world. Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever.”—2 Tim. 4:10; 1 John 2:15-17.

LOVE NEIGHBOR?—YES!

But not loving the world does not mean that the Christian today may not or does not love his neighbor. He distinguishes between the system of things under Satan’s control and the individuals held captive by Satan, fellow human creatures. He loves his neighbor as himself in that he deals with his neighbor as he wants his neighbor to deal with him. He is always ready to go to the help of his neighbor if circumstances require it, even as did the Christian truck driver mentioned in the beginning of this discussion. Like the Samaritan of Jesus’ illustration, he takes advantage of opportunities to be of help to someone in distress. He heeds the command to do good to all men as he has opportunity, but especially to fellow Christians.—Luke 10:30-37; Gal. 6:10.

Yet in their desire to avoid friendship with the world, dedicated Christians may come short on this score. Because they have dedicated themselves to do God’s will as Christian ministers they may be inclined to feel that the only kind of assistance they can give another is spiritual, but not so. That is the most important kind, but there are times when a neighbor needs material or physical assistance, and then such should be given if one is in position to do so, although not getting carried away by sentimentality and so going to an extreme.

Yes, while ever ready to give material assistance according to one’s means and the other’s need, a Christian may never forget that all lovers of righteousness in the world today are greatly in need in a spiritual sense; they lack knowledge and understanding of Jehovah God, his name, Word and purposes, as well as his will for them. Being diligent to satisfy this spiritual need is the best way Christians can show love, for while “wisdom is for a protection the same as money is for a protection; . . . the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom itself preserves alive its owners.”—Eccl. 7:12.

It takes a great deal of love of neighbor on the part of Christians to go regularly from house to house, ignoring insults, indifference and what not, and doing so in all kinds of weather, urging others to learn of God’s provisions of everlasting life. At the same time these would not do all this if they loved the world. So should we love the world? No! Should we love our neighbor? Yes!

“Ignorance of Religion”

“In the Philippines, well-meaning Catholics often ask the question: How are we going to check the growth of Jehovah’s Witnesses and other similar sects? The only sure way would seem to be for Catholics to get to know more about their own religion and to practice their religion. Actually, it is ignorance of religion that is the organization’s strongest incentive in countries where it is introduced. For only when we get to know our own religion, and are not merely born into it, when we practice our religion as good Catholics everywhere are expected to, can we never fear that knock on the door by those who aim to present us with a substitute for the Faith in which we were born, nurtured, and live.”—Home Life, a Catholic magazine printed in the Philippines.