to draw undue attention to yourself, and so might even cause you to stumble. Instead of seeking glory for yourself, honor God and look to his organization for instruction.

BY THOUGHTLESS CONDUCT

Especially as regards their personal conduct do dedicated Christians need to remember that not all things that are lawful build up. Today we may not have the problem of stumbling others by eating certain kinds of flesh, but let it be noted that Paul added, “or do anything over which your brother stumbles.”—Rom. 14:21.

In certain states of the United States and in certain lands the use of alcoholic liquor is taboo. For a Christian to indulge in liquor in such places may easily stumble a person of good will. Even where it is lawful, frequenting a bar or tavern may have the same harmful effect. Or at a social gathering one may stop just short of drunkenness but still have imbibed enough to create an unfavorable impression. How much better to deny oneself a little and so leave a good impression on others!

You might attend certain moving picture shows or stage plays of questionable moral value and feel that they would not hurt you, but it might hurt others to see you going to such, wondering how you would allow yourself the liberty to do so. Or you might neglect a congregational meeting because you want to see a certain moving picture. You might reason that doing this just once would not harm you, but you might stumble those upon whom you urge regular attendance at Christian congregational meetings and the importance of them.

Then again, you might have an abundance of this world’s goods and because of this manifest poor and careless stewardship of what is yours. True, it belongs to you, but might not your unwise course stumble weaker ones who want to emulate you or who might wonder about the wisdom of your course?

Some, before they became dedicated servants of Jehovah, may have liked to hunt and fish for sport. Still enjoying the sport, they might indulge and salve their conscience because they eat what they catch, even though it might cost them several times as much as it would to buy it. This might easily stumble some who never did indulge in such sports. However, no objection can be raised against those who hunt and fish for the sake of food or to make a living.

Has prosperity caused you to develop a love for money? If so, then you will have to watch that you do not put your gaining of more wealth ahead of the interests of others, showing yourself more concerned with profits than with rendering good service and giving good value.

What about the proprieties between the sexes? One might feel self-confident and allow himself certain liberties or indiscretions, such as flirting with those who are married or engaged to marry. He may never get deeply involved emotionally, but he is playing at something to which he has no right, and he may fall into sin or cause others to stumble. So let all call to mind the advice: “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. Pursue peace with all people, . . . carefully watching that no one may be deprived of the undeserved kindness of God; that no poisonous root may spring up and cause trouble and many be defiled by it.”—Heb. 12:13-15.

BY WHAT WE FAIL TO SAY AND DO

There are times when a Christian might stumble others by failing to speak when he should. For example, when encouragement is needed, failure to manifest love by speaking up in an upbuilding way may cause disappointment and a feeling of failure.

Likewise, when a brother is sick or otherwise in need, do we come to his aid? Failure to do so may stumble him if he is immature. Do we neglect opportunities to be helpful in getting others to meetings or in the field ministry? Do we let the weather keep us from engaging in pure worship, that is, unnecessarily? Failure along any of these lines might well stumble the weak.

Do we have reason to think that we have offended another? Then we may not ignore it, arguing that Matthew 18:15, 16 requires him to come to us with his grievance. No, if he is immature, he might not feel equal to obeying that command and so we must go to him in obedience to the command at Matthew 5:23, 24: “If, then, you are bringing your gift to the altar and you there remember that your brother has something against you, . . . first make your peace with your brother, and then . . . offer up your gift.” Failure to obey this command may well cause your brother to stumble.

Of course, in all these respects the servants in a congregation and particularly the overseers have added responsibilities to keep from becoming causes for stumbling. By reason of their greater knowledge, maturity and experience more is required of them, both by God and by their brothers, and also by reason of their position they can more easily stumble others. At the same time they must exercise oversight lest others cause stumbling. They must feel like the apostle Paul: “Who is stumbled, and I am not incensed?” They especially must keep an “eye on those who create divisions and causes for stumbling,” lest harm come to the sheep entrusted to their care.—2 Cor. 11:29; Rom. 16:17.

What will help us to keep from being stumbled and from becoming causes for stumbling? Love. Love will make us long-suffering and obliging. It will keep us from being jealous, from bragging, from getting puffed up, from behaving indecently, from looking only to our own interests and from becoming provoked. It will help us to bear, believe, hope and endure all things. It never fails.—1 Cor. 13:4-8.

So in these perilous times let love keep all dedicated Christians from becoming causes for stumbling so that none cause another to lose out on eternal salvation, at the same time remembering that the mature Christian is not easily stumbled by what others say and do or fail to say and do.

Questions From Readers

● What is the wisdom referred to at Ecclesiastes 1:18?—M. L., United States.

Ecclesiastes 1:18 reads: “For in the abundance of wisdom there is an abundance of vexation, so that he that increases knowledge increases pain.” The Scriptures show that there are two kinds of wisdom, the godly kind and the worldly kind. Obviously this text does not refer to the godly kind, for of it we read: “Happy is the man that has found wisdom, and the man that gets discernment, for the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver and the produce of it even than gold. It is more precious than corals, and all other delights of yours cannot be made equal to it. Length of days is in its right hand; in its left hand there are riches and glory. Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its roadways are peace. It is a tree of life to those taking hold of it, and those keeping fast hold of it are to be called happy.”—Prov. 3:13-18.