DAILY TEXT, From today Tuesday, April 2, 2024, There is more happiness in giving than in receiving (Acts 20:35).

Let us examine the scriptures every day 2024

Tuesday April 2, 2024

There is more happiness in giving than in receiving (Acts 20:35).

When going through a difficult time in our lives, how grateful we are that an elder makes time to listen to us and comfort us. And, if we need help with a Bible course, how good it is to have the support of an experienced pioneer who will accompany us and give us suggestions to improve. All these brothers are happy to help us. And we will also feel very happy if we do the same. If we have a goal to serve Jehovah more in these or other ways, how can we achieve it? Let's not set goals that are too general. For example, we may think, “I would like to do more in the congregation.” But it may be difficult to know where to start and almost impossible to realize if we have achieved it or not. So it is better to choose a clear and specific goal. We could write it down and even write what we are going to do to get it. w22.04 25 paras. 12, 13.

Why do we have to be flexible when we set goals?

We must be flexible when setting goals. Because? Because we cannot control everything that happens around us. For example, the apostle Paul had helped form the Thessalonica congregation, and probably had the goal of staying there for a time to support those new Christians. But his enemies forced him to flee from the city (Acts 17:1-5, 10). If he had stayed, he would have endangered the congregation. But Paul did not give up. Rather, he adapted to the circumstances and later sent Timothy there to strengthen the brothers' faith (1 Thes. 3:1-3). How happy the Thessalonians must have felt to see that Timothy was willing to go wherever it was necessary.

Explain with an example what can happen to our goals if circumstances change.

We can learn from Paul's example and what happened to him in Thessalonica. We may have set a goal in our service to Jehovah, but suddenly circumstances change and it is no longer possible for us to achieve it.​—Eccl. 9:11. What will we do? Let's think about another goal that is within our reach. That's what Ted and Hiedi did. A health problem forced them to leave Bethel. But because they loved Jehovah very much, they quickly looked for other ways to serve him. First they were regular pioneers, then they were appointed special pioneers, and Ted was trained to be a substitute circuit overseer. But then the age limit for circuit overseers changed, and Ted and Hiedi realized they could no longer have that assignment. Although they were a little discouraged at first, they knew that they could serve Jehovah in other ways. Ted says, “We have learned not to focus on just one way to do more for Jehovah.”

What lesson does Galatians 6:4 teach us?

We cannot control everything that happens in our lives. So it is important to remember that what makes us valuable to Jehovah is not the assignments we have received. It is also useless for us to focus on the assignments that some have and we do not. Hiedi says, “If we compare our lives with those of others, we will lose peace” (read Galatians 6:4). Therefore, the best thing we can do is to continue looking for ways to serve Jehovah and help others.

What can we do if we want to receive more responsibilities?

If we live a simple life and avoid unnecessary debt, we can make ourselves available to receive more responsibilities. Let's now set goals that will help us achieve other greater long-term goals. For example, if you want to be a regular pioneer, could you serve as an auxiliary pioneer for a time? Or, if you want to be a ministerial servant, could you spend more time preaching and visiting the elderly and sick in the congregation? All the experience you gain now can open the door to more assignments in the future. Whatever the case, resolve to do your best in your service to Jehovah.​—Rom. 12:11.

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