Full-Time Service—a Glorious Treasure

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”—Matt. 6:21, NW.

1. What should we consider when examining a treasure? Why?

IS A handful of grain of more value than a handful of diamonds? Is a tumbler of water more to be desired than a tumbler of pearls? Is a bottle of oxygen more to be treasured than a bottle of rubies? We can say neither yes nor no to these questions, because the circumstances a person is in determine his set of values. To a starving man, isolated in some remote part of the earth, a handful of grain would mean more than a handful of diamonds. A thirsty man in a parched desert would spurn a tumbler of pearls for a tumbler of water. And a man suffocating from pneumonia would treasure a bottle of oxygen above a bottle of rubies. In each case the values are different from what would normally be the case, because life is at stake. Life means more than precious gems; for without life such things cannot be enjoyed. Therefore, when examining a treasure we should consider the reasons for its value and why we should set our heart upon it.

2, 3. (a) Why would the man of wisdom not place his heart upon material treasures? (b) What does he place his heart upon, and why should this be properly evaluated?

² The precious gems in the earth were placed there by the Creator for man’s enjoyment, and there is no question about their being desirable treasures. But so also are food, water and air—things essential for sustaining life. These too are treasures given to man by a loving Creator. But should we place our heart upon obtaining material treasures, since the enjoyment of them is only temporary? Should the needs, the desires and the pleasures of the flesh be evaluated so highly that they are made the reasons for living, the goal in life? Would not the means by which a person could obtain eternal life be a much more practical goal?

SERVING THE LIFE-GIVER

³ Since Jehovah God is the Creator of earth’s many treasures and is the Giver of eternal life, the wise man will place his heart upon serving Him. Lasting enjoyment and true satisfaction come to those who serve this great loving Giver of every good and perfect gift full time. Here is a glorious treasure exceeding by far the many other treasures upon which a person might place his heart. It is a treasure that can bring eternal life. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance that a person should have the proper evaluation of it. He should see it in the right perspective. He should understand the reasons why it is invaluable. By gaining accurate knowledge about it he will develop the mental attitude that Jehovah meant for his creatures to have toward his service.

4. What was God’s purpose in creating living, intelligent creatures?

⁴ Jehovah had definite purposes in mind when he began creating living, intelligent creatures untold ages ago. He did not create them merely for companionship, for he was not lonesome. He was self-sufficient and not dependent upon anyone else. Then why did he create? He did so because it pleased him to create and to allow others to enjoy his goodness, companionship and wisdom. He desired to share life unselfishly with others. And so he surrounded himself with hundreds of millions of mighty spirit creatures who were able to enjoy directly his radiant glory. It was his purpose that they should serve him continually, faithfully performing the tasks he assigned them. They were thus given the glorious treasure of full-time service. He meant for them to devote their time to bringing honor and glory to his name, to enjoying his goodness and love and to absorbing wisdom from him. Because he is the source of wisdom his thoughts are precious and of the utmost value to his creatures. “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” “Oh the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable his judgments are and past tracing out his ways are!”—Ps. 139:17, AS; Rom. 11:33, NW.

5. How did the angels regard full-time service of the Creator?

⁵ At their various duties the angels joyfully served the interests of their loving Creator. They did not push these duties aside as secondary to personal interests. No, they gave their undivided attention and their full energies and abilities to serving the great Sovereign of the universe. Nothing was of greater importance to them. Those sent out as messengers went without hesitating for a moment. There was no holding back or the least sign of unwillingness to accept an assignment. They delighted to do Jehovah’s will because that was where their heart was. They found joy in serving him full time.

6. What were some of the special duties assigned to Jehovah’s first creation?

⁶ The first of these spirit creations was given many special duties, among which was the creating of the heavenly hosts. This mighty Son of God joyfully devoted his energies to this task, finding pleasure in the full-time service of his God and Father. Since he was appointed as a special spokesman for Jehovah, he was called “The Word.” Regarding him John 1:1-3 (NW) says: “Originally the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. This one was originally with God. All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.” And then the apostle Paul tells us: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible.”—Col. 1:15, 16, NW.

7, 8. (a) What was his attitude toward full-time service? (b) Did a long period of service on one assignment discourage him?

⁷ He gladly accepted whatever assignment God gave him. He did not consider full-time service a glorious treasure in one section of the universe but undesirable in another. It made no difference to him where he was assigned to serve so long as he could be of use to his God and Father. His attitude was well expressed at Psalm 40:8 (AS): “I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart.” He has shown this same humble attitude and willingness to serve throughout his long career of full-time service. He said on one occasion: “I seek not my own will but the will of him that sent me.” (John 5:30, NW) This has been his mental attitude from the very beginning. He is, therefore, an example that all other creatures would do well to follow.

⁸ When Jehovah purposed to bring forth the material universe and to make one of the material bodies a paradise home for intelligent, fleshly creatures, it was the Word who was assigned to carry this purpose to fruition. And so with the pattern and power supplied by Jehovah God, he proceeded with the work of material creation. Although the forming of the earth and the preparing of it for life were tasks requiring a great period of time, the Word did not lose interest in his work. He did not allow billions of years on the same assignment to dishearten him and cause him to quit. He stuck to his job and faithfully worked at it until it was finished.

9. What did he prove by sticking to his assignment, and what did this bring him?

⁹ By such faithful service he proved his dependability and was therefore given other assignments. One of these strongly appears to have been the delivering of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. He had the responsibility of leading them by a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. And then when the people reached the foot of Mount Horeb, it was evidently this beloved Son of the Most High who transmitted the divine Law to the Israelites through Moses. Regarding this mighty spirit Son, called Michael, Daniel 12:1 (AS) says that he is “the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people.” Certainly the angel who had guided them and faithfully conveyed God’s instructions to them, as well as punished them for disobeying the divine Law, would be the one who would stand prince over God’s chosen people.a

10. What was the only-begotten Son’s most difficult assignment, and how did he react to it?

¹⁰ The most difficult assignment for the Word came when Jehovah had him give up life in the heavenly realm as a glorious spirit creature and take up full-time service on the earth as a man. Although this assignment meant being made lower than the angels and involved a sacrificial death while he was on earth, it did not cause the Son to reject the assignment. He humbly agreed to do whatever the great Sovereign decreed. And so it is written at Philippians 2:5-8 (NW): “Keep this mental attitude in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God. No, but he emptied himself and took a slave’s form and came to be in the likeness of men. More than that, when he found himself in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient as far as death, yes, death on a torture stake.” In spite of the trials and hardships that came upon God’s only-begotten Son on this particular assignment, he did not for one moment think about quitting and dropping out of the full-time service of his heavenly Father. He valued that above his personal feelings, his personal comfort and even his life.

11, 12. (a) Did Christ have the proper evaluation of the treasure of full-time service? (b) What has he shown by his actions?

¹¹ No matter what circumstance Christ was in, he always had the proper evaluation of the glorious treasure of full-time service. His evaluation did not change when circumstances changed, as do the evaluations of those who place their heart upon material possessions. He knew there was no need even to consider comparing the value of his Father’s service with any of the luxuries and comforts of this world, not even with the necessities of life. He once said: “My food is for me to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34, NW) He rejected the riches, honor and power of this entire world in preference for Jehovah’s service. (Matt. 4:8-10, NW) To fulfill this assignment, as he had fulfilled other assignments, was all that interested him. This godly service was of far greater value to him, because it meant Jehovah’s approval and eternal life.

¹² The example of godly service set by this beloved Son is without question the finest any creature could follow. His billions of years of faithful full-time service and humble willingness to accept and perform whatever assignment was given him, as well as his endurance under trial, clearly prove his deep love for the Father. Here is a splendid example of appreciation for the treasure of full-time service, and it well illustrates the proper evaluation of that treasure.

SERVICE HAS VARIED

13. (a) Has this treasure been confined to one manner of service? (b) How did Noah serve?

¹³ The manner in which creatures have been privileged to serve Jehovah God full time has varied. The only-begotten Son, as we have seen, served in more than one manner. And when we examine the records of faithful full-time servants on earth, we find this to be true with them too. Not all served in the same way. Noah, for example, received an assignment to do a witness work. He was to preach a warning of the violent end that was due to come upon the antediluvian world, and, in addition to that, he was to construct an ark for the preservation of the creatures, human and beast, that God would designate. This was the manner in which Noah was to render service to Jehovah. It was a service of the utmost importance. He could not, therefore, place it secondary to personal ventures and interests. Since his heart was in the full-time service of the Creator, he stuck to his assignment until it was finished.

14. How did Moses have reason to be discouraged?

¹⁴ The same was true of Moses, who gave up shepherding in order to serve Jehovah full time. He too remained steadfast in that service. His manner of service differed from that of Noah, however, as it was an assignment to look after Jehovah’s interests with regard to the nation of Israel. It proved to be a very difficult assignment, because of the complaining, stubborn and rebellious disposition of the people. Although this caused him to be very discouraged on a number of occasions, he did not run away from his responsibilities of leadership, leaving its problems for someone else to wrestle with. To quit and run away would have meant giving up the treasure of full-time service, and Moses preferred to bear the load before doing that. So he stuck to his job in spite of occasional discouragement. His heart was in the service of his God.—Heb. 3:2, 5.

15. (a) What inheritance did the Levites receive? (b) How was their service assignment different?

¹⁵ Another form of full-time service was that performed by the tribe of Levi. It was set apart from the twelve tribes of Israel for temple service. The Levites were assigned to devote all their attention to performing the various duties in connection with the nation’s worship. Therefore their continual service was to be at the tabernacle or in connection with it. This treasure of full-time service of God was to be their inheritance, as is pointed out at Deuteronomy 10:9 (NW): “That is why Levi has come to have no share and inheritance with his brothers. Jehovah is his inheritance, just as Jehovah your God had said to him.” Certainly their inheritance was far greater than the land received by the twelve tribes.

16, 17. (a) Did the prophets have reason to be discouraged? (b) What examples can you give of some who did not quit full-time service because of discouragement?

¹⁶ Later, when prophets were raised up among the Israelites, we find a still different form of full-time service. Jehovah used them to sound warnings to the wayward nation of Israel. This they faithfully did in spite of the abuse that was heaped upon them. “Brothers, take as a pattern of the suffering of evil and the exercising of patience the prophets, who spoke in the name of Jehovah. Look! we pronounce happy those who have endured.” (Jas. 5:10, 11, NW; 2 Chron. 36:16) So although they were not well received and had good reason to be discouraged, they did not quit. What could be more discouraging than to know that, before one spoke, the people would not listen? Jeremiah had to contend with that. God told him: “And thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.” (Jer. 7:27, AS) What would you do if you were faced with a similar situation today? Knowing before you even began speaking that your efforts would be fruitless, would you give up? Would you quit Jehovah’s full-time service because you felt your labors were in vain? Or would you cling to that treasure and fulfill your commission as Jeremiah did? The Bible indicates that this was more or less the situation faced by all the prophets who were sent to the nation of Israel. “And though I sent all my servants the prophets, early and late, from the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt even to this day, they neither listened nor inclined their ears to me, but stiffened their necks, and behaved worse than their fathers.” (Jer. 7:25, 26, AT) The prophets had the proper evaluation of the treasure of godly service and so clung to it in spite of such discouraging circumstances. The peoples’ attitude did not alter their set of values.

¹⁷ Even when Elijah thought he was the only one in all Israel who had not forsaken Jehovah’s worship, he did not think for a moment that he should give up his assignment as a prophet. He stuck to it until Jehovah took him. Like other faithful prophets he maintained integrity to Jehovah God under the most trying and discouraging circumstances. But in spite of his trials and discouragements he did not lose his keen appreciation for the invaluable treasure of full-time service.—1 Ki. 19:2, 4, 9, 10.

18. In what manner did David serve full time?

¹⁸ King David had this same appreciation for Jehovah’s service. He served full time as a divinely appointed king to the nation of Israel. That was his assignment, an assignment that was distinctly different from what was given to the prophets. As an anointed king over God’s chosen people, he had the distinction of being representative of the sovereign power of the great Ruler of the universe. For that reason it can be said that he sat on the throne of Jehovah. This expression is used at 1 Chronicles 29:23 regarding David’s son Solomon, when he was crowned king the second time. On that occasion the treasure of full-time service as a theocratic king passed from David to Solomon, but Solomon failed to maintain the proper evaluation and appreciation of it throughout his lifetime, as his father David had done.

19. How did David regard the treasure of full-time service, and what was his desire?

¹⁹ To David, however, nothing brought greater joy than serving the interests of his God. At one time he expressed the desire to dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of his life. (Ps. 27:4) He thus clearly revealed where his heart was. He had no desire to be anywhere else than in Jehovah’s service. He sincerely yearned for Jehovah’s praises to be sung among the nations and for the Creator’s marvelous works to be proclaimed far and wide. This desire was beautifully expressed in the thanks he gave Jehovah at the time the ark was brought to Jerusalem and placed in the tent he had prepared for it alongside his palace. Here was the heartfelt expression of one who was fully devoted to God’s service and who looked upon it as the most precious of all treasures. David opened his expression of thanks by saying: “Thank Jehovah, call upon his name, make his deeds known among the peoples! Sing to him, make melody to him, talk of all his wonderful acts.” (1 Chron. 16:8, 9, NW) This making known of Jehovah’s acts and talking of his marvelous works is the form of service that the Greater David introduced a considerable time later.

THE KINGDOM MINISTRY

20, 21. What new way of serving Jehovah full time was introduced by Christ?

²⁰ Up to now we have seen how the treasure of full-time service has been enjoyed in different ways throughout the ages. Persons of faith carried on their service in various manners, depending upon the assignment God had given them. But with the coming of the Greater David, Christ Jesus, a new form of full-time service was introduced. It was the doing of the very thing David spoke about—the making known of Jehovah’s acts among the people of the world. It was time to declare the good news of Jehovah’s kingdom. This new work was appropriately launched by the One anointed to be King of the Kingdom.

²¹ This was a new assignment for God’s only-begotten Son, who, thirty years before his anointing as King, had been born to Mary as a perfect human, his life force having been transferred from the heavens to Mary’s womb. So, at the age of thirty, as the anointed King he proceeded to launch this new way of serving the Creator. In order that others might know how this service was to be rendered, Christ set the example by going from place to place preaching the good news of the Kingdom and the wonderful acts of God. Here was an educational work that was unparalleled. It was a work of gathering together persons who would be worthy of the gift of eternal life. (John 17:3) Christ devoted his full time to this assignment and carried it to completion, as he had done with every other assignment his Father had given him.

22. (a) What change did the Kingdom ministry make with regard to the treasure of full-time service? (b) How did some respond to the invitation to make this treasure theirs?

²² Before the days of Christ the treasure of full-time service was limited to just a few individuals, but the Kingdom ministry changed that. It finally made this treasure available to people of all nations, so that anyone might take hold of it. John and his fellow fisherman Andrew were the first of thousands to embrace it in this new form. When Jesus offered it to them and later to Peter, they did not hesitate to accept it. The same was true of James the brother of John. Regarding this Matthew 4:18-22 (NW) says: “Walking alongside the sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon who is called ‘Peter’ and Andrew his brother, letting down a fishing-net into the sea, for they were fishers. And he said to them: ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once abandoning the nets, they followed him. Going on also from there he saw two others who were brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, repairing their nets, and he called them. At once leaving the boat and their father, they followed him.” As he had promised, Christ instructed them and made them fishers of men. They now concentrated their time and energies on the work of proclaiming the magnificent purposes of Jehovah God.

23. How did Paul view full-time service?

²³ The apostle Paul was outstanding in this regard. He devoted his all to the ministry. Although he underwent many severe trials, he never gave the slightest thought to quitting the full-time service. Regarding some of his experiences 2 Corinthians 11:24-27 (NW) says: “By Jews I five times received forty strokes less one, three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I experienced shipwreck, a night and a day I have spent in the deep; in travels often, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from highwaymen, in dangers from my own race, in dangers from the nations, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers, in labor and toil, in sleepless nights often, in hunger and thirst, in abstinence from food many times, in cold and nakedness.” For a person lacking the proper evaluation of the treasure of full-time service these would have been good reasons for quitting. But not so with Paul. He cherished this treasure too greatly even to entertain such a thought. No amount of hardship and abuse could cause him to let this treasure go. Neither did he permit the attraction of material comforts, financial security or precious gems to change his set of values. He considered all that the world offered in a material way as loss when compared with the ministry and its life-giving truths. Regarding this he said: “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.” (Phil. 3:8, NW) Thus the things of this world, upon which people set their hearts, Paul considered to be refuse, to compare with the treasure he had of full-time service of God in the Kingdom ministry.

24. What is the wise course for a person to take?

²⁴ Does it not seem foolish to place your heart upon a great deal of refuse and to make it your goal in life? Is it not foolhardy to make that your treasure? Since a person’s evaluation of diamonds, pearls and rubies is completely changed by the circumstances he is in, is it not wiser to set your heart upon a treasure whose value never changes? A treasure that can mean eternal life? Jesus once said: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:21, NW) Now, where is your heart? Is it where his heart is, on the glorious treasure of full-time service?

Is This Treasure for You?

“Consequently, I entreat you by the compassions of God, brothers, to present your bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason.”—Rom. 12:1, NW.

1, 2. (a) What treasure is of unequaled value, and to whom is it available? (b) Why is it a grave decision to seek possession of this treasure?

THE British crown jewels are the most dazzling collection of gems in the world. They form a priceless treasure that has been admired by multitudes. But although many have longed to possess some of these gems, there is not the remotest chance they ever will. However, there is a treasure they can possess that is of far greater value than the crown jewels. Since this treasure does not possess its value because of rarity, it is available to all who want it. But certain things are required of an individual before he can possess it. He must therefore carefully consider these requirements and then decide whether this treasure is for him.

² The treasure of unequaled value is the full-time service of the great Source of life, Jehovah God. Since it brings eternal life to the one who reaches out for it and holds on to it, what jewel collection could possibly compare with it? What is a precious stone or a whole roomful of such stones in comparison with life? Little wonder is it, then, that the apostle Paul considered such things as refuse, in comparison with the knowledge and service of God! This, of course, is a set of values entirely in reverse of that possessed by the world. That is why the decision to reach out for the treasure of full-time service is a grave one that requires careful consideration. A person must know what he is doing. He must have an understanding and appreciation of the Kingdom ministry, and must already be engaged in that ministry to the extent that his time permits.

PROPER MENTAL ATTITUDE

3. What should a Christian’s mental attitude be?

³ To those who would like to serve God the apostle Paul says, as recorded at Romans 12:2 (NW): “And quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and complete will of God.” That means a person must reverse his set of values. Instead of looking upon material riches as the world does, he must look upon them as Paul did. He will not give them the predominant position in his life that he once did. What he now places the most value upon is the service of the great Life-Giver, Jehovah God. In this way he ceases to be fashioned after this present system of things. He dedicates his life to the doing of God’s will as did Jesus, who said: Let “not my will, but yours take place.” (Luke 22:42, NW) He also adopts the mental attitude expressed by David: “I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Ps. 40:8, AS) He then engages in the Kingdom ministry along with others who have made this dedication. These dedicated ones now form a New World society of faithful witnesses who give testimony to the supremacy and purposes of Jehovah God.

4. What is the attitude some take toward full-time service?

⁴ The majority of these dedicated Christians have obligations and responsibilities that prevent them from devoting all their time to the Kingdom ministry, but that does not mean they should not seek the treasure of full-time service if it is at all possible for them to do so. There are some, however, who feel that they would accept without question an angelic-delivered invitation to serve in Jehovah’s heavenly courts along with the mighty angels, but yet close their ears when full-time service in the Kingdom ministry is mentioned. If they are willing to serve God full time at one place in his universe, why should they be uninterested in serving him full time at some other place? Does the location of his service or the different manner in which it is carried on change its value? Are they willing to give Jehovah full-time service only when there are no hardships and persecution involved? Do they forget that when they made their dedication to God and symbolized it by water baptism they died to their former course of life? By going beneath the water they indicated that they had. When they came up, they were to live from then on doing God’s will. If they are able to do so, do you not think God expects them to devote their full time to the doing of his ministry?

5. What kind of service is pleasing to Jehovah?

⁵ If you are one who has made this dedication and are in position to give Jehovah full-time service, why are you not doing so? Did you not mean it when you dedicated your life to him? Did you die to your own selfish course of life, or are you still putting it first? The apostle Paul says: “Present your bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service.” (Rom. 12:1, NW) That does not mean to consider Jehovah’s service as an incidental thing, to be done whenever you have spare time. It is not something that is to come second to personal interests. It should be of first importance. Those who fail to place it first have not as yet changed their set of values and been transformed from being fashioned after this present world or system of things. They do not, as yet, evaluate the treasure of full-time service above the riches of the world. To present yourself to God means to give yourself completely over to his service. It means devoting your time, your energies, your abilities, your possessions to the doing of God’s will, not to doing your own will. This is a sacred service that is pleasing and acceptable to him. But to be this, it must be done with your power of reason. You must fully understand what you are doing and why you are doing it.

NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY

6. (a) Should a person jump into the full-time service? (b) What are some basic requirements for this service, and why are they essential?

⁶ If you have made the full-time service your treasure and have placed your heart upon it, then you will want to be in that service. But keep in mind that it is not something that can be jumped into just because a person is momentarily stirred up. It is a valuable treasure that cannot be taken lightly or grasped only temporarily. So before a person enters the full-time ministry he should give careful consideration to it. He should remember that the difficulties he experiences in the part-time ministry will be greatly multiplied in the full-time ministry. He should examine the requirements and decide whether he is able to meet them. He should consider the cost. Is it too high for him? Does he have to relinquish too much in the way of personal interests, pleasures and material possessions? It is a decision that must be made because of one’s love for God and his willingness to serve. He must have a genuine love for Jehovah and for the service of that Supreme One before he can even consider reaching out for this treasure. He must be keenly interested in the Kingdom ministry and in the expansion of the theocratic organization. He should be mature in the Scriptural truths that come to him through this organization. All this is essential, because those who take up the full-time service as the apostles did become special representatives of it. Others look to them for a mature understanding of the Scriptures and a zealous example in the Kingdom ministry.

7. Is the full-time service to be looked upon as a temporary occupation?

⁷ Once you have taken this forward step, you should not step back. The full-time service of God is not a temporary occupation. It is not something to be done for a few months or a few years and then dropped when you are tired of it. Those faithful persons who took up this service in ages past clung to it in spite of discouragement and hardships. They did not allow themselves to become “weary in well doing” full time. (Gal. 6:9, AV) Once they entered full-time service they stayed in it. The Kingdom ministry today is no easier than the service assignments they had. It has many hardships and difficulties. So do not enter it with the idea that it is easy and then quit when you find that it is not.

MUCH FULL-TIME SERVANTS CAN DO

8. Why are full-time servants needed?

⁸ In Jehovah’s earthly organization there are many places for full-time servants. It has a big work to do in carrying out his command to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom in all the inhabited earth. There are many people that must be reached and instructed in God’s Word of truth. People by the tens of thousands are responding to this good news, but, as Jesus foretold, “the harvest is great, but the workers are few.” (Matt. 9:37, NW) More full-time workers are needed to care for the Master’s harvest. How can persons in isolated areas or in distant lands be reached unless God’s organization has dedicated persons who are willing to devote their full time to the Kingdom ministry? At Acts 16:9 (NW) it is recorded that the apostle Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching: “Step over into Macedonia and help us.” Since Paul was serving Jehovah full time he was free to go to this other country and there direct persons of good will in the way to life. He gave no thought to himself or to his own interests. He had Jehovah’s interests at heart and was willing to go wherever he was directed.

9. What does Jehovah expect of those who accept his treasure?

⁹ This obedience and willingness to serve are what Jehovah God expects of those who accept the treasure of full-time service. Persons who are stubborn and self-willed are of no value to him. He wants servants who delight to do his will and gladly obey whatever instructions are given them through the theocratic organization. As Christ showed humility and obedience, so should his followers. They should, therefore, be willing to go wherever the organization sends them. They should show the willingness of the prophet Isaiah, who said: “Here am I; send me.” (Isa. 6:8, AS) A person with this mental attitude is eager to do Jehovah’s will, and he will not hesitate to accept greater privileges of service when they are offered him, such as those of a pioneer publisher.

10. Why must a pioneer have personal organization?

¹⁰ When engaging in the full-time service as a pioneer, a person has little time for personal pursuits. It is a work that requires careful budgeting of time. The pioneer minister must preach from house to house, make back-calls and conduct home Bible studies. He must meet the quota of hours set by the theocratic organization. In addition to this he must work with the local congregation of Jehovah’s dedicated servants by helping those who need assistance in the Kingdom ministry. Some pioneers may be given positions as overseers within the congregations, which is an added privilege of service for them. They must also take the lead in showing love, mercy and understanding. Besides keeping up their personal study, which is essential, they must take care of their personal needs, which may include a part-time secular job. To keep up such a busy schedule the pioneer minister must have personal organization. He must have each day planned in advance. So full-time service as a pioneer is not easy. It is hard work and therefore requires persons who are mature in Scriptural understanding, persons who find delight in proclaiming Jehovah’s praises, persons who are not afraid of work.

11. What is the prospect before a diligent pioneer, and how may he prepare for it?

¹¹ The full-time servant who proves to be a diligent pioneer has the prospect of being invited to attend the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead, for special training in the ministry. Here he will receive advanced instruction in the Scriptures as well as training for carrying on the Kingdom ministry in other countries. He is thus prepared to render special service to Jehovah’s organization in much the same manner as the apostle Paul did. At Gilead he learns to have greater appreciation for the organization, how it functions, the need for it, and his relationship to it. Since Gilead is designed to broaden a minister’s knowledge and understanding of Scriptural truths, the best way to prepare for it is to study diligently the publications regularly provided by the theocratic organization. He must keep up with the latest spiritual food coming from Jehovah’s table.

12. How should a Gilead graduate consider his assignment?

¹² When a student at Gilead graduates he should have a much keener appreciation of the treasure of full-time service. He will gladly accept whatever territory assignment he is given, and will go there with the intention of staying at least three years. If he returns home for a visit at the end of that time he will want to go back to his foreign assignment and continue in Jehovah’s full-time service there. He will put forth every effort to stick to his assignment no matter how unpleasant or discouraging it may be. He will not consider quitting, but will always keep in mind the splendid examples of steadfastness in full-time service left by God’s faithful servants of ancient times. He will eventually become accustomed to the strange surroundings and peculiar habits of the people in his assignment if he makes up his mind to do so. In time he will look upon it as his home and will find the people of the New World society as lovable there as in other countries.

SERVING AT BETHEL

13. Explain the purpose of Bethel.

¹³ In order that the Kingdom ministry may be organized and that dedicated Christians may be kept supplied with Bibles and Bible study aids, it has been necessary for the theocratic organization to have so-called “Bethel homes” throughout the world. The ministers who live and work at these homes are persons who have embraced the treasure of full-time service. They spend their full time caring for Jehovah’s interests. In whatever land a Bethel home, which is the name given branch offices of the Watch Tower Society, is located, it is the hub of theocratic activity there. It is dedicated to the service of the Most High and is indeed “the house of God,” as the name “Bethel” means.

14, 15. How should Bethel be viewed?

¹⁴ When a dedicated Christian steps forward to full-time service, it may be that he will choose to serve at Bethel. If he meets the requirements and his application is accepted, he steps into a wonderful feature of full-time service. But to appreciate Bethel fully he must see Jehovah’s organization as a whole and the vital spot Bethel holds in it. He must not visualize Bethel as a monastery, where people live in seclusion, spending all their time in meditation and prayer. It is far from being anything like that. It is instead a place of great activity. It is a place where a person is expected to be productive, not unproductive. Not only must a person look after the duties assigned him there, but he must be active in preaching the good news of the Kingdom as well.

¹⁵ All who have come into the New World society should have a proper understanding of Bethel. Persons who look upon Bethel as a good place for training indifferent or obstinate children should change their view, because Bethel is no such place. It is the house of God, a place where dedicated ministers of Jehovah devote their full time to honoring and praising him as well as serving the interests of the Christian organization. It is not a school for correcting troublesome children. It is not designed to do the work parents have failed to do. Persons who come to Bethel should be ministers who are representative of Jehovah’s witnesses world-wide. They should be persons the theocratic organization is pleased to have in such a responsible place of service.

16, 17. (a) With what attitude should a person enter Bethel service? (b) How long should he stay?

¹⁶ Bethel service should never be taken lightly. No one should apply for Bethel with the attitude of giving it a try. This is full-time service and one should enter it with full intentions of sticking to it. If you were invited to serve in Jehovah’s heavenly courts, would you say: “Well, I’ll give it a try and see if I like it”? There may be many things you would like to do better than serve full time in the Kingdom ministry, since it is hard work, but that is not what should be considered. Serving Jehovah is your obligation, your responsibility, what you have agreed to do if you have made a dedication to him. So those who give themselves to the full-time service must do so because they love the great Sovereign and want to serve him as a slave. If you give yourself to Jehovah as a slave, then it is a question of not what is pleasing to you but what is pleasing to Him. Thus Bethel is not something just to try out. It is a blessed privilege of service that should be cherished and held in the highest regard.

¹⁷ The fact that a person may not find Bethel as he anticipated it is no reason for him to quit after working for only a few days, a few weeks or a few months. A person coming to Bethel should come with the determination to stay at least three years no matter what trials he may encounter. In fact, the Bethel application specifically says: If your application is accepted and you enter the Bethel service, will you remain faithfully at such post of assigned duty for three years or longer? If an applicant says yes, then he should mean yes. Remember what Ecclesiastes 5:4 (AS) says: “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest.” That means the theocratic organization expects Bethel applicants to be persons of integrity who will keep their agreement to serve at least three years in full-time service at Bethel. It is naturally hoped that he will stay in this particular field of full-time service much longer. Lifelong service at Bethel is the real goal and has been met by many faithful Christians.

MANY TRIALS

18. (a) What should the full-time servant expect? (b) Give examples of individuals who had reason to be discouraged but did not quit.

¹⁸ It must be kept in mind that when a person enters the full-time service of the Creator there are bound to be many trials. This was true with the faithful men of ancient times who embraced this treasure; so it should be the expected thing today. It was even foretold by the apostle Paul, who said: “All those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted.” (2 Tim. 3:12, NW) But persecution for proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom and holding fast to Christian integrity is only one of the trials a full-time servant must contend with. Discouragement, for example, is a trial that pioneers and missionaries must contend with continually. Working day after day with little or no results is very discouraging, and the natural tendency is to say: “What’s the use?” That is precisely what Satan wants you to conclude. He does not want you to serve Jehovah either full time or part time. He wants you to quit. But think how discouraging it may have been for Noah, who preached for forty or fifty years with absolutely no results except the response of his immediate family. Was he discouraged to the point where he quit Jehovah’s full-time service? Did he let go of that wonderful treasure just because people of his day did not respond to his preaching? And what about Jeremiah? God told him before he even began preaching that the people would not listen to him. But did Jeremiah say: “What’s the use?” Did he allow discouragement to silence his lips? Did he quit his assignment and tell God that it was a waste of time? He did not. He stuck to it, even as Noah did. These two faithful men knew they were doing God’s will, serving his interests, even though their preaching fell upon deaf ears. By continuing on their assignment in spite of this indifference, they proved their integrity.

19, 20. What does it take to stick in full-time service?

¹⁹ But what about you? II you are one who has made a dedication to serve the Most High and have embraced the treasure of full-time service, do you cherish that treasure enough that you could preach for forty or fifty years with no one responding to your preaching, and yet not let go of that treasure? Could you go to an assignment, knowing in advance that not a single person will heed your warning message, and yet stay on that assignment for years without quitting? It takes courage to do that. It takes determination. It takes appreciation of Jehovah’s service. It takes real love for Him. Jehovah’s servants of ancient times had these qualities; do you?

²⁰ We must not give up in doing what is right, for “in due season we shall reap by not giving out.” (Gal. 6:9, NW) In order not to give out a person has to study God’s Word constantly and meditate upon it. Not only must he meditate upon the marvelous blessings that Jehovah has promised for those who endure in faithful service, but he must reflect upon the splendid examples of steadfastness that can be found in the Bible. If persons of past ages could hold up under trials and discouraging circumstances, then you can too. They were human just as you are. At 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NW) the apostle Paul gives this sound advice: “Consequently, my beloved brothers, become steadfast, unmovable, always having plenty to do in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in connection with the Lord.” Therefore, even if your preaching may seem to be fruitless, your labor is never in vain. Your daily service is a sacrifice of praise to Jehovah, and that alone is reason enough to be steadfast in full-time service.

21. What have some persons allowed to happen, and what question does this raise?

²¹ God’s servants are bound to have many obstacles and temptations come upon them. But did Christ and other faithful men allow such things to take the treasure of full-time service away from them? Their minds and hearts were fixed upon one thing—faithfully serving Jehovah. They allowed nothing to interfere with that. There are persons today, however, who once possessed the treasure of full-time service as pioneers but failed to have this mental attitude. They allowed their part-time secular work to entice them into laying aside pioneering in order to take up full-time secular work. Now, where is their heart? Is it in doing God’s will or in doing their own will? Is their treasure in material riches or in full-time service? Since we know that Satan accuses us of loving ourselves more than God, we never want to give him grounds for that accusation.

22. What searching questions can a person ask himself?

²² If you happen to be one who is a dedicated servant of God and you are free of obligations, or could be free of them, why have you not made the treasure of full-time service yours? Do you serve Jehovah God out of love or for selfish reasons, as Satan charges? If you serve him out of love, then why do you hold back from giving him full-time service since it is possible for you to do so? Is this treasure not for you? Is it only for others? Is the thought of serving the great Life-Giver full time unattractive to you? Do you hold back because you find no delight in doing God’s will all the time?

23. When a person gains the treasure of full-time service, what should he be determined to do?

²³ On the other hand, if you decide that this treasure is for you and you reach out to embrace it to make it yours, then make up your mind that you are going to hang on to it with all your strength. Never let it go. Do not quit the full-time service when persecution comes upon you. Do not quit when your spirit becomes low because of discouragement. Do not quit when lured by financial gain. Do not quit because of weariness from long years of service. Instead of quitting, hold on to that treasure of full-time service. Hold on more firmly than you would the crown jewels if they were yours. Never allow your eyes to become dull to its resplendent beauty. Never lose appreciation for it. Rejoice over it as the angels have rejoiced over it, as the patriarchs, the prophets and the apostles rejoiced over it and cherished it. Never forget that its rewards are eternal, its blessings beyond compare.

Letter of Appreciation

December 11, 1955

Dear Brother Knorr:

It occurs to me that you have probably heard many times expressions of appreciation by brothers who have enjoyed rich spiritual blessings during the year 1955. But I am anxious to add another word. Often do I think of the great responsibility that you have before Jehovah. And it is so obvious that you have his rich blessings. That must give you great peace and joy.

I never expected to have such joys with my brothers in many lands as I had the past summer in Europe. And the Society did a wonderful service to the brothers in making that trip possible. It was a tremendous task. I hope, too, that you have another New World Society movie of it. The public seems to like the closeness that the pictures bring and so do the brothers who remain at home.

And the spiritual food that constantly flows from the temple is most thrilling and satisfying. New light is coming from the temple and about the temple. I have just read carefully the December 15, 1955, Watchtower. Wonderful light! It will aid much in causing all to see the value of bringing all the ‘tithes’ into Jehovah’s house.

Rejoicing with you in this great day of Jehovah, I am

Your fellow servant with much love,

H. L. P.

Why an Agnostic

● In giving his Credo of an agnostic in Look magazine, November 3, 1953, Bertrand Russell listed among his reasons for being an agnostic the Bible’s contradictions, claiming that in one place the Bible forbids a childless widow to marry her husband’s brother and in another place commanded it. In this article he did not give any Scriptural citations. However, in his book Human Society in Ethics and Politics, he does cite the two texts, Leviticus 20:21 and Deuteronomy 25:5. And how do they read? “Where a man takes his brother’s wife, it is something abhorrent. It is the nakedness of his brother that he has laid bare. They should become childless.” “In case brothers should dwell together and one of them has died without his having a son, the wife of the dead one should not become a strange man’s outside. Her brother-in-law should go to her and he must take her as his wife and perform brother-in-law marriage with her.” (New World Trans.) It does not take much learning to appreciate that these two texts refer to entirely different situations, the one to adultery and the other to the law of levirate marriage, which applied only in the event of a married man’s dying before he had any offspring. It is all very simple, but apparently not to a learned university professor, scientist and philosopher of more than eighty years, especially when such a one happens also to be an agnostic!