SHOW A WAITING ATTITUDE! - Have a Realistic View

Have a Realistic View

When God  created the first human couple, he reserved to himself the right to set standards of right and wrong.  (Genesis 2:16, 17)  Adam and Even wanted independence from God's guidance, and this resulted in the world we see around us today.  The apostle Paul said:  "Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned."  (Romans 6:12)  Six thousand years of human history since  Adam's time have  demonstrated the truth of Jeremiah's words:  "I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong.  It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step."  (Jeremiah 10:23)   To acknowledge  that Jeremiah's words are true is not defeatist.  It is realistic.  It explains all those long centuries when "man has dominated man to his injury" because humans have ruled independently of God. - Ecclesiastes 8:9.  

In view of mankind's situation,Jehovah's Witnesses realize that there are limits to what can be achieved in the present system  of  things.  A positive attitude can help preserve our joy, but it is not the solution to everything.  In the early 1950's, an American clergyman published a best-selling book called The Power of Positive Thinking.  The book suggested that most obstacles can  be overcome if they are approached with a positive attitude.  Positive thinking is certainly admirable.  But experience shows that knowledge, skill, material means,m and a host of other factors restrict what we as individuals can accomplish.  And on a world scale, the problems are simply too large for humans to solve successfully-however positive their thinking!

Because of their realistic vies of such matters, Jehovah's Witnesses are sometimes accused of having a negative attitude.  Rather, they are eager to tell people about the only One who can permanently improve mankind's lot.  In this  too they imitate the mental attitude of Christ.  (Romans 15:2) And they are busy helping people to again a good relationship with God.  They know that in the long run, this will accomplish the most good. -Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Timothy 4:16.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not ignore the social problems-especially the defiling unscriptural practices-around them.  Before an interested person becomes one of Jehovah's Witnesses, he makes changes, often having to conquer addictive vices that are displeasing to God.  (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)  Thus Jehovah's Witnesses have helped responsive ones  to overcome drunkenness, drug addiction, immorality, and compulsive gambling.  Such informed individuals have learned to provide for their families in a responsible and honest way.  (1 Timothy 5:8)  When individuals and families are helped in this way,m problems in the community are lessened-there are fewer drug addicts, fewer cases of family violence, and so forth.  By being law-abiding citizens themselves and by helping others to change their lives for the better, Jehovah's Witnesses lessen the road of agencies whose work it is to deal with social problems.

Next time: SHOW A WAITING ATTITUDE! - Conclusion of Have a Realistic View

The Watchtower, 2000