Surviving a World ‘Without Gratitude’

“But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, without gratitude.”—2 Tim. 3:1, 2.

1. Who foretold what lack of appreciation in our day?

JEHOVAH God foresaw the deadly plague of ingratitude sweeping the earth in these critical last days before Armageddon. He inspired the apostle Paul to warn of it 1900 years ago, that men of appreciation might survive the end of a world without gratitude. “But know this,” wrote Paul, “that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, without gratitude, with no loving-kindness, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with self-esteem, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5) Ingratitude is the very opposite of appreciation. The prophecy shows men as we find them today, without appreciation for God, for pure worship, for true love and obedience to parents and, contrarily, overemphasizing the value of self, pleasures and money. How accurately the Bible’s advance writing of history predicted the present facts! Honest men must now turn away from a world without gratitude in order to survive its approaching end.

2. (a) What is appreciation? (b) To express it requires what?

² To turn away from a world of ingrates one must cultivate appreciation for all that is good, upright and pleasing to God. True appreciation is much more than simple gratefulness. The word “appreciate” is related to the word “appraise,” which means to set a value on something. An early meaning was “to judge with respect to value, quality, or quantity; to appraise; value.” (Webster’s New International Dictionary, 2nd Ed.) To appreciate is to esteem to the full the worth of something; to feel a warmth of satisfaction and approval in regard to it. Appreciation involves being cognizant of a thing through perception of the senses. Delicacy of perception is often involved in appreciation. The expression “music appreciation” or “appreciation for fine arts” now takes on fuller meaning. We think too that when a bank sends an “appraiser” to set a just value on real estate the appraiser is called upon to decide how much appreciation financially should be shown for the property. When real estate rises in value it is said to “appreciate”; or, when value drops, to “depreciate.” From this it is apparent that if we are to show appreciation for the highest things involving God and true worship we must become skilled in setting values. We must have knowledge, understanding, experience, but, most of all, sound Biblical guidance as to what is really worthwhile. The world without gratitude is dying for lack of true appreciation; its sense perceptions for all that is godly and good are all but dead, even as it soon will be.

3. Jesus’ Parable of the sheep and goats makes what questions timely?

³ Christ Jesus foretold our times in the 25th chapter of Matthew, where he outlined two classes of people living at the world’s end. On his right hand stood the appreciative “sheep,” who love God and Christ the reigning King and who appreciate the remnant of the King’s brothers who everywhere preach the good news of God’s kingdom. On the King’s left stand the doomed, unappreciative “goats,” who claim to love God and Christ, but utterly lack any warmth of approval and satisfaction in the Kingdom witness work being done by Jesus’ earthly brothers. The goats fail to perceive that the King is present in Kingdom power and that all the nations come before his throne for judgment. Where do you stand in this struggle between appreciation and ingratitude? What value do you set on God’s Word? On the Kingdom message being preached? On your time? On your life? It will possibly save your life if you will examine the Bible history of this struggle and make up your mind to stand among the minority who have shown appreciation that assured their salvation.

4. How was appreciation a life-and-death issue in Jesus’ day?

⁴ In Jesus’ day a highly privileged generation had the advantage of seeing God’s own Son perform great miracles in proof of his claim to be the long-awaited Messiah. Dulled sense perception warped their appraisal of his credentials, even though he fulfilled all the prophecies that assured his genuineness. Failing to appreciate their privileges, that doomed generation lightly esteemed his kingdom proclamation and neglected to appraise it as worthy of wholehearted allegiance and support. Jesus wept at their lack of discernment. In less time than it took their forefathers to make the wilderness trek of forty years, that ungrateful generation reaped what they had sown by the seeds of ingratitude. The Roman armies stormed through Jerusalem and Judea A.D. 70, bathing the land in blood, even as Jesus predicted. Ingratitude toward the presence of the King of God’s kingdom and their privileges of serving him led to violent death. True to the warning of the Baptizer John, whose appraisal of Christ’s worth made John feel unworthy to untie his sandal, that generation was baptized with fiery destruction. But appreciative men and women who correctly appraised Christ’s role received the outpouring of God’s holy spirit with power and life. (Matt. 3:7-12) Appreciation meant surviving the end of that system of things.

5. What similar situation existed in Noah’s day?

⁵ The disease of ingratitude is, of course, older than Jesus’ day. At Hebrews 12:16 Paul warned the early Christians to be on guard that there might be no one among them “not appreciating sacred things, like Esau, who in exchange for one meal gave away his rights as firstborn.” But even before the days of ungrateful Esau and appreciative Jacob there was a whole world stalked by the plague of ingratitude. It was the world of Noah’s day. Noah and his family of Jehovah’s witnesses appreciated the need to obey God’s commands. They preached and they built the ark of safety before the very eyes of another unappreciative generation. The cares of life and love for fleshly pleasures closed the minds of the preflood world to the seriousness of their times. Surging floodwaters that were to submerge the highest mountain peak probably caused multitudes suddenly to reappraise their value of Noah’s warning, but once their feet were wet it was too late. The ingrates never lived to correct their mistake. Their misappraisal died with them. Archaeologists digging among the preflood ruins find evidence that God had wiped out a religious world. Jehovah’s witnesses appreciate why: It was the wrong religion. Obviously false religion can cripple appreciation and destroy sensitive perception for what is right worship in the eyes of God.—Genesis, chapters 6-8; Matt. 15:3.

6. Who was the first ingrate? Where has his ingratitude led?

⁶ Yet ingratitude’s history is older than the Flood. It dates even from the garden of Eden, where mankind’s beginning was plunged into sin and death through Adam and Eve’s lack of appreciation for Jehovah God’s pure worship and the need for loyalty. The first ingrate was none other than Satan the Devil, who influenced the first pair to misappraise the value of God’s Word and commands. Jesus revealed the fatal flaw in Satan’s appreciation. It was failure to value the truth highly. “That one was a manslayer when he began,” said Jesus, “and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie.” (John 8:44) Jehovah had not created Satan so, for, if he had, then Jehovah would in fact be the Father of the lie and the liar, but it is impossible for God to lie. The fault lay with Satan’s lack of appreciation for truth and righteousness. Among God’s spirit sons he was highly favored. He could have followed the wise course of God’s only-begotten Son, the Word, but the self-made ingrate felt no warmth of satisfaction and approval in Jehovah’s loving counsel. Nor did Satan highly esteem the association of loyal angelic spirit sons of God. The path of ingratitude led to treason in heaven and earth, and even now we are just approaching the climax of the long controversy over Jehovah’s universal sovereignty, a controversy soon to be settled to the honor of Jehovah and the blessing of all appreciative ones. Meanwhile, lack of appreciation was to lead Satan to an all-time record for ingratitude, climaxed by his murder of Jesus at Calvary. With appreciation for Jesus’ integrity, Jehovah raised him up and exalted him to his right hand, where now he has finally come into his glorious Kingdom throne in this day of judgment. It is sobering to look at Satan’s death warrant and see it based on his lack of appreciation. At Armageddon Jesus will act with appreciation for Jehovah’s sovereignty and speedily destroy the rebellious prince of ingrates.

7. By copying what examples may we hope to survive the world’s end?

⁷ The Bible history is not all a record of ingratitude. It also glows with examples of appreciative lovers of righteousness. Though a world of more than two billion souls now is about to die from lack of appreciation, you can survive its end by copying the lives of the many experts in the art of appreciating divine favors. Abel was one. He correctly valued the favor of Jehovah God and realized that his worship of the true God must conform to divine standards, not man-made rituals such as Cain’s offerings of the fruit of the ground. (Gen. 4:2-7) Abel will be remembered in the resurrection because he appreciated the value of serving God in the right way. Another expert appraiser was Noah, already mentioned for his appreciation of God’s instructions. Abraham and Sarah correctly evaluated the privilege of leaving their home in Ur to serve Jehovah in foreign lands, in typical missionary fashion. Abraham always upheld Jehovah’s way of life and won God’s favor as the “father of the faithful.” At Jericho, the woman Rahab wisely appreciated her new-found relationship to Jehovah’s theocratic organization as of more value than any community ties to the doomed city. Expertly she appreciated the need to take her stand with Jehovah’s victorious hosts and actively demonstrate her allegiance. Her appreciation and sensitive sense perception enabled her and her household to survive Jericho’s fall.—Josh. 6:22-25.

8. (a) Name other men and women rich in appreciation. (b) How did Moses appraise his privileges?

⁸ The Bible book of Judges is a monumental record of a band of men and women who zealously appreciated Jehovah’s call to action in defense of his chosen people, who had often got into dire straits through lack of appreciation for their great invisible King. Jehovah’s witnesses, such as Samson, Gideon, Jehu, Barak, Deborah and others, considered it a great privilege to fight for Jehovah’s name, his true worship and his people. So confident they were of the correctness of their appraisal of this privilege that they risked their lives to exercise it. Jehovah’s prophets were no less appreciative of their privileges toward God. Kings and empires often raged against such men as Moses, Samuel, Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah and many others. To these appreciative men the privilege of being spokesmen for Jehovah was a treasure without equal. They set the highest value on the call to declare Jehovah’s prophecies, truths and judgments, whether delivered to friend or to foe. These God-fearing prophets were experts in appraising privileges. A typical example is that of Moses, of whom Paul writes at Hebrews 11:24-26: “By faith Moses, when grown up, refused to be called the son of the daughter of Pharaoh, choosing to be ill-treated with the people of God rather than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin, because he esteemed [that is, appraised, appreciated] the reproach of the Christ as riches greater than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked intently toward the payment of the reward.” In Moses’ mind and heart a decision was reached, an appraisal made, that set the highest value on Jehovah’s promised blessings, which hope easily offset anything the Egyptian world might offer by way of materialistic attraction. During his lifetime his appraisal brought many blessings and privileges as mediator between Jehovah and Israel, prefiguring the role of Christ Jesus himself. What is more, at Hebrews, chapter 11, Moses is included among the list of faithful, appreciative witnesses of Jehovah who will come back in the post-Armageddon resurrection. Had Moses appraised his privileges unwisely he might have led a life of temporary enjoyment and then died without hope.

9. Who is the greatest appreciator of Jehovah’s goodness? Contrast his outcome with Satan’s.

⁹ Of all the faithful men and women who won God’s favor and upheld his sovereignty, Christ Jesus stands out as the greatest appreciator of Jehovah’s gifts and privileges. He is the perfect example of appreciation. His life of gratitude to Jehovah for eternal life and all its blessings is the very antithesis of Satan’s ungrateful, ill-fated career. From his creation God’s Son has highly appreciated the truth that all he is and has is a gift from his Father Jehovah. Jesus never meditated an ungrateful usurpation of God’s place. He appreciated the privilege of being among God’s universal family and has always worked with appreciation toward the vindication of Jehovah’s name, being “obedient as far as death, yes, death on a torture stake.” (Phil. 2:5-8) But consider the contrasting status of these two angelic sons of God who once enjoyed fellowship together in Jehovah’s heavenly family. Satan the haughty ingrate has been divorced from Jehovah’s organization and now hurled to the vicinity of the earth, where he angrily wars against the remnant of Kingdom heirs, and knows his remaining time is short. Christ Jesus, the humble appreciator, has been exalted to a position superior to that with which he began. The gift of immortality has been granted him. He looks past the coming war of Armageddon to an eternity of appreciative service to his God and Father. Who do you think made the wise appraisal of Jehovah’s goodness? What steps are you taking to copy Jesus’ example?

10. How did Jesus preach and practice appreciation?

¹⁰ That we should copy his example we are assured by Paul when he writes: “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, as we look intently at the leader and perfecter of our faith, Jesus. For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising [note his appraisal] shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Indeed, consider closely the one who has endured such contrary talk by sinners against their own interests, that you may not get tired and give out in your souls.” (Heb. 12:1-3) Looking intently at Jesus’ fine appreciation for what is worthwhile, we correctly learn to evaluate things. We can also despise reproach from relatives, friends or neighbors who oppose our Christian course. The joy of serving Jehovah forever will be the thing of value in your life. You will copy Jesus’ example and gladly sell your interest in anything that would prevent your gaining the Kingdom. Jesus provided us with a valuable lesson in how to appreciate the treasure of Kingdom service when he gave the following illustrations: “The kingdom of the heavens is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid, and for the joy he has he goes and sells what things he has and buys that field. Again the kingdom of the heavens is like a traveling merchant seeking fine pearls. Upon finding one pearl of high value, away he went and promptly sold all the things he had and bought it.” (Matt. 13:44-46) Jesus did that. He had appreciation, the ability to recognize the true value of serving Jehovah and selling all other interests, even giving up his earthly life to gain the pearl of high value. Satan tested Jesus’ appreciation by offers of political and material gain, but nothing in Satan’s system of things could attract Jesus and influence him to reappraise the high value he set on the privilege of vindicating Jehovah’s name. His treasure of Kingdom service did not depreciate with time; it grew in appreciation and undoubtedly still does. That is the example Paul invites us to copy.

11. Where did the apostles stand in the matter of appreciation?

¹¹ Under perfect instruction from Jesus all but one of the apostles became like their Teacher. (Luke 6:40) The one exception misappraised the value of material gain and later confessed that his foolish evaluation was a mistake by throwing the betrayal money into the temple and retiring to commit suicide. (Matt. 27:3; Zech. 11:12, 13, AV) The other eleven and Paul, the one taking Judas’ vacated office, all proved to be men of appreciation in every sense of the word. They suffered much for the truth and for the sake of the good news, but did tribulation stifle their gratitude to Jehovah? When the Jewish supreme court flogged the apostles and released them under the charge to give up their preaching, did they reappraise their privilege downward? The record at Acts 5:41, 42 gives answer: “These, therefore, went their way from before the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of his name. And every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.” No mistake about it, the apostles had real appreciation. They did not overvalue self, nor money nor pleasures. They had gratitude for God, for Christ, for the value of real godly devotion, and they proved true to its power. To these examples we may always turn with profit, particularly when a modern world without gratitude urges us to stop the final witness being given to God’s kingdom.

12. What grand privilege was foretold for our day, and how is it being extended?

¹² Exiled to the isle of Patmos for the sake of the good news, the apostle John was inspired to foretell that men and women in this present judgment day would be offered the privilege of taking up the Kingdom witness work that Jesus said would be “preached in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness to all the nations, and then the accomplished end will come.” (Matt. 24:14) Wrote John of his inspired vision: “And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare as glad tidings to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people, saying in a loud voice: ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived, and so worship the one that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.’” (Rev. 14:6, 7) When Jehovah’s witnesses knock on your door under motivation by Jehovah God’s active force, that privilege of actively giving God glory as one of his kingdom witnesses is being extended to you. Men and women of appreciation in all nations are eagerly responding hourly, finding a warmth of satisfaction and approval in sharing in the final witness.

13. (a) Our review of those poor and rich in appreciation makes what clear? (b) What questions accordingly concern us now?

¹³ By reviewing the Bible history of those rich in appreciation, is it not apparent that appreciation is more than ordinary thankfulness or simple gratitude, though even this the present world woefully lacks? Yes, certainly it is a life-and-death matter that involves your heart, your sense perception, your understanding, your soul and strength. You have seen what others have done; some wisely, some foolishly. Now what will be your course of action toward Jehovah’s kingdom? Will it be prompted by appreciation or ingratitude? Will the house you are building stand up against the whirlwind of Armageddon? How can you cultivate more of the appreciation that will enable you to survive the end of this present world without gratitude? The following article is offered for your thoughtful consideration. Read it with appreciation.

Appreciating Your Privileges at the World’s End

“Working together with him, we also entreat you not to accept the undeserved kindness of God and miss its purpose. For he says: ‘In an acceptable season I heard you, and in the day for salvation I came to your help.’ Look! Now is the especially acceptable season. Look! Now is the day for salvation.”—2 Cor. 6:1, 2.

1. At 2 Corinthians 6:1, 2, Paul entreats us to appreciate what?

DO YOU appreciate the undeserved kindness of Jehovah through Christ Jesus? Do you appreciate that now at the world’s end is the especially acceptable time for you to show appreciation for salvation? Like the early Christians at Corinth, you are called to “look” at the facts with understanding, with a view toward taking action.

2. In appraising his privileges, what conclusion did Paul reach?

² At the end of the Jewish system of things, Paul manifested keen appreciation for the privilege of knowing Christ and actively serving his kingdom interests. As he expressed it to the Philippians: “If any other man thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I the more so: circumcised the eighth day, out of the family stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born from Hebrews; as respects law, a Pharisee; as respects zeal, persecuting the congregation; as respects righteousness that is by means of law, one who proved himself blameless. Yet what things were gains to me, these I have considered loss on account of the Christ. Why, for that matter, I do indeed also consider all things to be loss on account of the excelling value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. On account of him I have taken the loss of all things and I consider them as a lot of refuse, that I may gain Christ and be found in union with him, having, not my own righteousness which results from law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which issues from God on the basis of faith, so as to know him and the power of his resurrection and a sharing in his sufferings, submitting myself to his kind of death, to see if I may by any means attain to the earlier resurrection from the dead.” (Phil. 3:4-11) This appreciative writer invites all: “Become imitators of me, even as I am of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1) Is your appreciation for God and Christ rich enough to allow you to consider all else loss even your family, background, job, friends, if necessary—in order to gain everlasting life? If not, what hinders you? It may be one or many things.

3. (a) Cite some hindrances to appreciation now. (b) What aid to appreciation has Jehovah provided?

³ In the parable of the sower Jesus pointed out some deadly hindrances to appreciation. (Mark 4:15-19) Satan, of course, as the influential god of this system of things, is one. Tribulation or persecution is another. Appreciation for the privilege of serving God’s kingdom is also snuffed out by the anxieties of this system of things, the deceptive power of wealth and the desires for material things. The seeds that fell on right soil are the ones who listen to the Word and take it up, bearing Kingdom fruit. Listening to Jehovah’s Word and getting the sense of it is the great aid to life-winning appreciation. Jesus confirmed this at John 17:3: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” The vital worth of this knowledge was again stressed by Jesus in the sermon on the mount: “Happy are those who are conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.” (Matt. 5:3) Lack of appreciation stems from failure to recognize one’s spiritual need, for one cannot love and appreciate God in the fullest sense until one comes to know, through Bible study, who He is, what he stands for, how he thinks, what his loving purpose is toward his creatures. When that is begun to be learned with understanding, then one begins to cultivate true appreciation for God.

4. How will increased Bible study develop our appreciation?

⁴ Fight the plague of ingratitude by fighting ignorance of God’s Word. Spend more time studying God’s Word, learning what God considers worthwhile and what trivial. Jehovah’s witnesses are conducting many thousands of free Bible studies in the homes of those conscious of their spiritual need. Be conscious of your need and welcome them to study with you. They appreciate the privilege. As you learn more about Jehovah’s goodness and his new world of righteousness near at hand, you will grow in appreciation for his spirit, Word and organization. Like appreciative Job, who rests in hope of the resurrection, you will be able to say: “I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” (Job 23:12, AS) Skill in appraising the need to take in God’s thoughts will let you keep your schedule for home Bible study in spite of any conflict with relatively trivial things such as a literal meal. You are learning that man does not really live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth through Jehovah’s mouth. (Matt. 4:4) Now your appreciation becomes like that of Jesus.

5. Why is this especially a time for gratitude?

⁵ More than at any other time, we have so much for which to be grateful. The long-awaited kingdom government has been installed in heavenly office and has already begun to rule in the midst of its enemies. It will grow and grow until it fills the whole earth. Appreciate that fact. The Kingdom is here to stay. You can stay too if you appreciate the need to support it with full allegiance and devotion, seeking first the Kingdom in your life. Know too that the King’s invisible presence makes this a day of judgment. As in Noah’s day and Jesus’ day, men must choose to obey or suffer the consequences. The most searching loyalty test in history is in progress. The question is not, Are you loyal to democracy? The question is, Are you loyal to The Theocracy, God’s government? It is about to conquer the world as easily as Joshua and his army conquered Jericho. Do you appreciate the need to act as wisely as Rahab did and align yourself with the certain conquerors? The Supreme Court of heaven is in session now. Why ignore its power to sentence all rebellious nations and men to Armageddon’s sword?

6. (a) How should our conduct resemble that of a man on trial? (b) The value Jehovah’s witnesses put on life is shown how?

⁶ A man in court on trial for his life makes every effort to convince the tribunal of his worthiness to live. During his defense he does not gaze longingly at the shiny new cars parked outside the court, nor at the fashionable clothes on display across the street. He is absorbed in the making of a defense that may spare his life. Why should you show less appreciation for the record you are making before the Supreme Court of heaven in this day of judgment? Jehovah’s witnesses are busy making a defense before all who ask a reason for the new-world hope within them. (1 Pet. 3:15) They are not anxious for the cares of this life. They are anxious to convince Jehovah God that they are innocent of the universal crime of ingratitude that is punishable with death. The New World society of Jehovah’s witnesses does not go along with the theory that life is “dirt cheap.” Life in Jehovah’s new world will be priceless, and Jehovah’s witnesses show they appreciate it as such now by their faithful witnessing. Those who adopt the old-world theory will find eventually that Jehovah will repay them exactly the price they set on their life. Consider your life “dirt cheap,” and dirt is what you will be returned to at Armageddon. But appreciate life for the gift that it is, and its Giver will never take it from you.

7. What positive command aids our appraisal of material things?

⁷ If materialism is distracting you to the point of death, realize that you will not die from lack of luxuries; but you will from lack of appreciation. If you value the material wealth of this system of things more than the precious truths of God’s Word you are a poor appraiser of what is really priceless. (Prov. 3:13-18) Cultivate appreciation by obeying Jesus’ positive command: “Stop storing up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal. Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19-21) Where your heart is, that is what you appreciate highly. Put your heart into this doomed world’s “treasures” and your heart will sink with them at Armageddon. Put your heart and soul and strength into Jehovah’s kingdom and your heart will live as long as the Kingdom does—forever. (Dan. 2:44, AV) Accept Jesus’ appraisal of the two types of treasure and seek the kind that endures. If you try to prove him wrong about materialism, be prepared to prove Jehovah God wrong too, for Jesus said his teaching was not his own, but the Father’s who sent him.

8. How does fear stifle appreciation? What is the remedy?

⁸ “But,” you say, “it isn’t love of money. I’ve been to the local Kingdom Hall, to your public lectures, your conventions. I’ve read your Awake! magazine, just as I’m reading this issue of The Watchtower. Jehovah’s witnesses have the truth. I know it, but I’m afraid. I appreciate that we need God’s new world, but your religion isn’t popular. Everywhere you’re spoken against. Why, if I were to go along with you—” How many have strangled appreciation with similar fears! But why? Because appreciation is a matter of the heart and the heart involves the question of what we really love, and it takes perfect love to cast out fear. In this case, it is fear that is restraining love for God and his kingdom and for our neighbors, whom we ought to be busily telling about that kingdom. The apostle John explains that to us at 1 John 4:17, 18: “This is how love has been made perfect with us, that we may have freeness of speech in the day of judgment, because, just as that one is, so are we ourselves in this world.” Get to know God better through his Word, the Bible, and your love for him will grow. Appreciation will grow with it and you will become like Jesus, the model appreciator. As you hold this copy of The Watchtower in your hand this minute, likely some persecuted Christian in a Russian slave camp or behind prison bars in the Dominican Republic or elsewhere may be doing the same. Only his copy may have been smuggled to him. But while you are fearful of the reproach that may happen to you, he is not afraid of the persecution that is already happening to him. The answer is simple: he has love and appreciation and with it Jehovah’s holy spirit and blessing. Appreciation really makes a difference.

9. By following what counsel may we endure with appreciation?

⁹ Jehovah inspired the Bible writers to put down in black and white such appreciation-building counsel as this: “As a right kind of soldier of Christ Jesus take your part in suffering evil.” (2 Tim. 2:3) “Only behave in a manner worthy of the good news about the Christ, in order that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear about the things which concern you, that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one soul fighting side by side for the faith of the good news, and in no respect being frightened by your opponents. This very thing is a proof of destruction for them, but of salvation for you; and this indication is from God, because to you the privilege was given in behalf of Christ, not only to put your faith in him, but also to suffer in his behalf.” (Phil. 1:27-29) Our brothers in prisons and slave camps appreciate Paul’s words. They know that their endurance under those circumstances is an indication from Jehovah God that he is with them and that salvation will be their reward. They can agree with Paul: they are privileged to suffer in Jesus’ behalf. The Lord himself gave the disciples assurance when he said: “Do not two sparrows sell for a coin of small value? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore have no fear: you are worth more than many sparrows.”—Matt. 10:29-31.

10. Jesus extended what privilege to everyone?

¹⁰ Since Jehovah God is able and willing to appreciate you, you should be willing to appreciate the privileges of service he extends now at the world’s end. Jesus’ next words call for action: “Everyone, then, that acknowledges his belief in me before men, I will also acknowledge my belief in him before my Father who is in the heavens; but whoever disowns me before men, I will also disown him before my Father who is in the heavens.” (Matt. 10:32, 33) Be prepared to stand up against opposition and determined to speak up for God’s kingdom; then the King will both stand up and speak up for you, to your eternal blessing.

11. What privilege has the New World society accepted at the world’s end?

¹¹ Today all sincere students of God’s Word are extended the privilege and duty of dedicating their life to Jehovah, for whatever work he may want done at any given time. Like Jesus, the Christian symbolizes this dedication by water baptism. (Heb. 10:5-9) In your country and at least 163 others, the New World society is made up of appreciative men, women and youths who have become true disciples of Jesus at the world’s end. Have you come to appreciate the need for you to act on this privilege? A disciple is “one who accepts the doctrines of his teacher and assists in spreading them.” Jesus’ command to his fellow witnesses is: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:19, 20) In whatever language you are reading this journal’s quotation of those words, the meaning is the same. Appreciate that you must become a doer of the Word, not remain a hearer or a reader only.—Jas. 1:22.

12. (a) Revelation 7 shows Christians doing what now? (b) Whose example of dedication is noteworthy?

¹² The privilege of publicly hailing God’s established kingdom and its royal King is a privilege held out to all who expect to survive Armageddon and live under that righteous kingdom rule. But the protection of that righteous government at Armageddon is only for those dedicated, responsible men, women and youths who publicly hail the King now, saying, in the words of Revelation 7:10: “Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Waving the palm branches means you are a living witness to the reigning kingdom. While the time of Armageddon’s trouble is still held off, come out from this wicked system of things. Put on your white robe of identification as a dedicated Christian, with a clean, acceptable appearance before God and the Lamb. In this dedicated condition you will be fit to render sacred service day and night in Jehovah’s holy temple. In appreciation, Jehovah’s Lamb will shepherd and guide you to fountains of waters of life. Joyfully you will walk with the New World society already enjoying the promise fulfilled that “God will wipe out every tear from their eyes.” (Rev. 7:14-17) If this happiness and priceless hope have any value in your eyes, show it by a timely dedication. Jehovah loves a cheerful giver. Appreciate the marvelous privilege of cheerfully, willingly giving yourself. Copy the appreciative course of the Ethiopian of Acts, chapter 8. As treasurer for his queen, Candace, he knew the value of material things. But on hearing preached the good news about Christ, he appreciated this as treasure of greater value. Promptly he showed his appreciation by dedication and baptism.—Acts 8:36-38.

13. (a) What privileges may you enjoy with the New World society now? (b) How can faltering appreciation be strengthened?

¹³ Among the New World society you will find many rich privileges, each of great value in the eyes of God. There will be public Bible lectures to attend, studies of The Watchtower, public speaking instruction in the theocratic ministry school, as well as a weekly service meeting to help you fulfill your ministerial privileges well. You will associate with true Christians from all walks of life who are clearly identifiable as Jesus’ disciples, because they have love among themselves. (John 13:35) If you have already tasted these blessings, but have allowed the cares of this system of things to choke your appreciation, quickly take the sword of the spirit and cut loose from the entanglements. Let its inspired counsel show you exactly what Jehovah expects from you; then ask his help through prayer that his holy spirit and the Bible truth may set you free. The mature ones in the New World society will do all within their power to help you show appreciation to Jehovah. Their attitude will be the same as that expressed by Paul: “But we desire each one of you to show the same industriousness so as to have the full assurance of the hope down to the end, in order that you may not become sluggish, but be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”—Heb. 6:11, 12.

14. What should be done to conquer apathy and complacency?

¹⁴ If complacency or apathy has made you susceptible to the plague of ingratitude that paralyzes the mind and hands and weakens the feet that should be working and walking to meetings and out into house-to-house Kingdom service, hasten to take corrective measures: “Hence lift up the hands that hang down and strengthen the enfeebled knees, and keep making straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather that it may be healed.” (Heb. 12:12, 13) Avoid the mistake Demas made in highly appraising the value of anything this world has to offer. Though once enjoying the privilege of colaboring with an apostle, Demas lost his appreciation. His heart was in something else, so that Paul wrote Timothy: “Demas has forsaken me because he loved the present system of things.” Where is that system of things now? Where will this one be after Armageddon?

15. What forceful lesson is learned from Gehazi’s case?

¹⁵ Materialism warped the appreciation of Gehazi, who once enjoyed the privilege of colaboring with Jehovah’s prophet Elisha. He misappraised the value of material things to the point of lying to get them from Naaman, the Syrian army chief. “Is it a time to accept silver or to accept clothing or olive groves or vineyards or sheep or cattle or menservants or maidservants?” asked Elisha. Immediately the leprosy of Naaman stuck to Gehazi and he left the presence of Elisha, as “a leper white as snow.” Certainly this leper no longer could enjoy the privilege of serving Jehovah with Elisha. Beware that materialism now at the world’s end does not lead you into an unfit condition where you can no longer acceptably serve God. This is the especially acceptable season to seek first the Kingdom and Jehovah’s righteousness. Doing so, Jehovah’s King will seek you and your welfare at Armageddon.

16. How does Jehovah appraise this world, in spite of its scientific achievements?

¹⁶ This world’s religion, politics, business and diversions are purported to be valuable. God’s Word correctly appraises them as worthless as far as aiding you to gain everlasting life. If any part of this world were truly valuable, worth the warmth of satisfaction and approval that so many seem to find in it, would Jehovah be about to destroy it? That he is, John assures us: “The world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever.” (1 John 2:17) The advent of the atomic age and the birth of man-made “moons” does not mean an ungrateful world is on the threshold of a new era of peace and prosperity. Stock in the old world has not risen in value because science thinks to reach up into heaven. World builders thought the same at the tower of Babel and have never recovered from the blow Jehovah dealt them. This world will never recover from its smashing defeat at Armageddon.

17. Where is true happiness found?

¹⁷ You want happiness now and you want security. You value these along with comfort and hope. Then appreciate that the only way to find them is to look into Jehovah’s Word, the Bible, and learn his will for you here at the world’s end. God’s Word promises you will find there what you are looking for: “He who peers into the perfect law that belongs to freedom and who persists in it, this man, because he has become, not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, will be happy in his doing it.”—Jas. 1:25.

18. In appraising our privileges now, what prospects should we consider?

¹⁸ Your happiness will grow with the increasing joy of the New World society as your vision of the post-Armageddon new world widens. Weigh the gloom and fear of the present system against the joy and peaceful prospects just ahead. In appraising the value of God’s kingdom to you, think of the delightful life you may enjoy helping to restore the earth to paradisaic rest. You may help to landscape it, making it a glory to Jehovah. Your children will come into a world where nothing will hurt or destroy. You will be on hand to greet the appreciative men and women who receive their promised resurrection. What a thrill to talk with John the Baptist and hear his description of Jesus! Think of meeting Abel, Noah and his family, Abraham and Sarah, David and Deborah, Jephthah and his daughter, and many other appreciative servants of Jehovah who will be back to enjoy God’s new world with you.

19. How are privileges of service like signposts?

¹⁹ If you consider the joys set before you, you will copy Jesus’ example and “sell” all that you have to gain that new world. (Matt. 13:44, 45) Each privilege granted you in the Christian congregation is like a signpost on a fast-moving turnpike. It assures you that you are on the right road, heading in the right direction. (Matt. 7:14) This road is not the broad, spacious road of ingratitude. That road is leading off into certain destruction. The road leading off into life is the road of appreciation. Be among the relatively few who find it. You can by appreciating your privileges at the world’s end.

20. (a) How does Paul admonish all to treat their privileges? (b) For whom will Jehovah’s King show appreciation at the world’s complete end?

²⁰ Whatever gifts and privileges Jehovah extends to you, appraise them highly and faithfully use them to his honor. “Whatever you are doing, work at it whole-souled as to Jehovah, and not to men, for you know that it is from Jehovah you will receive the due reward of the inheritance.” (Col. 3:23, 24) “Since, then, we have gifts differing according to the undeserved kindness given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the faith proportioned to us; or a ministry, let us be at this ministry; or he that teaches, let him be at his teaching; or he that exhorts, let him be at his exhortation; he that distributes, let him do it with liberality; he that presides, let him do it in real earnest; he that shows mercy, let him do it with cheerfulness. Let your love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is wicked, cling to what is good. In brotherly love have tender affection for one another. In showing honor to one another take the lead. Do not loiter at your business. Be aglow with the spirit. Be slaves to Jehovah. Rejoice in the hope ahead. Endure under tribulation. Persevere in prayer.” (Rom. 12:6-12) To all men of good will who now appreciate their privileges, the King will say at the world’s end: “Come, you who have my Father’s blessing, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the world’s foundation.” (Matt. 25:34) Would you appreciate an inheritance like that? Then appreciate your privileges now at the old world’s end.

A Clerical Analysis of Christendom

In his book Questions People Ask, Robert J. McCracken, pastor of New York city’s Riverside Church, writes: “Years ago in Boston Bishop F. J. McConnell delivered a speech. . . . ‘During the Boxer Rebellion,’ he said, ‘hundreds, probably thousands of Chinese Christians were martyred. There they knelt, with their heads on the blocks, the knives trembling in the hands of the executioners. All they needed to do was to grunt out a Chinese word that meant “I recant” and their lives would be saved. Now, what should I have done under these circumstances? And I speak not simply personally, but in a representative capacity, for I think the rest of you are very much like myself. With my head on the block I suspect I should have said, “Hold on! I think I can make a statement that will be satisfactory to all sides.’”

“For too long, Christians have been like that, accommodating, worldly-wise, pliable, acquiescing in what is conventional, leaving their unbelieving neighbours uncertain as to what the Church stands for, unless it is an easy-going toleration of things as they are, coupled with a mild desire that they may grow better in time, so far as that is compatible with the maintenance of vested interests. Salt, light, leaven—those were the terms Jesus used in envisaging the impact of his disciples on the world. And to-day . . . the ever-present danger which confronts the Church is that it may become insipid—standing for nothing in particular, hesitant, halfhearted, its message muffled and uncertain.”