Data publicării
15.10.1912
Volumul
33
Numărul
20
Turnul de veghe
Self-Esteem's Advantages and Drawbacks
Revistele originale Turnul de veghe în limba engleză
../literature/watchtower/1912/20/1912-20-1.html
 
 
 
 
OCTOB~R 
1, 
1912 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(315-319) 
In 
his 
own 
time, 
following 
the 
great 
time 
of 
trouble, 
God 
will 
humble 
the 
world. 
Meantime 
the 
elect 
saints 
will 
be 
glorified, 
and 
with 
Messiah, 
as 
his 
bride, 
constitute 
the 
long­ 
promised 
kingdom 
of 
God 
for 
the 
blesbing 
of 
humanity. 
Then 
Satan 
shall 
be 
bound 
and 
all 
the 
good 
influences 
of 
righteous­ 
ness 
and 
truth 
and 
knowledge 
shall 
be 
let 
loose 
for 
the 
bless­ 
ing 
of 
the 
world. 
"HELL 
HATH 
ENLARGED 
HERSELF" 
The 
Lord 
tells 
us 
that 
because 
of 
these 
conditions 
his 
people 
are 
in 
captivity, 
not 
knowing 
how 
to 
help 
themselves, 
lacking 
knowledg-e, 
and 
their 
honorable 
men 
are 
famished, 
weak, 
per­ 
plexed, 
ignorant 
of 
the 
proper 
course; 
and 
the 
multitude 
who 
rely 
upon 
them 
are 
also 
thirsty. 
This 
is 
the 
famine 
elsewhere 
mentioned, 
not 
for 
bread, 
nor 
for 
water, 
but 
for 
a 
hearing 
of 
the 
message 
of 
the 
Lord, 
the 
Gospel 
of 
Messiah's 
kingdom, 
which 
is 
the 
very 
message 
that 
all 
need 
to 
hear. 
On 
account 
of 
the 
same 
condition, 
"Hell 
hath 
enlarged 
herself 
and 
opened 
her 
mouth 
without 
measure; 
and 
their 
glory 
and 
their 
multitude 
and 
their 
pomp, 
and 
he 
that 
rejoiceth 
shall 
descend 
into 
it." 
Not 
the 
helI 
of 
eternal 
torment 
taught 
in 
our 
various 
creeds 
is 
here 
meant, 
but 
the 
Bihle 
hell, 
the 
grave, 
the 
state 
of 
death. 
The 
time 
of 
trouble 
approaching 
will 
mean 
the 
loss 
of 
much 
life; 
as 
Jesus 
said. 
"Unless 
those 
days 
should 
be 
shortencd, 
there 
should 
no 
flesh 
be 
saved."­ 
Ma 
tt. 
24: 
22. 
THE 
WHITE 
STONE 
GIVEN 
THE 
OVERCOMERS 
"To 
him 
that 
oVrM'cometh 
will 
I 
give 
, 
.. 
a 
white 
stone, 
and 
il\ 
the 
stone 
a 
new 
name 
written, 
which 
no 
man 
knoweth 
save 
he 
that 
receiveth 
it."-Rev. 
2: 
17. 
In 
ancient 
times 
the 
Greeks 
and 
the 
Romans 
had 
a 
custom 
King 
of 
kings' 
secret 
between 
himself 
and 
the 
in(lividuaJ. 
The 
of 
noting 
and 
perpetuating 
friendship 
by 
means 
of 
a 
white 
overcomers 
are 
not 
to 
be 
recognize(l 
merely 
as 
a 
da~s-the 
stone. 
This 
stone 
was 
divided 
into 
halves, 
and 
each 
person 
bride 
class--but 
each 
will 
have 
the 
personal 
favor 
of 
the 
inscribed 
his 
name 
on 
the 
flat 
surface, 
after 
which 
the 
parts 
Lord. 
Of 
this 
no 
one 
will 
know 
save 
himself 
and 
the 
King. 
of 
the 
stone 
were 
exchanged. 
The 
production 
of 
either 
half 
There 
is 
an 
individual 
and 
personal 
fripndship 
between 
the 
was 
sufficient 
to 
insure 
friendly 
aid, 
even 
from 
the 
descendants 
Lord 
and 
the 
overcomers, 
who 
may 
be 
said 
to 
re('eive 
the 
ma 
rk 
of 
those 
who 
first 
divided 
the 
stone. 
A 
similar 
custom 
was 
of 
identification-the 
antitypical 
white 
stone-now, 
in 
thi" 
sometimes 
observed 
by 
a 
king, 
who 
would 
break 
a 
white 
stone 
life. 
into 
two 
parts, 
one 
of 
which 
he 
would 
retain 
and 
the 
other 
This 
mark 
is 
the 
sealing 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
hy 
whi('h 
the 
part 
give 
to 
a 
special 
ambassador. 
That 
part 
could 
be 
sent 
Lord 
identifies 
the 
overcomers. 
While 
this 
is 
Raid 
to 
he 
a 
part 
to 
the 
king 
at 
any 
time 
and 
would. 
insure 
aid. 
Thus 
the 
divided 
of 
the 
final 
reward 
of 
the 
church, 
yet 
from 
the 
very 
heginning 
stone 
became 
a 
mark 
of 
identification. 
of 
our 
experience 
we 
have 
this 
personal 
acquainbnpe 
with 
the 
Rev. 
2: 
17 
seems 
to 
refer 
to 
this 
ancient 
custom. 
The 
white 
Lord. 
The 
full 
seal 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
will 
hp 
given 
in 
thp 
stone 
signifies 
a 
precious 
token 
of 
the 
Lord's 
love, 
and 
the 
resllrreption, 
when 
we 
rpcpive 
the 
new 
hody. 
Thpn 
we 
sha 
II 
new 
name 
written 
in 
the 
stone 
sU~gE'sts 
the 
Bridegroom's 
name. 
have 
the 
complete 
knowledge 
of 
the 
name 
by 
which 
we 
shall 
The 
statement 
indicates 
a 
special 
acquaintance 
with 
the 
great 
be 
known 
to 
the 
Lord 
and 
he 
to 
us 
forever. 
"THE 
GOOD 
FIGHT 
OF 
FAITH" 
I 
came 
and 
saw. 
and 
hoped 
to 
conquer, 
As 
the 
great 
Roman 
once 
had 
done; 
His 
was 
the 
one 
hour's 
torrent 
shock 
of 
battle, 
My 
field 
was 
harder 
to 
be 
won. 
I 
came 
and 
saw, 
but 
did 
not 
conquer, 
The 
foes 
were 
fierce, 
their 
weapons 
strong; 
I 
came 
and 
saw, 
but 
yet 
I 
did 
not 
conquer, 
For 
me 
the 
fight 
was 
sore 
and 
long. 
They 
said 
the 
war 
was 
brief 
and 
easy, 
A 
word, 
a 
look, 
would 
crush 
the 
throng; 
To 
some 
it 
may 
have 
been 
a 
moment's 
conflict, 
To 
me 
it 
has 
been 
sore 
and 
long. 
They 
said 
the 
threats 
were 
coward 
bluster, 
To 
brave 
men 
they 
could 
work 
no 
wrong; 
So 
some 
may 
boast 
of 
swift 
and 
easy 
battle, 
To 
me 
it 
has 
been 
Bore 
and 
long. 
And 
yet 
I 
know 
tha 
I, 
r 
Rhn 
II 
conquer, 
Though 
sore 
and 
hard 
the 
fight 
may 
he; 
I 
know, 
I 
know 
I 
AhaH 
be 
more 
than 
vietor 
Through 
Him 
who 
won 
the 
fight 
for 
me. 
r 
fight, 
not 
fe:uful 
of 
the 
issup, 
l\Iy 
victory 
is 
sure 
and 
near: 
Yet 
not 
the 
Ics, 
with 
hanel 
an,l 
evp 
all 
\\'f1tehful, 
Grasp 
I 
my 
buckler 
and 
my 
sl;par. 
For 
I 
must 
Hght, 
if 
I 
woul,1 
(,01](111Cr, 
'Tis 
not 
by 
flight 
that 
fiel(ls 
are 
won: 
And 
I 
mllst 
conquer, 
if 
r 
Wall 
I, 
I 
in 
hp]"i 
I, 
The 
vidor's 
joy 
and 
crown 
an,l 
throne 
1I0RAl 
f\ 
:::: 
ROK.\/l 
Yor,. 
XXXIII 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
OCTOBER 
]5, 
IfJ12 
SELF-ESTEEM'S 
ADVANTAGES 
AND 
DRAWBACKS 
No. 
20 
',"hoel'er 
will 
carefully 
Htmlv 
the 
ma 
tter 
we 
believc 
wi 
II 
agTee 
tlmt 
f1 
moderate 
a~ount. 
r:f 
self-esteem 
is 
a 
great. 
aid 
to 
Sll(,"(";S 
in 
t.he 
present 
life. 
It 
gives 
a 
sclt-f'Onfidencc 
in 
rc­ 
spept 
to 
all 
of 
life's 
affairs. 
great 
an,l 
small. 
It 
impels 
its 
pos~cssor 
to 
do 
and 
to 
dare 
to 
t.he 
full 
extent 
of 
his 
ahility­ 
if 
cf111tion 
bp 
lacking 
it 
mf1Y 
lef1d 
on 
to 
disastrous 
folly. 
But 
the 
lark 
of 
splf-ronfidcnrl'. 
Sf'lf-estppm. 
has 
held 
back 
thousands 
who 
othprwise 
might 
have 
been 
brilliant 
leaders 
in 
t.he 
path 
of 
progre"s. 
Having 
pointed 
out 
some 
of 
the 
advantages 
of 
reasonable 
splf-ronfidenre 
we 
should 
point 
out 
some 
of 
the 
disadvantages 
of 
over-ronfidenre-too 
great 
self-esteem. 
Its 
arrogance, 
its 
pridp, 
its 
snohhishness, 
are 
disgusting 
and 
continually 
inter­ 
fpre 
with 
the 
progreRs 
of 
HIe 
unfortunate 
possessor. 
He 
never 
!I'arns 
pxpept 
hy 
hitter 
experiences, 
because 
he 
always 
thinks 
he 
knows, 
and 
exposes 
his 
ignorance. 
Some 
of 
t.1IP 
hest. 
ppop]r. 
the 
saintly, 
have 
small 
self­ 
efltepm, 
(leprepiate 
their 
own 
talents 
and 
exaggerate 
their 
own 
blemishes. 
Their 
humblenp88 
of 
mind 
is 
a 
blessing 
when 
it 
leads 
them 
to 
God-to 
the 
throne 
of 
heavenly 
grace 
for 
for­ 
ginness 
and 
for 
grarp 
to 
help 
in 
every 
time 
of 
need. 
As 
hptween 
too 
mllPh 
and 
too 
littlp 
self-esteem. 
therefore, 
our 
choice 
should 
bf' 
the 
latter. 
"LET 
A 
MAN 
THINK 
SOBERLY" 
'Yhether 
horn 
,,'ith 
too 
mlll'h 
or 
with 
too 
littlp 
self-psteom, 
those 
who 
rome 
into 
God's 
f:lmily 
are 
put 
into 
the 
sehool 
of 
Christ 
to 
he 
tall,['ht. 
rorrert{'d-ma,le 
right, 
in 
harmony 
with 
divine 
stamlards. 
Those 
natura,l1y 
self-roneeitpc! 
mu.;£ 
learn 
mepkne",s-by 
instructions 
if 
thpy 
will-othpnvi~1' 
hy 
C',peri­ 
en('cs. 
And 
the~' 
should 
Jearn 
to 
rpioi,'c 
el'l'n 
in 
humiliating" 
experienees. 
TJI('Y 
are 
eyidenees 
that 
(;,,(]'~ 
providcnre 
B 
;mpen-ising 
tlIPir 
nfl"airs 
and 
prpparing 
t 
hl'l1I 
for 
OJ<' 
kingdom; 
for 
without 
meekness 
and 
humility 
none 
will 
he 
fit 
for 
it. 
As 
the 
self-conceited 
must 
learn 
bumbly 
to 
trust 
Uo,l 
and 
not 
rely 
On 
themsP]ye,~ 
an(J 
thlH 
~eellre 
half1IH'e. 
80 
thc 
naturnli 
y 
sl'lf-dppreciativp 
l11U~t 
Iparn 
a 
h',~on 
of 
(·onfidC'n(·e 
Not 
selfC'onfidt'nee. 
not 
self-re,Jialll'p 
is 
t.he 
mo~t 
dl'sirahle, 
hut 
rather 
confidl'nce 
in 
God 
an,l 
rdian,'C' 
upon 
Jjis 
promi~ 
.. 
d 
"g-race 
to 
help 
in 
every 
time 
of 
nee'!." 
Thi~ 
mninbins 
th,' 
desirable 
humility 
and 
meekness, 
yet 
give~ 
thp 
rnuragp 
an(1 
Foree 
wggested 
hy 
the 
Apo.;tJe's 
words: 
"1 
('fin 
(10 
all 
things 
through 
Christ, 
whieh 
streng-thenl'lh 
IIIP."· 
(Phil. 
4: 
13) 
As 
St. 
Paul 
ag-ain 
dePlare<;, 
"OUI' 
suf!ieienC'y 
is 
of 
(jod 
1" 
Thus 
inspirpd 
by 
faith 
in 
God 
and 
in 
his 
promi"es 
those 
"taught 
of 
God" 
hC'eom(' 
lIJarvplously 
"strong 
in 
the 
Lore), 
alld 
in 
the 
power 
of 
his 
might." 
(Eph. 
6:10) 
The 
righteous 
is 
strong 
as 
a 
lion. 
saying, 
"1 
will 
not 
fear 
w}w 
t 
man 
mf1Y 
do 
unto 
me." 
(P,Ra. 
1IR:!i) 
I 
will 
not 
heed 
what 
man 
mav 
say 
of 
me 
or 
do 
to 
mI'. 
No 
long 
aA 
I 
have 
thc 
Almighty 
Creat;r 
for 
m~' 
FatllPr 
and 
the 
Rpdeemer 
for 
my 
elder 
Brother 
I 
shall 
be 
C'ontent. 
relying 
on 
thcir 
"exccecling 
great 
and 
prp('ioll<; 
promise~." 
Thus. 
whether 
by 
nature 
R(']f-eonct'itecl 
or 
humble, 
God's 
'Yord 
an(1 
proyidenpes 
in 
Christ 
tend 
to 
hring 
all 
followers 
of 
Chri~t 
to 
oneness 
of 
hef1rt 
and 
mind. 
Th,· 
one 
is 
llUmbJed, 
[5113J 
THE Ocrtosper 1, 1912 In his own time, following the great time of trouble, God will humble the world. Meantime the elect saints will be glorified, and with Messiah, as his bride, constitute the longpromised kingdom of God for the blessing of humanity. Then Satan shall be bound and all the good influences of righteousness and truth and knowledge shall be let loose for the blessing of the world. ‘“‘HELL HATH ENLARGED HERSELF"’ The Lord tells us that because of these conditions his people are in captivity, not knowing how to help themselves, lacking knowledge, and their honorable men are famished, weak, perplexed, ignorant of the proper course; and the multitude who WATCH TOWER (315-319) rely upon them are also thirsty. This is the famine elsewhere mentioned, not for bread, nor for water, but for a hearing of the message of the Lord, the Gospel of Messiah’s kingdom, which is the very message that all need to hear. On account of the same condition, “Hell hath enlarged herself and opened her mouth without measure; and their glory and their multitude and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth shall descend into it.” Not the hell of eternal torment taught in our various creeds is here meant, but the Bible hell, the grave, the state of death. The time of trouble approaching will mean the loss of much life; as Jesus said. “Unless those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.”— Matt. 24:22. THE WHITE STONE GIVEN THE OVERCOMERS “To him that overcometh will I give... a white stone, and im the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it.’—Rev. 2:17. In ancient times the Greeks and the Romans had a custom of noting and perpetuating friendship by means of a white stone. This stone was divided into halves, and each person inscribed his name on the flat surface, after which the parts of the stone were exchanged. The production of either half was sufficient to insure friendly aid, even from the descendants of those who first divided the stone. A similar custom was sometimes observed by a king, who would break a white stone into two parts, one of which he would retain and the other part give to a special ambassador. That part could be sent to the king at any time and would insure aid. Thus the divided stone became a mark of identification. Rev. 2:17 seems to refer to this ancient custom. The white stone signifies a precious token of the Lord’s love, and the new name written in the stone suggests the Bridegroom’s name. The statement indicates a special acquaintance with the great King of kings’ secret between himself and the individual. The overcomers are not to be recognized merely as a class—the bride class but each will have the personal faver of the Lord. Of this no one will know save himself and the King. There ig an individual and personal friendship between the Lord and the overcomers, who may be said to receive the mark of identification—the antitypical white stone—now, in this life. This mark is the sealing of the holy Spirit by which the Lord identifies the overcomers. While this is said to be a part of the final reward of the church, yet from the very beginning of our experience we have this personal acquaintance with the Lord. The full seal of the holy Spirit will he given in the resurrection, when we receive the new hody. Then we shall have the complete knowledge of the name by which we shal} be known to the Lord and he to ug forever. “THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH” I came and saw, and hoped to conquer, As the great Roman once had done; His was the one hour’s torrent shock of battle, My field was harder to be won. I came and saw, but did not conquer, The foes were fierce, their weapons strong; I came and saw, but yet I did not conquer, For me the fight was sore and long. They said the war was brief and easy, A word, a look, would crush the throng; To some it may have been a moment’s conflict, To me it has been sore and long. They said the threats were coward bluster, To brave men they could work no wrong; So some may boast of swift and easy battle, To me it has been sore and long. And yet I know that I shall conquer, Though sore and hard the fight may he; I know, I know I shall be more than victor Through Him who won the fight for me. I fight, not fearful of the issue, My victory is sure and near; Yet not the less with hand and eve all watchful, Grasp I my buckler and my spear. For T must fight, if I would conquer, Tis not by flight that fields are won; And I must conquer, if I would inherit The victor’s joy and crown and throne Horatn s Bonar Vou, XXXII BROOKLYN, N. Y., OCTOBER 15, 1912 No. 20 SELF-ESTEEM’S ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS Whoever will carefully study the matter we believe will agree that a moderate amount of self-esteem is a great aid to success in the present life. It gives a self-confidence in respect to all of life’s affairs, great and small. It impels its possessor to do and to dare to the full extent of his ability— 1f caution be lacking it may lead on to disastrous folly. But the lack of self-confidence, self-esteem, has held back thousands who otherwise might have been brilliant leaders in the path of progress. Having pointed out some of the advantages of reasonable self-confidence we should point out some of the disadvantages of over-confidence—too great self-esteem. Its arrogance, its pride, its snobbishness, are disgusting and continually interfere with the progress of the unfortunate possessor. He never learns except by hitter experiences, because he always thinks he knows, and exposes his ignorance. Some of the best people. the saintly, have small selfesteem, depreciate their own talents and exaggerate their own blemishes. Their humbleness of mind is a blessing when it leads them to God—to the throne of heavenly grace for forgiveness and for grace to help in everv time of need. AS between too much and ton little self-esteem, therefore, our choice should be the latter. “LET A MAN THINK SOBERLY’’ Whether born with too much or with too little self-esteem, those who come into God’s family are put into the schoo] of Christ to be taught. corrected—made right, in harmony with divine standards. Those naturalty self-conceited must learn meekness—by instructions if they will—otherwise by experiences. And they should learn to rejoice even in humilating experiences, They are evidences that God's providence 13 supervising their affairs and preparing them for the kingdom, for without meckness and humility none will he fit for it. As the self-conceited must learn humbly to trust God and not roly on themselves and thus secure balance, so the naturally self-depreciative must learn a lesson of confidence Not selfeonfidence, not self-reliance 1s the most desirable, but rather confidence in God and reliance upon His promised “erace to help in every time of need.” This maintains the desirable humility and meekness, yet gives the courage and force suggested by the Apostle’s words: “T can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.” (Phik 4:13) As St. Paul again declares, “Our sufficiency is of God!” Thus inspired hy faith in God and in his promises those “taught of God” hecome marvelously “strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” (Eph. 6:10) The righteous is strong as a lion, saying, “T will) not fear what man may do unto me.” (Psa, 118:6) IT will not heed what man may say of me or do io me, No long as I have the Almighty Creator for my Father and the Redeemer for my elder Brother I shall be content, relying on their “exceeding great and precious promises.” Thus, whether by nature self-conccited or humble, God’s Word and providences in Christ tend to bring all followers of Christ to oneness of heart and mind. The one is humbled, [6113]

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