position Jehovah sees fit to place us. “The end of all things has drawn close. Be sound in mind, therefore, and be vigilant with a view to prayers. Above all things, have intense love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. If anyone speaks, let him speak as it were the sacred pronouncements of God; if anyone ministers, let him minister as dependent upon the strength that God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. The glory and the might are his forever and ever. Amen.”—1 Pet. 4:7, 8, 11.

¹⁹ Our future is in the hands of God. Follow his leadings closely. Prepare now for what lies ahead. Lay a firm foundation in Christ Jesus for the grand finale and the many glorious treasures of service still future, and God “will also make you firm to the end, that you may be open to no accusation in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 1:8) Now is the time to study God’s Word in association with Jehovah’s witnesses, building a firm foundation in Christ, and then, “having this advance knowledge, be on your guard that you may not be led away.”—2 Pet. 3:17.

Use of One’s Resources in a Godly Way

“HONOR Jehovah with your valuable things,” says Jehovah’s inspired Word, the Holy Bible. These valuable things or resources are referred to in a song sung by the Christian witnesses of Jehovah. Called “Dedication,” the song, which appears in the booklet Songs to Jehovah’s Praise, says, in part: “Take my moments and my days, let them flow in constant praise; take my silver and my gold; nothing, Lord, would I withhold.”—Prov. 3:9.

Those words well express the Christian’s attitude toward his resources from the time that he makes a dedication to Jehovah God; indeed, from that time onward he is accountable to Jehovah for the use of his valuable things in a godly way.

USING TIME IN A GODLY WAY

Time is one of our valuable things for which God holds the dedicated Christian accountable. His time, yes, his very life, belongs to Jehovah God, for Christians are told they have been “bought with a price. By all means, glorify God in the body of you people.” Having been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, the Christian is not at liberty to use time in ungodly ways. “The time that has passed by,” wrote an apostle of Jesus Christ, “is sufficient for you to have worked out the will of the nations.”—1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 4:3.

Time formerly spent in selfish pleasures now is gladly used for honoring God, especially by helping others learn of God’s kingdom and how it will bring an end to this wicked system of things. “Because the days are wicked,” the inspired Scriptures warn, “keep strict watch that how you walk is not as unwise but as wise persons, buying out the opportune time for yourselves.” (Eph. 5:15, 16) The dedicated Christian “buys out” time by taking advantage of all his Christian privileges—personally studying the Word of God, attending meetings of the Christian congregation, sharing the good news, and so on—at the expense of less important things. He uses his time in a godly way.

USE OF ONE’S STRENGTH AND ENERGY

Another valuable resource that dedicated Christians possess is their strength. True, some are advanced in years and are limited in energy, but what they have they use to God’s glory. When you expend energy in God’s service and tire out, it is not a frustrating feeling but genuinely satisfying, for “your labor is not in vain in connection with the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:58) We thus want to imitate the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who gave so unstintingly of his energy in God’s service. On one occasion Jesus came to the Samaritan city of Sychar, and the Bible account says: “Now Jesus, tired out from the journey, was sitting at the fountain just as he was.” He was tired out from traveling in God’s ministry and so he was resting there, his disciples having been sent on ahead to buy foodstuffs. Yet when an opportunity opened up to honor God by using his mental and physical resources, Jesus, though weary, seized it to preach to the Samaritan woman who came to Jacob’s well. Many became believers as a result—because Jesus used his energy, though he was tired out, to honor God and do His will.—John 4:6-42.

On another occasion Jesus fell asleep during the daytime because of having given so wholeheartedly of his strength and energy in a godly way. Jesus and his disciples had boarded a boat to cross to the other side of the lake. “So they set sail. But as they were sailing he fell asleep.” Because he needed to renew his energy after spending so much in God’s service, Jesus fell asleep and slept so soundly that his disciples had to rouse him when a storm broke out, the strong wind and heavy waves not even waking him.—Luke 8:22-24; Matt. 8:24, 25.

What an example the Christian has in Jesus Christ, “the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith”! We should look intently at him, to imitate him in wise expenditure of energy, never squandering it on what is useless. Instead of dissipating energy on habits injurious to health, overindulging in hobbies and sports, keeping overly late hours or socializing excessively, he realizes his accountability to God for the way he uses his energy, so he expends it in a godly way.—Heb. 12:2.

USE OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES

The wealthy would be at an advantage if one could enrich God by his financial resources. But as David said in prayer: “Yours, O Jehovah, are the greatness and the mightiness and the beauty and the excellency and the dignity; for everything in the heavens and in the earth is yours.” (1 Chron. 29:11) Since everything is Jehovah’s, we cannot enrich him; but we can use our financial resources to honor and glorify him. This does not mean that all one’s money must be spent in the direct preaching of God’s kingdom or every penny put into a contribution box at the Kingdom Hall. No, some financial resources must be used to care properly for one’s personal needs and one’s family. This is using resources in a godly way, since “if anyone does not provide for those who are his own, and especially for those who are members of his household, he has disowned the faith.”—1 Tim. 5:8.