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Divine Requirements Resting on ServantsThe Watchtower—1950 | April 15
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(2 Tim. 2:24, 25) “Set those who believe an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, preaching, and teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, . . . Cultivate these things, devote yourself to them, so that everyone will see your progress. Look out for yourself and for your teaching. Persevere in your work, for if you do you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.” (1 Tim. 4:12-16, An Amer. Trans.) And because Timothy followed this advice, and because Paul himself practiced what he preached, Paul was able to call the Thessalonians’ attention to how he and Timothy and Silvanus had been proper examples among them. “For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; because we were not disorderly among you . . . that we might give ourselves a pattern for you to imitate us.”—2 Thess. 1:1; 3:7-9, Diaglott.
12. So what exhortation does The Watchtower give servants?
12 Servants, follow the Chief Shepherd’s pattern in conduct! Imitate the apostles! Display before your brethren proper examples both in word and in deed! Be faithful, steady, regular, calm, earnest, thoughtful, humble, meek, peaceable, trustworthy, dependable, sincere. Above all, show love. Lovingly and with great mercy, tenderness and long-suffering seek out the Lord’s “other sheep” that are lost, and when you find them, feed them. Food is the important thing. As the wise man says: “Remove far from me falsehood and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me.” (Prov. 30:8, Am. Stan. Ver.) This necessary food provided by the good and righteous Shepherd is God’s revealed Word, which if any eat they are promised eternal life. (John 6:68) “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: . . . The lips of the righteous feed many.” (Prov. 10:11, 21) Feed not only the spiritually skinny “sheep” you find in the field, but also, servants, feed and take care of the flock of which you are a part. “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of which the holy spirit has appointed you guardians.”—Acts 20:28, Moffatt.
13. How do servants show themselves true shepherds, not hirelings?
13 The Lord’s appointed servants are not hirelings. They are true shepherds and guardians of the “sheep”. Hirelings care nothing for the “sheep”, and if wolfish beasts enter in to maim and kill they run to save their own skin. (John 10:12, 13) True shepherds, on the other hand, fight for the sheep, not against them, and, like the Good Shepherd, they are even willing to lay down their lives for the sheep. (John 10:11) Like the Chief Shepherd, faithful servants are willing to put the welfare of their brethren ahead of their own comforts. Willing to lay down their lives for their brethren, they are more willing to go out of their way to help weaker ones with their problems. If publishers create burdens for themselves and for the servants, then servants, not begrudgingly, but gladly and out of love for the weaker members, offer to give aid and help as seems best under the circumstances. (Gal. 6:1, 2, An Amer. Trans.) Unlike Christendom’s hirelings and false shepherds, servants in the Theocratic organization spiritually strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the wounded, bring back the strayed, seek out the lost lambs. (Ezek. 34:4) It is God’s will that not one lamb should perish.—Matt. 18:10-14.
14. Why is so much required of servants? But with what rewards?
14 If all this seems like much to demand of servants, then it is because to them much has been given in the way of blessed privileges of service at the hands of the Lord. To whom much has been given, the rule is, much more is demanded in return. (Luke 12:48) Keep in mind that your responsibility as servants is to the Great and Chief Shepherds, and what service is rendered unto your brethren is counted as rendered unto the Lord. The “sheep” are the Lord’s. Be not therefore slothful servants or unprofitable slaves, lest you be cast out, not only out of office as a servant, but “into outer darkness” with no further opportunity for life. (Matt. 24:48, 51; 25:26) Faithfulness in performance of duties is what brings good results, results in the form of rewards, rewards now and in the ages to come both to the servants and to the flock. As long as servants and “sheep” continue to “hear” their Master’s voice and follow him there will be mutual joy and gladness, and rapid progress will be made toward that glorious new world of eternal peace and prosperity in which there are no wild beasts, parched lands or dried-up streams. What a blessed lot now is ours! What glorious prospects lie ahead of us! With voices and hearts united in thanksgiving and praise to Jehovah we sing: “We thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.”—Ps. 79:13.
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Presidential Visit to Northern South AmericaThe Watchtower—1950 | April 15
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Presidential Visit to Northern South America
WHILE the travelers, the Watchtower Society’s president and his secretary, were in Panama they had the pleasure, too, of meeting five brethren from New Zealand. These pioneers were on their way to New York, planning to attend the next class at the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. They spent a few days in the missionary home at Panama City during the early part of Brother Knorr and Brother Morgan’s visit. The three brothers and two sisters were anxiously looking forward to seeing the new Bethel home and then going on to Gilead.
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