a Bible study for some time may feel they are not making the desired progress. A discerning teacher will therefore help such ones to see the progress they are, in fact, making, being ready to give warm and sincere commendation where suitable. Likewise, the overseer will want to do the same for those regularly associated with the congregation. No, not flattery. If a person who has been an active associate of the congregation becomes spiritually sick he needs genuine help, loving assistance. It will help him to see just what his work is, what it is that is lacking, and then to have some practical suggestions to overcome his problem. Maybe his problem is that he is just not sure what he needs to do, what step to take. Help and guidance as to what to do to strengthen his spiritual life will be appreciated. True, such help should always be given in a loving and tactful way, but it also needs to be honest and realistic. When such help is given with love and empathy, the ones assisted are grateful for being helped to take the right step on the road to spiritual growth and maturity. As these ones make steps forward, commend sincerely. Help them to discern their own progress. Then they will have cause for exultation, and this in regard to themselves, not in comparison with some other person.

ALERT TO LOSS OF SPIRITUALITY

12. If we want to reap the fruitage of everlasting life from our sowing, to what must we be alert?

¹² Sowing with a view to the spirit results in spiritual growth. If we stop sowing with a view to the spirit, we stop growing spiritually. Even worse, if we return to sowing with a view to the flesh, we cease doing what is fine and our appreciation for spiritual things withers, leading to spiritual inactivity and death. At one time we may have “walked according to the system of things of this world.” “Yes, among them we all at one time conducted ourselves in harmony with the desires of our flesh, doing the things willed by the flesh and the thoughts, and we were naturally children of wrath even as the rest.” (Eph. 2:2, 3) But when we began to feed upon the truth of God’s Word, when we began to discern and do what Jehovah’s holy spirit made clear to be His will for us, then we began to come alive in a real sense. (1 Cor. 2:11, 12; 2 Cor. 3:6) If we go on sowing with a view to the spirit we “will reap everlasting life from the spirit.” We do not want to lose this blessed harvest of eternal life, do we? Then, we need to be alert to discern in ourselves any tendency to going back to sowing with a view to the flesh.

13, 14. (a) How does one show one is acting in harmony with God’s spirit in dealing with personal problems with others? (b) Failing to act in harmony with God’s spirit in such matters can lead to what consequences? (c) How does being spiritually minded make for good relations between Christian brothers?

¹³ It may be, dear reader, that you are already a member of a congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses. Well, how do you view your fellow Christians? Do you know that the way you look at others provides you with a clear indication of the way you are sowing? It will quickly tell you whether you are looking at things in just a fleshly way or in a spiritual way. If, for example, you see you are beginning to find fault, mentally downgrading others efforts in Jehovah’s service, here is a warning sign that you are in danger of going back to sowing with a view to the flesh. If you do have some cause for disagreement with your Christian brother or sister, if you feel that you have been sinned against by that one, be quick to put matters right, either by not ‘keeping account of the injury’—and that means really putting it out of mind, not bearing any grudge—or by following through on Jesus’ counsel at Matthew 18:15-17 in order to gain your brother. This is acting in harmony with God’s spirit. (1 Cor. 13:5) What is the result if you do not follow this course? A grudge is retained in the heart against that brother or sister. This, in turn, colors your whole relationship with that one. The appearance of the “offender” on the platform to present a Bible talk or take part in a discussion or demonstration produces a feeling of resentment and you find yourself listening in a critical attitude rather than with love and appreciation. This is the attitude of “fleshly men,” not “spiritual men,” is it not?—1 Cor. 3:1-3.

¹⁴ This does not mean we were unaware of the weaknesses of others. But, the spiritually minded man, producing the fruitage of God’s spirit, is merciful, long-suffering, full of kindness. He makes allowances for others. He bears in mind that each one in the congregation is Jehovah’s servant, seeking to please Him.

15. Of what are feelings of jealousy and resentment indicative, and what attitude does James encourage?

¹⁵ Loss of spiritual-mindedness may show up in feelings of jealousy. It may be one has anticipated some assignment or privilege of service being given to him but he is passed over in favor of someone else. The ‘fleshly man,’ the one ‘sowing with a view to the flesh,’ will find resentment welling up in his heart. This resentment dispels joy, making it difficult or even impossible to cooperate with the brother now appointed. Not without good reason the disciple James writes: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show out of his fine conduct his works with a meekness that belongs to wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and contentiousness in your hearts, do not be bragging and lying against the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is the earthly, animal, demonic. For where jealousy and contentiousness are, there disorder and every vile thing are.”—Jas. 3:13-16.

16. Why should we fight off any tendency to reject encouragement from others or belittle counsel?

¹⁶ A sure sign of loss of spiritual vision is when we begin to resent encouragement or counsel from mature Christians, even when it is appropriate, given in love and with the backing of the Scriptures. Be alert to this danger signal. Avoid any tendency to belittle counsel by telling yourself: “Oh, it’s just old So-and-so speaking,” thus viewing the counsel as from only a human source rather than from Jehovah through one of his servants. Actually, because we are associated with the true organization of God, we can expect to have personal assistance offered to us, to receive counsel and encouragement as we need it. Those “who have spiritual qualifications” are under orders to care for the flock, to restore in a spirit of mildness those who take “some false step.” (Gal. 6:1) Welcome such help. Doing so, you manifest the kind of humility that leads to a blessing from Jehovah, to receiving of his undeserved kindness and being exalted to life in his righteous new order.—Jas. 4:6, 10.

17, 18. (a) What other symptom of loss of spirituality is perhaps most likely to affect the Christian, and what may contribute to this? (b) Why is this no time to be giving up in doing what is fine?

¹⁷ A common symptom of loss of spirituality is a loss of zeal for the Christian ministry. The first zeal of ‘Christian youth,’ fired by the expectation of soon realizing the hope of life in happiness under God’s kingdom, may wear off. Time passes and Armageddon does not come as soon as anticipated. The daily problems of life crowd in again and remind us of our imperfections and weaknesses. Or perhaps we find ourselves looking longingly at the present material benefits being enjoyed by others, and the temptation not to miss out on life’s present pleasures saps our devotion to Jehovah’s cause.

¹⁸ But, really, is this a time to be giving up in doing the fine work God has given to his servants in these “last days”? Of all times, this is the time to be showing endurance in Jehovah’s service. The long-promised kingdom of His has been ruling from the heavens since 1914. We are now well along into the time of the end, the last days for this present system of things. The complete end of wickedness is near, in our generation. The lives of millions hang in the balance; they are in urgent need of our help. What a privilege it is for dedicated Christians to turn honesthearted men and women away from the mad course of this world to embrace the true worship leading to everlasting life! By all means, then, “let us not give up in doing what is fine, for in due season we shall reap if we do not tire out. Really, then, as long as we have time favorable for it, let us work what is good toward all, but especially toward those related to us in the faith.”—Gal. 6:9, 10.

19. What “war” does each one have to contend with, and what vital issue is at stake?

¹⁹ Do not brush off as of no consequence tendencies to ‘sow with a view to the flesh.’ Naturally, being still imperfect, we are still plagued by the weaknesses of the flesh. We find we do not always do the things we would like to do, or we do things we wish we did not do. But, we must not give in to the desires of the flesh, “to live in accord with the flesh.” Yes, we have a war going on within ourselves, between our mind, with which we strive to be in harmony with the leadings of Jehovah’s spirit, and our flesh. (Rom. 7:18-23; 8:12, 13) To give in to the flesh, to resume sowing with a view to the flesh, is bound to mean a reaping of corruption, yes, death. But, “he who is sowing with a view to the spirit will reap everlasting life from the spirit.”—Gal. 6:8.

20. What encouraging words are recorded at Hebrews 6:9-12 for those who endure faithfully in doing what is fine?

²⁰ To those enduring in doing what is fine come these loving words of encouragement and counsel: “However, in your case, beloved ones, we are convinced of better things and things accompanied with salvation, although we are speaking in this way. For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name, in that you have ministered to the holy ones and continue ministering. But we desire each one of you to show the same industriousness so as to have the full assurance of the hope down to the end, in order that you may not become sluggish, but be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”—Heb. 6:9-12.

Wallet Recovered

◆ When members of the cleaning department first entered the Memorial Auditorium in Utica, New York, to prepare for the “Disciple-making” District Assembly of Jehovah’s Witnesses this past year, they discovered a wallet containing $62.

It was turned over to the assembly Lost and Found Department, and when no one claimed it by the conclusion of the assembly, it was turned over to the convention overseer, who went through it and found some identification and a phone number.

Upon calling the individual, it was discovered that he had lost the wallet on July 1, 1966, while attending a graduation a year before. The first thing he asked was: “Is there any money in it?”

He was asked: “How much did you have in it?”

He replied: “Sixty dollars.”

When he was told there was $62 in it now, he was speechless. He was greatly impressed by the honesty of Jehovah’s witnesses.