their idea of what obeying the Law meant. But Jesus told them: “If you had understood what this means, ‘I want mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless ones.’” True, being under the Mosaic law they were required to observe those things mentioned, but not to the point of disregarding “the weightier matters of the Law,” including mercy.​—Matt. 9:1-13; 12:1-7; 23:23.

How about us? We may be endeavoring to serve God, regularly, even systematically and routinely; we may set aside certain time for performing services and worship and may make monetary contributions to advance God’s pure worship. This is fine; but what is our motive? Could we be so concerned with gaining God’s approval for ourselves that we fail to notice the needs of others around us?

For example, what of those with whom we meet for study of God’s Word? Does our mercy come into play here? Many people in Christendom, as we know, are “churchgoers” but betray a shallow motive. They go to fulfill a ‘religious duty,’ for social benefits and conversation, or to enjoy a ‘quiet atmosphere contributing to inner tranquillity.’ Their interest is in themselves, not others. If we are merciful, however, our interest will be in others; not in what they can do for us as much as what we can do for them.

Do we notice any who seem to be in poor health and do we show concern for them? Do we upbuild them by expressing appreciation for their faith that moved them to come to the meeting? What of those who seem timid, lonely, worried or depressed? Do we feel for them so that we are moved to show interest in them and try to increase their happiness? What a fine spirit such mercy builds up in any group of God’s servants!

MATERIAL “GIFTS OF MERCY”

But while giving in spiritual ways is the most vital, this by no means eliminates showing mercy in material ways. When, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke of “making gifts of mercy” he evidently referred to gifts to the needy, to those experiencing poverty, adversity, illness, or other causes of difficulty. True, Jesus condemned the hypocritical persons who used such gifts to bring praise to themselves. But he did not downgrade or depreciate the giving itself. To the contrary, he told his disciples: “But you, when making gifts of mercy, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, that your gifts of mercy may be in secret; then your Father who is looking on in secret will repay you.”​—Matt. 6:1-4.

Dorcas was a Christian woman who “abounded in good deeds and gifts of mercy.” What did these consist of? When Peter arrived after Dorcas’ death, “all the widows presented themselves to him weeping and exhibiting many inner garments and outer garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.” (Acts 9:36-41) Yes, she was a merciful woman. Whether she personally bore all the expense of making such garments for these widows, or whether she contributed her time, strength and talent only, the account does not say. Today, some of us may have little in the way of material means, but we can contribute time, energy and talent in performing deeds of mercy for others.

And, where our means allow, we can mercifully aid worthy ones in a financial way. The Law covenant specifically urged such mercy, warning against ‘hardening one’s heart or being closefisted toward poor brothers.’ (Deut. 15:7-10; compare Proverbs 19:17.) Christian congregations in the first century kept lists of widows who were given material aid. Their worthiness to be on this list required that these women also have a record of deeds of mercy, entertaining strangers, relieving those in tribulation, and similar good works. (1 Tim. 5:9, 10) Should we fear for the future and hesitate to use our funds to help the needy, thinking that we may ourselves come into need? The apostle Paul assured his brothers in Corinth that God would bless their ‘cheerful giving,’ supplying them with what they needed.​—2 Cor. 9:6-14.

What a meaningful, satisfying and rich life the merciful lead! Happy are you if you are among them, for God will make you the object of his mercy, now and in the days ahead.

‘My Future Is Bright’

● The London, England, branch office of the Watch Tower Society received a letter addressed “Dear fellow Christians.” It said: “I am writing this letter to your office to express my gratitude to your people who called on me at my home and brought the wonderful message about Jehovah’s kingdom. Though I have been associated with the Salvation Army for forty years, I have to admit that I was blind and ignorant about God and his true faith. But now, less than four months since I started to study the Bible with your publications, I have learned many truths about Jehovah God and his purposes. . . . I am 78 years of age, but the future for me is very bright. I am going every Saturday and Sunday in the preaching work and am looking forward to being baptized at the next assembly.”

Having a bright future depends upon one’s willingness to learn about and do God’s will.

Questions From Readers

● What are the “elementary things of the world” mentioned at Galatians 4:3 and Colossians 2:8, 20?​—U.S.A.

After showing that a child is like a slave because of being under the stewardship of others until he is of age, the apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, writes: “Likewise we also, when we were babes, continued enslaved by the elementary things belonging to the world.” (Gal. 4:1-3) He then proceeds to show that God’s Son came at the “full limit of the time” and released those Jews becoming his disciples from being under the Law in order that they might receive the “adoption as sons.” (Gal. 4:3-7) Similarly, in his letter to the Colossians, Paul warned the Christians at Colossae against being carried off “through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ; because it is in him that all the fullness of the divine quality dwells bodily.” They should have “died together with Christ toward the elementary things of the world.”​—Col. 2:8, 9, 20.

Being set in contrast with what such Christians now enjoyed, the “elementary things of the world” evidently are the fundamental or primary principles followed by those who are not true Christians, persons who are a part of the world alienated from God. An American Translation renders the Greek expression for “elementary things of the world” as “material ways of looking at things.” Of course, the way a person views things is determined by the principles that he follows.

The text we are considering, Colossians 2:8, indicates that these primary principles or “elementary things” include the philosophies and deceptive teachings based on human standards, concepts, reasonings and myths, things in which the Greeks and other non-Jewish peoples reveled. Additionally, as evident from Colossians 2:16-18 and Galatians 4:4–5:4, the “elementary things” embraced the non-Biblical Jewish teachings calling for asceticism and “worship of the angels” as well as the teaching that Christians