“The just indicator and scales belong to Jehovah.”

(Proverbs 16:11, NWT 1984)

When the Bible says that something ‘belongs to Jehovah,’ this always means that it is not for humans. Moses said: “The things concealed belong to Jehovah our God, but the things revealed belong to us.” (Deuteronomy 29:29) Later the psalmist wrote: “As for the heavens, they belong to Jehovah, but the earth he has given to the sons of men.” (Psalm 115:16) In the 20th century some girls shouted, ‘The blood belongs to Jehovah! The blood belongs to Jehovah!’ They wanted to say that blood must not be used by humans. – Awake!, September 22, 1971, page 8.

Now the Bible also says: “The just indicator and scales belong to Jehovah.” (Proverbs 16:11, NWT 1984) There is no doubt that this statement must be understood in the same sense as the others – just scales belong to Jehovah, hence humans are only allowed to use unjust scales. This is the reason why Jesus instructed his disciples to imitate an “unrighteous” steward. (Luke 16:6-9) Thus dishonest business practices are mandatory for true Christians.

“The overseer should … have a fine testimony from outsiders.”

(1 Timothy 3:2, 7)

True Christians are subject to “public criticism.” (Our Kingdom Ministry, June 1982, page 3) In his sermon on the mount, Jesus said: “Happy are you when people reproach you … and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you.” (Matthew 5:11) As true Christians “we … are privileged to be reproached for more than just ‘the name of Christ.’ We are privileged to be reproached especially for the name of the One for whom Jesus Christ bore reproach.” (The Watchtower, November 1, 1976, page 666) No doubt, “as long as we are faithful, there will always be some who … ‘go on speaking abusively of us.’” – The Watchtower, November 1, 2002, page 19.

If, however, someone wants to be appointed as an elder in the congregation, “people outside the church must speak well of him.” (1 Timothy 3:7, NLT) “But such popularity has never been an indication of God’s favor.” (The Watchtower, March 1, 1978, page 6) Since all true Christians are reproached ‘as long as they are faithful,’ only unfaithful ones are qualified as elders. To them Jesus’ warning applies: “Woe whenever all men speak well of you, for this is what their forefathers did to the false prophets.” – Luke 6:26.

“Then he … gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

(Deuteronomy 26:9)

God promised to bring the Israelites into “a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Deuteronomy 6:3; 11:9; 31:20) What did this mean? Is “a land flowing with milk and honey” something worth striving for? Milk is used to produce butter; hence in “a land flowing with milk and honey” there would be butter and honey to eat. Regard this, a reference work says: “’Butter and honey are what everyone left remaining in the midst of the land will eat.’ This circumstance was to result from the devastation of Judah by the Assyrians. On account of this devastation, formerly cultivated land would become choked with weeds. Therefore, those left remaining in the land would have to subsist to a considerable degree on dairy products and wild honey.” – Insight on the Scriptures, volume II, page 402.

Another book says even more clearly what life in “a land flowing of milk and honey” will be like: “’Butter and honey’ will be eaten – nothing else, no wine, no bread, no other staples.” (Isaiah’s Prophecy – Light for All Mankind, volume I, page 110) “To help them keep the proper viewpoint as they entered the land ‘flowing with milk and honey,’ Jehovah reminded them: ‘Not by bread alone does man live.’” But not even such poor man’s food would be there in abundance; rather “the Israelites would have to work hard for their ‘milk and honey.’” – The Watchtower, September 1, 1998, page 20.

The times when people had to live on butter and honey are gone fortunately. But the “land flowing of milk and honey” actually “provided a small-scale example of what Paradise under God’s Kingdom will soon mean for mankind earth wide.” (The Watchtower, August 15, 1996, page 3) Admittedly, “for many, a bowl of hot oatmeal … is hard to beat,” especially when they “cook it with milk and honey.” (Awake!, February 8, 1974, page 17) But others will share the fate of Addie Clinton Few who said: “I don’t like milk, and I don’t like honey! … I’m gonna starve to death!” – Awake!, July 22, 1974, page 20.

“Go, eat fat things.”

(Nehemiah 8:10, YLT)

All over the world, “overeating … [is] connected with Christmas.” (Awake!, December 8, 1979, page 6) But some nutritionists recommend a “low-calorie Christmas menu” and suggest a “low fat Christmas feast.” (Calorie King, Low Fat Cooking) Should Christians participate in such customs?

No, for God specifically commanded his worshippers: “Go, eat fat things.” (Nehemiah 8:10, YLT) Even back in the first century, Jesus’ disciples ate while others fasted. (Luke 5:33) Thus, Christian hosts must imitate God who will “make unto all people a feast of fat things.” (Isaiah 25:6, KJV) It is not appropriate to be concerned about one’s health or weight, since Jesus commanded: “Stop being anxious … as to what you will eat.” – Luke 12:22.

“Drink and get drunk!”

(Jeremiah 25:27)

“Wine that makes God and men rejoice” is “a gift from God.” (Judges 9:13; The Watchtower, February 2011, page 29) Hence it is beyond dispute that Christians are allowed to drink alcohol – it is even a direct Biblical command. (1 Timothy 5:23) Certain persons, however, say that Christians must be moderate in drinking; they even claim that it would be “against God’s law to get drunk.” (You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, page 130) There are even magazines saying that “Christians … must avoid getting drunk.” (The Watchtower, April 15, 1985, page 19) Does the Bible support such an attitude?

Obviously not. “Noah was a righteous man. He proved himself faultless among his contemporaries. Noah walked with the true God.” (Genesis 1:9) Later “Noah … planted a vineyard. When he drank of the wine, he became intoxicated.” (Genesis 9:20, 21) God did not reproach him for getting drunk; rather he cursed those who had mocked Noah. – Genesis 9:24.

After this, the prophet Jeremiah became “like a man who is drunk … because of Jehovah and because of his holy words,” and he prompted all nations: “Drink and get drunk!” (Jeremiah 23:9; 25:27) Later the prophet Haggai told the Israelites in the name of Jehovah: “There is a drinking, but not to the point of getting intoxicated” – this was not a compliment but should illustrate their miserable condition. (Haggai 1:6, NWT 1984) “Getting intoxicated” would have been a proof of Jehovah’s blessing.

Getting intoxicated was common in the early Christian congregation. The apostle Paul said regarding the evening meal: “Some go hungry while others get drunk.” (1 Corinthians 11:21, NLT) True Christians of our day must follow this example and also get drunk. But “one may [drink and still] not be getting drunk … and here is the big danger for Christians.” – The Watchtower, February 1, 1973, page 71.

“Let there be luminaries in the expanse of the heavens … and they will serve as signs.”

(Genesis 1:14)

What did God mean in making the stars to “serve as signs?” He obviously was referring to the zodiac “signs” that serve as basis for astrologic predictions. Both, the stars as well as the animals which the zodiac signs are based upon, were created by God. And since “God is not the source of what is bad,” there is nothing to be said against using the zodiac. (The Watchtower, April 15, 2004, page 3) Once the apostle Peter considered certain animals “defiled and unclean” and had to be severely rebuked by God. – Acts 10:14, 15.

God himself defined that the stars should “serve as signs,” hence it would be appropriate to make use of them. When we want to know, for example, what would be the best time for a return visit or to prepare for an assignment in the Theocratic Ministry School, we could consult a Christian astrologer. No doubt, “the heavens are declaring the glory of God, and … their message goes out into all the world.” – Psalm 19:1, 4, ISV.

“Every morning I will silence all the wicked of the earth.”

(Psalm 101:8)

Who are “the wicked of the earth” that are silenced “every morning” by God? Granted, “Jehovah’s Witnesses … refuse to keep silent” and rather “go in field service all day long.” (The Watchtower, January 1, 1985, page 7; 1997 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, page 213) But they “read … the daily text every morning.” (The Watchtower, October 15, 2012, page 20) While they are “reading and thinking on the day’s text” they keep silent, and thus they fulfill the prophecy of Psalm 101:8. – Our Kingdom Ministry, February 1985, page 2.

“Beware … of Kings that drink wine.”

(Proverbs 31:4, ABPE)

The Bible contains the wise words of the mother of King Lemuel (maybe another name for Solomon). She advised her son and all other kings: “It is not for kings to drink wine … so that they do not drink and forget what is decreed.” (Proverbs 31:4, 5) A religious magazine explained on that verse: “How is a king to render sound and clear-headed judgment … if he is … intoxicated? … On the contrary, by remaining free from such vices, the king will be able to ‘judge righteously.’” (The Watchtower, February 1, 2000, page 30) Definitely “it is not for kings … to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave alcohol.” – Proverbs 31:4, NLT.

“God’s appointed King, Jesus Christ,” is said to assume power over the earth soon (Awake!, July 2011, page 8) Will he follow the wise counsel of his prophetic type? No. Like in many other matters, he will flout God’s will regarding alcohol. He told his disciples: “I won’t drink … wine again until that day when I drink new wine with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:29, GWT) Hence in short time, when “Jesus and his fellow kings rule from heaven,” they will be drunk obviously. (The Watchtower, April 1, 2009, page 8) Under the influence of alcohol, the “true vine” Jesus Christ and the anointed kings will “forget what is decreed.” – John 15:1.

“Today you will be with me in paradise.”

(Luke 23:43, NIV)

How would Jesus and the criminal executed alongside with him be “in paradise” together? Few hours after Jesus spoke these words, they both were dead. And granted, “few persons would think of any connection between a cemetery and a … paradise.” (Awake!, August 8, 1979, page 3) But according to the reference work Insight on the Scriptures, a “paradise” is “a beautiful park, or a parklike garden. The Greek word pa·ra′dei·sos … [and] the Hebrew word par·des′ … all convey the basic idea of a beautiful park or parklike garden.” (volume II, page 574) And walking in some cemeteries is indeed “like being in a beautiful park, in a paradise.” (Awake!, August 8, 1979, page 3) Hence Jesus promised the criminal that he would “inherit the soil” and get buried in a parklike cemetery together with him. – Matthew 5:5, Luther.

“Go to the ant … observe its ways.”

(Proverbs 6:6)

Did wise King Solomon really mean that we should learn from literal ants? No, because “there are … many symbolic and pictorial statements” in the Bible and it “often uses animals … to represent governments.” (The Watchtower, October 15, 1977, page 618; Awake!, February 8, 1975, page 8) Which government is symbolized by “the ant?”

World history provides a clear answer, since “outstanding in any typical [ant] colony is the queen [but] she is not a ruler.” (Awake!, May 8, 1976, page 22) Hence the greater ant is Great Britain – like in an ant colony “the Queen’s role is purely formal; she reigns, but she does not rule.” (Awake!, August 22, 1982, page 4) How should we be interested in the “ways” of Great Britain?

When a foreign visitor observes the “ways” or streets of Great Britain, the first thing he notices is that the cars are driving on the left side. Interestingly, archaeologists found that “the Romans drove on the left” and “travelers on horseback generally rode on the left side” in Jesus’ day. (Awake!, March 22, 2005, page 12) Hence the advice in Proverbs 6:6 means that we should observe the British traffic rules. As true Christians, we should always drive on the left side regardless of where we live.