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00:00 How can we be sure 00:03 that we will give a word at the right time? 00:06 Well, one of the things that will help us is described 00:09 by the apostle Paul in the book 00:11 of the first letter to the Corinthians. 00:14 If you turn with me, please, to 1 Corinthians chapter 12, 00:17 and verse 25, 00:20 notice what Paul says to them: 00:22 “So that there should be no division in the body, 00:26 “but its members should have mutual concern 00:29 for one another.” 00:31 So notice that comment there, 00:33 “mutual concern for one another.” 00:36 If you look at the [Kingdom] Interlinear, 00:39 you’ll notice that literally the Greek says there 00:42 “to be anxious over one another.” 00:47 And it’s interesting also for us to note 00:50 that this Greek word translated here, 00:53 “mutual concern,” 00:55 is the same basic word 00:58 that’s used in the book of Matthew 01:00 when recording what Jesus said 01:02 about not being anxious about anything. 01:05 So that seems a little unusual, doesn’t it? 01:08 Jesus tells us not to be anxious, 01:10 and yet Paul here tells us 01:12 to be anxious for one another. 01:15 How does that work? 01:17 Well, obviously, this word 01:19 has different meanings or different connotations 01:22 in different settings. 01:24 It’s wrong for us to be anxious 01:27 about material things, 01:29 particularly if it shows a lack of faith on our part. 01:32 But on the other hand, it’s appropriate 01:34 that we should be anxious or show concern 01:37 —a wholesome concern— that motivates us to action 01:40 when we’re dealing with our brothers and sisters. 01:43 If you turn over to the book of Philippians, 01:47 you’ll notice that Paul uses 01:49 the same Greek word when describing Timothy 01:52 at Philippians 2:20. 01:57 There he says: “For I have no one else 02:00 “of a disposition like his 02:02 “who will genuinely care 02:05 for your concerns.” 02:07 So this expression “genuinely care” 02:10 —the “care” part of it— is the same Greek word 02:13 about being anxious for others. 02:16 And, of course, that’s the same Greek word 02:19 that Paul used in Philippians 4:6 02:22 where he said: “Do not be anxious over anything.” 02:26 Now at this point, you’re probably thinking: 02:29 ‘How does this all work? 02:31 ‘The same Greek word, and yet we’re told 02:33 ‘not to be anxious, and yet at the same time 02:36 we’re told to be anxious for one another.’ 02:39 Well, maybe we could illustrate it 02:41 with the English word “jealousy.” 02:45 Normally, the connotation we would get 02:47 from the word “jealousy” is something negative, 02:50 but in certain situations or circumstances 02:54 it can have a positive or proper description. 02:58 Perhaps let’s take a husband or a wife 03:01 who finds out that their mate 03:03 is starting to have a wrong romantic attachment 03:07 to someone else. 03:08 Well, shouldn’t they have a feeling of jealousy? 03:11 If they don’t, there’s something wrong. 03:13 So in that situation, 03:15 jealousy is positive. 03:17 Well, in a similar way, 03:19 it’s wrong for us to be anxious 03:21 about material things, 03:23 trying to get ahead in the world, and so on. 03:26 But it’s appropriate 03:28 that we have a wholesome, 03:30 positive anxiety or concern 03:33 for one another. 03:35 So, what is this positive, 03:37 wholesome concern? 03:39 Well, first of all, let’s say what it isn’t. 03:42 First Peter 4:15, 03:45 you can check on that later, but I’m sure you remember, 03:48 it says we should not be “a busybody.” 03:51 So this anxious concern doesn’t mean 03:54 that we’re trying to find out everything about this person. 03:57 Then, also, 1 Timothy 5:13 04:02 speaks of “gossipers . . . 04:04 meddlers in other people’s affairs.” 04:07 So if we were to be anxious in that regard, 04:10 that would be negative. 04:12 It wouldn’t be appropriate, would it? 04:15 So how can we show this wholesome concern 04:19 or anxiety for one another? 04:22 Well, over the years, The Watchtower has made 04:24 many comments on this. 04:26 But perhaps we could say there are four different things 04:29 that we could do that would show this mutual concern. 04:33 The first one is 04:35 to take personal interest in others. 04:38 Yes, genuine interest, not just asking them, 04:41 “How are you?” and not waiting for an answer 04:44 but trying to see what’s happening in their lives 04:48 and show concern for them. 04:51 The second way is by noting things 04:55 that they do or say that we can commend 04:57 and then encourage them. 04:59 So looking for opportunities to encourage one another 05:03 is another way that we show that we have this mutual concern. 05:08 The third way that was mentioned 05:10 in our text comments this morning 05:12 is that we need to try and see 05:14 the potential in others for good. 05:18 We can think of the example of Barnabas. 05:22 Remember, Mark disappointed 05:25 both Barnabas and Paul during the first missionary journey, 05:29 and yet Barnabas didn’t give up on him. 05:32 He saw there was some potential there for Mark to be better, 05:36 to be used in a more interesting way in the future. 05:40 So Barnabas encouraged that quality 05:44 in Mark, and, of course, we realize what the result was. 05:47 Later Mark was very useful not only to Barnabas 05:51 but also to Paul, and, of course, he had the privilege 05:54 of writing an account of Jesus’ life. 05:57 So, what a wonderful privilege he had. 05:59 So like Barnabas, we need to look at younger ones, 06:02 newer ones, and even everybody 06:05 to see if we can see potential for improvement 06:09 and then encourage them to be able to reach out 06:12 for further activity. 06:14 The fourth point we’d like to mention 06:16 is the need for us to show confidence in others. 06:21 The apostle Paul was a good example of this. 06:25 If we take our Bibles and turn to the book of Hebrews, 06:29 and you remember when Paul was writing 06:31 to the Hebrew Christians, 06:34 there were many things he had to mention that were negative. 06:37 For example, some were drifting away; 06:40 they were distracted. 06:42 Others had allowed their hearts to harden. 06:46 Yet others really were still immature 06:49 when it came to Christian living. 06:51 They were feeding, as it were, on ‘the milk of the word.’ 06:54 They couldn’t eat properly in a spiritual sense. 06:58 So those things could have perhaps played on Paul’s mind, 07:02 and perhaps he could have become quite negative. 07:05 But notice in Hebrews 10:39 07:10 what Paul says to these brothers and sisters, 07:14 Hebrews 10:39: 07:17 “Now we are not the sort who shrink back to destruction, 07:21 but the sort who have faith for the preserving of our lives.” 07:25 Now, isn’t that a positive comment? 07:27 A positive comment made to those 07:30 who perhaps were neglecting to do 07:33 certain things that they should have done. 07:35 And we notice there too that Paul says: 07:37 “Now we are not the sort.” 07:39 So he includes himself along with these other brothers. 07:44 How could Paul have such confidence 07:47 when writing to those who needed 07:49 such a lot of counsel? 07:52 Well, The Watchtower made two points. 07:54 It said: First of all, Paul tried; 07:57 he endeavored to imitate the viewpoint of Jehovah God. 08:01 Jehovah looks at imperfect humans, 08:03 he sees their potential, 08:05 and he has confidence 08:07 that if they want to do what’s right, 08:10 with his help they’ll be able to do it. 08:13 And the second area 08:15 that Paul was able to trust in was holy spirit. 08:19 He realized that with holy spirit, 08:22 someone can gain the power beyond what is normal 08:26 and overcome all sorts of fleshly desires and problems. 08:30 So those two reasons then 08:33 —Paul’s endeavoring to imitate Jehovah 08:35 and also his belief in the power of holy spirit 08:38 —helped him to be confident, 08:41 to be positive with regard 08:43 to those brothers and sisters. 08:45 So, what can we see with regard 08:47 to us giving a good word at the right time? 08:50 Well, we need to have mutual concern for one another. 08:55 Not the type of concern that we’re busybodies 08:58 or meddlers in other people’s affairs. 09:00 But what were those four points? 09:02 First of all, take personal interest in others, 09:05 commend and encourage them, 09:07 see the potential in them for good, 09:10 and then express confidence. 09:12 If we do that, then we can be sure 09:15 that in a positive way each one of us 09:17 is showing mutual concern.
00:00 How can we be sure 00:03 that we will give a word at the right time? 00:06 Well, one of the things that will help us is described 00:09 by the apostle Paul in the book 00:11 of the first letter to the Corinthians. 00:14 If you turn with me, please, to 1 Corinthians chapter 12, 00:17 and verse 25, 00:20 notice what Paul says to them: 00:22 “So that there should be no division in the body, 00:26 “but its members should have mutual concern 00:29 for one another.” 00:31 So notice that comment there, 00:33 “mutual concern for one another.” 00:36 If you look at the [Kingdom] Interlinear, 00:39 you’ll notice that literally the Greek says there 00:42 “to be anxious over one another.” 00:47 And it’s interesting also for us to note 00:50 that this Greek word translated here, 00:53 “mutual concern,” 00:55 is the same basic word 00:58 that’s used in the book of Matthew 01:00 when recording what Jesus said 01:02 about not being anxious about anything. 01:05 So that seems a little unusual, doesn’t it? 01:08 Jesus tells us not to be anxious, 01:10 and yet Paul here tells us 01:12 to be anxious for one another. 01:15 How does that work? 01:17 Well, obviously, this word 01:19 has different meanings or different connotations 01:22 in different settings. 01:24 It’s wrong for us to be anxious 01:27 about material things, 01:29 particularly if it shows a lack of faith on our part. 01:32 But on the other hand, it’s appropriate 01:34 that we should be anxious or show concern 01:37 —a wholesome concern— that motivates us to action 01:40 when we’re dealing with our brothers and sisters. 01:43 If you turn over to the book of Philippians, 01:47 you’ll notice that Paul uses 01:49 the same Greek word when describing Timothy 01:52 at Philippians 2:20. 01:57 There he says: “For I have no one else 02:00 “of a disposition like his 02:02 “who will genuinely care 02:05 for your concerns.” 02:07 So this expression “genuinely care” 02:10 —the “care” part of it— is the same Greek word 02:13 about being anxious for others. 02:16 And, of course, that’s the same Greek word 02:19 that Paul used in Philippians 4:6 02:22 where he said: “Do not be anxious over anything.” 02:26 Now at this point, you’re probably thinking: 02:29 ‘How does this all work? 02:31 ‘The same Greek word, and yet we’re told 02:33 ‘not to be anxious, and yet at the same time 02:36 we’re told to be anxious for one another.’ 02:39 Well, maybe we could illustrate it 02:41 with the English word “jealousy.” 02:45 Normally, the connotation we would get 02:47 from the word “jealousy” is something negative, 02:50 but in certain situations or circumstances 02:54 it can have a positive or proper description. 02:58 Perhaps let’s take a husband or a wife 03:01 who finds out that their mate 03:03 is starting to have a wrong romantic attachment 03:07 to someone else. 03:08 Well, shouldn’t they have a feeling of jealousy? 03:11 If they don’t, there’s something wrong. 03:13 So in that situation, 03:15 jealousy is positive. 03:17 Well, in a similar way, 03:19 it’s wrong for us to be anxious 03:21 about material things, 03:23 trying to get ahead in the world, and so on. 03:26 But it’s appropriate 03:28 that we have a wholesome, 03:30 positive anxiety or concern 03:33 for one another. 03:35 So, what is this positive, 03:37 wholesome concern? 03:39 Well, first of all, let’s say what it isn’t. 03:42 First Peter 4:15, 03:45 you can check on that later, but I’m sure you remember, 03:48 it says we should not be “a busybody.” 03:51 So this anxious concern doesn’t mean 03:54 that we’re trying to find out everything about this person. 03:57 Then, also, 1 Timothy 5:13 04:02 speaks of “gossipers . . . 04:04 meddlers in other people’s affairs.” 04:07 So if we were to be anxious in that regard, 04:10 that would be negative. 04:12 It wouldn’t be appropriate, would it? 04:15 So how can we show this wholesome concern 04:19 or anxiety for one another? 04:22 Well, over the years, The Watchtower has made 04:24 many comments on this. 04:26 But perhaps we could say there are four different things 04:29 that we could do that would show this mutual concern. 04:33 The first one is 04:35 to take personal interest in others. 04:38 Yes, genuine interest, not just asking them, 04:41 “How are you?” and not waiting for an answer 04:44 but trying to see what’s happening in their lives 04:48 and show concern for them. 04:51 The second way is by noting things 04:55 that they do or say that we can commend 04:57 and then encourage them. 04:59 So looking for opportunities to encourage one another 05:03 is another way that we show that we have this mutual concern. 05:08 The third way that was mentioned 05:10 in our text comments this morning 05:12 is that we need to try and see 05:14 the potential in others for good. 05:18 We can think of the example of Barnabas. 05:22 Remember, Mark disappointed 05:25 both Barnabas and Paul during the first missionary journey, 05:29 and yet Barnabas didn’t give up on him. 05:32 He saw there was some potential there for Mark to be better, 05:36 to be used in a more interesting way in the future. 05:40 So Barnabas encouraged that quality 05:44 in Mark, and, of course, we realize what the result was. 05:47 Later Mark was very useful not only to Barnabas 05:51 but also to Paul, and, of course, he had the privilege 05:54 of writing an account of Jesus’ life. 05:57 So, what a wonderful privilege he had. 05:59 So like Barnabas, we need to look at younger ones, 06:02 newer ones, and even everybody 06:05 to see if we can see potential for improvement 06:09 and then encourage them to be able to reach out 06:12 for further activity. 06:14 The fourth point we’d like to mention 06:16 is the need for us to show confidence in others. 06:21 The apostle Paul was a good example of this. 06:25 If we take our Bibles and turn to the book of Hebrews, 06:29 and you remember when Paul was writing 06:31 to the Hebrew Christians, 06:34 there were many things he had to mention that were negative. 06:37 For example, some were drifting away; 06:40 they were distracted. 06:42 Others had allowed their hearts to harden. 06:46 Yet others really were still immature 06:49 when it came to Christian living. 06:51 They were feeding, as it were, on ‘the milk of the word.’ 06:54 They couldn’t eat properly in a spiritual sense. 06:58 So those things could have perhaps played on Paul’s mind, 07:02 and perhaps he could have become quite negative. 07:05 But notice in Hebrews 10:39 07:10 what Paul says to these brothers and sisters, 07:14 Hebrews 10:39: 07:17 “Now we are not the sort who shrink back to destruction, 07:21 but the sort who have faith for the preserving of our lives.” 07:25 Now, isn’t that a positive comment? 07:27 A positive comment made to those 07:30 who perhaps were neglecting to do 07:33 certain things that they should have done. 07:35 And we notice there too that Paul says: 07:37 “Now we are not the sort.” 07:39 So he includes himself along with these other brothers. 07:44 How could Paul have such confidence 07:47 when writing to those who needed 07:49 such a lot of counsel? 07:52 Well, The Watchtower made two points. 07:54 It said: First of all, Paul tried; 07:57 he endeavored to imitate the viewpoint of Jehovah God. 08:01 Jehovah looks at imperfect humans, 08:03 he sees their potential, 08:05 and he has confidence 08:07 that if they want to do what’s right, 08:10 with his help they’ll be able to do it. 08:13 And the second area 08:15 that Paul was able to trust in was holy spirit. 08:19 He realized that with holy spirit, 08:22 someone can gain the power beyond what is normal 08:26 and overcome all sorts of fleshly desires and problems. 08:30 So those two reasons then 08:33 —Paul’s endeavoring to imitate Jehovah 08:35 and also his belief in the power of holy spirit 08:38 —helped him to be confident, 08:41 to be positive with regard 08:43 to those brothers and sisters. 08:45 So, what can we see with regard 08:47 to us giving a good word at the right time? 08:50 Well, we need to have mutual concern for one another. 08:55 Not the type of concern that we’re busybodies 08:58 or meddlers in other people’s affairs. 09:00 But what were those four points? 09:02 First of all, take personal interest in others, 09:05 commend and encourage them, 09:07 see the potential in them for good, 09:10 and then express confidence. 09:12 If we do that, then we can be sure 09:15 that in a positive way each one of us 09:17 is showing mutual concern.
