Comments You Will Not Hear at the 05-11-2014 WT Study (MARCH 15, 2014, pages 7-11)(SELF-SACRIFICE)
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OPENING COMMENTS
I just finished scanning the future “apostasy” articles coming up. In a way the real focus of this article and those is the same: brothers with appointed positions that think too much of themselves and do not obey the GB totally. Especially, the ones that are still in the organization who are pretending.
July 15, 2014 WT
3 A similar situation arose some 1,500
years later in the apostle Paul’s day. Certain
professed Christians adopted false
teachings; yet, they continued to associate
with the congregation. To the
casual observer, these apostates might
not have been different from others in
the congregation.
In itself, belonging to the
Christian congregation was not enough,
just as merely calling on the name of Jehovah
was not enough in Moses’ day.
Faithful worshippers must decisively renounce
unrighteousness.
16Likewise, Jehovah’s people today,
striving to live clean lives, should avoid
intimacy with individuals in the congregation
who persistently disregard
Jehovah’s principles. (Read 1 Corinthians
15:33.)
How to Maintain the Spirit of Self-Sacrifice
“If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself.”— MATT. 16:24 .
HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?
How can we use the Bible to check ourselves for traces of selfishness?
King Saul’s example provides us with what warnings?
How did Peter show that selfish tendencies can be overcome?
1. How did Jesus set a perfect example of self-sacrifice?
WHEN Jesus was on earth, he set a perfect example of self-sacrifice. He put aside his own desires and comforts in order to do God’s will. (John 5:30) By remaining faithful to death on the torture stake, he proved that his spirit of self-sacrifice had no limit.—Phil. 2:8.
Jesus died for his friends and people he did not know and his “enemies.” Would the people at your congregation do the same? More importantly, would they give part of their life, time, energy, money, for you?
I would die for you. But I won't live for you.”
― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower
2. How can we display the spirit of self-sacrifice, and why should we do so?
2 As followers of Jesus, we too need to display the spirit of self-sacrifice. What does it mean to have a self-sacrificing spirit? Simply put, it means that a person is willing to give up his own interests in order to help others. In a sense, it is the opposite of selfishness. (Read Matthew 16:24.) An unselfish spirit can help us to place our feelings and personal preferences after those of others. (Phil. 2:3, 4) In fact, Jesus taught that an unselfish spirit is at the heart of our worship. How so? Christian love, which is part of the motivation behind self-sacrifice, is the hallmark of true disciples of Jesus. (John 13:34, 35) And think of the blessings we enjoy because we are part of a worldwide brotherhood that displays the spirit of self-sacrifice!
Followers of Jesus—why not jws? Because God does not have a “spirit of self-sacrifice.”
Willing to give his own interests to help others—only sham d2d?
Place our feelings and personal preferences after those others—because you might stumble then
Hallmark of disciples of Jesus (can’t dance around John 13:34,35 and insert “Jehovah” in there)
3. What might undermine our self-sacrificing spirit?
3 Still, we face an enemy that can subtly undermine our self-sacrificing spirit. That enemy is our tendency to be selfish. Recall how Adam and Eve manifested selfishness. Eve acted out of a selfish desire to be like God. Her husband manifested a selfish desire to please her. ( Gen. 3:5, 6 ) After turning Adam and Eve away from true worship, the Devil continued to tempt people to be selfish. He even tried that approach when tempting Jesus. ( Matt. 4:1-9 ) In our day, Satan has successfully misled most people, moving them to manifest selfishness in many ways. This merits our attention because the prevailing selfish spirit could rub off on us.— Eph. 2:2 .
Might it be….Satan?
Misled most people…all 7 billion non-jws
So no one in the KH could possibly have a selfish spirit?
4. (a) Can we presently eliminate selfish tendencies? Explain. (b) What questions will we consider?
4 Selfishness may be compared to rust that develops on iron. If an iron object is exposed to the elements, it might begin to rust. The real danger lies in ignoring the rust, allowing it to develop to the point of causing structural damage or failure. Similarly, though we cannot presently eliminate our imperfection and selfish tendencies, we must be alert to the dangers involved and continue to fight such tendencies. (1 Cor. 9:26, 27) How can we recognize signs of selfishness in ourselves? And how can we to a greater degree cultivate our spirit of self-sacrifice?
We cannot…eliminate and imperfection and selfish tendencies…when will they be gone, how long into the new system, only at the end of the 1,000 years? When will people be perfect?
If we don’t recognize it ourselves, there are many people in the congregation who will be quick to point it out, elders and MS and their wives, other brothers and sisters, even their children will tell you what they have heard negative about you from their parents.
USE THE BIBLE TO CHECK FOR SELFISHNESS
5. (a) How is the Bible like a mirror? (See opening image.) (b) When checking ourselves for selfishness, what must we avoid?
5 Just as we can use a mirror to check our physical appearance, so we can use the Bible to check our inner person and correct any defects we might find. (Read James 1:22-25.) However, only if we use it properly will a mirror help us with our appearance. For example, if we just glance at a mirror, we might fail to notice a small but significant blemish. Or if we look into a mirror from an angle, we might see the image of someone else. Similarly, to use the Bible to see a defect, such as selfishness, we should do more than read it casually or use it to see someone else’s faults.
Do “we” use the Bible or the WT publications because “we” cannot understand the Bible without them?
"We must serve Jehovah in truth, as revealed in his Word and made clear in the publications of "the faithful and discreet slave." Watchtower 1996 May 15 p.18
How often do you think the elders, CO, DO, or GB use the bible to see their own faults compared to others?
6. How do we ‘continue’ in the perfect law?
6 To illustrate, we could read God’s Word regularly, even daily, and still not see traces of selfishness that actually are developing in us. How is that possible? Consider this: In James’ example of the mirror, the problem was not that the man failed to look carefully. James wrote that the man “looks at himself.” Here, James used a Greek word that denotes scrutiny or careful consideration. So in this case, what was the man’s problem? James continued: “He goes away and immediately forgets what sort of person he is.” Yes, he turned away from the mirror without acting on what he saw. In contrast, the successful man not only “peers into the perfect law” but also “continues in it.” Instead of leaving the perfect law of God’s Word behind, he persists in following its teachings. Jesus made a similar point when he said: “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples.”—John 8:31.
How many look at themselves? My best point in talking with elders is to know their specific flaws that they have excused in themselves for years. Or when I thought the bible made a good point in a WT study and they did not see themselves in it.
7. How can we use the Bible to check for traces of selfishness?
7 Therefore, to be successful in fighting traces of selfishness, you must first read God’s Word carefully. That may help you to identify areas needing attention. But you need to go further. Dig deeper by doing research. Once you have a Bible account clearly in mind, put yourself into it by asking such questions as: ‘How would I have acted in this situation? Would I really have acted in a right way?’ Most important, after you meditate on what you have read, strive to apply it. (Matt. 7:24, 25) Let us consider how we can use the accounts of King Saul and the apostle Peter to help us maintain a spirit of self-sacrifice.
Fighting “traces”! Read BIBLE carefully but then DEEP research using WT publications. Are they saying that it is too hard for the rank and file to figure it out with just the bible?
LEARN FROM KING SAUL’S WARNING EXAMPLE
8. With what attitude did Saul begin his kingship, and how did he demonstrate this?
8 King Saul of Israel serves as a warning for us about how selfishness can eat away at our spirit of self-sacrifice. Saul began his kingship with a modest and humble view of himself. (1 Sam. 9:21) He refused to punish Israelites who spoke out against his kingship, even though he could have felt justified in defending his God-given position. (1 Sam. 10:27) King Saul accepted the guidance of God’s spirit by leading Israel in a successful battle against the Ammonites. Afterward, he humbly gave Jehovah the credit for the victory.—1 Sam. 11:6, 11-13.
OT-King Saul
Began modest and humble…how many elders (princes) do you know that started out “humble”? The last COBOE in our congregation told the elders that “it was his way or the highway” and the other elders just sat in silence.
9. How did Saul come to develop selfish thinking?
9 Later, Saul allowed selfish thinking and pride to develop, like corrosive rust. When he defeated the Amalekites in battle, he put his own desires ahead of obedience to Jehovah. Saul greedily took the spoil instead of destroying it as God had commanded. And Saul arrogantly built a monument to himself. (1 Sam. 15:3, 9, 12) When the prophet Samuel told him that Jehovah was displeased, Saul tried to justify himself by focusing on the part of God’s command that he had obeyed and by blaming others for his error. (1 Sam. 15:16-21) Additionally, pride made Saul more concerned with saving face before the people than with pleasing God. (1 Sam. 15:30) How can we use the account about Saul as a mirror to help us maintain the spirit of self-sacrifice?
Was Saul the only prideful king? What about David who committed adultery and had the woman’s husband killed to cover it up. The same king who afterwards conducted a census that led to the death of 70,000 Israelites by that king’s choice. Or the king who disobeyed God’s arrangement to transport the ark of the covenant which resulted in the death or Urijah? Did God save David’s face by not making his capital offenses known to the people?
10, 11. (a) What does Saul’s experience teach us about maintaining a self-sacrificing spirit? (b) How can we avoid following Saul’s bad course?
10 First, Saul’s experience shows that we cannot be complacent, assuming that if we previously showed a self-sacrificing spirit, we will automatically continue to manifest it. (1 Tim. 4:10) Bear in mind that Saul did well and enjoyed God’s favor for a while, but he failed to root out selfish tendencies that began to take hold. Jehovah ultimately rejected Saul for his disobedience.
Notice that the WTS uses examples of men with power for those who are not self-sacrificing and the key word is disobedience.
11 Second, we should beware of focusing only on areas in our life in which we are doing well, ignoring aspects that we need to work on. This would be like using a mirror to admire our new clothes while not noticing some dirt on our face. Even if we might not be as self-satisfied as Saul became, we should definitely work to avoid any tendency that may lead to the same bad course. If we receive counsel, let us take care not to justify our actions, minimize the problem, or shift the blame. Rather than be like Saul, it is much better to be open to counsel.—Read Psalm 141:5.
Ignoring aspects we need to work on using the “imperfection” excuse?
*** w09 10/15 pp. 16-17 par. 18 “You Are My Friends” ***
At times, we may find it a challenge to obey the Bible-based direction given to us by the local elders. We are likely aware of their imperfections, and this may distort our view of their counsel. Still, Christ, the Head of the congregation, is pleased to use these imperfect men. Therefore, the way we react to their authority directly influences our friendship with Christ. When we overlook the faults of the elders and joyfully follow their direction, we prove our love for Christ.
12. How could the spirit of self-sacrifice help us if we were to commit a serious sin?
12 However, what if we were to commit a serious sin? Saul wanted to preserve his reputation, and this kept him from making a spiritual recovery. In contrast, a spirit of self-sacrifice could help us to overcome embarrassment and get needed help. (Prov. 28:13; Jas. 5:14-16) For example, one brother began viewing pornography at the age of 12, and he continued to do so in secret for over a decade. He relates: “It was very hard to admit to my wife and to the elders what I’d been doing. But now that I have admitted it, I feel that a huge weight has been taken off my shoulders. Some of my friends were disappointed when I was removed as a ministerial servant, as if I had let them down. Yet, I know that Jehovah is more pleased with my service now than when I was watching pornography, and his view is the one that really matters.”
Haven’t the elders and the administrative uppers like the CO, DO, Legal at Bethel, GB, wanted to preserve their reputation, and discourage sexually abused children and later grown victims from going to the secular authorities to report a serious crime, like murder and rape. But remember David was able to sidestep punishment for his sins to keep his reputation intact.
I saw elder bodies shift the blame to the victim, their families.
PETER OVERCAME SELFISHNESS
13, 14. How did Peter manifest selfish tendencies?
13 The apostle Peter displayed the spirit of self-sacrifice while he was being trained by Jesus. (Luke 5:3-11) Yet, he had to fight selfish tendencies. For instance, he was indignant when the apostles James and John schemed to gain prominent positions alongside Jesus in the Kingdom of God. Perhaps Peter thought that one of those seats should be for him because Jesus had already said that Peter would have a special role. (Matt. 16:18, 19) In any case, Jesus warned James and John, as well as Peter and the rest of the apostles, against selfishly trying to “lord it over” their brothers.—Mark 10:35-45.
Perhaps….assigning a bad motive to Peter! I wonder what he thinks looking down from heaven (WTS doctrine)?
Have you seen appointed men “lord it over”? The ones at the convention that got the best seats, went to the head of the line in food service or the really high ones had another jw go and do it? The jws that are quick to give money to the CO but not a cent to a single jw mother struggling to support her family.
14 Even after Jesus tried to correct Peter’s thinking, Peter continued his struggle with how he viewed himself. When Jesus told the apostles that they would temporarily abandon him, Peter put the others down and elevated himself by claiming that he alone would prove to be faithful. (Matt. 26:31-33) His self-assurance was unfounded, though, for that very night he failed to show a spirit of self-sacrifice. In what amounted to an effort to protect himself, Peter disowned Jesus three times.—Matt. 26:69-75.
Have you see appointed ones elevate themselves as the only truly righteous and faithful? Who cover up their family sins but parade those of rank and file jws?
15. Why is Peter’s overall example heartening?
15 Despite these struggles and failures, Peter’s life is a heartening example. With personal effort and the help of God’s holy spirit, Peter was able to overcome his misguided tendencies and display self-control and self-sacrificing love. (Gal. 5:22, 23) He endured trials that could be viewed as more severe than the ones he stumbled over earlier. He showed humility by how he reacted to a public rebuke from the apostle Paul. (Gal. 2:11-14) And after being rebuked, Peter did not hold a grudge, feeling that his status had been damaged by Paul’s reprimand. Peter continued to express love for Paul. (2 Pet. 3:15) Peter’s example can help us to cultivate a spirit of self-sacrifice.
How quickly though did Peter forget? How long after 36 CE when God had blessed him with his spirit and the baptism of the first Gentiles was Peter shunning the Gentile Christians in Galatia?
Peter had a public rebuke…is that the policy of correcting elders, is it public, correcting COs and DOs and the GB? Or is the opposite, rank and file are told to keep it quiet or be punished. The WTS won’t even warn families of jw pedophiles in their midst. The elders can protect their children though.
After being corrected, how did Peter react? Would we react similarly? (See paragraph 15)
16. How can we display the spirit of self-sacrifice in difficult circumstances?
16 Think about how you react in difficult circumstances. When Peter and the apostles were imprisoned and then flogged because of their preaching, they rejoiced “because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of [Jesus’] name.” (Acts 5:41) You too can view persecution as an opportunity to imitate Peter and follow in Jesus’ footsteps by displaying the spirit of self-sacrifice. (Read 1 Peter 2:20, 21.) This outlook could even help if you received needed discipline from the elders. Follow Peter’s example rather than take personal offense.—Eccl. 7:9.
The most difficult persecution is when so-called fellow believers gossip, lie, and judge people in the congregation.
17, 18. (a) What might we ask ourselves about our spiritual goals? (b) What can we do if we sense a measure of selfishness in our heart?
17 You can also benefit from Peter’s example when it comes to spiritual goals. You can pursue such in a way that reflects a spirit of self-sacrifice. Yet, be careful that this pursuit does not become a quest for prominence. So ask yourself, ‘Could my desire to improve or increase my service to Jehovah be tainted by a wish for more personal recognition or authority, as seemed to have been the case when James and John made their request to Jesus?’
Quest for prominence—now who would be doing that, women, children? Yes, the WTS is focusing on men in the congregation not women and children who will never have such authority even in the so-called new system (except for resurrected anointed women in heaven.)
18 If you detect a measure of selfishness in your heart, ask Jehovah to help you to correct your thinking and feelings; then work harder to concentrate on his glory instead of your own. (Ps. 86:11) You might also pursue goals that would not put you in the limelight. For instance, you might cultivate more fully some aspect of the fruitage of the spirit that you find especially challenging. Or if you prepare diligently for your meeting parts but have little interest in sharing in cleaning the Kingdom Hall, you could set a goal to apply the advice found at Romans 12:16.—Read.
So what glory can a woman aspire to? What goals would that be, oh, cleaning the KH. Meeting parts—the little talks at the TMS? Being honored to do a demonstration (how often do men do these?)
19. What can we do so as not to be discouraged by what we see in the mirror of God’s Word?
19 When we look carefully at ourselves in the mirror of God’s Word and see flaws, even evidences of selfishness, we might become discouraged. If that ever happens to you, reflect on the successful man in James’ illustration. James did not stress how quickly the man fixed the problems he detected or even that he was able to correct every blemish; rather, James says that the man ‘continued in the perfect law.’ (Jas. 1:25) He remembered what he saw in the mirror and kept working to improve. Yes, keep a positive view of yourself and a balanced view of your imperfections. (Read Ecclesiastes 7:20.) Continue to peer into the perfect law, and work to maintain your spirit of self-sacrifice. Jehovah is willing to help you, as he has helped so many of your brothers who, although imperfect, can and do have God’s favor and blessing.
Have male ex-jws been led along with the elusive flaw that held you back from “prominence”? Balanced view of your imperfections—unbalanced by the elders.
Imperfect brothers…sisters must already be perfect then.
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
NEXT WEEK, HOW TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE VIEWPOINT when everyone is telling you what is wrong with you.
Love, Blondie