Be Filled with Spiritual Discernment

“Be filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual discernment, in order to walk worthily of Jehovah to the end of fully pleasing him.”—Col. 1:9, 10.

1. What kind of decisions is the Christian called upon to make, and what is required to make right decisions?

EACH day the dedicated Christian is called upon to make decisions. Living in this world presents many problems, and issues arise that require him to make decisions. He has to make decisions in his home affecting his family, at his place of business affecting his relationship with those outside the truth; he has to act on matters that affect his relationship with his brothers and sisters in the New World society, or that affect his relationship to Jehovah and His organization and the Kingdom service. How to make right decisions, how to follow always the right course, that is the problem. To do so requires spiritual discernment.

2, 3. How should we view things in order to make right decisions, and what does this result in?

² To discern things in a spiritual way means to view things the way Jehovah views them. Jehovah, by the operation of his spirit, has made known his viewpoint on things in his inspired Word. He tells us how he values things, what he considers to be valuable and worth while and what he considers to be vain and worthless, what works and thoughts are good and virtuous and those that are evil and wicked. Being in the fallen flesh, one tends to view things from the standpoint of the flesh. But if a person allows the tendencies of the flesh, such as selfishness, fear, pride or jealousy, to influence him when issues arise, then that one is certain to make wrong decisions.

³ To make right decisions the Christian must be filled with spiritual discernment. He must discern clearly right from wrong. He must come to love what is right and hate what is wrong, as Paul expressed it at Romans 12:9, saying: “Abhor what is wicked, cling to what is good.” Demonstrating that one has spiritual discernment by making right decisions is something pleasing to Jehovah and results in walking worthily before him. Wrote the same apostle to the Colossians (1:9, 10): “We . . . have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual discernment, in order to walk worthily of Jehovah to the end of fully pleasing him as you go on bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the accurate knowledge of God.”

4. What does it mean to “discern,” and what part does knowledge play in spiritual discernment?

⁴ How can we be filled with spiritual discernment? In those words to the congregation at Colossae Paul points to the first basic essential, namely, to have an accurate knowledge of God’s will, to be filled with such accurate knowledge. To “discern” literally means to “see” or “distinguish with the mind’s eye,” that is, to distinguish or notice one thing from another, whether it is right or wrong, important or unimportant, valuable or worthless. Knowledge is to the eye of discernment what light is to the natural eye. It illuminates, makes things stand out clear and sharp in their proper relationship to one another. Just as light is essential for one to choose the best path over rough and treacherous ground, so accurate knowledge is needed to discern the right and safe course to take through the treacherous and dangerous conditions of this old system of things. Thus an accurate knowledge of God’s will, along with the love for God that such knowledge brings, acts as a strong force for righteousness in one’s life and is essential to making right decisions, to one’s pleasing Jehovah.—Eph. 4:23, 24.

5, 6. (a) What kind of studying is required? (b) What is one way we can “make sure” of the things we study?

⁵ To fix firmly in mind the accurate knowledge of God’s will requires study. This is something so essential that it cannot be overstressed. The kind of studying required is the kind that fixes ideas permanently in the mind, and this calls for effort and concentration. We must be “working hard and exerting ourselves” in our Bible study. Yes, study means just that—study! It means meditation. Food needs to be well chewed if it is to be properly digested. While chewing food we savor it, getting the full taste out of it. Likewise with spiritual food, it needs to be chewed, turned over and over in the mind, getting the full taste of it. As an aid to this mental chewing of spiritual food we might ask ourselves questions as we read (as when studying this magazine), such as, Why is that? How is this so? No, not out of any spirit of criticism of what is being read, but so that we examine our own thoughts to see that we are grasping the points with understanding. Just as the apostle admonishes: “Make sure of all things; hold fast to what is right,” that is, understand what is read and then fix the points firmly in mind.—1 Tim. 4:10; 1 Thess. 5:21.

⁶ Spiritual discernment does not come just from learning a lot of facts. Many people have knowledge, they have information in their minds, yet they lack spiritual discernment. For us to have spiritual discernment means that we have understood and digested the facts, examined them in the light of other knowledge already learned, and placed the new information in its right relationship to the other, allowing it to enlarge or to correct and amend our understanding of matters on which new light has shone. In this way we ‘may prove to ourselves the good and acceptable and complete will of God.’—Rom. 12:2.

7. Why is Jehovah’s spirit so essential to becoming filled with spiritual discernment? So what should be done on each occasion of personal study?

⁷ Then, too, it is necessary to have Jehovah’s help by his spirit if one is to become filled with spiritual discernment. It is only by the spirit of Jehovah, along with study and meditation, that one can gain accurate knowledge and full understanding. This all-important fact must never be forgotten: It is impossible to be filled with spiritual discernment without the help of God’s spirit. God’s own Word states: “For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of man that is in him? So, too, no one has come to know the things of God, except the spirit of God. Now we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that have been kindly given us by God. These things we also speak, not with words taught by human wisdom, but with those taught by the spirit, as we combine spiritual matters with spiritual words.” So when you study, yes, on each occasion when you study privately at home, pray to Jehovah for his spirit to help you in your study, to help you to understand, to help you to grasp the meaning of the things you read, that you may grow in spiritual discernment.—1 Cor. 2:11-13.

8. We should study with what purpose in mind, and what must we make sure to avoid?

⁸ Along with such prayers for the spirit there must be the necessary effort in personal study, with the purpose in mind of enlarging one’s understanding and appreciation of God’s Word so as to grow in spiritual discernment. Such study can and should be joyful and exhilarating. Casual study in preparation for congregational meetings, such as for the Watchtower study, does not lead to spiritual discernment. Some may have the habit of leaving their study preparation to the last minute, maybe to an hour or two before the scheduled congregation study. Perhaps there is time just to look up some of the easier questions and check the answers in the paragraphs so that at least some comment can be made in the Watchtower study at the Kingdom Hall. But that is not study, is it? What information one may get in that way is quickly forgotten, and probably will not be remembered a day or two after the consideration of that particular material.

9, 10. (a) Of what benefit is review in our personal study? (b) Why is there a need for a regular schedule for personal study?

⁹ In scheduling definite times for personal study and preparation for the Watchtower study and other meetings sufficient time should be allowed for meditation on the material as one goes along, chewing over the information so as to get it fixed firmly in mind. To see whether this has been accomplished it is good to review after each period of personal study. Then is the time when the information is fresh, and the best time to see that it has made a deep impression. Making an effort to recall the information to conscious thought immediately after the period of study trains the process of memory and the ability to recall, and will do much to fix the points firmly in mind. The final review could be with a closed magazine or book. We have the title of the article; now, how much can we remember of the high lights, of the main arguments? Do we recall some of the proof texts that were used? Can we relate the main points together in a brief summary of the article? If not, we need to go through the article again, consciously looking for the high points, the main arguments.

¹⁰ One may say at this point, “But all this takes time.” True, but it is time well spent, time that must be spent if an accurate knowledge of God’s will is to be fixed firmly in mind and the proper basis provided for being filled with spiritual discernment. There is no short cut. Study, regular study, is essential to being filled with spiritual discernment. As Paul wrote to Timothy: “Give constant thought to what I am saying; the Lord will really give you discernment in all things.”—2 Tim. 2:7.

11. What will result from growing in understanding and appreciation of the truth?

¹¹ As you follow this wise course you will rejoice in growing in understanding and appreciation of the truth. It will sink deep into your mind and heart and become part of you. Then, indeed, you will be “always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of you a reason for the hope in you.” Your mind and heart will be strong, mature, sound. You will see clearly the way to go. You will not fall from the narrow path of truth and sound doctrine into the morass of false teachings and sectarian ideas; you will avoid having extreme views on things, and will be guarded from falling into the all-too-easy snare of leaning to your own understanding. With your mind filled with accurate knowledge and your thinking abilities guided by Jehovah’s spirit you will discern the right way to go, the way that is full of light, and be delivered from the bad way that leads into darkness. “When wisdom enters into your heart and knowledge itself becomes pleasant to your very soul, thinking ability itself will keep guard over you, discernment itself will safeguard you, to deliver you from the bad way, from the man speaking perverse things, from those leaving the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness.”—1 Pet. 3:15; Prov. 2:13.

12. What does the Christian need to do when issues arise in his life, and what does he need to discern when making decisions?

¹² The Christian must exercise spiritual discernment in the way he walks “in order to walk worthily of Jehovah to the end of fully pleasing him.” When issues arise that affect one personally, the imperfect flesh is quick to react, and, if one is not careful, it can lead one into a wrong course of action. One must restrain the fleshly impulses and passions and be guided instead by spiritual discernment. So, when issues arise, there is need to stop and think: What do the Scriptures say about this? How would Jehovah and Christ Jesus view the matter? Often a number of factors are involved that may not be taken into account if one acts hastily; such as factors affecting various interests—the interests of one’s fellow witnesses and of the Christian congregation, divine interests, and, perhaps, one’s own life interests. Consider the following inspired counsel: “That your love may abound yet more and more with accurate knowledge and full discernment, that you may make sure of the more important things, so that you may be flawless and not be stumbling others up to the day of Christ, and may be filled with righteous fruit which is through Jesus Christ, to God’s glory and praise.”—Phil. 1:9-11.

13, 14. (a) How will the one having spiritual discernment act in the face of some difficulty in the congregation? (b) What will help him have the right viewpoint?

¹³ Perhaps something in a congregation is not handled just right, or at least so one may think. Even if something is not handled just the way it should be, that would be no reason for one’s getting upset to the point of agitation, possibly letting his temper get a little out of hand. If this were to happen, he would most surely lose his sense of balance. His acting hastily under such circumstances would be from the standpoint of the flesh and not from mature spiritual discernment. Even if at the start one is in the right about something, acting hastily will not help, and such one may find himself also taking a wrong course, and that would not put anything right. At all times we must watch that we do not run ahead of Jehovah and his organization, becoming impatient, taking things into our own hands. There may be times when someone goes wrong, and perhaps because he holds some office in the congregation things become a little difficult for a while; but such are the times for demonstrating Christian patience, and, if there is nothing that we can do theocratically to handle the situation, then we need to wait for Jehovah to remedy the matter. The one filled with spiritual discernment will do so.

¹⁴ It is a matter of getting the right perspective, of viewing things with a right sense of proportion. Local difficulties or problems may arise from time to time because of human imperfections and they may result in inconvenience and a test of one’s patience, and even put a strain on one’s affections; but by our stopping and meditating a little these problems would soon come to appear small when compared to other more important things.

15, 16. (a) What are some of the more important things on which we should fix our attention? (b) How does Paul in his letter to the Philippians encourage this mental attitude?

¹⁵ Consider for a moment some of these more important things. The fact that we are living in the last days of this system of things; that Armageddon, the battle of the great day of God Almighty, when he will magnify and vindicate his universal sovereignty, is at hand; that Christ Jesus is now ruling in Kingdom power and is directing the great work of having “this good news of the kingdom” preached in all the earth; that as a result of this preaching work, persons of good will from all lands, tongues, races and peoples are being gathered together into one united, harmonious New World society. As one considers these things and the wonderful privilege and undeserved kindness of knowing them and sharing in them, one’s heart is filled to overflowing with gratitude to Jehovah. How petty and small one’s problems now seem when compared to these so much more important things! So, when small problems come up, or even big ones from a local standpoint, the one having spiritual discernment will not allow such problems to become so big in his mind as to distort his vision. He will keep his balance and always view things in their relation to the more important things.

¹⁶ Happily, problems and difficulties do not arise all the time in the New World society; indeed, they are few and far between in comparison to the joys that are ever present: experiences in the field, the finding and feeding of the sheep, the happy association with the brothers at the Kingdom Hall. These are the things to have our minds on. “Whatever things are righteous, . . . whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well spoken of, whatever virtue there is and whatever praiseworthy thing there is, continue considering these things.” Let such things flood your mind and you will always keep your sense of proportion. You will be able to discern spiritually.—Phil. 4:8.

17. How have some come to stumble out of the truth over little things?

¹⁷ One who is overcritical, always looking at others from the standpoint of the imperfections of the flesh, loses sight of the more important things. Such a one is likely to find himself becoming an unhappy complainer. Some, indeed, have allowed trifling things to stumble them right out of the truth. How? They allowed a little thing to become a big thing in their lives, so big that it crowded out everything else. They lost their spiritual discernment. Instead of stopping to consider things from the standpoint of God’s Word, they allowed some fleshly passion, such as pride, fear or jealousy, to motivate them. They were led along by their own understanding into a course ending in spiritual disaster.

18. How can we guard against such a course of stumbling?

¹⁸ Certainly all of us want to guard against such a course, do we not? We will do so if we have increased and keep on increasing in an accurate knowledge of what God’s will is for us, if we hold the more important things in our minds and hearts and if, when issues arise, we take notice of Jehovah’s way of looking at things as set out in his Word and do not become wise in our own eyes. In this connection note the timely counsel Jehovah gives us at Proverbs 3:1-7: “My son, my law do not forget, and my commandments may your heart observe, because length of days and years of life and peace will be added to you. May loving-kindness and trueness themselves not leave you. Tie them about your throat. Write them upon the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and good insight in the eyes of God and of earthling man. Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight. Do not become wise in your own eyes. Fear Jehovah and turn away from bad.”

19. How do we show that we trust in Jehovah with all our hearts?

¹⁹ Even when one thinks he is in the right about something he must be on guard against being overly righteous, wise in his own eyes, and thus being carried away by his own self-righteousness. The Christian must maintain his balance, keeping control of his spirit, not giving Satan any opportunity to overcome him and lead him in a bad way. Time must be taken for one to consider a matter, using spiritual discernment, turning to God’s Word to get His mind on matters. There is hardly any problem that can arise in the Christian’s life about which Jehovah’s Word does not give wise counsel and guidance. One shows that he trusts in Jehovah with all his heart by seeking His counsel and then following it at all times, by letting agreement with the accurate knowledge of God’s will be ‘the force actuating his mind,’ and by thus putting on “the new personality which was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loving-kindness.”—Eph. 4:23, 24.

20. (a) How does spiritual discernment guard against our becoming angry or upset? (b) What proper course did Jesus advise in dealing with one who gives offense?

²⁰ Spiritual discernment leads one into the right relationship with his brothers and sisters in the New World society. For example, if a brother feels he has been wronged he will not act in hasty anger, being upset because of what his brother may have done toward him or said about him. What is it that would cause a person to get upset and angry under such circumstances? Is it not because he is thinking just of himself, is disturbed perhaps because his good name has been misrepresented? But is not something more important involved? If someone in the congregation has acted wrongly, the spiritually discerning Christian sees that his brother’s wrong course is an evidence of some spiritual weakness on his part and that his spiritual life is therefore in danger, and that is surely something more to be concerned with than any real or imagined wrong his brother may have done to him. Rather than “keep account of the injury,” the mature Christian is moved to go to his erring brother, not in anger, not to get some personal satisfaction for the wrong he may have done, but out of love for him, to help him up from his stumbling if possible, before it is too late. Is not this just what Jesus advised: “Moreover, if your brother commits a sin, go lay bare his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother”?—1 Cor. 13:4, 5; Matt. 18:15.

21. How does the mature servant of Jehovah view himself?

²¹ Having spiritual discernment, God’s faithful servants see themselves for what they are, just earthen vessels, of little worth in themselves, yet, through Jehovah’s undeserved kindness, containing valuable treasures of knowledge to be used in his service. This keeps them humble, always appreciating that what they have that is of value has been received from Jehovah and is no cause for boasting in themselves. At 1 Corinthians 4:6, 7 the apostle wrote: “Learn the rule, ‘Do not go beyond the things that are written,’ in order that you may not be puffed up individually in favor of the one against the other. For who makes you to differ from another? Indeed, what do you have that you did not receive? If, now, you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” Having this Scriptural point of view will guard one from becoming proud and self-centered, or touchy and resentful, thus making him difficult to get along with. He will be filled with appreciation for Jehovah’s goodness and the privilege of knowing Him and his Son, Christ Jesus, and he will forget himself and be interested only in sharing the good things he has with others.

22. While we are remaining humble, what extremes must be avoided? How?

²² Yet, while we are remaining humble, there is need to guard against the opposite extreme of having an inferiority complex, being apologetic, feeling dissatisfied with oneself to the point of discouragement. Recognizing the power of Jehovah’s spirit, one discerns with a sound mind that, with Jehovah’s help, he is able to do what is God’s will for him and so he tackles any assignment of service with faith. As we read at Romans 12:3: “For through the undeserved kindness given to me I tell everyone there among you not to think more of himself than it is necessary to think; but to think so as to have a sound mind, each one as God has distributed to him a measure of faith.”

23. How does spiritual discernment contribute to unity among the brothers?

²³ This humble yet realistic viewpoint toward himself enables the Christian to have an honest, frank and realistic attitude toward his brothers, which makes for refreshing companionship and godly harmony. Spiritual discernment enables us to work together in unity, appreciating the needs of one another, enabling us to give practical expression to the quality of love. So, be filled with spiritual discernment, make right decisions, “in order to walk worthily of Jehovah to the end of fully pleasing him as you go on bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the accurate knowledge of God.”

Spiritual Discernment—an Evidence of Christian Maturity

1, 2. (a) What is necessary for a young child as it faces new situations, yet what will the wise parent work for? (b) What is the most important kind of maturity?

A YOUNG child needs help and guidance. The parents who are concerned with the welfare of the child are always ready to give the needed help and advice as the growing child faces new situations. At first the parents have to make decisions on behalf of the child: what is good or what is bad; what to eat or what not to eat; when to sleep or when to play; where the child can go in safety and what places to avoid as dangerous; what literature is within the child’s scope and beneficial for its upbringing and what would tend to confuse or would be bad for spiritual and moral growth. But as the child progresses in years the wise parent trains his child to think for himself, to discern what is good and bad, wise and foolish. Then as adulthood in years is reached so also is mental maturity.

² It is important for parents to appreciate the need for mental and spiritual growth in their children, particularly the latter growth. The term “maturity” can be applied to many features of growth, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, but it is the last-named kind, spiritual maturity, that is the most important, and yet as far as this world is concerned, it is the one most neglected.

3. (a) How should the wise instructor train those with whom he studies? (b) What is the evidence of Christian maturity?

³ Our illustration of the child well applies to the growth to Christian maturity of a person newly coming to a knowledge of the truth. At first he needs help in how to study God’s Word, the personal help and guidance of a mature Christian. He needs to be fed. But the wise instructor will train his student to think and reason things out for himself so that he can soon begin to feed himself and grow in powers of discernment. Just as the evidence of true adulthood is in demonstrating adult understanding and appreciation, so Christian maturity is demonstrated by one’s powers of spiritual discernment, the ability to arrive at right decisions, keenly discerning right from wrong on the basis of Bible principles. Paul well expressed this: “For everyone that partakes of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong. For this reason, now that we have left the elementary doctrine about the Christ, let us press on to maturity.”—Heb. 5:13 to 6:1.

4. (a) What encouragement is there for those newly acquainted with the truth? (b) What is the chief factor in making progress toward maturity?

⁴ Some readers of this magazine may have begun a study of the Bible with the help of Watch Tower study aids just in recent weeks or months. Such may feel “unacquainted with the word,” being babes, as it were, from the spiritual viewpoint. To such ones we would say, Continue in your diligent study of God’s Word, confident that by Jehovah’s undeserved kindness you can grow to Christian maturity. Attaining to Christian maturity does not necessarily take many years, as it does for a child to attain maturity in a physical way. Rather than depend solely on the amount of time spent in study, the chief factor that it depends on is depth of heart devotion to Jehovah and appreciation for his “word of righteousness.” One needs to be meek and teachable and anxious to make progress. After assimilating the elementary doctrines one must make progress toward understanding the “solid food” of truth, thus demonstrating advancement to maturity.

5. To whom actually are the words at Hebrews 5:13 to 6:1 addressed, and why?

⁵ But the apostle in writing the words quoted above to the Hebrews was not writing to ones newly associating with the Christian congregation. He was, in fact, writing to persons who had been “in the truth” for some time but had failed to advance to maturity and were still babes as to spiritual discernment. They were not demonstrating the qualities of “full-grown men” that were so much needed for the work of teaching to be done, so he wrote to them that they “ought to be teachers in view of the time.” There was need for these ones “to show . . . industriousness so as to have the full assurance of the hope down to the end, in order that [they might] not become sluggish, but be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”—Heb. 6:11, 12.

6. Why do we need to continue ‘pressing on to maturity’?

⁶ Maturity is not something that, once attained, stays with us without further effort on our part. The Christian organization is constantly on the advance. The light of truth shining upon it and through it gets steadily brighter. This is especially true now in this day when Jehovah has come to his temple, for “when there are judgments from [him] for the earth, righteousness is what the inhabitants of the productive land will certainly learn.” Not only is there an advancement in knowledge and understanding, but, since this is the day for the preaching of “this good news of the kingdom,” Jehovah is training his witnesses as never before to accomplish this work in the most effective manner possible. Constantly, by means of his theocratic organization, he provides new methods and equipment for this work. To keep up with the advancing maturity of the organization in spiritual understanding and ministerial ability means a constant ‘pressing on to maturity.’—Malachi chapter 3; Isa. 26:9; Matt. 24:14.

7. What should one discern in connection with the ministry? How only can we continue to make progress?

⁷ The need is for each one of Jehovah’s witnesses to discern his relationship to the advancement being made by the organization. It may be that one has been long associated with the truth, having been active many years in the ministry. Such steadfastness is well-pleasing to Jehovah. But there is a need at the same time to discern that one is keeping pace with the New World society. If you are in the happy position of having had many years in Jehovah’s service, then you will be anxious about the effectiveness of your ministry. Does it produce fruit? Does it help new ones by teaching them and making disciples out of them? As mentioned previously, one of the basic essentials of maturity and spiritual discernment is humility. To be able to discern accurately how we are making progress we need to take an honest, humble look at ourselves. If we are not making the desired progress, then we should not be too proud to seek help, or resent it when one of the overseers comes to us offering assistance. We must discern our needs if we are to continue to make progress.—Phil. 3:16.

8. (a) Where does spiritual discernment begin? (b) What relationship or association is most important for the Christian?

⁸ The evidence of this growth in Christian maturity is in the discernment one shows of each step to be taken, of each decision to be made. It begins right with dedication. The one considering dedication must understand first that his dedication is being made, not to some man, nor to please some person, be it husband or wife, mother or father. It is not a dedication to an organization, not even to the New World society. It is a dedication to the Supreme Personage in the universe, Jehovah God, with the determination to do his will and please him, just as Jesus expressed it: “I am come . . . to do your will, O God.” The dedicated one appreciates, then, that the most cherished association or relationship is that which he now enters into with Jehovah. That is a holy, precious and “intimate” relationship into which Jehovah invites his creatures by means of his undeserved kindness through Jesus Christ, a relationship not to be lightly broken.—Heb. 10:7; Ps. 25:14.

9. Why is dedication to a work a mistake, and what can having an unbalanced view of the ministry lead to?

⁹ One who dedicates himself just to do a certain work, such as preaching, makes a mistake. When the going gets rough he easily becomes discouraged. If he sees only the physical association with the organization and its members as the most important thing to be guarded he is lacking in spiritual discernment. Work in preaching the good news, and physical association with the New World society, are not enough in themselves and do not guarantee salvation. There is no salvation on the basis of works alone. To have this view of things would place one in the same danger as those under the Mosaic law who sought to “establish their own [righteousness].” It can lead to becoming “egotistical, stirring up competition with one another, envying one another” over having a good record of preaching service.—Rom. 10:1-3; Gal. 5:26.

10. What helps to keep the right view of the Kingdom work?

¹⁰ Does this mean that God’s work is unimportant? Not at all! To the contrary, the mature Christian spiritually discerns that his dedication to Jehovah calls for him to love Jehovah with his whole heart, soul, mind and strength. He remembers the words of James that “faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.” By always being conscious of his dedicated relationship to Jehovah he is able to take the right view of his work and engage in it with the right motive; because of love for his heavenly Father, out of a desire to exalt His name, out of love for his neighbor and sharing with him the same privileges and blessings. A mature understanding of the initial step of dedication paves the way for mature worship “with spirit and truth.”—Mark 12:30; Jas. 2:17; John 4:23.

11. How could a married man show a lack of spiritual discernment?

¹¹ Spiritual discernment, then, results in having the mature view of the ministry that takes into account the other responsibilities one may have as a dedicated servant of Jehovah. A man who is married, with children, has many blessed privileges and responsibilities. It would show a lack of spiritual discernment for him to neglect family obligations just to build up an outstanding record of service in the field. Not only must the Christian provide for the necessary material needs of his family, but he will be alert to “provide for those who are his own” in a spiritual way, studying with them and aiding them to become mature in God’s service. To fail to give such proper attention to “those who are members of his household” is the same as ‘disowning the faith.’—1 Tim. 5:8.

12. What will the mature Christian discern as to his preaching activity, and as to any necessary secular work?

¹² A record of service in preaching the good news is not in itself the proof of maturity. Of what avail would such be if, at the same time, one failed to walk in harmony with the Bible principles of morality, or in some other way practiced what was hurtful in the congregation. This would not be walking worthily of Jehovah, not fully pleasing him. While working diligently in God’s service, telling others of the good news, the Christian discerns the need to pursue the course of integrity in every part of his life if he is to serve for the vindication of Jehovah’s name. At all times the mature person remembers he is dedicated to do the divine will and always he will want to please the One whose servant he is, Jehovah. He will not be doing things just to please men, whether when engaged in congregational activities or in his secular work, but he will do all things honestly, “with sincerity of heart,” working “whole-souled as to Jehovah, and not to men.”—Col. 3:22-24.

13. (a) How does the mature publisher pursue a balanced ministry? (b) What is the secret of being truly joyful in the ministry?

¹³ In the ministerial work itself the discerning publisher of the good news keeps a proper balance, always having in mind the more important things of the ministry. He is not content with just house-to-house work distributing literature. He sees it is not enough just to be able to preach. He discerns that now is the time he ought to be a teacher, able to feed the sheep and help them find the way to eternal life. So he is diligent to keep a record of any interest he has found and to call back. When he makes his return visits he is prepared with interesting Bible sermons and is alert to arrange a home Bible study with those persons of good will. Being filled with accurate knowledge of God’s Word, with love for Jehovah the Great Shepherd, for the good Undershepherd Christ Jesus and with love for the other sheep, the Christian minister moves out in the service with a burning desire to find and feed the sheep—out of love and not just from a sense of duty. That is the secret of being truly joyful in the ministry.—Heb. 5:12; John 21:15-17.

14, 15. (a) What blessings result from Christian maturity? (b) What must be guarded against? How?

¹⁴ Spiritual maturity brings with it untold joys and blessings. His being filled with accurate knowledge and spiritual discernment makes the Christian strong, able to ward off attacks of the enemy, Satan, able to identify his subtle snares of materialism and fear of men and to resist them. He escapes the frustrations, worries and self-inflicted pains that come from unwisely following senseless and hurtful desires and avoids foolish actions that lead to self-reproach and a guilt-heavy conscience.—1 Tim. 6:9, 10.

¹⁵ While enjoying the blessings such maturity brings we must guard against overconfidence and always remember that Christian maturity and spiritual discernment do not result from just our own efforts but come about by the operation of Jehovah’s spirit in expression of his loving-kindness to us. So we will continue to look to Jehovah in prayer to help us continue serving him in a mature way, to hold us back from any presumptuous acts, that ‘the sayings of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts may become pleasurable to Jehovah’ at all times.—Ps. 19:13, 14.

16, 17. In what way can each one share in the spirit of joyful optimism of the New World society?

¹⁶ The faithful servant of Jehovah moves forward confidently, happy and contented as he works under the direction of the reigning King, Christ Jesus, and the visible theocratic organization that God has established in the earth. His Christian maturity enables him to strengthen and build up his brothers and persons of good will so that they also may attain to full Christian manhood and share the same joy and blessings.

¹⁷ The happy, confident outlook demonstrated by the New World society of Jehovah’s witnesses is an evidence of its maturity. Each one can share in that spirit of joyful optimism by reaching out for the goal of Christian maturity, and getting filled with spiritual discernment. By our doing so unnumbered joys and privileges can be our portion both now and in the new world just ahead, “provided, of course, that you continue in the faith, established on the foundation and steadfast and not being shifted away from the hope of that good news which you heard, and which was preached in all creation that is under heaven.”—Col. 1:23.

“Spiritual Malnutrition”

American clergyman and religious writer Roy L. Smith has written about the spiritual food dispensed by Christendom’s churches: “A people that will sell principles for profits, barter character for pleasure, or sacrifice manhood for dividends must be prepared to face the disintegration that inevitably follows. The cause of this collapse is spiritual malnutrition. We have been feeding on much food, but it has not produced strength for the crisis. More than a generation ago Dr. Stephen M. Babcock, of the University of Wisconsin, made the amazing discovery that cattle might be eating prodigious amounts of food and at the same time be starving to death. Extended investigation revealed the fact that life-giving food contains a strange element called vitamins, which furnish the vitality necessary for maintaining life, and that the value of any food depends upon its vitamin content. The spiritual collapse of these last days makes evident the fact that we have been feeding on food that is lacking in spiritual vitamins. . . . We have been abundantly fed but not well fed.”—Treasury of the Christian Faith, p. 267.