VISITING NORTH AMERICAN DELEGATES SATISFIED

Up to this point, what had the North American travelers observed? Is there a basis on which people can work together in real harmony with love? One writes: ‘After the assembly was canceled in Togo the brothers were reluctant to go home. They just had to see the visitors who were scheduled to come in the second day. They came to the branch office throughout that entire day and into the night. When at five o’clock a busload of visitors arrived, the brothers broke out in song and held outstretched arms to welcome each one. What a sight of love among brothers! I don’t think there was a dry eye among the visitors as they were overcome with such affection.’

After the assembly in Dakar one of the visitors remarked: “Dakar made a big impression on our minds and hearts, because we were able to appreciate more than ever the apostle Paul’s statement in Acts 17:26, 27 [“And (God) made out of one man every nation of men, . . . and he decreed the appointed times . . . for them to seek God, if they might grope for him and really find him, although, in fact, he is not far off from each one of us.”]. The seed of truth is being sown here, and we pray Jehovah’s rich blessing upon all those here in this land as they seek Jehovah.”

Before completing their tour, the travelers visited other African lands too. They saw well over 175,000 persons assembled in peace, talked with thousands and became personally acquainted with hundreds, all manifesting the same unity. They could certainly return fully satisfied that men of all ethnic groups can find unity on the basis of Bible truth.

Questions From Readers

● What is the Christian view of the payment of bills?​—L. D., U.S.A.

While there are countless situations covered by this question, the basic answer is quite simple. The counsel at Romans 13:8 definitely applies to this matter: “Do not you people be owing anybody a single thing, except to love one another.” Surely it would be unloving for a person to avoid paying money owed to another, whether it was owed because of having borrowed it or because of having received goods or services. In this vein the inspired psalmist wrote: “The wicked one is borrowing and does not pay back, but the righteous one is showing favor and is making gifts.”​—Ps. 37:21.

Also bearing on the matter is the fact that Christians are honest! The apostle Paul nicely expressed the point, saying: “We trust we have an honest conscience, as we wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things.” (Heb. 13:18) When a person makes a purchase, he in effect says that he agrees to pay for the merchandise received. For a number of reasons it is usually wise to pay cash and not run up bills.a Yet there may be an instance wherein a Christian is billed for a purchase. In most places a person in that position is obligated to pay for what he has purchased or face legal action. But beyond any fear of such a consequence, the Christian is motivated by a personal desire to live up to the implied agreement he made when he purchased the merchandise. He accepts and follows Jesus’ counsel: “Let your word Yes mean Yes, your No, No.”​—Matt. 5:37.

It is quite common for worldly persons who care little about having God’s approval to be willfully negligent when it comes to paying bills. Many of these persons might be repelled by the thought of breaking into a store and stealing merchandise off the shelves. But they think little of taking the same merchandise out