Watchtower Study, Week of March 28 to April 3, 2022, Making the Best of Time, Underlined Answers.

Watchtower Study, March 28-April 3, 2022, Making the Best Use of Time, Answers Underlined.

1. How do we spend time with Jehovah?

Don't we all love spending time with the people we love? For example, for married couples there is nothing like enjoying a pleasant time together. Young people love to be with their friends. And for all of us it is a pleasure to be in the company of our brothers. Now, surely what we like most is spending time with our God. How do we do it? Praying to him, reading his Word and meditating on his purpose and his beautiful qualities. How much we value the time we spend with Jehovah! (Ps. 139:17).

2. Why is it not always easy to spend time with Jehovah?

Although we like to spend time with Jehovah, it is not always easy to do so. We lead such busy lives that we may find it hard to find time for spiritual activities. Work, family, and other responsibilities can leave us with such a tight schedule that we feel like we don't have time to pray, study, or meditate.

3. What other danger should we watch out for?

But there is a more subtle danger that we must beware of. There are activities that, although not bad, can leave us without time to draw closer to Jehovah. For example, it does us all good to slow down from time to time and have a little fun. But, if we are not balanced, we can reach a point where we have almost no time left for spiritual things. It is important that we keep entertainment in its proper place (Prov. 25:27; 1 Tim. 4:8).

4. What will we see in this article?

In this article, we will see why we need to get our priorities right. We will also discuss how we can make the best use of our time with Jehovah and how we will benefit from it.

LET'S MAKE GOOD DECISIONS AND ESTABLISH OUR PRIORITIES WELL

5. How can Ephesians 5:15-17 help young people choose the best path in life?

Let's choose the best path in life. This is something that worries many young people. On the one hand, they may be advised by school counselors and non-Witness relatives to pursue a career and seek a prestigious position in the world. But it is very likely that this path consumes almost all of their time. On the other hand, their parents and brothers in the congregation may encourage them to dedicate their lives to serving Jehovah. What will help a young man who loves Jehovah make the best decision? You can read Ephesians 5:15-17 (read it). After pondering what he says, you might ask yourself: “What is 'Jehovah's will' for me? Which decision will please you? What path will help me make the best use of time?Let us remember that “the days are evil” and that this world ruled by Satan is about to disappear. The wisest thing is that we use our lives in a way that makes Jehovah happy.

6. What did Maria choose, and why was it a good decision?

Let's get our priorities right. To make the best use of time, sometimes you have to choose between two activities, even if neither of them is bad. That is what happened when Jesus went to visit Mary and Martha. Since Martha was so hospitable and she was so happy to have Jesus in her house, she started cooking a big meal. But her sister, Mary, took the opportunity to sit next to Jesus and listen to what she wanted to teach them. Martha did nothing wrong, but Jesus said that “Mary chose the better part” (Luke 10:38-42). It is likely that in time Mary forgot what she ate on that occasion, but surely she never forgot what she learned from Jesus . It is clear that Mary highly valued the time she spent with Jesus, and we also value the time we spend with Jehovah. How can we take advantage of that time in the best way?

MAKE THE BEST USE OF THE TIME WE SPEND WITH JEHOVAH

7. Why is it so important to pray, study and meditate?

Let us remember that praying, studying and meditating are part of our worship. When we pray, we are talking to our heavenly Father, who loves us so much (Ps. 5:7). When we study the Bible, we are gaining “the knowledge of God,” the wisest person in the universe (Prov. 2:1-5). And, when we meditate, we are reflecting on the beautiful qualities of Jehovah, as well as his wonderful purpose for us and for all mankind. Could there be a better way to use time? Sure, the time we have is limited. Therefore, what will help us make the most of it?

8. What good example did Jesus set for us when he went into the desert?

If possible, let's find a quiet place. Let's think about how Jesus did it. When he began his ministry on Earth, he spent 40 days in the wilderness (Luke 4:1, 2). There he was able to pray and meditate on his Father's will for him. No doubt that prepared him for the tests he would soon face. What do we learn from his example? If our family is large, it may sometimes be difficult for us to find enough tranquility inside our house. If that's our case, can we try going outside? That's what Julie does when she wants to spend time with Jehovah praying to him. She lives with her husband in a small apartment in France, so it is not easy for her to be alone without interruptions. She says: “Every day I go to the park for a walk. There I can be alone, concentrate and talk comfortably with Jehovah.”

9. Although Jesus was a very busy person, how did he show that he valued his friendship with Jehovah?

Jesus was a very busy person. Wherever he went, he was always surrounded by people asking for his time and attention. The Bible says that on one occasion “the whole city was gathered before the door” of a house to see him. Still, he made sure to take time to nurture his friendship with Jehovah. Before dawn, he went to a lonely place to spend time with his Father (Mark 1:32-35).

ILLUSTRATION:

A brother eating and watching television while doing his personal study. His son is next to him playing.

Could you find a quiet place for your personal study? (See paragraphs 8 and 9).

10, 11. According to Matthew 26:40, 41, What timely advice did Jesus give his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, but what happened?

On the last night of his life on earth, when his ministry was drawing to a close, Jesus again sought out a quiet place where he could pray and meditate: the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36). There he gave his disciples some very timely advice on prayer.

Let's see what happened. By the time they reached the Garden of Gethsemane, it was perhaps past midnight, so it was already very late. Jesus asked the apostles to stay awake and then went to pray (Matt. 26:37-39). When he returned, he found them asleep. So he again told them, “Keep awake and pray constantly” (read Matthew 26:40, 41). He knew that they had been under a lot of stress and that they were very tired. That is why he had compassion on them and said that “the flesh is weak”. Nevertheless, twice more he went to pray and, when he returned, he found that they were not praying, but sleeping (Matt. 26:42-45).

12. What can we do if we sometimes feel too stressed or tired to pray?

Let's choose the right moment. Perhaps sometimes we feel too stressed or tired to pray, and we are not the only ones. What can we do? Some brothers who used to pray at the end of the day have found that it works better for them to pray a little earlier, when they are less tired. Others have found that they concentrate better if they pray in a certain position, such as sitting or kneeling. And what if we feel too worried or discouraged to pray? Let us tell Jehovah with the peace of mind that he is merciful and will understand us (Ps. 139:4).

ILLUSTRATION:

A sister falls asleep while lying in bed praying.

Could you find time to pray when you're not so tired? (See paragraph 12).

13. How can electronic devices distract us when we are spending time with Jehovah?

Let's avoid distractions when we are studying. In addition to praying, another thing we can do to strengthen our friendship with Jehovah is to study his Word and attend congregation meetings. Is there anything we can do to make the most of our study sessions and meetings? Let's ask ourselves: "What tends to distract me in those moments?". Can it be calls, emails or text messages on the phone or some other device? These devices are useful, and are used by billions of people today. But some experts say that when a person is trying to concentrate, simply having a phone nearby can distract them. A psychology professor explains:“You don't focus on what you're doing. Your mind is elsewhere". If before assemblies we are asked to put our devices in a mode that will not distract others, can we do the same when we are alone with Jehovah so that the devices do not interrupt and distract us?

14. According to Philippians 4:6, 7, what will Jehovah do to help us focus?

Let us ask Jehovah to help us focus. If we are studying or in a congregation meeting and notice that our mind wanders, let us ask Jehovah for help. If there is something that makes us uneasy, it may not be easy for us to put our worries aside and focus on spiritual things, but it is very important that we do so. Pray that Jehovah will give us the peace that not only protects our hearts, but also our minds (read Philippians 4:6, 7).

ILLUSTRATION:

A brother responding to text messages during the meeting.

Could you avoid responding to texts and emails during meetings? (See paragraphs 13 and 14).

THE BENEFITS OF SPENDING TIME WITH JEHOVAH

15. What is a benefit of spending time with Jehovah?

We will reap many benefits if we spend time talking with Jehovah, listening to him, and thinking about him. Which? First of all, we will make better decisions. According to the Bible, “he who walks with the wise will become wise” (Prov. 13:20). So the more time we spend with Jehovah—the wisest person in the universe—the wiser we will become. We will better understand how to please him and avoid making decisions that could hurt him.

16. Why does spending time with Jehovah make us better teachers?

Second, we will be better teachers. When we teach the Bible, one of our main goals is to help the student draw closer to Jehovah. The more we communicate with our heavenly Father, the more we will love him and the more we will be able to teach our student to love him. That was the case with Jesus. When he spoke of his Father, he expressed himself with such love and affection that his faithful disciples could not help but love Jehovah too (John 17:25, 26).

17. Why do prayer and study help us strengthen our faith?

Third, our faith will become stronger. Let's think about what happens when we ask God for guidance, comfort, or support. Every time he answers us, our faith is strengthened (1 John 5:15). Another thing that can make our faith stronger is personal study. Ultimately, “faith follows the message that is heard” (Rom. 10:17). Of course, if we want to have a strong faith, it is not enough that we learn things. What else should we do?

18. Explain with an example why we should meditate.

We must meditate on what we are learning. Consider the writer of Psalm 77. He was distraught because it seemed to him that he and the other Israelites had lost Jehovah's approval. He was so worried that he couldn't even sleep at night (verses 2-8). What did he do? He told Jehovah: “I will meditate on all your activities and reflect on the way you act” (verse 12). Sure, he was well aware of the things Jehovah had done for his people in the past. But still he wondered: "Has God forgotten to grant us his favor, or has his fury nullified his mercy?" (verse 9). The writer of this psalm reflected on Jehovah's acts and the mercy and compassion he had shown in the past (verse 11).As a result, he was convinced that Jehovah would not abandon his people (verse 15). Similarly, our faith will grow stronger as we ponder what Jehovah has done for his people in general and for us in particular.

19. What will be another benefit of spending time with Jehovah?

Fourth, we will love Jehovah more. This is the most important benefit. Why? Because love is the quality that can most motivate us to obey Jehovah, to make sacrifices to please him, and to endure any trial (Matt. 22:37-39; 1 Cor. 13:4, 7; 1 John 5:3). There is nothing more important than being friends with our dear God, Jehovah (Ps. 63:1-8).

20. What do you plan to do in order to find more time to spend with Jehovah?

Once again, let us remember that praying, studying and meditating are part of our worship. Let's do like Jesus and find quiet times and places to spend time with Jehovah. Let's avoid unnecessary distractions. And when we are doing any spiritual activity, let us ask Jehovah to help us focus. If we make the best use of time, Jehovah will bless us with eternal life in the new world (Mark 4:24).

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

What did Jesus do to ensure that he nurtured his friendship with Jehovah?

The Bible says that on one occasion “the whole city was gathered before the door” of a house to see him. Still, he made sure to take time to nurture his friendship with Jehovah. Before dawn, he went to a lonely place to spend time with his Father.

How can we make the best use of time?

By spending more time with Jehovah, we will thus become wiser. We will better understand how to please him and avoid making decisions that could hurt him.

What are the benefits of spending time with Jehovah?

We will reap many benefits if we spend time talking with Jehovah, listening to him, and thinking about him. First of all, we will make better decisions. According to the Bible, “he who walks with the wise will become wise”