The Pursuit of Security

MR. AND Mrs. B​——​ and their three teen-age children lived in Africa. For 20 years they had developed their beautiful farm and had invested their earnings in a comfortable home, crops, livestock and farm machinery. This became their little fortress, their refuge in time of trouble and sorrow, their source of refreshment and rest after each hard day’s work. They felt secure.

Overnight, things changed. For some time political forces had been gaining strength in the country. Men bent on bringing about a change by force were committing acts of terrorism and had laid land mines in the rough unpaved roads of the farming areas. As Mr. B​——​ returned in his Land Rover from a weekly trip into town, he detonated one of these and was killed instantly.

Mrs. B​——​ and her family no longer felt secure. With the increasing threats of violence in the neighborhood, anxieties in caring for the farm and with no man about the house, she felt forced to abandon the farm that at one time had meant security. The family left for another country in the hope of finding a more secure way of life.

In this same African country, the scene changed tremendously in a few years. Farm homesteads surrounded by rich tropical vegetation and bearing a “welcome” sign were fenced in with high steel netting surmounted by barbed wire. Sandbags were placed around the walls of homes, and windows were protected with steel mesh.

Town life changed too as more and more people installed burglar alarms, mounted heavy gates with locks and chains at the entrances of their property, and kept guard dogs to repel unwanted intruders. Shop windows were treated with special tape to prevent them from shattering. Guards were posted to search shoppers as they entered supermarkets. Vacationers hired policemen to protect their homes during their periods of absence.

In many areas, a once peaceful ride through the African countryside became a tense drive from one town to the next. Travelers were advised to check with the police before leaving, and many traveled in convoy protected by armored vehicles. Martial law and curfews became something that people came to view as part of daily living.

Apart from these security measures, many who were in a position to do so made additional arrangements for their own security by investing in gold, silver, jewelry and works of art or by putting their money in foreign bank accounts. They did this so that, if things did not turn out for the better, they would still have some assets.

Such developments are not unique to that particular country. Possibly in your community you have seen some of the same security arrangements and the increased attention given by many people to the safety of their own homes and families. The question is, Do these efforts really bring about the peace of mind and security that we all desire?

Is Military Strength the Answer?

The same concern for security is reflected in the actions of governments. Many are taking unprecedented steps to safeguard their borders and to protect their diplomats. The queen of England’s visit to southern Africa and the pope’s visit to Ireland involved the mobilization of hundreds of men solely for security purposes. Movement of ships, aircraft or troops to places that are considered to be of strategic importance is interpreted by some countries as a threat to their national security and often is met by counter military developments.

Most governments share the general belief that their national security depends on military preparedness. Illustrating this, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) recently reported that the world’s expenditure on armaments is “not far off $1 million a minute” and that 75 percent of this is spent by the Third World. (The Courier, April 1979, p. 19) But does this enormous military spending bring a feeling of true security to persons living in those countries where they see famine and waterborne diseases taking thousands as their daily toll?

Again we ask, Does military strength really mean security? True, a person can push such thoughts to the back of his mind. But can he really feel secure when he seriously contemplates the fact that governments around the world have enough in the way of explosive devices to kill all of us several times over? To illustrate: Could you rest peacefully at night with a machine gun under your bed while knowing that your neighbor has one like it pointing at your house and that he is itching for the opportunity to use it when he feels there would be no danger to himself?

Desire for Security Common to All

It is only natural that all of us should wish to feel secure. Even in the animal world there is a built-in desire for security. Birds build their nests in the most disguised or difficult-to-approach places. Squirrels store nuts for use during the colder part of the year. Cats about to give birth investigate every cupboard in the house to search for a protected nook in which to nourish their young.

The question that faces all of us today is, Where can we look for security? Animals base their sense of security instinctively on material things. But what about man? Does our security lie in material things, making us no better than animals? Does it depend on our employment or, perhaps, on accumulated wealth in the form of gold, silver or bank accounts? Can armaments make our way of life secure? Or, is security to be found under a particular form of government that may appear to be more stable than others?

Security Now and Forever

OUR Creator, who knows the value of everything, inspired men to offer this counsel: “Whoever relies on his wealth is riding for a fall.” “A king is not saved by a great army, nor a warrior delivered by great strength.” “A man cannot trust his horse to save him, nor can it deliver him for all its strength.” (Prov. 11:28; Ps. 33:16, 17, The New English Bible) Jesus Christ truthfully stated that “even when a man has more than enough, his wealth does not give him life.”​—Luke 12:15, NE.

Of course, in a worsening criminal climate, we may have to take certain practical steps to safeguard our life and our possessions. But we must recognize that, at best, these measures are only temporary and in no way guarantee our security. What we really desire is the assurance that no set of outside circumstances can do us lasting harm. Is it possible to live with such confidence? Is there any source of strength and authority that can make our way of life secure now and even forever? Can we live in security even when we are threatened by violence, food shortage or economic collapse?

Real Security Identified

Here is something to ponder: Why was it that, in ancient Israel, families could leave their homes and villages unprotected and journey to Jerusalem for their religious festivals even though they were surrounded by enemy nations? How could it be that when Jerusalem was threatened by a siege by the mighty Assyrian army not a drop of Israelite blood was spilled and yet 185,000 enemy soldiers fell in one night? (2 Ki. 19:32-35) How could a nation of some three million men, women and children live for 40 years in a “vast and terrible wilderness infested with poisonous snakes and scorpions, a thirsty, waterless land”?​—Deut. 8:15, NE.

Jehovah their God, the Creator of all things, was the one making their life secure. It proved to be just as the inspired psalmist David declared: “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you yourself alone, O Jehovah, make me dwell in security.”​—Ps. 4:8.

Do you doubt that Jehovah God, our heavenly Father, would care for us in the 20th century in the same way that he cared for the Israelites back there? Suppose your local bank president said to you: “I don’t want you to worry about anything. Just let me know what you need and I will take care of it.” Would not such a promise alleviate your concern about security? Of course, it is unlikely that a bank president could give this guarantee. However, Jehovah God has assured all of his faithful servants that he will care for all their needs. (Matt. 6:31-33) We can have full confidence in this because the Most High always carries out his word, as shown by examples, past and present.​—Josh. 21:45.

Wise King Solomon came to recognize the limited value of material things and at the same time experienced the close relationship with Jehovah God that enabled him to live in security. Solomon wrote: “The valuable things of the rich are his strong town, and they are like a protective wall in his imagination.” (Prov. 18:11) How true​—“in his imagination”! The rich man imagines that these valuable things will protect him when calamity strikes. But how often has experience shown that such a “protective wall” is unreal and offers no protection in times of economic collapse, runaway inflation, political upheaval or terminal illness!

In Proverbs 18:10, Solomon makes this contrast: “The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. Into it the righteous runs and is given protection.” There is no crisis of any proportion nor any set of circumstances that can place a servant of God beyond divine help. Here, then, lies the source of real security​—our personal relationship with our loving Father.​—Ps. 59:16, 17; 62:5-8.

How Can We Be Assured of Protection?

This confidence does not develop overnight. Like a tree that grows stronger with each year, firmer with each storm it survives, our faith in Jehovah is strengthened as we see his righteous ways work out for the best in our lives. Our daily study of his Word, the time we spend in preaching the “good news,” our regularly seeking him in prayer​—all of these contribute to this personal bond.

Isaiah described the kind of security that we desire in these words: “He is the one that will reside on the heights themselves; his secure height will be craggy places difficult to approach. His own bread will certainly be given him; his water supply will be unfailing.” (Isa. 33:16) However, this security is only for those who desire to live a life that contributes to the welfare of others. Isaiah also stated: “There is one who is walking in continual righteousness and speaking what is upright, who is rejecting the unjust gain from frauds, who is shaking his hands clear from taking hold on a bribe, who is stopping up his ear from listening to bloodshed, and who is closing his eyes so as not to see what is bad.” (Isa. 33:15) How do these requirements for God’s protection apply in modern times?

“Continual righteousness” suggests a daily pursuit of Jehovah’s standards of righteousness or honesty. The words “rejecting the unjust gain” remind us that we should not imitate the get-rich-quick ways of the world. In addition to not accepting bribes, never allowing a favor or material gain to color judgment, a person who wishes to have the approval of Jehovah must be a person who is “stopping up his ear from listening to bloodshed, and who is closing his eyes so as not to see what is bad.” Twentieth-century films, books and magazines were not available to the prophet, but one who desires a close friendship with Jehovah would avoid violent and immoral entertainment today.

Our adherence to right principles contributes to our enjoying security. Wise King Solomon summed up the matter in a few words: “He that is walking in integrity will walk in security.”​—Prov. 10:9.

At times, some Witnesses of Jehovah also have experienced what they viewed as divine protection. Take, for example, Brother Z​——. He was reading The Watchtower in his car one day when someone suddenly grabbed him around the neck. He prayed fervently to Jehovah. The attacker became motionless, and his grip slackened. Brother Z​——​ started up the car, bade farewell and left the man standing like a statue in the middle of the road.

Then there was a missionary from Kenya. Her parents were bitterly opposed when she started to serve Jehovah. The father threatened her with death if she did not leave those “white monkeys,” as he called the Witnesses. He hired thugs to harm her. She reports: “Jehovah’s protection enabled me never to fall into their hands.”

As these experiences illustrate, Christians do have to deal with critical situations. However, with full trust in Jehovah, we can be confident that absolutely nothing can do us lasting harm. Our heavenly Father has promised: “I will by no means leave you nor by any means forsake you.” So we can confidently react to any threat to our security, saying: “Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”​—Heb. 13:5, 6.

Very soon now the whole human family will experience a crisis that will demolish the seemingly protective walls offered by wealth, military might or political power. Only those who have trusted in the unseen but mighty hand of Jehovah will survive and enjoy security forever under the righteous rule of God’s kingdom. (Rev. 21:1, 4) May this be your happy lot for having developed a close personal tie with the Most High.