Oldal:WT 5-1936 - Loyalty and faithfulness.djvu/3 forrásának megtekintése

<noinclude><pagequality level="1" user="" /></noinclude>Vol. LVII
Mxncu 1, 1936
No. 5
LOYALTY AND FAITHFULNESS
“J/y son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother; bind them continually
upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light;
and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”—Prov. 6:20,21,23.
JEHOVAH requires absolute loyalty and faithful¬
ness of every one whom he makes a member of
his royal organization. The same nile appears
to apply to all who receive life everlasting. Jehovah
is the Father, or Life-giver, and there is no life ever¬
lasting received save that which proceeds from him.
He dispenses the great gift of life by and through
Christ Jesus, his executive officer. (Korn. 6:23) The
mother of the members of the royal house is Jehovah
God’s organization, symbolized by his woman, other¬
wise called Zion. All who arc born of her receive life
from and are taught by Jehovah God. (Isa. 54:13)
In brief, the meaning of Proverbs 6:20 is this: That
the sons of God must keep his commandments and be
guided by the law of his organization, for “the com¬
mandment is a lamp, and the law is light; and reproofs
of instruction are the way of life”.
2 While the English word loyalty does not appear
in the Scriptures, yet there are many words in the
Bible that have exactly the same meaning as loyalty.
The Scriptures clearly teach that every man who re¬
ceives life everlasting must prove himself both loyal
and faithful. There is a distinction between loyally
and faithfulness. Technically, one might be loyal and
not be faithful. No one is chosen as a member of the
royal house unless that one proves to be both loyal
and faithful. Always loyal and faithful, it is written
of Jesus Christ that he is The “Faithful and True”.
He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and they that
are with him are called and chosen and faithful. (Rev,
19:11; 17:14) Thus it is seen that each one of the
body membei's of Christ must be an image of the Head,
Christ Jesus.—-Rom. 8:29.
DEFINED
8 The correct definition of the words loyalty and
faithfulness are found in the Scriptures. The word
loyal is from the same root as the word law. Law means
a rule of action or conduct prescribed and made bind¬
ing by the supreme governing authority, commanding
what is right, and naming a penalty for the infraction
of that fixed rule or law. Lawful means that which is
pennit ted by and done in conformity to law. Loyal
means that which is done in strict conformity with the
law; that which is done in accordance with the law of
God. A loyal creature is one who proceeds according
to God’s law. Loyaltj’ to God therefore means to care¬
fully and strictly be obedient to his law. His will is
his law whether expressed or unexpressed, and that
will is expressed by him in his Word for the correct
guidance of the man who desires to be right. “Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my
path.” (Ps. 119:105) There is no other correct guide.
* Faithfulness means more than merely to obey the
letter of the law. A faithful one is trusty, trustworthy,
established, steady, firm, secure, true and certain.
Faithful means fidelity in the adherence to right as
directed by the Lord. It means watchfulness and care¬
fulness in the observance and performance of a duty
or the discharge of an obligation. To be faithful means
to be honest, constant and unchangeable. It means in¬
tegrity. To maintain one’s integrity toward God he
must be faithful. That means he must be true and
constant in his allegiance and devotion to God, because
he is bound to God and Christ by a solemn covenant.
It means tiiat the man in the covenant with God must
be thorough and firm in the observance and perform¬
ance of service entrusted to him. It means to be true,
reliable, worthy of dependance and entirely depend¬
able. Only the righteous who maintain and preserve
their integrity toward God enter into his royal house.
“Open ye the gates, that there may enter in a right¬
eous nation preserving fidelity.” (Isa. 2G: 2, h’oth.)
In the examination of the texts that follow the dis¬
tinction between loyalty and faithfulness may be seen,
and also that God requires his sons to be both loyal
and faithful.
LOYAL
6 The law of Jehovah, that is, the rule of action or
conduct prescribed by him for man, is perfect, and he
who walks truly and sincerely in the law of God goes
in the right way, and, continuing therein, that man
will receive the everlasting favor of God. (Ps. 19: 7-9)
Of Jesus these words are recorded: “I delight to do
thy will, 0 my God; yea, thy law7 is within my heart.”
(Ps. 40:8) That means that at all times Jesus is cn-
tiiely devoted to Jehovah God’s rule prescribed for<noinclude><references/></noinclude>