POSITIVE VIEW NEEDED—DO YOU HAVE IT?

² How important is The Watchtower to your spiritual life? Is it vital? If so, you will read it regularly because, as stated in its purpose on page 2 of each issue, The Watchtower “adheres to the Bible as its authority.” And you would want others—your family, friends and neighbors—to read it regularly too. With the exception of the Bible, do you know of any other literature that supplies as much divine wisdom as does a year’s subscription to The Watchtower? Are you personally a subscriber? Are your family members subscribers?a

³ Having a positive attitude toward The Watchtower entails maintaining a proper appreciation for its contents. Then, once we are convinced of its unique value, we will eagerly look forward to each issue, read it and not hesitate to offer it to others in our field service. What the book of Proverbs says about wisdom can help us estimate the value of this journal in comparison with other magazines:

“True wisdom has built its house; it has hewn out its seven pillars. It has organized its meat slaughtering; it has mixed its wine; more than that, it has set in order its table. It has sent forth its lady attendants, that it may call out on top of the heights of the town: ‘Whoever is inexperienced, let him turn aside here.’ Whoever is in want of heart—she has said to him: ‘Come, feed yourselves with my bread and share in drinking the wine that I have mixed. Leave the inexperienced ones and keep living, and walk straight in the way of understanding.’”—Prov. 9:1-6.

⁴ Godly wisdom described in this Pr chapter 9, as well as in Proverbs, chapter 8, is in sharp contrast to the immoral wisdom of the world depicted in Pr chapter 7. Unlike the sly harlot who lurks secretly in darkness, trapping her prey and leading the victim “to the interior rooms of death,” wisdom issues its call publicly “on top of the heights.” It invites its hearers into its sturdy and well-supported mansion of “seven pillars.” (Prov. 7:27; 8:2; 9:1) Thoughtfully, wisdom organizes a banquet of fresh food and drink to nourish the mind and heart of its guests.

⁵ How well this proverbial illustration can be extended into our modern spiritual life! “The faithful and discreet slave” class sees to it that Christ’s “domestics” and their “other sheep” companions are properly fed spiritually. (Matt. 24:45; John 10:16) How is this done? Primarily through the Watchtower magazine. Much forethought and planning are necessary in preparing for a successful banquet and this is also true with The Watchtower. Its articles, like ‘meat’ and ‘mixed wine,’ make Jehovah’s people spiritually strong and happy. (Prov. 9:2) Note how some Kingdom publishers feel about recent issues:

● “First of all, they cleared up areas of Scripture I was never sure of. Second, they opened up new areas of thought for further study. But more than that, they made me feel closer to Jehovah, like a more personal friend.”

● “With the vexation of this present evil system of things, there are constantly new problems to face. The Watchtower and Awake! assist us in facing and solving those problems as they appear.”

● “Thank you, Watchtower, for working hard in establishing a ‘spiritual consciousness’ in every reader the wide world over.”

Is that how you feel about The Watchtower and Awake!?

CONFIDENTLY PRESENT SUBSCRIPTION OFFER

¹¹ The apostle Paul did not hesitate to share the good news with others. Rather, he spoke “boldly in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 9:27) Wisdom’s figurative lady attendants confidently “call out,” inviting inexperienced ones to taste of Jehovah’s wisdom. Our neighbors feasting on God’s wisdom in The Watchtower and Awake! would likely improve their life and establish right motives in their heart. People need this if they want to “keep living.” (Prov. 9:3-6) When in field service we, too, need to muster up boldness by means of our God and confidently offer the subscription to each householder.—1 Thess. 2:2.

¹² ‘But the householder does not want a subscription,’ you may say. Leap over that negative mental obstacle! Often it is not that the public is unwilling but, rather, that our own attitude toward subscriptions needs to be changed. Consider these examples:

● “When serving congregations during the months of the subscription campaign, I stress offering the subscription at every house and not wondering if we should. Let the householders make the decision. Don’t make it for them. Publishers have come back from the field and said: ‘I really didn’t think they were interested, but I offered the subscription and they took it.’”—Circuit overseer, United States.

● “A lady refused the two individual magazines. We explained that we are not peddlers. Explaining that it was possible to subscribe to both, were we surprised when the lady accepted our offer! What lesson can we draw from this experience? Propose the offer systematically. Then leave the decision up to the person.”—District overseer, France.

● “One publisher with whom I worked said he had never obtained a subscription although he had been a publisher for 20 years. When asked what the problem was, he answered: ‘The people just aren’t interested in a subscription. So what’s the use of offering it?’ At the first house I offered the subscription and the householder took a double subscription. So I encouraged the brother to try at the next house. He did so. To his amazement he also placed two subscriptions.”—Circuit overseer, Brazil.

¹³ Do you feel that the day of the magazine is finished? The above experiences and the following statistics for the United States prove otherwise. One survey shows that during the past 30 years, 1951-1981, secular magazine circulation in the United States grew by 92 percent—nearly twice as fast as the population. In the past three years, circulation grew three times faster than did the population. In addition, statistics show that today 9 out of 10 adults in the United States are monthly magazine readers and that they each read an average of nearly eight magazines per month!

¹⁴ Therefore, do not entertain a negative misconception but be positive. In order to offer the subscription do not look for more than “normal interest.” Confidently present the subscription offer AT EVERY HOUSE.