Lesson 45 Explore 4: “Each One Will Carry His Own Load”
“Each of us will render an account for himself to God.”-
(Romans 14.12: So, then, each of us will render an account for himself to God.)
1. What responsibility did three young Hebrews face up to?
THREE young Hebrews living in Babylon face a life-and-death decision. Should they bow down to a huge image, as required by the law of the land? Or should they refuse to worship it and be thrown into a burning fiery furnace? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego do not have time to consult anyone; neither do they need to do so. Without hesitation, they declare: “Let it become known to you, O king, that your gods are not the ones we are serving, and the image of gold that you have set up we will not worship.”
(Daniel 3.1-18: Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold that was 60 cubits high and 6 cubits wide. He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the administrators of the provinces to come to the inauguration of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the administrators of the provinces assembled for the inauguration of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood in front of the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. The herald loudly proclaimed: “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and language groups, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, triangular harp, stringed instrument, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the burning fiery furnace.” So when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, triangular harp, stringed instrument, and all the other musical instruments, all the peoples, nations, and language groups fell down and worshipped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Now at that time some of the Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar: “O king, may you live on forever. You, O king, gave the command that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, zither, triangular harp, stringed instrument, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments should fall down and worship the image of gold; and that whoever would not fall down and worship should be thrown into the burning fiery furnace. But there are certain Jews whom you appointed to administer the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men have paid no regard to you, O king. They are not serving your gods, and they refuse to worship the image of gold that you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar, in a furious rage, ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be brought in. So these men were brought in before the king. Nebuchadnezzar said to them: “Is it really true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you are not serving my gods and that you refuse to worship the image of gold that I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, the zither, the triangular harp, the stringed instrument, the bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image that I have made, fine. But if you refuse to worship, you will immediately be thrown into the burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who can rescue you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it must be, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the burning fiery furnace, O king, and to rescue us from your hand. But even if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold that you have set up.”)
The three Hebrews carried their own load of responsibility.
2. Who, in effect, made Pilate’s decision regarding Jesus Christ, and did that free the Roman governor from accountability?
2. Some six centuries later, the governor has heard the charges against the man. Upon examining the case, he becomes convinced that the accused is innocent. The crowd, though, demands his execution. After putting forth some resistance, the governor proves reluctant to carry his load of responsibility and gives in to pressure. Washing his hands, he states: “I am innocent of the blood of this man.” Then he hands the man over to be impaled. Yes, instead of shouldering his responsibility to make a decision regarding Jesus Christ, Pontius Pilate lets others decide for him. No amount of water can absolve him of his accountability for passing that unjust sentence upon Jesus.-
(Matthew 27.11-26: Jesus now stood before the governor, and the governor put the question to him: “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus replied: “You yourself say it.” But while he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him: “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” But he did not answer him, no, not a word, so that the governor was very surprised. Now from festival to festival, it was the custom of the governor to release a prisoner to the crowd, whomever they wanted. Just at that time they were holding a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they were gathered together, Pilate said to them: “Which one do you want me to release to you, Barabbas or Jesus the so-called Christ?” For Pilate was aware that out of envy they had handed him over. Moreover, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him, saying: “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I suffered a lot today in a dream because of him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas, but to have Jesus put to death. In response the governor said to them: “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said: “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them: “What, then, should I do with Jesus the so-called Christ?” They all said: “To the stake with him!” He said: “Why? What bad thing did he do?” Still they kept shouting out all the more: “To the stake with him!” Seeing that it did no good but, rather, an uproar was arising, Pilate took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying: “I am innocent of the blood of this man. You yourselves must see to it.” At that all the people said in answer: “Let his blood come upon us and upon our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them, but he had Jesus whipped and handed him over to be executed on the stake.)
(Luke 23.13-25: Pilate then called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them: “You brought this man to me as one inciting the people to revolt. Now look! I examined him in front of you but found in this man no grounds for the charges you are bringing against him. In fact, neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us, and look! he has done nothing deserving of death. I will therefore punish him and release him.” —— But the whole crowd shouted out: “Do away with this man, and release Barabbas to us!” (This man had been thrown into prison for sedition that had occurred in the city and for murder.) Again Pilate called out to them, because he wanted to release Jesus. Then they began to yell, saying: “To the stake with him! To the stake with him!” The third time he said to them: “Why? What bad thing did this man do? I found in him nothing deserving of death; I will therefore punish him and release him.” At this they became insistent, demanding with loud voices that he be executed, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate made the decision that their demand be met. He released the man whom they were demanding, who had been thrown into prison for sedition and murder, but he surrendered Jesus to their will.)
3. Why should we not let others make decisions for us?
3. What about you? When called upon to make decisions, are you like the three Hebrews, or do you allow others to make up your mind? Decision-making is not easy. It takes maturity to make right choices. For instance, parents need to make good decisions for their minor children. Of course, making a decision is very difficult when the situation is complex and various factors have to be weighed. However, the responsibility of making decisions is not so weighty as to be included among “the burdens,” or “troublesome things,” that those with “spiritual qualifications” may carry for us. footnote)
(Galatians 6.1, 2: Brothers, even if a man takes a false step before he is aware of it, you who have spiritual qualifications try to readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness. But keep an eye on yourself, for fear you too may be tempted. Go on carrying the burdens of one another, and in this way you will fulfill the law of the Christ.)
Rather, it is a load for which “each of us will render an account for himself to God.”
(Romans 14.12: So, then, each of us will render an account for himself to God.)
“Each one will carry his own load,” states the Bible.
(Galatians 6.5: For each one will carry his own load.)
How, then, can we make wise decisions in life? First, we must recognize our human limitations and learn what is needed to compensate for them.
A Key Requirement
4. What vital lesson about making decisions should we learn from the disobedience of the first human couple?
4. Early in human history, the first couple made a decision that brought disastrous consequences. They chose to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and bad.
(Genesis 2.16, 17: Jehovah God also gave this command to the man: “From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will certainly die.”)
What was the basis for their decision? “The woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was something to be longed for to the eyes, yes, the tree was desirable to look upon,” says the Bible. “So she began taking of its fruit and eating it. Afterward she gave some also to her husband when with her and he began eating it.”
(Genesis 3.6: Consequently, the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was something desirable to the eyes, yes, the tree was pleasing to look at. So she began taking of its fruit and eating it. Afterward, she also gave some to her husband when he was with her, and he began eating it.)
Eve’s choice was based on selfish desire. Her action led Adam to join her. As a result, sin and death “spread to all men.”
(Romans 5.12: That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because they had all sinned—.)
Adam and Eve’s disobedience should teach us a vital lesson concerning man’s limitations: Unless he adheres to divine guidance, man is prone to make wrong decisions.
5. What guidance has Jehovah provided for us, and what must we do to benefit from it?
5. How glad we can be that Jehovah God has not left us without direction! The Scriptures tell us: “Your own ears will hear a word behind you saying: ‘This is the way. Walk in it, you people,’ in case you people should go to the right or in case you should go to the left.”
(Isaiah 30.21: And your own ears will hear a word behind you saying, “This is the way. Walk in it,” in case you should go to the right or in case you should go to the left.)
Jehovah speaks to us through his inspired Word, the Bible. We must study the Scriptures and acquire accurate knowledge of them. To make correct choices, we should partake of “solid food [that] belongs to mature people.” “Through use,” we also “have [our] perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong.”
(Hebrews 5.14: But solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their powers of discernment trained to distinguish both right and wrong.)
We can train our perceptive powers by applying what we learn from God’s Word.
6. What is necessary for our conscience to function properly?
6. Essential to the decision-making process is our inherited faculty of conscience. This faculty has the ability to render judgment, and we can be “accused or even excused” by it.
(Romans 2.14, 15: For when people of the nations, who do not have law, do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves. They are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts, while their conscience is bearing witness with them, and by their own thoughts they are being accused or even excused.)
For our conscience to function properly, however, it must be illuminated with the accurate knowledge of God’s Word and made sensitive by application of that Word. An unenlightened conscience is easily influenced by local customs and habits. Our surroundings and the opinions of other people can also misguide us. What happens to our conscience when its proddings are repeatedly ignored and divine standards are violated? It can, in time, come to be marked “as with a branding iron,” becoming like seared flesh covered over with scar tissue-insensitive and unresponsive.
(1 Timothy 4.2: by means of the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, whose conscience is seared as with a branding iron.)
On the other hand, a conscience trained by God’s Word is a safe guide.
7. What is a key requirement in making wise decisions?
7. A key requirement for shouldering the responsibility to make wise decisions, then, is an accurate knowledge of the Scriptures and the ability to apply it. Rather than impulsively jumping to conclusions when faced with choices, we ought to take time to search for godly principles and exercise our thinking ability in applying them. Even when called upon to make an on-the-spot decision-as were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego-we are well-equipped if we have accurate knowledge of God’s Word and our conscience has been trained by it. To see how pressing on to maturity can sharpen our decision-making ability, let us consider two areas of life.
Who Will Be Our Associates?
8, 9. (a) What principles show the necessity of avoiding bad associations? (b) Does having bad association refer only to direct fellowship with unprincipled people? Explain.
8. “Do not be misled,” wrote the apostle Paul. “Bad associations spoil useful habits.”
(1 Corinthians 15.33: Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits.)
Jesus Christ told his disciples: “You are no part of the world.”
(John 15.19: If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you.)
Upon learning these principles, we quickly see the need to avoid fellowship with fornicators, adulterers, thieves, drunkards, and the like.
(1 Corinthians 6.9, 10: Or do you not know that unrighteous people will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Do not be misled. Those who are sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, men who submit to homosexual acts, men who practice homosexuality, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners will not inherit God’s Kingdom.)
As we progress in knowledge of Bible truth, though, we realize that spending time with such individuals by watching them in movies, on television, or on computer screens or by reading about them in books is just as damaging. The same can be said of associating in Internet chat rooms “with those who hide what they are.”-
(Psalm 26.4: I do not associate with deceitful men, And I avoid those who hide what they are.)
9. What about having close association with those who may be morally clean but who lack faith in the true God? The Scriptures tell us: “The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.”
(1 John 5.19: We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.)
We come to discern that bad associations are not limited to permissive or morally debased people. Hence, we are wise to cultivate close friendships only with those who love Jehovah.
10. What helps us to make mature decisions with respect to our contact with the world?
10. Completely avoiding contact with those in the world is neither possible nor required.
(John 17.15: “I do not request that you take them out of the world, but that you watch over them because of the wicked one.)
Sharing in the Christian ministry, attending school, going to work all involve contact with the world. A Christian married to an unbeliever may have to rub shoulders with the world more than others do. Having our perceptive powers trained, however, we appreciate that it is one thing to have necessary limited contact with the world and quite another to cultivate close ties with it.
(James 4.4: Adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is making himself an enemy of God.)
Thus, we are able to make mature decisions as to whether we will participate in extracurricular activities at school, such as sports events and dances, and attend parties and dinners arranged for fellow employees.
Choosing Employment
11. What is the first consideration in making employment decisions?
11. Applying Bible principles in a mature way helps us in making decisions about how we fulfill our obligation to ‘provide for the members of our household.’
(1 Timothy 5.8: Certainly if anyone does not provide for those who are his own, and especially for those who are members of his household, he has disowned the faith and is worse than a person without faith.)
The first consideration is the nature of the work itself-what it requires us to do. Choosing a type of work that promotes what is directly condemned in the Bible is definitely wrong. So true Christians do not accept jobs that may involve idolatry, stealing, misuse of blood, or other unscriptural practices. We would also not lie or cheat, even if an employer demands that we do so.-
(Acts 15.29: to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!”)
(Revelation 21.8: But as for the cowards and those without faith and those who are disgusting in their filth and murderers and the sexually immoral and those practicing spiritism and idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This means the second death.”)
12, 13. What are some factors besides the work itself that are significant in making employment decisions?
12. What if the work itself does not specifically violate any divine requirement? As we grow in knowledge of the truth and our perceptive powers improve, we come to discern other criteria that must be considered. What if the work would involve us in an unscriptural practice, such as answering phones at a gambling establishment? The source of pay and the location of the employment also enter into the picture. For example, would a Christian who is a self-employed contractor bid on a job that involves painting one of the churches of Christendom and thereby share in helping to promote false religion?-
(2 Corinthians 6.14-16: Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: “I will reside among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”)
13. What if on one occasion our employer accepts a contract to beautify a place of false worship? In this case, we would need to consider such factors as the extent of our having authority over what is being done and the degree of our involvement. And what about performing a legitimate service, such as delivering mail everywhere in a community, including places that promote wrong practices? Would not the principle stated at
(Matthew 5.45: so that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise on both the wicked and the good and makes it rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.)
have a bearing? Not to be overlooked is how doing the work day in and day out might affect our conscience.
(Hebrews 13.18: Keep praying for us, for we trust we have an honest conscience, as we wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things.)
Indeed, carrying our load of responsibility in making mature decisions regarding employment calls for us to sharpen our perceptive powers and train our God-given faculty of conscience.
“In All Your Ways Take Notice of Him”
14. In making decisions, what measures should we take?
14. What about the decisions we make regarding other matters, such as pursuing secular education and accepting or rejecting certain medical treatment? When we are faced with making any decision, we must ascertain pertinent Bible principles and then use our mental faculties in applying them. “Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding,” said wise King Solomon of ancient Israel. “In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight.”-
(Proverbs 3.5, 6: Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, And do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, And he will make your paths straight.)
15. What do we learn from the first-century Christians about making decisions?
15. Often, the choices we make affect others, and we need to give consideration to this. The first-century Christians, for example, were no longer under many of the dietary restrictions of the Mosaic Law. They could choose to eat certain foods that were considered unclean under the Law and were not objectionable in other ways. However, the apostle Paul wrote about meat of an animal that might have some link with an idol temple: “If food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat flesh at all, that I may not make my brother stumble.”
(1 Corinthians 8.11-13: So by your knowledge the man who is weak is being ruined, your brother for whose sake Christ died. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. That is why if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat at all, so that I will not make my brother stumble.)
The early Christians were encouraged to show consideration for the consciences of others so as not to stumble them. Our decisions should not make us “causes for stumbling.”-
(1 Corinthians 10.29: I do not mean your own conscience, but that of the other person. For why should my freedom be judged by another person’s conscience?)
(1 Corinthians 10.32: Keep from becoming causes for stumbling to Jews as well as Greeks and to the congregation of God,)
Seek Godly Wisdom
16. How is prayer a help to us in making decisions?
16. An invaluable aid in making decisions is prayer. “If any one of you is lacking in wisdom,” says the disciple James, “let him keep on asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching; and it will be given him.”
(James 1.5: So if any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching, and it will be given him.)
With confidence, we can turn to Jehovah in prayer and ask for the needed wisdom to make proper decisions. As we talk to the true God about our concerns and seek his guidance, holy spirit may help us better understand the scriptures that we are considering and bring to mind those we may have overlooked.
17. How can others help us in the decision-making process?
17. Can others help us in making decisions? Yes, Jehovah has provided mature individuals in the congregation.
(Ephesians 4.11, 12: And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelizers, some as shepherds and teachers, with a view to the readjustment of the holy ones, for ministerial work, to build up the body of the Christ,)
They can be consulted, particularly if the decision is a major one. Individuals who have deep spiritual insight and are experienced in life can bring to our attention additional godly principles that may have a bearing on our decision and help us to “make sure of the more important things.”
(Philippians 1.9, 10: And this is what I continue praying, that your love may abound still more and more with accurate knowledge and full discernment; that you may make sure of the more important things, so that you may be flawless and not stumbling others up to the day of Christ;)
However, a word of caution is appropriate: We must be careful not to let others make decisions for us. The load of responsibility is ours to bear.
The Outcome—Always Good?
18. What can be said about the outcome of a good decision?
18. Will decisions that are solidly grounded on Bible principles and made conscientiously always lead to a good outcome? Yes, in the long run. At times, though, the short-term effect may bring adversity. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew that death might be the outcome of their decision not to worship the huge image.
(Daniel 3.16-19: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it must be, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the burning fiery furnace, O king, and to rescue us from your hand. But even if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold that you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar became so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that the expression of his face changed toward them, and he gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual.)
Similarly, after the apostles told the Jewish Sanhedrin that they must obey God as ruler rather than men, they were flogged before being set free.
(Acts 5.27-29: So they brought them and stood them before the Sanhedrin. Then the high priest questioned them and said: “We strictly ordered you not to keep teaching on the basis of this name, and yet look! you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring the blood of this man upon us.” In answer Peter and the other apostles said: “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.)
(Acts 5.40: At this they took his advice, and they summoned the apostles, flogged them, and ordered them to stop speaking on the basis of Jesus’ name, and let them go.)
Moreover, “time and unforeseen occurrence” may adversely affect the result of any decision.
(Ecclesiastes 9.11: I have seen something further under the sun, that the swift do not always win the race, nor do the mighty win the battle, nor do the wise always have the food, nor do the intelligent always have the riches, nor do those with knowledge always have success, because time and unexpected events overtake them all.)
If we suffer in some way despite having made a right decision, we can be confident that Jehovah will help us to endure and will bless us in the end.-
(2 Corinthians 4.7: However, we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the power beyond what is normal may be God’s and not from us.)
19. How can we courageously carry our own load of responsibility in making decisions?
19. When making decisions, then, we must seek out Scriptural principles and use our mental ability to apply them. How grateful we can be for the help Jehovah has provided by means of his holy spirit and the mature ones in the congregation! With such guidance and provisions, let us courageously carry our own load of responsibility in making wise decisions.
What Did You Learn?
• What is a key requirement for making good decisions?
• How does progressing to maturity affect our choice of associates?
• What are some important factors that we ought to consider when making decisions regarding employment?
• What help is available in making decisions?
[End of article.]