Yellow: Direct Response
Light Yellow: Additional Response
Celeste: Additional Points
“We walk by faith and not by sight” (2 COR. 5:7).
1. Why did Paul feel satisfied when he thought about his life?
The apostle Paul knew he would soon be executed. But when he thought about what he had accomplished in his life, he felt great satisfaction. Why? He said, “I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:6-8). In his Christian career he had made some very good decisions, so he was sure that Jehovah was pleased with him. Like Paul, we want to make good decisions and have Jehovah's approval. How can we achieve this?
2. What does it mean to walk by faith?
2 Speaking of himself and other faithful Christians, Paul said, “We walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). What did he mean? Sometimes when the Bible says a person “walks” in a certain way, it is not referring to their literal way of walking, but to their way of living life. When a person is said to walk by sight, it means they make decisions based solely on what they can see, hear, and feel. On the other hand, when someone is said to walk by faith, it means they make decisions based on what Jehovah wants them to do. His actions show that he has complete confidence that God will reward him and that following the standards of His Word is best for him.(Sal. 119:66; Heb. 11:6).
3. How does walking by faith benefit us? (2 Corinthians 4:18)
3 Of course, we make decisions based on what we see, hear, and feel. However, we probably won't do well if we make important decisions based only on our senses. Why? Because the information we receive through our senses isn't always accurate or reliable. Furthermore, if we walk only by sight, we may end up overlooking Jehovah's will or counsel. (Eccl. 11:9; Matt. 24:37-39) On the other hand, if we walk by faith, our decisions are more likely to be of the kind that “pleases the Lord.” (Eph. 5:10). Following God's advice will give us inner peace and make us truly happy. (Sal. 16:8, 9; Is. 48:17, 18). And if we continue walking by faith, we can live forever. (it’s 2 Corinthians 4:18).
4. How do we know if we are walking by faith or by sight?
4 How do we know if we are walking by faith or by sight? We just need to ask ourselves these questions: "What do I base my decisions on? Is it based on what I see, or on my trust in Jehovah and his standards? "In this article, we'll analyze how we can continue walking by faith in three important areas of life: when we have to choose a job, when we choose a marriage partner, and when we receive instructions from an organization. In each area, we'll look at some factors we should consider to make good decisions.
WHEN WE HAVE TO CHOOSE A JOB
5. Should we focus only on salary when choosing a job?
5 It is normal that we want to have a job that allows us to take care of our needs and those of our family. (Eccl. 7:12; 1 Tim. 5:8). In some cases, workers receive a salary that allows them to cover daily expenses and even save for the future. But others may receive a lower salary that only allows them to provide the basics for their family. Therefore, when deciding whether to accept a job, it's logical to consider how much we're going to earn. However, if a person focuses only on this factor, they're just going by sight.
6. How do we demonstrate that we walk by faith when choosing a job? (Hebrews 13:5)
6 If we walk by faith, we will also consider what effect work might have on our friendship with Jehovah. Let us ask ourselves: “Would my job require me to do things Jehovah hates? Would it affect my spiritual routine? Would I have to leave my family alone for long periods of time?” (Prov. 6:16-19; Phil. 1:10) If the answer to any of these questions is yes, the wisest course of action would be not to accept the job, even if it is difficult to find employment. As we walk by faith, our decisions show that we are 100% convinced that Jehovah will do something to meet our needs. (Matt. 6:33; it is Hebrews 13:5).
7, 8. How did a brother from South America demonstrate that he was walking by faith? (See also the image.)
7 A brother from South America named Javier was deeply aware of the importance of walking by faith. He says, “My company had an opening for a prestigious position where I would earn double and feel super fulfilled, so I applied.” However, Javier was eager to pioneer. He continues, “I was recommended for an interview with the national manager. Before applying, I prayed to Jehovah, convinced that He knew what was best for me. I wanted to advance professionally, but I wasn't going to accept the job if it wouldn't allow me to achieve my spiritual goals.”
8 Javier explains: “During the interview, the manager told me I would have to work overtime frequently. I tactfully told him I couldn't because of my spiritual activities.” Javier turned down the offer and two weeks later became a pioneer. Later that year, he found part-time work. He says, “Jehovah heard my prayers and gave me a job that fits perfectly with my pioneer schedule. “I am very happy to have a job that allows me to dedicate more time to Jehovah and my brothers.”
ILLUSTRATION
A brother wearing a hard hat and work clothes looks at the empty office the supervisor is showing him. The supervisor is offering him a promotion.
If you are offered a promotion, will you make a decision that shows you trust in Jehovah? (See paragraphs 7 and 8.)
9. What did you learn from Trésor’s experience?
9 What if we realize that the job we have isn't allowing us to walk by faith? Let's look at the experience of Trésor, a brother from the Congo. He says: “I got my dream job. I was earning three times more than before, and I was also very respected.” But Trésor frequently missed meetings because he had to work overtime. He was also pressured to tell lies to hide certain dishonest practices by the company. He wanted to quit, but he was worried about not finding another job. What helped him? He says: “The words of Habakkuk 3:17-19 helped me understand that even if I had no income, Jehovah would take care of me. So I resigned.” He concludes: “Many employers think that, as long as they have a well-paying job, people are willing to sacrifice anything, even time they would otherwise dedicate to family and spiritual activities. I am happy that I protected my relationship with Jehovah and my family. A year later, Jehovah helped me find a stable job that allows me to meet my needs and have more time to serve him. When we put Jehovah first, we may go through times when we have very little money, but he will take care of us.” Yes, if we trust in Jehovah's counsel and promises, we will continue to walk by faith, and he will bless us.
WHEN WE ARE GOING TO CHOOSE WHO TO MARRY
10. How would someone demonstrate that they are looking by sight when deciding who to marry?
10 Marriage is a gift from Jehovah, and it is normal for us to want to get married. When looking at someone, a sister might consider the brother's personality, appearance, reputation, financial situation, family responsibilities, and how he makes her feel. While those factors are important, she might be missing the point if she only focused on those things.
11. How do we demonstrate that we are walking by faith when choosing whom to marry? (1 Corinthians 7:39)
11 Jehovah is very proud of brothers and sisters who carefully follow his advice in deciding whom to marry. One of those tips is to wait until the “flower of youth” has passed before starting a relationship. (1 Cor. 7:36). Another is to make sure that the person has the qualities that Jehovah says a good husband or wife should have. (Prov. 31:10-13, 26-28; Eph. 5:33; 1 Tim. 5:8). And if someone who is not a Witness is interested in them, they apply the advice to marry “in the Lord,” as 1 Corinthians 7:39 says (read it). They continue walking by faith, confident that Jehovah can meet their emotional needs better than anyone else. (Ps. 55:22)
12. What did you learn from Rosa's case?
12 Let's look at the case of Rosa, a pioneer from Colombia. At work, she met a man who wasn't a Witness and who began to take an interest in her. Rosa was also attracted to him. She says: “He seemed like a good man. He did volunteer work in his community and led a healthy life. I liked the way he treated me. He had everything I wanted in a husband, except he wasn't a Witness.” She continues: “It was very difficult for me to say no... because my heart was telling me otherwise. At that time, I felt alone and wanted to get married, but I hadn't been able to find anyone in the truth.” However, Rosa didn't focus solely on what she could see; she also considered how her decision would affect her friendship with Jehovah. So she cut off all contact with the man and remained very busy with spiritual activities. Shortly after, she was invited to the School for Kingdom Evangelizers, and is now a special pioneer. She says, “The Lord has filled my heart with great joy.” It's true that it's not easy to walk by faith when your emotions are so involved, but it's definitely worth it.
WHEN WE RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE ORGANIZATION
13. How would someone demonstrate that they are walking by sight when receiving instructions from the organization?
13 We often receive instructions from the organization that help us serve Jehovah, whether through the elders, circuit overseers, the branch office, or the Governing Body. But there may be times when we don't understand why we are being given certain instructions. What shall we do? Shall we focus on the potential drawbacks of applying it? Shall we look at the imperfections of the brothers who gave that instruction? If we did that, we would be walking by sight.
14. What will help us walk by faith when we receive instructions from the organization? (Hebrews 13:17)
14 When we walk by faith, we trust that Jehovah is in control and knows our circumstances. So we obey promptly and willingly. (it’s Hebrews 13:17). We know that if we are obedient we will contribute to making the congregation more united. (Eph. 4:2, 3). We remember that even though the brothers who give the instructions are imperfect, Jehovah will bless our obedience. (1 Sam. 15:22). And if he sees that he needs to correct something, he will do it in due time. (Friends 7:7).
15, 16. What helped Kevin walk by faith? (See also the image.)
15 Let's consider an experience that emphasizes the benefits of walking by faith. Although Spanish is spoken in Peru, many people speak indigenous languages. One of those languages is Quechua. For many years, the Quechua-speaking brothers searched the territory for people who spoke that language. But that method changed in light of the country's laws. (Rom. 13:1) As a result, some began to wonder how they would be able to find Quechua-speaking people. The brothers obeyed the new instructions, and Jehovah blessed their efforts to find many people who spoke that language.
Kevin, an elder from a Quechua-speaking congregation, was one of those who had doubts about the new instructions. He explains: “I was wondering, ‘So how are we going to find the Quechua speakers now?’” What did Kevin do? He says, “I thought about the words of Proverbs 3:5. I also meditated on the example of Moses. Jehovah tasked him with leading the Israelites out of Egypt and to the Red Sea, where it seemed they would be unable to escape. But Moses obeyed, and Jehovah blessed him by performing a spectacular miracle.” (Ex. 14:1, 2, 9-11, 21, 22) Kevin adapted to the new method, and what was the result? He says: “It was incredible how Jehovah blessed us. Before, we had to walk a lot in the preaching work, and sometimes we only encountered one or two Quechua speakers, but now we go to areas where there are many of them. We have more conversations, return visits, and Bible studies. And more people are coming to the meetings.” So it is clear that when we walk by faith, Jehovah always rewards us.
ILLUSTRATION
A Quechua-speaking man talks to a Witness couple who are preaching. He shows them where someone lives.
Many people pointed out to the brothers some areas where they could find Quechua-speaking people. (See paragraphs 15 and 16.)
17. What did you learn from this article?
17 We've seen how to walk by faith in three important areas. And we must continue to do so in every other aspect of life, such as making decisions about entertainment, education, and parenting. Whenever we have to make a decision, we should keep in mind our friendship with Jehovah, his counsel, and his promise to take care of us, and not focus only on what we can see. In this way, “we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.” (Friends 4:5).
HOW CAN WE WALK BY FAITH IN THE FOLLOWING FIELDS?
When we have to choose a job.
We can walk by faith in choosing a job when we consider how the job might affect our friendship with Jehovah. Let us ask ourselves: “Would the job require me to do things Jehovah hates? Would it affect my routine of spiritual activities? Would I have to leave my family alone for long periods?” If the answer to any of these questions is yes, the wisest course of action would be to not accept the job, even if it is difficult to find work.
When we are going to choose who to marry.
We can walk in faith when we carefully follow Jehovah's counsel in deciding whom to marry. One such counsel is to wait until the "flower of youth" has passed before beginning a courtship. Another is to look for the person's qualities that Jehovah says a good husband or wife should have. And if a non-Witness is interested in them, they apply the counsel to marry "in the Lord," as 1 Corinthians 7:39 says (read it).
When we receive instructions from the organization.
We can walk in faith when we trust that Jehovah has everything under control and that he knows our circumstances. That's why we obey promptly and willingly. We know that if we are obedient, we will contribute to a more united congregation. We keep in mind that, even though the brothers giving instructions are imperfect, Jehovah will bless our obedience.
Comments
Post a Comment