Saying No To Peer Pressure

Another influence toward wrongdoing is peer pressure. One youth confessed: "I'm living two lives-one at school and one at home. At school I hang around kinds who swear almost every time they open their mouths. And I'm turning out just like them. What should I do?" What is needed is the courage to be different, and one way to obtain it is by reading and meditating on Bible accounts that tell us about God's loyal servants like Joseph. Other fine examples are Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego-four young men who had the courage to be different from their peers.

While being educated with other young men in the royal court of Babylon, these four young Israelites were required to eat "a daily allowance from the delicacies of the king." Not wanting to violate the dietary aspects of the Law of Moses, they said no to this food. That took strength-and all the more so because the dishes, being "delicacies of the king," were probably quite tempting. What a fine example these young men set for Christians today who may be tempted, even pressured, to overindulge in alcohol or take drugs and use tobacco! -Daniel 1:3-17.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego also demonstrated the truth of what Jesus Christ later said: "The person faithful in what is least is faithful also in much. " (Luke 16:10) Their courageous stand on the comparatively small matter of food and the fine outcome Jehovah gave no doubt fortified outcome them for a later, more serious test. (Daniel 1:18-20) This test came when they were ordered, on pain of death by fire, to participate in idolatry. Courageously, the three young men remained determined to worship only Jehovah, trusting fully in him whatever the outcome might be. Once again Jehovah blessed them for their faith and courage- this time by miraculously protecting them from the flames when they were thrown into a superheated furnace. -Daniel 3:1-30.

God's Word contains many other examples of those who said no to being "called the son of the daughter of Pharaoh," even though this would have given him ample opportunity to indulge in "the temporary enjoyment of sin" in Egypt. (Hebrews 11:24-26) The prophet Samuel refused to abuse his authority by accepting bribes. ( 1 Samuel 12:3, 4) The apostles of Jesus Christ boldly answered no when ordered to stop preaching . (Acts 5:27-29) Jesus himself firmly said not to all wrongdoing-right down to the last moments of his life when soldiers offered him "wine drugged with myrrh." Accepting it might have weakened his resolve at that critical time. - Mark 15:23; Matthew 4:1-10.

Next time: Saying No-A Matter Of Life And Death

Watchtower, 1999