Friday, September 24, 2010

Faithful and...Discreet?

*** w00 10/1 p. 32 Are You Discreet? *** 
Are You Discreet?
IN APPOINTING judges over Israel, Moses strove to find “wise and discreet and experienced men.” (Deuteronomy 1:13) Experience, which came with age, was not the sole criterion. Wisdom and discretion were also important.
A person who is discreet shows good judgment in speech and in conduct. According to Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, the discreet person is also “capable of preserving prudent silence.” Yes, there is “a time to speak,” and there is “a time to keep quiet,” and the discreet person appreciates the difference. (Ecclesiastes 3:7) Often, there is good reason to keep silent, for the Bible states: “In the abundance of words there does not fail to be transgression, but the one keeping his lips in check is acting discreetly.”—Proverbs 10:19.
Christians are careful to be discreet in their dealings with one another. The one who speaks most frequently or most forcefully is not always the one most important or most indispensable. Remember, Moses was “powerful in his words,” but he could not effectively lead the nation of Israel until he cultivated patience, meekness, and self-control. (Acts 7:22) Therefore, those who are entrusted with authority over others must especially strive to be modest and to show a yielding spirit.—Proverbs 11:2.
Those to whom Jesus Christ has entrusted “all his belongings” are described in God’s Word as “faithful and discreet.” (Matthew 24:45-47) They do not immodestly run ahead of Jehovah on an impulsive whim; nor do they lag behind when God’s direction in a matter is clear. They know when it is time to speak and when it is time to wait silently for further clarification. All Christians do well not only to imitate their faith but also to prove themselves discreet, as the slave class does.—Hebrews 13:7.

Take what is said above and compare it with the following:

We have made a selection of more than seventy-five of Judge Rutherford's concise, straight-to-the-point explanation of the most perplexing problems in the Bible and have arranged them in thirteen attractively bound booklets.  Each treatise can be read in just fifteen minutes, and more genuine satisfaction and profitable pleasure derived therefrom in that length of time than can be gotten from studying the Bible by yourself in a whole year. (Vindication, 1932, Vol. 3 p. 383)

Given what is said by the Watchtower above, would you consider the author of these words to be "discreet?"










(Click picture to enlarge)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

If you can't understand what you are reading, of what benefit is it to you? What makes rich is understanding. Judge Rutherford's books presented understanding.

Was he direct? Yes. But indeed, he had a deep respect for the true God.

As powerful as his speeches were, when he prayed with the headquarters Bethel family, he sounded just like a small boy talking to his daddy, thus giving evidence of both his intimate relationship with his Maker and his humility.

Enough said.

Mike Felker said...

How could you possibly think that Rutherford's words can bring more satisfaction and profitable pleasure that God-breathed Scripture?