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JINGRWAI 35 “Make Sure of the More Important Things”
Shim ïa ki Rai kiba Pynsngewbha ïa U Jehobah
‘Ka jingsheptieng ïa U Jehobah ka long ka jingsdang ka jingstad bad ka jingtip ïa uta U Bakhuid long ka jingshemphang.’—PROBERB 9:10.
FOCUS
How to use knowledge, understanding, and discernment to make wise decisions.
1. Kaei ka jingeh ba ngi baroh ngi mad?
EVERY DAY we need to make decisions. Some are relatively easy to make, such as what to have for breakfast or when to go to bed. Other matters are more difficult to decide. They may affect our health, our happiness, our loved ones, or our worship. We want our decisions to benefit us and our family. Above all, we hope that our decisions will please Jehovah.—Rom. 12:1, 2.
2. Kiei ki sienjam kiban ïarap ïa phi ban shim ïa ki rai kiba biang?
2 You are more likely to make a wise decision if you (1) get the facts, (2) consider Jehovah’s thinking on the matter, and (3) weigh the options. This article will discuss those steps, and it will also help us see how we can train our powers of discernment.—Prov. 2:11.
WAD ÏA KI JINGSHISHA
3. Ai nuksa, balei phi donkam ban tip ïa ki jingshisha shuwa ba phin shim ïa ka rai.
3 The first step toward making a good decision is to get the facts. Why is this important? Imagine that a patient consults a doctor regarding a serious medical problem. Would the doctor make a decision about a course of treatment without first examining the patient or asking him questions? Certainly not. You too will make better decisions if you first consider the facts that have a bearing on the situation at hand. How can you do that?
4. Ha kaba ïadei bad ki Proberb 18:13, kumno phi lah ban pynthikna ba phi tip ïa ki jingshisha? (Peit ruh ïa ka dur.)
4 You can often get the facts by asking questions. Suppose you are invited to a social gathering. Should you attend? If you are not acquainted with the host or the arrangements, you will need to ask him such questions as: “Where and when will the gathering be held? How large will it be? Who will supervise it? Who will attend? What activities are planned? Will alcoholic drinks be served?” The answers to these questions will help you to make a wise decision.—Read Proverbs 18:13.
Get the facts by asking questions (See paragraph 4)a
5. Kaei kaba phi dei ban leh mar ïa tip ïa ki jingshisha?
5 Next, facts in hand, look carefully at the full picture. For example, what if you learn that individuals who have no regard for Bible principles will attend the gathering or that alcoholic beverages will be served without supervision? Do you see the potential for this gathering to turn into a wild party? (1 Pet. 4:3) On the other hand, what if the timing of the gathering conflicts with your scheduled congregation meeting or field ministry? When you have seen the whole picture, you will be well on your way to making a good decision. But there is another step that you should take. You know how you see the situation; but how does Jehovah feel about it?—Prov. 2:6.
PEIT KUMNO U JEHOBAH U PYRKHAT
6. Katkum na Jakob 1:5, balei ngi dei ban duwai bad pan jingïarap na U Jehobah?
6 Ask Jehovah to help you understand his thinking. Jehovah promises to give us the wisdom to discern whether a certain path will please him. He gives such wisdom “generously to all and without reproaching.”—Read James 1:5.
7. Kumno phi lah ban don ka jingpyrkhat kum U Jehobah? Ai nuksa.
7 Once you have prayed for Jehovah’s direction, pay careful attention to his answer. To illustrate: If you got lost while traveling, you might ask a local resident for help. But would you then walk away before he had a chance to reply? Of course not. You would listen carefully to his directions. Similarly, after you ask Jehovah for wisdom, try to discern his answer by finding out which Bible laws and principles apply to your situation. For example, when deciding whether to attend the social gathering mentioned earlier, you might consider what the Bible says about wild parties, bad associations, and the need to put Kingdom interests ahead of your personal preferences.—Matt. 6:33; Rom. 13:13; 1 Cor. 15:33.
8. Kaei kaba phi dei ban leh lada phi donkam jingïarap ban tip ïa kaei kaba phi wad? (Peit ruh ïa ka dur.)
8 Still, at times you may need help to find the information you are looking for. You might get input from an experienced brother or sister. However, you will also benefit from doing your own research. There is a wealth of information in our study tools, such as the Research Guide for Jehovah’s Witnesses and Scriptures for Christian Living. Remember the goal: to make a decision that will please Jehovah.
Consider Jehovah’s thinking (See paragraph 8)b
9. Kumno ngi lah ban thikna ba ka rai ba ngi shim kan pynsngewbha ïa U Jehobah? (Ephesos 5:17)
9 How can we be sure that our decision will please Jehovah? First of all, we need to get to know him well. “Knowledge of the Most Holy One is understanding,” the Bible says. (Prov. 9:10) Yes, true understanding comes from knowing Jehovah’s qualities, his purpose, and what he loves or hates. Ask yourself, ‘Knowing what I do about Jehovah, what decision can I make that will please him?’—Read Ephesians 5:17.
10. Balei ki nongrim jong ka Baibl ki kham kongsan ban ïa ka riti dustur jong ka longïing ne ka kolshor jong ka thaiñ?
10 In order to please Jehovah, we must at times disappoint those who are close to us. For example, some well-meaning parents may insist that their adult daughter marry a man who is financially well-off—or one who can pay them a large dowry—even though he is not spiritually strong. True, they want their daughter to be cared for materially, but who will help her to progress as a spiritual person? How does Jehovah view the matter? We find the answer at Matthew 6:33. There, Christians are urged to keep “seeking first the Kingdom.” Although we honor our parents and respect the people in our community, our main concern is to make Jehovah happy.
BISHAR BNIAH ÏA KI JINGJIED JONG PHI
11. Katkum na Philippi 1:9, 10 ka jinglong kaba kumno kan ïarap ïa phi ban bishar bniah ïa ki jingjied jong phi?
11 Once you have considered the Bible principles involved in your decision, you need to evaluate your options. (Read Philippians 1:9, 10; see study note on “full discernment.”) The quality of discernment will enable you to perceive the potential outcome of each option. Sometimes the decision can be easily made. But not all decisions are that straightforward. Discernment will help you to make wise decisions even in complex situations.
12-13. Kumno ka jingshemphang kan ïarap ïa phi ban shim ïa ki rai kiba biang ha kaba ïadei bad ki kam ki jam?
12 Consider this scenario. You are looking for a job to support your family. Two jobs are available. You review all the facts, taking note of the type of work, the schedule, the travel time, and so on. In both cases, the work itself is Scripturally acceptable. Perhaps you favor one option because you prefer the type of work or because the salary is higher. There are other factors, though, to consider before making a decision.
13 For example, would either job conflict with your congregation meeting schedule? Would either job cut into the time you need to care for your family’s emotional and spiritual needs? Asking such questions will help you to put “the more important things”—your worship and your family’s needs—ahead of material advantages. Then you can reach a decision that Jehovah will bless.
14. Kumno ka jingpyndonkam ïa ka jingshemphang bad ka jingpyni jingieid kan ïarap ïa ngi ban kiar na kaba pynthut ïa kiwei?
14 Discernment also moves us to consider how our decision might affect other people so that we can avoid “stumbling others.” (Phil. 1:10) This is important when we make personal decisions in such areas as dress and grooming. For example, we may prefer a particular style of clothing or grooming. But what if others inside or outside the congregation would be offended by it? Discernment will help us to respect their feelings. Love will motivate us to seek the advantage of “the other person” and to be modest. (1 Cor. 10:23, 24, 32; 1 Tim. 2:9, 10) We will then make a decision that reflects our love and respect for others.
15. Shuwa ba phin shim ïa ki rai kiba heh, kaei kaba phi donkam ban pyrkhat lypa?
15 If you are making a major decision, think about what it would take to implement it. Jesus taught us to “calculate the expense.” (Luke 14:28) So consider the amount of time, resources, and effort that you would need to invest to make the decision work. In some cases, you might consult your family to determine what each member would need to do to support the decision. Why is this kind of planning valuable? It may reveal that your decision needs some adjustments or that a different option is more practical. And when you involve your family members and listen to their input, they will more readily work with you to make the decision succeed.—Prov. 15:22.
SHIM ÏA KA RAI KABAN SEISOH
16. Kiei ki sienjam kiban ïarap ïa phi ban shim ïa ki rai kiban seisoh? (Peit ruh ïa ka synduk “Kumno ban Shim ïa ki Rai kiba Biang.”)
16 If you have followed the steps outlined above, you are ready to make a wise decision. You have obtained the facts and examined the principles that will help you make a decision that is pleasing to Jehovah. Now you can ask Jehovah to help you make your decision succeed.
17. Kaei kaba donkam bha haba ngi shim ïa ki rai kiba biang?
17 Even if you have made many successful decisions in the past, remember that the key to making good decisions is to rely, not on your own intelligence or experience, but on the wisdom from Jehovah. He alone can give you true knowledge, understanding, and discernment—the building blocks of wisdom. (Prov. 2:1-5) Jehovah can help you to make decisions that please him.—Ps. 23:2, 3.
JINGRWAI 28 Gaining Jehovah’s Friendship
a PICTURE DESCRIPTION: Young brothers and sisters talk about a party invitation they received on their phones.
b PICTURE DESCRIPTION: One of the brothers does research before deciding whether to go to the party.