HOW JEHOVAH IS LEADING US

The Inexperienced Become Wise

At meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses, we are often reminded to read God's Word daily.   Doing so is refreshing.  It also helps us make wise decisions, correct personality flaws, resist temptations and recover our spiritual balance if we have taken a step in the wrong direction. -Psalm 19:7.

Experienced congregation elders stand ready to provide Scriptural counsel that is tailored to our needs.  All we have to do is "draw it up"  by seeking their Bible-based counsel.  (Proverbs 20:5)  One day an enthusiastic young ministerial servant asked an elder for suggestions on how to become more useful in the congregation.  The elder, who knew the young man well, opened his Bible to 1 Timothy 3:3, which states that appointed  men men must be "reasonable."  He kindly pointed out ways that the young man could display reasonableness in his relations with others.  Was the young brother offended by the frank counsel he received?  Not at all!  "The elder  used the Bible," he explained, "so I realized that the counsel was coming from Jehovah."  The ministerial servant gratefully applied the counsel and is making fine progress.

 God's Word can also  help young people to "flee from the desires incidental to youth."  (2 Timothy 2:22) A young Witness of Jehovah who recently graduated from high school was able to resist  temptation throughout her school years by meditating on and applying counsel recorded at Proverbs 13:20:  "He that is walking with wise persons will become wise."  Accordingly, she was careful to cultivate friendships  only with those who deeply respect Scriptural principles.  She reasoned:  "I am no better than anyone else.  If I become involved with the wrong crowd, I will want to please my friends,and that could lead to trouble."  Paul's counsel recorded at 2 Timothy 1:8 also helped her.  He wrote:  "Do not become ashamed of the witness about our Lord, . . . but take your part in suffering evil for the good news."  In harmony with that counsel,  she boldly shared her Bible-based beliefs  with her classmates on every appropriate occasion.  Whenever she was assigned to present an oral report to the class, she chose a subject that allowed her to give a tactful witness regarding God's Kingdom.

If ever we should stray from "the path of the righteous,"  God's Word can help us to correct our steps.  (Proverbs 4:18)  A young man living in Africa learned this firsthand.  When one of Jehovah's Witnesses visited him, he accepted a Bible study.  He enjoyed what he was learning but soon became involved in bad association at school.  In time, he drifted into an immoral life-style. "My conscience  kept tormenting me, and I had to stop attending meetings again.  The young man made this revealing comment:  "I discovered that the main reason for all of this was that I was starved spiritually.  I did not personal study.  That is why I could not stand up to temptation.  Then I started to read  The Watchtower and Awake! Gradually, I regained my spiritual strength and cleaned up my life.  This was a good witness to those who noticed the changes I made.  I got baptized, and now I am happy."   What gave this young man the strength to overcome his fleshly weaknesses?  He regained his spiritual strength by regular personal Bible study.

Christian  youths, you are under attack today!  If you are to resist Satan's assaults, you must take in spiritual food regularly.  The psalmist, evidently a  young man himself, understood this.  He thanked Jehovah for providing his Word, so that 'a young man could cleanse his path.' -Psalm 119:9.

Next time: Wherever God Leads, We Will Follow

Watchtower, 2000