Be Wise​—Conduct Yourself as a Lesser One

“He that conducts himself as a lesser one among all of you is the one that is great.”​—Luke 9:48.

1, 2. (a) Who were among the most favored men ever to walk this earth, and why? (b) Yet, strangely, what problem repeatedly manifested itself among them?

WHO were among the most favored men ever to walk this earth? Without a doubt, included among such were the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ whom he chose to be apostles. What privileges were theirs to accompany him as “he went journeying from city to city and from village to village, preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God”! (Luke 8:1) What a pleasure it must have been for them to hear Jesus’ discourses, such as the Sermon on the Mount, and to witness his performing one miracle after another! Besides, did not Jesus constantly give them private instruction? Yes, indeed.

² Yet, strangely, these most favored ones were repeatedly arguing among themselves as to who was the chief or foremost among them. Not one wanted to conduct himself as a lesser one. Did such rivalry make for peace, harmony and happiness? Was it pleasing to Jehovah God? Was it the course of wisdom? Hardly, for what did Jesus on one occasion say to them? After setting a young child beside him, he told them: “Whoever receives this young child on the basis of my name receives me too, and whoever receives me receives him also that sent me forth. For he that conducts himself as a lesser one among all of you is the one that is great.”​—Luke 9:48.

3. What are some worldly examples of not being willing to conduct oneself as a lesser one?

³ Who today are wisely content to conduct themselves as lesser ones? Very few! That is why there is so much confusion, contention, strife and warring in this old world. Nations and blocs of nations keep competing with one another; each one wants to be on top, to be foremost, to be the most powerful. So nations saddle their people with enormous armament costs. And what is much of the agitation by the women’s liberation movement but a refusal on the part of its members to conduct themselves as lesser ones as compared to their menfolk? And is that not also what is plaguing many modern youths? They chafe at the role their elders play; they do not want to conduct themselves as lesser ones in relation to their elders, their parents. Has all such unwillingness to conduct oneself as a lesser one brought happiness? Is it wise? Far from it!

LEARNING FROM BIBLE EXAMPLES

4. Who was the first person with this exalted frame of mind, and what shows this?

⁴ That unwillingness to conduct oneself as a lesser one is folly can be seen from the fact that all the trouble in the world got started because a certain angel did not want to conduct himself that way. Why can that be said? Because that angel, who started our first parents on the road to sin and death, revealed his true motives in the third wilderness temptation he presented to the Son of God. In it he offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if he would do just one act of worship to Satan. What did that show? That Satan wanted to be equal to Jehovah God, that he did not want to conduct himself as a lesser one in relation to Him. This can be seen from Jesus’ reply to Satan: “Go away, Satan! For it is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’” Because of his unwillingness to conduct himself as a lesser one, Satan covered himself with shame and ignominy and eventually will be brought to nothing.​—Matt. 4:8-10; Heb. 2:14.

5. (a) How did Eve show that she was not willing to conduct herself as a lesser one? (b) What shows that Cain felt the same way?

⁵ Also, was not unwillingness to conduct herself as a lesser one the reason that Eve succumbed to Satan’s wiles and disobeyed Jehovah God? Satan assured her that by eating the forbidden fruit she would become like God, being able to decide for herself good and bad. (Gen. 3:5) Eve’s not wanting to conduct herself as a lesser one proved fatal to her. And what about her firstborn son? Is it not true that Cain murdered his brother Abel because he simply could not conduct himself as a lesser one in relation to him? That is how galling it was for Cain to have Abel preferred. This proud mental attitude caused Cain to be banished as the first human murderer.​—Gen. 4:1-16.

6. How was unwillingness to conduct oneself as a lesser one shown by (a) Joseph’s half brothers? (b) Aaron and Miriam? (c) Korah, Dathan and Abiram?

⁶ Then there were the half brothers of Joseph. Because their father Jacob was preferring Joseph​—due to his being the son of his favorite wife, Rachel—​they became so filled with bitter animosity that they had no peace until they got rid of him. (Gen. 37:3-35) In time they, too, had reason to regret their course of action. Years later even Miriam and Aaron rebelled against conducting themselves as lesser ones in relation to their younger brother, Moses. They complained: “Is it just by Moses alone that Jehovah has spoken? Is it not by us also that he has spoken?” But as the record goes on to show, Jehovah God was listening. He was very displeased with their mental attitude, for he said to the two complainers: “Hear my words, please. . . . my servant Moses . . . is being entrusted with all my house. Mouth to mouth I speak to him. . . . Why, then, did you not fear to speak against my servant, against Moses?” Jehovah God was so displeased that he struck Miriam with leprosy. Then there were Korah, Dathan and Abiram who rebelled even more seriously against conducting themselves as lesser ones and who suffered destruction for it.​—Num. 12:1-15; 16:1-35; 26:9-11.

7, 8. (a) What two ancient kings came to grief because of not wanting to conduct themselves as lesser ones? (b) What examples do we have in apostolic times?

⁷ Another servant of Jehovah God who had trouble along this line was King Saul. He just could not stand to hear the women of Israel singing: “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” This so enraged Saul that from that day forward he “was continually looking suspiciously at David,” even hounding him like a dog in his efforts to do away with him. How bitter Saul’s life became because of his unwillingness to conduct himself as a lesser one in relation to David in this respect! And what a tragic end was his! (1 Sam. 18:7-9; 31:3-6) Then there was King Uzziah. His military successes, which were truly great, made him haughty at heart. So, no longer wisely content to serve solely as king handling affairs of state and conducting himself as a lesser one in relation to the priesthood, he wanted to be equal with the priests in respect to temple worship. For Uzziah’s presumptuousness, Jehovah God struck him with leprosy. He died as a leper.​—2 Chron. 26:16-21; Prov. 11:2.

⁸ Coming to the Christian Greek Scriptures, we have already noted the problem the 12 apostles had while Jesus was with them, not one of them being willing to conduct himself as a lesser one. However, let it be noted that we read nothing of this kind concerning them once they had received God’s holy spirit at Pentecost. But other first-century Christians did have that problem. It appears that the Christians at Corinth, at least some of them, were not content to conduct themselves as lesser ones in relation to the apostle Paul. And the apostle John found it necessary to censure Diotrephes severely because of his wanting to have the first place and not treating with respect what the apostle John had to tell the Christians back there.​—2 Cor. 10:1-11; 12:5-9; 3 John 9, 10.

WHY THE PROBLEM?

9. What is the root cause of not wanting to conduct oneself as a lesser one?

⁹ Why has this problem been so prevalent throughout man’s history, affecting not only worldlings, nations and individuals but even servants of Jehovah God? It is because of inherited selfishness. As we read at Genesis 8:21: “The inclination of the heart of man is bad from his youth up.” As a result, “the heart is more treacherous than anything else and is desperate. Who can know it?”​—Jer. 17:9.

10-12. What examples show just where and why this problem comes up?

¹⁰ Generally, witnesses of Jehovah have little difficulty in conducting themselves as lesser ones in relation to those who obviously occupy a superior position. But the problem arises when it comes to conducting themselves as lesser ones among their peers, among those who are more or less their equals. For example, not one of the 12 apostles had any difficulty in conducting himself as a lesser one in relation to his Master, Jesus Christ. But when it came to comparing himself with any of the other 11 apostles, that is where the difficulty lay. No one wanted to conduct himself as a lesser one among all the rest!

¹¹ Similarly today, in the Christian congregation there may be a little rivalry, or a little feminine jealousy may surface, especially between those who might have quite similar endowments or advantages. This seems to have been the situation between two Christian women in the congregation at Philippi, causing the apostle Paul to write: “Euodia I exhort and Syntyche I exhort to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, I request you too, genuine yokefellow, keep assisting these women who have striven side by side with me in the good news along with . . . the rest of my fellow workers.” (Phil. 4:2, 3) Quite likely both these sisters were particularly able and zealous preachers of the “good news,” so that a spirit of rivalry entered their hearts, causing friction.

¹² In like manner, there may be problems at times among brothers having similar appointments. In the Christian organization, by and large, ministerial servants have no difficulty in conducting themselves as lesser ones in relation to the elders; elders in relation to the circuit overseer; circuit overseers in relation to the district overseers, and so forth. But the test comes in relation to peers, whether ministerial servants would be willing to conduct themselves as lesser ones in relation to other ministerial servants, elders in relation to other elders in a certain congregation, and so on.

EARTHLY, ANIMAL, DEMONIC WISDOM

13-15. Why can contentiousness and jealousy be termed (a) earthly wisdom? (b) animal wisdom?

¹³ Because many are unwilling to conduct themselves as lesser ones due to human imperfection, the disciple James found it necessary to write: “If you have bitter jealousy and contentiousness in your hearts, do not be bragging and lying against the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is the earthly, animal, demonic. For where jealousy and contentiousness are, there disorder and every vile thing are.”​—Jas. 3:14-16.

¹⁴ The disciple James is so right in speaking of jealousy and contentiousness as being earthly, animal, demonic! It is earthly, materialistic, the mark of selfish, imperfect humans and stands in contrast with that which is from above, heavenly. This same spirit is also animal, for it is the mark of animals. Ethologists, who study animals in their natural environment, have discovered among various animals, such as cows and chickens, what is known as the “pecking order,” wherein certain ones always come ahead of others.

¹⁵ For example, some years ago the public press told of the performance of a 12-tiger act at a circus in New York city. After the act was over, the tigers were heading for the passageway that led to their cages when the leading tiger, Rajah, suddenly seized the throat of Ila, a tigress. By the time the circus attendants were able to separate the two the tigress had received a mortal wound. What had gone wrong? Instead of keeping her place behind Rajah she presumptuously stepped out ahead of him and so enraged Rajah that he attacked her. Her not being willing to conduct herself as a lesser one cost her her life.

FINE EXAMPLES OF MOSES, JESUS AND PAUL

16. What fine example did Moses set of being willing to conduct himself as a lesser one?

¹⁶ One of Jehovah’s ancient servants who outstandingly conducted himself as a lesser one was Moses. How greatly he was used by Jehovah God: in bearing witness to Pharaoh, in calling forth the 10 plagues, in having the Red Sea divide and in providing his people with water supernaturally! Yet in spite of all these privileges and the prominence accorded him thereby, we read that “the man Moses was by far the meekest of all the men who were upon the surface of the ground.” Because of his willingness to conduct himself as a lesser one, Jehovah God made him great in the eyes of the world, as well as in the eyes of his own people.​—Num. 12:3.

17-19. What shows that Jesus conducted himself as a lesser one (a) before coming to earth? (b) while on earth? (c) since his resurrection and return to heaven?

¹⁷ And what a fine example Jesus Christ, the Son of God, set in conducting himself as a lesser one! In contrast to the angel who became Satan the Devil, the Word, or Logos, “although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God.” He gladly served as a “master worker,” closely associated with his Father in the works of creation.​—Prov. 8:30; John 1:1-3, 14; 1 Cor. 11:3; Phil. 2:6-8.

¹⁸ While on earth, Jesus continued to conduct himself as a lesser one in relation to his Father, saying, “the Father is greater than I am,” and that no one was good but God alone. (Luke 18:19; John 14:28) In fact, when on earth Jesus conducted himself as a lesser one in relation to fellow humans, taking the role of servant. As he himself put it: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” He even performed the most menial task of washing his apostles’ feet. And how highly he was exalted for his lowliness of mind!​—Matt. 20:28, New International Version; John 13:2-16; Phil. 2:9-11.

¹⁹ Since his resurrection and ascension to heaven, Christ has continued to conduct himself as a lesser one in relation to Jehovah his Father, being willing to wait patiently until Jehovah places his enemies as a stool for his feet. Then, after Jesus’ millennial reign, when Jehovah has put all his enemies under his feet, “the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.”​—Ps. 110:1; 1 Cor. 15:25-28.

20, 21. (a) How did the apostle Paul show himself to be a good imitator of Jesus Christ in these respects? (b) What will the next article point out for our benefit?

²⁰ Among Christ’s followers, the apostle Paul in particular was a fine imitator of Jesus Christ in this regard. For the sake of the “good news,” he became the slave of all. That certainly was conducting himself as a lesser one. (1 Cor. 9:19) He conducted himself as a lesser one in relation to the governing body in Jerusalem, with regard to his ministerial activity, where he should preach, and in doctrinal matters. (Acts 15:2; Gal. 2:7-10) On one occasion, he felt obliged to ask the Christian congregation at Corinth: “Did I commit a sin by humbling myself that you might be exalted?” No wonder Jehovah God so richly blessed Paul’s ministry!​—2 Cor. 11:7.

²¹ Since, as we have seen, unwillingness to conduct oneself as a lesser one is folly, whereas being willing to do so is proof of wisdom, we will want to take this wise course. To do so we will need help because of our inherited imperfections. The next article will point out aids to our acquiring this right frame of mind.

Aids in Conducting Ourselves as Lesser Ones

1. What Scriptural information previously considered can help us to conduct ourselves as lesser ones?

WHAT will help us to conduct ourselves as lesser ones? Certainly all that has been noted in the previous article as to the bad fruits resulting from not doing so should serve as warning examples for us to conduct ourselves as lesser ones. Surely we do not want to lose out in the quest for life, do we? On the other hand, all the fine Scriptural examples of those who did conduct themselves as lesser ones and the rewards they received should encourage us to want to imitate them.

2, 3. (a) How can a good relationship with Jehovah help us to conduct ourselves as lesser ones? (b) Why can humility aid us?

² Though it may not have occurred to some of us, one of the greatest aids in this regard is having a good relationship with Jehovah God, fully trusting him. Doing so, we will not be unduly concerned lest we come short, are downgraded or neglected. Yes, we want to ‘trust in Jehovah with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding. If we in all our ways take notice of him, he will direct our path for our greatest good.’ (Prov. 3:5, 6) Then, too, we can have the confidence that he will make all his works cooperate for our own good.​—Rom. 8:28.

³ It also takes humility to conduct ourselves as lesser ones. And why should we not be willing to be humble? We are told: “Better is it to be lowly in spirit with the meek ones than to divide spoil with the self-exalted ones.” The proud course is bound to be self-defeating: “Pride is before a crash, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” More than that, pride causes God to oppose us, even as we read: “God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones.” The apostle Peter makes the same point as the disciple James, saying: “All of you gird yourselves with lowliness of mind toward one another.” Yes, we should conduct ourselves as lesser ones​—“because God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones.”​—Prov. 16:18, 19; Jas. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5; compare Romans 12:16.

PRINCIPLE OF HEADSHIP

4, 5. (a) How can our appreciating the principle of headship be a help in this matter? (b) How can this be well illustrated?

⁴ Another help is for us to appreciate the principle of headship. Whenever there is work to be done that requires more than one person there needs to be one to take the lead and make final decisions or else there is confusion, a working at cross purposes. In other words, there is need of organization. An organization of many persons can be likened to the human body. What many and varied members our bodies have, and yet they are all directed by the one head! Some members may well be more prominent, more important than others, but as the apostle so clearly shows, no one member can say to the other, “I have no need of you.” All are necessary. Following this pattern, should we not be content with having a share in the accomplishment of the purpose of the organization?​—1 Cor. 12:21.

⁵ The importance of recognizing the principle of headship can also be well illustrated by an orchestra. In a large symphony orchestra there may be 100 talented musicians and yet each one of them has to conduct himself as a lesser one. Even the conductor must conduct himself as a lesser one, for he is under obligation to interpret the music as the composer intended it to be. And all the musicians in the orchestra must heed the conductor, being lesser ones as regards him. Not only that, but in each section, where there is more than one musician playing a certain instrument, there is a “first chair,” and the rest of the musicians in that section must follow his style as closely as possible. Thus for the first violins there is the concertmaster. Only by such an arrangement can beautiful, harmonious music be produced. Yes, appreciating the principle of headship will help us to conduct ourselves as lesser ones.

THE SPIRIT OF A SOUND MIND AND GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT

6, 7. In what ways can the spirit of a sound mind be helpful in regard to conducting ourselves as lesser ones?

⁶ Having the spirit of a sound mind will also aid us in this matter. The apostle Paul counsels us: “Through the undeserved kindness given to me I tell everyone there among you not to think more of himself than it is necessary to think; but to think so as to have a sound mind, each one as God has distributed to him a measure of faith.” (Rom. 12:3) When we take a sober view of ourselves, not permitting this to be clouded by pride or self-interest, we can find plenty of reason for conducting ourselves as lesser ones. How so?

⁷ Each one of us is far more familiar with himself than with others. We should be able to see, far more than do others, how far short we come of being and doing what we should. As Paul lamented: “I do not do what I want to do; I do the things that I hate.” (Rom. 7:15, An American Translation) Besides, as Christians we are obligated not to judge others too severely but to make allowances for their imperfections and give them the benefit of the doubt. But doubtless we are painfully aware of our own weaknesses and where some wrong motive might have influenced us. So by this very fact we should be willing to conduct ourselves as lesser ones in relation to others. There is no question about it: Having the spirit of a sound mind will help us in these matters.​—2 Tim. 1:7.

8. Appreciating the power of God’s holy spirit can be of what assistance in conducting ourselves as lesser ones?

⁸ A fine appreciation of the power of God’s holy spirit will also help us to conduct ourselves as lesser ones. Regardless of our natural endowments or attainments, what is important in Jehovah’s organization is God’s holy spirit. (Zech. 4:6) That holy spirit enabled the early Christians to be so effective in their ministry that their enemies complained that these had “overturned the inhabited earth.” (Acts 17:6) It was because of God’s spirit that they could speak with such outspokenness in confronting their religious opposers, unlearned and ordinary though they were from a natural standpoint. (Acts 4:13, 29-31) Recognizing that all our brothers have God’s holy spirit will help us to conduct ourselves as lesser ones in relation to them even though we may excel in some abilities from a worldly standpoint. This should make it easier for us to heed the counsel: “In showing honor to one another take the lead.”​—Rom. 12:10.

9. What effect should our appreciating the prime importance of Jehovah’s kingdom have on us?

⁹ So, do we appreciate the importance of Jehovah God’s kingdom? If we do then we will be ready to put its interests first in our lives. Doing so will also help us to conduct ourselves as lesser ones. Why can this be said? Because if we appreciate that the Kingdom work all of us are engaged in is the important thing and not we ourselves, then we will not feel unduly disturbed if we happen to have been overlooked as regards a privilege of service we might have desired. We want to take God’s work, not ourselves, seriously. After all, there are only so many parts on the various congregation meetings, only so many parts on a circuit assembly program, only so many parts on a district convention program. So some of us are bound to be left out. If that should be our lot, let us rejoice with the brothers that do have the privileges rather than envy them. Let us have the mental disposition of the psalmist who said: “For a day in your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere. I have chosen to stand at the threshold in the house of my God rather than to move around in the tents of wickedness.” Yes, it is far better to be a lesser one in Jehovah’s organization than to be a greater one in Satan’s wicked doomed organization.​—Ps. 84:10.

PRACTICAL WISDOM

10. From what embarrassment can conducting ourselves as lesser ones save us?

¹⁰ God’s Word the Bible has much to say about practical wisdom. For example, it points out the wisdom of using sharp tools so that one does not needlessly have to exert oneself. (Eccl. 10:10) It also gives us practical advice on conducting ourselves as lesser ones. Jesus made this point, as we read at Luke 14:8-11: “When you are invited by someone to a marriage feast, do not lie down in the most prominent place. Perhaps someone more distinguished than you may at the time have been invited by him, and he that invited you and him will come and say to you, ‘Let this man have the place.’ And then you will start off with shame to occupy the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, that when the man that has invited you comes he will say to you, ‘Friend, go on up higher.’ Then you will have honor in front of all your fellow guests. For everyone that exalts himself will be humbled and he that humbles himself will be exalted.”

11. (a) Why does conducting ourselves as lesser ones make for good relations with others? (b) In what other respects does this mental attitude help?

¹¹ It can also be well said that it is practical wisdom to try to have good relations with others. Conducting oneself as a lesser one is one way to accomplish that desired goal. It is human nature to be concerned with one’s own advantages, and when we are ambitious or overly anxious to excel we make others feel uncomfortable. But when we conduct ourselves as lesser ones we do not threaten the position of others, we do not make them feel insecure or inferior. We do not put them on the defensive. As a result, they will be all the more likely to show friendliness and affection toward us. More than that, conducting ourselves as lesser ones will keep us from overextending ourselves in rivalry so as to excel. This will keep us from presuming to do things beyond our capabilities or resources; it will keep us from, as the saying goes, ‘biting off more than we can chew.’ Or, as far better expressed by Jesus, it is wisdom to count the cost. Moreover, practical wisdom will keep us from promising more than we can perform.​—Luke 14:28.

12. Conducting ourselves as lesser ones can be of what help in the family circle?

¹² Practical wisdom that makes us conduct ourselves as lesser ones also applies within the family circle. For example, the wise wife will be content to play the complementary, submissive role in relation to her husband, knowing that this makes for peace in the family and is conducive to happiness. Being willing to play such a role wins her husband’s affection and love, and makes him want to do things for her. And what could make a wife happier than to have her husband so well disposed toward her that he is always giving her tokens of appreciation and affection, by words and deeds? In this regard, it is also practical wisdom for a husband to acknowledge wherein his wife excels and be content to play the lesser role, granting her such recognition under his headship. This will have a similar fine effect on her.

UNSELFISH LOVE THE GREATEST AID

13, 14. In this regard, how did unselfish love help (a) Jonathan? (b) Jesus Christ?

¹³ Will affection and unselfish love aid us in conducting ourselves as lesser ones? Yes, and these above all! A fine example we have in Jonathan, the son of King Saul. We read that, right after David had slain the giant Goliath, “Jonathan’s very soul became bound up with the soul of David, and Jonathan began to love him as his own soul.” (1 Sam. 18:1) As time went on, Jonathan began to realize that not he but David was Jehovah’s choice to succeed Saul as king in Israel. But because of his love for David, far from envying David, Jonathan said: “Do not be afraid; for the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you yourself will be king over Israel, and I myself shall become second to you.”​—1 Sam. 23:17.

¹⁴ What a fine example we have also in Jesus Christ! Jesus said: “I love the Father.” Because of that love, Jesus never for one moment gave any thought to being equal with his Father, but always appreciated that Jehovah God was his head. (John 14:31; 1 Cor. 11:3; Phil. 2:6) Furthermore, because of Christ’s great love for his anointed footstep followers, he was willing to die for them. (Eph. 5:25) Jesus’ example of humility and love should certainly help us to conduct ourselves as lesser ones.

15. What fine example did the apostle Paul give of conducting himself as a lesser one?

¹⁵ We have previously noted that the apostle Paul conducted himself as a lesser one in relation to his fellow Christians. Why? It was because of his great love for them. Thus, in writing to his fellow Christians at Rome, he looked forward not only to strengthening their faith but also to having them strengthen his faith through an interchange of encouragement. (Rom. 1:8-12) Bearing like testimony are his words to the brothers at Corinth: “Our mouth has been opened to you, Corinthians, our heart has widened out. You are not cramped for room within us, but you are cramped for room in your own tender affections. So, as a recompense in return​—I speak as to children—​you, too, widen out.” (2 Cor. 6:11-13) Note similar expressions in regard to the Christians at Philippi and at Thessalonica.​—Phil. 1:8; 4:1; 1 Thess. 2:7, 8.

16, 17. (a) What can be said about modern examples of conducting oneself as a lesser one? (b) What help can love be in this regard?

¹⁶ Do we not have many fine examples of this in modern times? Many are those in positions of responsibility who set fine examples in conducting themselves as lesser ones. Humbly they are at the service of their brothers needing help. Particularly does this become apparent at our larger gatherings. Then, regardless of natural endowments or positions in the organization, they all ‘roll up their sleeves and pitch in,’ as the saying goes, to get the work done.

¹⁷ Unquestionably, unselfish love will help us to conduct ourselves as lesser ones. Yes, ‘love does not brag, it does not get puffed up, it does not even seek its own interests.’ It is not unduly concerned about getting its just due. (1 Cor. 13:4, 5) Love truly can help us, for it will move us to ‘keep seeking, not our own advantage, but that of others.’ (1 Cor. 10:24) As Paul told the Galatian Christians: “Through love slave for one another.” Slaving for one another certainly requires that each of us conduct himself as a lesser one!​—Gal. 5:13.

18. How can this matter of conducting oneself as a lesser one be well summarized?

¹⁸ Clearly the Bible record, as well as ancient and modern secular history, proves that conducting oneself as a lesser one is the course of wisdom. It makes for good relations with Jehovah God, with our fellow Christians and with members of our own families. Moreover, it is the course of happiness because it means giving others the advantages and preferences, and “there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.” (Acts 20:35) Many, too, are the aids available so as to motivate us to conduct ourselves as lesser ones: heeding Biblical examples, recognizing the principle of headship, exercising the spirit of a sound mind, following the leadings of God’s holy spirit, and showing practical wisdom and unselfish love. May we ever consider it a privilege, a blessing, to conduct ourselves as lesser ones, to the benefit of others and ourselves, and primarily to Jehovah’s praise.

“Let not the wise man . . . the mighty man . . . the rich man brag . . . But let the one bragging . . . 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.”​—Jer. 9:23, 24.