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Dusty Bible No Laughing MatterThe Watchtower—1956 | August 1
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sayings. If we open The Watchtower and read it, it will open the Bible to our understanding when we read the Bible.
Jehovah’s witnesses must not let their Watchtowers collect dust, as some persons do their Bibles. Jehovah’s witnesses do not take the Watchtower magazine just so it can be seen around the house, like some supposed Christians who have Bibles in their homes just for the sake of appearances. The witnesses read and study all the Watchtower magazine, not just parts of it, like some professed Christians who limit their Bible reading to the last one fourth of the Bible and brush aside as outdated the first three fourths of it.
To get the good out of a Bible help it must be opened and read. To get the good out of the Christian’s basic indispensable textbook, the Bible, it must be opened and read. To fail to do so is no joke. It is no joke to cross a weak bridge. It is not funny to be operated on by an incompetent surgeon. Still less is it a laughing matter to jeopardize our chance for eternal life by letting our Bibles grow dusty.
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Is the Golden Rule Enough?The Watchtower—1956 | August 1
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Is the Golden Rule Enough?
Many people lead what they call “a good life.” By this they mean that they do no harm to others and often do them good in a material way. Will this lead to everlasting life? Or is more required?
CHRIST Jesus stated the so-called golden rule: “All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them.” (Matt. 7:12, NW) Following this rule of neighbor love is necessary for gaining everlasting life in God’s new world. Some think, though, that keeping the “golden rule” is all that God requires. But have we really discharged our duty toward God by just doing good to others? Do the Scriptures show that the “golden rule” is enough?
Actually, when we turn to God’s Word, we find that one can lose out on everlasting life even though he be engaged in a program of constructive good works. This is a major point made by Christ Jesus himself. The Bible writer Luke tells us about a time when Jesus was invited to a home:
“A certain woman named Martha received him as guest into the house. This woman also had a sister called Mary, who, however, sat down at the feet of the Master and kept listening to his word. Martha, on the other hand, was distracted with attending to many duties. So, she came near and said: ‘Master, does it not matter to you that my sister has left me alone to attend to things? Tell her, therefore, to join in helping me.’ In answer the Master said to her: ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and disturbed about many things. A few things, though, are needed, or just one. For her part, Mary chose the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.’”—Luke 10:38-42, NW.
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