1. What has Jehovah done for each of us?
JEHOVAH has drawn each of us to himself (John 6:44). Let's think about what that means. As he carefully surveyed the world's billions of people, he saw something valuable in us: a sincere heart that could love him (1 Chron. 28: 9). Jehovah knows us, understands us, and loves us. Doesn't that reassure us?
2. What example did Jesus set to help us understand that Jehovah loves each of us?
Jehovah has a deep love for you, and he also has a deep love for each of our fellow Christians. To help us understand it, Jesus gave an example. If a shepherd has 100 sheep and he loses one, what will he do? "He will leave the other 99 in the mountains and will go looking for the one who is lost." When you find her, you will not be angry with her, but you will be happy. What is the idea? That for Jehovah, who is like a shepherd, each sheep is important. Jesus said, "He does not want a single one of these little ones to be lost" (Matt. 18: 12-14).
3. What will we analyze in this article?
We certainly don't want to do or say anything to discourage our siblings. In this article, we will answer the following questions: How can we avoid tripping others? And what can we do if someone hurts us? But first let's talk a little about “these little ones” mentioned in Matthew chapter 18.
WHO ARE "THESE LITTLE PEOPLE"?
4. Who are “these little ones”?
"These little ones" are all the disciples of Jesus. Regardless of their age, they are “like children” because they allow themselves to be taught by him (Matt. 18: 3). Even though they are from different places and cultures, and have different tastes and personalities, they all have faith in Christ. And he, in turn, loves them very much (Matt. 18: 6; John 1:12).
5. How does Jehovah feel when someone hurts or stumbles one of his servants?
All “these little ones” are valuable to Jehovah. To understand how you see them, let's think about how we view children. For us, they are valuable. We want to protect them because they do not have the strength, experience and wisdom of adults. Of course, we don't like to be hurt, but if someone hurts a child, we feel especially upset, even angry. Something similar happens with Jehovah. He wants to protect his servants. And when someone hurts or trips one of them, they get upset or even enraged (Isa. 63: 9; Mark 9:42).
6. According to 1 Corinthians 1: 26-29, how do the people of the world view Jesus' disciples?
In what other sense are the disciples of Jesus like “little ones”? Well, who does the world consider important? The rich, the famous and the powerful. But most of Jesus' disciples are not like that. Therefore, the people of the world consider them “small”, that is, unimportant, insignificant (read 1 Corinthians 1: 26-29). Instead, Jehovah does not see them that way.
7. How does Jehovah want us to view our brothers?
Jehovah loves all his servants, whether they have been serving him for a short time or for many years. If all of our brothers are important to Jehovah, they must be important to us as well. We want to have “love for the whole brotherhood,” not just a part of it (1 Pet. 2:17). We must be willing to do whatever it takes to protect and care for our brothers. If we learn that we have offended or hurt a brother, we should not wash our hands and think that he is being too picky and that what he should do is forget it. What can cause some to be offended? Perhaps it is that, due to their upbringing, they have very low self-esteem. Or perhaps they are new to the truth and have not yet learned to deal with the imperfections of others. Whatever the case, we must do everything possible to fix the situation. Secondly, If someone is very easily offended, you must recognize that this is a defect that you need to work on. It is important that you do so, for your own peace of mind and for the good of others.
WE THINK THAT OTHERS ARE SUPERIOR
8. What way of thinking influenced Jesus' disciples?
Why did Jesus speak of "these little ones"? His disciples had asked him: "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" (Matt. 18: 1). At that time, many Jews placed great importance on prestige and social position. One specialist says: "Men lived and died eager to enjoy honor, consideration, fame, approval and respect."
9. What did Jesus' disciples have to do?
Jesus knew that his disciples would have to work hard to leave behind that competitive spirit that was ingrained in Jewish culture. He said to them: "The one who is older among you, let him become like the youngest, and the one who leads, like the one who serves" (Luke 22:26). To behave like “the youngest”, we have to think that others are superior to us (Philippians 2: 3). The more we try to have that attitude, the less likely we are to trip others up.
10. What advice from Paul should we take to heart?
All brothers and sisters are superior to us in something. This is easy to see when we focus on its good things. We must take to heart the advice that the Apostle Paul gave to the Corinthians: “Who makes you different from others? Actually, what do you have that you have not received? So if you received it, why are you bragging as if you hadn't received it? " (1 Cor. 4: 7). So let's not be tempted to draw attention to ourselves or to believe ourselves to be superior to others. If a brother gives very good speeches or if a sister starts many Bible courses, they should always give the credit to Jehovah.
WE FORGIVE FROM THE HEART
11. What do we learn from Jesus' parable about the king and the slave?
After warning his disciples not to trip others, Jesus told them a parable about a king and one of his slaves. The king forgave the slave a debt that was so great that he could never pay it. Later, that same slave did not want to forgive another slave a much smaller debt. In the end, the king put that slave who showed no mercy in jail. What do we learn? Jesus stated, "This is how my heavenly Father will treat you if you do not forgive your brothers from your heart" (Matt. 18: 21-35).
12. If we refuse to forgive, how do we harm others?
What that slave did not only harmed him, but others as well. To begin with, he was cruel to his partner and "had him put in prison until he could pay the debt." And besides, he hurt other slaves who saw what he had done. Jesus said, "When the other fellow slaves found out what had happened, they were very upset." Similarly, what we do has an effect on others as well. If someone treats us badly and we refuse to forgive them, what can happen? To begin with, we hurt him because we deny him our forgiveness and our affection, and perhaps we even ignore him. In addition, we make the brothers in the congregation feel uncomfortable when they notice that we are not at peace with that person.
ILLUSTRATION:
A sister speaks alone in the Kingdom Hall with another sister who is angry with her. Series of pictures: 1. At a meeting for field service at the Kingdom Hall, the brother assigns them to preach together, and one of them looks annoyed. 2. The two sisters enjoy preaching together.
Will we hold a grudge or will we forgive from the heart? (See paragraphs 13 and 14.) *
13. What do you learn from what happened to a pioneer woman?
Forgiving our siblings benefits us and makes others feel better. That was the case with a pioneer we will call Crystal. She remembers how bad a sister in the congregation made her feel: “His words were sometimes as hurtful as a knife. When we were out preaching, I didn't want to even be put in the same vehicle as her. I started to lose my enthusiasm and joy ”. It seemed to Crystal that she had good reason to be hurt. But he decided not to hold a grudge or indulge in self-pity. He was humble and applied the biblical advice in the article “Let Us Forgive From Our Hearts” in The Watchtower of October 15, 1999. So he forgave his sister. Says: “Now I understand that we are all striving to put on the new personality and that Jehovah generously forgives us every day. I feel that I have lifted a huge weight from my shoulders and I have regained my joy ”.
14. a) According to Matthew 18:21, 22, what problem does the Apostle Peter appear to have, and what do you learn from Jesus' response? b) What can help us if we find ourselves in the same situation?
We know that we must forgive because that is the right thing to do. But even so, it may be difficult for us to do so. It seems that the apostle Peter also had that sometimes (read Matthew 18:21, 22). What can help us? First, meditate on all the times that Jehovah has forgiven us (Matt. 18:32, 33). We do not deserve his forgiveness, but he generously gives it to us (Ps. 103: 8-10). At the same time, "we also have an obligation to love one another." So forgiveness is not optional; We owe it to our brothers (1 John 4:11). The second thing that can help us is to meditate on what happens when we forgive. We help the person who mistreated us, we contribute to the unity of the congregation, we protect our friendship with Jehovah, and we lift a weight from our shoulders. --2 Cor. 2: 7; Col. 3:14). The third help is to pray to Jehovah, who is the one who asks us to forgive others. Let us not allow Satan to disturb the peace we enjoy with our brothers (Eph. 4:26, 27). We need Jehovah's help to avoid falling into Satan's trap.
WE DO NOT LET OTHERS 'ACTIONS MAKE US STUMP
15. According to Colossians 3:13, what can we do if a brother or sister does something that bothers us?
And what if a brother does something that bothers us a lot? In that case, we must do everything possible to keep the peace. Let us pray to Jehovah and tell him everything we feel. Let us ask him to bless those who have offended us and to help us see his good qualities, the same ones that Jehovah has seen in him and values (Luke 6:28). If we can't ignore what he's done, let's think about the best way to talk to him. It is always best to assume that he did not hurt us on purpose (Matt. 5:23, 24; 1 Cor. 13: 7). When we talk to him, let's give him the benefit of the doubt. But what if you don't want to make amends? The Bible says, "Keep putting up with one another." Let's not give our brother up for lost (read Colossians 3:13). More importantly, do not hold a grudge against him, as that would damage our friendship with Jehovah. Let's not let anything trip us up.
16. What obligation does each of us have?
How grateful we are for the privilege of being “one flock” serving together with Jehovah “with one shepherd”! (John 10:16). The book Organized to Do Jehovah's Will, page 165, states: "Our obligation is to help preserve that unity." And he adds: "We will always get along well with our brothers if we learn to see them as Jehovah sees them." He sees all of us as his "little ones" and considers us very valuable. And this is how we should view our brothers. He sees and values all that we do to help and care for them (Matt. 10:42).
17. What are we determined to do?
We love our fellow Christians. Therefore, we are "determined not to put any hindrance or obstacle before a brother" (Rom. 14:13). We think that our brothers are superior to us and we want to forgive them from the heart. Let's not allow the actions of others to stumble us. Rather, "let us keep looking for the things that promote peace and the things that build up one another" (Rom. 14:19).
WHAT ANSWER WOULD YOU GIVE?
Who are “these little ones” mentioned in Matthew chapter 18?
They are all the disciples of Jesus, no matter their age, country of origin, culture or tastes, they are called that because they are humble like children and allow themselves to be taught.
What will help us to think that others are superior to us?
It will help us to recognize that everyone surpasses us in something, to do so we only have to focus on their good things, and if at any moment we feel the desire to focus our attention on ourselves, let us direct it to Jehovah, who has given us everything.
If we have a hard time forgiving, what can we do?
We can meditate on all the times that Jehovah has forgiven us. The second thing that can help us is to meditate on what happens when we forgive. We learned that we help the person who treated us badly, and we contribute to the peace of the congregation. And third to pray to Jehovah, who is the one who commands us to forgive.
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