smooth to my palate your sayings have been, more so than honey to my mouth! Owing to your orders I behave with understanding. That is why I have hated every false path.”

22. To be qualified to teach, what progress must be made?

²² It certainly is high time for Jehovah’s servants to be equipped to teach, so as not to have applied to them Paul’s cutting words: “Although you ought to be teachers in view of the time, you again need someone to teach you from the beginning the first principles of the sacred pronouncements of God.” Those first or basic principles are vital, the “ABCs” of Scriptural knowledge; but “in view of the time” there should be our graduating from such foundation principles. There should be progressing a building of a superstructure on them, because “solid food belongs to mature people.” Shall what we build thereon be a work likened to “gold, silver, precious stones”—meriting a reward? Or shall the building be a work likened to destructible “wood materials, hay, stubble”? Which will bring honor to the Lord God? Which will provide quality in teaching?—Heb. 5:12-14; 1 Cor. 3:12.

THE PURPOSE OF STUDYING

23, 24. (a) How does Jehovah use his Word, spirit and organization to guide his people today? (b) Especially how is this magazine helpful in this regard?

²³ Long ago Jehovah provided his Word, the Bible. Today it is translated into many languages and dialects. No longer is it kept hidden in dead languages. Its information means life to the one diligently searching its pages, loving its counsel, obeying its commands. Even as Jehovah has done through the ages, so too he today is guiding his people by means of his holy spirit, his active force. Especially in these momentous pre-Armageddon days, since Jehovah has come to his temple, accompanied by his “messenger of the covenant,” he has turned his attention to the affairs of his people in a marked degree. He uses his visible organization, represented in his “faithful and discreet slave,” to cause to be published, earth-wide, information concerning his purposes. That “slave” has faithfully dispensed “food at the proper time,” especially in this magazine, The Watchtower.—Matt. 24:45.

²⁴ The Watchtower has become available, in fifty languages, to all lovers of righteousness. In its columns everyone conscious of spiritual need finds invaluable aid. It regularly provides much-needed Scriptural counsel, instruction and timely information to servants of the true God. It endeavors alertly to keep Christians up to date as to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. The Watchtower is written to upbuild and bless. This is the best entertainment one can find—good reading. It does not compete with nor is it like any other religious magazine. It does not provide some man’s opinion, because what is said is based on a Greater One’s thought. An understanding of Jehovah’s Word is a gift from God and the best help today to the earnest seeker for truth.

25. With what attitude should we consider each issue of The Watchtower on receiving it?

²⁵ What do I do with my copy of The Watchtower when I receive it? Do I merely scan through it to see the latest news and then lay it aside for a more favorable opportunity to give more careful consideration to the contents of the particular issue? Or, instead, recognizing its high value, do I read it immediately? Do I read it as if it were a duty, or because I am anxious to learn more of God’s truth? When I read it am I absorbed in it? Do I give more than the usual attention to The Watchtower? Before I eat physical food I thank the Lord God for it and ask his blessing on it. So what about the spiritual food I expect to assimilate when I consider The Watchtower? As when I study the Bible, so with The Watchtower: I should seek the truths contained in it, as ‘silver and hid treasures.’ Each issue of The Watchtower should be eagerly awaited and its contents consumed with relish.

26. What do we have in mind when studying The Watchtower?

²⁶ What do I have in mind when studying The Watchtower? Is it that I wish to increase my understanding of God’s purposes? Why do I desire this increase? For my personal satisfaction alone? Or possibly I have in mind the apostle’s words: “That you may be filled with the accurate knowledge of [God’s] will in all wisdom and spiritual discernment, in order to walk worthily of Jehovah to the end of fully pleasing him as you go on bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the accurate knowledge of God.” (Col. 1:9, 10) That is a commendable attitude. My spiritual discernment will be put to a good use, that of aiding others. But how will your study be an aid to others?

27, 28. (a) How can one’s personal, advance study of The Watchtower equip one to help new ones grasp deep spiritual truths? (b) help new ones in our home Bible study work?

²⁷ At the weekly congregational study there are many new ones who find it difficult to understand the truth all at once. Many of the articles in The Watchtower contain ‘solid food,’ that is to say, deep spiritual material necessary for the mature Christian. God has promised to reveal such deep things through his spirit, “for the spirit searches into all things, even the deep things of God.” Here at the congregational study is where you can help; here is where your comment will open up to the minds of the newer ones an understanding of a point not clear to them. So your advance personal study of The Watchtower should not overlook this privilege. Prepare to that end by possibly underlining or noting such outstanding points. Then at the suitable moment during the meeting be quick to contribute your share to the congregational study for the edifying of others. You can thus also be inciting others to love and right works in making there this “public declaration.”—1 Cor. 2:10; Heb. 10:23-25.

²⁸ Or perhaps in your private study of The Watchtower you have in mind aiding those newly engaging in field preaching by your participating in the ‘training program,’ or aiding those upon whom you call and with whom you may be conducting a private home Bible study. This would be studying with a purpose and would be in harmony with instructions Paul gave Timothy: “These things commit to faithful men who in turn will be adequately qualified to teach others.” Remember that when you share what you learn, you can expect rich dividends: “Practice giving, and people will give to you. They will pour into your laps a fine measure, pressed down, shaken together and overflowing. For with the measure that you are measuring out they will measure out to you in return.” On the other hand, if you selfishly hoard the truth and do not share it with others, then, like the sluggish slave, you stand to lose God’s favor as well as the privilege of serving him.—2 Tim. 2:2; Luke 6:38; Matt. 25:24-30.

29. (a) What methods may be used in studying prior to the congregation meeting? (b) What arrangements should be made as to a definite time to have such study?

²⁹ How can one get the most out of the study? What will be the most profitable method to follow? Will one study alone or with others? Today, in most homes, Bible study and even Bible reading are either passing away or entirely unknown. A joint study will be profitable in the family circle and especially so where there are children. The parents are held responsible for the spiritual upbringing of children, as well as the physical. But whatever method is used, we shall find that it is necessary to arrange specifically for a time to study The Watchtower. There are so many demands on one’s time that one dare not conclude that one will study only when time permits. Time will never permit. Time will have to be taken and used for study. When it is understood that studying in order to be a better servant of God is a basic “must” in life, then one will take sufficient time for it. So let us include it in our time schedule. Put it on the top of the list. Yes, the top. And do not begrudge the time thus spent. Remember that the Christian has dedicated his all (including his time) to the service of God. So jealously guard such time and see that it is used in a manner pleasing to its Owner.

30. Why does the New World society place such great emphasis on study?

³⁰ Realizing the inevitable end of those who despise instruction, it behooves the servant of God to give the more earnest heed to cultivating the good habit of study. For that reason the New World society emphasizes individual and group study. The world is in a period of crisis. For our generation it is the judgment day. Righteous persons desire a favorable judgment, security and protection. God has provided such protection in this wicked day for those earnestly and honestly seeking him. The instructions contained in the inspired Word of God, the Bible, provide the means of finding such protection and blessing from God.—Ps. 50:16; Prov. 1:30-32.

Out to Buy a Bible

THE following experience was printed in the Hamburg (Germany) Abendblatt of May 16, 1957: “I wanted to buy a copy of the ‘Book of Books.’ A Bible. A Luther Bible. I entered a Hamburg bookstore which had three show-windows and six glass display cases. Some 3,000 books, their backs gleaming at me from their tall shelves, were there to meet me; likewise the polite faces of five lady clerks, three salesmen and one lady cashier. ‘What may I do for you?’ I was asked. ‘I would like a Bible,’ I said, ‘just an ordinary Bible.’

“The young lady twitched unexpectedly as might have been expected had I asked for pickled herrings. Then she blushed, smiled a lamenting smile and suggested I go to their competitor. I went. This shop had four show-windows and eight glass display cases. Here, along with 4,000 books glistening at me from their shelves, I discovered two limpid blue pools eying me with reserved attentiveness. The book salesman they belonged to was tall and lanky. ‘What can I do for you?’ he asked unsuspectingly. ‘A Bible,’ I said simply, ‘just an ordinary Bible.’ The man suddenly discovered something lodged in his throat. He coughed loud and long. Then he braved a smile and expressed his regret. If I would like to take the trouble of going to one of his competitors, however, then perhaps . . .

“I took the trouble. In one of the shop’s extremely promising show windows lay a best seller. Die Bibel hat doch recht [The Bible Is Right After All]. This looked like the right place. It just looked that way! My desire for a Bible was stirring up a small panic. ‘We never have any requests for Bibles here,’ stammered the lady clerk. Why she blushed—even way back behind her ears—remains a mystery. I was already at the door when she walked over and told me where I would be able to buy a Bible for sure.

“On my way I tried once again to obtain a Bible in three different bookstores. Each had a stock of half a dozen copies or so of every current French and American best seller. But not a single Bible, the Book of Books, to be found lying dormant on their shelves. Anyone who does not believe my story should try it and find out for himself. It costs nothing. If the story did not have such a serious background, one could almost find it amusing.”