should we foolishly risk the loss of that excellent pay from Jehovah by going back and pursuing the illusive wages of this dying old world? It is better to consider and heed the words of the apostle Peter: “And if you address him as Father who judges everyone impartially by what he does, you must live reverently all the time you stay here, for you know that you have not been ransomed with anything perishable like silver or gold, from the futile way of living in which you were brought up, but with precious blood.” (1 Pet. 1:17-19, An Amer. Trans.) It is required of Christians to live reverently all the time they stay in this old world, following God’s Word carefully, if they are to gain final approval of the Life-giver in heaven. The ransom by Christ Jesus is not to be viewed as a common thing, but it is a precious treasure far more valuable than silver and gold. We can lose all of the blessings of the Lord if we go back to the futile way of living in which we were brought up before we knew the truth and made our consecration.

15, 16. Where and how do we get strength for our work?

¹⁵ With the pay we receive now from Jehovah we find the divine protection. We are in an evil world that is seeking to destroy all that honors Jehovah’s name. Were it not for the unexcelled protective service from above our chances of survival in this old world would be nil. We are given every reasonable help too. The Lord has given his spirit in abundance to his servants and with that has come a supply of spiritual food and knowledge of his purposes that we cannot contain. The food is plentiful. When we are working hard we use more of the food and we appreciate it more. It gives us added strength to stick to our work.

¹⁶ The strength that God gives us to endure in this old world is beyond the understanding of this world. The world sees that as an organization Jehovah’s witnesses are sticking to their work under any and all conditions, in the face of the violence of persecution and war. The efforts made to stop the work would ordinarily bring an end to the activities of any group. We know it is only Jehovah’s help that makes it possible for us to endure, and so we do not boast in ourselves. “We boast in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we triumph also in afflictions, knowing that affliction works out endurance; and endurance, approval; and approval, hope; and this hope is not put to shame, because the love of God has been diffused in our hearts, through that holy spirit which has been given to us.”—Rom. 5:1-5, Diag.

17. As to our work, what is the only wise thing to do now? How?

¹⁷ With the help of God’s spirit and the wonderful hope, we can endure, we find ourselves able to persevere, we can continue, we can stick to our work. It is the only wise thing to do now. We have the prospects of life, and the time is so near. Paul said: “You must not lose your courage, for it will be richly rewarded, but you will need endurance if you are to carry out God’s will and receive the blessing he has promised.”—Heb. 10:35, 36, An Amer. Trans.

A SOUND INVESTMENT OF EFFORT

18. To what should we not bend all our energies? Why not?

¹⁸ The enduring things are what we must invest in. These are only the Theocratic things, God’s work. We are advised not to put all of our energies into the worldly enterprises because those things are doomed to destruction at the near battle of Armageddon. If we give all of our time to such things it will be lost because such things are doomed to destruction with this world at the now near battle of Armageddon. If we give all of our time to such things it will be time lost because such things are going to be lost. Worse than that, we may be smashed up with them at Armageddon because of not sticking to God’s work and keeping that first in our lives. “You must not work for the food that perishes, but for that which lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for God the Father has authorized him to do so.” (John 6:27, An Amer. Trans.) It must be remembered that the gaining of salvation means work, sticking to it through thick and thin. “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”—Phil. 2:12.

19. In what profitable ways can our personal work proceed?

¹⁹ And all the work we do is profitable. A few words spoken at the right time will help many a person to appreciate more of God’s purposes and his great mercy. We have opportunities to speak to other people by telephone. We write letters about the gospel. We can mail literature concerning the Kingdom to friends and people of good-will. When visitors come to our homes we can speak with them about Jehovah God. These are all a part of the good work, oftentimes in addition to the important work of calling upon the people at their homes and places of business. Whether it may be that we do much in the work or a little because of limited strength or ability, sticking to the work is good. Since it means salvation, your work is not wasted or thrown away. “So my dear brothers, be firm and unmoved, and always devote yourselves to the Lord’s work, for you know that through the Lord your labor is not thrown away.”—1 Cor. 15:58, An Amer. Trans.

20. Why does the quotation from 1 Timothy 4:16 have more force now?

²⁰ It has always been true that Christians are required to work, for that is according to the principles of the Most High God. The advice of Paul that is written at 1 Timothy 4:16 was full of meaning for the consecrated ones in early Christian times. But today the times are more perilous, the days are more evil. The time for the final settlement of the great issue of universal domination is here and the ire of the evil ones is at its highest pitch. This means that the assaults against those who are seeking to do God’s work are more intense and violent than at any other time in history. In the face of all of this we ourselves must stand firm in our integrity, never giving even a slight opening to the Devil to get in a wounding blow to disable us from the Christian service; never permitting ourselves to be captured by his forces and dragged back into the darkness of this world and its perdition.

21. How is our work a blessing now toward winning out?

²¹ The work that we have been given is a great blessing. It keeps us away from the dangerous things of the old world, so it acts as a protector. The work we have to do now is teaching and preaching. All of the time and strength we can possibly muster should go into the work. We have entered into this work with determination to see it through to the finish. The name of Jehovah is involved and so is our eternal salvation. We want to win and we can win by doing good works. Indeed, we must stick to our work, faithfully looking to the time when the Lord’s statement at Revelation 22:12 (An Amer. Trans.) is fulfilled: “See! I am coming very soon, bringing with me my rewards, to repay everyone for what he has done.” Now is the time. Because the final settling of the great issue is to come in this generation, our salvation is much nearer than when Christians first started to serve God. It is even much closer than when we ourselves first started to do God’s work. We must not take chances by looking back to the old world for anything. We cannot risk even the slightest slowing down now. That is why the admonition at 1 Timothy 4:16 (Moff.) means so much to us in the last days: “Watch yourself and watch your teaching; stick to your work.”

Why Christians Shun Tobacco

MANY new ones are coming to a knowledge of the truths in the Bible and are taking their place in the gospel-preaching ranks of Jehovah’s witnesses. Many of these new ones formerly smoked tobacco, but have now quit. A few others come to a knowledge of the truth but do not quit smoking. When an effort is tactfully made to instruct them they reply that the Bible does not forbid smoking, that when they are shown from the Bible that it is wrong then they will quit. Some of these have even offered cigarettes to non-smoking witnesses when at local Kingdom Halls. At least, their attempt at humor is unbecoming and savors of taunting. At most, they could tempt only another who had cleansed himself of the habit.

It is true that the Bible does not specifically name tobacco-smoking as an evil to be avoided. If Christians should shun it, why does not the Bible definitely mention it? Because in the times when the Bible was written the smoking of tobacco was unknown. Under the heading “Tobacco” the Encyclopedia Americana, 1942 edition, states:

“Originating in America, the use of tobacco has been extended into practically all parts of the world, and, indeed, it has come to be incomparably the most generally used of all narcotics. . . . Tobacco was widely used by the Indians at the time of the discovery of America by Columbus and relics of the Mound Builders show that pipe smoking was a very ancient custom among the aborigines. On landing in the West Indies in 1492 members of Columbus’ crew observed that the natives smoked rolls of dried tobacco leaves. When the Spaniards landed in Mexico in 1519 they found the natives cultivating tobacco with care and skill. . . . The American Indians had evolved methods of cultivating tobacco and preparing it in all forms which are now used. . . . The culture and the use of tobacco were introduced into India, Persia and other Asiatic countries early in the 17th century.”

Hence it was not used in Biblical lands till more than fifteen centuries after the last book of the Bible was written. Nevertheless, inspired admonition contained in Scripture is of such scope as to definitely embrace the use of tobacco. A meek and humble person who wishes to receive instruction could consider with profit such scriptures as Proverbs 30:12, Isaiah 52:11, Galatians 5:19, Colossians 3:5, James 1:22, Ephesians 5:3, 4, and other texts concerning cleanness in matters both physical and spiritual. These texts establish a principle of purity and cleanness that should guide Christians, and 2 Corinthians 7:1 is explicit when it orders: “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” A translation in modern English reads: “Let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates either flesh or spirit; let us be fully consecrated by reverence for God.”—Moffatt.

Is not tobacco-smoking filthy in that it stains the flesh, stinks clothes and body, and litters ashes about? Is it not expressing inconsiderate selfishness rather than love when one fouls the air with strong smoke for others to breathe, and which smarts the eyes? Does not the habit contaminate the flesh by harming health? It admittedly cuts wind or endurance, slows reflexes, fogs the brain, promotes diseases of heart and blood vessels, lowers vitality, irritates sinuses and membranes of nose, mouth, throat and lungs, induces cancer, impairs reproductive functions in both men and women, weakens moral fiber and shortens the life span. To what advantages can cigarette smokers point to counterbalance these disadvantages? Can one consecrate his full potential of strength and energy to God if he siphons off a measure of it by sucking on cigarettes? Is a Christian’s consecrated strength and time and money being wisely spent when dissipated and wasted through the tobacco habit? It is not necessary for Jehovah’s witnesses to badger or heckle smokers with these and similar questions. It is sufficient for each smoker, particularly those who have come