Jeremiah,
and Paul?
What evaluation on your part will
determine how you use your life?
Why are you determined to put
Jehovah’s service first?
START OF ARTICLE
1, 2. (a) What is indicated by a person’s dedicating himself
to Jehovah? (b) How can we profit by considering the choices
made by Noah, Moses, Jeremiah, and Paul?
WHEN you become a dedicated and baptized
follower of Jesus , you take a very
serious step. Your dedication to God is
the most serious decision that you as an individual
can make. It is as if you are saying: ‘Jehovah, I want
you to be my Master in every aspect of my life. I am
your servant. I want you to determine how I should
spend my time, what my priorities should be, and
how I should use my resources and talents.’
COMMENTS
Dedicated and baptized follower of Jesus—what happened to Jehovah’s witness?
Does God decide or the WTS?
2 If you are a dedicated Christian, this is basically
what you promised Jehovah. You are to be commended
for your decision; it was the right and wise
thing to do. What, though, does your recognizing Jehovah
as your Master imply as to the way you use
your time? The examples of Noah, Moses, Jeremiah,
and the apostle Paul can help us to examine that
question. Each of them was a whole-souled servant
of Jehovah. Our situation is similar to theirs. The decisions
they made with regard to their principal pursuits
can encourage us to examine how we are using
our time.—Matt. 28:19, 20; 2 Tim. 3:1.
COMMENTS
Dedicated Christian—only jws though, the rest are so-called Christians
*** w58 4/1 p.206***
Multitudes there are who apply to themselves the name of Christian and who undergo sufferings and trials throughout life, entertaining the stubborn belief that they are suffering undeservedly. Some are always so busily engaged in reforming others or giving them expert advice that they never have time to consider and correct their own glaring follies. How horrified they are when the unvarnished charge of being busybodies in other people’s matters is leveled against them!
Noah, Moses, Jeremiah, Paul….all men, 3 OT, 1 NT, 3 non-Christians, no women?
Whole-souled servant of Jehovah—what happened to Jesus, out of the picture by the second paragraph
(Romans 15:16) for me to be a public servant of Christ Jesus to the nations, engaging in the holy work of the good news of God, . . .
BEFORE THE FLOOD
3. How are our days similar to those of Noah?
3 Jesus drew a parallel between Noah’s time and
ours. “Just as the days of Noah were, so the presence
of the Son of man will be,” he said. They were
“eating and drinking, men marrying and women being
given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered
into the ark; and they took no note until the
flood came and swept them all away.” (Matt. 24:37-
39) Most of mankind today go about
their lives heedless of the urgency of
our times. They take no note of the
warnings that God’s servants proclaim.
Many even deride the idea of God’s intervening
in human affairs—as people
did in Noah’s day. (2 Pet. 3:3-7) Yet, in
that hostile environment, how did Noah
use his time?
COMMENTS
Women GIVEN in marriage, that’s because they are considered property in the bible, husbands are called “owners”
Took no note—how much note? If the WTS never preaches to the individual, how can they take note?
*** w00 1/15 p.13 par.17***
Nevertheless, the Bible does not state that Jehovah will wait until every individual on earth has received a personal witness. Rather, the good news must be preached to Jehovah’s satisfaction. Then the end will come.—Compare Matthew 10:23.
God’s servants proclaim—the end in 1914, 1915, 1920, 1925, 1940’s, 1975, 1984, 1994?
Took no note = note means becoming a baptized jw…………
God’s servants = only jws
4. How did Noah use his time after receiving
his commission from Jehovah, and why?
4 After being informed of God’s intentions
and receiving his commission,
Noah built an ark to preserve men and
animals alive. (Gen. 6:13, 14, 22) Noah
also proclaimed Jehovah’s impending
judgment. The apostle Peter calls him
“a preacher of righteousness,” indicating
that Noah strove to help his neighbors
appreciate the gravity of their situation.
(Read 2 Peter 2:5.) Do you think
that it would have been reasonable for
Noah and his family to focus their efforts
on developing a business, getting
ahead among their contemporaries, or
establishing a comfortable lifestyle? Of
course not! Knowing what lay ahead,
they avoided such distractions.
COMMENTS
How many years did Noah know of impending….
*** it-2 p.507 Noah***
Accordingly his days shall amount to a hundred and twenty years.” (Ge 6:3) Evidently these words were spoken to Noah. About 20 years after that, Noah’s first son (probably Japheth) was born (2470 B.C.E.), and the record shows that another son, Shem, was born two years later. The time of Ham’s birth is not stated, but these three sons were grown and married when the divine instructions were given to Noah to build an ark. Consequently, it is likely that only 40 or 50 years then remained before the Deluge. (Ge 6:13-18)
Impending for the WTS = 1876 to 2012 = 136 years, 16 years past 120
THE CHOICES OF AN EGYPTIAN PRINCE
5, 6. (a) The education Moses received was
likely meant to prepare him for what? (b) Why
did Moses shun the possibilities offered to him
in Egypt?
5 Next, let us look at the example of
Moses. He was raised in an Egyptian
palace as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s
daughter. As a young prince, he was educated
“in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.”
(Acts 7:22; Ex. 2:9, 10) This education
was likely intended to prepare
him for a career in Pharaoh’s court. He
could have become prominent in the
most powerful government of the day,
having the luxuries, privileges, and
pleasures that such a position would afford
him. But was enjoyment of these
things Moses’ objective?
COMMENTS
So where the WTS is telling jws to avoid a career in the world, Moses was allowed to do so? He was 40 when he killed the Egyptian….why so long
LIKELY = the WTS adds to the bible….revelation from God?
6 Because of the training that he received
from his real parents early in
life, Moses likely knew what Jehovah
had promised his ancestors Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob. Moses exercised
faith in those promises. He must have
thought carefully about his future and
his loyalty to Jehovah. So when the time
came to choose between being an Egyptian
prince or an Israelite slave, what
did he decide? Moses chose “to be ill treated
with the people of God rather
than to have the temporary enjoyment
of sin.” (Read Hebrews 11:24-26.) Later,
he followed Jehovah’s guidance regarding
how he should use his life. (Ex.
3:2, 6-10) Why did Moses do that? Because
he believed God’s promises. He
concluded that there was no future for
him in Egypt. Indeed, that nation was
soon thereafter crushed by ten plagues
from God. Do you see the lesson in this
for those dedicated to Jehovah today?
People gave no heed to Noah’s warning
Rather than focusing on a career or any
pleasures of this system of things , our
focus must be on Jehovah and his service.
COMMENTS
Training – as a young child, not a pre-teen or teenager
*** g04 4/8 p.6***
And since children in ancient times were often breast-fed for several years, Jochebed had ample opportunity to teach Moses about ‘the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ (Exodus 3:6)
LIKELY, MUST HAVE – adding to the bible again
Moses killed a man at 40 and ran away for 40 more years
Moses focused on a career for 40 years despite the so-called training by his parents the first 5 years of his life.
Of course, Moses believed; would you have believed if you saw this?
(Exodus 3:2, 3) . . .Then Jehovah’s angel appeared to him in a flame of fire in the midst of a thornbush. As he kept looking, why, here the thornbush was burning with the fire and yet the thornbush was not consumed. 3 At this Moses said: “Let me just turn aside that I may inspect this great phenomenon, as to why the thornbush is not burnt up.”
JEREMIAH KNEW WHAT WAS COMING
7. How was Jeremiah’s situation similar to
ours?
7 Another man who put Jehovah’s
service first was the prophet Jeremiah.
Jehovah commissioned Jeremiah as his
prophet to preach a message of judgment
on apostate Jerusalem and Judah.
In a sense, Jeremiah lived “in the final
part of the days.” (Jer. 23:19, 20) He
knew perfectly well that the system in
which he lived would not continue as it
was.
COMMENTS
IN A SENSE = so there have been fulfillments before this time period?
How did Jeremiah KNOW PERFECTLY WELL; did he have dim light like the WTS has provided the end coming in 1914, 1915, 1925, 1940’s, 1975, until the end of the generation of 1914 teaching in 1995.
8, 9. (a) Why did Baruch’s thinking need to be
corrected? (b) What should we have in mind
when making plans?
8 What was the logical consequence
of Jeremiah’s convictions? He did not
try to build a future in that doomed system.
What sense would there be in doing
so? However, for a time Jeremiah’s
secretary, Baruch, did not see things
clearly. So God inspired Jeremiah to
tell his secretary: “Look! What I have
built up I am tearing down, and what
I have planted I am uprooting, even all
the land itself. But as for you, you keep
seeking great things for yourself. Do not
keep on seeking. For here I am bringing
in a calamity upon all flesh, . . . and I
will give you your soul as a spoil in all
the places to which you may go.”—Jer.
45:4, 5.
COMMENTS
If Jeremiah was not try to build a future in that doomed system, why did he buy property? Oh that’s right, he said God told him to do it.
9 We cannot be sure what “great
things” Baruch was seeking for himself.*
We do know, though, that they
were things with no future, things that
would end when the Babylonians conquered
Jerusalem in 607 B.C.E. Do you
see in that a lesson for us? Obtaining
life’s necessities requires that we make
some plans for the future. (Prov. 6:6-11)
But how wise would it be to invest a
lot of time and energy in pursuits that
are not of lasting value? Granted, Jehovah’s
organization continues to plan for
new Kingdom Halls, branch facilities,
and other theocratic projects. These endeavors,
however, do have a future
because their objective is that of promoting
Kingdom interests. It would be
appropriate for all of Jehovah’s dedicated
people to set similar priorities when
they make plans. Are you convinced in
your heart that you are “seeking first
the kingdom and [Jehovah’s] righteousness”?—
Matt. 6:33.
**See God’s Word for Us Through Jeremiah, pages
104-106.
587 or 607 BCE?
http://jwfacts.com/watchtower/607-1914.php
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/607-587.php
*** w11 6/15 p.30***
What were the “great things” that Baruch kept seeking? He may have been tempted to make a name for himself in the Jewish system of things. Or the great things could have beenmaterial prosperity. In any case, he had lost sight of the more important things, those having spiritual value. (Phil. 1:10)
*** w08 4/15 p.15***
It may be that Baruch wanted to make a better life for himself materially. Jehovah noted this and kindly warned Baruch not to keep seeking “great things” for himself. Baruch proved to be humble and wise, for he listened to Jehovah and survived the destruction of Jerusalem. (Jer. 45:2-5) On the other hand, Baruch’s contemporaries who did acquire “great things” materially, putting Jehovah in the background, soon lost all at the hands of the Chaldeans (Babylonians). Many also lost their lives. (2 Chron. 36:15-18) Baruch’s experience helps us to see that a good relationship with God is much more important than wealth and prominence in this world.
*** w06 8/15 p.18***
Jehovah did not specify what these “great things” were, but Baruch must have known whether they were selfish ambitions, prominence, or material prosperity.
So what does the WTS define as LIFE’S NECESSITIES? Are any of them of “lasting value”? How does God provide, why do some jws starve?
*** w08 9/15p.11 par.17***
If we seek God’s Kingdom first in our life and are willing to work for a living, we can count on Jehovah to help us to obtain life’s necessities.
*** g88 4/22 p.7***
Content With Essentials for Life
Food
Clothing
Shelter
The above are essentials . You need them to be happy. As the Bible says: “So, having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things.” You really do not need any more. “For we have brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out.”—1 Timothy 6:7, 8.
Build a KH more important that providing a home for jws living on the street or their car or unable to afford basic health care or clean water?
“I CONSIDER THEM AS A LOT OF REFUSE”
10, 11. (a) On what had Paul centered his efforts
prior to becoming a Christian? (b) Why
did Paul’s objective change completely?
10 Finally, let us consider the example
of Paul. Before his conversion to
Christianity, he had what seemed to be
a promising future. He had studied Jewish
law with one of the most famous
teachers of his day. He had received authority
from the Jewish high priest. And
he was making greater progress in Judaism
than were many of his contemporaries.
(Acts 9:1, 2; 22:3; 26:10; Gal.
1:13, 14) Yet, all of that changed when
Paul realized that Jehovah was no longer
blessing the Jews as a nation.
COMMENTS
Remember Paul had a vision of Jesus; have any jws said they have?
So Paul had what the world offered, and gave it up; do you know of jws that have degrees, big homes, cars, businesses, etc., and have they given them up?
I know of at least 30 jws that came in as adults that have given none of that up and many elders “worship” at their feet and give “breaks” to their family members.
11 Paul recognized that a career in
the Jewish system had no value from
Jehovah’s point of view; it had no future.
(Matt. 24:2) This former Pharisee
went so far as to say that compared
with his new, enlightened understanding
of God’s purposes and the privilege
of the Christian ministry, what he once
thought was important he now considered
to be “a lot of refuse.” Paul abandoned
his pursuits in Judaism and dedicated
the rest of his days on earth to
preaching the good news.—Read Philippians
3:4-8, 15; Acts 9:15.
COMMENTS
I can imagine that no jw could stay a bishop in the Catholic Church, or a priest in the Greek Orthodox Church, or any religious position similar to being a Pharisee. I know of a few non-jws that left prominent religious positions, but not many. So did Jewish Christians only do business with Gentiles or work for Gentiles? Did Paul sell tents only to Gentiles?
Jws abandon their pursuits in non-jw religions. Do jws today only do business with other jws?
EXAMINE YOUR PRIORITIES
12. What did Jesus focus on after his baptism?
12 Noah, Moses, Jeremiah, Paul, and
many others l ike them spent the majority
of their time and energy in theocratic
pursuits. They are good examples
for us. Of course, the greatest of all of
Jehovah’s dedicated servants is Jesus.
(1 Pet. 2:21) After being baptized, Jesus
devoted the rest of his life on earth
to preaching the good news and honoring
Jehovah. The obvious conclusion for
a Christian who recognizes Jehovah as
his Master is that serving Him should
have priority in his life. Is it yours? And
how can the pursuit of theocratic goals
be reconciled with necessary secular activities?—
Read Psalm 71:15; 145:2.
COMMENTS
Spent the majority of their time doing what, let’s see:
Noah was the patriarchal head and religious leader of his family who must have great material resources to be able to build the ark and purchase and locate the animals supplied by God…
Moses was from the tribe of Levi over even his brother Aaron, the source of high priesthood, supported by tithes from the other tribes
Jeremiah was a prophet with a lifetime commission, not married, no children, a Levite priest
Paul, no wife, no children, supported himself by working with other Christians part-time, a business they owned.
Based on all these examples, every jw has not excuse not to be a full-time regular pioneer. And where are the Japanese pioneers of 25 years ago, why no statistics in the publications now since 1997?
*** w87 2/1 p.15 par.1***
“A FEW years ago, many of us thought that only those with special circumstances could pioneer,” wrote a pioneer, or full-time minister, in Japan. “It seems we were wrong. We are learning that only those with special circumstances cannot pioneer.”
13, 14. (a) All dedicated Christians are encouraged
to consider what? (b) What satisfaction
can God’s people enjoy?
13 Over the years, Jehovah’s organization
has repeatedly encouraged Christians
to consider prayerfully whether
they could pioneer. For various reasons,
the circumstances of some faithful
servants of Jehovah do not allow
them to devote themselves to the
preaching work an average of 70 hours
per month. They should not feel bad
about this. (1 Tim. 5:8) But what about
you? Is pioneering really beyond your
reach?
COMMENTS
Jehovah’s organization = only the WTS per JESUS anointing in 1919
Jesus is said to have chosen the Watchtower Society as his only means of salvation because it was the only organization providing food at the proper time, and so justly appointed over all Jesus belongings.
"The serving of food, the right sort of food, at the proper time was the issue. It had to be according to this that a decision must be rendered by the returned master... On inspecting the remnant of his anointed disciples in the year 1919 C.E., the reigning King Jesus Christ did find the appointed slave faithful and discreet in the feeding of his domestics. Accordingly, he appointed this slave class over all his belongings." Gods Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached pp.350,355 (continued on website)
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/15-minute-guide-to-truth.php
Based on the quote above, does the WTS think there is any circumstance that can hold a jw back?............Where in the bible does it mention time slips and hour goals of 50, 70 hours?
*** km2/92 p.1 pars.2-7***
Examining Your Circumstances:… One sister was able to auxiliary pioneer even though she has five children and works secularly…In one congregation all the elders and ministerial servants served as auxiliary pioneers during one month. Most of them had secular jobs, but they were intensely occupied with spiritual activities on weekends… A 15-year-old schoolgirl used her two-week spring vacation to share in the auxiliary pioneer service …Those who have retired from secular employment often have excellent opportunities to pursue Kingdom interests...After the death of her husband, an 84-year-old sister wrote one of the elders in our congregation suggested that I try auxiliary pioneering. I hesitated but finally decided to try it…A brother who sells real estate adjusted his schedule for showing homes so as to allow time for pioneer service.
*** w107/15 p.18par.11***
The example of Selmira, a Christian sister living in Brazil, shows that being diligent in God’s service does not depend on having favorable circumstances in life. Twenty years ago, Selmira’s husband was gunned down in a robbery, leaving her with three young children to rear. Her job as a maid involved working long hours and making tiring journeys in packed urban transportation. Despite these difficulties, she organized her affairs so that she could serve as a regular pioneer. Two of her three children later joined her in the pioneer service.
*** w86 1/15 p.13 pars.13-14***
A working wife may not have to work. One past retirement age may not have to keep working. A high standard of living, expensive vacations, the latest cars, and the like, are not essential to life .—Luke 12:15; 1 John 2:15-17.
One father of three sons, two of preteen age, began pioneering six years ago. Why? “I wanted to do more,” he explains. “If I could be a regular pioneer and was not, I would not be living up to my dedication.” His wife also began regular pioneering. Why? “I had been auxiliary pioneering on a regular basis for four years and finally realized that it had become easy,” she says. “I wanted to have a fuller share in this never-to-be-repeated work and to set the proper example for our sons.” Both husband and wife learned the truth after university training. “Our parents required us to go to college for four years,” states the father. So, what goals have they set for their sons? “I let my boys know we would like them to pioneer and spend at least four years at Bethel.”
THEY SHOULD NOT FEEL BAD = Don’t worry the WTS will make you feel bad using their representatives the elders. How many elders do you know that regular pioneer that aren’t independently rich?
14 Reflect back on the joy that so
many of God’s people had during the
Memorial season this year . During
March, a special provision allowed auxiliary
pioneers to choose whether they
would devote 30 or 50 hours to the field
service. (Ps. 110:3) Millions shared in
auxiliary pioneer service, and congregations
seemed to radiate exceptional
excitement and joy. Could you arrange
your affairs so as to experience similar
joy more often? At the end of each day,
it gives a dedicated Christian great satisfaction
to be able to say, “Jehovah, I
did everything I could in your service.”
COMMENTS
SEEMED? Joy is measured by hours going d2d? Titus found joy in the love from fellow Christians (2 Cor 7:13)
Where in the bible does it mention 30, 50, 70 hours or the national average, which nation?
Is doing “everything” only hours pushing WTS publications?
15. What should be a young Christian’s objective
as regards secular education?
15 If you are approaching the end of
the schooling required of you, you may
find yourself in good health and with
few responsibilities. Have you seriously
considered entering the regular pioneer
ranks? No doubt, school counselors sincerely
believe that it is in your best interests
to pursue higher education and
to plan for a secular career. Yet, their
confidence lies in a social and financial
system that has no lasting future.
On the other hand, by pursuing a theocratic
career, you will be pursuing truly
worthwhile and lasting goals. And you
will be following Jesus’ perfect example.
Such a wise decision will make you happy.
It will protect you. And it will show
that you are determined to live up to
your dedication to Jehovah.— Matt. 6:19-
21; 1 Tim. 6:9-12.
COMMENTS
Education required of you—did you know that that varies in the countries the WTS holds sway even in the US (not all are 6-18).
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0112617.html
Should you not PLAN though for employment that will support you. The CAREER word seems to be worse that the F word.
So can jws trust in other jws to help them financially? Never seen in my whole life except by jws who are considered low in the congregation’s esteem, not righteous enough.
Remember Jesus only spent 3.5 years in FT service on earth and was supported financially by his followers.
16, 17. What questions arise concerning secular
employment and other pursuits?
16 Many of God’s servants today work
long hours to care for the basic necessities
of their families. Yet, some may
be working more hours than necessary.
(1 Tim. 6:8) The commercial world is doing
its utmost to convince us that we
cannot live without its many products
and every new model that comes on the
market. But true Christians do not want
Satan’s world to dictate their priorities.
(1 John 2:15-17) As for those who have
retired from secular employment, what
better way to use their time than in the
pioneer ministry, putting Jehovah’s service
first?
COMMENTS
BASIC NECESSITIES = determined by who and what, the country we live in?
How does the WTS determine what is more than necessary? Do jws now submit the finances to the elders for judgment. Is it that “more hours” are during the meetings times but it alright to work 8 hours through the night as long as you start at 10 p.m.?
Every new model—so BOEs or WTS can have congregations remodel or build new KHs (or assembly halls) that aren’t required but the rank and file dare not have a new house built. Or sell a KH simply because the property has increased in value through the roof. Of move a congregation to share the same building with 2 others to sell that property and keep the money. In my last congregation, out of the 6 elders, 4 had new houses built in the same 2 years. All had a “good reason” to house older parents, none of which have ever moved in.
The WTS is selling perfectly good buildings to finance yet another headquarters in Warwick, as if the Wallkill or Patterson properties are sufficient, as the WTS sells off branch offices and lets go Bethel family members without any financial package, who won’t qualify for social security until they work 10 years. That’s why those let go in the 1980’s had to work 10 years although 60 to 70 years old already.
17 All dedicated servants of Jehovah
can ask themselves: What is my primary
objective in life? Am I putting Kingdom
interests first? Do I imitate Jesus’
self-sacrificing attitude? Am I heeding
Jesus’ advice to follow him continually?
Could I adjust my schedule in order to
devote more time to the Kingdom preaching
work or to other theocratic
pursuits? Even if my circumstances do
not at the moment allow me to expand
my service, am I continuing to cultivate
a self-sacrificing spirit?
COMMENTS
Dedicated servants of Jehovah – only jws
Kingdom or WTS interests?
Following Jesus or the WTS?
So did Jesus say his followers were to be recognized by anything but the love they showed EACH OTHER?
Are there any circumstances that prevent a jw from expansion—per the WTS?
“TO WILL AND TO ACT”
18, 19. About what might you pray, and why
would such a request be pleasing to Jehovah?
Have you seriously considered
entering the regular pioneer ranks?
18 The zeal of God’s people is a joy
to behold. However, some may not feel
particularly inclined to pioneer or qualified
to do so—even if their circumstances
would allow it. (Ex. 4:10; Jer. 1:6)
Then what? Might this not be a suitable
subject for prayer? Certainly. Paul told
fellow believers that Jehovah, “for the
sake of his good pleasure, is acting within
you in order for you both to will and
to act.” (Phil. 2:13) If you do not feel motivated
to expand your ministry, ask Jehovah
to give you both the desire and
the ability to do so.—2 Pet. 3:9, 11.
COMMENTS
God’s people = only jws
Ooh, some jws don’t feel inclined to pioneer….do not feel motivated --self-identified or judged so by the elders, WTS, and self-proclaimed “righteous” jws?
Prayer…so where will the answer come from? Will someone give you a car for free, a brother hire you at a phenomenal wage with low, low hours and provide health insurance? Or will mommy and daddy let you live at home, give you a car, gas, and an allowance?
19 Noah, Moses, Jeremiah, Paul, and
Jesus were all devoted men. They used
their time and energy to proclaim Jehovah’s
warning message. They did not
allow themselves to be distracted. The
end of the present system of things is
imminent; hence, all of us who have
dedicated our lives to God need to be
sure that we are continuing to do our utmost
in following these excellent Scriptural
examples. (Matt. 24:42; 2 Tim. 2:
15) By doing so, we can please Jehovah
and reap his rich blessings.—Read Malachi
3:10.
COMMENTS
So where are the devoted WOMEN examples? None to be found?
Sarah, Deborah, Huldah, Mary, Martha, Tabitha, Eunice, Priscilla, etc.
Popular WTS term right now—distract, distracts, distracted, distractions
Imminent—very soon now—impending—threshold—fast approaching, etc.
The end has been “imminent” since 1876…with an end date of 1914, 1915, 1920, 1925, 1940’s, 1975, 1984, 1994, and now based on an ever expanding end time of the generation.
Imminent--adj
1. liable to happen soon; impending
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/generation.php
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
What are distractions per the WTS? Do they trust the rank and file to decide for themselves?
Handball
Material possessions
Social activities (eating, drinking, marrying)
Television, movies, videos, sports, secular reading, or hobbies
Becoming involved in the world’s endless debates over social issues or its futile struggles to correct injustices
Paying undue attention to the seemingly endless theories and remedies offered can make one obsessed with health matters.
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
Think of the amount of time that distractions can consume. For years, television has ruled as the top time-waster in many areas. What, though, about mobile phones and personal computers? A survey of 1,000 adults in Britain found that “the average Briton spends 88 minutes a day on a landline telephone, a further 62 minutes on a mobile telephone, 53 minutes e-mailing and 22 minutes text messaging.” The total amounts to more than twice as much time as an auxiliary pioneer devotes to the ministry each day! How do your communication habits measure up?
But when we spend too much time on “fun” things at the expense of activities connected with our worship, relaxation becomes a valueless thing, adversely affecting our spiritual well-being.
(Ever seen this?)
Raising a child involves years of self-sacrifice . It is a big investment in time and energy. A Christian husband needs to understand that for several years after a baby is born, his wife is likely to be distracted during meetings and she may have fewer opportunities for personal Bible study and meditation. This could have a debilitating effect on her spiritual health. Responsible parenthood requires that the husband does all he reasonably can to help to look after the child. He could try to compensate for what his wife may miss at the meetings by later discussing some of the program points with her at home. He may also share in caring for the baby to give his wife an opportunity to have a meaningful share in Kingdom preaching.—Read Philippians 2:3, 4.
NEXT WEEK, “THEY WERE BORNE ALONG BY HOLY SPIRIT”
Now who are THEY? The anointed, the great crowd?