When Is the Right Time to Speak? - WHEN NOT TO SPEAK

* When tempted to disclose details about how our work is carried out in lands that are under ban.

* When details about sensitive and confidential congregation matters are involved.

How do you react when a brother or sister has information that should be viewed as confidential?  For example, if you meet someone who lives in a land where our work is banned, are you tempted to ask him to give details about how our work is carried out in that country?  No doubt your motives are good.  We love our brothers and are interested in what is happening to them. We also want to be specific when praying for them. However, this is a time when we should  "pull on the reins" and hold back from speaking. If we put pressure on someone who has confidential information, we show a lack of love-both to that person and to the brothers and sisters who are relying on him to keep quiet about their activity.  Certainly, none of us would want to add to the difficulties of  our brothers and sisters who live in countries where our work is under ban.  Similarly, no brothers or sister serving in such a land would want to reveal details about how Witnesses living there conduct their ministry or Christian activities.

Elders in particular must apply the Bible principle recorded at Proverbs 11:13. By keeping matters confidential.  This can be a challenge, especially if an elder is married.  A married couple keep their relationship strong by talking often to each other and by sharing their intimate thoughts, feelings, and anxieties. But an elder realizes that he must not reveal the "confidential talk" of those in the congregation. If he did, he would lose their trust and ruin his reputation. Those who are appointed to a position of trust in the congregation cannot be "double tongued,"  or deceitful. ( 1 Timothy 3:8) That is, they cannot be devious or inclined to gossip. If an elder loves his wife, he will not burden her with information that she does not need to know. 

A wife can help her husband maintain a good reputation by not pressuring him to talk  about matters that should be kept confidential.  When a wife applies this advice, she only supports her husband but also shows honor to those who have confided in him.  And most important, she makes Jehovah happy because she is contributing to the peace and unity of the congregation. - ROMANS 14:19.

Next time: When Is the Right Time to Speak? - HOW DOES JEHOVAH FEEL ABOUT WHAT WE SAY?

From the jw.org publications