is needed, failure to manifest love by speaking up in an upbuilding way may cause disappointment and a feeling of failure.

Likewise, when a brother is sick or otherwise in need, do we come to his aid? Failure to do so may stumble him if he is immature. Do we neglect opportunities to be helpful in getting others to meetings or in the field ministry? Do we let the weather keep us from engaging in pure worship, that is, unnecessarily? Failure along any of these lines might well stumble the weak.

Do we have reason to think that we have offended another? Then we may not ignore it, arguing that Matthew 18:15, 16 requires him to come to us with his grievance. No, if he is immature, he might not feel equal to obeying that command and so we must go to him in obedience to the command at Matthew 5:23, 24: “If, then, you are bringing your gift to the altar and you there remember that your brother has something against you, . . . first make your peace with your brother, and then . . . offer up your gift.” Failure to obey this command may well cause your brother to stumble.

Of course, in all these respects the servants in a congregation and particularly the overseers have added responsibilities to keep from becoming causes for stumbling. By reason of their greater knowledge, maturity and experience more is required of them, both by God and by their brothers, and also by reason of their position they can more easily stumble others. At the same time they must exercise oversight lest others cause stumbling. They must feel like the apostle Paul: “Who is stumbled, and I am not incensed?” They especially must keep an “eye on those who create divisions and causes for stumbling,” lest harm come to the sheep entrusted to their care.—2 Cor. 11:29; Rom. 16:17.

What will help us to keep from being stumbled and from becoming causes for stumbling? Love. Love will make us long-suffering and obliging. It will keep us from being jealous, from bragging, from getting puffed up, from behaving indecently, from looking only to our own interests and from becoming provoked. It will help us to bear, believe, hope and endure all things. It never fails.—1 Cor. 13:4-8.

So in these perilous times let love keep all dedicated Christians from becoming causes for stumbling so that none cause another to lose out on eternal salvation, at the same time remembering that the mature Christian is not easily stumbled by what others say and do or fail to say and do.

Questions From Readers

● What is the wisdom referred to at Ecclesiastes 1:18?—M. L., United States.

Ecclesiastes 1:18 reads: “For in the abundance of wisdom there is an abundance of vexation, so that he that increases knowledge increases pain.” The Scriptures show that there are two kinds of wisdom, the godly kind and the worldly kind. Obviously this text does not refer to the godly kind, for of it we read: “Happy is the man that has found wisdom, and the man that gets discernment, for the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver and the produce of it even than gold. It is more precious than corals, and all other delights of yours cannot be made equal to it. Length of days is in its right hand; in its left hand there are riches and glory. Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its roadways are peace. It is a tree of life to those taking hold of it, and those keeping fast hold of it are to be called happy.”—Prov. 3:13-18.

This is the true wisdom, which rests upon the fear of Jehovah God and the acceptance of his provisions through Jesus Christ. It does not bring vexation. Furthermore, the increase of the knowledge of Jehovah God and of his Son, Jesus Christ, whom he sent, means everlasting life to all who will acquire such knowledge and use it according to godly wisdom.—John 17:3.

But the wisdom referred to at Ecclesiastes 1:18 is the wisdom of this world that recognizes no relationship to God and therefore brings with it an abundance of vexation. The worldlywise person increases knowledge but uses that knowledge according to the wisdom of untheocratic men, and consequently he only increases pain for himself, as can be witnessed in the world today when there is more knowledge available in our libraries and schools and other institutions for gathering information than ever before and yet at the same time there has never been more pain on the part of mankind. Concerning this kind of wisdom the apostle Paul wrote: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”—1 Cor. 3:19.

● Is it proper for one of Jehovah’s witnesses to conduct a funeral for one who dies while disfellowshiped?—E. B., United States.

A congregation of Jehovah’s servants should not hold the funeral service of one who dies while disfellowshiped; nor should a dedicated Christian officiate at such a funeral, regardless of the fact that the rest of the members of the family might be witnesses of Jehovah and in good standing. Neither should any of the congregation attend such a funeral. We never want to give the impression to outsiders that a disfellowshiped person was acceptable in the congregation when in truth and in fact he was not acceptable but had been disfellowshiped from it.

David expressed the right sentiments when he said that he did not even want to be associated with such persons at the time of death: “Do not take away my soul along with sinners, nor my life along with bloodguilty men.”—Ps 26:9.

Announcements

FIELD MINISTRY

Devoted servants of God stay spiritually awake in these critical times. (Luke 12:37) They keep busy doing the work assigned them by God. In fulfilling their God-given commission, during September Jehovah’s witnesses will be offering to all persons the latest Bible study aids published by the Watch Tower Society.

ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS OF WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the annual meeting of members of Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania will be held at ten o’clock in the forenoon of Sunday, October 1, 1961, at the Society’s office located at 4100 Bigelow Boulevard. The regular letters of notice will be sent to all the members, and in order to insure delivery of the letters all members should be certain that the secretary’s office has their present addresses.

The proxies, which will accompany the notices of meeting, should be returned by the members promptly, in order to reach the office of the secretary of the Society not later than September 15. Each member should return his proxy whether he is going to be at the meeting personally or not.

MORE BENEFITS FROM UNITED WORSHIPERS ASSEMBLIES

Did you attend one of the United Worshipers District Assemblies of Jehovah’s witnesses held this summer? Whether you did or not you will be glad to know that the principal talks that were given there will be published in forthcoming issues of The Watchtower. To insure your getting each issue and these outstanding talks of the convention, send for your year’s subscription for The Watchtower at once. Send only $1.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

October 1: Hold Your Position. Page 521.

October 8: Avoid the Pitfalls. Page 527.