'SAVE YOURSELF AND THOSE WHO LISTEN TO YOU

"Pay Constant Attention to Yourself"

The apostle Paul counseled Timothy, "Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching," and this applies to all Christians. (1 Timothy 4:16) Indeed, to help others gain salvation, we must first pay attention to ourselves. How can we do this? For one thing, we must stay alert to the times in which we live. Jesus gave a composite sign so that his followers would know when "the conclusion of the system of things" had arrived. Yet, Jesus also said that we would not know precisely when the end would come. (Matthew 24:3, 36) How should we react to that fact?

Each of us might ask, 'Am I using whatever time remains for this system to save myself and those who listen to me? Or am I thinking, "Since we do not know exactly when the end will come, I will not concern myself with it"? The latter attitude is dangerous. It runs directly counter to Jesus' exhortation: "Prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that you do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming." (Matthew 24:44) Surely this is not the time to lose our enthusiasm for Jehovah's service to look to the world for security or satisfaction. -Luke 21:34-36.

Another way that we can show that we are paying attention to ourselves is by faithfully enduring as Christians. God's servants in the past kept enduring, whether they expected immediate deliverance or not. After citing the examples of such pre-Christian witnesses as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Paul noted: "They did not get the fulfillment of the promises, but they saw them afar off and welcomed them and publicly declared that they were strangers and temporary residents in the land." They did not give in to any desires for a life of ease, not did they succumb to the immoral passions around them, but they eagerly looked forward to "the fulfillment of the promises." -Hebrews 11:13; 12:1.

First-century Christians also saw themselves as "aliens" in this world. ( 1 Peter2:11) Even after being saved through the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E., true Christians did not stop preaching or fall back into a secular way of life. They knew what a grand salvation awaited those who remained faithful. In fact, as late as 98 C.E., the apostle John wrote: "The world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever." -1 John 2:17, 28.

In modern times, Jehovah's Witnesses have also preserved in the Christian work, even though they have experienced vicious persecution. Has their endurance been in vain? Certainly not, for Jesus assured us: "He that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved," whether that proves to be the end of the old system or the end of one's present life. In the resurrection, Jehovah will remember and reward all his faithful servants who have died. -Matthew 24:13; Hebrews 6:10.

Moreover, we are happy that faithful Christians of the past were not concerned only with their own salvation. Surely we who have learned about God's Kingdom through their efforts are grateful that they endured in carry out Jesus' commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, . . .teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded." (Matthew 28:19, 20) As long as the opportunity remains open to us, we can demonstrate our gratitude by preaching to others who have not yet heard the good news. However, preaching is just the first step toward making disciples.

Next time: 'Pay Attention to Your Teaching'

Watchtower, 2000