Christians have been told to learn from the example of King Solomon of ancient times and avoid over-confidence as it could prove to be their undoing.

The advice was one of the highlights of the final day of the opening series of the ‘God’s Word Is Truth!’ District Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses held Friday to Sunday at the Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Ota, Ogun State,

It was contained in the talk, Remain “firmly set in the truth”, delivered by the Guest Speaker, Simons Wilfred Sterling, of the Nigeria Branch Office of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Igieduma, Edo State.

The talk was based on 2 Peter 1:12 but Sterling drew from the experience of Solomon, the wisest man of his time who in old age was influenced by his foreign wives to follow them and worship false gods instead of sticking with the true God, Jehovah, who had granted his request for wisdom to be able to successfully rule the Israelites. Solomon had ignored God’s command not to marry from outside God’s people, apparently believing that he would be able to successfully manage the situation because of his extraordinary wisdom, but he was very much mistaken.

“We have so many examples in the Bible of people who failed to remain steadfast because of over-confidence. Solomon was one of them. We should not allow anything to separate us from Jehovah. Let us therefore be careful to avoid over-confidence,” Sterling admonished.

A total of 5,304 delegates attended the convention, among them 55 newly dedicated members who submitted themselves for baptism.

Apart from Ota, conventions would also hold in English and local languages in several other Nigerian cities until December 22. The cities include Agbor, Akabo, Akure, Awi, Badagry, Benin City, Daluwon, Enugu, Igwuruta Ali, Ikot Ekpene, Ikot Nko, Ilesa, Ilorin, Jos, Kaduna, Katsina Ala, Kwali, Lekki, Makurdi, Mgboko Umuoria, Okitipupa, Oyede, Sokoto, Ubogo, Uli, Uzuakoli and Zaria.

A statement by the News Service Department of the Convention Organisation said: “Everyone who is interested is invited to attend. Seating is free and there is no collection of any sort.”

•Photo by Chris Nkwocha shows the Guest Speaker, Simons Wilfred Sterling, delivering his talk, on Sunday in Ota.

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