In this time of the end, the world continues to degenerate further and further into wickedness. Indeed, "wicked men and imposters advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled." (2 Tim. 3:13) Unlike the wicked world, however, God's chosen people do not blindly grope in darkness. Rather, they benefit from the constant light source Jehovah has provided--"the faithful and discreet slave" class, which Jehovah uses in order to progressively reveal his purposes. (Matt. 24:45-47; Prov. 4:18) Do we not rejoice at this blessing?
Imagine: you are invited to a sumptuous banquet, with dishes filled to the brim with all your favorite foods. Would you not be thankful to the one who prepared such a banquet? Indeed, you would want to show gratitude, knowing that much time and consideration went into preparing it. Should we not feel similarly grateful when partaking of the spiritual food provided by the slave class? (Matt. 24:45-47) Indeed, the best way we can show our gratitude to Jehovah--the Source of the spiritual banquet we are provided through the slave class--is to submissively obey the "faithful and discreet slave" class and its Governing Body. (Matt. 24:45-47)
Some may feel that, in this modern world, the idea of submissive gratitude is outdated. Self-proclaimed "self-made" men and women independently declare their own so-called freedom, often suggesting that thinking for oneself is beneficial, that submitting to any authority is dangerous. Is this how faithful Christians should feel? To the contrary--it is identical to the spirit of rebellion that has often become operative upon wicked ones as recorded in the Bible, men like Korah, Dathan and Abiram, Diotrephes, wicked King Saul, and many others. May we never succumb to the snares of the wicked one by being ungrateful for the provisions the faithful slave so bounteously provides us! (Matt. 24:45-47)
Jesus, our Leader and Exemplar, was an ideal example of submissive gratitude. Publicly, he prayed to his Father, Jehovah, demonstrating that Jehovah alone is the source of spiritual nourishment and direction. Think of it! Jesus Christ, a perfect man, the "master worker" in the heavens, humbly displayed gratitude and reliance upon his Father, the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, acknowledging His great superiority. (Prov. 8:31-39; John 14:28) How can we imitate Jesus' example?
When direction comes from the Governing Body, how do we respond? In several recent articles, the slave class has emphasized the need for obediently submitting to the Governing Body's direction. Do we personally feel such directions apply to us? Or do we reason, "Surely someone else is more in need of that direction than I am"? If we detect any hint of opinionated, questioning defiance of Jehovah's authority, we would do well to root it out, or else face spiritual shipwreck.
Jose, an elder from Peru, recalls: "Some years ago, there was a group of brothers who felt a need to study ancient Hebrew and Greek, examine the texts of renowned Bible scholars, and even read false religious and apostate literature in an effort to verify that what was being provided by the 'slave' class was true. Sadly, they found themselves grossly deviating from the truth and had to be put out of Jehovah's organization. If only they had listened to the warnings from the slave! They could have been spared spiritual disaster."
Many stories like this are being repeated throughout the Christian congregation in recent times. With the advent of the Internet, we are bombarded with information that may not always be beneficial. We must be careful not to stray from our focus on meeting attendance, personal study, prayer, and the field ministry for the sake of setting aside time to "fact-check" the slave class. Our literature is prepared with the utmost of forethought, under God's holy spirit and the direction of the Governing Body. What more "fact-checking" do we need? For over 130 years, this journal, the Watchtower, has provided sound direction in matters such as dress and grooming, chess, video games, education, medical care, family happiness, the proper view of sexuality, the need to be "no part of the world", the need to recognize the "superior authorities" as Jehovah God and Jesus Christ, then the need to recognize "the superior authorities" as the human governments, as well as the need to keep on the watch for the end of this system of things, the resurrection of anointed ones and ancient worthies, and the end of Babylon the Great in the years 1874, 1878, 1914, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1975, within the generation of those who saw 1914, the generation of wicked ones who happen to observe the sign of Christ's presence, and within the generation of anointed ones whose lives overlap with the generation of anointed ones who saw the events of 1914. Are we not grateful to Jehovah that such 'food at the proper time' has been consistently provided by the slave class? (Matt. 24:45-47) If we are, how can we show our submissive gratitude?
One of the best ways, apart from submitting to the Governing Body's faithful direction, is to devote ourselves to the preaching and teaching work going on in 236 lands worldwide. Another way, while submitting to the Governing Body's carefully provided guidelines, is to contribute our material resources--gold, silver, precious stones, estates, houses, land, wills and trusts, stocks, bonds, and the like--to supporting the preaching work. Now more than ever, as the end draws near, we are in need of demonstrating our loyalty to Jehovah by honoring Him with our precious things.
Another way to show submissive gratitude is to obey the local elders in our congregation. As men appointed by holy spirit and by the Governing Body itself, we would do well to submit to their direction--even if it seems that they do not particularly appear qualified to direct us. Let us never become "wise in our own eyes" and reason that we can run ahead of Jehovah's arrangement. The slave class alone runs ahead, at Jehovah's calling, and not us. Wisely, we should wait on Jehovah to handle matters in his own due time.
Are we not grateful to be part of such an organized, worldwide brotherhood, which faithfully and submissively obeys Jehovah God through the slave class? Indeed, we should be. Recognizing this slave class means we are marked for salvation at the end of this system of things. (Ezekiel 9; Matt. 24:45-47) How we rejoice at the wonderful blessings Jehovah has given us!
However, not all are submissive or grateful to Jehovah. We would do well to avoid them. Who are these rebellious ones, and how can we recognize their traps so as not to be swallowed up by Satan the Devil? We shall see, in the next article.
--Pastor-Judge J.C.F. Russellford