Trust in Jehovah!

“Trust in Jehovah with all your heart.”​—PROVERBS 3:5.

1. How did Proverbs 3:5 impress a young man, and with what long-term result?

A LONGTIME missionary writes: “‘TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART; AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING.’ Those words from the Bible, framed and hanging on a wall in a home I was visiting, captured my attention. For the rest of that day I pondered over them. Could I, I asked myself, trust God with all my heart?” This person was then 21 years of age. At 90 years of age and still serving faithfully as an elder in Perth, Australia, he can look back on a life enriched with the fruitage of wholehearted trust in Jehovah, including 26 rigorous years of pioneering new missionary fields in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Burma (now Myanmar), Malaya, Thailand, India, and Pakistan.a

2. What confidence should Proverbs 3:5 build in us?

² “Trust in Jehovah with all your heart”​—these words of Proverbs 3:5, as rendered by the New World Translation, should motivate all of us to continue devoting our lives wholeheartedly to Jehovah, confident that he can strengthen our faith, even to the point of overcoming mountainlike obstacles. (Matthew 17:20) Let us now examine Proverbs 3:5 in its context.

Fatherly Instruction

3. (a) What encouragement is to be found in the first nine chapters of Proverbs? (b) Why should we give close attention to Proverbs 3:1, 2?

³ The opening nine chapters of the Bible book of Proverbs glow with fatherly instruction, wise counsel from Jehovah for all who look forward to enjoying sonship in the heavens or “the glorious freedom of the children of God” on a paradise earth. (Romans 8:18-21, 23) Here is wise counsel that may be used by parents in raising sons and daughters. Outstanding is the advice of Proverbs chapter 3, which commences with the caution: “My son, my law do not forget, and my commandments may your heart observe.” As the last days of Satan’s wicked world move toward their finale, may we pay ever closer attention to Jehovah’s reminders. The way may have seemed long, but the promise to all who endure is that “length of days and years of life and peace will be added to you”​—eternal life in Jehovah’s new system.​—Proverbs 3:1, 2.

4, 5. (a) What happy relationship is described at John 5:19, 20? (b) How does the counsel at Deuteronomy 11:18-21 apply down to our day?

⁴ A happy relationship between father and son can be most precious. Our Creator, Jehovah God, arranged for it to be that way. Christ Jesus said of his own intimate relationship with Jehovah: “The Son cannot do a single thing of his own initiative, but only what he beholds the Father doing. For whatever things that One does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father has affection for the Son and shows him all the things he himself does.” (John 5:19, 20) Jehovah purposed that a similar intimacy should exist between himself and all of his family on earth, as well as between human fathers and their children.

⁵ A trusting family relationship was encouraged in ancient Israel. Jehovah counseled fathers there: “You must apply these words of mine to your heart and your soul and bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they must serve as a frontlet band between your eyes. You must also teach them to your sons, so as to speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. And you must write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates, in order that your days and the days of your sons may be many on the soil that Jehovah swore to your forefathers to give to them, as the days of the heavens over the earth.” (Deuteronomy 11:18-21) The inspired Word of our Grand Instructor, Jehovah God, can indeed serve to link him intimately with parents and their children, as well as with all others serving him in the Christian congregation.​—Isaiah 30:20, 21.

6. How may we find favor with God and man?

⁶ Wise fatherly advice for God’s people, old and young, continues in verses 3 and 4 of Proverbs chapter 3: “May loving-kindness and trueness themselves not leave you. Tie them about your throat. Write them upon the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and good insight in the eyes of God and of earthling man.” Jehovah God himself excels in displaying loving-kindness and trueness. As Psalm 25:10 states, “all the paths of Jehovah are loving-kindness and trueness.” In imitation of Jehovah, we should treasure these qualities and their protective power, valuing them as we would a priceless necklace and engraving them indelibly on our heart. Fervently, then, we can pray: “O Jehovah, . . . let your loving-kindness and your trueness themselves constantly safeguard me.”​—Psalm 40:11.

An Abiding Trust

7. In what ways has Jehovah shown his trustworthiness?

⁷ Trust is defined by Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary as “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.” Jehovah’s character is firmly anchored in his loving-kindness. And we can have complete confidence in his ability to do what he has promised, for his very name, Jehovah, identifies him as the great Purposer. (Exodus 3:14; 6:2-8) As Creator, he is the Fountain of strength and dynamic energy. (Isaiah 40:26, 29) He is the epitome of truth, for “it is impossible for God to lie.” (Hebrews 6:18) Hence, we are encouraged to place implicit trust in Jehovah, our God, the great Source of all truth, who has the almighty power to protect his trusting ones and to bring all of his grand purposes to glorious success.​—Psalm 91:1, 2; Isaiah 55:8-11.

8, 9. Why is trust sadly lacking in the world, and how do Jehovah’s people provide a contrast?

⁸ In the degraded world around us, trust is sadly lacking. Instead, we find greed and corruption everywhere. The front cover of the May 1993 issue of the magazine World Press Review was emblazoned with the message: “THE CORRUPTION BOOM​—Dirty Money in the New World Order. The corruption industry extends from Brazil to Germany, from the United States to Argentina, from Spain to Peru, from Italy to Mexico, from the Vatican to Russia.” Based as it is on hatred, greed, and distrust, man’s so-called new world order reaps nothing but escalating miseries for mankind.

⁹ In contrast with political nations, Jehovah’s Witnesses are happy to be “the nation whose God is Jehovah.” They alone can truthfully say, “In God we trust.” Each one of them can cry out joyfully: “In union with God I shall praise his word. . . . In God I have put my trust. I shall not be afraid.”​—Psalm 33:12; 56:4, 11.

10. What has strengthened many young Christians to keep integrity?

¹⁰ In an Asian land where thousands of young Witnesses have suffered severe beatings and imprisonments, trust in Jehovah has enabled the great majority to endure. One night in prison, a young Witness who had undergone horrible tortures felt he could take no more. But another youth came stealthily to him through the shadows. He whispered: “Don’t give up; I compromised and have not had any peace of mind since then.” The first youth renewed his resolve to stand firm. We can have complete trust in Jehovah that he will help us overcome any and every effort by Satan to erode our integrity.​—Jeremiah 7:3-7; 17:1-8; 38:6-13, 15-17.

11. How are we stimulated to trust in Jehovah?

¹¹ The first commandment reads in part: “You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart.” (Mark 12:30) As we meditate on God’s Word, the grand truths that we are learning sink deep down into our heart so that we are motivated to spend our all in the service of our wonderful God, the Sovereign Lord Jehovah. It is with a heart brimming with appreciation for him​—for all that he has taught us, has done for us, and will yet do for us—​that we are stimulated to trust implicitly in his salvation.​—Isaiah 12:2.

12. Over the years, how have many Christians shown their trust in Jehovah?

¹² This trust can be cultivated over the years. A humble Witness of Jehovah who served faithfully for over 50 years at the Watch Tower Society’s Brooklyn headquarters, commencing in April 1927, wrote: “At the close of that month I received an allowance of $5.00 enclosed in an envelope with a beautiful card featuring the Bible text at Proverbs 3:5, 6 . . . There was every reason to trust Jehovah, for at headquarters I soon came to appreciate that Jehovah had a ‘faithful and discreet slave’ faithfully caring for all the Kingdom interests here on the earth.​—Matthew 24:45-47.”b This Christian’s heart was set, not on love of money, but on gaining “a never-failing treasure in the heavens.” Similarly at this day, the thousands that serve at the Watch Tower Society’s Bethel homes around the earth do so under a type of legal vow of poverty. They trust in Jehovah to provide their everyday needs.​—Luke 12:29-31, 33, 34.

Lean Upon Jehovah

13, 14. (a) Where only may mature advice be found? (b) What must be avoided in order to survive persecution?

¹³ Our heavenly Father admonishes us: “Do not lean upon your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) Worldly counselors and psychologists can never hope to approach the wisdom and understanding that Jehovah displays. “His understanding is beyond recounting.” (Psalm 147:5) Rather than lean on the wisdom of prominent men of the world or on our own uninformed emotions, let us look to Jehovah, his Word, and the elders in the Christian congregation for mature advice.​—Psalm 55:22; 1 Corinthians 2:5.

¹⁴ Human wisdom or pride of station will get us nowhere in the fast-approaching day of severe trial. (Isaiah 29:14; 1 Corinthians 2:14) In Japan during World War II, a capable but proud shepherd of God’s people chose to lean upon his own understanding. Under pressure he turned apostate, and most of the flock also folded under persecution. A loyal Japanese sister, who courageously survived terrible treatment in filthy prison cells, commented: “Those who remained faithful had no special abilities and were inconspicuous. Surely all of us must always trust in Jehovah with all our heart.”c

15. What godly quality is essential if we are to please Jehovah?

¹⁵ Trusting in Jehovah, rather than our own understanding, involves humility. How important this quality is for all who want to please Jehovah! Why, even our God, though Sovereign Lord of all the universe, displays humility in his dealings with his intelligent creation. We can be thankful for that. “He is condescending to look on heaven and earth, raising up the lowly one from the very dust.” (Psalm 113:6, 7) Out of his great mercy, he forgives us our frailties on the basis of his greatest gift to mankind, the precious ransom sacrifice of his beloved Son, Christ Jesus. How grateful we should be for this undeserved kindness!

16. How may brothers reach out for privileges in the congregation?

¹⁶ Jesus himself reminds us: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12) In humility, baptized brothers should reach out for responsibilities in the Christian congregation. Yet, overseers should regard their appointment, not as a status symbol, but as the opportunity to perform a work, humbly, appreciatively, eagerly, as did Jesus, who said: “My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working.”​—John 5:17; 1 Peter 5:2, 3.

17. What should all of us appreciate, leading to what activity?

¹⁷ May we always humbly and prayerfully appreciate that we are no more than dust in Jehovah’s sight. How glad we can be, then, that “the loving-kindness of Jehovah is from time indefinite even to time indefinite toward those fearing him, and his righteousness to the sons of sons”! (Psalm 103:14, 17) All of us should therefore be keen students of God’s Word. The time spent in personal and family study, and in congregation meetings, should be among our most precious hours each week. In this way we build up “knowledge of the Most Holy One.” That is “what understanding is.”​—Proverbs 9:10.

“In All Your Ways . . .”

18, 19. How may we apply Proverbs 3:6 in our lives, and with what result?

¹⁸ Pointing us to Jehovah, the divine Source of understanding, Proverbs 3:6 next states: “In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight.” Taking notice of Jehovah involves keeping close to him in prayer. Wherever we may be and no matter what situation may arise, we have immediate access to him in prayer. As we go about our daily tasks, as we prepare for field service, as we go from house to house proclaiming his Kingdom, our constant prayer can be that he will bless our activity. Thus, we can have the inestimable privilege and joy of ‘walking with God,’ confident that he will ‘make our paths straight,’ as he did for God-fearing Enoch, Noah, and faithful Israelites, such as Joshua and Daniel.​—Genesis 5:22; 6:9; Deuteronomy 8:6; Joshua 22:5; Daniel 6:23; see also James 4:8, 10.

¹⁹ When we make our petitions known to Jehovah, we can be confident that ‘the peace of God that excels all thought will guard our hearts and our mental powers by means of Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 4:7) This peace of God, reflected in a joyful countenance, can recommend our message to householders that we meet during our preaching work. (Colossians 4:5, 6) It can also encourage those who may be afflicted by the stresses or injustices so common in today’s world, as the following account shows.d

20, 21. (a) During the Nazi terror, how did the integrity of Jehovah’s Witnesses encourage others? (b) What resolve should the voice of Jehovah awaken in us?

²⁰ Max Liebster, a natural Jew who by a seeming miracle survived the Holocaust, described his journey to a Nazi extermination camp in these words: “We were locked in carriages that were transformed into many tiny cells for two persons. Kicked into one of them, I faced a prisoner whose eyes reflected serenity. He was there because of his respect for God’s law, choosing prison and possible death rather than shed the blood of other people. He was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. His children had been taken away from him, and his wife had been executed. He was expecting to share her fate. The 14-day journey brought an answer to my prayers, for it was during this very journey to death that I found the hope of everlasting life.”

²¹ After experiencing the Auschwitz “lions’ den,” as he termed it, and being baptized, this brother married one of Jehovah’s Witnesses who herself had been imprisoned and whose father had suffered in the concentration camp at Dachau. While her father was there, he heard that his wife and young daughter had also been arrested. He described his reaction: “I was deeply worried. Then one day while I was queuing up for a shower, I heard a voice quoting Proverbs 3:5, 6 . . . It echoed like a voice coming down from the heavens. It was just what I needed to recover my balance.” Actually, the voice was that of another prisoner quoting this text, but the incident emphasizes what power God’s Word can exert on us. (Hebrews 4:12) May Jehovah’s voice speak powerfully to us today through the words of our 1994 yeartext: “Trust in Jehovah with all your heart”!

[Footnotes]

Cultivating Godly Fear

“Fear Jehovah and turn away from bad.”​—PROVERBS 3:7.

1. For whom was Proverbs written?

THE Bible book of Proverbs contains a wealth of spiritual counsel. Jehovah provided this guidebook initially to instruct his typical nation of Israel. Today, it provides wise sayings for his holy Christian nation, “upon whom the ends of the systems of things have arrived.”​—1 Corinthians 10:11; Proverbs 1:1-5; 1 Peter 2:9.

2. Why is the warning at Proverbs 3:7 most timely today?

² Turning to Proverbs 3:7, we read: “Do not become wise in your own eyes. Fear Jehovah and turn away from bad.” Ever since the time of our first parents, when the Serpent enticed Eve with the promise of their “knowing good and bad,” mere human wisdom has failed to answer the needs of mankind. (Genesis 3:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 3:19, 20) At no period in history has this been more apparent than in this 20th century​—these “last days” when mankind, reaping the fruits of atheistic, evolutionary thinking, is plagued by racism, violence, and every kind of immorality. (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13; 2 Peter 3:3, 4) It is a ‘new world disorder’ that neither the UN nor the fragmented religions of the world can untangle.

3. What developments were prophesied for our day?

³ God’s prophetic Word informs us that demonic forces have gone forth to “the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together to the war of the great day of God the Almighty . . . to the place that is called in Hebrew Har–Magedon.” (Revelation 16:14, 16) Soon terror from Jehovah will envelop those kings, or rulers. It will be like the fright that fell upon the Canaanites when Joshua and the Israelites came to execute judgment on them. (Joshua 2:9-11) But today it is the one typified by Joshua, Christ Jesus​—the “King of kings and Lord of lords”—​who will ‘strike the nations and shepherd them with a rod of iron’ in expression of “the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty.”​—Revelation 19:15, 16.

4, 5. Who will find salvation, and why?

⁴ Who will find salvation at that time? Those delivered will be, not the ones consumed by fright, but all who have cultivated a reverential fear of Jehovah. Instead of being wise in their own eyes, these “turn away from bad.” In humility, they feed their minds on what is good, so that the bad is crowded out of their thinking. They cherish a wholesome respect for the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, the “Judge of all the earth,” who is about to execute everyone who cleaves to badness, just as he annihilated the depraved Sodomites. (Genesis 18:25) Indeed, for God’s own people, “the fear of Jehovah is a well of life, to turn away from the snares of death.”​—Proverbs 14:27.

⁵ In this day of divine judgment, all who devote themselves entirely to Jehovah in fear of ever displeasing him will come to realize the truth stated figuratively at Proverbs 3:8: “May [the fear of Jehovah] become a healing to your navel and a refreshment to your bones.”

Honoring Jehovah

6. What should motivate us to heed Proverbs 3:9?

⁶ Our appreciative fear of Jehovah, together with intense love for him, should motivate us to heed Proverbs 3:9: “Honor Jehovah with your valuable things and with the firstfruits of all your produce.” We are not pressured into honoring Jehovah with our offerings. These should be voluntary, as indicated some 12 times from Exodus 35:29 to Deuteronomy 23:23 with regard to sacrifices in ancient Israel. These firstfruits to Jehovah should be the very best gifts we can offer, in recognition of the goodness and loving-kindness that we have enjoyed at his hand. (Psalm 23:6) They should reflect our resolve to “keep on . . . seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33) And what results from honoring Jehovah with our valuable things? “Then your stores of supply will be filled with plenty; and with new wine your own press vats will overflow.”​—Proverbs 3:10.

7. What firstfruits should we offer to Jehovah, and what will be the outcome?

⁷ Jehovah’s primary way of blessing us is spiritual. (Malachi 3:10) Hence, the firstfruits that we offer to him should be primarily spiritual. We should use our time, energy, and vital force in doing his will. This in turn will nourish us, in the same way that such activity became strengthening “food” to Jesus. (John 4:34) Our spiritual stores of supply will be filled, and our joy, symbolized by new wine, will overflow. In addition, as we trustingly pray for a sufficiency of material food for each day, we can consistently contribute generously from our means in support of the worldwide Kingdom work. (Matthew 6:11) Everything that we possess, including material assets, came to us from our loving heavenly Father. He will pour out further blessings, to the extent that we use these valuable things to his praise.​—Proverbs 11:4; 1 Corinthians 4:7.

Reproofs of Love

8, 9. How should we regard reproof and discipline?

⁸ In Pr 3 verses 11 and 12, Proverbs chapter 3 again speaks of the happy father-and-son relationship that exists in godly families, as well as between Jehovah and his beloved spiritual children on earth. We read: “The discipline of Jehovah, O my son, do not reject; and do not abhor his reproof, because the one whom Jehovah loves he reproves, even as a father does a son in whom he finds pleasure.” People of the world detest reproof. Jehovah’s people should welcome it. The apostle Paul quoted these words from Proverbs, saying: “My son, do not belittle the discipline from Jehovah, neither give out when you are corrected by him; for whom Jehovah loves he disciplines . . . True, no discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but grievous; yet afterward to those who have been trained by it it yields peaceable fruit, namely, righteousness.”​—Hebrews 12:5, 6, 11.

⁹ Yes, reproof and discipline are a necessary part of the training of each one of us, whether we receive it from parents, through the Christian congregation, or as we meditate on the Scriptures during our personal study. It is a matter of life and death for us to heed discipline, as Proverbs 4:1, 13 also states: “Listen, O sons, to the discipline of a father and pay attention, so as to know understanding. Take hold on discipline; do not let go. Safeguard it, for it itself is your life.”

The Greatest Happiness

10, 11. What are some facets of the delightful words at Proverbs 3:13-18?

¹⁰ What beautiful expressions now follow, indeed ‘delightful and correct words of truth’! (Ecclesiastes 12:10) These inspired words of Solomon describe true happiness. They are words that we should inscribe on our hearts. We read:

¹¹ “Happy is the man that has found wisdom, and the man that gets discernment, for having it as gain is better than having silver as gain and having it as produce than gold itself. It is more precious than corals, and all other delights of yours cannot be made equal to it. Length of days is in its right hand; in its left hand there are riches and glory. Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its roadways are peace. It is a tree of life to those taking hold of it, and those keeping fast hold of it are to be called happy.”​—Proverbs 3:13-18.

12. How should wisdom and discernment benefit us?

¹² Wisdom​—how often this is mentioned in the book of Proverbs, 46 times in all! “The fear of Jehovah is the start of wisdom.” This is the godly, practical wisdom based on knowledge of God’s Word that enables his people to steer a safe course through the dangerous tempests that rage in Satan’s world. (Proverbs 9:10) Discernment, referred to 19 times in Proverbs, is the handmaiden of wisdom, helping us to combat Satan’s devices. In perpetrating his crafty acts, the great Adversary has behind him millenniums of experience. But we have something far more valuable than experience as a teacher​—godly discernment, the ability to distinguish right from wrong and to choose the correct way to go. This is what Jehovah teaches us through his Word.​—Proverbs 2:10-13; Ephesians 6:11.

13. What can protect us during hard economic times, and how?

¹³ The economic chaos in today’s world is a harbinger of the fulfillment of the prophecy at Ezekiel 7:19: “Into the streets they will throw their very silver, and an abhorrent thing their own gold will become. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of Jehovah’s fury.” All the material wealth on earth does not begin to compare with the saving power of wisdom and discernment. Wise King Solomon stated on another occasion: “Wisdom is for a protection the same as money is for a protection; but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom itself preserves alive its owners.” (Ecclesiastes 7:12) Happy indeed are all who today walk in Jehovah’s ways of pleasantness and who in wisdom choose the “length of days,” the everlasting life that is God’s gift to everyone exercising faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice!​—Proverbs 3:16; John 3:16; 17:3.

Cultivating True Wisdom

14. In what ways has Jehovah displayed exemplary wisdom?

¹⁴ It is appropriate that we humans, who are created in the image of God, strive to cultivate wisdom and discernment, qualities that Jehovah himself displayed in performing his marvelous works of creation. “Jehovah himself in wisdom founded the earth. He solidly fixed the heavens in discernment.” (Proverbs 3:19, 20) He proceeded to make living creatures, not by some mystical, inexplicable process of evolution, but by direct acts of creation, each “according to its kind” and for a wise purpose. (Genesis 1:25) When finally man was brought forth with intelligence and abilities far superior to those of the animals, the applause of the angelic sons of God must have echoed and reechoed through the heavens. (Compare Job 38:1, 4, 7.) Jehovah’s discerning foresight, his wisdom, and his love are clearly seen in all of his productions on earth.​—Psalm 104:24.

15. (a) Why is it not sufficient simply to cultivate wisdom? (b) What confidence should Proverbs 3:25, 26 awaken in us?

¹⁵ We need not only to cultivate Jehovah’s qualities of wisdom and discernment but also to hold fast to them, never slacking off in our study of his Word. He admonishes us: “My son, may they not get away from your eyes. Safeguard practical wisdom and thinking ability, and they will prove to be life to your soul and charm to your throat.” (Proverbs 3:21, 22) Thus we can walk in security and in peace of mind, even during the thieflike approach of the day of “sudden destruction” that will break forth upon Satan’s world. (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3) During the great tribulation itself, “you will not need to be afraid of any sudden dreadful thing, nor of the storm upon the wicked ones, because it is coming. For Jehovah himself will prove to be, in effect, your confidence, and he will certainly keep your foot against capture.”​—Proverbs 3:23-26.

Love for Doing Good

16. What action is required of Christians in addition to zeal in the ministry?

¹⁶ These are days for showing zeal in preaching this good news of the Kingdom for a witness to all the nations. But this witness work must be backed up by other Christian activity, as described at Proverbs 3:27, 28: “Do not hold back good from those to whom it is owing, when it happens to be in the power of your hand to do it. Do not say to your fellowman: ‘Go, and come back and tomorrow I shall give,’ when there is something with you.” (Compare James 2:14-17.) With much of the world in the grip of poverty and famine, there have been urgent calls for us to help our fellowman, especially our spiritual brothers. How have Jehovah’s Witnesses responded?

17-19. (a) What urgent need was met during 1993, and with what response? (b) What demonstrates that our beleaguered brothers are “coming off completely victorious”?

¹⁷ Take one example: During the past year, an urgent call for help came from the former Yugoslavia. The brotherhood in neighboring countries responded marvelously. During the frigid months of last winter, it was possible for several relief convoys to penetrate the war area, transporting current publications, warm clothing, food, and medicines to needy Witnesses. On one occasion, the brothers applied to take in 15 tons of relief supplies, but when they received the permit, it was for 30 tons! Jehovah’s Witnesses in Austria quickly dispatched three more trucks. In all, 25 tons reached their intended destination. How delighted our brothers were to receive these bounteous spiritual and material provisions!

¹⁸ How did those recipients respond? Earlier this year, an elder wrote: “The brothers and sisters in Sarajevo are alive and well, and what is most important, we are still spiritually strong to endure this crazy war. The situation was very difficult concerning food. May Jehovah bless and reward you for the efforts you have made for us. The authorities have special respect for Jehovah’s Witnesses because of their exemplary way of life and because of their respect of the authorities. We are also grateful for the spiritual food you delivered to us.”​—Compare Psalm 145:18.

¹⁹ These endangered brothers have shown appreciation, too, by their zealous field ministry. Many neighbors come to them requesting home Bible studies. In the city of Tuzla, where five tons of relief food was delivered, 40 publishers reported 25 hours each in service on the average for the month, in fine support of the nine pioneers in the congregation. They had a remarkable attendance of 243 at the Memorial of Jesus’ death. These dear brothers are indeed “coming off completely victorious through him that loved us.”​—Romans 8:37.

20. What “equalizing” has taken place in the former Soviet Union?

²⁰ The generosity manifested in the large convoys of relief food and warm clothing shipped into the former Soviet Union has also been matched by the zeal of the brothers there. For example, in Moscow the Memorial attendance this year was 7,549, compared with 3,500 last year. During the same period, congregations in that city increased from 12 to 16. In the entire former Soviet Union (omitting the Baltic States), the increase in congregations was 14 percent, in Kingdom publishers 25 percent, and in pioneers 74 percent. What a spirit of zeal and self-sacrifice! It reminds one of the first century when there was “an equalizing.” The Christians that had spiritual and material assets made generous gifts to those in less favored places, while the zeal of these afflicted ones brought joy and encouragement to the donors.​—2 Corinthians 8:14.

Hate the Bad!

21. How are the wise ones and the stupid ones contrasted in the closing words of Proverbs chapter 3?

²¹ The third chapter of Proverbs next presents a series of contrasts, closing out with this admonition: “Do not become envious of the man of violence, nor choose any of his ways. For the devious person is a detestable thing to Jehovah, but His intimacy is with the upright ones. The curse of Jehovah is on the house of the wicked one, but the abiding place of the righteous ones he blesses. If it has to do with ridiculers, he himself will deride; but to the meek ones he will show favor. Honor is what the wise ones will come to possess, but the stupid ones are exalting dishonor.”​—Proverbs 3:29-35.

22. (a) How may we avoid the fate of the stupid ones? (b) What do the wise ones hate, and what do they cultivate, with what reward?

²² How may we avoid being numbered among the stupid ones? We must learn to hate the bad, yes, detest what Jehovah detests​—all the devious ways of this violent, bloodguilty world. (See also Proverbs 6:16-19.) In contrast, we must cultivate what is good​—uprightness, righteousness, and meekness—​so that in humility and the fear of Jehovah we may attain to “riches and glory and life.” (Proverbs 22:4) This will be the reward to all of us who loyally apply the admonition: “Trust in Jehovah with all your heart.”