13. Because of the blessings gained by serving where the need is great, what should we resolve? What example is cited?

¹³ Consider the joys and blessings of serving where the need is great. These cannot be enjoyed by Kingdom publishers who are engrossed in materialistic desires. For example, after one of the 1957 district assemblies in the United States a brother came to one of the Society’s representatives and asked him if he could inform him right then and there as to where the need was great. This brother had a family of five, was a congregation servant and had recently sold his home. He truly wanted to enlarge his Kingdom service privileges. Hearing the talk on serving where the need is great, he decided that this was just what he wanted. On his way home after the assembly he stopped off at the Society’s office and obtained more information on his future assignment. Upon returning home he bought a truck, loaded his furniture and household goods and, together with his family, headed off to the South. The Society assigned this brother and his family to a small town. Would secular work be a problem? This brother had the right mental attitude when he said, “If this town can provide for 5,000, then it can provide for 5,007.” Today this faithful brother and his family are a source of encouragement to the brothers and a blessing to men of good will. There are many other experiences just like this one being daily enjoyed by your brothers who are putting spiritual values first. These faithful brothers are not permitting materialism to make inroads. They are fighting it, resisting it at every turn, and are not being drowned in the swirling sea of materialism.

14. How closely must we follow the guide to avoid the treacherous quicksand of materialism, and how should we respond to the call for added privileges of service?

¹⁴ Some, however, may have a negative attitude toward progress in the New World society. This could allow one to relax, and it would not be good. We cannot relax our vigilance, or materialism will make inroads. Hence we must properly value our life. Christians are in a wilderness, this world. When a group is following a guide in an area where there is quicksand, the guide tells them to follow him closely, in his very steps if at all possible. Our guide through the wilderness of this world is Christ Jesus. If we follow his steps closely, we shall never get sunk in the quicksand of materialism. We shall not be drawn out of sight by this seemingly innocent force. We shall be led straight to our destination, the new world. So do not compromise your faith. Keep it alive and vibrant. Take every opportunity to grow in spiritual stature. Use spare moments to meditate and reflect on the principles of Jehovah’s Word. It will not be easy at first. Force yourself to do it, for it is conducive to spiritual health. When a call comes for added privileges of service in the congregation, such as assisting a servant, giving an instruction talk or an hour lecture or perhaps even being recommended to be a congregation book-study conductor in due time, willingly accept such and joyfully discharge your Christian responsibilities. Do not get lost in the crowd in a large congregation, being content with a minimum of service. Be progressive and up to date, reliable and enthusiastic. Otherwise your faith will weaken, your Christian vigor will diminish and wrong thinking will set in.

15. Where does materialism lead to? Is it worth it?

¹⁵ For those who think they can take a temporary holiday and get some more of this world’s goods while the secular opportunities are ripe, consider where materialism leads to. Is it worth it? Paul said: “However, those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires which plunge men into destruction and ruin. For the love of money is the root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains.” (1 Tim. 6:9, 10) So again we see that it is not the riches or what such represents that is wrong, but it is the determination to have material wealth and possessions. With such a determination a Christian places more value on the material than on the spiritual, and this is where the danger lies. Then study, meditation and field service are exchanged for longer hours and overtime secular work. Both husband and wife engage in secular work, and for what? One author stated: “Worldly riches are like nuts, many clothes are torn in getting them, many a tooth broken in cracking them and never a belly filled with eating them.” Most of all, one who pursues this course far enough will soon find himself on the outskirts and finally be on the outside of the New World society. Outside there is no contentment, only unhappiness, grumbling and despair.

16. How does Paul show the wisdom of pursuing godly devotion?

¹⁶ Knowing that materialism will perish with this world at the battle of Armageddon, gain the victory by intense love for Jehovah God and his organization. At 1 Timothy 6:6-8 Paul stated: “To be sure, it is a means of great gain, this godly devotion along with self-sufficiency. For we have brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out. So, having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things.” Notice Paul’s argument here: there is much to be gained when a Christian pursues godly devotion. This godly devotion is related to the fear of Jehovah. So if we fear to displease Jehovah, we will not permit selfish materialistic desires to warp our thinking. No, we shall be content with only the necessary material things, which, as Paul states, are sustenance and covering.

17. What counsel of James will aid us to avoid drowning in the deep waters of materialism?

¹⁷ None should be deluded into thinking that more is meant here than what is stated. To try to make that include the very latest and best of material goods and pleasures is to wrest the Scriptures to suit our wrong desires. Jehovah is not the one who causes these wrong desires. As the disciple James states: “When under trial, let no one say: ‘I am being tried by God.’ No; for with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone. But each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire. Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn, sin, when it has been accomplished, brings forth death.” (Jas. 1:13-15) So a true Christian will not risk the deep waters of materialism and subsequent death by drowning. He wants to live, and thus he properly controls his desires.

18. What will a Christian do today to stick close to Jehovah and his organization and not succumb to the desires of the flesh?

¹⁸ A Christian will pursue godly devotion and not materialism. Only by being aware of this satanic philosophy can he fight it successfully. He must be convinced that it is better to be in Jehovah’s organization than anywhere else. He should want to do nothing that would jeopardize his chances for life in the new world. Then he will have everything he needs. Now he does not need the finest of everything to serve Jehovah. But he does need Jehovah’s organization, and he should stick close to it. Jehovah through the organization has raised up a mighty bulwark against one of Satan’s most clever devices, materialism. Avail yourself of all the provisions Jehovah has made to fight this menace known as materialism. Keep your mind and heart on the new world with all its grand expectations. Keep abreast of the ever-expanding New World society, and have a full share in the ministry today. This will make you spiritually strong, fully able to resist successfully the subtle encroachments of materialism. Thoughtfully, a true Christian that loves Jehovah will appraise his situation. Self-examination is very necessary. Then too, he realizes that keeping pace with the New World society and growing in spiritual stature are vital in fighting materialism.

19. Is it safe to venture beyond the bounds of the New World society? Why not?

¹⁹ On this issue of life and death he will take counsel from the organization and he will apply this to his everlasting good. He will remember that godly devotion is to be pursued and not materialism. Moreover, he knows that it is not safe to venture beyond the bounds of the New World society. No, not even though he feels he may be strong enough to resist the enticing lure of materialism out there. Never forget for one moment that others have succumbed. Materialism is deadly, like the undertow. It can pull you down under and snuff out your life. Recognize its ever-present dangers. It is no respecter of persons. Therefore, in company with your faithful brothers all over the world, fight materialism for your life.

Youth ‘Ties Scriptures Together’

The right use of related Bible texts invariably helps to throw light on a Scriptural subject. Illustrating this point is the incident that took place in the eighth-grade classroom of a certain school in Kentucky (U.S.). In this classroom, consisting of thirty-four students, each morning there is a reading from the Bible or telling of a Bible story by one of the students. Assignments for this are given the previous day. One day it appeared that the teacher had forgotten to make an assignment on the day before and so he asked James, who is one of Jehovah’s witnesses, to give an impromptu talk.

James tactfully gave a sermon on God’s name, Jehovah. “You should be a preacher!” exclaimed one of his fellow students. “Why have I never heard God’s name in my church?” asked another. And, “Just why does God have a name?” asked still another. The teacher’s comment was: “I am glad that we have a student that can tie his scriptures together. I have known those scriptures all my life but could not tie them together.”

Before long James had given seven sermons, one sermon each week for seven weeks in a row, and was due to give more. Among his subjects were: “Who Is Causing Woes on Earth?” “New Heavens and a New Earth,” “Some Will Live on Earth Forever,” and “144,000 Will Go to Heaven.” More than just one student, after checking the Scriptural references James gave, had to admit: “That is exactly what it says!”