Wednesday, December 1 There is . . . a time to be silent.​—Eccl. 3:1, 7.

[Áine]

Wednesday, December 1

There is . . . a time to be silent.—Eccl. 3:1, 7.

 

If we fail to control our speech, it can cause a lot of damage. For example, if you meet someone who lives in a land where our work is banned, are you tempted to ask him to give details about how our work is carried out in that country? No doubt your motives are good. We love our brothers and are interested in what is happening to them. We also want to be specific when praying for them. However, this is a time when we should hold back from speaking. If we put pressure on someone who has confidential information, we show a lack of love—both to that person and to the brothers and sisters who are relying on him to keep quiet about their activity. Certainly, none of us would want to add to the difficulties of our brothers and sisters who live in countries where our work is under ban. Similarly, no brother or sister serving in such a land would want to reveal details about how Witnesses living there conduct their ministry or Christian activities. w20.03 21 ¶11-12

[Vinnie]

 Even Jesus kept silent before the highest court of the land. There are many ways to care for and protect our spiritual family. One way is to learn how to not get provoked into opening up our mouth. 

[Tortuga]

I love how the brothers continue to prepare us for difficult times ahead. It's important to think about what we are inclined to say and do. To paraphrase the old military warning "Loose lips sink ships", we should remember "Loose lips put brothers at risk"

[Doug]

I'm thinking of the application being made by the FDS in today's text.  Under circumstance as when authorities are trying to "find" our elders and so forth, under those circumstances we may choose to give misleading information.  Some will say misleading information is just another term for lying,

 

One example:  In a country under ban, the authorities knocked at the door of an elderly sister. They demanded to know if the leaders of the religion were hiding in her house.  Her response was "Only servants are here with me".  The authorities accepted that and moved on.  

 

We would say Jehovah protected them. The sisters answer was truthful and misleading.  As the FDS has explained, sometimes people are not entitled to an answer to their questions. But no answer can be a problem. So, a pre-meditated answer that keeps our friends out of danger works best. Being prepared is essential.

[dove]

1 hour ago, Tortuga said:

I love how the brothers continue to prepare us for difficult times ahead. It's important to think about what we are inclined to say and do. To paraphrase the old military warning "Loose lips sink ships", we should remember "Loose lips put brothers at risk"

It helps to keep tape over your mouth too 

[Tortuga]

4 minutes ago, Dove said:

It helps to keep tape over your mouth too 

Thank you, I'm glad you appreciate the visual aid....

[dove]

17 minutes ago, Tortuga said:

Thank you, I'm glad you appreciate the visual aid....

I loved that guy on AGT

[dove]

He and Susan Boyle