2020 May 18-May 19 Proverbs 15, ML Select, TWGA, CTC Corner
2020 May 18-May 19 Proverbs 15, ML Select, TWGA, CTC Corner
"1 A mild answer turns away rage, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise makes good use of knowledge, But the mouth of the stupid blurts out foolishness. 3 The eyes of Jehovah are everywhere, Watching both the bad and the good. 4 A calm tongue is a tree of life, But twisted speech causes despair. 5 A fool disrespects his father’s discipline, But a shrewd person accepts correction."
Prove 15:1: How wise! When anger flares, a mild, gentle response can defuse the situation, while a painful or harsh response escalates the problem. A person truly having mildness always prefers a gentle approach in their pattern of life, with a calm heart. While such a one might still become irritated about something, especially serious matters, one with self-control can maintain enough calm to think through the problem or see how to cope with it. We should typically care enough about the other person and his or her feelings to avoid speaking harsh or painful words to this one, even if we're irritated about something. The wise quality of shrewdness, or prudence, enables us to look ahead and see the outcome or consequences of our speech or actions, and avert a disastrous course by making a better decision. (Prove 22:3). The qualities of mildness and self-control are part of the fruitage of God's holy spirit, which we can pray for (Galatians 5:22-23).
"2 The tongue of the wise makes good use of knowledge, But the mouth of the stupid blurts out foolishness."
Prove 15:2: Even the tongue can put
knowledge to good use, benefitting others by our encouraging wise words. The
stupid one, morally, may know the right thing but often won't do it, choosing
foolishness which is in his heart. "Out of the heart's abundance the mouth
speaks." He needs to humble himself before God, accepting His loving
correction. Also, it is good for such a person to realize a purpose to our having two ears and only one mouth. How much better and wiser to become a good LISTENER! We have much to learn from others, and shouldn't usually be a constant barrage of words everywhere we go, or there will often be transgression of speech and lack of consideration for others. In the words of James 1:19: "Know this, my beloved brothers: Everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger."
"3 The eyes of Jehovah are everywhere, Watching both the bad and the good."
Prove 15:3: Yes, Jehovah sees both
the good and the bad--angels are watching as well. Will we make Jehovah's heart
glad by practicing what is good? How wise and loving to please Him! Yes, we are accountable to our Creator--we must answer to Him for what we say and do--and want to live life in a way that honors and appreciates Him.
"4 A calm tongue is a tree of life, But twisted speech causes despair."
Prove 15:4: Literally, "a tongue
of healing" uses wisdom aright, to refresh others, helping them find and
remain on the road to endless life in peace and happiness. Twisted or corrupt
speech, brings nothing of value. Another proverbs says "the tongue of the wise is a healing..." This reveals how important it is to God that we typically speak in a peaceable, gentle manner, promoting the genuine happiness that God purposes for mankind. James 3:17-18 says "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, not hypocritical. 18 Moreover, the fruit of righteousness is sown in peaceful conditions for those who are making peace." Thus to obtain genuine righteousness, or adherence to God's right and loving standards, built on faith that leads to eternal life, a peaceful demeanor is necessary, as one desiring to promote true peace with others.
"5 A fool disrespects his father’s discipline, But a shrewd person accepts correction."
Prove 15:5: Once again the fool needs
to humble himself and listen to God's counsel. The shrewd, or foresighted
person, looks ahead at the consequences, good or bad, of his decisions and
actions, and learns to appreciate the good that can come from accepting advice
and correction. Our ultimate heavenly Father, Jehovah, offers us advice leading to genuine security and happiness. As He states in Proverbs 1:23,33 "Respond to my reproof. Then I will pour out my spirit for you; I will make my words known to you...33... the one listening to me will dwell in security And be undisturbed by the dread of calamity.”
( NewsUSA ) – The COVID-19 pandemic is generating fear, confusion, and economic uncertainty for many older Americans, especially those living on a fixed income.Fortunately, the National Council on Aging (NCOA), a trusted nonprofit that has been helping older adults age with dignity and economic security for the last 70 years, is providing valuable information about coronavirus on its website, www.ncoa.org.NCOA experts are regularly curating and updating resources that are of vital importance to older adults and their caregivers. You will find blogs, links, and videos that address a wide range of issues, including: Food If you or someone you care for needs meals delivered, NCOA offers links to Meals on Wheels and Feeding America with options to search in your zip code for local services. Feeding America and other food banks are adapting to the situation by setting up social distancing guidelines and smaller community drop-off points. For those who qualify, there is a link to apply for SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, which helps individuals pay for nutritious food. Finances Many older Americans, especially those living on a fixed income, are concerned that COVID-19 will impact their financial situation now and in the future. In fact, many federal, state, and local benefits programs are available to older adults for help with financial challenges, including utility payments, medication costs, rent, and other expenses.NCOA’s companion website, www.BenefitsCheckUp.org , offers information about eligibility and how to apply for billions of dollars in benefits.In addition, although older Americans are advised to avoid non-essential travel, older adults can find options for critical transportation for essential medical visits or to pick up food and medication. NCOA provides a link to Eldercare Locator to help find local transportation services, and also offers information about navigating telemedicine visits, which are becoming easier and more commonplace.Those concerned about Medicare benefits in the COVID-19 health care environment can use NCOA’s links to state and government sites for the latest information. Feelings The stress and isolation of the coronavirus pandemic is taking a toll on everyone’s emotions. While NCOA urges older adults to follow physical isolation guidelines to remain physically healthy, it also offers tips for older adults, their caregivers, and families to use technology to stay in touch with loved ones and friends, and remain emotionally healthy as well.Visit www.ncoa.org for what older adults should know about COVID-19, as well as other information about healthy aging. It’s a treasure trove of valuable resources for older adults and their caregivers.
Week 11: ISSUE BY ISSUE ADDRESSED BY GOD’S KINGDOM: PUSHING RESET: LETTING WORK BECOME MORE ENJOYABLE, REWARDING.
Isaiah 65:16-19: “16 So that anyone who seeks a blessing for himself in the earth Will be blessed by the God of truth...For the former distresses will be forgotten; They will be concealed from my eyes. 17 For look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be called to mind, Nor will they come up into the heart. 18 So exult and be joyful forever in what I am creating. For look! I am creating Jerusalem a cause for joy And her people a cause for exultation. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people; No more will there be heard in her the sound of weeping or a cry of distress.”
Isaiah 65:22b-23: “22 They will not build for someone else to inhabit, Nor will they plant for others to eat. For the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, And the work of their hands my chosen ones will enjoy to the full. 23 They will not toil for nothing, Nor will they bear children for distress, Because they are the offspring made up of those blessed by Jehovah, And their descendants with them.”
LOOKING FORWARD. While most in the U.S. seem to have been pretty content with their jobs in recent years, there are others who, while grateful to have work, still find it difficult to get through the workday. Many have been in this situation for years, and have gotten by, but have looked forward to a time, under God’s Kingdom, when work would be more refreshing, enjoyable. How might such a change come about?
THE BLESSING OF JEHOVAH. It is understandable that many companies have had to work hard to remain viable in the economy of recent years, and often they have felt forced to tighten the work ethic of their employees, to squeeze out every dime possible in profit, just to get by. Of course, sometimes this is because stock companies are driven to gradually increase profits, rather than just to remain profitable. However, under the rule of God’s Kingdom, good companies to remain will prove more reliant upon God for His blessing on their activities. They will be willing to submit to God’s direction as provided through His son. In recent years, emphasis has more often been placed on the dollar, with some attempt at maintaining a level of security and peace in the workplace. In the process, proper freedoms and happiness of the workers have often been left behind. While the money is a vital part of business, it is “the blessing of Jehovah that makes rich, and He adds no pain with it.” If all look to Jehovah and Christ, there is little reason why most good businesses would not be able to thrive while ensuring the security, peace, and also the happiness of those working for them.
NOTHING BETTER! Because of emphasis on certain scriptures, while neglecting others, some have come to believe God’s new world would be largely work-free, but rather, God made it a gift to man to see good for all his hard work. In fact, Ecclesiastes 2 says “24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in his hard work. This too, I have realized, is from the hand of the true God.” Thus, our work should be purposeful, and beneficial toward mankind and in harmony with the will of God. Then, we may rejoice in our contribution to society, to a peaceful, prosperous and happy new world. Of course, there would be time for rest and relaxation. In fact, Ecclesiastes 4 says “6 Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of hard work and chasing after the wind.” And Micah 4 says “4 They will sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, And no one will make them afraid, For the mouth of Jehovah of armies has spoken.” While this prophecy is yet future, still can we not begin to think along the lines of new world living, and start incorporating better habits that will carry us into an eternity of happiness?
WORK SCHEDULES. While there is a variety of work schedules in our economy, for various reasons at each business, there are certain schedules that have become commonplace, and others that have contributed to more peace and enjoyment among workers. What if it was possible to have a common agreeable and reasonable work schedule that gave more time off to workers, while still allowing most a substantial workweek? What if we could “push reset,” and agree on a better schedule for most businesses? One that has found much favor is the four-day, 8-10 hour schedule, especially one that alternates between a Monday and Tuesday start from week to week. Why this? What if you started work on a Tuesday, and worked four days through Friday, looking forward to a normal two-day weekend. Then, the next week, you began Monday, and worked through Thursday, and this time, rather than a two-day weekend, you could enjoy a four-day weekend, Friday through Monday? Would that not allow for some extended freedom and enjoyment on the part of many, determining how best to utilize those four days off, every other weekend? The 10-hour per day schedule is less intrusive to life than a 12-hour schedule, which in practice begins to wear on many people, especially through night work. Some businesses could thrive on the forty-hour workweek, while others may be able to do just as well with a 8- or 9-hour day, and a 32- or 36-hour workweek. However, some factories may need continued work through the rest of the week. What if some workers wanted or needed extra work, and chose to extend their workweek into the Friday and/or Saturday for one week, and into the Saturday for the next? They might need the extra pay, at least for a time. What if other workers could work part-time, just the Friday and/or Saturday one week, and just the Saturday the next? Perhaps the alternating Monday could be downtime used for maintenance personnel on factory equipment, or the part-time workers could also work this day as well. Would not these part-time workers be good candidates to substitute during the regular week when an employee needs or wants off for some reason? The part-time workers could thus substitute during the week on occasion.
OTHER MATTERS. Also, as mentioned, some jobs are more challenging than others to maintain throughout a workday, such as some factory jobs. If we could "push reset," in many cases, could it be possible for the speed of the equipment to be cut back, even just a bit, to take some of the constant pressure or tension off of many workers, while still maintaining reasonable productivity? Understandably, the timing of some machinery may be such that this is not a simple task to achieve. Still,we shouldn't forget that happy workers can be productive workers! Thinking creatively, with God's blessing, there may be other ways to maintain profitability. As well, what if, wherever possible or appropriate, some of the more experienced workers, who’ve perhaps over the years filled several positions in the work at various times, could become sort of “relief workers,” able to fill in for a worker who could use a break for a time, for a drink and a chance to relax, make a phone call, etc. before returning? These relief workers may well know the more trying jobs, and could provide assistance to these more often than others. They might also help each other to learn jobs or skills they may not yet know well enough. And they may start their day by filling in for one of the workers who, on occasion, could meet with a supervisor to discuss progress and improvement on the job, as well as any issues that are impeding productivity or job contentment. Having kind and understanding supervisors, of course, would go a long way to promoting job satisfaction. A relief worker could thus also be available for filling in if someone had a genuine emergency and couldn’t come in, until a replacement shows up for work. Then, certainly, job assignments should be examined on occasion to look for ways to make them less demanding, and more reasonably accommodating to an average worker. And, utilizing workers in the right place may also be useful, as some workers thrive on excitement and busy-ness, while others may tend to be more thoughtful and thorough. Most, still, can rise to the occasion when called upon to do so, but a mismatch of personality could create unnecessary tension in an otherwise contented worker.
TRUE SUCCESS. Thus, most good businesses could do well in such a scenario, as they look to God to bless their efforts and their work to be successful and profitable. You may have noticed Sunday work has not been mentioned. Could not Jehovah’s hand be on the matter, to bless and reward a business that acknowledges His Sabbath requirement, to allow workers time off for spiritual matters? Psalm 127:1 says: “127 Unless Jehovah builds the house, It is in vain that its builders work hard on it. Unless Jehovah guards the city, It is in vain that the guard stays awake.” Therefore, God’s blessing should be sought paramount on one’s business, with the realization that God’s loving and wise ways contribute to true success! Certainly Jehovah can assist with finding the contracts or work necessary to keep a business thriving, or at least afloat through an occasional downtime. In this, TRUE success could be found, in looking to God and wisely supporting the doing of His will toward mankind!
CONCLUSION
LOOK TO JEHOVAH. What blessings could be in store if most all can be respectful of, and agreeable to, God’s direction for the work that will be done to promote security, peace, and happiness among mankind under the rule of His son! When a business owner and fellow employees look to Jehovah for His blessing, in a work that has His smile of approval, while humbly seeking to be guided by God’s wisdom in business and work activities, there is a good chance of it proving successful. If such a business does start to decline, pray about the matter, and look for the answer, trusting that God may well supply it if we act in faith, or deep trust in Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 says this: “5 Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, And do not rely on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways take notice of him, And he will make your paths straight.” Such is the path of a righteous one. Proverbs 4:18 says “18 But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light That grows brighter and brighter until full daylight.” Revelation also holds promise of a new and better world. After promising an end to such things as death, pain and sorrow, God offers this message: "And the One seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new.” Also he says: “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” (Revelation 21:3-5). May we all look forward to the promised blessings of God’s Kingdom, and the conditions for which human hearts long—the genuine security, peace, happiness, prosperity and freedom that belong to the people of Jehovah!


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