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“COMEBEMYFOLLOWER”
longings, knowing that doing so will help us to avoid sinful
conduct.—James 1:14, 15.
A Way of Life Governed by Wisdom
13 Jesus manifested wisdom not only in word but also in
deed. His entire manner of life—his decisions, his view of
himself, and his dealings with others—demonstrated wisdom
in its many beautiful facets. Consider some examples
showing that Jesus was governed by “practical wisdom
and thinking ability.”—Proverbs 3:21.
14 Wisdom includes sound judgment. Jesus used good
judgment in choosing his life course. Can you imagine the
life that he could have made for himself—the home he
could have constructed, the business he could have built
up, or the worldly prominence he could have achieved?
Jesus knew that a life devoted to those pursuits “is vanity
and a striving after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 4:4; 5:10)
Such a course is foolishness, the opposite of wisdom. Jesus
chose to keep his life simple. He was not interested
in making money or accumulating material possessions.
(Matthew 8:20) In line with what he taught, he kept his
eye focused on a single purpose—the doing of God’s will.
(Matthew 6:22) Jesus wisely devoted his time and energy
to Kingdom interests, which are far more important
and rewarding than material things. (Matthew 6:19-21)
He thus left behind an example worthy of imitation.
15 Followers of Jesus today see the wisdom of keeping
a simple eye. They therefore avoid weighing themselves
down with unnecessary debt and with mundane pursuits
that consume too much attention and energy. (1 Timothy
13, 14. What shows that Jesus used good judgment in choosing his
life course?
15. How can followers of Jesus demonstrate that they are keeping a
simple eye, and why is this the course of wisdom?