1. Why do we all need God's wisdom? (Proverbs 4:7).
"Wisdom is the most important".
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Because every day of our lives we must make important decisions. And possessing the wisdom of Jehovah is the best to face the problems of today.
If we have to make some important decision, God's wisdom can help us deal with today's problems.
Because Jehovah is the source of true wisdom, in Proverbs 4:7, King Solomon wrote that "Wisdom is the most important thing", but he was not talking about any kind of wisdom, he had already written that: "wisdom that Jehovah gives comes from his own knowledge and discernment.” So this is the best!
2. What is one way to make us truly wise?
One way to become truly wise is to learn and apply the teachings of two famous sages, Solomon and Jesus.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Studying and applying the teachings of both Solomon and Jesus. Both proved to have the wisdom of Jehovah.
One way is by studying and applying the teachings of the two men best known for their wisdom. They were: Solomon and Jesus, the Bible says that Jehovah gave them "very much wisdom and understanding."
One way to become truly wise is to study and apply the teachings of two men known for their wisdom, Solomon who had wisdom and discernment, and Jesus, the wisest man who ever walked the Earth.
3. What will we analyze in this article?
In this article, we'll look at three of them: the need to have a balanced view of money, work, and ourselves.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Reviewing the example of Solomon and Jesus, we will discuss the need to have a balanced view of money, work, and ourselves.
We are going to discuss three wise and important pieces of advice that Solomon and Jesus gave. These talk about the need to have a balanced view of money, work and ourselves.
In this article, we'll discuss good advice on matters that are very important to all of us: the need to have a balanced view of money, work, and ourselves.
A BALANCED VIEW OF MONEY
4. How was Solomon's financial situation different from that of Jesus?
Solomon was very rich and lived in luxury. Jesus had few things, the wisdom of both came from Jehovah.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Solomon lived surrounded by luxury because he was very rich. Jesus had few belongings and did not even have a house of his own. But both saw material things with balance since they had the wisdom of Jehovah.
They were very different, in the case of Solomon he was a very rich man and lived surrounded by luxuries, while Jesus had few belongings and did not even have his own house.
Solomon was very rich and lived surrounded by luxury and Jesus had few belongings and did not even have his own house, but both saw material things with balance because the wisdom of both came from Jehovah.
5. What balanced view of money did Solomon have?
He recognized that money "is a protection." Solomon understood that there are more important things than money.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
He recognized that money is a protection that helps us obtain what is necessary to live and perhaps give us a whim. But he recognized that having a name is better than money. He realized that people who love money are rarely happy. And that trusting money can be an illusion because it can disappear.
Solomon had a balanced point of view about money, in Ecclesiastes he said that "money is a protection", because he knew that it fulfills the necessary purpose of covering our needs, and, in some cases, even to give us a treat. But also in Ecclesiastes 5:10,12, he said "that people who love money are seldom content with what they have, even the abundance of it does not let them sleep" and they live in fear of losing what they have. Therefore, it is best to "be balanced" because money does not guarantee happiness to anyone.
Solomon recognized that money helps us to obtain what is necessary to live and perhaps give us a whim. But, despite all his wealth, Solomon understood that there are more important things than money and warned of the danger of putting all our trust in money, because today it is here and tomorrow it may disappear.
6. What balanced view did Jesus have of material things? (Matthew 6:31-33).
Jesus taught that if we start looking for the Kingdom, Jehovah will see to it that we get what we need.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
He enjoyed good quality food and drink. The day he died he was wearing an expensive robe. But he showed that material things were not the most important thing in his life. I teach and practice in seeking the Kingdom first and Jehovah would see to it that we have what we need.
Jesus enjoyed food and drink, but material things were not the most important thing in his life, he taught that if we seek the Kingdom first, Jehovah will see to it that we have what we need.
For example, Jesus did not reject the invitation extended to him by a rich man, rather, he enjoyed the food and drink that he offered him in his house. Also, on the day of his death Jesus was wearing an expensive robe. This shows us that he was aware of how necessary material things are, that is, he always put the spiritual first; he never worried too much about material things. Therefore, he advises us to do the same, he said that: if we seek the Kingdom first, Jehovah will see to it that we have what we need.
7. What blessings has a brother enjoyed for having a balanced view of money?
Because Daniel has striven to live a simple life, he has been able to use his time and skills to help with relief efforts and serve at Bethel.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Daniel has struggled to live a simple life, he has been able to use his time and skills to help with relief efforts and serve at Bethel. «The truth is that he has never regretted the decision he made. Also, putting the Kingdom first gives me a happiness that I would never have if I were dedicated to earning money. There is no money in the world that can be compared to all the blessings that Jehovah has given me.”
Brother Daniel, instead of focusing on earning a lot of money, has made the decision to lead a simple life and serve Jehovah, using his time and skills to help with relief efforts and serve at Bethel. The blessings that he has obtained are that: he has found true friends, in addition, he enjoys happiness and inner satisfaction that only Jehovah gives to those who serve him. That is why he says that: "There is no money in the world that can be compared with all the blessings that Jehovah has given him."
Daniel relates: “When I was a teenager, I decided that serving Jehovah would be the most important thing in my life.” Because Daniel has striven to live a simple life, he has been able to use his time and his skills to help with relief efforts and serve at Bethel.
ILLUSTRATION:
Does our way of seeing material things prevent us from putting the Kingdom first? (See paragraphs 6 and 7). *
A BALANCED VIEW OF WORK
8. How do we know that Solomon had a balanced view of work? (Ecclesiastes 5:18, 19).
Solomon said that the satisfaction we receive from our work is "a gift from God." "Reward for all the hard work." Of course, Solomon was somewhat satisfied, but he knew that it was not enough to make him happy. After doing many different things in his life, he realized that spiritual activities are the most important.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Hard work during his life as he built houses, planted vineyards, made gardens and ponds and also built cities. In addition, he helped supervise the construction of a beautiful temple to worship Jehovah, it lasted 7 years. But he knew that spiritual activities are the most important because later he wrote: "the bottom line is this: he fears the true God and obeys his commandments."
We know this because of what he wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:18,19, his words indicate that he knew, from his own experience, that work is a gift from Jehovah that produces satisfaction and generates benefits for us. But he realized that the most important thing in life is spiritual activities, so he wrote: "The bottom line is this: he fears the true God and obeys his commandments."
Solomon said that the satisfaction we feel for our hard work “is a gift from God”, he built houses, planted vineyards, made gardens and ponds, and also built cities, supervised the construction of a beautiful temple to worship Jehovah, but he knew that spiritual activities are the most important.
9. What did Jesus do to keep the job in place?
Jesus could do perfect jobs, so he had a lot of clients. We can imagine that Jesus was satisfied with his work. But he didn't let it steal the time he needed for spiritual things.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
In the Bible it is said that Jesus was a carpenter. He helped cover the needs of a very large family to which he belonged. And we can be sure that his works as perfect men made him have many clients. But when he was already a full-time minister he said, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that lasts and leads to eternal life."
Jesus was a hardworking man, he was a carpenter, and since he was a perfect man, he could do perfect jobs, so he probably had a lot of customers, but he didn't let them take away the time he needed for spiritual matters.
When Jesus was on earth he learned to be a carpenter, and since he was a perfect man, it is certain that he was a very good carpenter who had many clients, but he did not let this trade steal the time he needed for spiritual matters. He knew that doing the work that Jehovah had assigned him was more important, so he dedicated his life to "working for food that does not seem" and teaches us to do the same to "Store up treasures in heaven."
10. What danger might we face for being good workers?
Perhaps we have started working overtime so that our boss has an even better opinion of Jehovah's Witnesses. But if we do, we will soon begin to neglect our family and our spiritual activities.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Christians are recognized as honest and hardworking, and with good intentions we can start working overtime so that the bosses have a better opinion of Jehovah's Witnesses. But that can put you in danger by neglecting family and spiritual activities.
At the risk of becoming compulsive workers, this can happen because we may have the desire that our bosses realize that we are honest and diligent employees who represent Jehovah, but what can happen is that by working overtime we begin to neglect our family and spiritual activities and it is there where we must make the necessary adjustments to have a balanced vision of the work.
The wisdom that Jehovah gives us helps us to see employment with balance, our bosses realize that we are honest and hard-working, and they may tell us that they love how we do things and we would start working overtime, but, soon we would start to neglect our family and spiritual activities.
11. What did William learn by observing the example of an old man?
William recounts: It's a good example of balance. He works hard and his clients are very happy with the quality of his service, but when the day is done, he knows how to leave everything behind and concentrate on his family and his religion.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
“He is an excellent example of how to be balanced. He works hard and his clients are very happy with the quality of his services. But when the day is over, he knows how to leave everything behind and concentrate on his family and his religion. And the truth is that he is one of the happiest people I know.
A young Christian named William learned the importance of keeping a job in place. At one time he worked for a brother who was a congregation elder. Speaking of him, William says: “He is an excellent example of how to be balanced.
He learned the importance of keeping secular work in its proper place. Wiliam watched as his boss worked hard, but when he finished the day, he knew how to leave everything behind, concentrate on his family, on his religion, and saw that he was a happy man. So this good example helped him adopt a balanced attitude about employment.
ILLUSTRATION:
Series of images: 1. Juan in his office late at night. 2. Thomas and an elder visit a sister and read Bible texts to encourage her.
What can we do to maintain the balance between work and spiritual activities? (See paragraphs 10 and 11). *
A BALANCED VIEW OF OURSELVES
12. How did Solomon show that he had a balanced view of himself, and how did he lose it?
Once, when he was young and only a short time on the throne, he recognized his limitations and sought Jehovah's guidance. Also, he knew the danger of being an arrogant person. Over time, he forgot his wise words. After ruling for a few years, he became arrogant and began to disobey God.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
As a young man he recognized his limitations and asked Jehovah for guidance he recognized the danger of becoming a proud person. Sadly, when she had been reigning for a few years, she became proud and began to disregard God's standards. She maybe she thought she had everything under control, but then she suffered the consequences.
He demonstrated this when early in his reign he recognized his limitations and asked Jehovah for help to guide him. But over time he became proud and began to ignore Jehovah's rules, the law said that he should not have many wives, but he disobeyed this law and perhaps thought he had everything under control, but the reality was that many of his wives caused him to turn aside from serving Jehovah, so that he worshiped other gods.
Solomon was a good servant of Jehovah, he had a balanced view of himself. On one occasion, when he was young and only a short time on the throne, he recognized his limitations and asked Jehovah for guidance.
Unfortunately, over time he forgot his wise words. When he had been reigning for a few years, he became proud and began to disregard God's regulations, the truth is that over time he suffered the consequences of moving away from Jehovah.
13. What lessons do we learn by meditating on the humility of Jesus?
Jesus always considered himself humble. Before coming to earth, he performed many miracles in Jehovah's service. Of course, he never said that he was better than anyone. He had not come to Earth "to be served, but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom in exchange for many people."
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Before coming to earth, Jesus did wonderful things in heaven in his service to Jehovah. And moments before his baptism he remembered them but that didn't make him proud. He never behaved as if he was superior to others. He said that he had come to serve human beings. And that he couldn't do anything on his own.
Jesus never behaved as if he were superior to others, this despite the fact that when he was baptized he surely remembered all the things he had done in heaven with his father. He was always humble, even saying that he had come "to serve others and to give his life as a ransom." From his example we learn many lessons: we must not believe ourselves superior to others, we must also be willing to do small tasks to serve others and treat everyone with kindness.
Jesus always saw himself with humility and balance, he never behaved as if he were superior to others. He told his disciples that he had not come to Earth to serve others.
14. How do the words of Jesus help us to have a balanced view of ourselves?
Jesus once assured them, "All the hairs on our heads are numbered." They remind us that our heavenly Father cares about us and that we are precious to him.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
What Matthew 10:30 indicates: "The hairs of his head are all numbered." They show that Jehovah cares deeply about us and that we are valuable to him.
In Matthew 10:30, Jesus said that "The hairs of our heads are all numbered," so if we have a tendency to see ourselves in a negative light or think that we are not worthy of what Jehovah offers us, these words remind us that For our Heavenly Father we are very valuable and we matter to him, he has decided that we are worthy of serving him and living forever in a new world.
They remind us that our heavenly Father cares deeply about us, that we are very valuable to him. If Jehovah believes that we deserve to serve him and live forever in the new world.
15. a) As recommended by The Watchtower a few years ago, what balanced approach should we have?
He said, “Of course, we don't want to make ourselves so big that we become conceited; but neither do we want to go to the other extreme and conclude that we are worthless.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
“Of course, we don't want to make such a big deal out of ourselves that we become conceited; but neither do we want to go to the other extreme and conclude that we are worthless. Rather, our goal should be to form a realistic concept of ourselves."
We do not want to give ourselves so much importance that we become conceited; but neither do we want to go to the other extreme and conclude that we are worthless, we must form a realistic concept of ourselves.
This Watchtower encouraged us that when we see ourselves, we should not go to extremes, on the one hand, give ourselves a lot of importance and become conceited, but on the other, conclude that we do not become anything. Rather, our goal should be to form a realistic concept of ourselves, and for that we must take into account both our strengths and our limitations.
b) As seen in the photos on page 24, what blessings do we miss out on if we focus too much on ourselves?
One Christian put it this way: 'I am neither evil personified nor am I the best person in the world. I have virtues and I have defects, like the rest of the people'”.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
As seen in the photo we would be missing out on the blessing of expanding our circle of friends. The truth is that the more we serve Jehovah and help others, our defects and deficiencies go into the background and it is where we experience the happiness and satisfaction that only Jehovah gives us, at the same time, we perceive the appreciation and affection of our fellow man
ILLUSTRATION:
Series of images: 1. Juan takes a selfie with his sports car. 2. Tomás takes a selfie with some friends while they are working on the remodeling of an Assembly Hall.
What opportunities and blessings might we miss if we don't have a balanced view of ourselves? (See paragraph 15). *
16. Why does Jehovah offer us wise counsel?
He offers us wise advice because he loves us and wants us to be happy. The best decision we can make is to put Jehovah first in our lives. He makes us very happy.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
He does it because he loves us, he wants us to do well and be happy.
He does it because he loves us and wants us to be happy. If we accept such advice, we will save ourselves many of the problems that people who focus too much on money, work or on themselves have.
He does it because he loves us and wants us to be happy, and the best decision we can make is to put Jehovah first in our lives.
WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE INSPIRED COUNSELS GIVED BY SOLOMON AND JESUS ON THE FOLLOWING MATTERS?
The money
People who love money are rarely happy with what they have, he warned of the danger of putting all our trust in money, because today it is here and tomorrow it may be gone. Jesus taught that if we seek the Kingdom first, Jehovah will see to it that we have what we need.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Solomon was very rich and lived in luxury but he recognized that having a good name was better than having riches. And Jesus liked to enjoy good food, a drink and clothing. But he taught to seek the Kingdom first and Jehovah would take care of what was necessary.
Both Solomon and Jesus had a balanced opinion about money, they knew that it helps us to obtain sustenance and clothing, but they warn us of the danger of trusting in it and becoming slaves of riches. So from his advice we learn that: the wisest thing is to always trust and serve Jehovah, since there is no money in the world that can be compared with all the blessings he gives us.
The job
After doing so many different things in his life, he realized that spiritual activities are the most important. He wrote: "After hearing it all, the conclusion is this: he fears the true God and obeys his commandments." The wisdom that Jehovah gives us helps us to see employment with balance. Christians are told to work hard and do "a good job."
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Solomon worked hard to build many properties including the temple of worship to Jehovah. But he recognized that the reason for living is to fear the true God and obey his commandments. And the Lord Jesus Christ could have done perfect jobs and had loads of clients but he recommended going after food that lasts and leads to eternal life.
Jesus and Solomon were hard-working men, but they knew that the most important thing is to "fear the Lord" and work for "spiritual matters." From his advice we learn that: we must see the work with balance. We do not want this to steal our time and neglect our family and spiritual activities, which is the first and most important thing.
Ourselves
Jesus always saw himself with humility and balance. Before coming to earth, he did many wonderful things in his service to Jehovah. Jesus taught his disciples that they should have a balanced view of themselves. On one occasion he assured them: “The hairs of his head are all numbered.” They remind us that our heavenly Father cares deeply about us, that we are very valuable to him.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Solomon recognized his limitations and asked Jehovah to guide him, and as long as he obeyed Jehovah he was a good King. Jesus Christ did wonderful things in heaven but by being here on earth he indicated that he was not superior to others but that he came to serve them and what he did was in imitation of his Father.
Solomon at the beginning of his reign recognized his limitations and asked Jehovah for help, and Jesus was always humble, he never behaved as if he were superior to others, this shows us that they had a balanced point of view about himself. From this we learn that: we must form a realistic concept of ourselves, and for that we must take into account both our strengths and our limitations. It is wise to focus on serving Jehovah and helping others.
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