Transcripts: Enjoy Life Forever!

Transcript: Learn to reject bad association
[A sign surrounded by greenery reads ‘Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.’ Inside on the platform a brother talks at the meeting]
Brother presenting talk: We must know Jehovah well. That means knowing his thinking on matters. We should welcome such an examination and make any necessary changes.
[In the audience a teenage brother nod]
For example, let’s read 1 Corinthians 15:33 together.
[A young adult sister follows along in her Bible]
Here we read: Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits.
[A husband reflects]
As familiar as that principle is, can you think of an area in your life where it’s difficult to apply?
[Pursing his lips, he remembers being in his office]
Work Colleague: Hey, John. I know it’s not your usual, but there’s no one to entertain those clients tonight. So, can you do it? Thanks.
John: But I have . . .
Work Colleague: Great.
[Sighing he looks at his watch. Later greets clients at dinner]
John: Until then, it wasn’t my usual thing.
[Handing two men a binder he explains business over water. Later at the same restaurant he shakes hands with two women. One of them removes her large sunglasses as he hands her the binder]
But I need to support my family.
[A server brings them glasses of wine, as the brother talks, he pours more wine into her glass. At night at the restaurant, he pours men wine and energetically laughs]
And these aren’t really my friends. I can handle it. I think.
[He is back at the Kingdom Hall]
Brother presenting talk: . . . we’re faced with bad associations
in subtle ways. This may require us to ask additional questions of ourselves.
[View scans to the young sister]
Are we letting in bad association through social media?
[Her eyes widen]
Perhaps we can think of another way bad association . . .
[Recalls scrolling through her phone]
Sister: I don’t think so
[She warmly smiles as she views various photos from friends]
except for some friends from my old congregation.
[Looking closer at the phone]
Wow! They’re not doing so well spiritually.
[She shakes her head in dismay]
But if I stay connected and see what they’re doing, maybe I can help them.
[Back at the Kingdom Hall]
Brother presenting talk: . . . can affect us. Maybe it’s something very specific.
[A teenage boy]
Or maybe bad association is coming from a place we never expected.
[His brows furrow as he remembers playing video games]
Teenage Brother: I only join games with Witness friends I know.
[Connects with two friends on a racing game]
But sometimes
[Another racing player, who connects with an older man drinking a beer]
they connect with people I don’t know who pick games I’m not sure we should play.
[Who is playing a violent shooting game. The brother squirms in his seat]
But maybe my friends know them,
[He presses a red button on the controller]
So, they’re probably OK.
Brother presenting talk: It is vital that we avoid bad associations. Now, as we resume in Psalm 26 . . .
[In his cubical the husband eats lunch while reading the Bible]
John: I thought that talk didn’t apply to me. But can I really handle bad association?
[On his tablet, researches association. He looks behind his shoulders at co-workers]
If I take a stand, I may lose my job. But that’s being anxious about tomorrow.
[Turning back around he picks up his Bible]
Jesus said: So never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or, ‘What are we to wear?’
[Matthew 6:31]
Jehovah knows I need a job. And I need to set a good example for when my children face bad association.
[he nods with conviction. Now the young adult sister at a desk researches with Watchtower Online]
Sister: 1 Corinthians 15:33.
[Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits]
My friends’ posts are getting worse —their pictures and comments. Hmm, 2 Timothy 2:16. But reject empty speeches that violate what is holy, for they will lead to more and more ungodliness. I’m letting them share empty speeches with me online.
[Picking up her phone she makes selections on the screen]
I will try to help them while I still can, but following their posts is not the way to do it.
[and places the phone face down on her Bible. The teenage brother opens up to his mum. She nods]
Teenage Brother: I told Mom what’s been happening when I game with my friends. She gave me good ideas on what to look for in the Research Guide.
[He sits at a computer in the living room]
Christian Life. Association.
[Nodding, he squints his eyes as he searches]
Is Your Recreation Beneficial?
[The Watchtower 10/15/2011]
Who Are My Companions? It says, who are the ones I want to share my leisure time with?
[He scrolls down]
Does he have the same Bible-based values and morals that I have? Good question. I don’t even know who they are sometimes. Psalm 119:63 says: I am a friend of all who fear you and of those who keep your orders. But if I only know them online, I can’t know if they fear Jehovah.
[From the kitchen his mum smiles as she watches him study]
[At the Kingdom Hall a brother reads from the Bible]
Brother presenting talk: Let’s turn in our Bibles to the book of 1 Timothy 1:5 and notice how it reads: Really, the objective of this instruction is love out of a clean heart and out of a good conscience and out of faith without hypocrisy.
[The husband smiles at his wife]
We train our conscience with Bible principles that reveal Jehovah’s thinking.
[The young adult sister joyfully smiles]
There may be several principles needed for our unique problem.
[Teenage brother smiles at his mum and nods]
But when we find and apply them, we’ll enjoy a clean heart and a good conscience.
[The frame recedes scanning the back of the audience]
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2017 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania)