Serve Jehovah Without Diistraction

"THROW OFF EVERY WEIGHT" 

"Let us also throw off every weight," wrote the apostle Paul, who  likened the course of a dedicated Christian to an endurance race.  (Read Hebrews 12:1)  Paul certainly practiced what he preached, giving up a promising career in Judaism that could have brought him wealth and fame. He focused on "the more important things" and slaved in God's service, traveling back and forth between Syria, Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Judea.  "Forgetting  the things behind and stretching forward to the things ahead, I am pressing on toward the goal for the prize," wrote Paul regarding his hope of everlasting life in heaven. (Philippians 1:10; 3:8, 13, 14)  Taking full advantage of his singleness, Paul succeeded in being "constant devotion to the Lord without distraction." -1 Corinthians 7:32-35. 

Like Paul, some servants of God choose to remain single so that they have fewer family responsibilities and can devote themselves to Kingdom service. (Matthew 19:11, 12)  Married servants of God often have more extensive family responsibilities.  But whether single or married, all can "throw off every weight" and serve God with as few distractions as possible.  This may require cutting down  on time-wasting habits and setting goals to increase the time spent in the service of God. 

Consider a Welsh couple, Mark and Claire, each of whom entered the pioneer service after completing school and continued pioneering after they got married."  We were able to simplify our lives further by giving up our three-bedroom house and our part-time work so that we could enter the international construction work," explains Mark.  For the past 20 years, they have traveled throughout Africa, helping to build Kingdom Halls. Once, their personal funds dropped to 15 dollars but Jehovah took care of them.  "It gives us deep satisfaction," says Claire,  "to spend every day serving  Jehovah.  We have made so many friends along the way, and we lack nothing.  The little  that we have given up cannot be compared to the happiness that comes from serving Jehovah full-time."  Many full-time servants have had similar experiences. 

What about you? What can you do if you detect that you no longer pursue Kingdom interests with the same enthusiasm because of unnecessary distractions?  Perhaps the answers lies in making your personal Bible reading and study more productive. How can you do that?  The next article will explain. 

Next time: Keep Meditating on Spiritual Things 

From The Watchtower magazine