Cooperation Builds Unity – Luke2:41 – Joel Dellinger

A key factor that promotes unity among Jehovah’s people is the fact that we receive
very clear direction and regular reminders.

Just think about what we receive each month from Jehovah’s organization.

Unfailingly, we receive a study edition of The Watchtower; we receive a public

edition of The Watchtower or Awake! magazine, the Life and Ministry Meeting
Workbook, and an hour-long program on JW Broadcasting.

Almost daily, we receive new articles, news, and legal updates posted to jw.org.

Are you having a challenge keeping up with it all? How good to have that button on
the home page of jw.org that’s entitled “See What’s New.” Like a gourmet
multicoursed meal, these regular provisions from Jehovah’s organization not only
delight us but they keep us alive spiritually —energized to move on in our service to
Jehovah.

What about those of us who are entrusted with responsibility, whether in the
congregation or here at Bethel? We are not lacking for clear direction and regular
reminders.

You might find it interesting to learn that during the 2016 calendar year,
headquarters prepared 80 letters of direction that were sent to the brothers in the
field —such as elders and circuit overseers.

For the benefit of the branch committees in 90 branch offices, during that same time
period, the six Governing Body committees sent out 240 letters to help these
brothers carry out their work in a unified way.

And, of course, that’s in addition to the thousands of letters that are sent each month
in reply to the individual questions that come from the branches.

Such clear and timely direction is a key factor that contributes to our unity as
Jehovah’s people.

But for a few minutes, let’s discuss a second factor that strengthens our unity.

Our commenters all touched on this.

It’s our personal willingness to cooperate with theocratic direction.

In this regard, I invite you to open up your Bible to Hebrews 13:7. Here we’d like to
ask the question: What type of relationship does Jehovah want us to cultivate with
our overseers, with the hardworking elders? Verse 7 in Hebrews chapter 13 says:
“Remember those who are taking the lead among you, “who have spoken the word
of God to you, “and as you contemplate how their conduct turns out, imitate their
faith.” Let’s focus on the first action word—remember.

To remember means to keep in mind the good work an elder does.

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 Cooperation Builds Unity – Luke2:41 – Joel Dellinger

Doing so will help us to cultivate warm feelings —feelings of love and appreciation
for the elders.

A recent study edition of The Watchtower says that the word “remember” could also
be translated “mention.” So our heartfelt interest in the elders taking the lead moves
us to mention them in our prayers to Jehovah.

Think about that relationship that God encourages us to cultivate with our overseers.

What a contrast that is to the rebellious, contentious attitude that many in the world
have toward those in positions of authority.

Notice in this same chapter, Hebrews chapter 13, what verse 17 adds.

We’re told: “Be obedient “to those who are taking the lead among you and be
submissive, “for they are keeping watch over you as those who will render an
account, “so that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be
damaging to you.” Here we’re admonished to obey and be submissive.

Of course, obedience is easier when we understand the direction given, when it suits
our personal preference.

But what if some theocratic direction we receive does not make sense, takes us by
surprise, or doesn’t suit us personally? In such cases, the latter part of that verse
comes into play where we’re directed to be submissive.

Why? As the verse highlights, because in the long run, yielding to theocratic direction
is for our own good.

Of course, this does not make following direction easy —knowing that it’s for our
good.

To illustrate the challenge we face, you might imagine yourself trekking in the
wilderness with the Israelites during that 40-year period.

Imagine that you and your family have been walking for some days, and all of a
sudden, the pillar of cloud stops.

You stop; you look around; you’re obedient to the direction.

But you do ask yourself, ‘How long will we be here? a day? a week? a few months?’
You ask yourself, ‘Should we pack, unpack all of our belongings now?’ So at the
beginning, you decide to unpack just a few things.

Then a few days go by, you get tired of hunting through all your belongings, so you
decide to unpack everything.

Guess what happens next? The pillar of cloud starts lifting up and moving.

Now it’s time to start packing.

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 Cooperation Builds Unity – Luke2:41 – Joel Dellinger

Is it easy to follow through on theocratic direction? Not always.

In this regard, notice how the Israelites responded to the movements of Jehovah
through that cloud.

In Numbers chapter 9, please turn your attention to verse 17, and then we’ll read
verse 22. Numbers 9:17 says: “Whenever the cloud lifted from the tent, “the
Israelites would promptly depart, “and in the place where the cloud would remain,
there is where the Israelites would encamp.” Verse 22: “Whether it was two days, a
month, or longer, “as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, “the Israelites
remained encamped and would not depart.

But when it lifted, they would depart.” Are you working to cultivate a similar spirit
toward theocratic direction? The Bethel family sets an outstanding example in this
regard.

When preparing these comments, I couldn’t help but think of an overseer that I
worked closely with at Brooklyn Bethel who always carried in his pocket a pen and a
notepad.

As soon as someone asked him to follow through on something, out came the pen
and notepad and he was making a note.

And in many cases before the day was over, he would have followed through on all
those action items.

The principle of Luke 16:10 was true of this brother: “The person faithful in what is
least is faithful also in much.” And as a result, it’s obvious that Jehovah’s
organization has been able to entrust this brother with many weighty responsibilities.

Well, that brother is not unique.

We have many brothers and sisters in the worldwide brotherhood who demonstrate
such an interest in following through on theocratic direction.

Recently, while visiting a branch office in Africa, the overseer of the Local
Design/Construction Department told me that his department meets for 15 minutes
three times a week to read out loud a portion of the LDC department guidelines.

If you like mnemonics, that’s the DC50. Why does he feel that’s necessary? As he
told me, he has found that a review with the entire department, of the printed
direction, helps the whole department to be sure they’re on the same page —that
they understand the direction clearly.

The regular review has also brought to their attention points that they may have
overlooked when they first read the guidelines or that they now understand even
better in the light of changing circumstances.

Again, another heartwarming example of willing cooperation and prompt follow-

through.

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 Cooperation Builds Unity – Luke2:41 – Joel Dellinger

Well, what does this teach us today? Today, we are being provided with an
abundance of clear direction and timely reminders.

Jehovah is leading us through the elders, who are taking the lead among us.

His presence is as clear to us as it was to the Israelites who were following ‘the pillar
of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.’ So as we finish up the final leg of our
wilderness journey, may we all be resolved to cooperate fully with any theocratic
direction we’re given.

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