CHRISTIAN STANDARD: PRINCIPLED LOVE ENSURES ORPHANS AND WIDOWS ARE CARED FOR.

Now let’s consider Exodus 22, verses 22-24, as God declares: “22 “You must not afflict any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you afflict him at all, so that he cries out to me, I will unfailingly hear his outcry; 24 and my anger will blaze, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will become widows, and your children will be fatherless.”

GAIN INSIGHT INTO THEIR NEEDS. Does not Jehovah God want his servants to defend and look after the weak and vulnerable ones among them?! How seriously he shows that we should have compassion and insight into the needs of especially widows and orphans. Clearly, God shows this was a life or death matter for Israel, to compassionately comprehend what they’re going through. The widow, having been dependent upon her husband while alive, both spiritually and materially, now must materially rely upon whatever savings he may have accumulated until they run dry, or upon any of her own efforts to generate income, perhaps meager, or upon support from family members or perhaps some form of organized assistance. And what of spiritual and emotional support? How mature spiritual women can offer emotional support and encouragement that she may now be lacking from the husband's love, while she continues to receive spiritual instruction from God's word. And what if she has children? These are now fatherless. What a difficult time this may be for a dear child! How fine if other responsible, chaste, mature men and women, perhaps themselves married and parents, render any assistance they can in support of the widow’s caring for the spiritual needs of any such children. Especially may any boys benefit from good examples of men to encourage them and help them progress in divine wisdom, receiving any training that may be offered. The seriousness of this matter for Christians is underscored by the words of James 1:27, where he writes under inspiration: “27 The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world.” Of course, those looking after orphans and widows should be exemplary, untarnished by the world’s moral degradation, rather seeking to honor Jehovah, upholding his righteousness with integrity.

Psalm 25:5, "Cause me to walk in your truth and teach me, For you are my God of salvation. In you I hope all day long."

Again, with the pandemic still looming, there was one additional post, dated Apr 04-Apr 05, regarding COVID-19. This one provided some instruction on how best to proceed, looking to the true God for hope, comfort, and with gratitude for life's preservation through this difficult time. Three things were highlighted as among the most important:

"On COVID-19: The most important things you can do for this global pandemic [are] (1) Pray to the true GOD BY NAME(!!!, Romans 10:13; Joel 2:32; Psalm 83:18, KJV) for HIS favor, guidance, and blessing on your efforts, trusting in His love, power, wisdom and justice, confident that HE will restore any innocent loss of life in the promised resurrection, (2) Take seriously recommended precautions and instructions, looking out for others, and (3) Take seriously your friendship with GOD, not just to get you through this, but long-term, learning or continuing to learn about HIM and HIS purposes and requirements for eternal life, such as by the instruction available on this website, applying it to your everyday life, and seeking to encourage the same for your family members and friends."

APPRECIATE GOOD REMINDERS. Thus, while we are deeply saddened by any loss of life, especially of innocent ones during this time, may we be grateful to God for His loving interest in seeing that many may experience salvation by His hand, through His power and the fine and good reminders and recommendations by those given authority in the earth at this time. May we appreciate such efforts, and submit to these as they may be in harmony with the spirit and law of God's word, looking forward to a new world of righteousness and peace, wherein "...no resident will say: “I am sick.” The people dwelling in the land will be pardoned for their error." (Isaiah 33:24). Let's especially do all we can to be a part of life in God's new world, helping others to be there as well!

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COME TO CONSENSUS CORNER

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!