ConcernForYouths: How Can I Help Young Ones Stay Faithful?

ConcernForYouths wrote [August 11, 2016 at 3:47 am]:

I've been disappointed by the fact that young ones aren't taking Jehovah seriously. Leaving, dating way too young. I feel Jehovah needs students, researchers, and staying close to the more mature older ones within the congregation, I've thought about it and the only thing I can come up with as for right now is embrace them and seek them OUT! Like actually making planned visits, on a regular bases. What are your thoughts? Scriptural?

JW Advisor: I find it necessary to speak to you about each of our own responsibilities toward those who are lacking faith. Your daily Bible reading is the best place to find what you are looking for. The faithful slave has been discretely teaching all of us to use the Scriptures to help us to make wise decisions.

In this particular matter, Paul's letter to the Romans had some very wise counsel for those of us who are strong in faith. He wrote:

We, though, who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those not strong, and not to be pleasing ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even the Christ did not please himself, but just as it is written: “The reproaches of those reproaching you have fallen upon me.” For all the things that were written beforehand were written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who supplies endurance and comfort grant you to have among yourselves the same mental attitude that Christ Jesus had, so that unitedly you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So welcome one another, just as the Christ also welcomed you, with glory to God in view. For I tell you that Christ became a minister of those who are circumcised in behalf of God’s truthfulness, so as to verify the promises He made to their forefathers, and that the nations might glorify God for his mercy. Just as it is written: "That is why I will openly acknowledge you among the nations, and to your name I will sing praises." And again he says: "Be glad, you nations, with his people." And again: "Praise Jehovah, all you nations, and let all the peoples praise him." And again Isaiah says: "There will be the root of Jesse, the one arising to rule nations; on him nations will rest their hope." May the God who gives hope fill you with all joy and peace by your trusting in him, so that you may abound in hope with power of holy spirit. (Romans 15:1-13)

So, by our strong faith, it is indeed our responsibility to look after those who have weaknesses in their faith. In so doing, we are not trying to please ourselves, to make ourselves feel better. But we should do it to please our neighbors, especially those related to us in the faith. (Galatians 6:10) For what purpose? "To build him up." He shows us our exemplar, Jesus Christ, saying that he did not do what he did to please himself, but because he felt it personally, deep down with deep concern, when he saw ones lacking faith, viewing it as reproaches that he was responsible for correcting.

Paul continues by pointing out, just as I have been here, that we have examples set before us in the Scriptures, to look to for guidance and direction. Through those things we read in the Scriptures, we gain comfort in our hope for the future that helps us to endure. And through that endurance and comfort, we can acquire the same mental attitude of our Savior, Jesus Christ, being personally cut to see ones lacking faith, because it is through that deep concern that we draw close to such ones and strengthen them so that they might glorify God along with us.

How can we do that? Paul answers: "So welcome one another, just as the Christ also welcomed you." For what purpose? To bring glory to God. Thus, we keep that glory in mind when we welcome those young ones and others lacking faith. It is by our being welcoming to them that they are drawn to God. How can we welcome them? Paul again answers. Our exemplar, Jesus, sought to turn back the hearts of his brothers. In what ways? He strengthened their faith by pointing their attention to how the promises of God had been fulfilled toward them, that he had promised toward Abraham and his descendants, so that the nations could glorify God for the mercy extended to them through sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Thus, with our lips we can warmly welcome and strengthen the faith of those who are weak with deep, warm concern.

Thus, it is we ourselves who must widen out in our affections if we are to protect our brothers. (Romans 12:10; 2 Corinthians 6:11-13) In order for us to provide the hope from God to those weak ones, we ourselves must be filled with joy and peace through our own faith in God, trusting that he is looking out for such ones through us, so that you may "abound in hope", not just for yourself, but to share it with those who are weak. Because when they see the hope you have and how it shines through in the things you both say and do, then it will rightly infect them. This will thus be the power and the spirit of God working by means of you to comfort them by their beholding your faith, hope and endurance. Observe yourself so that you will be a fine example whom they can look to.

I hope I have answered your question or at least provided you with something that will make you more capable in dealing with such ones. [August 11, 2016 at 9:22 pm]

ConcernForYouths wrote [August 22, 2016 at 5:25 pm]:

. . . [That] made good sense! . . . I've read it several times and enjoyed it. I've just been concerned with the young ones in my congregation, so I asked. It's not too late for them until the great tribulation. I've seen them grow and then go, therefore I felt like something could have been done. Only time will tell, thank you.

JW Advisor: Give thanks to Jehovah. I'm glad it helped, ConcernForYouth. Your concern is admirable. Taking some under wing who have no one in their family to look to is a good way to help them. But for those with a strong Christian role model in their family, they do not need us to intervene except in being someone to look to as another fine example and someone they can rely upon and confide in as a loyal friend as to Jehovah.

As for the great tribulation, who is judged will still be up to God and Christ. Though our message changes and false religion gets destroyed, the judgment of the nations will still be yet future. Being part of Jehovah's organization is only the surest way to survive the judgment, and even that is not a certainty. Each person will be judged individually according to the mark on their foreheads by the secretary's inkhorn.

Guest Advisor: That was tied up nicely. If I could add something I read recently and replace the expression, "single parent" with "Brother or Sister" in the December, 1, 2010 WT.

Discerning Their Needs
It may seem that the obvious thing to do is to ask a brother or sister), “How can I help?” Realistically, though, this rarely results in someone’s telling you what his or her real needs are. As noted earlier, Psalm 41:1 recommends “acting with consideration.”

One reference work explains that the Hebrew term used here can mean “the process of thinking through a complex arrangement of thoughts resulting in a wise dealing.”

Therefore, to find out the best way to help, you need to give serious thought to the challenges the single parent faces. Be observant, not just taking a superficial look at the situation.

PrioritizingTheFaith: How Do I Talk to My Boss About Withdrawing my Compromise?

PrioritizingTheFaith wrote [June 27, 2016 2:57 pm]:

I basically know what I need to do, but I would like your opinion on something. [...]

When I interviewed with this employer this year, I was asked about the schedule I wanted. I told my boss I could not work Sundays (as any shift would take me from the meetings) but I could work any other time, and he offered me the day shift as that's what he needed. He told me I would not have to worry about Sundays. He did not tell me about the projects that would require me to work some Sundays. But I'm ok with giving him some Sundays.

Shortly after getting hired, I had to work two consecutive Sundays because we have projects on the weekends at times and they will not stand up to the customer to get this changed. We do not have the manpower to have a non-negotiable Sunday project day, but that's another story.

I had to miss a meeting two Sundays ago because of this, and I have public talk July 17th that was scheduled on May 25th, and my work schedule is out, and I have to work Sunday July 10th, and Sunday July 17th (the date of my talk).

There is no way I'm missing my talk. It was scheduled over a month ago.

The advice I would need is exactly how to approach him about this. He told me I would not have to worry about Sundays, but since I've been hired, I've missed about 6 meetings this year on Sunday, and now I'm being asked to give up two more, including my talk, in back-to-back weeks.

Of course, this is upsetting and nonsense because I believe I was lied to. He knew the weekend project day, and did not tell me about it.

Any advice would be appreciated, and I am going to Jehovah about this.

JW Advisor: I commend you for seeking advice on this matter in spite of knowing what you need to do. (Proverbs 15:22) It shows humility. I can understand this situation, and did it myself once. But you should understand that the fact that you compromised after telling him you needed Sundays off gives him ammunition to use against you. (Daniel 6:4-5) So if you want to stand your ground now, it could be seen as grounds for termination and you would have to accept the consequences. However, if there is paperwork establishing that you needed Sundays off, you may have legal recourse, though the fact that you compromised weakens your case.

The fact is, if we want to represent Jehovah well, we need to be people of our word. (James 5:12) If you say you need Sundays off, never compromise, stand your ground. Don't accept their attempts at finagling your meetings. Even if you have personal issues that cause you to miss meetings, your stand in the sight of people in the world should not change or be able to be compromised. (Proverbs 29:25)

The fact is, you have a dishonest employer who is seeking to test your commitment to your ideals and your willingness to compromise your beliefs in order to put the company first. He wants to see you as a company man, not realizing that to be a good company man, one needs to be a good servant of Jehovah. Without that, you cannot have the other. (Luke 16:10-13) They hired you knowing that you did not want to work Sundays and explained to them why. If I were you, I would emphasize that to them when they try to say, "But you have worked Sundays." Also emphasize that you felt pressured and threatened by the potential of losing your job but that you are ready to correct the situation.

But before any of that, I recommend explaining tactfully that you believe you compromised your principles when you gave up even just one Sunday for work, and that you don't think it provided your employer with confidence in you to be able to represent their company. The company needs people with high standards whom they can rely upon. By compromising your stand for your faith, you showed that the company also could not rely upon you when the chips are down. But now you wish to correct that situation and stand firm and be someone the company can put their trust in for loyalty and steadfastness.

So now, as to how to provide a solution if your boss still needs more, you might be able to negotiate a work-around. (I recommend attempting that before giving a flat-out refusal to work Sundays. Maybe you could choose one other day in the week to put in some extra hours to make up for the hours you miss going to meetings, and maybe come in early or late to put in a couple of hours on Sunday before or after your meetings. But you should make it clear that your service to God comes first. Our standing firm serves as a witness. (Matthew 10:16-18)

Next time, remember that the firmness of your stand marks you as either a faithful Witness or an unfaithful one. But Jehovah is forgiving so long as you make correction to do what's right in this matter from now on. (Acts 3:19)

Jehovah loves you and will help you to succeed. Pray to him about this matter and continue to pray no matter how it goes and he will guide you. I will also pray for you. [Jun 30, 2016, 2:15 pm]