The entertainment that the world offers, while not always directly opposed to Christian principles, certainly does not promote such things as truth, righteousness, faith and the hope of salvation. Hence, if we do not spend time fortifying our hearts and minds, we will likely become weak spiritually and our love will grow cold.

8. What blessing comes to the person who studies God’s Word and meditates on it?

⁸ If we do spend time fortifying ourselves by means of personal study and meditation, we will be like the man whose “delight is in the law of Jehovah” and who reads in that law in an undertone day and night. The psalmist says of such a man: “He will certainly become like a tree planted by streams of water, that gives its own fruit in its season and the foliage of which does not wither, and everything he does will succeed.”​—Psalm 1:2, 3.

9. How can we develop a love of studying the Bible and meditating on it? (Psalm 77:11, 12)

⁹ Realistically speaking, many of us are not naturally inclined to study. Yet, if we want to, we can train ourselves to enjoy studying. Think of someone who takes up the pastime of jogging. At first his muscles will probably ache. Gradually, though, his body will adjust, and soon, if he perseveres, the jogger will enjoy his exercise. Paul told Timothy: “Be training yourself with godly devotion as your aim.” (1 Timothy 4:7) Studying the Bible is a part of godly devotion. (Proverbs 2:1-6) At first it may take discipline to get down to it. Soon, though, we will find real interest in learning new points or in getting a deeper understanding of things we already know. Our study will then give us genuine pleasure.​—Psalm 119:103, 104.

10. Why is study material covered more than once in study aids?

¹⁰ Some may feel that since they know the basic doctrines of the Bible they no longer need to spend time on personal study. They may even complain when similar material is covered more than once in Bible study publications. Yet the Bible speaks of the need for reminders. (Psalm 119:95, 99; 2 Peter 3:1; Jude 5) If we do not keep reminding ourselves of the truth, of God’s righteous standards, of our faith and our hope of salvation, our heart will be influenced by other things.

11. What are some things that Paul discussed in his letter to the Ephesians?

¹¹ Consider Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. He reminded them of what their situation had been before they became Christians, and he spoke about the organization of which they were now a part. (Ephesians 2:12; 4:4-6, 17, 18) He mentioned Jehovah’s wonderful purpose for mankind and man’s part in relation to that purpose. (Ephesians 1:8-12; 2:4-6) And he reminded them of Christian principles that would help them to be successful in the family and in the congregation.​—Ephesians 4:1, 2; 5:21–6:4.

12. Why did Paul tell the Ephesians things that they already knew?

¹² Some of what Paul wrote may have been new to the Ephesian Christians, but much of it must have covered what they had heard before. Nevertheless, Paul wanted to remind them of these matters and perhaps provide fresh insight into them. Thus he helped the Ephesians to refurbish their spiritual armor and to “grasp mentally with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth.”​—Ephesians 1:15-17; 3:14-19.

13, 14. (a) How will study and meditation help us? (b) What further items are included in the “suit of armor from God”?

¹³ Our personal study, too, will refresh us and enrich our understanding of many basic points, as well as help us to grasp the deeper things of God’s Word. (1 Corinthians 2:10) In this way, our “suit of armor from God” will prevent Satan from making us lose our fervent love for Jehovah and his Son.

Buy Out Time

21, 22. (a) What large obstacle has Satan raised to our maintaining our ‘first love’? (b) How did Paul recommend that the Ephesians overcome this obstacle, and why should we follow his counsel?

²¹ Stanley Jones, describing one of the biggest problems he faced in prison, said: “I had so much time on my hands.” His problem was exactly the opposite of that experienced by many of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Most of us are chronically short of time. Why is this? The apostle John said: “The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) Satan’s world keeps people so busy constantly that they have little opportunity to think, let alone study. We are no part of the world, but we certainly do feel the effects of its way of life. Using its influence, the “wicked one” would like to keep us so busy that our service to God would be crowded out.

²² Paul recognized this problem and gave the Ephesians this valuable counsel: “Keep strict watch that how you walk is not as unwise but as wise persons, buying out the opportune time for yourselves, because the days are wicked. On this account cease becoming unreasonable, but go on perceiving what the will of Jehovah is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17) If we fail to buy out time to do “the will of Jehovah,” the pressure of living in these ‘wicked days’ is likely to cause our love to cool off.

23. What kind of personal study and preaching activity will help to keep our ‘first love’ alive?

²³ True, some Christians have heavy obligations or are sick and thus are quite limited as to what they can do in God’s service. (Luke 21:1-4) But in harmony with Paul’s counsel to Christian slaves, whatever we can do should be done in a “whole-souled” manner. (Ephesians 6:5, 6) Personal study will never be enjoyable if we snatch just a few minutes for it between television programs. Similarly, our field ministry will hardly keep our ‘first love’ and zeal alive if we spend merely a token hour or two in it each month between periods of recreation.​—Compare 1 Timothy 4:8.