References for Life and Ministry Meeting Workbook
© 2024 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
MARCH 3-9
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | PROVERBS 3
Demonstrate Trust in Jehovah
ijwbv article 14 ¶4-5
Proverbs 3:5, 6—“Lean Not on Your Own Understanding”
“Trust in Jehovah with all your heart.” We show that we trust God when we do things his way. We must trust God completely, with our whole heart. In the Bible, the heart usually refers to the inner self, which includes a person’s emotions, motivations, thinking, and attitude. Therefore, to trust God with all our heart involves more than our feelings. It is a choice we make because we are fully convinced that our Creator knows what is best for us.—Romans 12:1.
“Do not rely on your own understanding.” We need to trust God because we cannot depend on our own imperfect reasoning. If we rely solely on ourselves or let feelings alone determine our course, we might make choices that initially appear good but ultimately bring bad results. (Proverbs 14:12; Jeremiah 17:9) God’s wisdom is far superior to ours. (Isaiah 55:8, 9) When we are guided by his thinking, our lives will be successful.—Psalm 1:1-3; Proverbs 2:6-9; 16:20.
ijwbv article 14 ¶6-7
Proverbs 3:5, 6—“Lean Not on Your Own Understanding”
“In all your ways take notice of him.” We should get God’s viewpoint in every significant aspect of our life and in every important decision we make. We do this by praying to him for guidance and by following what he says in his Word, the Bible.—Psalm 25:4; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.
“He will make your paths straight.” God makes our path straight by helping us to live by his righteous standards. (Proverbs 11:5) We thus avoid needless pitfalls and enjoy a much happier life.—Psalm 19:7, 8; Isaiah 48:17, 18.
be 76 ¶4
Be Progressive—Make Advancement
Having been exposed to a variety of circumstances in life, a person could be tempted to reason: ‘I have faced this situation before. I know what to do.’ Would this be the course of wisdom? Proverbs 3:7 cautions: “Do not become wise in your own eyes.” Experience should certainly broaden our view of factors to consider when dealing with situations in life. But if we are making spiritual progress, our experience should also impress on our minds and hearts that we need Jehovah’s blessing in order to succeed. Our advancement is manifest, then, not by our facing situations with confident self-assurance, but by our readily turning to Jehovah for direction in our lives. It is shown by our being confident that nothing can happen without his permission and by our maintaining a trusting and affectionate relationship with our heavenly Father.
Spiritual Gems
w06 9/15 17 ¶7
Highlights From the Book of Proverbs
3:3. We should highly value loving-kindness and trueness and visibly display them as we would a priceless necklace. We also need to inscribe these qualities on our heart, making them an integral part of us.
MARCH 10-16
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | PROVERBS 4
“Safeguard Your Heart”
w12 5/1 32 ¶2
“Safeguard Your Heart!”
Why should we safeguard our figurative heart? God moved King Solomon to write: “More than all else that is to be guarded, safeguard your heart, for out of it are the sources of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) The quality of our life now and our prospects for future life depend on the condition of our figurative heart. Why? Because God sees what is in our heart. (1 Samuel 16:7) It is the kind of person we are inside, in the “secret person of the heart,” that determines how God feels about us.—1 Peter 3:4.
MARCH 17-23
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | PROVERBS 5
Stay Far Away From Sexual Immorality
w00 7/15 29 ¶1
You Can Remain Chaste in an Immoral World
In this proverb, the wayward person is portrayed as “a strange woman”—a prostitute. The words with which she seduces her victim are as sweet as comb honey and smoother than olive oil. Do not most immoral sexual advances begin this way? For example, consider the experience of an attractive 27-year-old secretary named Amy. She relates: “This man at work gives me a lot of attention and praises me at every opportunity. It feels nice to be noticed. But I can clearly see that his interest in me is strictly sexual. I am not going to be taken in by his advances.” The flattering words of a seducer or a seductress are usually attractive unless we recognize their true nature. For this we need to exercise our thinking ability.
w00 7/15 29 ¶2
You Can Remain Chaste in an Immoral World
The aftereffects of immorality are as bitter as wormwood and as sharp as a two-edged sword—painful and death dealing. A troubled conscience, an unwanted pregnancy, or a sexually transmitted disease are often the bitter consequences of such conduct. And think of the enormous emotional pain experienced by the marriage partner of an unfaithful individual. One act of infidelity can inflict wounds deep enough to last a lifetime. Yes, immorality hurts.
w00 7/15 29 ¶5
You Can Remain Chaste in an Immoral World
We need to stay as far away as possible from the influence of immoral people. Why should we open ourselves to their ways by listening to debasing music, watching corrupting entertainment, or exposing ourselves to pornographic material? (Proverbs 6:27; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Ephesians 5:3-5) And how foolish to invite their attention by flirting or by being immodest in dress and grooming!—1 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 3:3, 4.
MARCH 24-30
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | PROVERBS 6
What Can We Learn From the Ant?
it-1 115 ¶2
Ant
Exemplary Characteristics. Thus, a brief investigation of the ant gives force to the exhortation: “Go to the ant, you lazy one; see its ways and become wise.” (Pr 6:6) Not only is their instinctive preparing for the future notable but also their persistence and determination, often carrying or tenaciously dragging objects weighing twice their own weight or more, doing everything possible to fulfill their particular task, and refusing to turn back even though they may fall, slide, or roll down some steep precipice. Remarkably cooperative, they keep their nests very clean and show concern for their fellow workers, at times assisting injured or exhausted ants back to the nest.
w00 9/15 26 ¶3
Safeguard Your Name
Like the ant, should we not also be industrious? Working hard and striving to improve in our work is good for us whether we are being monitored or not. Yes, in school, at our place of employment, and while sharing in spiritual activities, we should do our best. As the ant benefits from its industriousness, so God wants us to ‘see good for all our hard work.’ (Ecclesiastes 3:13, 22; 5:18) A clean conscience and personal satisfaction are the rewards of hard work.—Ecclesiastes 5:12.
Spiritual Gems
w00 9/15 27 ¶3
Safeguard Your Name
The seven categories that the proverb mentions are basic and cover virtually all types of wrongs. “Lofty eyes” and “a heart fabricating hurtful schemes” are sins committed in thought. “A false tongue” and “a false witness that launches forth lies” are sinful words. “Hands that are shedding innocent blood” and “feet that are in a hurry to run to badness” are wicked deeds. And especially hateful to Jehovah is the type of individual who takes keen delight in kindling strife among people who otherwise would dwell together peacefully. The increase in the number from six to seven suggests that the list is not intended to be complete, since humans ever keep multiplying their evil deeds.
MARCH 31–APRIL 6
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | PROVERBS 7
Avoid Tempting Situations
w00 11/15 30 ¶4-6
“Keep My Commandments and Continue Living”
The lips of this woman are smooth. Putting on a bold face, she utters her words confidently. Everything she says is carefully calculated to seduce the young man. By stating that she had made communion sacrifices that very day and paid her vows, she makes a display of righteousness, hinting that she is not lacking in spirituality. Communion sacrifices at the temple in Jerusalem consisted of meat, flour, oil, and wine. (Leviticus 19:5, 6; 22:21; Numbers 15:8-10) Since the offerer could take part of the communion sacrifice for himself and his family, she thus suggests that there is plenty to eat and drink at her house. The implication is clear: The young man would have a good time there. She has come out of her house specifically to look for him. How touching—if anyone could swallow such a story. “It is true she was out looking for someone,” says one Bible scholar, “but did she really come looking just for this one special fellow? Only a fool—perhaps this one—would believe her.”
After making herself appealing by the sight of her attire, by the sound of her flattering words, by the touch of her embrace, and by the taste of her lips, the seductress enlists the sense of smell. She says: “With coverlets I have bedecked my divan, with many-colored things, linen of Egypt. I have besprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.” (Proverbs 7:16, 17) She has aesthetically prepared her bed with colorful linen from Egypt and perfumed it with choice fragrances of myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
“Do come, let us drink our fill of love until the morning,” she continues, “do let us enjoy each other with love expressions.” The invitation is to something much more than a pleasant dinner for two. Her promise is that of enjoying sexual intimacy. To the young man, the appeal is adventurous and exciting! As further inducement, she adds: “For the husband is not in his house; he has gone traveling on a way of some distance. A bag of money he has taken in his hand. On the day of the full moon he will come to his house.” (Proverbs 7:18-20) They would be perfectly safe, she assures him, for her husband is away on a business trip and is not expected back for some time. How talented she is at beguiling a young person! “She has misled him by the abundance of her persuasiveness. By the smoothness of her lips she seduces him.” (Proverbs 7:21) It would take a man of Joseph’s caliber to resist an appeal this enticing. (Genesis 39:9, 12) Does this young man measure up?
APRIL 7-13
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | PROVERBS 8
Listen to Wisdom Personified
cf 131 ¶7
“I Love the Father”
7 In verse 22, wisdom says: “Jehovah produced me as the beginning of his way, the earliest of his achievements of long ago.” More than just wisdom must be involved here, for that quality never was “produced.” It never began to exist because Jehovah has always existed and he has always been wise. (Psalm 90:2) God’s Son, however, was “the firstborn of all creation.” He was produced, or created; he was the earliest of all of Jehovah’s achievements. (Colossians 1:15) The Son existed before the earth and the heavens, as described in Proverbs. And as the Word, God’s own Spokesman, he was the perfect expression of Jehovah’s wisdom.—John 1:1.
w09 4/15 31 ¶14
Appreciating Jesus—The Greater David and the Greater Solomon
14 Only one human clearly surpassed Solomon in wisdom. That was Jesus Christ, who described himself as “something more than Solomon.” (Matt. 12:42) Jesus spoke “sayings of everlasting life.” (John 6:68) For example, the Sermon on the Mount expands on the principles of some of Solomon’s proverbs. Solomon described a number of things that bring happiness to a worshipper of Jehovah. (Prov. 3:13; 8:32, 33; 14:21; 16:20) Jesus emphasized that true happiness stems from things that are related to the worship of Jehovah and the fulfillment of God’s promises. He said: “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.” (Matt. 5:3) Those who apply the principles found in Jesus’ teachings are drawn closer to Jehovah, “the source of life.” (Ps. 36:9; Prov. 22:11; Matt. 5:8) Christ embodies “the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor. 1:24, 30) As the Messianic King, Jesus Christ has “the spirit of wisdom.”—Isa. 11:2.
APRIL 14-20
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | PROVERBS 9
Be a Wise Person, Not a Ridiculer
w01 5/15 30 ¶1-2
‘By Wisdom Our Days Will Become Many’
A wise person’s response to reproof is opposite to that of a ridiculer. Solomon states: “Give a reproof to a wise person and he will love you. Give to a wise person and he will become still wiser.” (Proverbs 9:8b, 9a) A wise person knows that “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 12:11) Although the counsel may seem painful, why should we retaliate or be defensive if accepting it is going to make us wiser?
“Impart knowledge to someone righteous and he will increase in learning,” continues the wise king. (Proverbs 9:9b) No one is too wise or too old to keep learning. What a delight it is to see even those in their twilight years accept the truth and make a dedication to Jehovah! May we also endeavor to retain the will to learn and keep the mind active.
w01 5/15 30 ¶5
‘By Wisdom Our Days Will Become Many’
Putting forth effort to gain wisdom is our personal responsibility. Emphasizing this fact, Solomon states: “If you have become wise, you have become wise in your own behalf; and if you have ridiculed, you will bear it, just you alone.” (Proverbs 9:12) The wise one is wise to his own benefit, and the ridiculer alone is to blame for his own suffering. Indeed, we reap what we sow. May we, then, “pay attention to wisdom.”—Proverbs 2:2.
APRIL 21-27
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | PROVERBS 10
What Makes for a Truly Rich Life?
w01 7/15 25 ¶3
‘Blessings Are for the Righteous One’
Having in mind the harvest, not of grain, but of people, Jesus told his disciples: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. Therefore, beg the Master of the harvest [Jehovah God] to send out workers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38) In the year 2000, over 14 million attended the Memorial of Jesus’ death—more than twice the number of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Who, then, can deny that ‘the fields are white for harvesting’? (John 4:35) True worshipers ask the Master for more workers while exerting themselves vigorously in the disciple-making work in harmony with their prayers. (Matthew 28:19, 20) And how richly Jehovah has blessed their efforts! During the 2000 service year, over 280,000 new ones were baptized. These also endeavor to become teachers of God’s Word. May we experience joy and satisfaction in this harvest season by having a full share in the disciple-making work.
w01 9/15 24 ¶3-4
Walk in ‘the Path of Uprightness’
Solomon points to the importance of righteousness. He says: “The valuable things of a rich man are his strong town. The ruin of the lowly ones is their poverty. The activity of the righteous one results in life; the produce of the wicked one results in sin.”—Proverbs 10:15, 16.
Riches can serve as a protection against some uncertainties in life, just as a fortified town provides a degree of security to those who reside in it. And poverty can be ruinous when there are unexpected developments. (Ecclesiastes 7:12) However, the wise king could also be hinting at a danger involving both wealth and poverty. A rich man may be inclined to put his complete trust in his wealth, imagining that his valuable things are “like a protective wall.” (Proverbs 18:11) And a poor person may mistakenly take the view that his poverty makes his future hopeless. Thus, both fail to make a good name with God.
it-1 340
Blessing
Jehovah Blessing Humans. “The blessing of Jehovah—that is what makes rich, and he adds no pain with it.” (Pr 10:22) Jehovah blesses those whom he approves by protecting, prospering, guiding, giving success, and supplying their needs, with a beneficial outcome for them.
Spiritual Gems
w06 5/15 30 ¶18
The Joys of Walking in Integrity
18 “The blessing of Jehovah”—that is what has given spiritual prosperity to his people. And we are assured that “he adds no pain with it.” (Proverbs 10:22) Why, then, do tests and trials befall many of God’s loyal ones, causing them much pain and suffering? Difficulties and distress come our way for three main reasons. (1) Our own sinful inclination. (Genesis 6:5; 8:21; James 1:14, 15) (2) Satan and his demons. (Ephesians 6:11, 12) (3) The wicked world. (John 15:19) While Jehovah permits bad things to happen to us, he is not the originator of them. In fact, “every good gift and every perfect present is from above, for it comes down from the Father of the celestial lights.” (James 1:17) Jehovah’s blessings are without pain.
APRIL 28–MAY 4
TREASURES FROM GOD’S WORD | PROVERBS 11
Don’t Say It!
w02 5/15 26 ¶4
Integrity Leads the Upright Ones
The integrity of the upright and the wickedness of evildoers also have an effect on other people. “By his mouth the one who is an apostate brings his fellowman to ruin,” says the king of Israel, “but by knowledge are the righteous rescued.” (Proverbs 11:9) Who will deny that slander, harmful gossip, obscene talk, and idle chatter are damaging to others? A righteous one’s speech, on the other hand, is pure, well-thought out, and considerate. By knowledge he is rescued because his integrity furnishes him with the points of reasoning needed to show that his accusers are lying.
w02 5/15 27 ¶2-3
Integrity Leads the Upright Ones
Townspeople who follow an upright course promote peace and well-being and build up others in the community. Thus, a town is exalted—it prospers. Those who speak slanderous, hurtful, and wrong things cause unrest, unhappiness, disunity, and trouble. This is particularly so if these individuals are in a position of influence. Such a town suffers disorder, corruption, and moral and perhaps economic deterioration.
The principle stated at Proverbs 11:11 applies with equal force to Jehovah’s people as they associate with one another in their townlike congregations. A congregation in which spiritual people—upright ones led by their integrity—have influence is an assembly of happy, active, and helpful people, bringing honor to God. Jehovah blesses the congregation, and it prospers spiritually. Here and there, the few who may be disgruntled and dissatisfied, who find fault and speak bitterly about the way things are done, are like a “poisonous root” that can spread and poison others who initially were unaffected. (Hebrews 12:15) Such ones often want more authority and prominence. They stir up rumors that there is injustice, ethnic prejudice, or the like, in the congregation or on the part of the elders. Their mouth, indeed, can cause a division in the congregation. Should we not turn a deaf ear to their talk and strive to be spiritual people who contribute to peace and unity in the congregation?
Spiritual Gems
g20.1 11, box
How to Deal With Stress
“KILL YOUR STRESS WITH KINDNESS”
“A kind man benefits himself, but the cruel person brings trouble on himself.”—PROVERBS 11:17.
The book Overcoming Stress has a chapter entitled “Kill Your Stress with Kindness.” Treating others kindly, according to the author, Dr. Tim Cantopher, can promote health and happiness. On the other hand, an unkind or cruel person makes himself unhappy because he alienates himself from others.
We may also get stress relief by treating ourselves kindly. For example, we should not make harsh or unrealistic demands on ourselves. Nor should we belittle or malign ourselves. “You must love your neighbor as yourself,” Jesus Christ said.—Mark 12:31.