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Sharing Things with OthersThe Watchtower—1957 | January 15
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It was foretold for these “last days” that men would be “without gratitude,” and so they are. (2 Tim. 3:1, 2, NW) But never must those of the New World society be asleep to gratitude! Sometimes we can express appreciation not only by word but by deed. Thus, in riding in an auto with one whom you know is of limited means, such as a pioneer, a reasonable contribution toward gas and oil reflects a grateful spirit. Always remember that if a man shows appreciation for small, even trifling benefits, it shows that he weighs men’s hearts and not their goods, that he values a man for what he is and not for what he has. So gratitude can help us become like our heavenly Father, who looks upon the heart.
30. What blessings stem from sharing things with others for the sake of the good news?
30 Really, hospitality extended for the sake of the good news produces rich blessings. For there is kindled not only a spirit of gratitude to man but, above all, to God. The more grateful we are to God the more our heart widens out, the richer we grow in spiritual discernment. Said Paul: “In everything you are being enriched for every kind of generosity, which produces through us an expression of thanks to God; because the ministry of this public service is not only to supply abundantly the wants of the holy ones but also to be rich with many expressions of thanks to God.” Hospitality, both given and received, thus deepens our love for the One who has put the hospitable spirit in the heart of our brothers, the God of loving-kindness, Jehovah.—2 Cor. 9:11, 12, NW.
31. Why is the sharing of material things not the main objective of the true Christian? What is his primary concern?
31 If we are willing to share material things for the sake of the good news, it is unthinkable that we could neglect sharing the good news itself! Still many are the people who think all God requires is that we be kind and do good in a physical way. But in actuality the sharing of the good news of God’s kingdom with others is that by which you save “both yourself and those who listen to you.” There is something defective and incomplete about the love of those who are willing to share physical things but not spiritual, for they are not truly following Christ. (Matt. 19:21) So ministering to bodily needs alone is not enough: “If I give all my belongings to feed others . . . but do not have love [so as to follow Christ by sharing life-giving spiritual things], I am not profited at all.” If we really love God and our neighbor, then, we will do everything, including the sharing of material things with others, for the sake of advancing the good news and so join in with the apostle in affirming: “I do all things for the sake of the good news, that I may become a sharer of it with others.”—1 Tim. 4:16; 1 Cor. 13:3; 9:23, NW.
32, 33. Out of what do a hospitable spirit and a willingness to share grow, but in what do they result? So whom should we be like?
32 How enriching are hospitality and the spirit to share! By showing hospitality to strangers “we recommend ourselves as God’s ministers, . . . by kindness.” By sharing things with our brothers we show love and gratitude and work for the advancement of the good news. Indeed, “in everything you are being enriched for every kind of generosity.” For one thing, you gain the greater happiness: “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.” You gain an indescribably rewarding inward joy. You enrich the love of others for you. Above all, you enrich our love for Jehovah by inspiring many ‘expressions of thanks to God.’ Yes, giving enriches those who practice it. Declared Solomon: “One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. A liberal man will be enriched.” So though hospitality and sharing grow out of an awareness of the needs of others, they result in the enriching of the lives of those who practice them.—2 Cor. 6:4-6; 9:11; Acts 20:35, NW; Prov. 11:24, 25, RS.
33 So why suffer want? Why not be enriched in everything? “Be liberal, ready to share.” “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.” (1 Tim. 6:18; 1 Pet. 4:9, NW) Be like Abraham who was hospitable to strangers and entertained angels. Be like Lydia who counted hospitality a great privilege. Be like Onesiphorus who opened wide an apostle’s heart because of kindness. Be like the Shunammite who went out of her way to be hospitable and thereby enriched herself with a son. Be like the Macedonians, who, despite their deep poverty, were so alert and so thoughtful to share things with others. Yes, be like your heavenly Father: FOLLOW THE COURSE OF HOSPITALITY!
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Questions From ReadersThe Watchtower—1957 | January 15
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Questions From Readers
● Hebrews 2:14, speaking about the Devil, says that he has the “power of death.” If this is an absolute power, why does he not destroy all those serving Jehovah? To what extent does Satan have the “power of death”?—E. D., United States.
As to Satan’s “power of death,” please note how Hebrews 2:14 is translated in the New World Translation. Speaking about Jesus, it states: “That through his death he might destroy the one having the means to cause death, that is, the Devil.” The Devil has “the means to cause death.” From the very beginning of Satan’s career of deception, his lies and his leadings have caused death among mankind, both from Adamic sin and from Satan’s diabolical earthly servants who persecute true worshipers to death at times, even as they did in the case of Christ Jesus. It does not follow that we should conclude from this, however, that Satan can just reach out and kill any individual he wants to. Jehovah protects those belonging to him, not allowing Satan to wipe true worshipers from the earth, though God allows persecution to come upon all of them and death to come to some of them, as a result of Satan’s venomous assaults. Especially is Satan’s power limited since Christ’s enthronement as King in heaven in 1914 and since Satan’s being cast out of heaven. Christ Jesus has the power today to cause death to both Satan and his organization and he will exercise that power when Jehovah’s due time arrives for him to do so.
● Why do Jehovah’s witnesses sometimes count prophetic time on the basis of a “year for a day,” whereas at other times days are interpreted literally?—W. A., United States.
The fact that the rule, “each day for a year,” exists, as recorded at Ezekiel 4:6, does not mean that we can arbitrarily apply that rule in every context throughout the Bible. We must not confuse one Scriptural picture or prophecy with another. The context in each case will indicate whether a time period is figurative or literal. For instance, the context of Daniel chapter 4 concerning the “seven times” or “seven years” shows that in its complete fulfillment all the things foretold were not to come to pass in 2,520 literal days. At the end of that many literal days Jehovah God did not set up over the kingdoms of men the One whom he had chosen, Christ Jesus. It must be, then, that a larger time measurement applies. The rule set forth at Ezekiel 4:6 supplies that larger measurement, and the 2,520 days become 2,520 years, which came to their end A.D. 1914. However, in Revelation 11:1-4 when it speaks of 1,260 days it is evident that this could not be a period of 1,260 years because what is there discussed is all to take place within the limited “time of the end.” Therefore the days, or the forty-two months of thirty days each, are understood to be literal days. Please see the book Light I, pages 189-200.
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