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CHAPTER TWELVE Living in a Way That Pleases God How can you become God’s friend? In what way does Satan’s challenge involve you? What conduct displeases Jehovah? How can you live in a way that pleases God? Give some examples of humans whom Jehovah viewed as his close friends. WHAT kind of person would you choose as a friend? Very likely you would want the company of someone who shares your views, interests, and values. And you would be drawn to one who has fine qualities, such as honesty and kindness. 2 Throughout history, God has chosen certain humans to be his close friends. For example, Jehovah called Abraham his friend. (Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23) God referred to David as “a man agreeable to my heart” because he was the kind of person Jehovah loves. (Acts 13:22) And Jehovah viewed the prophet Daniel as “someone very desirable.” Why does Jehovah choose certain humans to be his friends? 3 Why did Jehovah consider Abraham, David, and Daniel to be his friends? Well, he told Abraham: “You have listened to my voice.” (Genesis 22:18) So Jehovah draws close to those who humbly do what he asks of them. “Obey my voice,” he told the Israelites, “and I will become your God, and you yourselves will become my people.” (Jeremiah 7:23) If you obey Jehovah, you too can become his friend! JEHOVAH STRENGTHENS HIS FRIENDS How does Jehovah show his strength in behalf of his people? 4 Think about what friendship with God means. The Bible says that Jehovah is looking for opportunities “to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9) How can Jehovah show his strength in your behalf? One way is brought out at Psalm 32:8, where we read: “I [Jehovah] shall make you have insight and instruct you in the way you should go. I will give advice with my eye upon you.” 5 What a touching expression of Jehovah’s care! He will give you needed direction and watch over you as you apply it. God wants to help you get through your trials and tests. (Psalm 55:22) So if you serve Jehovah with a complete heart, you can be as confident as the psalmist who said: “I have placed Jehovah in front of me constantly. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be made to totter.” (Psalm 16:8; 63:8) Yes, Jehovah can help you to live in a way that pleases him. But, as you know, there is an enemy of God who would like to keep you from doing this. SATAN’S CHALLENGE What was Satan’s charge regarding humans? 6 Chapter 11 of this book explained how Satan the Devil challenged God’s sovereignty. Satan charged God with lying and implied that Jehovah was unfair in not letting Adam and Eve decide for themselves what was right and what was wrong. After Adam and Eve sinned and as the earth began to be filled with their offspring, Satan questioned the motive of all humans. “People do not serve God because they love him,” Satan charged. “Give me a chance, and I can turn anyone against God.” The account of the man named Job shows that this is what Satan believed. Who was Job, and how was he involved with Satan’s challenge? (a) What made Job outstanding among humans of that time? (b) How did Satan call Job’s motive into question? 7 Job lived about 3,600 years ago. He was a good man, for Jehovah said: “There is no one like him in the earth, a man blameless and upright, fearing God and turning aside from bad.” (Job 1:8) Job was pleasing to God. 8 Satan questioned Job’s motive for serving God. The Devil said to Jehovah: “Have not you yourself put up a hedge about [Job] and about his house and about everything that he has all around? The work of his hands you have blessed, and his livestock itself has spread abroad in the earth. But, for a change, thrust out your hand, please, and touch everything he has and see whether he will not curse you to your very face.” How did Jehovah respond to Satan’s challenge, and why? 9 Satan thus argued that Job served God just for what he got in return. The Devil also charged that if Job was tested, he would turn against God. How did Jehovah respond to Satan’s challenge? Since the issue involved Job’s motive, Jehovah allowed Satan to test Job. In this way, Job’s love for God JOB IS TESTED What trials befell Job, and how did he react? 10 Satan soon tested Job in a number of ways. Some of Job’s animals were stolen, and others were killed. Most of his servants were slaughtered. This brought economic hardship. Further tragedy struck when Job’s ten children died in a storm. Despite these terrible events, however, “Job did not sin or ascribe anything improper to God.” (a) What second accusation did Satan make concerning Job, and how did Jehovah respond? (b) How did Job react to his painful disease? 11 Satan did not give up. He must have thought that although Job could endure the loss of his possessions, servants, and children, he would turn against God if he became sick. Jehovah let Satan strike Job with a disgusting, painful disease. But even this did not cause Job to lose faith in God. Rather, he firmly said: “Until I expire I shall not take away my integrity!” How did Job answer the Devil’s challenge? 12 Job was not aware that Satan was the cause of his troubles. Not knowing the details about the Devil’s challenge of Jehovah’s sovereignty, Job feared that God was the source of his problems. (Job 6:4; 16:11-14) Still, he kept his integrity to Jehovah. And Satan’s claim that Job served God for selfish reasons was proved false by Job’s faithful course! What happened because Job was faithful to God? 13 Job’s faithfulness provided Jehovah with a forceful reply to Satan’s insulting challenge. Job truly was Jehovah’s friend, and God rewarded him for his faithful course. HOW YOU ARE INVOLVED Why can we say that Satan’s challenge involving Job applies to all humans? 14 The issue of integrity to God that was raised by Satan was not directed against Job alone. You too are involved. This is clearly shown at Proverbs 27:11, where Jehovah’s Word says: “Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, that I may make a reply to him that is taunting me.” These words, written hundreds of years after Job’s death, show that Satan was still taunting God and accusing His servants. When we live in a way that pleases Jehovah, we actually help to give an answer to Satan’s false charges, and in that way we make God’s heart rejoice. How do you feel about that? Would it not be wonderful to have a part in answering the Devil’s lying claims, even if it means making certain changes in your life? 15 Notice that Satan said: “Everything that a man has he will give in behalf of his soul.” (Job 2:4) By saying “a man,” Satan made it clear that his charge applied not just to Job but to all humans. That is a very important point. Satan has called into question your integrity to God. The Devil would like to see you disobey God and abandon a righteous course when difficulties arise. How might Satan try to accomplish this? (a) By what methods does Satan try to turn people away from God? (b) How might the Devil use these methods against you? 16 As discussed in Chapter 10, Satan uses various methods to try to turn people away from God. On the one hand, he attacks “like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone.” (1 Peter 5:8) Thus Satan’s influence may be seen when friends, relatives, or others oppose your efforts to study the Bible and apply what you learn. * (John 15:19, 20) On the other hand, Satan “keeps transforming himself into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14) The Devil can use subtle means to mislead you and lure you away from a godly way of life. He can also use discouragement, perhaps causing you to feel that you are not good enough to please God. (Proverbs 24:10) Whether Satan is acting like “a roaring lion” or posing as “an angel of light,” his challenge remains the same: He says that when you are faced with trials or temptations, you will stop serving God. How can you answer his challenge and prove your integrity to God, as Job did? OBEYING JEHOVAH’S COMMANDMENTS What is the main reason to obey Jehovah’s commandments? 17 You can answer Satan’s challenge by living in a way that pleases God. What does this involve? The Bible answers: “You must love Jehovah your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your vital force.” (Deuteronomy 6:5) As your love for God grows, you will be filled with a desire to do what he requires of you. “This is what the love of God means,” wrote the apostle John, “that we observe his commandments.” If you love Jehovah with your whole heart, you will find that “his commandments are not burdensome.” (a) What are some of Jehovah’s commandments? (See box on page 122.) (b) How do we know that God is not asking too much of us? 18 What are Jehovah’s commandments? Some of them involve conduct that we must avoid. For example, note the box on page 122, entitled “Shun What Jehovah Hates.” There you will find listed conduct that the Bible clearly condemns. At first glance, some practices that are listed might not seem so bad. But after meditating on the cited scriptures, you will likely see the wisdom of Jehovah’s laws. Making changes in your conduct may be the greatest challenge you have ever faced. Yet, living in a way that pleases God brings great satisfaction and happiness. (Isaiah 48:17, 18) And it is something that is within your reach. How do we know that? 19 Jehovah never asks more of us than we can do. (Deuteronomy 30:11-14) He knows our potential and our limitations better than we do. (Psalm 103:14) Moreover, Jehovah can give us the strength to obey him. The apostle Paul wrote: “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but along with the temptation he will also make the way out in order for you to be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) To help you endure, Jehovah can even supply you with “power beyond what is normal.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) After enduring many trials, Paul could say: “For all things I have the strength by virtue of him who imparts power to me.” DEVELOPING GODLY QUALITIES What godly qualities should you develop, and why are these important? 20 Of course, more is involved in pleasing Jehovah than avoiding things that he hates. You also need to love what he loves. (Romans 12:9) Do you not feel drawn to those who share your views, interests, and values? Jehovah does too. So learn to love the things that Jehovah holds dear. Some of these are described at Psalm 15:1-5, where we read about those whom God considers his friends. Jehovah’s friends display what the Bible calls “the fruitage of the spirit.” It includes such qualities as “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control.” What will help you to develop godly qualities? 21 Reading and studying the Bible regularly will help you to develop godly qualities. And learning what God requires will help you to harmonize your thoughts with God’s thinking. (Isaiah 30:20, 21) The more you strengthen your love for Jehovah, the greater will be your desire to live in a way that pleases God. What will you accomplish if you live in a way that pleases God? 22 Effort is required to live in a way that pleases Jehovah. The Bible likens changing your life to stripping off your old personality and clothing yourself with a new one. (Colossians 3:9, 10) But regarding Jehovah’s commandments, the psalmist wrote: “In the keeping of them there is a large reward.” (Psalm 19:11) You too will find that living in a way that pleases God is richly rewarding. By so doing, you will give an answer to Satan’s challenge and make Jehovah’s heart rejoice! ^ par. 16 This does not mean that those who oppose you are personally controlled by Satan. But Satan is the god of this system of things, and the whole world is in his power. (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19) So we can expect that living a godly life will be an unpopular course, and some will oppose you.
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DVANAESTO POGLAVLJE Živjeti na način koji je ugodan Bogu Kako možeš postati Božji prijatelj? Kako si uključen u sporno pitanje koje je Sotona pokrenuo? Koje postupke Jehova ne odobrava? Kako možeš živjeti na način koji je ugodan Bogu? Spomeni neke osobe koje je Jehova smatrao svojim bliskim prijateljima. KAKVU bi osobu izabrao za prijatelja? Najvjerojatnije nekoga tko ima slična gledišta, interese i vrijednosti kao i ti. Isto tako, privukla bi te osoba s lijepim osobinama, kao što su poštenje i dobrota. 2 Bog je tokom povijesti izabrao neke osobe za svoje bliske prijatelje. Naprimjer, Jehova je Abrahama nazvao svojim prijateljem (Izaija 41:8; Jakov 2:23). Jehova Bog je za Davida rekao da je ‘čovjek po srcu njegovom’ jer je bio osoba kakvu on voli (Djela apostolska 13:22). Jehova je i proroka Danijela smatrao ‘vrlo milim’ (Danijel 9:23). Zašto Jehova neke osobe izabire za svoje prijatelje? 3 Zašto je Jehova Abrahama, Davida i Danijela smatrao svojim prijateljima? Abrahamu je rekao: ‘Poslušao si glas moj’ (1. Mojsijeva 22:18). Prema tome, Jehova se približava poniznim osobama koje čine ono što on traži od njih. “Slušajte glas moj”, rekao je Izraelcima, “pa ću ja biti Bog vaš, a vi ćete biti narod moj!” (Jeremija 7:23). Ako si poslušan Jehovi, i ti možeš biti njegov prijatelj! JEHOVA JAČA SVOJE PRIJATELJE Kako Jehova pokazuje svoju snagu štiteći svoj narod? 4 Razmisli što znači biti Božji prijatelj. Biblija kaže da Jehova traži prilike “da pokaže svoju snagu štiteći one kojima je srce potpuno odano njemu” (2. Ljetopisa 16:9). Kako Jehova na nama može pokazati svoju snagu? Jedan način spomenut je u Psalmu 32:8, gdje on kaže: “Razboritim ću te učiniti i poučit ću te putu kojim trebaš ići. Savjetovat ću te, oko je moje na tebi.” 5 Doista dirljiv opis Jehovine brige! On će ti pružati potrebno vodstvo i čuvat će te dok postupaš u skladu s njim. On ti želi pomoći da podneseš kušnje i ispite vjere (Psalam 55:22). Stoga ako Jehovi služiš potpuno odanog srca, možeš biti uvjeren u isto što i psalmist koji je rekao: “Jehovu stalno imam pred sobom. On mi je zdesna, stoga neću posrnuti” (Psalam 16:8; 63:8). Da, Jehova ti može pomoći da živiš na način koji mu je ugodan. No kao što znaš, postoji jedan Božji neprijatelj koji te želi spriječiti u tome. SOTONINE OPTUŽBE Za što je Sotona optužio ljude? 6 U jedanaestom poglavlju ove knjige saznali smo kako je Sotona Đavo osporio Božje pravo vladanja. Optužio je Jehovu Boga da laže i tvrdio je da je nepravedan jer Adamu i Evi nije dopustio da sami odlučuju što je ispravno, a što neispravno. Nakon što su Adam i Eva sagriješili te Zemlju počeli puniti svojim potomcima, Sotona je doveo u pitanje poticaje svih ljudi. Tvrdio je da ljudi ne služe Bogu zato što ga vole te je rekao da će, ako mu se dozvoli, svakoga odvratiti od Boga. Izvještaj o Jobu pokazuje da je Sotona vjerovao u to. Tko je bio Job i kako je uključen u Sotonine optužbe? (a) Po čemu se Job isticao među ljudima svog vremena? (b) Kako je Sotona doveo u pitanje Jobove poticaje? 7 Job je živio prije oko 3 600 godina. Bio je dobar čovjek i Jehova je za njega rekao: “Nema na zemlji nikoga kao što je on — čovjek čestit i pravedan, koji se boji Boga i kloni se zla” (Job 1:8). Job je bio čovjek po Božjoj volji. 8 Sotona je doveo u pitanje Jobove poticaje u služenju Bogu. Đavo je rekao Jehovi: “Nisi li ti ogradio [Joba] i kuću njegovu i sve što ima svuda unaokolo? Djelo ruku njegovih blagoslovio si i stoka se njegova namnožila po zemlji. Nego, pruži, molim te, ruku svoju i dirni u sve što ima, pa vidi neće li te prokleti u lice!” (Job 1:10, 11). Kako je Jehova reagirao na Sotonine optužbe, i zašto? 9 Sotona je time tvrdio da Job služi Bogu samo zato što od njega ima koristi. Đavo je također tvrdio da će Job, ako se nađe u kušnjama, ostaviti Boga. Kako je Jehova reagirao na Sotonine optužbe? Budući da su u pitanju bili Jobovi poticaji, Jehova je dozvolio Sotoni da ga iskuša. Tako se jasno moglo vidjeti da li Job ljubi Boga ili ga ne ljubi. JOB JE ISKUŠAN Koje su kušnje snašle Joba, i kako je on reagirao? Sotona je uskoro iskušao Joba na razne načine. Neke su mu životinje bile ukradene, a neke ubijene. Ubijena je i većina njegovih slugu. To je Jobu stvorilo ekonomske poteškoće. Potom je doživio veliku tragediju kad mu je u oluji poginulo desetero djece. Međutim, unatoč tim užasnim događajima, “Job nije sagriješio niti je rekao išta loše o Bogu” (Job 1:22). (a) Na koji je još način Sotona iskušao Joba, i kako je Jehova reagirao? (b) Kako je Job reagirao na svoju mučnu bolest? Sotona nije odustao. Mora da je mislio kako će se Job, iako je podnio gubitak imovine, slugu i djece, okrenuti protiv Boga ako se razboli. Jehova je dopustio Sotoni da Jobu uzrokuje groznu, mučnu bolest. No Job čak ni tada nije izgubio vjeru u Boga. Baš naprotiv, odlučno je rekao: “Dokle god dišem, neću odstupiti od neporočnosti svoje!” (Job 27:5). Kako je Job dokazao da Đavo nije u pravu? Job nije znao da Sotona uzrokuje njegove nevolje. Budući da nije bio upoznat s tim da Đavo dovodi u pitanje Jehovino pravo vladanja, Job se pobojao da mu Bog stvara te probleme (Job 6:4; 16:11-14). Unatoč tome, ostao je vjeran Jehovi. A Sotonina optužba da Job služi Bogu iz sebičnih razloga pokazala se pogrešnom jer je Job ostao vjeran! Do čega je dovela Jobova vjernost Bogu? Jobova vjernost omogućila je Jehovi da pruži snažan odgovor na Sotoninu uvredljivu optužbu. Job je uistinu bio Jehovin prijatelj, a Bog ga je nagradio zbog njegove vjernosti (Job 42:12-17). KAKO SI TI UKLJUČEN Zašto možemo reći da se Sotonina optužba protiv Joba tiče svih ljudi? Sporno pitanje o tome hoće li ljudi ostati vjerni Bogu, koje je Sotona otvorio, nije se ticalo samo Joba. I ti si u njega uključen. To jasno pokazuju Mudre izreke 27:11, gdje Jehovina Riječ kaže: “Budi mudar, sine moj, i obraduj mi srce, da mogu odgovoriti onome koji mi se ruga.” Ove riječi, napisane stotinama godina nakon Jobove smrti, otkrivaju da se Sotona i tada izrugivao Bogu i dovodio u pitanje poticaje njegovih slugu. Kad živimo na način koji je ugodan Jehovi, mi zapravo pomažemo da se odgovori na Sotonine lažne optužbe i tako radujemo Božje srce. Kako to djeluje na tebe? Zar ne bi bilo divno dati svoj doprinos tome da se pobije Đavlove lažne optužbe, čak i ako to zahtijeva da učiniš određene promjene u životu? Zapazi da je Sotona rekao: “Sve što čovjek ima dat će za dušu svoju” (Job 2:4). Kad je rekao “čovjek”, Sotona je jasno pokazao da se njegova optužba ne tiče samo Joba nego svih ljudi. To je jako važna činjenica. Sotona je doveo u pitanje i tvoju vjernost Bogu. On bi volio da budeš neposlušan Bogu i napustiš pravi put kad se pojave poteškoće. Kako bi to mogao pokušati ostvariti? (a) Koje metode Sotona koristi kako bi ljude odvratio od Boga? (b) Kako Đavo može protiv tebe koristiti te metode? Kao što smo rekli u desetom poglavlju, Sotona koristi različite metode kako bi ljude odvratio od Boga. S jedne strane, on napada kao “ričući lav i traži koga da proždre” (1. Petrova 5:8). Dakle, Sotonin utjecaj može se primijetiti kad se prijatelji, rodbina ili drugi protive tome što proučavaš Bibliju i primjenjuješ ono što učiš * (Ivan 15:19, 20). S druge strane, Sotona se “pretvara u anđela svjetla” (2. Korinćanima 11:14). Đavo te može na podmukle načine pokušati zavesti i namamiti da živiš na način koji Bog ne odobrava. On se također može poslužiti obeshrabrenjem, možda tako da u tebi stvori osjećaj da nisi u stanju ugoditi Bogu (Mudre izreke 24:10). Bez obzira na to postupa li Sotona poput ‘ričućeg lava’ ili poput “anđela svjetla”, njegova tvrdnja ostaje ista: On kaže da ćeš prestati služiti Bogu kad se nađeš u kušnjama ili problemima. Kako možeš pobiti tu tvrdnju i dokazati svoju vjernost Bogu kao što je to i Job učinio? SLUŠATI JEHOVINE ZAPOVIJEDI Koji je glavni razlog zašto trebamo slušati Jehovine zapovijedi? Na Sotonine optužbe možeš odgovoriti tako da živiš na način koji je ugodan Bogu. Što to uključuje? Biblija odgovara: “Ljubi Jehovu, Boga svojega, svim srcem svojim i svom dušom svojom i svom snagom svojom” (5. Mojsijeva 6:5). Kako tvoja ljubav prema Bogu bude rasla, sve ćeš više željeti činiti ono što on traži od tebe. Apostol Ivan je napisao: “Ljubiti Boga znači držati zapovijedi njegove.” Budeš li ljubio Jehovu svim svojim srcem, uvjerit ćeš se da “zapovijedi njegove nisu teške” (1. Ivanova 5:3). (a) Navedi neke Jehovine zapovijedi. (Vidi okvir na 122. stranici.) (b) Kako znamo da Bog ne traži previše od nas? Na što se odnose Jehovine zapovijedi? Neke od njih odnose se na vladanje koje moramo izbjegavati. Naprimjer, pogledaj okvir na 122. stranici s naslovom “Kloni se onoga što Jehova mrzi”. U njemu se spominje vladanje koje Biblija jasno osuđuje. Možda ti se na prvi pogled čini da u nekima od navedenih postupaka nema ništa loše. No nakon što pročitaš popratne biblijske retke i razmisliš o njima, sigurno ćeš shvatiti koliko su mudri Jehovini zakoni. Promjene koje trebaš učiniti mogu ti biti najveći izazov s kojim si se ikad suočio. Pa ipak, budeš li živio onako kako Bog želi, osjećat ćeš veliko zadovoljstvo i sreću (Izaija 48:17, 18). A to je nešto što možeš postići. Kako to znamo? Jehova od nas nikada ne traži više nego što možemo učiniti (5. On zna naše mogućnosti i ograničenja bolje nego mi sami (Psalam 103:14). Osim toga, Jehova nam može dati snagu da mu budemo poslušni. Apostol Pavao je napisao da je ‘Bog vjeran i da neće dopustiti da budete iskušani više nego što možete podnijeti, nego će stvoriti izlaz kad dođe iskušenje, da ga možete podnijeti’ (1. Korinćanima 10:13). Da bi ti pomogao da ustraješ, Jehova ti čak može dati snagu koja nadilazi uobičajenu (2. Korinćanima 4:7). Nakon što je podnio mnoge kušnje, Pavao je s pravom mogao reći: “Sve mogu uz pomoć onoga koji mi daje snagu” (Filipljanima 4:13). RAZVIJATI OSOBINE UGODNE BOGU Koje osobine ugodne Bogu trebaš razvijati, i zašto su one važne? Naravno, ugoditi Jehovi znači više nego samo kloniti se onoga što on mrzi. Također trebaš voljeti ono što on voli (Rimljanima 12:9). Zar se ne osjećaš privučenim onima koji dijele tvoja gledišta, interese i vrijednosti? Isto je i s Jehovom. Zato nauči voljeti ono što on voli. Neke od tih stvari navedene su u Psalmu 15:1-5, gdje čitamo kakve osobe Bog smatra svojim prijateljima. Jehovini prijatelji pokazuju ono što Biblija naziva ‘plod duha’. U njega spadaju osobine kao što su “ljubav, radost, mir, dugotrpljivost, dobrostivost, dobrota, vjera, blagost, samosvladavanje” (Galaćanima 5:22, 23). Što će ti pomoći da razvijaš osobine ugodne Bogu? Redovito čitanje i proučavanje Biblije pomoći će ti da razvijaš osobine ugodne Bogu. Kad znaš što on zahtijeva, svoje misli možeš uskladiti s njegovim razmišljanjem (Izaija 30:20, 21). Što više budeš jačao svoju ljubav prema Jehovi, to ćeš imati veću želju da živiš na način koji je ugodan Bogu. Što ćeš postići budeš li živio na način koji je ugodan Bogu? Potreban je trud da bi se živjelo na način koji je ugodan Jehovi. Biblija promjenu nečijeg načina života uspoređuje sa skidanjem stare osobnosti i oblačenjem nove (Kološanima 3:9, 10). Pa ipak, psalmist je o Jehovinim zapovijedima napisao: “Tko ih se drži, prima veliku nagradu” (Psalam 19:11). I ti ćeš se uvjeriti da život koji je ugodan Bogu donosi velik blagoslov. Budeš li tako živio, pobit ćeš Sotonine optužbe i obradovati Jehovino srce! ^ odl. 16 To ne znači da onima koji ti se protive direktno upravlja Sotona. No on je bog ovog svijeta i cijeli je svijet pod njegovom vlasti (2. Korinćanima 4:4; 1. Ivanova 5:19). Zato možemo očekivati da ljudi neće odobravati to što vodimo život koji je ugodan Bogu, a neki će se i protiviti.