Conclusion of Avoid Envying Wrongdoers
Fortunately, Asaph did not stay in this state of despair for long. He quickly cam to realize that the seeming peace of the wicked was nothing but an illusion-and a temporary one at that! He exclaimed: "Surely on slippery ground is where you place them. You have made them fall to ruins. O how they have become an object of astonishment as in a moment! How they have reached their end, have been brought to their finish through sudden terrors!" (Verses 18, 19) Many of your peers are likewise "on slippery ground." Sooner or later their ungodly behavior will catch up with them, resulting perhaps in an unwanted pregnancy, a sexually transmitted disease, even imprisonment or death! Worse yet, they suffer alienation from God. -James 4:4.
A young Witness in Spain observed this truth firsthand. As a youth, she led a double life, being deeply involved with a group of godless youths. Before long, she fell in love with one of them-a drug addict. Though she abstained from using drugs herself, she purchased drugs for him. "I even helped him insert the needle," she admits. Fortunately, this sister was brought to her senses and restored to spiritual health. But how shocked she was to learn some time later that he drug using boyfriend had died of AIDS. Yes, just as the psalmist said, godless people are "on slippery ground." Some may die unexpectedly as a result of their loose life-style. As for the rest, unless they change their ways, they will in the near future face "the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus." -2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8.
How foolish it is, then, to envy "those who do not know God"! Really, it is those who know Jehovah and who have the hope of living forever that are to be envied. A young brother in Japan came to that realization. As a youth, he too "wanted more freedom." He explains: "I thought I was missing out on something. Then I realized what my life would be without the truth. I could see myself living 70 or 80 years and then dying. But Jehovah hold out the hope of everlasting life! Realizing this helped me to appreciate what I really had." even so, remaining faithful when surrounded by people who do not follow God's Laws is anything but easy. What are some things you can do to resist those pressures?
Next time: Watch Your Associations!
Watchtower, 1999
Showing posts with label Avoid Envying Wrongdoers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Avoid Envying Wrongdoers. Show all posts
4.12.2011
MAKE YOUR LIFE SUCCESSFUL!
Avoid Envying Wrongdoers
Many young ones choose to forget Jehovah because they feel that being a Witness is too restrictive. A brother in Spain recalls how he felt as a teenager: "I was attracted to the world because the truth seemed difficult and rigid. It meant sitting, studying, going to meetings, putting on a tie and those were not things I enjoyed doing." Do you sometimes feel that you are missing out because you serve God? Perhaps it will surprise you to know that one of the writers of the Bible experienced those very feelings. Please open your Bible and read Psalm 73.
Let us examine this psalm in some detail. Verses 2 and 3 say: "As for me, my feet had almost turned aside, my steps had nearly been made to slip. For I became envious of the boasters, when I would see the very peace of the wicked people." According to the superscription, this psalm was written by Asaph. He was a Levite musician and contemporary of King David. (1 Chronicles 25:1, 2; 2 Chronicles 29:30) Although he had the fine privilege of serving in God's temple, he "became envious" of men who boasted about their lawlessness. Things appeared to go well for them; they apparently enjoyed peace and security. In fact, their seeming successes 'exceeded the imaginations of their hearts.' (Verses 5, 7) They would talk about their exploits "in an elevated style," that is, in an arrogant manner. (Verse 8) "They would put their mouths in the heavens and their tongue would walk about in the earth,' showing regard fro no one-either in heaven or on earth. -Verse 9.
Perhaps the same can be said about your peers at school. You may hear them shamelessly boast of their sexual escapades, their wild parties and their indulgence in alcohol and drugs. When you contrast your life of so-called pleasures with the narrow way you must walk as a Christian, you might sometimes feel "envious of the boasters." (Matthew 7:13, 14) Asaph himself got to the point where he exclaimed: "Surely it is in vain that I have cleansed my heart and that I wash my hands in innocence itself. And I came to be plagued all day long." (Verses 13, 14) Yes, he began to question the value of serving God and leading an upright life.
Next time: The Conclusion of Avoid Envying Wrongdoers
Watchtower, 1999
Many young ones choose to forget Jehovah because they feel that being a Witness is too restrictive. A brother in Spain recalls how he felt as a teenager: "I was attracted to the world because the truth seemed difficult and rigid. It meant sitting, studying, going to meetings, putting on a tie and those were not things I enjoyed doing." Do you sometimes feel that you are missing out because you serve God? Perhaps it will surprise you to know that one of the writers of the Bible experienced those very feelings. Please open your Bible and read Psalm 73.
Let us examine this psalm in some detail. Verses 2 and 3 say: "As for me, my feet had almost turned aside, my steps had nearly been made to slip. For I became envious of the boasters, when I would see the very peace of the wicked people." According to the superscription, this psalm was written by Asaph. He was a Levite musician and contemporary of King David. (1 Chronicles 25:1, 2; 2 Chronicles 29:30) Although he had the fine privilege of serving in God's temple, he "became envious" of men who boasted about their lawlessness. Things appeared to go well for them; they apparently enjoyed peace and security. In fact, their seeming successes 'exceeded the imaginations of their hearts.' (Verses 5, 7) They would talk about their exploits "in an elevated style," that is, in an arrogant manner. (Verse 8) "They would put their mouths in the heavens and their tongue would walk about in the earth,' showing regard fro no one-either in heaven or on earth. -Verse 9.
Perhaps the same can be said about your peers at school. You may hear them shamelessly boast of their sexual escapades, their wild parties and their indulgence in alcohol and drugs. When you contrast your life of so-called pleasures with the narrow way you must walk as a Christian, you might sometimes feel "envious of the boasters." (Matthew 7:13, 14) Asaph himself got to the point where he exclaimed: "Surely it is in vain that I have cleansed my heart and that I wash my hands in innocence itself. And I came to be plagued all day long." (Verses 13, 14) Yes, he began to question the value of serving God and leading an upright life.
Next time: The Conclusion of Avoid Envying Wrongdoers
Watchtower, 1999
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