“Each one will bear his own load of responsibility” (GAL. 6:5).
1, 2. a) What gift did Adam and Eve receive?
Adam and Eve received the gift of free will, that is, the ability to choose and make their own decisions. Jehovah created them in his image and likeness, with intelligence and the capacity to reason, so they were neither like animals guided by instinct nor like machines programmed to obey.
1, 2. b) How should they have shown appreciation for that gift?
Adam and Eve should have shown appreciation for that gift by properly using their freedom of choice and willingly obeying the instructions Jehovah had given them. He charged them to care for the earth, populate it with their children, and respect the reasonable boundaries he had set. By obeying those instructions, they would have shown that they loved Jehovah, trusted him, and wanted to make him happy.
3. How did Adam and Eve use their freedom of choice?
Adam and Eve misused their freedom of choice. Instead of obeying and showing love and gratitude, they chose to disobey and give in to selfishness. For this reason, humanity is still paying the consequences of that poor decision.
4. a) According to Galatians 6:5, what should we all do?
According to Galatians 6:5, each one must carry his own load of responsibility. This means that we all have to make decisions daily, some simpler and others more complex. But if we want to make decisions that please Jehovah, we must recognize that we need his help.
4. b) What other gift will we talk about in this article?
Jesus, though perfect, recognized that he needed God’s help. All the more so, we who are imperfect, need to depend on Jehovah and seek his guidance. That is why Jehovah has given us another precious gift that helps us make good decisions: our conscience. In this article, we will discuss this gift and how we can use it properly.
WHAT IS CONSCIOUSNESS?
5. a) What is consciousness?
Conscience is an internal sense of right and wrong that Jehovah has given us. It is like an inner judge that analyzes our thoughts and actions and can accuse or excuse us according to what we think or do, as explained at Romans 2:14, 15.
5. b) How does our conscience help us? (Romans 2:14, 15).
Our conscience helps us distinguish between a good and a bad decision. It warns us against doing what we know is wrong and also motivates us to do what is right. However, to guide us well, it needs to be trained according to Jehovah’s principles, because freedom of choice alone does not guarantee that our decisions will please him.
6. What problem does our conscience have?
Our conscience has the problem that, like us, it is imperfect. It can be negatively affected by our upbringing, culture, experiences, or evil desires. That is why the Bible says that it can become weak, tainted, insensitive, or even evil.
When our conscience isn't properly trained, it can fail to guide us correctly. It's like a scale that's out of balance and needs recalibrating. To keep it working properly, we must maintain it.
HOW TO EDUCATE OUR CONSCIENCE
7, 8. a) What will help us to educate our conscience?
To train our conscience, we must learn what is right and wrong in Jehovah’s eyes. One way to do this is by regularly reading and studying the Bible. By studying its laws and principles, we can better understand Jehovah’s way of thinking and feeling, and our conscience will be better equipped to guide us.
7, 8. b) How do Bible principles help us? Give an example (see also the picture).
Bible principles help us understand Jehovah’s way of thinking and make good decisions even when the Bible does not mention a specific situation. They are like reference points that help us know if we are on the right path and correct our course if necessary.
For example, just as a hiker consults the landmarks on his map to confirm that he is going in the right direction, we, as Christians, have the Bible as a map with specific directions that guide us toward the destination we want to reach: Jehovah's approval.
ILLUSTRATION
A hiker checks landmarks on his map to confirm he is heading in the right direction toward his destination in the middle of the desert.
Biblical principles are like reference points that show us we are going in the right direction. (See paragraph 8.)
9. According to Romans 9:1, what other help do we have to educate our conscience?
According to Romans 9:1, another aid we have in training our conscience is God’s holy spirit. This helps us to understand Jehovah’s way of thinking on various matters and also gives us the strength and motivation needed to act in harmony with his will, as Philippians 2:13 indicates.
10. What must we do to receive help from the holy spirit? (Luke 11:10, 13).
To receive help from the holy spirit, we must ask Jehovah. As Luke 11:10 states, “everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds.” Therefore, we can be sure that he will give it to us generously, since he grants it to those who are willing to be guided by him and seek his wisdom.
11. a) What should be our main goal in life?
Our primary goal in life should always be to seek Jehovah's approval. Having this objective clear will help us to make decisions that are in harmony with his will. We must train our conscience so that our thinking is in tune with Jehovah's and so that our heart is interested in what he feels.
11. b) Why should we make sure that our conscience is well educated and functioning properly?
We must make sure that our conscience is well-trained because modern life presents many situations that the Bible does not specifically mention, such as matters related to entertainment, work, studies, or personal relationships. A well-trained conscience, one that is in harmony with Jehovah’s way of thinking, will help us to make decisions that please him and give us the peace of mind that comes from knowing we have his approval.
12. What will help us see if our conscience is leading us in the right direction? (Ephesians 5:10).
Meditating on what we read in God’s Word will help us to see if our conscience is guiding us in the right direction. When studying the Bible, we should look for principles that enable us to understand Jehovah’s way of thinking. These principles help us to evaluate our decisions and, if necessary, to adjust our conscience to follow the path that pleases God.
13. What mistake of the Israelites should we avoid?
We must avoid the mistake of making a decision first and then looking for Bible principles to justify it. The Israelites in Jeremiah’s day pretended to seek Jehovah’s guidance, but in reality, they had already decided what to do. When they received an answer that did not align with their desires, they rejected divine counsel and suffered the consequences.
To prevent that from happening to us, we must first seek out Bible principles that teach us Jehovah's way of thinking and then make decisions that are in harmony with his will.
14. Why should we apply Bible principles when making decisions?
We should apply Bible principles when making decisions because in doing so we allow ourselves to be guided by the holy spirit and act in harmony with Jehovah’s will. When we follow that guidance, Jehovah continues to give us his spirit, which strengthens us and helps us to do what is right.
On the other hand, if we ignore the guidance of the holy spirit or act against it, we could “grieve” him, and as a result, Jehovah could take him away. That is why basing our decisions on Bible principles allows us to maintain a good relationship with Jehovah and receive the strength we need.
HOW TO FIND THE PRINCIPLES WE NEED
15, 16. a) How can we find the principles we need?
We can find Bible principles by using the study tools that Jehovah provides. For example, the Study Guide for Jehovah’s Witnesses helps us to locate information on different topics and to identify the Bible principles related to each situation.
15, 16. b) What Bible principles can help a student to quit smoking?
Although the Bible does not specifically mention tobacco, it contains principles that can help a person understand Jehovah's viewpoint. Some of these are:
1. Not to become slaves to anything that can harm us (Romans 6:16).
2. Avoid anything that harms our body (2 Corinthians 7:1).
3. Serve Jehovah with all your soul (Matthew 22:37).
4. Do not harm others with our actions (Matthew 22:39; 1 Corinthians 10:24).
5. Trust that Jehovah will give us the strength to do what is right (Philippians 4:13).
These principles help the student to see that quitting smoking is not just about following a rule, but about showing love for Jehovah and a desire to please him.
17. How can a Witness couple find Bible principles to help them plan their wedding?
A Jehovah's Witness couple can find Bible principles by using the Jehovah's Witnesses Study Guide. Under the heading "Weddings and Receptions," they will find articles with principles that will help them make good decisions.
These principles include:
1. Let all preparations honor Jehovah (1 Corinthians 10:31, 32).
2. Dress modestly and avoid extreme fashions (1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Peter 3:3, 4).
3. Avoid worldly ostentation (John 17:14; James 1:27; 1 John 2:15, 16).
4. Maintain order throughout the celebration (1 Corinthians 14:40).
5. Ensure that the reception is dignified and not an out-of-control party (Galatians 5:21).
6. It is advisable to assign someone to supervise the banquet (John 2:8, 9).
18, 19. a) What other tool can help us?
Another very useful tool is the book Bible Verses for Christian Living. This publication brings together verses organized by topic and presents questions that help identify Bible principles applicable to different situations. Thus, we not only find Bible texts but also the opportunity to reason and better understand Jehovah’s viewpoint.
18, 19. b) What principles related to the theme of celebrations can we find in this book? (See the box “Can we identify the principles?”).
In the section “Celebrations,” the book sets out principles that help a Christian to analyze whether he should attend a particular celebration. Among these principles is that Christians should keep themselves separate from false religion (1 Corinthians 10:21; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 5:10, 11).
Principles are also presented for evaluating patriotic celebrations, historical or political events, war commemorations, and ceremonies that bestow undue honor on people or symbols.
LET'S SHOW THAT WE HAVE A WELL-EDUCATED CONSCIENCE
20. How do we demonstrate that we have properly educated our conscience?
We show that we have trained our conscience well when we responsibly use our freedom of choice to make decisions that honor Jehovah and are in harmony with his will.
To achieve this, we continue to educate our conscience through biblical principles, constantly ask for the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to guide us. In this way, we will be able to appreciate the power of God's Word in our lives.
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
What is consciousness?
Conscience is an inner sense of right and wrong that Jehovah has given us. It is like an inner judge that analyzes our thoughts and actions, and can accuse or excuse us for what we think or do. It warns us against doing what is wrong and motivates us to do what is right.
However, because we are imperfect, our conscience can also be affected and fail to guide us correctly. Therefore, it needs to be continually educated and strengthened through the principles of God's Word.
How can we educate our conscience?
We can train our conscience by learning what is right and wrong in Jehovah’s eyes. To do this, we must read the Bible every day, study its laws, and search for the principles it contains. In this way, we will come to a better understanding of Jehovah’s way of thinking and feeling.
In addition, we should ask for the help of the holy spirit. It helps us to understand Jehovah’s viewpoint, motivates us, and gives us the strength to act in harmony with his will.
How can Bible principles help us make decisions?
Bible principles are like reference points that help us know if we are on the right path and correct our course when necessary. If we follow them, we will be able to make decisions that please Jehovah and maintain his approval.
Comments
Post a Comment