Watchtower Study, January 17-23, 2022, Newlyweds, Focus Your Life on Serving Jehovah, Answers Underlined.
1, 2. (a) Why should newlyweds trust in Jehovah? (Psalm 37:3, 4). b) What will we see in this article?
Are you newly married or about to get married? If so, surely you want to live a happy life with the person you love so much. Of course, in marriage there will be difficulties, and at the beginning of it, important decisions have to be made. How you handle all of that will affect your happiness for years to come. If you trust in Jehovah, you will make good decisions, your marriage will become stronger, and you will be happier. But if they do not follow Jehovah's advice, they will probably have difficulties that will affect their marriage and they will not be happy (read Psalm 37:3, 4).
Although this article is geared toward newlyweds, it will discuss situations that all married couples might face. It will show us examples of faithful men and women that are mentioned in the Bible and the lessons they left us for life and marriage. We will also see what we learn from some marriages today.
WHAT DIFFICULTIES MAY FACE NEWLYWEDS
3, 4. What difficulties might newlyweds face?
In some places, people may tell newlyweds that they should lead a "normal" life. For example, parents or other family members may pressure them to start having children as soon as possible. Or, with good intentions, maybe some friends and family tell the newlyweds that they should buy a house and fill it with nice things.
If the couple is not careful, they may end up making decisions that lead to huge debts. And to pay for them, both of you may have to work long hours. Then they will have less time for personal Bible study, family worship, and ministry. They may even miss meetings to work overtime and earn more money , or to keep their jobs. All of this would lead them to miss out on precious opportunities to do more in Jehovah's service.
ILLUSTRATION:
Some newlyweds talk about their financial situation.
What decisions can prevent newlyweds from doing more in their service to Jehovah? (See paragraphs 3 and 4).
5. What do you learn from the example of Klaus and Marisa?
There are many examples that show that focusing life on getting material things does not bring happiness. This was what Klaus and Marisa discovered. When they got married, they both worked full time so they could lead a comfortable life. But deep down they were not happy. Klaus confesses: “In a material sense we had more than we needed, but in a spiritual sense we didn't have a single goal. To be honest, life was complicated and stressful.” Perhaps you too have found that focusing on material things has not made you happy. But don't be discouraged. The good example of others can help you. First, let's see what husbands can learn from King Jehoshaphat.
LIKE KING JEHOSAPHAT, TRUST JEHOVAH
6. Based on the counsel at Proverbs 3:5, 6, how did King Jehoshaphat handle a very difficult situation?
Husbands, do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities you have? In such a case, Jehoshaphat's example can help them. As the king, he was responsible for the welfare of an entire nation. To meet this serious responsibility, he did all he could to protect the town. He built fortresses in the cities of Judah and raised a mighty army of over 1,160,000 soldiers (2 Chron. 17:12-19). Later, he was presented with a very difficult situation. He, his family, and his people were threatened by a huge army of men from Ammon, Moab, and the hill country of Seir (2 Chron. 20:1, 2). What did Jehoshaphat do? He asked Jehovah for help and strength , as advised in the wise words of Proverbs 3:5, 6 (read it). your humble prayer, found in 2 Chronicles 20:5-12, reveals how much he trusted his loving heavenly Father . How did Jehovah respond to him?
7. How did Jehovah answer Jehoshaphat's prayer?
Through a Levite named Jahaziel, Jehovah answered Jehoshaphat. He said: “Take your places, be still and see how the Lord saves you” (2 Chron. 20:13-17). What a peculiar strategy to go into battle! But these instructions did not come from a human being; They came from Jehovah. Trusting fully in his God, Jehoshaphat obeyed. When the king and the people went out to meet their enemies, he put in the front line not his best soldiers, but unarmed men who went singing. As Jehovah had promised Jehoshaphat, he defeated the enemy army (2 Chron. 20:18-23).
8. What can husbands learn from Jehoshaphat's example?
Husbands, what can you learn from Jehoshaphat's example? You are responsible for the well-being of your family , so you work to give them the support and protection they need. So when problems come, you may think that you can solve them yourself. But don't be carried away by the tendency to rely on your own strength. Rather, pray privately to Jehovah and ask for his help. Also pray from the heart with your wife. Seek Jehovah's guidance by studying his Word and the publications provided by his organization, and apply the tips you find. Some people may not agree with you making decisions based on the Bible and may even tell you that doing so is foolish. They may say that the best protection for their family is money and material things. But remember the example of Jehoshaphat, who trusted Jehovah and demonstrated it with actions. Jehovah did not abandon this loyal man and neither will he abandon you (Ps. 37:28; Heb. 13:5). And the marriages? What can they do to have a happy life?
LIKE THE PROPHET ISAIAH AND HIS WIFE, FOCUS YOUR LIFE ON SERVING JEHOVAH
9. What can be said about the prophet Isaiah and his wife?
Isaiah and his wife focused their lives on serving Jehovah. He was a prophet and she may have done a similar job, for she is called “the prophetess” in the Bible (Isa. 8:1-4). For this couple, worshiping Jehovah was the most important thing. Without a doubt, Isaiah and his wife are an excellent example for marriages today .
10. In order to strengthen the desire to do their best in Jehovah's service, why is it a good thing for married couples to study Bible prophecy?
How can married couples follow the example of Isaiah and his wife? Doing your best in your service to Jehovah. To strengthen your faith in God, you can study the prophecies of the Bible together and see how they always come true (Titus 1:2). * They can meditate on how to participate in the fulfillment of some prophecies in the Bible, such as the one Jesus said that the good news would be preached throughout the earth before the end came (Matt. 24:14). The more convinced a couple is that Bible prophecies are being fulfilled, the more determined they will be to do their best in Jehovah's service.
ILLUSTRATION:
The same married couple studying the Bible and the publications that God's organization gives us.
Newlyweds can focus their lives on serving Jehovah by praying and studying his Word. (See paragraphs 8 and 10).
LIKE PRISCILLA AND AQUILA, PUT THE INTERESTS OF THE KINGDOM FIRST
11. What were Priscilla and Aquila able to do, and why?
Young married couples can benefit from the example of Priscilla and Aquila, a Jewish couple who lived in the city of Rome. They heard the good news about Jesus and became Christians. Surely they were content with the life they led. But then everything changed in an unexpected way when Emperor Claudius ordered the Jews out of Rome. Let's think about what this meant for Aquila and Priscilla. They had to leave the environment they knew, find a new place to live and set up shop in another city. Did this change in your life make Kingdom interests take a backseat? We sure know the answer. Already in Corinth, Priscilla and Aquila were involved in helping the congregation and collaborated with the apostle Paul to strengthen the brothers. In time, they moved to other cities where more preaching help was needed (Acts 18:18-21; Rom. 16:3-5). What a busy and happy life they must have had!
12. Why should married couples set spiritual goals?
Married couples today can follow the example of Priscilla and Aquila by putting Kingdom interests first. The best time to talk about goals in life is during courtship. When a couple sets definite goals in their service to Jehovah and strives to achieve them, they have more opportunities to see the holy spirit in action .—Eccl. 4:9, 12. Let's look at the case of Russell and Elizabeth. Russell recounts, "When we were dating, we talked specifically about our spiritual goals." Adds Elizabeth: "We talked about it so that when the time came to make certain decisions, they wouldn't stop us from reaching our goals." Their circumstances allowed them to move to Micronesia to serve where preaching help was needed.
13. According to Psalm 28:7, what will happen if we trust in Jehovah?
Like Russell and Elizabeth, many couples have chosen to live simple lives so that they can spend as much time as possible preaching and teaching. If a couple sets goals to serve Jehovah wholeheartedly and then strives to achieve them, many blessings will come their way. They will see how Jehovah cares for them, their trust in him will increase, and they will be truly happy (read Psalm 28:7).
ILLUSTRATION:
The married couple write their spiritual goals on a wall calendar.
Newlyweds can focus their lives on serving Jehovah by setting spiritual goals. (See paragraph 13).
LIKE THE APOSTLE PETER AND HIS WIFE, TRUST JEHOVAH'S PROMISES
14. How did the apostle Peter and his wife show their trust in the promise at Matthew 6:25, 31-34?
Another good example for marriages is that of the apostle Peter and his wife. Between six months and a year after meeting Jesus, the apostle Peter had to make an important decision. Since he lived by fishing, when Jesus invited him to follow him full time, Peter had to analyze his family situation (Luke 5:1-11). He decided to accompany Jesus in his work of preaching. What a wise decision! And we have good reason to believe that his wife supported him . The Bible indicates that after Jesus was resurrected, she traveled with Peter for at least some time (1 Cor. 9:5). Without a doubt, her good example gave Peter the moral authority to give advice to both wives and husbands (1 Pet. 3:1-7).Peter and his wife clearly trusted Jehovah's promise that he would provide for them if they put the Kingdom first in their lives (read Matthew 6:25, 31-34).
15. What do you learn from Tiago and Esther's experience?
And if you have been married for a few years, how can you continue to cultivate the desire to do more for Jehovah? One way is by looking at what other couples have done. For example, they might read the “Willingly Offered to Serve” series of articles . That's what Tiago and Esther did, a married couple from Brazil. Those items helped them want to serve where the need was greatest.Tiago relates: “Reading stories of how Jehovah has helped his servants in our day made us want to see how his hand guided and cared for us.” The couple eventually moved to Paraguay, where they have been serving in the Portuguese field since 2014. Esther says, “A text that we both love is Ephesians 3:20. In our service to Jehovah, we have seen those words fulfilled many times.” In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he assured that Jehovah would give us much more than we ask. And that promise has always been fulfilled.
16. Who can young couples go to who are considering their goals in life?
Young couples, you can benefit from the experience of those who have learned to trust in Jehovah. Some couples have been in full-time service for decades. Why don't you ask them for advice if you need help analyzing your goals? This is another way of showing that they trust in Jehovah (Prov. 22:17, 19). Elders can also help them set spiritual goals and achieve them.
ILLUSTRATION:
The marriage talks with an older couple while they look at a photo album.
Newlyweds can focus their lives on serving Jehovah by seeking advice from mature Christians. (See paragraph 16).
17. What happened to Klaus and Marisa, and what do we learn from their example?
Sometimes our decision to do more in Jehovah's service can have different results than we expected. Let's go back to the example of Klaus and Marisa, mentioned at the beginning. Three years after their marriage, they left home and volunteered to help with construction work at the Finland branch. But then they found out they couldn't stay longer than six months. At first, they were very disappointed. But soon after they were invited to an Arabic course, and now they happily serve in the Arab field in another country.Looking back, Marisa says, “You are very afraid to step out of your comfort zone and lean fully on Jehovah. But I have found that he has always helped us in unexpected ways. After experiencing this, my trust in Jehovah has grown stronger.” As we see, we can be sure that Jehovah will always bless us for trusting in him with all our hearts.
18. What can married couples do to continue trusting in Jehovah?
Marriage is a gift from Jehovah, and he wants married people to enjoy it (Prov. 5:18; Matt. 19:5, 6). Young married couples, why don't you take a look at what you're doing with your life? Are you doing your best to show Jehovah that you appreciate the gifts he has given you? Talk to Jehovah, search his Word for principles that apply to your circumstances, and follow the advice he gives you. They can be sure that if they focus their lives on serving Jehovah, they will have a truly happy marriage.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THESE PAST SERVANTS ABOUT TRUST IN JEHOVAH?
The prophet Isaiah and his wife
From Isaiah and his wife we learn that the most important thing is to worship Jehovah. They are an excellent example for marriages today. To strengthen your faith in God, you can study the prophecies of the Bible together and see how they always come true.
Priscilla and Aquila
When a couple sets definite goals in their service to Jehovah and strives to achieve them, they have more opportunities to see the holy spirit in action.
The apostle Peter and his wife
It is clear that Peter and his wife trusted in Jehovah's promise that he would provide them with what they needed if they put the Kingdom first in their lives.
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