Displaying Modesty and Discretion

There is much we can learn from Gideon's modesty. For example, how do we respond when a privilege of service is extended to us?  Do we think first of the prominence or the prestige that will result?  Or do we modestly and prayerfully consider whether we can fulfill the demands of the assignment?  Brother A.H. Macmillan, who finished his earthly course in 1966 set a fine example in this regard.  C.T. Russell, the first president of the Watchtower Society, once asked Brother Macmillan for his thoughts on  who  might take charge of the work in his absence. In the discussion that followed, Brother Maccmillan did not once promote himself, though it would have been quite convenient for him to do so.  In the end, Brother Russell invited Brother Macmillan to consider accepting the assignment.  "I stood there half dazed," Brother Macmillan wrote years later.  "I did think it over, very seriously, and prayed about it for some time before I finally told him I would be happy to do all that I could to assist him."

Not long afterward, Brother Russell passed away, leaving the office of the Watchtower Society's president vacant.  Since Brother Macmillan was in charge during Brother Russell's final preaching tour, a brother remarked to him:  "Mac, you have a strong chance of getting in yourself. You were Brother  Russell's special representative when he was gone, and he told all of us to do a s you say. Well, he went away and never did return.  It looks like you're the man to carry on." Brother Macmillan responded:  "Brother, that's not the way to look at this matter. This is the Lord's work and the only position you get in the Lord's organization is what the Lord sees fit to give you; and I am sure I'm not the man for the job."  Then Brother Macmillan recommended someone else for the position. Like Gideon, had a modest view of himself-a view we do well to adopt. 

We too should be modest in the manner in which we carry out our assignment. Gideon was discreet, and he strove not to anger his opposers unnecessarily. Similarly, in our preaching work, we should be modest and discreet about how we talk to others. True, we are engaged in a spiritual warfare to overturn "strongly entrenched things" and "reasonings." (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5)  But we should not talk down to others or give them any valid cause for taking offense at our message. Instead, we should respect their views, emphasize what we may hold in common, and then focus on the positive aspects of our message. -Acts 22:1-3; 1 Corinthians 9:22; Revelation 21:4. 

Next time: Jesus-The Supreme Example of Modesty

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000