References for Life and Ministry Meeting Workbook
your congregation. They will not tell you what
to do, but they can point you to relevant
Bible principles, such as those discussed
here. As you take these steps, you train your
“powers of discernment,” and these powers
will help you to “distinguish both right and
wrong.”—Heb. 5:14.
SEPTEMBER 1-7
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD
PROVERBS 29
Reject Unscriptural Beliefs and
Customs
wp16.06 6, box
Visions of Those in the Invisible
Heavens
w18.11 11 ˚12
“I Will Walk in Your Truth”
12
Unscriptural customs and practices. Family members, workmates, and schoolmates
may try to get us to join them in their celebrations. How can we resist the pressure to
conform to customs and holidays that do not
honor Jehovah? We can do so by keeping
Jehovah’s view of such practices clearly in
mind. Reviewing discussions printed in our
publications that show the origin of popular holidays can be helpful. When we remind
ourselves of the Scriptural reasons for not
participating in such holidays, we are convinced that we are walking in the way that “is
acceptable to the Lord.” (Eph. 5:10) Trusting
in Jehovah and his Word of truth will protect
us from “trembling at men.”—Prov. 29:25.
Like prisoners in chains, millions of people
are shackled by superstition and the dread
of evil spirits. They look to charms, amulets,
and magic potions to protect themselves.
There is no need for you to do so. The Bible gives this comforting assurance: “The
eyes of Jehovah are roving about through all
the earth to show his strength in behalf of
those whose heart is complete toward him.”
(2 Chronicles 16:9) The true God, Jehovah,
who is far more powerful than Satan, will
protect you if you trust in Him.
To gain Jehovah’s protection, you need to
learn what is pleasing to him and then do
it. For example, in the first century, Christians in the city of Ephesus collected all their
books on magic and burned them. (Acts
19:19, 20) Similarly, to have God’s protection, you must dispose of charms, amulets,
fetishes, magic books, “protective” strings,
and anything else connected with demonistic practices.
Spiritual Gems
it “Flattery” ˚1
Flattery
The act of pleasing by artful commendation; adulation; false, insincere, or excessive
praise. It is usually done to gratify the selflove or vanity of the one flattered and is
therefore damaging to him. Its motive is to
gain favor or material benefits from another,
to create a feeling of obligation toward the
flatterer or to bring glory to him. Often it
is designed to lead the other person into
a trap. (Pr 29:5) The use of flattery is not
w19.04 17 ˚13
Uphold the Truth About Death
13
If you are unsure about a certain custom
or practice, go to Jehovah in prayer, asking
in faith for godly wisdom. (Read James 1:5.)
Then follow up by doing research in our publications. If necessary, consult the elders in
˘ 2025 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
mwbr25.09-E
1
evidence of the wisdom from above; it is
of this world, being characterized by selfishness, the making of partial distinctions, and
hypocrisy. (Jas 3:17) Insincerity, lying, adulating or glorifying men, and playing on the
vanity of others are all displeasing to God.
—2Co 1:12; Ga 1:10; Eph 4:25; Col 3:9; Re
21:8.
and where thieves break in and steal. Rather,
store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust consumes, and
where thieves do not break in and steal.”
—Matt. 6:19, 20, 24.
12
Many have found that living a simple life
not only makes them happier but also gives
them more time to serve Jehovah. Jack, who
lives in the United States, sold his large
home and business because he knew that
doing so would make it possible for him to
pioneer with his wife. He reflects: “It was
hard to give up our beautiful home and
property in the country. Yet, for years, I
would come home frustrated because of
problems at work. My wife, a regular pioneer,
was always so happy. She would say, ‘I have
the greatest boss ever!’ Now that I too am
pioneering, we both work for the same Person, Jehovah.”
SEPTEMBER 8-14
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD
PROVERBS 30
“Give Me Neither Poverty Nor Riches”
w18.01 24-25 ˚10-12
What Kind of Love Brings True
Happiness?
10
We all need money, of course. It provides a
measure of protection. (Eccl. 7:12) But can a
person be truly happy if he has only enough
for his basic needs? Absolutely! (Read Ecclesiastes 5:12.) Agur son of Jakeh wrote: “Give
me neither poverty nor riches. Just let me
consume my portion of food.” We can readily understand his reason for not wanting to
be extremely poor. As he went on to explain,
he did not want to be tempted to steal because theft would dishonor God. But why did
he pray not to have riches? He wrote: “So
that I do not become satisfied and deny you
and say, ‘Who is Jehovah?’ ” (Prov. 30:8, 9)
Likely you can think of people who trust in
their wealth rather than in God.
w87 5/15 30 ˚8
Fear Jehovah and You Will Be Happy
30:15, 16—What is the point of these examples?
They illustrate the insatiableness of greed.
Leeches gorge themselves with blood, even
as greedy persons always demand more
money or power. Likewise, Sheol is never
satisfied but remains open to receive more
victims of death. A barren womb ‘cries out’
for children. (Genesis 30:1) Drought-stricken
land drinks up rainwater and soon appears
dry again. And a fire that has consumed
things thrown into it sends out flames that
lick up other combustibles in reach. So it is
with greedy persons. But those guided by
godly wisdom are not endlessly goaded on
by such selfishness.
11
Those who love money cannot please God.
Jesus said: “No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love
the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot slave for God
and for Riches.” He prefaced that by saying:
“Stop storing up for yourselves treasures on
the earth, where moth and rust consume
mwbr25.09-E
2
w11 6/1 10 ˚4
Living Within One’s Means—How It Can
Be Done
mal lives in rocky areas. The keen eyesight of
the rock badger serves it well, and the holes
and crevices in its craggy habitat provide a
safe retreat from predators. The rock badger
is designed to prosper in a close-knit community, which provides protection and helps
it to keep warm in winter.
Save up money before buying. Although it
may seem old-fashioned, saving up money
before making a purchase is actually one of
the wisest ways to keep out of financial trouble. Doing so keeps many out of debt and
its associated plagues, such as high interest
rates, which ultimately add to the price of
everything a person buys. In the Bible, the
ant is depicted as being “wise” because of
saving up “food supplies even in the harvest”
for future use.—Proverbs 6:6-8; 30:24, 25.
12
What can we learn from the rock badger? First, note that this animal does not
leave itself vulnerable to attack. Rather, it
takes advantage of its keen eyesight to see
predators from afar, and it stays close to
holes and crevices that can provide lifesaving shelter. Similarly, we need to have sharp
spiritual vision so that we can perceive the
dangers that lurk in Satan’s world. The apostle Peter admonished Christians: “Keep your
senses, be watchful. Your adversary, the Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to
devour someone.” (1 Pet. 5:8) When he was
on earth, Jesus remained watchful, on guard
against all attempts of Satan to break His
integrity. (Matt. 4:1-11) Jesus set a good example for his followers!
w24.06 13 ˚18
Remain Jehovah’s Guest Forever!
18
It is good for us to evaluate our personal
attitude toward money. Ask yourself: ‘Do I often find myself thinking about money and
what it can buy? If I borrow money, am I slow
to repay it, concluding that the person who
lent it to me does not need it? Does having
money make me feel important but make it
hard to be generous? Do I judge my brothers
and sisters as materialistic simply because
they have money? Do I cultivate friendship
with the rich and show little interest in the
poor?’ We have received the grand opportunity to be Jehovah’s guests. We can protect
that privilege by keeping our life free of the
love of money. If we do so, Jehovah will never leave us!—Read Hebrews 13:5.
13
One way we can be watchful is by taking
advantage of the spiritual protection that Jehovah makes available to us. Study of God’s
Word and attendance at Christian meetings
should not be neglected. (Luke 4:4; Heb.
10:24, 25) Furthermore, just as the rock badger thrives in a close-knit community, we
need to stay close to our fellow Christians
so that we can enjoy “an interchange of
encouragement” with them. (Rom. 1:12) By
availing ourselves of the protection Jehovah
provides, we show that we agree with the
psalmist David, who wrote: “Jehovah is my
crag and my stronghold and the Provider of
escape for me. My God is my rock. I shall
take refuge in him.”—Ps. 18:2.
Spiritual Gems
w09 4/15 17 ˚11-13
Jehovah’s Wisdom Observed in Creation
11
The rock badger is another comparatively
small creature that can teach us important
lessons. (Read Proverbs 30:26.) It somewhat resembles a large rabbit but has short,
rounded ears and short legs. This little animwbr25.09-E
3
casions. Depending on the age of your child,
include discussions about alcohol along with
other life lessons, such as road safety and
sex education.
SEPTEMBER 15-21
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD
PROVERBS 31
Lessons From a Mother’s Loving
Instructions
Set the example. Children are like sponges
—they absorb their surroundings—and research indicates that parents influence their
children the most. This means that if you
drink alcohol as a primary way to calm down
or relieve stress, your child will get the message that alcohol is the answer to life’s
anxieties. So be a good role model. Make
sure you use alcohol responsibly.
w11 2/1 19 ˚7-8
Inculcate Moral Values in Your Children
Teach the whole truth about sex. Warnings
are necessary. (1 Corinthians 6:18; James 1:
14, 15) However, the Bible primarily portrays
sex as a gift of God, not as a trap of Satan.
(Proverbs 5:18, 19; Song of Solomon 1:2)
Telling your teens only about the dangers
may leave them with a distorted, unscriptural view of the topic. “My parents put a lot
of emphasis on sexual immorality,” says a
young woman in France named Corrina, “and
that gave me a negative attitude toward sex
relations.”
g17.6 9 ˚5
Teaching Children Humility
Encourage giving. Prove to your child that
“there is more happiness in giving than there
is in receiving.” (Acts 20:35) How? Together
you might prepare a list of people in need of
help with shopping, transportation, or repair
work. Then take your child along as you assist some of them. Allow your child to see
your joy and satisfaction as you care for the
needs of others. That way you will teach your
child humility in the most powerful way—by
example.—Bible principle: Luke 6:38.
Make sure that your children get the whole
truth about sex. “What I have always tried to
get across to my teens,” says a mother in
Mexico named Nadia, “is that sex is beautiful and natural and that Jehovah God gave
it to humans for them to enjoy. But it has its
proper place within marriage. It can give us
happiness or suffering, depending on how we
use it.”
Spiritual Gems
w92 11/1 11 ˚7-8
Education in Bible Times
ijwhf article 4 ˚11-13
Talking to Children About Alcohol
7
In Israel, children were taught from a very
early age by both father and mother. (Deuteronomy 11:18, 19; Proverbs 1:8; 31:26) In
the French Dictionnaire de la Bible, Bible
scholar E. Mangenot wrote: “As soon as he
could speak, the child learned a few passages from the Law. His mother would repeat
a verse; when he knew it, she would give him
another one. Later, the written text of the
verses they could already recite from memory would be put into the children’s hands.
Take the initiative to discuss the topic. “The
use of alcohol can be confusing to young
ones,” says Mark, a father in Britain. “I asked
my eight-year-old son if he thought it was
right or wrong to drink alcohol. I kept the
atmosphere relaxed and informal, and this
helped him to express his views openly.”
You will leave a deeper impression if you
address the subject of alcohol on several ocmwbr25.09-E
4
Thus, they were introduced to reading, and
when they had grown older, they could continue their religious instruction by reading
and meditating on the law of the Lord.”
use of rapidly changing technology. Some
older ones may find it hard to keep pace
with these advances. (Luke 5:39) Even when
that is not the case, younger ones may have
greater strength and energy than older ones
have. (Prov. 20:29) Thus, it is both loving
and practical for older ones to prepare younger ones to take on greater responsibility.
—Read Psalm 71:18.
8
This suggests that a basic teaching method used was the learning of things by heart.
The things learned concerning Jehovah’s
laws and his dealings with his people were
to penetrate into the heart. (Deuteronomy
6:6, 7) They were to be meditated upon.
(Psalm 77:11, 12) To help young and old to
memorize, various memory aids were used.
These included alphabetic acrostics, successive verses in a psalm beginning with a
different letter, in alphabetical order (such as
Proverbs 31:10-31); alliteration (words beginning with the same letter or sound); and the
use of numbers, like those used in the latter half of Proverbs chapter 30. Interestingly,
the Gezer Calendar, one of the oldest examples of ancient Hebrew writing, is thought by
some scholars to be a schoolboy’s memory
exercise.
4
Those in positions of authority may not find
it easy to delegate to younger ones. Some
fear losing a position they cherish. Others
worry about losing control, convinced that
younger ones cannot do things as well. Some
may reason that they do not have time to
train someone else. On the other hand, those
who are younger must guard against becoming impatient when they are not given more
to do.
Spiritual Gems
it “Ecclesiastes” ˚1
Ecclesiastes
The Hebrew name Qo·heleth (meaning
“Congregator; Assembler; Convener; Convoker”) fittingly describes the role of the king
in the theocratic government that Israel enjoyed. (Ec 1:1, 12) It was the responsibility
of the ruler to hold the dedicated people of God together in faithfulness to their
true King and God. (1Ki 8:1-5, 41-43, 66)
For that reason, whether a king was good
or bad for the nation was determined by
whether he led the nation in the worship
of Jehovah or not. (2Ki 16:1-4; 18:1-6) The
congregator, who was Solomon, had already
done much congregating of Israel and their
companions, the temporary residents, to the
temple. In this book he sought to congregate God’s people away from the vain and
fruitless works of this world to the works
worthy of the God to whom they as a nation
SEPTEMBER 22-28
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD
ECCLESIASTES 1-2
Continue to Train the Next Generation
w17.01 27-28 ˚3-4
“These Things Entrust to Faithful Men”
3
Many of us love the work we do and would
like to continue doing it indefinitely. Sadly,
though, from the days of Adam, each generation grows old and is replaced by another.
(Eccl. 1:4) In recent times, this transition
has presented unique challenges for true
Christians. The work of Jehovah’s people has
grown in scope and complexity. As we tackle new projects, new ways of doing things
are adopted—often ways that involve the
mwbr25.09-E
5
were dedicated. The name used in our English Bibles is taken from the translation of
Qo·heleth in the Greek Septuagint, namely, Ek·kle·si·a·stes (Ecclesiastes), meaning “a
member of an ecclesia (congregation; assembly).”
ing. Multitasking sends the message that he
would be just as happy to be with his device only.”—Sarah.
The bottom line: The way you use technology can help or can hurt your marriage.
w23.05 23-24 ˚12-14
Keep “the Flame of Jah” Alive
SEPTEMBER 29–OCTOBER 5
12
How can couples imitate Aquila and Priscilla? Think about the many things that you
and your spouse need to do. Could you
handle some of these tasks as a couple instead of individually? For example, Aquila
and Priscilla preached together. Do you regularly make plans to do the same? Aquila
and Priscilla also worked together. You and
your spouse may not have the same job,
but could you do household chores together? (Eccl. 4:9) When you help each other
perform a task, you feel more like a team
and you have the opportunity to talk. Robert and Linda have been married for over 50
years. He says: “Frankly, we don’t have a lot
of time to spend together in recreation. But
when I wash the dishes and my wife dries
them or when I am outside weeding and she
comes out to work alongside me, I feel so
happy. Doing things together brings us together. Our love continues to grow.”
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD
ECCLESIASTES 3-4
Strengthen Your Threefold Cord
ijwhf article 10 ˚2-8
How to Keep Technology in Its Place
˘ The wise use of technology can benefit a
marriage. For example, some husbands and
wives use it to keep in touch with each other during the day while they are apart.
“A simple text message that says ‘I love you’
or ‘I’m thinking about you’ can mean a lot.”
—Jonathan.
˘ The unwise use of technology can undermine a marriage. For example, some people
use their devices constantly, which diminishes the time and attention they can give to
their spouse.
“I’m sure that there have been times when
my husband would have felt more inclined
to talk to me if I hadn’t been using my
phone.”—Julissa.
13
Remember, however, that just being together might not necessarily contribute to
unity. A wife in Brazil says: “Nowadays, with
so many distractions, I’ve found that we
could fall into the trap of thinking that we
are spending time together just because we
live under the same roof. I have learned that
being together is only half of the equation.
The other half involves giving my spouse the
attention he needs.” Note how Bruno and
his wife, Tays, make sure to give each other attention. He says: “During our free time
˘ Some people say they can have meaningful discussions with their spouse and use
their device at the same time. According to
sociologist Sherry Turkle, that is “the myth of
multitasking.” Evidently, the so-called ability
to multitask is not exactly a virtue. She says
that in reality, “our performance degrades
for each new task we add to the mix.”
“Having a conversation with my husband
is rewarding, but not when he’s multitaskmwbr25.09-E
6
together, we put away our cell phones and
enjoy the time with each other.”
of badness. Love is extended to all persons until they show they are haters of
God. Then the time comes for love’s expression toward them to end. Both Jehovah
God and Jesus Christ love righteousness and
hate lawlessness. (Ps 45:7; Heb 1:9) Those
who intensely hate the true God are not persons toward whom love is to be expressed.
Indeed, it would accomplish no good to continue exercising love toward such ones, for
those who hate God will not respond to
God’s love. (Ps 139:21, 22; Isa 26:10) Therefore God properly hates them and has a time
to act against them.—Ps 21:8, 9; Ec 3:1, 8.
14
However, what if you and your spouse do
not enjoy spending time together? Perhaps
you have different interests, or maybe you
irritate each other. What can you do? Consider the campfire mentioned earlier. It does
not start blazing instantly. It needs to be
fed slowly with progressively bigger pieces
of wood. Similarly, why not start by spending just a few moments together each day?
Make sure to do something that you both enjoy, not something that could create conflict.
(Jas. 3:18) By starting small, you may begin
to rekindle your love.
OCTOBER 6-12
w23.05 21 ˚3
Keep “the Flame of Jah” Alive
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD
ECCLESIASTES 5-6
3
To keep “the flame of Jah” alive, both husband and wife should work to have a strong
relationship with Jehovah. How does this
bond help their marriage? When a couple
value their friendship with their heavenly Father, they readily apply his advice, which
in turn helps them to avoid and overcome
problems that could cause their love for each
other to cool off. (Read Ecclesiastes 4:12.)
Spiritual people also strive to imitate Jehovah and cultivate qualities that he displays,
such as kindness, patience, and forgiveness.
(Eph. 4:32–5:1) A couple who display such
qualities make it easier for love to thrive. A
sister named Lena, who has been married for
more than 25 years, says, “It’s easy to love
and respect a spiritual person.”
How We Show Reverence for Our
Great God
w08 8/15 15-16 ˚17-18
Honor Jehovah by Displaying Dignity
17
Special attention should be given to displaying dignity when we approach Jehovah in
worship. “Guard your feet whenever you go
to the house of the true God,” says Ecclesiastes 5:1. Both Moses and Joshua were
commanded to remove their sandals when in
a holy place. (Ex. 3:5; Josh. 5:15) They were
to do this as a gesture of respect or reverence. Israelite priests were obliged to wear
linen drawers “to cover the naked flesh.” (Ex.
28:42, 43) This prevented indecent exposure
when they served at the altar. Every member
of a priest’s family was to uphold the godly
standard of dignity.
Spiritual Gems
it “Love” ˚39
Love
18
Dignity in worship, then, involves honor
and respect. To be worthy of honor and respect, we must act respectfully. The dignity
we display must be more than a pretense or
“A Time to Love.” Love is held back only
from those whom Jehovah shows are unworthy of it, or from those set in a course
mwbr25.09-E
7
a mere robe of identification. It should go
beyond what human eyes see to what God
sees—our heart. (1 Sam. 16:7; Prov. 21:2)
Dignity should become part of us and affect
our behavior, our attitude, our relationship
with others, even the way we view and feel
about ourselves. Indeed, dignity should be
evident at all times and in everything we say
and do. When it comes to our conduct, demeanor, and dress and grooming, we take to
heart the words of the apostle Paul: “In no
way are we giving any cause for stumbling,
that our ministry might not be found fault
with; but in every way we recommend ourselves as God’s ministers.” (2 Cor. 6:3, 4) We
“adorn the teaching of our Savior, God, in all
things.”—Titus 2:10.
Hence, we might ask ourselves: ‘How has my
spiritual life progressed since my baptism?
Am I continuing to serve Jehovah wholeheartedly? (Col. 3:23) Am I praying, reading
God’s Word, attending congregation meetings, and sharing in the ministry as often as
possible? Or has there been some lessening
of these spiritual activities?’ The apostle Peter explained that we can avoid becoming
inactive in our service if we keep supplying
to our faith knowledge, endurance, and godly devotion.—Read 2 Peter 1:5-8.
Spiritual Gems
w20.09 31 ˚3-5
Questions From Readers
Ecclesiastes 5:8 refers to a ruler who oppresses the poor and denies them justice.
The ruler ought to remember that he is likely being watched by someone who has a
higher post or more authority in government
than he has. In fact, there may be others
who have even higher positions. Sadly, in human governments, all these rulers may be
corrupt, and the common people must cope
with misrule on many levels.
w09 11/15 11 ˚21
Enrich Your Prayers Through Bible
Study
21
Jesus prayed reverently in full faith. Before
he resurrected Lazarus, for instance, “Jesus
raised his eyes heavenward and said: ‘Father,
I thank you that you have heard me. True, I
knew that you always hear me.’ ” (John 11:
41, 42) Do your prayers give evidence of
such reverence and faith? Study Jesus’ reverential model prayer, and you will see that
particularly significant features of it are the
sanctification of Jehovah’s name, the coming
of his Kingdom, and the accomplishment of
his will. (Matt. 6:9, 10) Think about your own
prayers. Do they reflect your keen interest in
Jehovah’s Kingdom, in the doing of his will,
and in the sanctification of his holy name?
They should.
Yet, no matter how hopeless matters might
seem, we can take comfort in knowing that
Jehovah is ‘watching even high officials’ in
human governments. We can appeal to God
and throw our burdens on him. (Ps. 55:22;
Phil. 4:6, 7) We know that “the eyes of Jehovah are roving about through all the earth to
show his strength in behalf of those whose
heart is complete toward him.”—2 Chron.
16:9.
Consequently, Ecclesiastes 5:8 brings to
mind the real situation of men in government; there is always someone with greater
authority. More important, the verse can
help us reflect on the fact that Jehovah is
the highest, yes, the Supreme Authority. He
w17.04 6 ˚12
“What You Vow, Pay”
12
Baptism is just the beginning, though.
Thereafter, we want to continue living up
to our dedication in faithful service to God.
mwbr25.09-E
8
w17.07 16 ˚16
“Weep With Those Who Weep”
is now ruling through his Son, Jesus Christ,
King of the Kingdom. The Almighty, who is
observing all, is completely just and fair, and
so is his Son.
16
Do not underestimate the value of your
prayers with and for a bereaved fellow Christian. Even though it may be difficult to
express your prayerful thoughts in such an
emotional situation, your heartfelt supplication in his behalf, even through tears and
an unsteady voice, can be a powerful antidote to grief. “Sometimes when sisters have
come to comfort me,” recalls Dalene, “I have
asked them if they are willing to say a prayer.
They start praying, often battling to speak at
first, but every time, within a few sentences,
their voice gets stronger and they say the
most heartfelt prayer. Their strong faith, their
love, and their concern have been very faithstrengthening.”
OCTOBER 13-19
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD
ECCLESIASTES 7-8
“Go to the House of Mourning”
it “Mourning” ˚9
Mourning
A Time to Mourn. Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 states
that there is “a time to weep and a time to
laugh; a time to wail and a time to skip
about.” In view of all mankind’s dying condition, the heart of the wise ones is shown to
be “in the house of mourning” rather than
in the banquet house. (Ec 7:2, 4; compare
Pr 14:13.) Thus, the wise person makes use
of his opportunity to express sympathy and
give comfort, instead of ignoring such an
occasion in favor of seeking pleasure. This
helps him to keep in mind his own mortal
state and to keep his heart in a right attitude toward his Creator.
w17.07 16 ˚17-19
“Weep With Those Who Weep”
17
The grieving process can vary greatly from
person to person. Therefore, make yourself
available, not just for the first few days when
many friends and relatives are present, but
in subsequent months when others have returned to their normal routine. “A true friend
shows love at all times, and is a brother who
is born for times of distress.” (Prov. 17:17)
Fellow Christians can be a source of profound comfort for someone for as long as it
takes him or her to deal with grief.—Read
1 Thessalonians 3:7.
w19.06 23 ˚15
Help Others Deal With Stress
15
William, whose wife died some years ago,
relates: “I appreciate it when others recount
experiences about my wife; it reassures me
that she was loved and respected. This form
of support is a tremendous help to me. I feel
a deep sense of satisfaction, because my
wife was so precious to me and had been a
big part of my life.” A widow named Bianca
explains: “I find comfort when others pray
with me and share a scripture or two with
me. It helps when they talk about my husband and when they listen to me talk about
him.”
mwbr25.09-E
18
Remember that bereaved ones may experience pangs of grief triggered by
anniversaries, certain music, photographs,
activities, or even a specific smell, sound,
or season of the year. Many things a bereaved marriage mate does alone for the
first time—such as attending an assembly or
the Memorial—can be particularly painful. “I
expected my first wedding anniversary to be
9
very traumatic,” relates one brother, “and it
was not easy. But a few brothers and sisters planned a small gathering of my closest
friends so that I wouldn’t be on my own.”
OCTOBER 20-26
19
Keep a Proper View of Your Trials
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD
ECCLESIASTES 9-10
Bear in mind, though, that bereaved ones
need encouragement not only on special occasions. “Often the help and companionship
offered when there is no special anniversary can be very beneficial,” explains Junia.
“Those spontaneous moments are so valuable and bring much comfort.” True, we
cannot eliminate all the grief or completely fill the void caused by the death of a
loved one, but we can bring a measure of
comfort and consolation by taking practical
action to assist the bereaved. (1 John 3:18)
Gaby recalls: “I am truly grateful to Jehovah
for the loving elders who walked me through
every difficult step of the way. They have
truly made me feel Jehovah’s loving arms
around me.”
w13 8/15 14 ˚20-21
Never Become “Enraged Against
Jehovah”
20
Lay the blame where it belongs. Why
should we do so? Well, we may be responsible for some of our problems. If we are, we
need to acknowledge that fact. (Gal. 6:7) Do
not try to blame Jehovah for the problems.
Why would such a course be unreasonable?
Consider this example: A car may be capable of traveling at a high speed. Imagine that
a driver greatly exceeds the recommended
speed limit when traveling around a sharp
curve and he crashes. Should the manufacturer of the car be held accountable for the
accident? No, of course not! Similarly, Jehovah has created us with free will. But he has
also provided us with guidelines on how to
make wise decisions. So why would we blame
our Creator for our own mistakes?
Spiritual Gems
w23.03 31 ˚18
“By This All Will Know That You Are My
Disciples”
21
Of course, not all our problems are a result
of our personal mistakes and wrong actions.
Some events take place as a result of “time
and unforeseen occurrence.” (Eccl. 9:11) Ultimately, though, let us never lose sight of
the fact that Satan the Devil is the primary
cause of wickedness. (1 John 5:19; Rev. 12:9)
He is the enemy—not Jehovah!—1 Pet. 5:8.
18
We may at times feel the need to approach
a fellow believer who has offended us. First,
though, we do well to ask ourselves such
questions as: ‘Do I have enough facts?’
(Prov. 18:13) ‘Could it be that the offense
was not intentional?’ (Eccl. 7:20) ‘Have I ever
made a similar mistake?’ (Eccl. 7:21, 22) ‘By
approaching the person, will I create a bigger
issue than the one I am trying to resolve?’
(Read Proverbs 26:20.) When we take time
to consider such questions, we may conclude
that our love for our brother can move us
simply to overlook the offense.
mwbr25.09-E
w19.09 5 ˚10
Jehovah Values His Humble Servants
10
Humility also makes our life easier. Realistically, we may observe things in life that do
not seem to be right or fair. The wise man
King Solomon acknowledged: “I have seen
servants on horseback but princes walking
10
Spiritual Gems
on foot just like servants.” (Eccl. 10:7) Those
who have great ability do not always receive recognition. And those with less ability
sometimes receive more honor. Even so, Solomon acknowledged that it is wise for us to
face reality rather than to be obsessed with
negative circumstances. (Eccl. 6:9) If we are
humble, we will find it easier to accept life as
it is—not as we think it should be.
it “Gossip, Slander” ˚4, 8
Gossip, Slander
w11 10/15 8 ˚1-2
Is Your Recreation Beneficial?
Gossip can lead to slander, becoming disastrous to the slanderer. The wisdom of the
words at Ecclesiastes 10:12-14 is very evident: “The lips of the stupid one swallow him
up. The start of the words of his mouth is
foolishness, and the end afterward of his
mouth is calamitous madness. And the foolish one speaks many words.”
THROUGHOUT the Bible, we find statements
indicating that Jehovah wants us not only to
live but also to enjoy life. For instance, Psalm
104:14, 15 states that Jehovah is causing
“food to go forth from the earth, and wine
that makes the heart of mortal man rejoice,
to make the face shine with oil, and bread
that sustains the very heart of mortal man.”
Indeed, Jehovah makes crops grow to yield
grain, oil, and wine for our sustenance. But
wine also ‘makes the heart rejoice.’ It goes
beyond what is strictly necessary to maintain
life and adds to our joy. (Eccl. 9:7; 10:19) Yes,
Jehovah wants us to be joyful, our hearts
filled with “good cheer.”—Acts 14:16, 17.
While gossip can in some cases be more or
less harmless (though it can become slander
or lead into it), slander is always damaging
and always causes hurt and contention. It
may be with or without malicious motive. In
either case, the slanderer is putting himself
in a bad position before God, for “sending
forth contentions among brothers” is among
the things that God hates. (Pr 6:16-19) The
Greek word for “slanderer” or “accuser” is
di·abo·los. The word is also used in the Bible as a title of Satan “the Devil,” the great
slanderer of God. (Joh 8:44; Re 12:9, 10; Ge
3:2-5) This indicates the source of such defamatory accusation.
2
There is, therefore, no reason to feel guilty
when we once in a while schedule some time
to “observe intently the birds of heaven” and
“the lilies of the field” or to enjoy some other activities that refresh us and enrich our
life. (Matt. 6:26, 28; Ps. 8:3, 4) A wholesome
life is a “gift of God.” (Eccl. 3:12, 13) Viewing leisure time as part of that gift will move
us to use it in a way that will bring pleasure
to the Giver.
OCTOBER 27–NOVEMBER 2
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD
ECCLESIASTES 11-12
Enjoy a Happy, Healthy Life
g 3/15 13 ˚6-7
Fresh Air and Sunshine—Natural
“Antibiotics”?
Sunlight also has natural disinfecting properties. The Journal of Hospital Infection
explains that “the majority of microbes that
cause airborne infections cannot tolerate
sunlight.”
mwbr25.09-E
11
How can you take advantage of this? You
might want to go outdoors, where you can
spend a moderate amount of time in the
sunshine and breathe some fresh air. It will
likely do you good.
tice what we read in God’s inspired Word,
we improve our family life and build strong
friendships with fellow believers. That has
likely proved to be true in your life. Moreover, we avoid many of the problems that
come to those who do not follow Jehovah’s
ways. Indeed, we agree with King David. After
mentioning in song the law, orders, and judgments of Jehovah, he concluded: “In keeping
them, there is a large reward.”—Ps. 19:7-11.
w23.02 21 ˚6-7
Cherish God’s Gift of Life
6
Although the Bible is not a health-care
book or a dietary manual, it does reveal
Jehovah’s thinking in these areas. For example, he exhorts us to “ward off harmful
things” that could damage our body. (Eccl.
11:10) Gluttony and drunkenness, both lifethreatening, are condemned in the Bible.
(Prov. 23:20) Jehovah expects us to exercise
self-control when deciding what and how
much to eat and drink.—1 Cor. 6:12; 9:25.
Spiritual Gems
it “Inspiration” ˚10
Inspiration
The evidence indicates, however, that the
men used by God to record the Scriptures
were not merely automatons, simply recording dictated material. We read concerning the
apostle John that the “God-breathed” Revelation was presented to him through an angel
“in signs” and that John then “bore witness
to the word God gave and to the witness Jesus Christ gave, even to all the things he
saw.” (Re 1:1, 2) It was “by inspiration [literally, “in spirit”]” that John “came to be in the
Lord’s day” and he was told: “What you see
write in a scroll.” (Re 1:10, 11) So, God apparently saw good to allow Bible writers to use
their mental faculties in selecting words and
expressions to describe the visions they saw
(Hab 2:2), while always exercising sufficient
control and guidance over them so that the
end product would be not only accurate and
true but also such as suited Jehovah’s purpose. (Pr 30:5, 6) That personal effort on the
part of the writer was involved is shown by
the statement at Ecclesiastes 12:9, 10, there
being a pondering, searching, and arranging
in order to present properly “delightful words
and the writing of correct words of truth.”
—Compare Lu 1:1-4.
7
We can make decisions that show deep
appreciation for God’s gift of life by using
our thinking ability. (Ps. 119:99, 100; read
Proverbs 2:11.) For instance, we show good
judgment in what we eat. If we like a certain food but know that it makes us sick,
common sense moves us to avoid eating it.
We also prove that we are sound in mind
when we get sufficient sleep, exercise regularly, maintain a good routine of personal
hygiene, and keep our home clean.
w24.09 2 ˚2-3
“Become Doers of the Word”
2
As Jehovah’s worshippers, we are a happy people. Why? We have many reasons,
but not to be overlooked is that we regularly read God’s Word and endeavor to apply
what we learn.—Read James 1:22-25.
3
There are several ways in which we benefit
when we “become doers of the word.” For
one thing, we know that this is a key step in
our pleasing Jehovah. Realizing that makes
us happy. (Eccl. 12:13) As we put into pracmwbr25.09-E
12