DAILY TEXT, Today Friday, September 6, 2024, Let him work hard, doing good work with his own hands, so that he may have something to give to those in need (Eph. 4:28).

Let us examine the Scriptures every day 2024

Friday, September 6, 2024

Let him work hard, doing good work with his own hands, so that he may have something to give to those in need (Eph. 4:28).

Jesus was a hard-working man. As a young man, he worked as a carpenter. (Mark 6:3) His parents were surely grateful for the help He gave them in providing for their large family. And since He was a perfect man, He could do perfect work, so He probably had many customers. We can imagine Jesus enjoying His work. But He did not let it take away from the time He needed for spiritual matters. (John 7:15) And when He was a full-time minister, He gave this advice: “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures and leads to eternal life.” (John 6:27) And in the Sermon on the Mount He said: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” (Matt. 6:20) The wisdom Jehovah gives us helps us to see work in balance. Christians are told to work hard and to do “good work.” w22.05 22 §9, 10.

What did William learn from observing the example of an elder?

A young Christian named William learned the importance of keeping his job in place. At one time, he worked for a brother who was an elder in the congregation. Speaking of him, William says: “He is an excellent example of how to be balanced. He works hard and makes his clients very happy with the quality of his services. But when the day is over, he knows how to leave it all behind and concentrate on his family and his religion. And the truth is that he is one of the happiest people I know.”

How did Solomon demonstrate that he had a balanced view of himself, and how did he lose it?

While Solomon was a good servant of Jehovah, he had a balanced view of himself. On one occasion, when he was young and had been on the throne for a short time, he recognized his limitations and asked Jehovah for guidance. (1 Ki. 3:7–9) He also realized the danger of becoming proud. He wrote: “Pride comes before a crash, and arrogance before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18) Unfortunately, he eventually forgot his wise words. After a few years of reigning, he became proud and began to ignore God’s standards. For example, the Law included this command for Hebrew kings: “He must not have many wives, or his heart will turn away.” (Deut. 17:17) Solomon disobeyed this law and had 700 wives and 300 concubines—and many of them worshiped other gods! (1 Ki. 11:1–3) Perhaps he thought he had everything under control. Whether or not he thought that, he eventually suffered the consequences of turning away from Jehovah. —1 Kings 11:9-13.

What lessons do we learn from meditating on Jesus' humility?

Jesus always viewed himself as humble and poised. Before he came to earth, he did many wonderful things in his service to Jehovah. Colossians 1:16 says that “through him everything else in the heavens and on the earth was created.” Apparently, at his baptism, Jesus remembered things he had done when he was in heaven with his Father. (Matt. 3:16; John 17:5) But he didn’t become proud when he remembered all that. In fact, he never acted as if he were superior to others. He told his disciples that he had not come to earth “to be served, but to serve others, and to give his life as a ransom for many people.” (Matt. 20:28) He admitted that he couldn’t do a single thing on his own. (John 5:19) How humble Jesus was! Don’t we want to follow his good example?

How do Jesus' words help us have a balanced view of ourselves?

Jesus taught his disciples to have a balanced view of themselves. He once assured them: “The hairs of your head are all numbered.”​—Matt. 10:30. How comforting these words are, especially if we tend to view ourselves in a negative light. They remind us that our heavenly Father cares deeply about us and that we are precious to him. If Jehovah believes we deserve to serve him and live forever in the new world, who are we to question his judgment?

All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2024 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania JW.ORG.