at good, to be rich in fine works, to be liberal, ready to share, safely treasuring up for themselves a fine foundation for the future, in order that they may get a firm hold on the real life.” This is good counsel, for certainly money cannot buy God’s favor and the blessing of eternal life.—1 Tim. 6:11, 12, 17-19.

24. What warning does Ezekiel give?

²⁴ Do not be deceived by the seeming advantages of wealth for the present, for the time is not far off when the prophecy of Ezekiel 7:19, 27 will be fulfilled: “Into the streets they will throw their very silver, and an abhorrent thing their own gold will become. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of Jehovah’s fury. . . . and they will have to know that I am Jehovah.” No, money cannot buy God’s protection at the coming catastrophe of Armageddon.

25. How can we heap up treasures in heaven?

²⁵ Let us show we put spiritual riches first by our words and by our actions, enjoying to the full, the many provisions that Jehovah has made, the meetings, the service and the good brotherly association. If we do these things, heaping up for ourselves “treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal,” we will be able to enjoy those things of greatest value, the prospects of lasting life in health in the new world, peace and service with our brothers, and the favor of Jehovah. Make the Kingdom interests first in your life, not the temporary wealth of the old world which is soon to pass away. Find the true spiritual riches based on accurate Bible knowledge that can transform your life and give purpose to it. Do not be moved by love of money, but by love of Jehovah our Creator. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”—Matt. 6:19-21.

Appreciating Spiritual Treasures

IT MIGHT well be said that those who truly are conscious of their spiritual need appreciate the value of spiritual treasures. Among those who do appreciate spiritual treasures are the following:

● Not many persons would put the obtaining of a Bible and Bible literature ahead of their obtaining a pair of shoes, but that is what a certain German woman in Paraguay did. Feeling her need for Bible knowledge, she came into town in search of someone to teach her the Bible. Her sister, worried because of her restlessness, directed her to a neighbor who was one of Jehovah’s witnesses.

Impressed by what she heard, she began studying the Bible with this neighbor of her sister and attending the meetings of the Witnesses, walking one and a half miles to town for these. Hearing the Witnesses call one another “Brother,” she asked how she could become part of this family. The field ministry was explained to her, and within ten days of her first hearing of the Witnesses she accompanied one of them in the field ministry. She stopped smoking and became so zealous that in the first three months she devoted 97 hours to the ministry, placing 180 Bible magazines and obtaining eighteen subscriptions. In spite of her poverty she budgeted what little funds she had: First she got a Bible, then a subscription for The Watchtower, and after that she got a pair of shoes. No question about her appreciating spiritual treasures.

● In Surinam a person of goodwill toward God has many obstacles to overcome in order to attend the congregational meetings of the Witnesses. He must walk more than an hour through a heavy forest where poisonous snakes abound, and during the rainy season he literally has to swim his way through the swamp. How does he manage? He leaves a set of dry clothes at the house of a friend, and before and after the congregational meetings he changes his clothes. Truly he also appreciates spiritual treasures!