lasting gain. To do so, we must really know what it says and seek to be guided by the spirit of its teaching in all that we do. This is something that cannot be done overnight. It takes continual study of God’s Word and a burning desire to conform to its wise counsel. This, in turn, leads to true happiness, security, contentment and peace. As the Bible book of Proverbs puts it: “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.”​—Prov. 3:13-18.

Questions from Readers

● Would a husband’s approving of sterilization (either for himself or for his wife) disqualify him from positions of congregational responsibility?

The Bible clearly shows God’s high regard for the powers of procreation with which he has gifted humans. (Gen. 1:28; 9:1) The “fruitage of the belly” was counted a reward and an “inheritance from Jehovah.” (Ps. 127:3) A man whose genital organs were severely damaged was disqualified under the Law covenant from ‘coming into the congregation of Jehovah.’ The fact that the context of this verse sets forth prohibitions upon those of certain races ‘coming into the congregation of Jehovah’ appears to indicate that this provision relates to defective males among foreigners who took up the worship of Jehovah. (Deut. 23:1-8) It is not stated whether the damaging of the genital organs was intentional or accidental. Additionally manifesting God’s high regard for the powers of procreation, when a woman attempted to aid her husband in a struggle by seizing the genital organs of his opponent, the Law ruled that her hand should be amputated. (Deut. 25:11, 12) Christians, of course, are not bound by the Law covenant. Nevertheless, they are concerned as to the principles embodied therein.

From this we might conclude that the only course in harmony with God’s purpose would be for persons to marry and bring forth as many children as possible. The Scriptures, however, still allow for personal decision in matters relating to the procreative powers. If this were not so, then it would be a course of disrespect for the gift of those powers if any Christian refrained from marrying and producing children. Yet Christ Jesus, who himself refrained from marrying, said: “There are eunuchs that were born such from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs that were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs that have made themselves eunuchs on account of the kingdom of the heavens. Let him that can make room for it make room for it.” Such ones making themselves “eunuchs on account of the kingdom of the heavens” did so by remaining single. (Matt. 19:10-12) By so doing they were not showing disrespect for God’s provision regarding procreation. The apostle Paul, like Jesus, also showed that singleness could have advantages.​—1 Cor. 7:25-38.

At the same time, neither Jesus nor his apostles urged childlessness upon married Christians. What Jesus said at Matthew 24:19 was simply a prophetic statement of fact​—not to urge first-century Christians to avoid having children, but for them not to delay flight from the doomed city when the sign of her destruction was seen. Much closer to the time of that destruction, the apostle Paul was still encouraging passionate “younger widows to marry, to bear children.”​—1 Tim. 5:11-14.

In view of these Scriptural points, it should be evident that the bearing of children has divine approval. Hence, it would be wrong for one to submit to sterilization or approve of sterilization of one’s wife simply because one has no appreciation for God’s gift of the procreative powers. What, however, of the situation where one’s wife has given birth to children