The Watchtower, January 1, 1950
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WATCHTOWER
Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom
"They shall know that I am Jehovah."
Ezekiel 35:15.
JANUARY 1, 1950
BE RICH IN GOOD WORKS ... 3
Worldly Selfishness and Dissatisfaction 4
How to Gain Life ... 5
Giving to the Poor ... 6
Life More than Material Wealth ... 7
A SOUND INVESTMENT ... 8
Divine Provision for Workers ... 9
REVIEWING THE PAST YEAR'S WORK
WORLD-WIDE ... 10
Charting the Increase ... 11
1949 Service Year Report of
Jehovah's witnesses World-wide ... 12
What Will We Do in 1950? ... 13
HAGGAI EXHORTS THE TEMPLE BUILDERS 15
LETTER ["Each Married Couple . . ."] ... 16
"SEPARATING TO THE RIGHT"
TESTIMONY PERIOD ... 2
"WATCHTOWER" STUDIES ... 1
1950 YEARBOOK OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES 2
1950 CALENDAR ... 2 The WATCHTOWER
PUBLISHED SEMIMONTHLY BY
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY 117 Adams Street Brooklyn 1, N.Y., U.S.A.
OFFICERS
N. H. KNORR, President GRANT SUITER, Secretary
"And all thy children shall be taught of Jehovah; and great shall be the peace of thy children." - Isaiah 54:13.
THE BIBLE CLEARLY TEACHES
THAT JEHOVAH is the only true God, from everlasting to everlasting, and is the Maker of heaven and earth and Giver of life to his creatures; that the Word or Logos was the beginning of his creation and his active agent in creating all other things; and that a cherub son of God rebelled against Jehovah and raised the issue of His universal sovereignty;
THAT GOD created the earth for man, made perfect man for the earth and placed him upon it; that man yielded to the unfaithful cherub, or Satan, and willfully disobeyed God's law and was sentenced to death; that by reason of Adam's wrong act all men are born sinners and without the right to life;
THAT THE LOGOS was made human as the man Jesus and suffered death in order to produce the ransom or redemptive price for obedient men; that God raised up Christ Jesus divine and exalted him to heaven above every other creature and clothed him with all power and authority as head of God's new capital organization;
THAT GOD'S CAPITAL ORGANIZATION is a Theocracy called Zion, and that Christ Jesus is the Chief Officer thereof and is the rightful King of the new world; that the faithful anointed followers of Christ Jesus are Zion's children, members of Jehovah's organization, and are His witnesses whose duty and privilege it is to testify to Jehovah's supremacy and declare his purposes toward mankind as expressed in the Bible;
THAT THE OLD WORLD of Satan began its "time of the end" A.D. 1914, and Christ Jesus has been placed by Jehovah upon the throne, has ousted Satan from heaven, and now proceeds to vindicate His name and establish the "new earth";
THAT THE RELIEF and blessings of the peoples can come only by Jehovah's kingdom under Christ, which has begun; that His next great act is to destroy Satan's organization and establish righteousness completely in the earth; and that under the Kingdom the people of good-will surviving Armageddon will carry out the divine mandate to "fill the earth" with righteous offspring, and that the human dead in the graves will be raised to opportunities of life on earth.
"SEPARATING TO THE RIGHT" TESTIMONY PERIOD
This is the twelfth annual campaign for taking subscription for The Watchtower. February, the second month of the campaign, has been set aside as a special Testimony Period entitled "Separating to the Right". Thoughtful readers of this magazine know there is no better Bible publication than The Watchtower for helping people to be separated to the right of the King Jesus Christ in this judgment day of the nations. As an added inducement to the public to subscribe, a premium of 8 assorted booklets will be offered with every year's subscription for The Watchtower at the regular rate of $1, American money. To persons already subscribing for The Watchtower a year's subscription for the companion magazine Awake! may be offered, however without the premium added. We especially invite our Watchtower readers one and all to join in this campaign during February. A postcard to us will bring instructions and references to local fellow campaigners. Yes, by all means, report on our form the success with which Jehovah God blesses your activities during February.
"WATCHTOWER" STUDIES
Week of February 5: "Be Rich in Good Works," 1-18 inclusive, The Watchtower January 1, 1950. Week of February 12: "Be Rich in Good Works," 19-29 inclusive, also "A Sound Investment", 1-9 inclusive, The Watchtower January 1, 1950. Week of February 19: "Reviewing the Past Year's Work World-wide,"
1-17 inclusive, The Watchtower January 1, 1950.
ITS MISSION
THIS journal is published for the purpose of enabling the people to know Jehovah God and his purposes as expressed in the Bible. It publishes Bible instruction specifically designed to aid Jehovah's witnesses and all people of good-will. It arranges systematic Bible study for its readers and the Society supplies other literature to aid in such studies. It publishes suitable material for radio broadcasting and for other means of public instruction in the Scriptures.
It adheres strictly to the Bible as authority for its utterances. It is entirely free and separate from all religion, parties, sects or other worldly organizations. It is wholly and without reservation for the kingdom of Jehovah God under Christ his beloved King. It is not dogmatic, but invites careful and critical examination of its contents in the light of the Scriptures. It does not indulge in controversy, and its columns are not open to personalities.
Notice to Subscribers: Remittances should be sent to office in your country in compliance with regulations to guarantee safe delivery of money. Remittances are accepted at Brooklyn from countries where no office is located, by international money order only. Subscription rates in different countries are stated below in local currency. Notice of expiration (with renewal blank) is sent at least two issues before subscription expires. Change of address when sent to our office may be expected effective within one month. Send your old as well as new address.
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ALL SINCERE STUDENTS OF THE BIBLE who by reason of infirmity, poverty or adversity are unable to pay the subscription price may have The Watchtower free upon written application to the publishers, made once each year, stating the reason for so requesting it. We are glad to thus aid the needy, but the written application once each year is required by the postal regulations.
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1950 YEARBOOK OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
1949, the most remarkable service year yet! So the 1950 Yearbook of Jehovah's witnesses shows. You will want to read about it and rejoice at the noteworthy expansion of the worship of the true God in the 104 regions reported on. In addition to the annual world report of the president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, the Yearbook also sets out his comment upon the 1950 yeartext and a daily text and comment for throughout the year. The printing of the 1950 Yearbook is in limited edition, and hence a contribution of 50c per copy is asked. Where you are in association with others, send in a group order, as by the servant of a company of Jehovah's witnesses, with remittance to cover. This will save us on time of handling as well as expense of shipping.
1950 CALENDAR
By having the 1950 Calendar published by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society you will have prominent before your gaze the yeartext, "Preach the word" (2 Timothy 4:2), and also a view of the Society's headquarters home, including the new Bethel structure, from which the service work throughout the earth is directed. Alongside this artistic picture you will find a calendar. Besides giving five interior views of the new Bethel home, this sets out the titles of the bimonthly special testimony periods for 1950 and the specific themes for the intervening months. This service calendar we send to any address at 25c a copy or $1.00 for 5 copies sent to one address, postpaid. So let companies or groups order the Calendar in quantity, through their designated servant, sending remittance to cover the cost at the above rate.
ANNOUNCING JEHOVAH'S KINGDOM
Vol. LXXI
JANUARY 1, 1950 No.1
BE RICH IN GOOD WORKS
The WATCHTOWER
ANNOUNCING JEHOVAH'S KINGDOM
Vol. LXXI
JANUARY 1, 1950
No. 1
BE RICH IN GOOD WORKS
"Charge them . . . to do good, to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous, thus laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life which is life indeed." 1 Tim. 6:17-19, R.S.V.
EHOVAH God is a wonderful provider. He has given humankind everything they need. From the very beginning when he created Adam and Eve and placed them in Eden he provided them with a beautiful home in a paradise. He did more than that. God did not make his first earthly intelligent creations hunt for food to keep them alive. No, that was all provided for too. "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food." (Gen. 1:29, A.S.V.) With all these provisions,
tion, when He put him in the garden "to dress it and to keep it". (Gen. 2:15) So it will be with man in the new world. But when man went contrary to God's law He declared, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life." (Gen. 3:17, A.S.V.) While God made man a little lower than the angels and crowned him with glory and honor, it was Jehovah who gave him the assignment to look after things upon the earth. He put all things under man's feet: "Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every
they should have had sufficient. But even after the first pair sinned by eating the fruit of the only forbidden tree, which fruit was forbidden them in order to test their obedience, the Lord provided them with clothing. "And Jehovah God made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins, and clothed them."—Genesis 3:21,A.S.V.
2 Since that time nearly six thousand years ago, man has needed these three things-shelter, food and clothing-in order to carry on his normal existence in life. With these he should be content. "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." (1 Tim. 6:7,8) David, a man after God's own heart, expresses how generously Jehovah provides for every one of his creatures: not only for man, by supplying him with all
creeping thing." (Gen. 1:26) Man has used beasts of burden in his toil to plant, cultivate, water, and eventually bring forth food. But still Jehovah is the original Provider of all our needs and our thanks must go to him for all things. We are dependent on him for the rain, sun, air, soil, fertile seed, for everything; and he gives it to us. When God made man ruler over these animals and charged him to keep the fields and forests in all their majesty, he never decreed that man was to be a tyrant over man. Man's sovereign Ruler and everlasting Provider must be Jehovah. Man's life is dependent on the only true God!
4 Man should know that all creation, including man himself, was made to set forth the splendor and the glory of Jehovah, the Supreme One of the universe. Man should feel his need of relying on
his needs, but for every living thing: the birds, fish and beasts of the field. The Almighty God looks after and cares for what he creates. "The eyes of all wait for thee; and thou givest them their food in due season. Thou openest thy hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing."—Psalm 145:15, 16, A.S.V.
In providing all these necessary things in abundance God was not making man an idler so that he would be able to say, "I don't have anything to do." No, God kept man busy from the time of his crea-
God; for when one comes into the world he has nothing but the gift of life God gave him, and he can take nothing along when he leaves it. When one knows this, why should he crave to domineer over and control the lives and destinies of other human creatures? Why be greedy and have that selfish condition of heart? If, as we know, God supplies all things to sustain our life, why try to take away the substance that God has given other men for their existence? In this commercialized world most persons have very little and the giants of commerce do not want them to have more. Those who substitute commu-
How did God at the first show himself man's provider?
With the supply of what desires should creatures be satisfied?
Did providing for man's needs mean he was to idle? Why?
Why should we not be greedy, coveting other's possessions?
TheWATCHTOWER
nistic co-operatives do not succeed in overcoming that condition and the people continue to suffer from lack of the necessities of life. Under one system or another that men set up, selfishness and lust for control rise to dominate. It would be better to give our substance to the poor than to covet what little they have. What is our gain if we do rob the poor? We certainly can't take it with us!
5 The Lord has always been interested in and helpful to the poor. Christians should be too. David knew that the favor of God did not go with the oppressor
mercial, political or religious, these combines covet that which others have. Religion tries to control politics; so does commerce. Riches have a big influence on religion. Politics curtsies and tips the hat for the smile of religion. Take the greatest religious organization in the world today, the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. Look at it. Note the evils it has done in the name of religion: how it has corrupted nations; how it has managed to hold its members in illiteracy; how it has controlled education in many countries and kept the poor people in ignorance: how
of the poor, for he said, "All my bones will say, 'O Lord, who is like thee, saving the poor from him that is too strong for him, the poor and the needy from him that would rob him?'" (Ps. 35:10, An Amer. Trans.) David's whole body, his very bones, cried out in an expression of praise to his Creator because of God's loving interest in the poor. To know that Jehovah will protect the poor against the oppressor, the strong, the rich and the mighty is surely a comfort. Good men will help the poor. "He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor." (Prov. 14:31) The poor love life the same as all other folks. Why make them suffer and rob them of what they have?
6 Man was made to be free and to be allowed to use the many things God created for his welfare. If
it has hid the Bible and had its Bible-burnings so that the Book of freedom would never become the peoples' Textbook of life. Yes, look at the world it influences! Its wars! Its torture chambers! Its blood-shedding! Its oppression of the poor! Why have they not given the people the Bible, so that they could learn of the true God, his Son and the way of life eternal?
Now turn to the political organizations of the world. None is satisfied with its own territory or sphere of influence. The desire of each is to gain control of people through a system of government. They often claim to have a government with rulers of divine right. The whole purpose of governments of the world is to control the people by making them dependent upon the state rather than upon God. They want all people to believe that that which they
a man likes something another man has he should not covet it. There is enough of everything in the world for everyone to have sufficient. The accumulation of earthly wealth and possessions is not the big thing in life. "You must not covet your neighbor's home; you must not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male or female slave, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything at all that is your neighbor's." (Ex. 20:17, An Amer. Trans.) It is not wrong to have a home, wife, servants, or animals; but it is wrong to covet that which someone else has. One should not use his power or his wealth or influence to take away from another that person's own beloved possessions. That is the spirit of the old world, the spirit that the Devil has implanted in the minds of men. This selfishness has grown up in the hearts of human creatures, and they have a strong desire to control other people and to
have comes to them through the good graces of a dictator, a prime minister, a president or a political party. All this propaganda is merely a scheme of government to regiment the people and make them wholly dependent upon a man-made way of life rather than on Jehovah God, who says He will provide them with all the necessities of life: shelter, food, and clothing. The state tells the farmer how much wheat to plant, how many pigs to slaughter and bury in the ground, how much coffee to burn when the stock piles are too great to please commerce or politicians. They dump the potatoes into the sea or destroy them by other means when the prices are "too low". The increase that God has given to the land and to the animals, to the fruit and the herbs, man destroys to please the state and commerce. The poor and needy they will take care of in their way if they do not die first. Man in his covetous desire to
make man dependent upon man rather than dependent upon Jehovah God, who is the supplier of all things. If God has so abundantly supplied food, clothes and things needful for living, then why rob the poor? Why not seek the greater thing-life everlasting?
WORLDLY SELFISHNESS AND DISSATISFACTION
The spirit of this world is selfishness and it says, "We do not need God!" Whether they be com-
If they do not die first. Man, in his covetous desire to control and take away from the people, has said, "This is mine." He never reflects for a moment to think that God, the Creator of heaven and earth and all that therein is, provided these things for all men, not for a few to control.
9 Then there is the third part of this oppressive, great, devilish organization: commerce. We see the great combines and cartels feverishly working against one another. We see management and labor
Why should Christians be helpful to the poor?
Why is it not necessary to covet, as well as wrong to do so?
How has organized religion shown itself selfish, oppressive?
How have governments operated for control and self-exaltation?
How has commerce acted selfishly and unthankful toward God?
vying for control of industry. We see small business men struggling to eke out an existence in a competitive world. The big things are money, power, wealth, getting ahead, doing better than the other fellow, getting on top, beating competitors out of the world, state or city markets. The spirit of helping the poor has been lost. The spirit of helpfulness is nearly forgotten and, as for doing a day's work, man's motto is, "Do as little as you can and watch the clock." When the earth yields its increase there are no thanks to God for it, but commerce grabs the controls and either boosts or lowers prices according to its own interest. It is a fearful thing to be entwined in this great commercial organization which has no heart and to get the feel of its selfish, grasping, possessive atmosphere. It is better to ask the Lord to 'give us this day our daily bread' than to do as the rich of the religious, political and commercial world do. They are laying up "treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal".—Matt. 6:19.
10 How much better it is for one to trust in the Lord and believe his Word! "If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely." (Lev. 26:3-5) That was the promise that God gave to His chosen people, and it was a sure promise, but it meant that the individuals must follow the commandments of the Lord and walk in them. As far as the provisions of life are concerned, God guarantees these the year round to those who walk in his statutes. In the very beginning of creation, Jehovah provided all the necessary things for man, and in their abundance the food and provisions were for all. These things are just as sure today for those who love Jehovah.
11 But how different are all the nations today who seek to control all production and say what portion of the God-given provisions men shall have! By getting control of the world's necessities one nation can force its rule on another. How true the saying, 'Every man's hand is against his neighbor.' (Zech. 14:13) The rulers of a nation boast that 'we are massing this wealth and power so that you, the people, may have security'. Has the United Nations organization, with all its potential accumulated power, brought security? The more things nations control in the world, whether they be the atomic bomb, airplanes, steamships, food supplies, raw materials, or anything else, the more they want and
the greater become their influence and power, while the poor suffer. There is no safety in the accumulating of all these riches for the last days. Having coveted and collected wealth, influence and political and religious power, what will these men do in the day of judgment when Jehovah God brings his wrath against the oppressor of the poor, the wicked organization, and destroys it?
12 The Lord's Word prophesies just how these men will feel in that time: "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days." (Jas. 5:1-3) There is no material wealth that will save governments or men from the destruction that will be meted out to them, because of their evil doings, at the battle of Armageddon. Momentarily the material wealth of a nation makes it feel strong, but Jehovah said he would deliver "the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him". (Ps. 35:10) How the nations of the earth have spoiled the people, especially through the first and second world wars! Even in between these wars and to this very day there is no peace, but the peoples of the nations are still being spoiled. And for what? "They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity." (Ezek. 7:19) How foolish then it is for men to hoard their wealth just to satisfy their own selfish desires! It will profit them nothing. They cannot take it with them. The wise man wrote in Proverbs: "Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death."—Proverbs 11:4.
HOW TO GAIN LIFE
13 It is so very evident that the accumulation of wealth does not bring peace, security or prosperity to the nations, nor does it bring real happiness to the individual who may have gathered it through evil means and covetousness. It is righteousness that counts! One who wants to live and really enjoy life must turn to the Lord's Word for advice and then follow it. The poor as well as the rich must put their trust in Jehovah and do his bidding and preach the good news of the kingdom of God. Can the rich, those with much of this world's goods, do that? Is there any hope at all for them to gain life in the new world? If there is, what must they do?
What does obeying God's commands guarantee us as to provisions?
By amassing wealth and power what do rulers claim to give? Do they?
In the day of God's wrath how will their riches prove vain?
What is it that counts toward secure, happy living?
14 The Word of God tells us that we should be rich in good works; but what are those good works? The problem was put squarely before the Teacher, Christ Jesus, when he walked the earth. The interests of men in his time were the same as the interests of men now: they wanted life, and that more abundantly. Death held nothing for them; so the question was propounded, How can one gain eternal life?
15 Let us listen in on the conversation. "And behold, one came to him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? And Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I observed: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful; for he was one that had great possessions."—Matt. 19:16-22, A.S.V.
16 This rich man that Jesus spoke to got the answer on how to gain eternal life, but did he follow it? No! As far as individuals are concerned, he probably had a splendid personality, and, from all outward appearances, he was living according to the law of God. One of his outstanding qualities as revealed in the conversation was that he loved his neighbor as he did himself. Very likely he was not an oppressor of the poor. His riches probably came to him through his own good, hard efforts and honest management of his great holdings. So it appears that if an individual happens to be rich or gains great wealth through his own labors there is no harm in that particular fact. The question before the rich man today is, How will he use his wealth? If you give to the poor, said Jesus, "thou shalt have treasure in heaven." However, there was another requirement for eternal life, and that was "Come, follow me". If one uses his wealth in the advancement of true worship of the Most High God, he is using his "great possessions" in the right way. Jesus gave this rich man the best advice so that he could have real joy in living. What the Teacher wanted him to have was riches in good works, treasures in heaven. But, as is the case with most people, so it was with this rich man; his desire was to hold on to that which he believed belonged to him by right. He worked for it, and therefore it was his. No one else could touch it,
and there was no reason for giving it away. Had he forgotten that "as he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand"? (Eccl. 5:15) His earthly possessions would not give him eternal life.
GIVING TO THE POOR
17 Let us assume that the rich man wanted to follow Jesus but not sell all that he had and give to the poor. Could he follow the Lord and still look after all his earthly possessions? That would be an impossibility. Christ Jesus was a busy man; he was looking after Kingdom interests. He was moving about throughout the cities, villages, towns throughout the whole countryside—preaching the good news of the Kingdom. His disciples followed him and were instructed by him. He could not be confined to some particular locality to take care of cattle or lands or possessions, nor could his disciples; not if they were to preach the gospel of the Kingdom throughout all the nation of Israel. Jesus did not even have a place to lay his head, much less a house to call home. No, the rich man could never have kept up with Jesus while still looking after his "great possessions".
18 Jehovah provided for Jesus, the second Adam, just as He did for the first Adam. The Son of God had the necessary food, clothing and a place of shelter. He was a welcome guest in the homes of those who loved truth and righteousness. Jesus knew a laborer was worthy of his hire; for He worked in the interests of God's kingdom. The necessary things of life were assured; so why should he try to accumulate great wealth? He had food and raiment, and with these he was content.
19 Jesus was looking for full-time disciples, those who would travel with him and do the same kind of work that he was doing, people whom he could send away for weeks and months into different territories to perform works like those he was performing, so as to bring the people to repentance. He was looking for dependable persons, those who would learn and then preach: "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." Nothing must stand in their way of service to their God. They must not be like most people who are just too busy for the really important things in life. Remember the occasion when Jesus told of a certain man that prepared a great supper, and he asked many to come to that supper. It was a feast for rejoicing; so he sent out his servant to ask those whom he wanted to come. But the guests who were invited, because they had possessions and things that interested them more than the feast of this
In what does God tell us to be rich, and to what end?
What did a rich young ruler ask Jesus about? What did Jesus say?
Why did not the rich young ruler follow Jesus' advice?
Why could he not follow Jesus and yet hold on to great wealth?
Why did Jesus not try to accumulate great earthly wealth?
For what kind of active, interested persons did Jesus look?
certain man, replied to the invitation: "I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee have me excused. . . I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. . . I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come."—Luke 14:18-20, A.S.V.
20 So it is today; most people are so busy with their own obligations and work that they do not have time to look after the King's interests. They do not have the time to enter into the joy of the Lord and celebrate with the Master the doing of the most important work on earth today. They have put a great hindrance in their way just because of the love of money.
21 It was very hard for the rich man to give up all that he had so that he might have treasures in heaven. It is just as hard today for many people to give up even little things and to work in the interests of the poor and comfort those who mourn, with the Kingdom message. They are busy trying to hang on to and gain more earthly possessions. This is selfishness. It is greediness. It is covetousness. "For the love of money is the root of all evil." (1 Tim. 6:10) Even when the rich plan a banquet they do it with the thought in mind of what profit it will be to them.
22 Jesus had been invited to an evening meal, and he told his host, "When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, bid the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; because they have not wherewith to recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just." (Luke 14:12-14, A.S.V.) The principle pointed out by the Lord was that of giving to others without expecting a return. Why lavish your wealth on those who are wealthy? They can repay you by doing similar things for you. But rather invite the poor; they will show real gratitude and the giver will be blessed. Yes, "Go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." You will be "rich in good works".
LIFE MORE THAN MATERIAL WEALTH
23 Because man is born in sin and shapen in iniquity, he is prone to lean toward the evil side of life and love money. He is taught to get to the top so as to have security. He must be a self-made man, satisfied with his own greatness. How foolish! Isn't there something worth much more than security and worldly possessions? Isn't life itself more important? How did we get that? And those riches—are they not
just a hoarding of God's provisions for all? Jesus said, "Take care! You must be on your guard against any form of greed, for a man's life does not belong to him, no matter how rich he is." (Luke 12:15, An Amer. Trans.) Another translator of the Greek Scriptures, Mr. Rotherham, puts it this way: "Mind and be guarding yourselves from all covetousness; for not in one's abundance doth his life spring out of his possessions." Or, stated in other words, we can say on the basis of this truth, that every individual must be constantly on the alert and be on guard against every form of greediness and covetousness, because even when an individual has an abundance of this world's goods his life is not due to the things which he possesses. Is not life, then, worth more than riches?
24 Paul was following this wise and sound counsel of Jesus when he wrote to Timothy and said, "Charge them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, openhanded and generous, storing up a valuable treasure for themselves for the future, so as to grasp the life that is life indeed." (1 Tim. 6:18, 19, An Amer. Trans.) What a man has gathered together as his possession in the way of riches, property or powerful influence—all these will not guarantee him life. Something else is needed. Pursuing Jesus' argument that "a man's life does not belong to him, no matter how rich he is", he further said: "A certain rich man's lands yielded heavily. And he said to himself, 'What am I going to do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' Then he said, 'This is what I will do; I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and in them I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have great wealth stored up for years to come. Now take your ease; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul will be demanded of you. Then who will have all you have prepared?' That is the way with the man who lays up money for himself, and is not rich with God." —Luke 12:16-21, An Amer. Trans.
25 How true that is! The way of a man who lays up money for himself is not rich toward God. He thinks only of himself, of his own property, his own pleasure. When one becomes as self-centered as that it is no wonder Jesus said that "a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. . . It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God". Consider for a moment the plans of this rich man. He was going to build greater barns in which to store his crops and then forget the rest of the world of mankind and just live on the wealth he had stored away. How selfish! How inconsiderate! How lazy! He could have given much of his wealth to the poor
21. Why do most persons have no time for Kingdom interests?
Why do good to the poor who cannot repay you in kind?
Why be on guard against every form of covetousness or greed?
What will material riches not guarantee one? Show by parable?
How was the rich man of the parable foolish, selfish, lazy?
and still had plenty for himself. He could have planned for the cultivation of his lands for the next year and thus kept his hired help employed. By caring for the land year by year greater income would be his and greater quantities of food would be available for the poor. But no, not that! He said to himself, "Now take your ease; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself." What a fool! He never got to enjoy the wealth himself, nor had he stored up riches in heaven by giving to the poor. "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."—Prov. 27:1.
26 As an individual, what do you want? Is it security in this world that will soon pass away, or is it life in the new world of righteousness? The Word of God sets out the pattern that all Christians must follow in order to attain eternal life, whether that life be with Christ Jesus as his bride in heavenly Kingdom glory, or whether it be life as a creature who will enjoy the blessings under the kingdom of heaven and the pleasures of life eternal upon a glorious new earth that God makes for man to inhabit. Both are attained through true riches; so store up for yourselves treasure in heaven.
27 All people have certain possessions, some greater than others; so the principle, "freely ye have received, freely give," would apply to the rich, the middle class and the poor alike. The poor widow who came to the treasury and cast in her two mites "cast in all the living that she had" for use in God's work, said Jesus; whereas the rich who came and made their deposit in the treasury of the temple gave "of their abundance". (Luke 21:1-4) The rich did not miss the gift that they gave to the Lord. So the question might be asked, Who gave the most? Was it not the widow with the two little coins of small value? So, then, if you would be rich toward God, use your possessions and your knowledge of Jehovah God and his righteous government on behalf of the poor and comfort all that mourn, with the good news of God's kingdom. Do not let yourself be tied
What questions on security and life must we answer? How?
How can rich and poor alike be really "rich in good works"?
down by your wealth and become a slave to your possessions, but make your possessions work for you in your preaching of the Word of God.
28 Paul knew of certain individuals among the church who had wealth and who were busy accumulating more, and in a letter that he wrote to Timothy he said this: "Charge the rich of this world not to be arrogant, nor to set their hopes on such an uncertain thing as riches, but on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Charge them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, open-handed and generous, storing up a valuable treasure for themselves for the future, so as to grasp the life that is life indeed." (1 Tim. 6:17-19, An Amer. Trans.) Just because someone has a little or much of this world's goods is no reason for that individual to take an arrogant position with his friends and his neighbors, nor with those in a Christian congregation, nor with those in the world. They should never set their hopes upon the uncertain riches such as gold and silver, all of which will be of no value in the very last days of this old world. The rich should realize just as much as the poor that it is God who richly provides everything for our enjoyment. Because one has more of the riches of this world than another is no reason for the wealthy one to look down on the poor one with shame. What all can and must be rich in is "good deeds".
29 James gave fine counsel to all of the Lord's people when he said, "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors."—Jas. 2:5-9.
What was Timothy told to "charge the rich of this world"? Why?
How did James counsel us against showing partiality?
A SOUND INVESTMENT
IT IS not the accumulation of this world's wealth that brings security. It is the accumulation of good works. That is what makes one rich toward God, and the "poor of this world" can accumulate this treasure more rapidly than the rich if they are "rich in faith". Furthermore, those who are poor in this world's goods do not have to spend so much time caring for that which they possess. One who puts his trust in money has very little security, especially in
these days. It seems that after every war money loses value. Shortly after the second World War most of the money in European countries was blocked in the banks by government order, and the people could not withdraw all their funds for many years. Even the rich were given only a small amount to use, and just recently those who were wealthy in pounds sterling found that overnight they lost thousands upon thousands of dollars, as the value of the pound on the foreign market exchange dropped from $4.03 to
Why can the world's poor more easily be "rich in good works"?
$2.80. Many other currencies lost much of their buying power in world markets at the same time. So the accumulation of money, wealth, or the uncertain riches of this world is of little value. Its value can vanish away overnight if governments so decree. How much better it would be for a man to make his wealth work to the benefit of others while it has some value than to hold it until it gathers moths and rust and becomes useless.
2 It is really a sound investment to make your money work on behalf of the poor and by so doing to store up treasures in heaven. Christ Jesus preached the Word, and you can make your riches help you preach the Word. His admonition to all of his followers was to go forth and preach this gospel of the Kingdom in all the world for a witness. This takes time, energy and money, and Jehovah's witnesses throughout the world are giving time, energy and funds, building Kingdom Halls, renting places and fixing them up so that they will be attractive assembly places. Jehovah's witnesses invest their money in Bibles, books and magazines and take these to the people so that they, too, may study the Word of God. They invest their money in traveling from place to place and give of their strength in going to the ends of the earth if need be with this good news. Jehovah's witnesses are great travelers, glad to spend their money so as to get to circuit and district assemblies or national conventions, for they know they will thus become better equipped so as to "be rich in good works". What a grand and glorious work a Christian today has in going forth to the nations of the world with this good news which brings comfort to the poor and in being privileged to spend that which he possesses in the interests of those who are captive to this old world. Using your time, energy and money in doing this work is actually storing up treasures in heaven. It is something that no nation, no organization, no neighbor or thief could come in and steal from you. You have already given the good news to the poor, and they have its blessings. You spent your money in helping them, but the blessing to the giver is even greater than to the receiver.
To do such work means that the individual will be content and happy and will always have something that is truly worth-while. Godliness is not just a matter of going to church on Sunday or going to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's witnesses, although that is the only way some people try to show their godliness. The only way that true godliness can be of great gain is if it is combined with contentment. Your heart and mind as well as your body must be used in preaching the Word. Those who go to the synagogues or churches of this old world, or even to the Kingdom Hall, if they are worried because of
their great possessions like the rich man that Jesus spoke to, haven't the contentment that brings great gain. Perhaps they attend church for show or for business reasons or because it gives them a better standing in the community; but instead of contentment, they have only worries and problems.
4 Paul gave good admonition to Timothy many years ago, and it will, if followed, change the whole course of one's life: "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Tim. 6:6-10) Individuals may accumulate great material gain, prominence, popularity, position, money and influence. They may gain all these things by their own efforts or through inheritance, but the important thing for them to remember is that godliness with contentment is great gain. When they came into the world they brought nothing with them, and when they leave they can't take anything away. So why be sorrowful the rest of your life because you have great possessions? Take the Master's advice: 'Give to the poor; store up treasures for yourself in heaven, and come, follow me!' (Matt. 19:16-22) Is it not better to be contented in the house of the Lord than to be discontented in the Devil's organization?
DIVINE PROVISION FOR WORKERS
The certain rich man that Jesus spoke about who said he would eat, drink and be joyful, now that he had great wealth and had laid up great stores for himself, yet lacked contentment. He was trying to find it, but his wealth led him "into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts". He wanted to live just for himself. Jesus, speaking to his disciples, said, "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about life, wondering what you will have to eat, or about your body, wondering what you will have to wear. Life is more important than food, and the body than clothes. Think of the crows! They do not sow or reap, and they have no storehouses or barns, and God feeds them. How much more you are worth than the birds!" (Luke 12:22-24, An Amer. Trans.) It is a matter of having faith in Jehovah God and of believing that when he placed man upon the earth there were ample provisions for all if the effort was put forth to use them. First, however, comes our worship of Jehovah, the Giver of all good things.
How do Christians really make a sound investment now?
3, 4. What is truly "great gain"? How do some fail to make it?
How did Jesus illustrate we should not worry for the future?
Both Job and the psalmist recognized how God looks after the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and makes provision for them. Certainly human creatures are worth much more than these, and especially those who have entered into a covenant relationship with Jehovah God to do His will. Job 38:41 asks, "Who provideth for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry unto God, and wander for lack of food?" (Am. Stan. Ver.) Again, "Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry." (Ps. 147:7-9) Are not the needs of men made sure? Why then be worried about life and all its problems? Seek first the Kingdom!
Do not the squirrels gather nuts and store them away in holes dug in the ground or hide them in the trunks of trees? Do not the beavers make provision for themselves and the bees store up honey in their hives for the winter? The point is this: provision is made for all of the animals so that they can gather in the things necessary to their life. They work to gather what God supplies. Man can do the same. All that it is necessary for man to do is to use the things God provides. Man should not be lazier than the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, or the animals of the earth. As good counsel to the lazy man, the wise one said, 'Consider the ant, thou sluggard.' Yes, we have to work, but we do not have to become slaves to commerce or to this old world in order to live.
8 It is natural for man to want to live, and he would like to carry on his existence even in this present time of hardship and distress as long as he possibly can; but the hoarding up of earthly riches is not the thing that is going to guarantee life any more than it did for that certain rich man who stored all his wealth away in barns only to die that night. For, as the account says, "this very night your soul will be demanded of you. Then who will have all you have prepared?" (Luke 12:20, An Amer. Trans.)
How did both the psalmist and Job further illustrate this?
How must we avail ourselves of God's provisions?
Then Jesus in his discussion with his disciples said, "And who from among you though anxious can unto his stature add a cubit?" (Luke 12:25, Roth.) If the body of an individual wears out and it is time for that body to return to the dust, there is not much that one can do in fixing up the organism. If the heart is exhausted and the nervous system worn out or the muscles become stiff and hard, there is not much that one can do to add another step to his life; he has reached the end of his way. So Jesus argues, "If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest?" (Luke 12:26, A.S.V.) In other words, if we cannot extend our life just a little, not even a cubit, why then should we be so anxious and concerned about storing away great wealth, food, clothing, and in having many homes and properties? Why should we be anxious to store up that which we have collected during the past year into barns and then say: "From now on I will eat, drink and enjoy myself"? How much better it would be to give that which we have to the poor and store up for ourselves treasures in heaven!
Why is it foolish to hoard great riches for a future day?
What treasure do we have? Those who have come to a knowledge of God's Word have the truth. They have come to understand who Jehovah God is, the Great One of the universe; how he provided his Son, Christ Jesus, to redeem mankind through him that they might gain eternal life; how Christ Jesus has now come and taken to himself his power and begun to reign and that the kingdom that we have prayed for is established. These things we know; these things Christians possess in the way of knowledge because of their study of God's Word, and they can give this good message to the poor who are sighing and crying because of the abominations that have come upon them in this world. True Christians will devote what they have of this world's goods, whether little or much, to bringing this message to the poor and comforting those who mourn. They remember that a person's life is not due to the things that he possesses, but his eternal existence depends on the treasure that he stores up in heaven. They consistently add to their heavenly treasure by preaching the good news of the Kingdom.
What treasure do we have? How do we store treasure above?
REVIEWING THE PAST YEAR'S WORK WORLD-WIDE
EHOVAH'S witnesses are ministers of God, ordained to preach the Word. Let us then review what they have done and see if they are trying to store up treasures in heaven, or only treasures upon this earth. Are they giving to the poor and bringing to them the comfort and good news?
2 The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, the governing body of Jehovah's witnesses, has pointed out through its publications that the kingdom of heaven was established in 1914, and it has shown in its writings how the signs of the present day are fulfilling prophecy in proof of the establishment of that king-
What are Jehovah's witnesses? What do we ask about them?
Were there many Kingdom publishers in 1914? What befell them?
dom. The first World War was one of the first signs foretold by Jesus in the 24th chapter of Matthew as marking the end of the Gentile times and the beginning of Christ's reign in heaven. The Watch tower magazine has proved this many times in its columns. Were there many proclaimers or announcers of this established Kingdom then? Yes, there were quite a number scattered throughout the world; but when the world war broke forth in all its fury, many of the Branch offices of the Society were closed and Jehovah's witnesses almost everywhere were cast into prison, many killed, and their organization considerably broken up. In fact, those at the headquarters offices at 124 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York, were taken away and put in Atlanta prison; but by following through with the slow court procedure and taking the case before the Supreme Court of the United States, the officers of the Society were acquitted. By the time the officials of the Society were freed from jail the clergy and the government officials felt that the Watch Tower Society and its representatives were pretty well knocked out and would remain inactive. They were as though dead in the streets.—Rev. 11:8.
You cannot keep Jehovah's witnesses silent. They must preach the Word! They were revived from the deathlike condition and began storing up more treasures in heaven. In 1918 there were only 3,868 persons announcing the King and the Kingdom in all the world. Being strengthened by the spirit of the Lord, and because of their determination to press on, maintaining their integrity, they were richly blessed. Never slacking their hand, they went forward, singing praises "yet more and more", and as a result ten years later there were 23,988 persons proclaiming this same good news of the Kingdom and comforting those who were mourning. Grateful to God who had given them time to revive, and grateful, too, that they had the opportunity of gathering together "other sheep", this remnant of Jehovah's organization moved on into greater activity. By the time 1938 rolled around when the nations of the world were again preparing for another world war, there were 47,143 publishers preaching the Word. By this time Jehovah's witnesses were established in 52 different nations of the world, declaring this same message that Jehovah reigns through His Son, Christ Jesus, whom He has set upon His throne.
4 Then came years of greater strife, turmoil, distress and perplexity—a decade of war and of trying to establish peace among the nations. Jehovah's witnesses were driven underground in most countries of the world; they were persecuted and their work banned, but, nevertheless, they continued preaching the Word. In 1948, after another ten
years had passed, there were 230,532 persons who had taken up this grand message of peace for the poor in God's righteous new world. Not content unless they were witnessing, Jehovah's witnesses moved into every corner of the earth that they could possibly reach with the good news, and as you consider the chart which appears on the following page you will rejoice to find that in the year 1949 there was an average of 279,421 publishers of the Kingdom engaged in field-service work every month in 104 different places throughout the world. The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society has established 63 Branches in the principal countries of the earth, and, by the Lord's grace, will continue to preach the Word to the poor and rich alike, to all those who have an ear to hear.
CHARTING THE INCREASE
5 Jehovah's witnesses are not trying to get members for their organization, but they are trying to take to the people the truth as it is contained in God's Word, the Holy Bible. They know, however, that as people study the Lord's Word and receive comfort from it and learn how to gain life eternal by storing up treasures in heaven, they, too, will proclaim this good news. They cannot do otherwise if they love true worship. It is the deep appreciation of the individuals who learn the truth and the righteous way of life that causes them to want to tell others about it. As a natural result, then, a great increase has come to the ranks of Jehovah's witnesses. In fact, in 1949 as compared with 1948 there was a 21-percent increase throughout the world in number of publishers proclaiming the Kingdom as the only hope for mankind. A peak number of 317,877 publishers who were out in the work preaching the Word was reached for the year. This is the highest number of ministers of the gospel ever to engage in the work in any one year according to our records, and we rejoice with all these persons of good-will who are associating themselves with the Lord's organization and are now working under the direction of the Society, all to the honor and glory of Jehovah's name.
6 Jehovah's witnesses love to serve the King of the new world now. Their hope and faith is in the kingdom of God, for through it the blessings of eternal life will be gained. So they continue to work and pray: "Your kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven!" While being good citizens of the nation in which they live, paying their taxes, complying with the laws of the land as long as these laws are in full accord with God's laws, still they move ahead, expanding their activity among the people, doing the will of the Lord and following
What increases in publishers did two decades since 1918 show?
Despite what events, what increases did 1948 and 1949 show?
What was the past year's percentage of increase? Its peak?
How many companies of witnesses are there now? For what?
1949 SERVICE YEAR REPORT OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES WORLD-WIDE
Av. Pubs.1928
Av. Pubs.1938
Av. Pubs.1948
Av. Pubs.1949
Av. Pubs.% Inc. over 1948Peak Pubs. 1949No. of Comp'sTotal LiteratureTotal HoursNew Subs.Individual MagazinesBack-CallsAv. Bible StudiesU. S. of America7436,04025,59672,94582,9581391,4632,9057,316,37316,749,899291,2967,453,3105,043,95661,193Alaska5303264335,61310,7044236,3023,95842Bahamas7103352576815,64715,2042065,4366,797116Bermuda68331511851,024410,31933434Eleuthera4New43,2782,0424165756412French Equ. Africa2156501873702,215821,68039Gambia, B.W.A.3New31,09557944773058Guadeloupe2835254522,83611,630531,5212,63140Iceland3433417,0692,8964443,3631,1148Korea13New161562721210511Lebanon-Syria511091231219288,32526,2841465,5465,95872Liberia9181002812,0788,251921,0313,28653Netherlands Antilles367310296221,25115,86877712,4716,23856Palestine22122321,2884,4411285112Portugal210302004214,0314,597913062,29010Sierra Leone24223311,8733,516151,3896726Spain3453558262,3568,685614413,44329Virgin Islands3247466627,89012,4436023,0986,593114Argentina341289271,135221,26548129,381255,1423,94179,00787,917754Australia1303051,7203,5033,77474,124210223,616738,3848,098339,106219,5952,286Fiji1081213,4113,725631,7451,50714Singapore1310201004314,7328,0187311,9253,86860U. S. of Indonesia21913442018,4365,541233491,41319Austria2614711,2861,615251,886140275,403342,5973,346103,253153,061903Belgium1171,1771,617371,95558150,008334,9202,50560,59180,1941,052Luxembourg224753126642,59412,4151028,7913,73844Bolivia3637348436,83824,2273714,1299,279123Brazil181031,0771,775652,18772419,034498,1024,41967,160125,7951,345British Guiana153017418772091319,64657,90462521,90817,989286British Honduras3855456962,90713,3201166,0404,98778British Isles2,7843,0664,95914,67617,2391718,6926131,783,1773,654,78766,191528,6131,310,0829,230Eire52734085516,27660,2336563,69416,42268Malta31143927522British West Indies1899801,05771,1674547,673254,1611,48864,42285,4601,348Burma2836575877415,40920,2845655,2698,389111Canada9983,11312,60314,3051315,492605628,2972,361,34633,569882,042537,9036,136Chile26191211102611137,27567,52688517,20124,093328China102586344279413,02016,9722331,8184,94752Colombia2897246135524,87928,1993294,41010,931127Costa Rica73637943481,0692823,542176,0071,02325,90148,561862Cuba4,3525,485265,991153132,016912,3763,108106,059215,2313,090Cyprus4115914113917277,58726,5302063,5216,63193Czechoslovakia1069031,5811,2901,64223774,969161,4894487,73763,066745Denmark263248893,2603,774164,018170265,892611,9586,796313,211157,5271,402Dominican Republic12821669274426,10272,53964512,42028,009450Ecuador29569382211,56527,833866,27211,865122Egypt14961344016787,39932,3403968,1798,96782El Salvador1511711420736,55127,8603836,9619,713129Finland3054292,6103,293263,723415333,516651,5558,063150,578155,9911,643France4478452,6273,236233,571127359,810597,6776,27296,256142,0751,441Saar60252326293761239,40367,0698198,05130,601141Germany9,75529,17238,8973343,8281,608451,4747,865,38359,475479,5243,963,44920,742Gold Coast307351,412922,0536590,166334,1081,34834,29634,153569Greece12771892,3382,2992,80821641,118219,3462,79743,20167,370539Turkey12301504122,7035,444346691,72110Guatemala12118855218417,69247,3567568,79217,676311Haiti3658617348,67520,7832173,4797,456110Hawaii13156216382471132,65167,4982,91921,09224,585374Honduras11925611530566,30635,8282884,00011,576160Hungary1,3461,41051,73420589,586277,8781193,342118,8751,701India26929126729393772920,87980,5731,14315,79121,009271Ceylon2528103116,37313,4991515,3184,71651Iran2236461,072253951601Pakistan2327173513,82312,3564996,1163,60928Italy329593806956477,19297,0897186,27535,694336Jamaica50843901,46 out the principal command of Jehovah, to "preach the word".
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