12, 13. (a) To what source must men go for true knowledge? (b) In what ways is this knowledge like a treasure?

¹² There is only one way to grow in knowledge of the truth and keep clear of harmful superstitions—by having the light. Jehovah says: “My son, if you will receive my sayings and treasure up my own commandments with yourself, so as to pay attention to wisdom with your ear, that you may incline your heart to discernment; if you keep seeking for it as for silver, and as for hid treasures you keep searching for it, in that case you will understand the fear of Jehovah, and you will find the very knowledge of God. For Jehovah himself gives wisdom; out of his mouth there are knowledge and discernment.”—Prov. 2:1, 2, 4-6.

¹³ Yes, accurate knowledge is like a hidden treasure. What could be worth more than the knowledge of Jehovah and Christ that means everlasting life? (John 17:3) But treasure must be sought for and found. Then it must be held on to. It can even be enlarged or increased. All of this takes effort on our part. How can this treasure be gained?

14. (a) What means has Jehovah provided for dispensing true knowledge? (b) Which people can gain this accurate knowledge?

¹⁴ Jehovah has provided his Word, his spirit and his organization. We must take in knowledge with the proper attitude, as “babes,” in humble recognition of Jehovah and his organization, which he uses today to dispense spiritual food. We should have an attitude of gratitude for all the provisions made through the organization of the anointed witnesses of Jehovah, the “faithful and discreet slave” mentioned by Jesus at Matthew 24:45. Jehovah has his own good way and purpose in providing the spiritual food as he does. What is provided is good and we should study it to learn. When a person realizes that he does not know everything, and is teachable like a child, then he can learn; then he will gain spiritual discernment. If he feels proud and wise as worldly men do who advance their theories instead of sticking to God’s principles, he will not understand. Jehovah will not give him his spirit. It is beyond the proud men of this world to understand the spiritual things. “A physical man does not receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are examined spiritually. However, the spiritual man examines indeed all things.”—1 Cor. 2:14, 15.

15. Why is spiritual discernment so important?

¹⁵ But someone may ask, Do not the clergy and others who claim to be wise men have the Bible and quote from it? Do they not know what it says? There is a vast difference between knowing some Scripture and having spiritual discernment. In time of temptation of Jesus, Satan showed he knew something from the Scriptures and quoted some texts, misapplying them completely. But Jesus had the spiritual discernment. Satan could not understand the meaning of the Scriptures because he did not have the spirit of God with him. Jesus knew how to use the Scriptures, and he used them well in resisting Satan’s temptations. Spiritual things are discerned only by those devoted to Jehovah who humbly seek for his treasures and to whom he gives his spirit. “For it is to us God has revealed them through his spirit, for the spirit searches into all things, even the deep things of God.”—1 Cor. 2:10; Matt. 4:1-11.

16. Who gain the spiritual discernment?

¹⁶ So it is seen that Jehovah commits his sacred secret to his faithful servants, and not to worldly-wise men who would try therewith to bring honor to themselves and not to God. Christ Jesus saw this and gratefully exclaimed: “I publicly praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intellectual ones and have revealed them to babes.” (Matt. 11:25) His disciples were given understanding because they humbly sought the treasure from Jehovah God. This spiritual discernment is not something common, to be treated lightly. It is not something one can buy. It is a gift from Jehovah to those who approach him in humility, who study Jehovah’s Word and who use their knowledge to honor him. It is a great hidden treasure. Seek it, every one of you.

STUDY

17, 18. Why is study necessary, and what should be our attitude toward it?

¹⁷ When we study our motive must be pure and our minds open. Our purpose should be the learning of something for future use in serving Jehovah rather than wanting to boast in our personal knowledge, feeling our own importance and having all our brothers come running to us so we can throw out our chest in pride when we can answer some Scriptural questions. By having the proper attitude toward the treasured light we can gain the spirit of Jehovah, which is the way to the understanding of the Word that was written under its inspiration.

¹⁸ Personal study is the foundation part of the life of the true minister of God. We cannot get along without it. Just as the strong physical man maintains strength through regular training, exercise and proper eating, so the spiritual man must exercise his mind by having proper spiritual food regularly. Busy though Jehovah’s servants are in ministering to others, they cannot neglect their personal study. For a little while one may get by with hastily taking in his spiritual food while on the run, but later on he will feel a loss. Time must be set aside for this personal study, making oneself think, and the schedule must be held to carefully.—Deut. 8:3.

19, 20. How is concentration related to successful study?

¹⁹ When we sit down to study let us have clear minds, putting aside other things for the moment. What are you thinking about now? Are you concentrating on what you are reading? Or are you preoccupied with things in your home or what you are going to do tomorrow? You are spending valuable time reading this article. Then is it not wise to be practical and absorb all the spiritual things presented here? Think about other things when you are not engaged in theocratic study.

²⁰ This is just an example. The same principle can be applied to any meetings we attend for Bible study. We can cultivate the quality of concentration. We shall achieve this only by being more interested in what we are studying than in anything else. When one is very much interested in a subject, concentration becomes almost automatic. One can cultivate the ability to concentrate by reminding oneself of this fact each time one starts to study.

21. How can one gain the most from time spent in study?

²¹ As we study let us reason on what we are studying. Let us prove for ourselves by the Scriptures that these things are so. Remember that we are trying to learn for future use and we are studying material that is the basis for what we do. In the Bible and in Bible study publications of the Society we can make notes. We should learn to pick out the key words that answer questions, and we may even underline them to help us remember. Our desire must be to make the truths our own, useful to us in the ministry.

22. How is use of accurate knowledge related to gaining spiritual discernment?

²² After this concentration and preparing of the mind to receive and retain the accurate knowledge, make practical use of what you have been given by Jehovah. Think about the things learned and, by association of ideas, get them firmly in mind. The apostle Paul said: “Give constant thought to what I am saying; the Lord will really give you discernment in all things.” (2 Tim. 2:7) Not only think about these things, but talk about them. Write about them. Repetition is needed by almost everyone to hold on to the accurate knowledge. A wonderful provision of Jehovah is the regular meetings where we can discuss spiritual things we have already studied and gain answers to questions or points that trouble us. For our own good we take an active part in giving comments. By thus keeping close to the organization and by helping others with their study of the Bible, we ourselves can be filled with accurate knowledge. And the more we use our knowledge of the truth the more we understand and have the spiritual discernment; as Paul showed at Hebrews 5:14: “Solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong.” This solid food is spiritual food. Does solid spiritual food belong to you? Have you made it your own?

PLEASING JEHOVAH

23, 24. (a) Why become filled with accurate knowledge? (b) What benefits result from the field ministry use of our knowledge?

²³ The spiritual food and knowledge have been provided for Jehovah’s servants in abundance to help us take a course that will be pleasing to Jehovah. If we have filled up our minds with accurate knowledge we know how to walk before Jehovah and please him. At Colossians 1:9-12 we read: “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, being made powerful with all power to the extent of his glorious might so as to endure fully and be long-suffering with joy, thanking the Father.” Think about those words. It is this accurate knowledge that brings wisdom and spiritual discernment. It is to be made use of in walking before Jehovah in his service. And as we go bearing fruit in Jehovah’s service, doing good work, we shall be increasing in the accurate knowledge of Jehovah. To be active in the ministry, preaching at the doors and in the homes, is a good friend and benefactor to us. By using the spiritual knowledge we enlarge our perceptive powers. We get the full benefit of the personal study we have done. Note how it comes about.

²⁴ One example is the use we make of the knowledge in field ministry. Before we can preach we must be prepared. In our service meetings and at home we outline Bible sermons to be given at the doors and on our back-call visits. Then we go to the homes of the people and deliver the sermons. People ask questions of us and we find the answers for them in the Bible, thus enlarging our knowledge. We repeat the principles of Jehovah and more firmly implant them in our minds. Our minds become more keen in perception as we study the Bible each day and conduct Bible studies in the homes of the people. So by bearing fruit in the ministry, by use of the knowledge we have gained, we are constantly increasing in accurate knowledge. We are alive spiritually.

25. What results to those who do not put knowledge to use in serving God?

²⁵ In contrast, those inactive in God’s service do not go on increasing in accurate knowledge. Even if one sits at home and reads for hours and hours, he is not gaining in perceptive powers through use of the knowledge. He does not produce fruit in God’s service. Jesus said those who do not produce fruit are put aside. (John 15:2) Individuals who do not put their knowledge to use demonstrate that they do not have discernment, nor its key, God’s spirit. As Jesus demonstrated at Luke 19:26, if one does not use what he has been given it will be taken away from him. The only way to go on increasing in accurate knowledge, to have spiritual discernment and wisdom, is to be bearing fruit consistently in the service of Jehovah.

Increased Knowledge Brings Lasting Benefits

1. Why is it so important to gather accurate knowledge now?

SINCE A.D. 1914 Jehovah has mercifully kept the way open for creatures on earth to come to a knowledge of him and be saved. He cut short the troubles against Satan and allowed a time when spiritual food could be distributed in abundance. But then will come the time of difficulty when the way will be closed. (Matt. 24:20-22) Knowing this, we see how important a time it is now for all to be taking in more accurate knowledge and fleeing from the superstitions of the dark world. It is a time to work at taking in knowledge, like the ants that gather food in the summertime of plenty. The fools who do not gather in accurate knowledge now are like the proverbial grasshopper who took the easy course in times of plenty and did not look to the future. Suddenly comes the winter and calamity for the unprepared. “Go to the ant, you lazy one; see its ways and become wise. . . . it prepares its food even in the summer; it has gathered its food supplies even in the harvest. How long, you lazy one, will you keep lying down?”—Prov. 6:6-9.

2. (a) Why does the wise person never come to the end of learning? (b) How does the true Christian use his increased learning to help others?

² Even though a person may have some knowledge of the Bible and may be serving in the ministry, he is wise only if he continues to give ear to the words of Jehovah and thus goes on increasing the knowledge he has. Scriptures have been written that a “wise person will listen and take in more instruction, and a man of understanding is the one who acquires skillful direction.” (Prov. 1:5) Christians never come to the end of their learning, but “the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established.” (Prov. 4:18) There is need for each person who has begun to serve Jehovah to continue advancing to greater maturity for his own good and for the benefit of those he serves in the ministry. There are many