Remember Your Creator by Manifesting Goodness

“Remember, now your grand Creator.”​—Eccl. 12:1.

1, 2. (a) From what is Ecclesiastes 12:1 quoted? (b) What is the Bible? (c) Is everyone familiar with the Bible? (d) Is it of concern to you?

DO YOU recognize that the quotation above is from the holy book of the Christian religion? Are you familiar with that book? In some parts of the earth where The Watchtower is read persons do not profess to be Christians and are not familiar with it. It may be that you live where the Christian religion is claimed by many people, but still have not been particularly concerned about this religious book called the Bible. Or perhaps you know and love the Bible. Wherever you may live or whatever is your religious understanding, the subject that we want to discuss, that of remembering your grand Creator by manifesting goodness, is one with which you are concerned. The Scripture text above is religious counsel to all who have physical, mental and spiritual powers sufficient to enable them to remember their Creator, who is grand indeed.

² The Watchtower recognizes that in all parts of the earth there are persons who feel that they are not religious, or, though religious, are not Christians. Nevertheless, there are expressions made in the Holy Scriptures that embrace you, whoever you are, of whatever religion you are, wherever you live upon earth, whether you are particularly religious or not. You are included because

THE HOLY BIBLE ADVISES EVERYONE TO PRAISE THE CREATOR, JEHOVAH GOD

3. Who should give heed to Bible counsel?

³ Many statements in the Bible show that persons of all ages, both men and women, of all nationalities, of all races and of all stations in life are included in its wholesome, upbuilding counsel. Can you find yourself in the text of Scripture that we here quote? You are there:

4. (a) As expressed in Psalm 148, what and who are to praise the Creator? (b) Who is the Creator?

⁴ “Praise Jah, you people!” The name Jah is an abbreviated form of the name Jehovah. Jehovah is the personal name of God, the Creator. “Praise Jehovah from the heavens, praise him in the heights. Praise him, all you his angels. Praise him, all you his army. Praise him, you sun and moon. Praise him, all you stars of light. Praise him, you heavens of the heavens, and you waters that are above the heavens. Let them praise the name of Jehovah; for he himself commanded, and they were created. . . . [Praise Jehovah] you kings of the earth and all you national groups, you princes and all you judges of the earth, you young men and also you virgins, you old men together with boys. Let them praise the name of Jehovah, for his name alone is unreachably high. . . . Praise Jah, you people!”​—Ps. 148:1-5, 11-14.

5. Are you excluded or included?

⁵ So the Bible does here include you when it includes all mankind in its invitation and counsel to praise Jehovah, the Creator!

JEHOVAH THE CREATOR IS THE SOURCE OF SPIRIT AND LIGHT

6. Explain how Jehovah is the source of (a) holy spirit, (b) light, (c) the light of truth.

⁶ Jehovah the Creator has power. His power operates through his spirit or active force. One of the Bible references to this is found in the very first verses of the Holy Scriptures: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth proved to be formless and waste and there was darkness upon the surface of the watery deep; and God’s active force was moving to and fro over the surface of the waters. And God proceeded to say: ‘Let light come to be.’ Then there came to be light. After that God saw that the light was good, and God brought about a division between the light and the darkness.” Inasmuch as his spirit is from him, he is its source and also he is the source of physical light, as stated at Genesis 1:1-4. Also, the light of understanding and comprehension is from Jehovah God. This is pointed out most interestingly in 2 Corinthians 4:6: “For God is he who said: ‘Let the light shine out of darkness,’ and he has shone on our hearts to illuminate them with the glorious knowledge of God by the face of Christ.” God the Creator is the source of the light of illumination of truth.

7. By what means are Christians enlightened?

⁷ Through God’s spirit Christians receive the light of understanding of the truth of his Word. “For it is to us God has revealed them through his spirit . . . no one has come to know the things of God, except the spirit of God. Now we received . . . the spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that have been kindly given us by God.” (1 Cor. 2:10-12) In the first four 1 Co chapters 1-4 of this Bible book much is said about the operation of God’s spirit on persons who are Christians. These and other Scripture passages show that Jehovah God is the source of spirit and the source of light.

RESULTS ARE PRODUCED BY SPIRIT AND LIGHT

8. (a) Why should we remember Jehovah? (b) How may we do so? (c) In what do God’s spirit and light result?

⁸ In providing his Bible Jehovah has given to mankind his written Word and he also makes the understanding of it possible. His Word calls upon all persons to praise him and shows that as the grand Creator he is worthy of such praise. How could we forget him? He has made all we have and has enabled us to have life itself. Then should we remember him? Yes. How? One way that we can remember him is by manifesting qualities that he approves and that bring praise to him. Even as the operation of God’s laws concerning growth and production gives rise to fruit or fruitage, so the result of the operation of the light and spirit from Jehovah God upon the hearts and minds of those who love him is spoken of in his Word as fruitage. Notice two of these references.

9. (a) What kind of fruit is goodness? (b) Does God’s spirit produce bad fruits? (c) What follows in regard to a person’s fruitage?

⁹ “The fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control.” (Gal. 5:22, 23) In this fifth chapter of Galatians strong contrast is made between things that are good and things that are not good. The spirit of the Creator does not produce things that are bad. God’s creation was found by him to be good, not bad. (Gen. 1:12, 18, 25, 31) He is good, not bad. (Ps. 25:7, 8) This means that persons who would be in harmony with Jehovah God must produce good things, the things that are shown to be the fruitage of God’s spirit.

10. Explain how it is that the fruitage of Jehovah’s spirit may be produced in men and women.

¹⁰ In what way are they the fruitage of God’s spirit when they are produced in men and women? In that persons who love righteousness do those good things because they have his spirit and wish to be in harmony with God. Their love for Jehovah and for the high standards of his Word the Bible impels them to conform to his requirements, and in this way they are led by God’s Word and spirit.

11. As to Galatians 5:22, what particularly claims our interest now?

¹¹ You will notice that in the quotation from Galatians 5:22, 23 one of the specific things mentioned as being part of the fruitage of the spirit is “goodness.” It is particularly the manifestation of this quality of goodness that claims our interest here.

12. As to the light of truth from Jehovah, what result is to be found?

¹² As to the fruitage of the light: “The fruitage of the light consists of every sort of goodness and righteousness and truth. Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord; and quit sharing with them in the unfruitful works that belong to the darkness, but, rather, even be reproving them, for the things that take place in secret by them it is shameful even to relate.” “Therefore do not become partakers with them; for you were once darkness, but you are now light in connection with the Lord. Go on walking as children of light.” (Eph. 5:9-12, 7, 8) Our interest centers again upon “goodness” as fruitage of the light of truth, as well as of the spirit of God.

13. (a) What follows as to persons who have received of God’s truth and spirit? (b) What wonderful opportunity do you have?

¹³ Inasmuch as the fruitage of goodness is the result of God’s spirit and truth, this goodness must be apparent in those who have his spirit and truth and would praise Jehovah the Creator. If this goodness is not apparent, the Creator is not remembered but is disregarded, forgotten or pushed into the background. The very fact of your existence as a member of humankind brings to you the opportunity to praise and worship the Creator, Jehovah, who reveals himself in his Holy Word, the Bible. What a wonderful and blessed opportunity is afforded, not only to have life, but to make this life worth while by remembering your Creator, manifesting goodness, winning his goodwill and with this the assurance of everlasting life! The Creator’s purpose is for those who receive his approval to have everlasting life in his righteous new system of things.

14, 15. (a) In contrasting and comparing good with bad, how do some persons reason? (b) What is the correct reasoning on the matter as to benefits desired? (c) as to time involved?

¹⁴ In our respective languages, whatever they may be, we contrast good with bad. The Bible makes the same contrast. But someone may say in effect, “I do not see value in doing what is good. I see those who do bad prospering. I do not see those who do bad punished. I see those who do good suffering and I see that those who do bad take advantage of those who try to do good. Therefore, why should I do good?” People do reason along this line and sometimes they become quite bitter of heart. Jehovah God is aware of this and his Word recognizes it. Being blessed for producing the fruit of goodness is not a matter of being benefited or favored by other men. The blessing and favor to be sought are those from God himself and this in his own due time. Time must pass. If there were no time allowed for us to manifest goodness, how could we manifest this desirable quality? So at a time when you may see that good conduct is not popular and perhaps not materially profitable, that is the very time for you to manifest goodness and thereby demonstrate that, regardless of what other persons do or do not do, you love and remember your grand Creator. How helpful this scripture is:

¹⁵ “Because sentence against a bad work has not been executed speedily, that is why the heart of the sons of men has become fully set in them to do bad. Although a sinner may be doing bad a hundred times and continuing a long time as he pleases, yet I am also aware that it will turn out well with those fearing the true God, because they were in fear of him. But it will not turn out well at all with the wicked one, neither will he prolong his days that are like a shadow, because he is not in fear of God.”​—Eccl. 8:11-13.

16. In view of what the Bible teaches, what must we conclude?

¹⁶ So the delay of the execution of sentence against the bad work should not discourage us from doing good.

17. How are we assisted to produce good fruit by having in mind the time in which we are living?

¹⁷ Also have in mind the time in which we are living. These days are difficult times of violence, lawlessness, selfishness, and days when the works spoken of in 2 Timothy 3:1-3 are manifest. “But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be . . . without love of goodness.” So if you see that men are without love of goodness this is no reason for you to exercise badness but is more impelling reason for you to produce the fruit of goodness.

18. Both Christians and non-Christians may be informed as to what?

¹⁸ In the further consideration of this subject you will be assisted by viewing it from the standpoint of what an individual Christian should do as set out in the Bible. Whether you profess to be Christian or do not profess to be Christian, you can see what the Bible designates as the real Christian course.

THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD THINGS TO DO

19. What definitions show that there are many good things to do?

¹⁹ There are many things that are right and good in conduct that individual Christians must do day by day. These things result in the fruit of goodness. Goodness, basically, is that which is fitting. “It is good to make melody to our God . . . praise is fitting.” (Ps. 147:1) Goodness is that which is fitting and suitable for the servants of the Creator by God’s standards. Things that are good work to a good end, a proper, suitable end. God’s Word shows a Christian what things are good and of what goodness consists. Deuteronomy 12:28 states: “Do what is good and right in the eyes of Jehovah.” Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (English language) defines “good” in English as basically meaning “uniting, fitting, becoming, appropriate,” and “goodness” as “moral excellence”; but in the Bible Greek, “capable; serviceable; of good morals.” In Bible Hebrew, “good (in every variety of meaning), pleasant, useful, efficient, beautiful, right, morally good.” Certainly there are many things for Christians to do that meet these definitions.​—Jas. 3:17, 18.

HOW MAY WE DETERMINE IF A THING IS GOOD?

20. (a) How may we determine if a thing is good? (b) What knowledge equips one to so determine?

²⁰ That is a good question (a suitable one). How may we determine if a course of action or something we say or advocate or support is good? How may we know if we are manifesting goodness and not manifesting badness? One way is to ask ourselves some questions concerning that which we are doing or contemplating. We can ask: Is it suitable for a real Christian? Is it out of place? Would the Creator approve of it? Real Christians know if a thing is suitable to their profession of following Christ Jesus. The Christian apostle Paul told other Christians: “I myself also am persuaded about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are also full of goodness, as you have been filled with all knowledge, and that you can also admonish one another.” (Rom. 15:14) Being filled with goodness and the knowledge of God’s Word and requirements, a Christian is equipped to determine if a thing is good or bad and if his course of action will produce the fruitage of the spirit and light, which is goodness. Let us mention specifically some of the things to which a real Christian must give thoughtful consideration. First, how it will affect

21. How is Jehovah’s worship involved in our determination?

²¹ JEHOVAH. Will Jehovah be pleased or displeased? Is the course of conduct, act or statement to Jehovah’s praise, in harmony with God, who is good and upright? If it is not, how can it be good and suitable? What moral excellence is there in that which is not in accord with the will of God? Jehovah’s worship is involved in what Christians do and say. “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 perfect will of God.” (Rom. 12:2) Also, how it does affect

22. (a) Christians have what work to do? (b) How is it involved in our determination?

²² KINGDOM INTERESTS. Christians are entrusted with the service of the interests of the kingdom of Jehovah God by Christ Jesus. Their work in faithfully looking after these interests is centered around the prophetic command of their Leader, Christ Jesus: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14) Is the preaching of the good news of the Kingdom advanced or hindered? Is such suitable to the “everlasting good news,” which they carry under angelic direction? (Rev. 14:6) In this connection there are to be considered

23. Why must Christians view their course of action in the light of the effect it has on other persons?

²³ OTHER PERSONS. Other people may be advantageously or adversely affected by the course of the Christian. The everlasting good news is to be declared “to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people,” calling on all to “fear God and give him glory, because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived, and so worship the One who made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.” (Rev. 14:6, 7) Because witnesses of Jehovah serve this grand Creator and appeal to others also to serve him, they must view their course of action in the light of the effect it has on other persons and upon the relationship of these other persons to Jehovah. By living lives suitable to the good message that they carry, Christians can aid other persons to come into a favorable relationship to Jehovah God, receiving his goodwill. Also, very close to the individual Christian are those who are his

24. Where can a Christian be a great help, and to whom?

²⁴ LOVED ONES. Christians are concerned with the relationship of their loved ones to Jehovah God, and in the close, intimate family circle each one can be a great help to the others who are near and dear because of family relationships. The principle applies: “You should not hide yourself from your own flesh.” (Isa. 58:7) Then there is

25. Enumerate good things to be done in behalf of the Christian congregation.

²⁵ THE CONGREGATION. “Really, then, as long as we have time favorable for it, let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith.” (Gal. 6:10) It is good to support the Christian congregation and look after its interests and welfare. It is fitting to attend the meetings of the congregation, to arrive before the appointed time for the meetings to begin, to participate in them as opportunity affords. It is a fruit of God’s spirit for parents to bring their children of all ages to the meetings of the congregation and to care for the children while they are present, keeping them in order, attentive, quiet, not disturbing others, so that all at the Kingdom Hall, children and adults, can receive the full benefit of the spiritual food provided. Proper care of the Kingdom Hall property and its facilities and equipment is good. And in all things consider

26. With what does the entire subject of manifesting goodness deal?

²⁶ YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO JEHOVAH. In respect to the favorable or unfavorable relation to Jehovah it is stated: “Beloved one, be an imitator, not of what is bad, but of what is good. He that does good originates with God. He that does bad has not seen God.” (3 John 11) The whole subject of remembering our Creator by manifesting goodness really deals with our relation to Jehovah, the great Creator.

27. As to the youthful and aged, what point does the Bible make?

²⁷ This is true of real Christians of every age: children, youths, adults and aged persons. Both parents and children should be impressed by the important Bible truth: “Even by his practices a boy makes himself recognized as to whether his activity is pure and upright.” (Prov. 20:11) Even a young boy or a young girl? Yes. Parents, what a wonderful opportunity is set before you to see to it that the activity practiced by your offspring is manifestly pure and upright!

28. With the foregoing points in our minds, what remains for us to do?

²⁸ Attention is now due to be given to the application of the foregoing Bible principles to various occasions in life in which we are faced with the necessity of determining what course to follow and what guide the Bible gives for making the proper decisions. Otherwise stated: make specific application of the foregoing material. Please see the article following.

Goodness Is to Be Manifested

“The true God himself will bring every sort of work into the judgment in relation to every hidden thing, as to whether it is good or bad.”​—Eccl. 12:14.

1. (a) Whose standard of conduct is to be met, according to Deuteronomy 12:28, and how does this harmonize with Ecclesiastes 12:14 first above? (b) What does this require in order for goodness to be manifested? (c) How does Philippians 4:9 verify this?

AMONG the commandments that Jehovah God communicated to his people in days of old are these words: “Watch, and you must obey all these words that I am commanding you, in order that it may go well with you and your sons after you to time indefinite, because you will do what is good and right in the eyes of Jehovah your God.” (Deut. 12:28) Does this require actually doing the things pleasing to God? Obviously, it does mean not merely talking about what is right but rather the doing of what is right. From the standpoint of the application of the principles mentioned in the foregoing article, it means actually producing the fruit of goodness. A Christian servant of God made the same point in this way: “The things that you learned as well as accepted and heard and saw in connection with me, practice these; and the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil. 4:9) It is by the practicing of these things, the putting of them into specific application, that goodness is actually manifested. Otherwise, goodness is not manifested; it is hidden.

2. What problems and contrasts are to be considered next?

² Some problems of life confronting all persons in various ways and to varying degrees receive consideration here in line with the foregoing. As goodness is in contrast with badness, so in each of the following problems there is contrast between two courses of action. The good course honors Jehovah, advances his Kingdom interests, works for the welfare of other persons and establishes more firmly our good relationship to Jehovah.

CHRISTIANS TELL THE TRUTH

3. What is one of the evidences that a person is a Christian?

³ The contrast here is between truth and untruth. Real Christians tell the truth. Truthfulness is one of the evidences that a person is a Christian.

4. (a) State various views of lies and lying. (b) What is the view of Jehovah and of the Bible? (c) How necessary is honesty?

⁴ It must be admitted that among men in general lying is not viewed as being particularly reprehensible and something to be avoided. Some persons even say that it is necessary to lie in order to be successful and to make their relations with other persons pleasant or even bearable. Some tell lies to protect themselves from punishment for things they have done that are wrong or to avoid difficulty, inconvenience or reproach. Lying goes with compromise and lack of integrity. Lying is a mark of a coward and of one lacking loving-kindness. Lies and liars are hated by Jehovah God. (Prov. 6:16-19) The Bible teaches that the upright, honest person fears Jehovah and the dishonest lying persons despise Almighty God. (Prov. 14:2) Honesty is necessary for the good fruitage of the spirit to be produced and also, as we have previously seen, “the fruitage of the light consists of every sort of goodness and righteousness and truth.”​—Eph. 5:9.

5. What failure of educational systems is brought to our attention?

⁵ In your country, does the educational system teach people to tell the truth? This question is justified in view of the following published comment concerning colleges in the United States: “Part of the problem [of dishonest employees] stems from the fact that our colleges and universities have failed to instill in their students reliable, ethical standards and appropriate moral values. Too many graduates enter industry with the objective of achieving prestige and instant financial success, with little or no regard for moral and ethical considerations. These people participate in the majority of transactions involving conflicts of interest, inventory irregularities, theft of company secrets, kickbacks, price fixing and falsification of records and financial reports.”​—Advance, July-August, 1963.

6. What encouragement is there for the person who loves truth?

⁶ If you abhor lies and lying you may be assured that you have the right point of view. It is not necessary to lie. Christians realize it is necessary to tell the truth. Although one has practiced lying, he can change. It is possible for him to atone for having been a liar, because in his great love Jehovah informs us: “By loving-kindness and trueness error is atoned for, and in the fear of Jehovah one turns away from bad.” (Prov. 16:6) So be completely encouraged to be truthful regardless of what course others may take. Truthfulness is the right way, the way to life and blessings, the loving and beneficial way. It is the Christian way that the Bible teaches, and requires in remembrance of our grand Creator.

CHRISTIANS DO NOT STEAL

7-9. Review the points made in the published comment on stealing.

⁷ Stealing goes hand in hand with lying. In the same publication from which is taken the above quotation regarding the failure of educational institutions there appears this comment: “Bonding company statistics indicate that 25 per cent of all employees steal to some degree whenever they feel they can get away with it. Another 50 per cent are influenced by the good and bad examples put before them. . . . supervisory and executive [employees] are stealing more than four million dollars in cash and property from their employers each working day. This year such thefts will reach the astronomical figure of substantially more than one billion dollars. . . .

⁸ “Theft of merchandise is seven times greater than that of cash. Frauds drive more than 250 firms out of business each year. . . . Kickbacks, conflicts of interest, and thefts of company secrets are widespread. Cheating on the incentive plan to pad earnings is a common occurrence.

⁹ “In addition to the losses just described, even larger sums go down the drain as a result of malingering on the job, falsification of labor vouchers, improper disposition of scrap and damaged material, job time standards that have unwarranted built-in delay factors, and the failure to enforce established standards. These losses are hidden in the cost of doing business. They are losses books don’t show.”

10. (a) What honors Jehovah? (b) How does Romans 2:19-21 put the issue to each one professing honesty?

¹⁰ Stealing or knowingly buying stolen property does not honor Jehovah, but the recognition of the property rights of others is the good course a Christian must follow. The Bible puts the question to Christians this way: “And you are persuaded that you are a guide of the blind, a light for those in darkness, a corrector of the unreasonable ones, a teacher of babes, and having the framework of the knowledge and of the truth in the Law​—do you, however, the one teaching someone else, not teach yourself? You, the one preaching ‘Do not steal,’ do you steal?”​—Rom. 2:19-21.

CHRISTIANS ARE LAW-ABIDING

11. (a) To what must Christians render primary obedience? (b) What additional obedience is required of them? (c) How is Christian law-abiding conduct good?

¹¹ Obedience is required by the Bible of Christians of all ages and under all circumstances. Subject to primary obedience to Jehovah God and his Word and law, obedience must be rendered by Christians in the home, in the school and to governmental authorities, in contrast to the spirit of lawlessness that is prevalent throughout the world among all peoples. Lawfulness produces good fruitage and honors Jehovah God. As to children, the Bible states: “You children, be obedient to your parents in everything, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.” In this same connection the fathers are told: “You fathers, do not be exasperating your children, so that they do not become downhearted.” (Col. 3:20, 21) The best citizens obey God, put his commandments first, are law-abiding and are genuine Christians. They refuse to take part in uprisings against governments, mob action, looting, personal injury or violence in any form. Their weapons are spiritual ones and are wielded for the good of all and for the praise of the God whom they remember.​—Eph. 6:10-18.

CHRISTIANS ARE RESPECTFUL

12. (a) Contrast respectfulness with insolence. (b) Which is necessary for good fruitage?

¹² Respect is closely related to obedience and lawfulness. It is important that you understand the Christian position in regard to this because there is so much insolence manifested in the world. Respectfulness is contrasted with insolence. An insolent “smart-alecky” person is haughty and contemptuous, often brutal in behavior or language. He is overbearing and grossly disrespectful toward his fellowman and, above all, toward Jehovah God. Insolence is really a form of false religion; demon worship in contrast to the worship of the great Creator. “For rebelliousness is the same as the sin of divination, and pushing ahead presumptuously the same as using uncanny power and teraphim. Since you have rejected the word of Jehovah, he accordingly rejects you from being king.” (1 Sam. 15:23) Insolence is one of the things Jehovah hates, “things detestable to his soul: lofty eyes.” (Prov. 6:16, 17) Respect and respectfulness and respectableness are manifestations of the good fruitage of God’s light and spirit and are suitable, in fact, necessary for Christians. How fine it is to be in the company of respectful persons!

CLEANLINESS MANIFESTS GOODNESS

13. In what ways does cleanliness manifest goodness?

¹³ Christians manifest cleanness or cleanliness in all the different ways that this good quality can be demonstrated. The Holy Scriptures, which guide the Christian, require them to so do. Cleanliness is necessary in speech, in the person, in the house or dwelling place and, of course, in conduct. In all these ways cleanliness is in contrast to uncleanness. “Touch nothing unclean . . . keep yourselves clean, you who are carrying the utensils of Jehovah.” (Isa. 52:11) It is good that the Bible makes the requirement of cleanliness plain, because uncleanness of all sorts is prevalent and is part of the sign of the time in which we are living.

14. Why should speech be clean?

¹⁴ Often the speech of persons is corrupt, unclean, profane, obscene and slovenly. Christians know that the power of speech is a gift from God, and the ability to make this vocal expression is a great blessing. They wish to honor God with their lips, not dishonor him.​—Heb. 13:15.

15. (a) What is good in respect to the person? (b) the home?

¹⁵ Christians endeavor to keep their bodies clean and, while the Bible does not require rich garments, clean clothing available to all persons is appropriate to the Christian. The same may be said regarding his house. Very humble homes can be neat and clean and orderly and thereby suitable, not only as dwellings for those who serve God, but for use of groups of persons in regular Bible study. Wealthy persons can be clean or unclean in speech, mind and conduct. Poor persons can be unclean or clean in person, dwelling, speech, mind, conduct and heart. It is the course of cleanliness that the Christian is required by the Bible to pursue. The suitableness and appropriateness of this is readily seen.

HOW ABOUT DRUNKENNESS AND GLUTTONY?

16. (a) Who has provided food and drink? (b) What is their good use? (c) What advice on these is contained in the Bible?

¹⁶ Drunkenness is overindulgence in intoxicating drink. Gluttony is overindulgence in food. Is there anything about either that is honoring to the Creator? Both food and drink are provisions of the Creator through the good earth he has made for man’s home, and God has certainly provided earth’s produce in abundance. Men should use these abundant provisions in harmony with the Provider’s will. You will be interested to know that the Bible says: “Do not come to be among heavy drinkers of wine, among those who are gluttonous eaters of flesh. For a drunkard and a glutton will come to poverty.” (Prov. 23:20, 21) There is personal happiness and pleasure in the moderate use of these things. There is no happiness, pleasure, contentment or satisfaction in overindulgence and drunkenness.

17. (a) What is the factual view of drunkenness? (b) What weakens the moral fiber? (c) What strengthens it? (d) These facts provide what encouragement?

¹⁷ The Christian must not be misled by the false reasoning to the effect that drunkards are simply physically or mentally sick and drunkenness is just an illness, and, therefore, there is no reproach attached to it. Rather, drunkards are sick morally. The moral strength of mankind is very low. Self-indulgence is weakening to the moral fiber of an individual, and constant failure to accept the discipline of Jehovah God through his Word brings moral breakdown. The fact is that the drunkards and other immoral persons are morally weak and are such because of not being disciplined by God’s Word. A drunkard need not continue as such. Drunkenness can be overcome by conforming to the Bible requirements. To do so is wise. “Wine is a ridiculer, intoxicating liquor is boisterous, and everyone going astray by it is not wise.” (Prov. 20:1) Moral strength can be gained and exercised. The sober person partakes in moderation of food and drink with thanksgiving to the Creator for the loving provisions he makes and remembers the Creator, manifesting goodness.

CHRISTIANS ARE INDUSTRIOUS

18. (a) As to industriousness, what contrast is seen? (b) To what does industriousness extend? (c) What about goodness and gambling?

¹⁸ Industriousness is contrasted with laziness, needlessly going into debt, and gambling in an effort to get something for nothing. “The wicked one is making false wages, but the one sowing righteousness, true earnings.” (Prov. 11:18) The Christian gives an honest day’s work in exchange for the wages he has agreed to accept. His industriousness extends to his activity in aiding others to come to a knowledge of the truth of God’s Word, the care of his loved ones, efforts in behalf of his congregation and the Kingdom interests. He does not allow himself to be deceived by the prevalent religious and governmental approval on gambling of various forms but he abstains from gambling, realizing full well that, while it may be a means of stuffing the moneybags of some religious organization, it is not the means of manifesting goodness in remembrance of the Creator.

19. What is better then “innocent social gambling”?

¹⁹ Some persons allow their addiction to what they feel to be innocent social gambling to deprive them of the company of their families and of the congregation of God’s people. In this they are making a mistake. As in the case of habitual drunkards, gambling addicts can receive abundantly of the needed moral strength by the disciplining from God’s Word. Honest toil is so much better than gambling. “Two sorts of weights are something detestable to Jehovah, and a cheating pair of scales is not good.”​—Prov. 20:23.

MODESTY

20. Define modesty and show its Christian appropriateness.

²⁰ Modesty is suitable and appropriate for Christians, while immodesty is not. Modesty means not only a moderate or low estimate on one’s own merits, and therefore not boastful, but also the observance of proprieties and freedom from indecency or lewdness. It follows that modesty includes chasteness in thought and conduct and apparel. There is modesty in dress and there is immodesty in dress. Christians should dress modestly, because that is suitable and appropriate and hence good, avoiding reproach that would accompany immodesty.

21. As to style and manner of dress, state the facts (a) as far as the Bible is concerned, (b) regarding influence and constant change, (c) underlying immodest trends.

²¹ The Bible does not prescribe the form of dress that people should wear. It is not a style book. It seems that in some parts of the earth the form of dress used by the people has undergone relatively little change through centuries, while in other parts of the earth the change in the apparel of both men and women is constant. From the countries in which there is a constant change in the style of dress a great influence goes out to many other parts of the world, not only in dress but in other things. The countries more advanced technologically have fought the greatest wars, destroyed the most lives with their advanced weapons of war, exert the greatest economic influence over the world and, along with these and other influences, affect the dress of many people. In these countries sex is elevated for commercial reasons and for reasons of self-indulgence. In this overemphasis on sex, changes in the style of dress cause many people to dress more and more immodestly.

22. Of what is exhibitionism as evidence?

²² One of the evidences of perversion and undue preoccupation with sex is the desire on the part of both men and women to exhibit themselves. This exhibitionism is increasing everywhere that the influence of modern style fads reaches. Both males and females who have a self-indulgent preoccupation with sex find unnatural gratification in wearing clothes so tight, short and brief that their bodies are unavoidably before the eyes of others.

23. (a) What is the good view of all this? (b) What is one of the dangers in immodest dress? (c) How does Matthew 5:28 relate to this discussion? (d) How does modest dress assist to make platform presentation beneficial?

²³ There is nothing in this that is good or suitable for a Christian. Christians should be clean and neat appearing in dress and at the same time avoid being swept along in the trend to immodest dress. One can be “in style” in dress and still be modest. It is not necessary to go to extremes of dress in order to be presentable and to meet the prevailing local standards of what is acceptable. Immodest dresses would make Christian wearers just like any female of the old system of things. Christian women and girls should know that many, many men may accept their manner of dress as a “promise.” The New York Journal American, in an article giving advice to young women against ‘flaunting low-cut dresses and showing too much of their legs when they sit down,’ said “you’re . . . expected to follow through on what you promise”! Christian women and girls should not deliberately contribute to the situation discussed by Jesus in Matthew 5:28: “I say to you that everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Is not that what the woman is trying to arouse in the man? The good Christian way is best for all. When it is followed, neither the platform participants nor the Kingdom Hall audiences are embarrassed.​—1 Pet. 3:3, 4.

24. (a) In these matters, how does the principle of remembering our grand Creator operate? (b) Is it wise to remember Jehovah in all our ways?

²⁴ In the foregoing and other circumstances where a person who loves righteousness can make a decision that is good, the principle of remembering the Creator operates. The good course is a reflection of the love that is shown by Jehovah toward men. “For even we were once senseless, disobedient, being misled, being slaves to various desires and pleasures, carrying on in maliciousness and envy, hateful, hating one another. However, when the kindness and the love for man on the part of our Savior, God, was manifested, owing to no works in righteousness that we had performed, but according to his mercy he saved us through the bath that brought us to life and through the making of us new by holy spirit. This spirit he poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, that, after being declared righteous by virtue of the undeserved kindness of that one, we might become heirs according to a hope of everlasting life.” (Titus 3:3-7) The principle here set out applies to all who would please Jehovah and receive his goodwill and eventually life in his righteous new system of things. Thus we see that the course of manifesting goodness is the course of true wisdom. Such manifestations of goodness are also acts of faith in Jehovah and evidence of proper Christian humility. “This is what Jehovah has said: ‘Let not the wise man brag about himself because of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man brag about himself because of his mightiness. Let not the rich man brag about himself because of his riches. But let the one bragging about himself brag about himself because of this very thing, the having of insight and the having of knowledge of me, that I am Jehovah, the One exercising loving-kindness, justice and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I do take delight,’ is the utterance of Jehovah.”​—Jer. 9:23, 24.