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Happiness of Kingdom AmbassadorsThe Watchtower—1953 | January 1
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knowing they are right and have the backing of Jehovah that has made it possible for them to preach this good news of the Kingdom to the ends of the earth.
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Maturity Brings HappinessThe Watchtower—1953 | January 1
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Maturity Brings Happiness
1. Why and how does a baby enjoy getting older?
A BABY enjoys getting older. New fields are invaded by the child’s mind. When a youngster is but a baby its field of exploration is the crib or its mother’s arms. It is not long though until a baby wants to do more exploring, and it starts to crawl. It gets into and takes hold of everything possible. The child wants to see; it wants to know, and it is reaching out for knowledge whether it knows it or not. Often when you explain things to a child it will say, “Why?” Sometimes the questions children ask us make us stop and think, and at times our reply is simply, “Just because.” But that is not satisfactory; there must be reason, there must be logic and purpose in our answers. The child is growing up, getting more mature, and it receives happiness from knowing the whys of things.
2. In the years of his elementary schooling what are the things the child learns, and why are these important?
2 It is not long until the child is old enough to go to school. Then he really starts using his mind and taking in much information. The things a child learns in the first grade or the few years following he does not have to go back and study over again. These first things he learns are fundamental; they are basic. On these fundamental principles all the theories of grammar, arithmetic and pronunciation are based. He is ready to go to new ideas and greater things. So by the time he gets to high school he is working on algebra, geometry, perhaps studying chemistry, physics, languages—and those very early fundamental principles he learned are still with him and are always very helpful. They are basic things. Without that first fundamental information he could not gain maturity, and he would not be happy.
3. Why do some people have to go over the primary things again and again, but what course brings increased happiness?
3 When an individual takes up a subject for study he must get the elementary principles of the subject in mind and then build on them. As he builds on these true principles he gains greater knowledge and understanding. If he does not study and does not try to advance he will forget even the basic principles. Some people are like that. They become lazy in the use of their minds and they do not take the time to review the things they have learned or to use the knowledge they have to gain greater knowledge. Many people today get a knowledge of the truth and learn the fundamental doctrines, but because they do not use what they have learned by telling it to others, they find they must keep studying the same things over again and again. They are like the people Paul spoke about in Hebrews 5:12 (NW): “For, indeed, although you ought to be teachers in view of the time, you again need someone to teach you from the beginning the first principles of the sacred pronouncements of God, and you have become such as need milk, not solid food.” It is absolutely necessary to use the Word of God in order to have it stick in our minds.
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