Comments You Will Not Hear at the 02-03-2013 WT Study (DECEMBER 15, 2012, pages 4-8)(REAL SUCCESS)
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FIND REAL SUCCESS IN LIFE
“You will make your way successful and
. . . act wisely.”—JOSH. 1:8.
HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?
How successful was Solomon?
In what way was Paul truly successful?
How can you be lastingly successful?
OPENING COMMENTS
I wish I knew how to bring in the manipulated picture of Paul going door to door with a book bag (see page 7 in this article above).
Where are the scrolls?
http://i33.tinypic.com/nejgo5.jpg
http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/publishingcult/1stcenturyhousetohousewithpubs.jpg
Page 6 shows a 1 st century elders school, right?
Page 4 shows that men are not required to wear suit coats from door to door.
START OF ARTICLE
1, 2. (a) How do many people define success? (b) How
might you gauge your view of success?
WHAT does it mean to be successful in
life? Ask people that question, and you
will find that their answers vary greatly.
Many, for example, define success in terms of
outstanding achievement in financial, professional,
or academic pursuits. Others factor in relationships
—how well they relate to family, friends, or workmates.
One who serves God might even link success
to a position of responsibility in the congregation or
to achievements in the ministry.
COMMENTS
Ask which people? Many, how many? Is based on a survey or a study or the personal opinion of the author of this article?
Sounds like elders/MS and pioneers feel their future lies in what they do….but that’s what the WTS teaches.
2 To identify your personal view of success, you
might write down the names of a few people whom
you consider to be successful—those whom you most
admire and respect. What outstanding characteristic
do they have in common? Are they rich or famous?
Are they prominent? The answers may well reveal
what is in your heart, and that can profoundly influence
the choices you make and the goals you pursue.
—Luke 6:45.
COMMENTS
People you view as successful: Jesus, Mary, Dorcas, Abigail, Jael, etc.
Is this a trick question for jws?
Are there prominent jws?
When I visited new congregations when I traveled, people would tell me how many elders, regular pioneers they had, and then ask how many my congregation had.
How are GB members treated at conventions…only certain ones can talk to them, they are protected, and concealed in private areas.
I just saw a picture where GB members were signing bibles for public officials…prominent, famous?
http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac200/publishingcult/gbsigning.jpg
3. (a) What was Joshua to do to make his way successful?
(b) What will we now consider?
3 What matters most is whether Jehovah views us
as successful, for our very lives depend on his approval.
When giving Joshua the weighty assignment
of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, Jehovah
told him to read the Mosaic Law “day and
night” and to be careful to obey what was written in
it. God assured him: “Then you will make your way
successful and then you will act wisely.” (Josh. 1:7, 8)
And you know that Joshua did prove to be successful.
What about us? How may we determine whether
our view of success matches God’s view? To that
end, consider the lives of two men mentioned
in the Bible.
COMMENTS
Yes, does God view us as successful but does his view of us filter through the GB? Or through other “imperfect” elders who can make a similar decision that the judges of Israel could make, that one was deserving of death, execution?
Remember though that Joshua was used by God to kill innocent children.
(Joshua 10:40) . . .And Joshua proceeded to strike all the land of the mountainous region and the Neg′eb and the She·phe′lah and the slopes and all their kings. He did not let a survivor remain, and everything that breathed he devoted to destruction, just as Jehovah the God of Israel had commanded.
(Joshua 11:14) 14 And all the spoil of these cities and the domestic animals the sons of Israel plundered for themselves. It was only all humankind that they struck with the edge of the sword until they had annihilated them. They did not let anyone that breathed remain.
WAS SOLOMON SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE?
4. Why might it be said that Solomon was successful?
4 In many ways, Solomon was exceptionally
successful. Why? Because for a
number of years, he feared and obeyed
Jehovah, who blessed him greatly. Recall
that when Jehovah had Solomon make
a request, the king asked for wisdom
to guide the people. Thereupon God
blessed him with both wisdom and riches.
(Read 1 Kings 3:10-14.) His wisdom
was “vaster than the wisdom of all the
Orientals and than all the wisdom of
Egypt.” Solomon’s fame came to be
known “in all the nations all around.”
(1 Ki. 4:30, 31) As to wealth, his annual
revenue of gold alone weighed
some 25 tons! (2 Chron. 9:13) He was
brilliant in diplomacy, construction, and
commerce. Yes, while he maintained
his right standing with God, Solomon
proved to be successful.—2 Chron. 9:
22-24.
COMMENTS
How successful was Solomon who died an apostate with 1,000 wives/concubines, a worshipper of many false gods, even building temples for them.
*** w04 4/1 pp. 11-12 par. 9 Resist the Spirit of a Changing World ***
And Solomon’s wisdom was vaster than the wisdom of all the Orientals and than all the wisdom of Egypt.” (1 Kings 4:21, 29, 30; 11:9) Surely, one might think, if anyone was likely to remain faithful to God, it was Solomon. Yet, Solomon drifted into apostasy.
Though Solomon died in an apostate state, the WTS says he will be resurrected. What about so-called ex-jw apostates today?
*** w05 7/15 p. 31 Questions From Readers ***
What happened to Solomon when he died? The Bible answers: “The days that Solomon had reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel were forty years. Then Solomon lay down with his forefathers, and was buried in the City of David his father.” (1 Kings 11:42, 43) Hence, it seems reasonable to conclude that Solomon is in Sheol, or Hades, from which he will be resurrected.
This conclusion implies that the possibility of being resurrected is open to others concerning whom the Scriptures specifically say, ‘they lay down with their forefathers.’ In fact, many of the kings who succeeded Solomon, though unfaithful, are spoken of in this way. This is not inconceivable, since “there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Acts 24:15) Of course, only after “all those in the memorial tombs” are raised will we know for a certainty who has been favored with a resurrection. (John 5:28, 29) So rather than be dogmatic about the resurrection of any particular individual of old, we wait, trusting in Jehovah’s perfect decision.
Yet the WTS says this about “unrepentant apostates” which Solomon certainly was.
*** w82 4/1 p. 27 par. 6 Survival or Destruction at the “Great Tribulation” ***
Now, the Bible definitely shows that some end up in the symbolic Gehenna before the 1,000-year Judgment Day begins. Jesus told the unrepentant scribes and Pharisees that they and their Gentile proselytes were ‘subjects for Gehenna’ or, literally, ‘sons of Gehenna.’ (Matthew 23:15, 33-35; see also John 9:39-41; 15:22-24.) If even a proselyte of the Pharisees became a subject for Gehenna ‘twice as much so as themselves,’ how much more so Judas Iscariot, who made a heinous deal with them to betray God’s Son! Jesus implied this when he called Judas “the son of destruction.” (John 17:12) Similarly, unrepentant apostates go, at death, not to Sheol, or Hades, but to Gehenna. (Hebrews 6:4-8; 2 Peter 2:1) The same is true of dedicated Christians who persist in willful sin or those who “shrink back.” (Hebrews 10:26-31, 38, 39)
And here the WTS resorts to speaking out of the other side of the mouth.
*** w06 3/15 p. 6 The Only Remedy! ***
We must be careful, though, not to speculate on whether a certain person will be resurrected or not. This judgment belongs to God. He knows who is in Hades and who is in Gehenna.
5. What did Solomon conclude about those
who are successful before God?
5 What Solomon wrote in the book of
Ecclesiastes shows that he was not misled
into thinking that achievement and
joy are limited to those having wealth
or prominence. Not at all. He wrote: “I
have come to know that there is nothing
better for them than to rejoice and to
do good during one’s life; and also that
every man should eat and indeed drink
and see good for all his hard work. It
is the gift of God.” (Eccl. 3:12, 13) And
he realized that such pleasures are truly
meaningful for the one who has God’s
approval, who has a good relationship
with Him. Solomon rightly stated: “The
conclusion of the matter, everything
having been heard, is: Fear the true God
and keep his commandments. For this
is the whole obligation of man.”—Eccl.
12:13.
COMMENTS
Of course though, Solomon received both wisdom and wealth without any real work on his part, just an accident of birth, easy for him to say that joy did not come out of “wealth or prominence.” And based on the Law, he would never have been born because both David and Bathsheba should have been executed.
And Solomon sought forbidden pleasures, marrying non-Israelite woman and losing God’s approval. He practiced, “do as I say, not as I do.”
6. What insight does Solomon’s example offer
us as to measuring true success?
6 For years, Solomon walked in the
fear of God. We read that he “continued
to love Jehovah by walking in the
statutes of David his father.” (1 Ki. 3:3)
Would you not count that as true success?
At God’s direction, Solomon built
a magnificent temple for true worship
and wrote three Bible books. While we
may not expect to do the same, Solomon’s
example when he was faithful
to God should show us how to evaluate
what is real success and should thus
help us to achieve it. In this regard, remember
that under inspiration Solomon
wrote that wealth, wisdom, fame, and
power—what most people today would
view as benchmarks of success—are
vain. Such things are really empty, “a
striving after wind.” Have you not seen
that many lovers of wealth yearn to have
ever more? And they often worry about
what they do have. Moreover, their riches
will one day go to others.—Read Ecclesiastes
2:8-11, 17; 5:10-12.
COMMENTS
For years…but in the end, Solomon died unfaithful. Had he abandoned his wealth and lived a simple live of full-time service to God?
“when he was faithful” but not to death….so do df’d jws who die unfaithful have the same hope to be resurrected as the WTS gives the apostate Solomon, but not the apostate Judas? What did Solomon value more by the time he died?
7, 8. How did Solomon prove unfaithful, and
with what result?
7 You also know that Solomon eventually
strayed from the course of faithful
obedience. God’s Word states: “It came
about in the time of Solomon’s growing
old that his wives themselves had inclined
his heart to follow other gods; and
his heart did not prove to be complete
with Jehovah his God like the heart of
David his father. . . . Solomon began to
do what was bad in the eyes of Jehovah.”
—1 Ki. 11:4-6.
COMMENTS
Solomon did more than stray, he was an unrepentant apostate by the time he died, subject to Gehenna depending on which WT quote is applied.
8 Rightly displeased, Jehovah told Solomon:
“For the reason that . . . you have
not kept my covenant and my statutes
that I laid in command upon you, I shall
without fail rip the kingdom away from
off you, and I shall certainly give it to
your servant.” (1 Ki. 11:11) How tragic!
Though Solomon had been a success in
many ways, in time he disappointed Jehovah.
In the most important area of life
—faithfulness to God—Solomon failed.
Each of us can ask, ‘Am I determined to
make sure that the lesson learned from
Solomon’s life will help me to be a success?’
COMMENTS
Saul—executed by God
David—should have died as well for the sins of murder and adultery
Solomon—died an unrepentant apostate
Rehoboam—died having established sex worship with ten tribes given to a servant of Solomon
A TRULY SUCCESSFUL LIFE
9. By the world’s standards, was Paul successful?
Explain.
9 The apostle Paul’s life differed greatly
from King Solomon’s. For Paul, there
was no ivory throne or feasting with
kings. Instead, there were times of hunger,
thirst, cold, and nakedness. (2 Cor.
11:24-27) Once he accepted Jesus as the
Messiah, Paul held no position of honor
in the Jewish religion. Rather, the Jewish
religious leaders hated him. He was
imprisoned, whipped, beaten with rods,
and stoned. Paul acknowledged that he
and his fellow Christians were reviled,
persecuted, and defamed. “We have become
as the refuse of the world, the off scouring
of all things, until now.”—1 Cor.
4:11-13.
COMMENTS
How many people were “successful” by the “world’s standards” in Paul’s time? Think how many slaves there were even in the Christian congregation. Paul constantly preached how the Christians of his time including him would be kings and priests with Christ, immortal. So were the Christians they did not received physical persecution and were not reviled or defamed unsuccessful?
Not all Christians will experience severe persecution. WT 02-15-2012 Be Courageous and Very Strong (paragraph 20)
10. Why might it have seemed that Paul
spurned success?
10 As a young man named Saul, the
apostle Paul seemed to have so much
going for him. Born into what may have
been a prominent family, he studied
with Gamaliel, a respected teacher, and
later wrote: “I was making greater progress
in Judaism than many of my own
age.” (Gal. 1:14) Fluent in Hebrew and
Greek, Saul had Roman citizenship,
which accorded him much-coveted privileges
and rights. Had he chosen to keep
pursuing such worldly success, he could
likely have gained personal prominence
and financial security. Instead, he chose
a course that to others—perhaps even to
some relatives—seemed to be sheer folly.
Why?
COMMENTS
Did Paul turn away from these benefits when a Christian? Remember he invoked his Roman citizenship to avoid death.
Did he stop pursuing prominence? Or did he trade rulers? Remember Jesus appeared personally to Paul and spoke to him. How many jws can say that today, anointed or not?
Did he serve God and Jesus for love or reward?
PICTURE: By human standards, Saul appeared
to be on the path to success
11. What values and goal did Paul hold dear,
and why?
11 Paul loved Jehovah and desired his
approval more than riches and prominence
among men. Gaining an accurate
knowledge of the truth, Paul came
to value the ransom, the Christian ministry,
the hope of life in heaven—things
that the world largely ignores. Paul realized
that there was an issue to be settled.
Satan had charged that he could turn hu-
mans aside from serving God. (Job 1:9-
11; 2:3-5) No matter what trials came his
way, Paul was determined to be faithful
to God, to endure in true worship. That
is a goal that is lacking on the world’s
agenda for success.
COMMENTS
Notice the WTS leaves Jesus out of the picture; no love for him mentioned.
How can the ransom be valued by non-anointed jws when the WTS teaches that Jesus is not their mediator?
*** w10 8/15 p. 14 par. 10 How the Ransom Saves Us ***
The Scriptures explain: “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all.”—1 Tim. 2:5, 6.
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/mediator.php
12. Why did you choose to rest your hope on
God?
12 Do you share Paul’s determination?
Though living a life of faithfulness is
not always easy, we know that it brings
Jehovah’s blessing and approval, and
that is what makes one truly successful.
(Prov.10:22) We benefit now, and we certainly
can expect blessings in the future.
(Read Mark 10:29, 30.) Hence, we have
every reason to rest our hope, “not on
uncertain riches, but on God, who furnishes
us all things richly for our enjoyment.”
We ‘safely treasure up for ourselves
a fine foundation for the future,
in order that we may get a firm hold on
the real life.’ (1 Tim. 6:17-19) Yes, we
can be absolutely sure that a hundred
years from now, even a thousand years
or more from now, we will be able to
look back and say, “I definitely chose the
course of real success!”
COMMENTS
No approval from Jesus?
Do we serve God because we love him or we expect blessings?
100 years from now….in the new system or still waiting?
1,000 years….still waiting?
WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS
13. Jesus gave what counsel about storing up
treasures?
13 Jesus said about treasures: “Stop
storing up for yourselves treasures upon
the earth, where moth and rust consume,
and where thieves break in and
steal. Rather, store up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth
nor rust consumes, and where thieves
do not break in and steal. For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
—Matt. 6:19-21.
COMMENTS
Store up treasure in heaven—works = salvation?
14. Why is it unwise to seek earthly treasures?
14 A person’s earthly treasure may be
more than just money. In a sense, it
could include any of those things that
Solomon wrote about that have to do
with being successful in the eyes of men
—prestige, fame, or power. Jesus made a
point similar to the one Solomon made
in the book of Ecclesiastes—worldly treasures
are not lasting. As you have likely
seen in the world around you, all such
treasures are perishable and can be easily
lost. Professor F. Dale Bruner writes
of such treasures: “It is well known that
fame is fickle. Last Saturday’s hero is
next season’s has-been. This year’s
financial success is next year’s bankruptcy.
. . . [Jesus] loves human beings. He
urges them to avoid the inevitable despair
that comes with evanescent glory.
It doesn’t last. Jesus does not want [his]
disciples [to be] disappointed. ‘Every
day the world turns over on someone
who was just sitting on top of it.’ ”
Though most people would agree with
those comments, how many allow the reality
behind them to alter their approach
to life? Will you?
COMMENTS
Who is Professor F. Dale Bruner, when and where did he say this, what are some of his other views and are they compatible with WT doctrine/policy?
Why use views of a man that the WTS would discourage jws from reading; could the WTS not find a quote by a faithful jw or from the bible?
15. For what kind of success should we strive?
15 Some religious leaders have
preached that it is wrong to strive after
success and that all effort to succeed
should be stifled. Note, though, that Jesus
was not condemning all such effort.
Rather, he was exhorting his disciples to
redirect their effort, admonishing them to
store up imperishable “treasures in heaven.”
Our foremost desire should be to
strive to be a success as Jehovah would
view it. Yes, Jesus’ words remind us that
we have a choice as to what we will pursue.
The fact is, though, that we will pursue
what is in our heart, what is of value
to us.
COMMENTS
Jesus was not condemning all but how much? Who decides if it is too much, the WTS and their local congregation representatives the elder?
(2 Corinthians 1:24 ) . . .Not that we are the masters over YOUR faith, but we are fellow workers for YOUR joy, for it is by [YOUR] faith that YOU are standing.
16. In what can we have every confidence?
16 If it is in our heart to please Jehovah,
we can trust that he will see to it
that we have the things we need. He
may permit us to experience temporary
hunger or thirst, as the apostle Paul did.
(1 Cor. 4:11) Nevertheless, we can have
every confidence in Jesus’ wise advice:
“Never be anxious and say, ‘What are we
to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or,
‘What are we to put on?’ For all these are
the things the nations are eagerly pursuing.
For your heavenly Father knows
you need all these things. Keep on, then,
seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these other things will
be added to you.”—Matt. 6:31-33.
COMMENTS
Were the poor, sick, hurt helped by your congregation; were you helped or were you told to wait on God, or that you were not viewed as being in good enough standing in the congregation?
FIND SUCCESS IN GOD’S SIGHT
17, 18. (a) Upon what does true success depend?
(b) Upon what does success not depend?
17 A key point is this: Our being truly
successful does not depend on our
achievements or position in the eyes of
the world. Moreover, true success is not
measured by having a certain responsibility
in the Christian arrangement. Such
a blessing, though, can be related to
what truly is the basis for success, our
obedience and faithfulness to God, who
assures us: “What is looked for in stewards
is for a man to be found faithful.”
(1 Cor. 4:2) And we must endure in being
faithful. Jesus said: “He that has endured
to the end is the one that will be saved.”
(Matt. 10:22) Would you not agree that
being saved is an undeniable evidence of
success?
COMMENTS
Achievements or position in the eyes of the WTS and/or congregation.
How often are elders identified by their “position” to visiting jws. Or ex-Bethelite, ex-CO, regular pioneer, elder’s wife. How many hear, that’s sister “husband not a jw” she’s not as strong as she could be…..
Yes, he that as endured to the end….not like Solomon who got off the train before the end…not a success.
18 Reflecting on the above, you can see
that faithfulness to God is not linked to
prominence, education, financial standing,
or social status; nor is faithfulness
dependent on intelligence, talent,
or ability. In whatever circumstances we
may find ourselves, we can prove faithful
to God. Among God’s people in the first
century, some were rich, others were
poor. To the former, Paul’s counsel “to
work at good, to be rich in fine works,
to be liberal, ready to share” was valid.
Both those rich and those poor could
“get a firm hold on the real life.” (1 Tim.
6:17-19) That is true today too. All of us
have the same opportunity and the same
responsibility: We must remain faithful
and be “rich in fine works.” If we are, we
will be successful in the eyes of our Creator
and have the joy of knowing that we
are pleasing him.—Prov. 27:11.
COMMENTS
faithfulness to God is not linked to
prominence, education, financial standing,
or social status; nor is faithfulness
dependent on intelligence, talent,
or ability.
But it doesn’t hurt if you are Katherine or Rebbie Jackson, Prince, Larry Graham, Oracene Williams, the family with the 5,000 SF house, RV, sports car, cruises, skiing trips, expensive clothes, jewelry, who donate a lot of money to their local congregation, the CO and DO, and the WTS. Lawyers, nurses, doctors, professors, etc.,
19. In the matter of success, what is your resolve?
19 You may not be able to control your
circumstances completely, but you can
control how you deal with them. Strive
to be faithful whatever your circumstances
are. It is worth the effort. Be confident
that Jehovah will bless you richly—
now and throughout eternity. Never
forget the words that Jesus directed to
anointed Christians: “Prove yourself
faithful even to death, and I will give you
the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10) That indeed
is real success!
COMMENTS
*** w87 2/1 p. 15 par. 1 Doing Our Utmost to Declare the Good News ***
“A FEW years ago, many of us thought that only those with special circumstances could pioneer,” wrote a pioneer, or full-time minister, in Japan. “It seems we were wrong. We are learning that only those with special circumstances cannot pioneer.”
The number of pioneers and jws as decreased in Japan and they disappeared from the almost monthly peak reports in the Theocratic News. Have they not been controlling how they deal with them?
Japan had a handful of Witnesses after WW 2....this number skyrocketed to 222,912 by 1998! Then something happened. Publisher figures didn't stop, they dropped by thousands over the next decade!
1998 - Publishers Peak 222,912 Congs. 3,802
EIGHT YEARS LATER----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006 - Publisher decline 217,519 {Loss -5,357} Congs. 3,164 {loss of -638}
Basically no growth in 10 years with huge losses about an entire "District." Any ideas why? What made the Japanese who had 20-30% Increase each year for decades, drop off for the last 10 years?
“crown of life” = no crowns for the non-anointed jws unless you count the elders, “princes” on earth.
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
Next week, YOU ARE A TRUSTED STEWARD (paragraph 3 Luke 12:42-44). Is this preparation for saying that non-anointed jws are now stewards?
Love, Blondie
