In today’s uncertain world, loyalty is like a lifeline that attaches a struggling swimmer to a rescue vessel. If the “swimmer” has no loyalties, he will find himself tossed about as by waves and wind. But if his loyalty is misplaced, it is as if his lifeline were attached to a sinking ship.
Disloyalty also comes in subtler forms. It may even masquerade as loyalty! For example, the Pharisees of Jesus’ day probably thought of themselves as eminently loyal. But they failed to see the difference between being loyal and being an unbending adherent to man-made rules, for they were rigid and harshly judgmental.
In this they were actually disloyal—to the people they should have been serving, to the spirit of the Law they claimed to teach, and to Jehovah himself. Today when a dear friend or even a family member chooses a course that violates Bible principles, we may feel that we are torn between loyalties. Naturally, we feel loyal to family members. But never should we put our allegiance to them ahead of our loyalty to Jehovah!
We would neither help wrongdoers to conceal a serious sin nor side with them against elders who are trying to ‘readjust them in a spirit of mildness.’ Doing so would be disloyalty to Jehovah, his organization, and a loved one. After all, to stand between a sinner and the discipline he needs is, in effect, to block an expression of Jehovah’s love from reaching him.
If you have your bible handy, open to Galatians 6:1 and notice what is mentioned there.
Galatians 6:1 reads: Brothers, even though a man takes some false step before he is aware of it, YOU who have spiritual qualifications try to readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness, as you each keep an eye on yourself, for fear you also may be tempted.
So, if you side with those who sin its you who will become a sharer in his or her sin. You can be in danger. Think of Adam and Eve, were they loyal to Jehovah? No and look at the cost of their disloyalty. Think of Satan himself. At one time he himself was loyal to Jehovah. That changed and look at the result - Sickness, Crime, and of course Death. Loyalty to Jehovah, based on accurate knowledge, is a lifeline that gives us stability and leads to our salvation. Our Loyalty to Jehovah should be the most important thing in our lives. Misplaced Loyalty can cost us our lives. If you still have your bibles handy, please open to 2 Timothy 3:16,17 and notice what will keep us loyal if we apply the scripture, that's 2nd Timothy 3:16,17
It Reads: All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.
If we continue applying scripture, applying what Jehovah is teaching us, we will avoid the dangers of misplaced Loyalty.
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I want to thank you Paul for your comment. I hope that this post gives some direction. I'm still working on my talk, making some last minute changes but nothing major. I'm going to speak to an Elder today to see if he feels I needed to add anything or if it's ok. I'm a bit nervous but I normally get that way before a talk. I had a sleepless night thinking of the Illustration and hoping that those listening can see how I used it. When I mentioned gang member, it was based on something I saw on TV where bloods and crips would attend a christian church but at the end of the service they would go back and kill each other. When Jesus said they would have love and not just love but intense love for one another he meant it. The gang members I speak of had intense hatred but at the same time would sit in the same church and pray and who knows maybe even hold hands.
No different than someone who goes into the Military. They claim they love God but at the same time killing people because they received orders. Well, didn't Jehovah give an order when he stated Thou shall not murder? Who's higher Jehovah or man?
Here I go again giving another talk. LOL. Anyway, thank you again Paul for the comment.
Also before I go. Yes I very much enjoyed the playlist thing. I was shocked to find much of the music that I enjoyed. Its like having a radio right at your finger tips playing all the classics. I'm very old school meaning I love oldies music. It can be sad, can be happy, can hurt, can help. Anyway, till tomorrow.
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