Comments You Will Not Hear at the 01-02-11 WT Study (NOVEMBER 15, 2010, pages 3-7)(YOUNG GUIDED)
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Young Ones—Be Guided
by God’s Word
“Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding.” —PROV. 4:5.
OPENING COMMENTS
Witnesses are guided with a “kind” iron hand, especially minor children. JW parents are taught that their children who have reached the age of accountability (ambiguous) and have not taken “their stand with Jehovah” that they will die eternally at Armageddon.
START OF ARTICLE
1, 2. (a) What helped the apostle Paul to cope with conflicts within himself?
(b) How can you acquire wisdom and understanding?
“WHEN I wish to do what is right, what is bad is present with
me.” Do you know who said those words? It was none other
than the apostle Paul. Although Paul loved Jehovah, there were
times when he found it a struggle to do what was right. How did
he feel about this conflict within himself? “Miserable man that
I am!” he wrote. (Rom. 7:21-24) Can you relate to the way Paul
felt? Do you sometimes find it difficult to do the right thing?
Does that make you feel frustrated, as it did Paul? If so, do not
be discouraged. Paul successfully dealt with the challenges he
faced, and so can you.
COMMENTS
So does this mean that every Christian was miserable 24/7? Think about it 1) Paul had been a self-righteous Pharisee; how many people had he judged worthy of being discarded? 2) Paul had sat in agreement when Stephen was stoned to death. 3) He continued his persecution and execution of Christians long after that. He probably had a lot to be miserable about.
How can people not even 18 compare themselves with Paul’s actions?
Challenges—the buzzword for this article
2 Paul succeeded because he allowed himself to be guided by
“healthful words.” (2 Tim. 1:13, 14) As a result, he gained the
wisdom and understanding needed to cope with challenges and
to make good decisions. Jehovah God can help you to acquire
wisdom and understanding. (Prov. 4:5) He has provided the best
possible advice in his Word, the Bible. (Read 2 Timothy 3:16,
17. ) Consider how you can benefit from the principles found in
the Scriptures when dealing with your parents, when handling
money, and when you are alone.
COMMENTS
Why had Paul not allowed himself to be guided by the healthful words in the Torah?
Buzzword—challenges
Handling money?????
Guided by God’s Word in the Family
3, 4. Why might you find it challenging to obey your parents’ rules, but why
do parents make rules?
3 Do you find it a challenge to live by your parents’ rules? Why
might that be the case? One reason could be that you desire a
measure of independence. This inclination is normal. It is part
of growing to adulthood. While at home, though, you have an
obligation to obey your parents.—Eph. 6:1-3.
COMMENTS
Buzzword—challenge
Perhaps because parents are imperfect and possibly hypocritical.
Will jw parents allow children independence when they belong to an organization that does not allow independence to adults?
4 Gaining the right perspective of your parents’ rules and requirements
can make it easier for you to abide by them. True,
you may at times feel as did 18-year-old Brielle,* who said of her
parents: “They have completely forgotten what it’s like to be my
age. They don’t want me to have my say, make a choice, or be
an adult.” Like Brielle, you might feel that your parents withhold
more freedom than you think they should. However, your
parents make rules primarily because they are concerned about
you. In addition, Christian parents know that they are accountable
to Jehovah for the way they care for you.—1 Tim. 5:8.
*Names have been changed.
COMMENTS
Right perspective—the same one the WTS lowered down on the backs of the rank and file, to obey them even if they are wrong.
Is that why the WTS makes rules, because they are concerned or want to control its members?
“Bad” children make jw (Christian?) parents look bad. Fathers have lost “privileges” because of their children’s actions.
5. How may obedience to your parents benefit you?
5 Really, obeying your parents’ rules is like paying off a debt
that you owe to a bank—the more reliable you are in making
your payments, the more inclined the bank will be to extend
credit to you. Similarly, you owe your parents respect and obedience.
(Read Proverbs 1:8.) The more obedient you are, the
more likely your parents will be to extend greater freedom to
you. (Luke 16:10) Of course, if you continually break the rules,
do not be surprised if your parents reduce or even close down
your “line of credit.”
COMMENTS
So does a person have to “prove” themselves monthly?
If your parents are abusive, should you still obey them?
What if the rules are not reasonable?
6. How can parents help young ones to be obedient?
6 One way parents can help their young ones to obey the rules
they make is by example. Their own willing obedience to what
Jehovah requires should demonstrate that God’s rules are reasonable.
This will make it easier for young people to view parental
rules in the same light. (1 John 5:3) Moreover, the Bible
mentions occasions when Jehovah even gave his servants an opportunity
to express themselves regarding certain matters. (Gen.
18:22-32; 1 Ki. 22:19-22) Might there be times when parents
could give their children a chance to comment on various subjects?
COMMENTS
Do parents obey the WTS rules or the house rules or do they bend them for themselves?
So if Abraham and others had input with God, why not children with parents?
7, 8. (a) What challenge do some young ones face? (b) What realization can
help you to benefit from discipline?
7 Young ones may also face the challenge of dealing with what
they view to be unfair criticism from their parents. At times, you
may have felt like a young man named Craig, who said, “My
mother seemed like a police detective—always looking for areas
where I failed.”
COMMENTS
Buzzword: challenge
Only view as being unfair…what is really unfair….wait on Jehovah…remember parents are imperfect (same excuses for organization).
8 Correction or discipline often comes in the form of criticism.
The Bible acknowledges that discipline, even when completely
justified, is hard to bear. (Heb. 12:11) What can help you to benefit
from discipline you receive? An important point to remember
is that your parents’ counsel is likely motivated by their love
for you. (Prov. 3:12) They want to save you from falling into bad
habits and help you to cultivate good ones. Your parents likely
realize that if they fail to correct you, it is the same as showing
hatred toward you! (Read Proverbs 13:24.) Also, understand
that making mistakes is part of the learning process. So when
you are corrected, why not look for nuggets of wisdom in what
is being said? “Having [wisdom] as gain is better than having silver
as gain and having it as produce than gold itself.”—Prov. 3:
13, 14.
COMMENTS
How beneficial is criticism if it is destructive? Discipline = spanking???
LIKELY motivated by love?
Fail to correct---how did Jesus correct?
9. Rather than dwelling on a seeming injustice, what can young ones do?
9 Parents, however, do make mistakes. (Jas. 3:2) When disciplining
you, they may sometimes speak thoughtlessly. (Prov. 12:
18) What could cause your parents to act this way? They may
be under stress, or they may view your mistakes as a failure on
their part. Rather than dwelling on what you feel is an injustice,
why not show appreciation for their earnest desire to be helpful?
The ability to accept discipline will serve you well when you reach
adulthood.
COMMENTS
Parents make mistakes; are they made accountable?
Speak thoughtlessly…under stress (same reason for child) or view child’s mistakes as a failure on their (see loss of father’s privileges is what is important).
Uzzah had an earnest desire to be helpful, yet he died.
10. How can you cope more effectively with parental rules and correction?
10 Would you like to cope more effectively with your parents’
rules and correction? If so, you need to improve your communication
skills. How may you do that? The first step is to listen.
“Be swift about hearing,” says the Bible, “slow about speaking,
slow about wrath.” (Jas. 1:19) Rather than being quick to justify
yourself, try to control your emotions and absorb what your
parents have to say. Focus on what is said, not on how it is delivered.
Then, rephrase your parents’ comments in your own
words and respectfully repeat their remarks back to them. Your
doing so will reassure them that you heard what they said. What
if you want to give an explanation for your speech or actions?
In most cases, it is wise to ‘keep your lips in check’ until after
you have complied with your parents’ wishes. (Prov. 10:19) Once
your parents see that you have listened to them, they will be far
more inclined to listen to you. Such a mature approach proves
that you are being guided by God’s Word.
COMMENTS
Where is the love in this paragraph? Is a child’s relationship with their parents based on a foundation of rules and correction? Who carries the responsibility of communication, a child or a parent, the adult? Should a child absorb inaccurate information, perhaps even a lie from a sibling? So if your parents are screaming at you at the top of their lungs…..Who is the example of respect, the child or the parent?
Guided by God’s Word When Managing Money
11, 12. (a) Regarding money, what does God’s Word encourage us to do, and
why? (b) How might your parents help you to manage money?
11 “Money is for a protection,” states the Bible. But this same
verse shows that wisdom is even more valuable than money.
(Eccl. 7:12) God’s Word encourages us to respect money, not to
love it. Why should you avoid developing love for money? Consider
this illustration: In the hands of a skilled chef, a sharp knife
is a useful tool. But the same knife in the hands of someone inattentive
or careless can cause serious harm. If handled skillfully,
money too can be useful. However, those who are “determined
to be rich” often sacrifice friendships, family relationships, and
even their relationship with God. As a result, they stab themselves
“all over with many pains.”—Read 1 Timothy 6:9, 10.
COMMENTS
That is not true in the WTS, they just want your money, they have the corner on the wisdom market, right?
Skillful handling of your money…give it to the WTS, although tithing is not Christian, give us 10%.
And how are wealthy jws treated? Do you have an experience to share?
12 How can you learn to manage money skillfully? Why not
ask your parents for advice on how to budget your money? “A
wise person will listen and take in more instruction, and a man
of understanding is the one who acquires skillful direction,”
wrote Solomon. (Prov. 1:5) A young woman named Anna asked
for skillful direction from her parents. She says, “My father
taught me how to make a budget, and he showed me how important
it is to be organized in managing family funds.” Anna’s
mother likewise taught her practical lessons. “She showed me the
value of comparing prices before buying,” says Anna. How has
Anna benefited? She answers: “I am now able to care for my
own finances. I carefully control my spending, so I have the freedom
and the peace of mind that come from avoiding unnecessary
debt.”
COMMENTS
Isn’t there an assumption that the parents know how to budget money? I remember the family where the father would buy a new video toy for himself before paying the rent; or the mother that bought $300 new clothes for the convention when there was no money for a hotel or food?
13. How might you discipline yourself when it comes to spending money?
13 You may find yourself quickly plunging into debt if you buy
items on impulse or spend money just to impress your friends.
What might help you to avoid these traps? When it comes to
spending money, you must learn to discipline yourself. This is
what Ellena, who is in her early 20’s, does. “When I go out with
friends,” she says, “I plan ahead and calculate a limit to my
spending. . . . I also find it wise to go shopping only with those
of my friends who are careful with their money and who will encourage
me to shop around and not buy the first thing I see.”
COMMENTS
Shun your friends who aren’t careful or have more money than you to spend?
So her parents did not spend on impulse or to impress their friends?
14. Why should you be on guard against “the deceptive power of riches”?
14 Making and managing money is an important part of life.
However, Jesus said that real happiness comes to those who are
“conscious of their spiritual need.” (Matt. 5:3) He warned that
a person’s interest in spiritual matters can be choked by such
things as “the deceptive power of riches.” (Mark 4:19) How important
it is, then, that you let yourself be guided by God’s Word
and maintain a balanced view of money!
COMMENTS
I remember reading an experience in Africa where some witnesses were poor and there was a drought in their area. The father would eat only every 3 rd day so his children had more…but when the “brothers” arrived he asked for a copy of the new publication. I wonder how it tasted?
Luke 11:11-12 (New King James Version)
If a son asks for bread [a] from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
Guided by God’s Word When Alone
15. When will your loyalty to God likely be tested the most?
15 When do you think your loyalty to God will be tested the
most—when you are with others or when you are alone? Well,
when you are at school or at work, your spiritual defenses are
likely up. You are alert to possible spiritual danger. It is when
you are relaxing and your guard is down that you become most
vulnerable to an attack on your moral standards.
COMMENTS
Most witnesses are concerned about what other people see them doing, they really don’t live their lives as if God was with them seeing everything they do. God has left the land and is not seeing…….
http://bible.cc/ezekiel/9-9.htm
16. Why should you want to obey Jehovah even in private?
16 Why should you want to obey Jehovah even when you are
alone? Remember this: You are able either to hurt Jehovah’s feelings
or to make his heart rejoice. (Gen. 6:5, 6; Prov. 27:11) Jehovah
is affected by your actions because “he cares for you.”
(1 Pet. 5:7) He wants you to listen to him so that you can benefit
yourself. (Isa. 48:17, 18) When some of Jehovah’s servants
in ancient Israel ignored his counsel, they caused him to feel
pain. (Ps. 78:40, 41) On the other hand, Jehovah felt deep affection
for the prophet Daniel, for an angel called him a “very
desirable man.” (Dan. 10:11) Why? Daniel remained loyal to
God not only when in public but also in private.—Read Daniel
6:10.
COMMENTS
Where is Jesus in this whole scenario…not concerned about hurting Jesus? At least he was human and had parents and grew up a young man in difficult times.
17. What questions could you ask yourself when choosing entertainment?
17 To remain loyal to God when you are by yourself, you must
develop your “perceptive powers . . . to distinguish both right
and wrong” and then train those powers “through use” by acting
on what you know is right. (Heb. 5:14) For example, when
choosing the music you listen to, the movies you watch, or the
Internet sites that you visit, here is what will help you choose
what is right and avoid what is wrong. Ask yourself the following
questions: ‘Will this material encourage me to be tenderly
compassionate or will it influence me to rejoice “at another’s disaster”?’
(Prov. 17:5) ‘Will it help me to “love what is good” or
will it make it difficult for me to “hate what is bad”?’ (Amos 5:
15) What you do when you are alone reveals the values you really
treasure.—Luke 6:45.
COMMENTS
Is this a masturbation paragraph? So jw children get to choose music, movies, internet sites (why is Internet capitalized?)? Or do they have mum and dad checking them and tossing them (see money above)? Just like the elders check the CDs, videos, DVDs or their parents when they “drop by” for a visit and use it as an occasion to pry into their privacy?
This reminds me of the time a brother was invited to an elder’s home to view a movie. It turned out it was an R-rated movie and this elder and his family had already viewed it so they could fast forward through the “bad” parts.
18. What should you do if you have secretly been engaging in wrong conduct,
and why?
18 What should you do if you have secretly been engaging in
conduct that you know to be wrong? Remember, “he that is covering
over his transgressions will not succeed, but he that is confessing
and leaving them will be shown mercy.” (Prov. 28:13)
How unwise it would be to continue in a wrong course and “be
grieving God’s holy spirit”! (Eph. 4:30) You really owe it to God,
to your parents, and to yourself to confess any wrongdoing. In
this regard, “the older men of the congregation” can do a great
deal for you. The disciple James says: “Let them pray over [the
wrongdoer], greasing him with oil in the name of Jehovah. And
the prayer of faith will make the indisposed one well, and Jehovah
will raise him up. Also, if he has committed sins, it will
be forgiven him.” (Jas. 5:14, 15) Admittedly, this may result
in some embarrassment and perhaps some unpleasant consequences.
But if you have the courage to ask for help, you will
spare yourself any further damage and will feel the relief that
comes from regaining a clear conscience.—Ps. 32:1-5.
COMMENTS
Should jws be confessing to God or to men…like Catholics confess to priests, a practice the WTS says is wrong?
What kind of “sin” since we all sin everyday? Do the elders want the rank and file running to them with every bad thought and word?
Make Jehovah’s Heart Glad
19, 20. What does Jehovah want for you, but what must you do?
19 Jehovah is “the happy God,” and he wants you to be happy.
(1 Tim. 1:11) He is keenly interested in you. Even if no one
else notices the effort you put forth to do what is right, he does.
Nothing is hidden from Jehovah’s eyes. He looks on, not to find
fault, but to support your endeavor to do good. God’s “eyes are
roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf
of those whose heart is complete toward him.”—2 Chron.
16:9.
COMMENTS
But only happy his way. No one else notices…he does…how do you know?
20 Therefore, allow yourself to be guided by God’s Word, and
apply its advice. You will thus gain the wisdom and understanding
needed to overcome thorny problems and to make difficult
choices in life. You will not only please your parents and Jehovah
but also enjoy a genuinely happy life.
COMMENTS
What if your understanding of the Bible does not match your parents’ opinion? Don’t you obey God rather than men? Can jws understand the Bible without WTS publications?
How Would You Answer?
What can young ones do to cope with and benefit
from parental rules and correction?
Why is it important to gain a balanced view of money?
How can you remain loyal to Jehovah even when
alone?
CLOSING COMMENTS
Late again. Forgot my comments at work. We went out for a wonderful dinner and a floor show for the first time on a New Year’s Eve. We even stayed awake till midnight.
Next week, YOUNG ONES, RESIST PEER PRESSURE. Does that mean not getting baptized because all your “friends” are?
Love, Blondie