ENCOURAGE OTHERS

17. Why should we encourage others in Jehovah’s service, and what opportunities are there for all of us to do so?

¹⁷ It should be the earnest desire of every dedicated Christian to see Jehovah’s name praised to the fullest possible extent in all the earth. We individually can have a share, and we can do much to encourage others to be praisers of Jehovah. The world is never going to offer such encouragement, because it lacks love for God. (Jas. 4:4; 2 Tim. 3:4; Matt. 24:12) But, in faithfulness to God, we owe such encouragement to others. Therefore the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Thessalonica: “Keep comforting one another and building one another up, just as you are in fact doing.” (1 Thess. 5:11) As we study the Bible with others, we encourage them to become active praisers of Jehovah. Within the congregation, too, there are those who might have a fuller share in the service if they were given loving encouragement, perhaps in the form of an invitation to go along with you.

18. If any in our midst express a desire to pioneer, or to take up Bethel or missionary service, what should we do, and why?

¹⁸ In like manner, when there is opportunity to encourage anyone in our midst to enlarge his privileges of service, it is a matter of faithfulness to God on our part to offer such encouragement. Is someone thinking about pioneer service? By all means commend him. Is he talking about applying for Bethel service or missionary work? Build him up. Do not be like those brothers in Caesarea to whom Paul had to say: “What are you doing by weeping and making me weak at heart?” (Acts 21:13) Nor be like Peter on that occasion when Jesus turned to him and said: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you think, not God’s thoughts, but those of men.” (Matt. 16:23) Rather, rejoice that the hearts of your brothers are so filled with love for Jehovah that they are willing to be used more fully by him. Encourage them to move ahead, with full faith in Jehovah.

“KEEP PROVING WHAT YOU YOURSELVES ARE”

19. (a) To what extent should our lives be influenced by our dedication to Jehovah? (b) What evidences of advancement to maturity should we look for in ourselves?

¹⁹ If you are a baptized Christian, never lose sight of the fact that your entire life has been dedicated to God. It is not merely a few hours a week that you have vowed to devote to the doing of God’s will. Your entire life ought to reflect the fact that you are a minister of God. Changes in your way of thinking and doing things were required when you became a Christian, and it was love for Jehovah that moved you to make those changes. But that was only the start. As one continues to study God’s Word and personally experiences his goodness, one’s own love grows and is expressed more fully. Unless he becomes ‘dull in his hearing’ of God’s Word, he is going to press on to maturity. (Heb. 5:11, 12) Bible principles will more deeply influence all his decisions, and his desire to share to the full in the preaching of this good news of the Kingdom will grow stronger. Is this happening to you? To stay in the faith one must keep on growing spiritually. “Keep testing whether you are in the faith, keep proving what you yourselves are.”​—2 Cor. 13:5.

20. What attitude on our part will make possible the accomplishing of the greatest good in Jehovah’s service?

²⁰ Remember, the progress that you are able to make spiritually, and what you are able to accomplish in the service of the heavenly Father, do not depend solely on your ability. (2 Cor. 4:7) They are far more directly tied in with your willingness to be used by Jehovah. Have you learned to look to him for guidance in all that you do? Do you have full faith in his ability to sustain you as his servant? Do you appreciate fully that, while it is your privilege to plant and water in the ministry, it is God who makes it grow? (1 Cor. 3:6-9) If so, you will continue to respond to his leading. You will prove yourself to be a servant of God full time.

Have You Thought About Bethel Service?

HOW does a young man feel after spending four years at Brooklyn Bethel, the headquarters of the Watch Tower Society? Does he feel that he has wasted his life, that he has forfeited a college education? What are his thoughts?

A brother, who was a bundler on a Cottrell press used in printing Awake! magazines, after four years of Bethel life, personally wrote to N. H. Knorr, president of the Watch Tower Society, the following:

“I am very grateful to Jehovah to have tasted of these few years of Bethel service. Of course, I have appreciated the clean, cheerful room, the abundant supply of good, wholesome food, the close proximity of well-equipped libraries, the laundry and shoeshop, the chance to learn something about printing, the Primary School Course for new members of the Bethel family, the text discussions each morning and the Watchtower study on Monday nights, the privilege of being on the Public Speaking List, having association with the Gilead students from many lands, the thrill of being busy every minute in Jehovah’s service, of being able to work on Bibles, books and magazines that serve to bring vindication to his Name, and the unspeakable privilege of close association with mature anointed brothers who form the nucleus of the New World society.

“I have enjoyed very much also the privilege of being assigned to a New York City congregation and working with the local brothers as a study conductor and Ministry School servant, and helping cover the territory assigned to the congregation.

“Also, many little considerations shown to us at Bethel have been received with appreciation, such as a desk of my own for personal organization and study, and our treatment as mature adults, shown by each possessing his own key. Also the provision for us to be able to show hospitality when guests come to visit and the assurance that we’ll be taken care of when we are sick contributed to the feeling of security one gets at Bethel.

“With regard to learning something at Bethel, I must admit, Brother Knorr, that your statement: ‘Bethel service will prove far better than any secular education you could get,’ was met, not with disbelief, but with some skepticism when I received your invitation four years ago. That skepticism was unfounded. Not only have I learned much about the Bible from the Primary School Course and the three-year coverage we are about to complete in the Theocratic Ministry School, but I’ve attended a full-fledged meeting every day at the morning text discussions. I’ve learned the application of Bible principles to daily life​—such as 1 Thessalonians 4:11, which has helped to keep life simple and enjoyable. I’ve learned a lot about getting along with my brothers and how to associate with sisters, in groups, in an upbuilding way. Yes, too, I finally learned to enjoy singleness with its freedom for the ministry, its measure of independence, the chance for travel and occasional solitude. I’ve learned something of the art of printing. I’ve learned to listen more and speak less; the need for punctuality and personal organization, and other lessons in life too numerous to mention. Appreciated too was the firsthand education concerning life in other countries by association with Gilead students.

“I’ll never forget the daily prayers at Bethel for the brothers in the field and, in turn, I’ll keep you in my prayers with the memory of the good friends at Bethel and in many countries around the world.”

Not many people have the privilege of receiving so pleasant a letter. But any dedicated Christian young man who diligently applies himself after coming to Bethel will find reason to express himself in a similar manner.

The viewpoint of parents whose sons have served at Bethel is also of interest. For