The response of the brothers was nothing short of thrilling! Try to imagine yourself in the position of these brothers. Suppose you have a very responsible job on a tobacco-producing farm. With it comes a house and possibly a tract of land where you can graze some of your own cattle. Now all of a sudden you are faced with a big decision. Your employer tells you that if you do not want to work in the production of tobacco, you will have to find employment elsewhere. You may have several small children. What are you going to do?

Well, our brothers did it! Yes, they were willing to give up all of this rather than be separated from Jehovah’s organization. Many suffered severe financial losses. But they maintained favor with Jehovah. You could count on your fingers the number of those who had to be disfellowshipped. How our hearts went out to the dear brothers who stood so firmly for God’s righteousness!

There is the experience of one brother who was employed as a tobacco salesman. Realizing he could not remain in this type of work, the brother turned in his resignation, which his employer refused. So the brother just did not turn up for work. When his employer came to his house to find out why he was not at work, the brother explained the situation. Thereupon the employer commended the brother for his honesty and stressed that he did not want to lose him as an employee.

Taking advantage of this situation, the brother then laid down the terms under which he would remain there. Not only was he to be free from work involving tobacco but he also wanted time off for all meetings. To this the employer agreed, although it meant a reduction in pay for the brother.

“From my experience,” this brother concluded, “I have learned that as long as we endure when we encounter problems at our places of secular work we will be blessed. I also learned the importance of being more concerned with our spiritual growth as we advance with Jehovah’s organization.” This brother is now serving as an elder.