“BECOME STEADFAST”

10. (a) What attitude do both Paul and the modern “slave” class have toward their “beloved brothers”? (b) How does our Yeartext for 1982 tie in with this?

¹⁰ Paul concludes his argument in support of the marvelous resurrection hope on a warm, appealing note. “Consequently, my beloved brothers,” he says. He wants his spiritual brothers to reach their goal. Likewise, today, the “faithful and discreet slave” is deeply concerned about the spiritual welfare of those millions, worldwide, who are interested in Jehovah’s incoming kingdom. The “slave” wants to see all the “great crowd” qualify for life in the earthly realm of that kingdom. This they do by ‘washing their robes’ and serving God, to come unscathed “out of the great tribulation.” (Matt. 24:45-47; Rev. 7:9, 14) How may that goal be attained? It is by sharing zealously in the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul so indicates, in these words, which become the Yeartext of Jehovah’s Witnesses for 1982:

“Become steadfast, unmovable, always having plenty to do in the work of the Lord.”​—1 Cor. 15:58.

11. What does it mean to “become steadfast”?

¹¹ The quality of steadfastness is essential to those who desire to ‘make it’ into Jehovah’s new order. To be steadfast means to be constant, firm, unwavering. That is the kind of faith that we must have, an assured expectation of the unseen things that lie ahead, but which, through our study of the Scriptures, have become as real to us as if they were actually here.​—Heb. 11:1.

“BECOME . . . UNMOVABLE”

13. How, like Job, may we show ourselves to be “unmovable”?

¹³ Paul exhorts us, also, to become “unmovable.” This is akin to being steadfast. It means that, in observing God’s commandments, we must never be shaken in our integrity. That was the attitude of the exemplary integrity-keeper Job, who said of his God and Judge: “After he has tested me out, I shall come forth as gold itself.” Can we express such confidence? We can, if we are able to say of Jehovah, as did Job: “His way I have kept, and I do not deviate. From the commandment of his lips I do not move away. I have treasured up the sayings of his mouth more than what is prescribed for me.” (Job 23:10-12) If we, like Job, will go even beyond what is scheduled for our regular meetings, digging down deep into the Watch Tower Society’s publications for further enlightenment on the modern-day application of God’s Word, we will be helped, indeed, in remaining steadfast, unmovable in the truth.

As the light of truth grows ever brighter, how happy we should be to remain “unmovable” in our association with the Master’s ‘faithful slave’!​—Col. 1:21-23.

“ALWAYS HAVING PLENTY TO DO IN THE WORK OF THE LORD”

18. (a) What is a recipe for keeping spiritually healthy, and how does Proverbs indicate this? (b) What are some avenues for “having plenty to do in the work of the Lord”?

¹⁸ Yes, have “plenty to do,” not in ‘doing one’s own thing,’ but in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Therein lies a recipe for keeping spiritually healthy. Spiritual laziness can lead to doubts. It can be fatal, as Proverbs 19:15 indicates: “Laziness causes a deep sleep to fall, and a slack soul goes hungry.” In the case of persistent spiritual laziness, spiritual starvation and death are the result. Let us, then, be busy​—preaching regularly from house to house (even in unreceptive territories), witnessing informally at every opportunity, making return visits on sheeplike persons and conducting with them regular home Bible studies in one of the Society’s publications. Some of us may be able to serve as “pioneers,” or full-time Kingdom proclaimers, in this work of the Lord Jesus, who is, indeed, the “pioneer” of our faith.​—Heb. 12:2, Moffatt; Isa. 6:8-10.

19. What spirit may all of us show, but how may some have a greater share in the work?

¹⁹ Whether we are enrolled as pioneers or not, all of us can perform our “sacred service” joyfully, in a true pioneer spirit. This may lead many of us to do “auxiliary pioneer” work from time to time, and if the joy derived from this can encourage some of us to become regular pioneers, how much greater will be our share in “the work of the Lord”!​—Rom. 12:1, 2.

20. (a) With whom are we privileged to be co-workers? (b) With what assurance should we press on toward the goal? (c) Finally, what words of Paul should we want to make our own, and why?

²⁰ This work of the Lord Jesus, following in his footsteps, is also “the work of Jehovah.” (1 Cor. 16:10; John 5:17) How privileged we are to be co-workers with the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, the Lord Jesus Christ and the heavenly angels at “the conclusion of the system of things”! (1 Cor. 3:9; Matt. 25:31-33; 28:19, 20) For we know that our labor is “not in vain in connection with the Lord.”