1. What good attitude do Jehovah's people display?
Long ago, the Bible foretold that Jehovah's people would volunteer to serve him under the guidance of his Son (Ps. 110:3). Without a doubt, this prophecy is being fulfilled today. Every year, God's servants enthusiastically devote hundreds of millions of hours to the preaching work voluntarily and free of charge. They also use some of their time to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support to their siblings. In addition, elders and ministerial servants spend countless hours preparing meeting assignments and talks , and making shepherding calls. What motivates them to do all this? Love for Jehovah and neighbor (Matt. 22:37-39).
2. According to Romans 15:1-3, what example did Jesus give us?
Jesus put the needs of others above his own, and we Christians do our best to follow his magnificent example (read Romans 15:1-3). If we do, we will have good results. Jesus said, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20:35).
3. What will we analyze in this article?
In this article, we'll review some of the sacrifices Jesus made for others and discuss how we can copy his example. We will also see what we can do to be more willing to serve others.
LET US IMITATE THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS
4. How did Jesus show that he put the needs of others above his own?
Jesus helped others even when he was tired. Think about his reaction when a crowd of people came to see him on a mountainside, perhaps near Capernaum. Jesus had been praying all night, so he must have been very tired. But, when he saw all those people, he felt sorry for the poor and the sick. He not only healed them, but he also gave one of the most motivational speeches of all time: the Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:12-20).
ILLUSTRATION:
Jesus teaches a large crowd of people.
Although Jesus was tired, what did he do when a crowd came to see him? (See paragraph 4).
5. How do householders imitate Jesus' sacrificial spirit when they are tired?
How householders follow Jesus' example. Think of a father who comes home very tired after a long day at work. That night he has family worship. He is tempted to leave her for another day, but he asks Jehovah to give him strength. Jehovah answers his prayer, and the family studies together like every week. That night the children learn a valuable lesson: that spiritual things are the most important thing for their parents.
ILLUSTRATION:
Series of images: 1. A father comes home tired after a long day at work. 2. he prays to Jehovah from his heart. 3. He studies with his wife and his two children.
In what ways can we copy the sacrificial spirit of Jesus in our lives? (See paragraph 5).
6. Name a time when Jesus sacrificed some of his time to help others.
Jesus was willing to spend time with others. Imagine the situation: Jesus had just found out that his friend John the Baptist had been executed, and he must have felt very sad. The Bible says: “When Jesus received the news, he left there and went out in a boat to a secluded place to be alone” (Matt. 14:10-13). It is understandable that he wanted to be alone. Some people prefer to grieve in private. But that was not going to be possible for Jesus, because a large crowd was already waiting for him in that secluded place. What did he do? He thought about the needs of those people and "was deeply moved." He realized that they urgently needed spiritual relief, and he gave it to them without a second thought. In fact, “he began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:31-34; Luke 9:10, 11).
7, 8. Give an example of how the elders imitate Jesus when someone needs help.
How the elders lovingly follow the example of Jesus. Don't we appreciate all the sacrifices the elders make for us? Many of us are not aware of everything they do. For example, when there is a medical emergency, members of the Hospital Liaison Committees are quick to help brothers in need, often in the middle of the night. But out of compassion, these beloved elders and their families put the welfare of their siblings above their own.
The elders also help in the construction of Kingdom Halls and other buildings, as well as in relief efforts. And that's not to mention all the hours they spend teaching, supporting and encouraging the brothers in their congregation. All these elderly people and their families deserve our heartfelt congratulations. We want Jehovah to be with the spirit they show. Of course, as is expected of any Christian, the elders must be balanced. They should not spend so much time attending to their theocratic responsibilities that they neglect the well-being of their families.
HOW TO CULTIVATE THE SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE
9. According to Philippians 2:4, 5, what mental attitude should all Christians develop?
(Read Philippians 2:4, 5). It is true that we are not all elders, but we can all learn from the sacrificial spirit of Jesus. The Bible says that he “took the form of a slave” (Phil. 2:7). What do these words teach us? A good slave or serf looks for ways to please his master. Since we are slaves of Jehovah and servants of our brothers, we want to be more and more useful to our God and our companions. How can we achieve it? Let's look at some suggestions.
10. What self-examination can we do?
Examine your attitude. Ask yourself, “Am I willing to make personal sacrifices to help others? How do I react, for example, if I am asked to visit an older brother or bring an older sister to meetings? Do I immediately offer to help with the cleanup of an assembly site or the upkeep of the Kingdom Hall?” When we dedicated ourselves to Jehovah, we promised him that we would use everything we have to serve him, including our time and resources. So he feels very happy when we selflessly use them to help others. Now, what can we do if we realize that we have to improve something?
11. How can prayer help us cultivate the spirit of sacrifice?
Pray to Jehovah from your heart. If you realize that you need to improve in some area, but do not feel like doing so, pray to Jehovah from your heart. Be honest. Tell him how he feels and ask him to give you “both the desire and the strength to act” (Phil. 2:13).
12. How can young baptized men help the organization?
Are you a young male and are you baptized? So ask Jehovah to help you have the desire to do more in the congregation. In some places there are more elders than ministerial servants, and many of those ministerial servants are already of a certain age. As the organization continues to grow, more younger brothers are needed to help the elders care for Jehovah's people. If you offer to serve where there is a need, you will be happy because you will please Jehovah, you will make a good name for yourself, and you will feel the satisfaction of helping others.
13, 14. What can we do to help our brothers? (See cover drawing.)
Be attentive to the needs of others. The apostle Paul gave this advice in his letter to the Hebrews: “ Do not forget to do good or to share what you have with others , for these sacrifices are very pleasing to God” (Heb. 13:16). What timely words! Shortly after receiving this letter, the Judean brothers had to leave their non-Christian homes, businesses, and relatives and flee to the mountains (Matt. 24:16). It is clear that at that time it was very important that they help each other. If they had already put into practice Paul's advice to share what they had, it would be easier for them to get used to their new life.
Our brothers may not always tell us what they need. Take the case of a brother who is left a widower. Do you need help with meals, transportation, or housework? Maybe she doesn't say anything because she doesn't want to be a burden. But I'm sure he'd appreciate it if we offered to give him a hand. We should not assume that someone will help him or that he will always tell us what he needs. Let's ask ourselves: "If I were in his place, what things would I appreciate if they did for me?"
ILLUSTRATION:
The Judean Christians had to flee and cross the Jordan River to reach the city of Pella. Those who had arrived first distribute food to the brothers who have just arrived. (See paragraph 13).
15. What should we do if we want to help others?
Be accessible. Surely there are brothers and sisters in our congregation who are always willing to help others. They never make us feel that we are a burden. On the contrary, we know that we can always count on them, and we want to follow their example. A 45-year-old man named Alan has made it his goal to be accessible. Thinking about the example of Jesus, he says: “ Jesus was a busy man, but people of all ages wanted to be with him and did not hesitate to ask him for help. They knew that he truly cared about them. My greatest desire is to be like Jesus and for others to see me as someone accessible, loving and caring.”
16. How does Psalm 119:59, 60 help us faithfully follow Jesus' example?
We should not be discouraged if we fail to perfectly imitate Jesus' example (Jas. 3:2). An art student cannot perfectly imitate his teacher, but if he learns from his mistakes and strives to imitate his teacher to the best of his ability, he will continue to improve. Similarly, if we put into practice what we have learned in our personal study of the Bible and strive to correct our shortcomings, we will succeed in following the example Jesus set for us (read Psalm 119:59, 60).
THE BENEFITS OF SHOWING A SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE
17, 18. What will be the benefits of imitating Jesus' spirit of sacrifice?
The spirit of sacrifice is contagious. An elder named Tim explains: “In our congregation, there are very young brothers who have progressed to become ministerial servants in part because they noticed the willing spirit of others and copied their example. His helpful attitude helps the congregation and is a great support for the elders .”
The world is full of selfish people, but Jehovah's servants are different. We are moved by the sacrificial spirit of Jesus and are determined to imitate his example. It is true that we cannot do it perfectly, but we can “follow faithfully in his footsteps” (1 Pet. 2:21). If we do our best to copy Jesus' spirit of sacrifice, we will feel the joy of knowing that we have Jehovah's approval.
ILLUSTRATION:
By copying the sacrificial spirit of Jesus, the elders set a good example for the young. (See paragraph 17). *
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
In what ways did Jesus serve others?
Jesus put the needs of others above his own, and we Christians do our best to follow his magnificent example.
How can we imitate the example of Jesus?
Jesus helped others even when he was tired. A father who arrives at his house very tired and that night has family worship. He is tempted to leave it for another day, but asks Jehovah to give him strength. That night the children learn a valuable lesson: that spiritual things are the most important thing for their parents.
What can we do to cultivate the spirit of sacrifice?
Maintain this same mental attitude that Christ Jesus had. A good slave or serf looks for ways to please his master. Since we are slaves of Jehovah and servants of our brothers, we want to be more and more useful to our God and our companions.
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