11. (a) What arrangement is family-like, and in what ways? (b) Within the Christian “family,” what improvement is possible?

¹¹ Those of the “great crowd” of the seventh chapter of Revelation are brought into an arrangement that is similar to that of a family. Is there any reason for those in this Christian family-like arrangement to have a feeling of inferiority because of old age, handicaps, lack of education, timidity or lack of ability in comparison to others in the family? No, there is no reason to feel inferior, although a person may endeavor to overcome his or her limitations. So it is, that if your background has resulted in your now having handicaps, whatever they may be, you should remember that if you are now faithful to Jehovah God you will be able to make changes and be of a ‘sort’ that is suitable to your Christian profession. One way in which the Scriptures express this change is found in Ephesians 4:23, 24: “You should be made new in the force actuating your mind, and should put on the new personality which was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loyalty.” (See also Romans 12:2.) Is that not encouraging and also appealing to a person who wants to improve his ‘sort’?

14. In viewing the qualities of other persons, what balanced view should one have?

¹⁴ One’s observation of others can sometimes be a real help and assistance. One may look around and see other persons with ability. Of course, in doing so one might feel inferior but one should not. On the contrary, one can learn by observing the good qualities of another, and to the extent that one can one might imitate these qualities and might even request and accept help from the person who is qualified in some manner. However, one certainly should not try to be that other person, but one should just be oneself, and be whatever part of the Christian organizational body one is assigned by God.