individual aspect of the matter, for, as has already been said, none of us want to “accept the undeserved kindness of God and miss its purpose”? (2 Cor. 6:1, NW) We shall reserve the consideration of this question for the article following this.

“A Right Kind of Minister”

1. How does one become and prove to be a minister of Jehovah?

THE term minister (Greek: diákonos) as used in the Greek Scriptures means, literally, a servant. (1 Tim. 4:6, NW) It here refers to one who is a public servant of Jehovah, and is ordained by him, after having first taken the step of dedicating himself by a solemn agreement to do the will of God. Such a minister, in order to prove worthy of the name and retain divine favor, will faithfully strive to carry out whatever commands and commissions are laid upon him by the “superior authorities.” Such a minister will also, of necessity, prove to be a close footstep follower of Jesus Christ, the foremost minister of God, and, like him, will recognize the prior obligation to be a preacher of the good news of Jehovah’s established kingdom by Christ. Thus, like Jesus, he will prove to be one of Jehovah’s witnesses, witnessing to the truth.—Rom. 13:1; John 18:37, NW; Isa. 43:10, AS.

2. Can a servant or slave be given responsibility in Jehovah’s service?

² But though the essential meaning attached to the term minister is that of a servant, or even that of a slave, yet that does not deny the possibility of such a servant’s being placed in a position of considerable responsibility, involving the oversight and care of others. The scriptures at Matthew 24:45-47, quoted at the close of the previous article, are a good example of this, together with what Jesus said in the parable that closely followed.—See Matthew 25:21, 23, NW.

3. What early form of society had God’s approval, and what was thereby shown regarding leadership?

³ Ever since men have dwelt together, whether in family life or in national or communal life of any kind, there has been the need for some form of organized society. This has meant that some have been placed in a position of authority and leadership, being responsible for the training of others and leading them in the right way. Such an arrangement has God’s approval, for, beginning particularly with Noah and on through Abraham and his sons, all of God’s dealings with these men and their associates were on the basis of a recognition of the form of patriarchal society that then obtained.—See The Watchtower, July 15, 1952.

4. How was Noah an example of good leadership?

⁴ Take Noah, for instance, as an example of good leadership, primarily respecting the true worship of Jehovah. Additionally, he must have done a fine job in the way of training the seven persons under his family headship, each one in his respective part, in the stupendous and most unusual and exacting task of building that huge boat. Remember, too, all the scorn and opposition they must have faced. What fighting courage Noah displayed on account of his strong faith, and what tenacity of purpose and tender love for those under his care, as he “constructed an ark for the saving of his household.”—Heb. 11:7, NW; Gen. 6:9; 8:20.