1. UPawulu wazizwa kanjani ngabantu abakhonza uJehova ngenkuthalo?

UMPHOSTOLI uPawulu wakhumbula abantu ababezikhandla ngenxa yezindaba ezinhle. Wabhala: “Siwukhumbula ngokungaphezi umsebenzi wenu wokuthembeka nomshikashika wenu wothando nokukhuthazela kwenu ngenxa yethemba eninalo eNkosini yethu uJesu Kristu phambi kukaNkulunkulu noBaba wethu.” (1 Thes. 1:3) Ngempela uJehova naye uyawukhumbula umshikashika wothando wabo bonke abamkhonza ngokwethembeka, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi izimo zabo zibavumela ukuba benze okuningi noma okuncane.—Heb. 6:10.

2. Yini esizoxoxa ngayo kulesi sihloko?

² Izinceku eziningi esikanye nazo—zesikhathi esedlule nezamanje—ziye zazidela kakhulu ukuze zikhonze uJehova isikhathi esigcwele. Ake sibone indlela abanye ababekhonza ngayo ekhulwini lokuqala. Sizohlola neminye imikhakha yenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele yanamuhla, sibone ukuthi singabakhumbula kanjani abathandekayo abaye bazinikela ukuba bakhonze ngezindlela ezikhethekile.

3, 4. (a) Abanye bakhonza kanjani ekhulwini lokuqala? (b) Izidingo zabo ezingokwenyama zazinakekelwa kanjani?

³ Esikhathini esingeside uJesu ebhapathiziwe, waqala umsebenzi owawuzogcina sewenziwa emhlabeni wonke. (Luka 3:21-23; 4: 14, 15, 43) Ngemva kokufa kwakhe, abaphostoli bakhe bahola ekusabalaliseni umsebenzi wokushumayela. (IzE. 5:42; 6:7) Amanye amaKristu, njengoFiliphu, akhonza njengabavangeli nezithunywa zevangeli ePalestina. (IzE. 8:5, 40; 21:8) UPawulu nabanye baya nakwezinye izindawo ezikude. (IzE. 13:2-4; 14:26; 2 Kor. 1:19) Abanye—ngokwesibonelo, uSilvanu (uSila), uMarku noLuka—babuye bakhonza njengabakopishi noma abalobi. (1 Pet. 5:12) Odade abangamaKristu basebenza kanye nalaba bazalwane abathembekile. (IzE. 18:26; Roma 16:1, 2) Okuhlangenwe nakho kwabo okujabulisayo kwenza kube mnandi ukufunda imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki, futhi kubonisa ukuthi uJehova uzikhumbula ngokwazisa izinceku zakhe.

⁴ Izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele zakuqala zazisekelwa kanjani ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo? Ngezinye izikhathi zaziboniswa umoya wokungenisa izihambi zithole nezinye izinhlobo zosizo kwamanye amaKristu, kodwa zazingalufuni ngenkani lolo sizo. (1 Kor. 9:11-15) Abanye abantu namabandla babezisekela ngokuzithandela. (Funda izEnzo 16:14, 15; Filipi 4:15-18.) UPawulu nayehamba nabo babebuye babambe amatoho ukuze bazisekele.

5. Enye indoda nomkayo bathini ngokuphila kwabo enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele?

⁵ Nanamuhla abaningi bayazikhandla emikhakheni ehlukahlukene yenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ Imikhakha Yenkonzo Yesikhathi Esigcwele.”) Bazizwa kanjani ngokukhetha kwabo? Lona umbuzo ongawubuza bona, futhi cishe ngeke uzisole ngokwenza kanjalo. Cabanga ngalesi sibonelo: Umzalwane oye wakhonza njengephayona elivamile, elikhethekile, isithunywa sevangeli wabuye waba ilungu lomkhaya waseBethel kwelinye izwe uthi: “Nginomuzwa wokuthi ukungenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele kube yisinqumo esihle kunazo zonke engake ngazenza. Ngesikhathi ngineminyaka engu-18, kwakunzima ukunquma ukuthi ngiye eyunivesithi, ngisebenze noma ngiphayone. Okwenzeke kimi kungibonisile ukuthi uJehova akakukhohlwa ukuzidela okwenzayo ukuze umkhonze isikhathi esigcwele. Ngikwazile ukusebenzisa iziphiwo namakhono uJehova anginike wona ngezindlela ebengingeke ngikwazi ukuwasebenzisa ngazo ukube ngakhetha umsebenzi wezwe.” Umkakhe uthi: “Zonke izabelo engizenzile ziye zangikhulisa. Isivikelo nesiqondiso sikaJehova sisibone kaningi nangezindlela ebesingeke sisibone ngazo ukube asiyingenelanga inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. Ngimbonga nsuku zonke uJehova ngokuphila kwethu enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele.” Ungathanda ukuzizwa ngendlela efanayo nawe?

6. Yikuphi ukuqiniseka sonke okufanele sibe nakho ngendlela uJehova azizwa ngayo?

⁶ Kuyavunywa, izimo zabanye azibavumeli ukuba babe senkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele njengamanje. Singaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova uyayazisa neyabo imizamo yomphefumulo wonke. Cabanga ngalabo uPawulu ababiza ngamagama kuFilemoni 1-3, kuhlanganise nabo bonke ababesebandleni laseKolose. (Yifunde.) UPawulu wayebazisa, kanjalo noJehova. UBaba wethu osezulwini uyazisa ngendlela efanayo inkonzo yakho. Nokho, ungabasekela kanjani abasenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele njengamanje?

7, 8. Inkonzo yokuphayona ihilelani, futhi abanye ebandleni bangawasiza kanjani amaphayona?

⁷ Njengabavangeli bekhulu lokuqala, amaphayona ashisekayo awumthombo ocebile wesikhuthazo emabandleni. Amaningi ayazikhandla ukuze achithe amahora angu-70 enkonzweni inyanga ngayinye. Ungawasiza kanjani?

⁸ UShari, udade oyiphayona wathi: “Njengoba amaphayona eba senkonzweni  usuku nosuku, abonakala eqinile. Noma kunjalo, ayasidinga isikhuthazo.” (Roma 1:11, 12) Omunye udade owaphayona iminyaka ethile washo lokhu ngamaphayona ebandla lakubo: “Asebenza ngokuzikhandla. Uma abanye becela ukuwathatha ngezimoto zabo, bewamemela isidlo, bewapha imadlana yokuthela uphethiloli noma bewasekela ngezinye izindlela ngokwezimali, ayakwazisa lokho. Kuwabonisa ukuthi niwakhathalela ngempela.”

9, 10. Yini abanye abayenzile ukuze basize amaphayona emabandleni abo?

⁹ Ungathanda yini ukusiza amaphayona enkonzweni? Iphayona okuthiwa uBobbi lanxusa: “Sidinga abantu abengeziwe esizohamba nabo phakathi nesonto.” Elinye iphayona ebandleni elifanayo lanezela: “Ukuthola abantu ozohamba nabo ntambama kuyinkinga ngempela.” Udade osekhonza eBethel YaseBrooklyn ulandisa ngenkonzo yakhe esaphayona: “Udade owayenemoto wathi, ‘Noma nini lapho udinga umuntu ozohamba naye ubongazisa, ngizohamba nawe.’ Lowo dade wangisiza ngaqhubeka ngiphayona.” UShari uveza leli phuzu elibonisa ukuthi uyanaka: “Ngemva kwenkonzo yasensimini amaphayona angashadile avame ukuba wodwa. Ungase umeme abazalwane noma odade abangashadile ekukhulekeleni kwenu komkhaya ngezikhathi ezithile. Ukubahilela kwezinye izinto ezenziwayo nakho kuyabaqinisa.”

¹⁰ Ekhumbula ngesikhathi esaphayona nabanye odade abangashadile, udade oneminyaka ecishe ibe ngu-50 esenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele uthi: “Abadala bakithi babewavakashela njalo amaphayona ngemva kwezinyanga ezithile. Babesibuza ukuthi sinjani, babuze ngomsebenzi wokuziphilisa, babheke nokuthi kukhona yini okunye okusikhathazayo. Babefuna ngempela ukusisiza. Babefika lapho sihlala khona ukuze babone ukuthi siyaludinga yini usizo.” Lokhu kungase kukukhumbuze ukwazisa uPawulu ayenakho ngezinkonzo azithola endodeni yomkhaya othile e-Efesu.—2 Thim. 1:18.

11. Kuhilelani ukukhonza njengephayona elikhethekile?

¹¹ Amanye amabandla abusiswe ngokukhonza namaphayona akhethekile. Abaningi balaba bafowethu nodadewethu bazama ukwenza amahora angu-130 inyanga ngayinye enkonzweni yasensimini. Ngenxa  yesikhathi abasichitha enkonzweni nabasiza ngaso kwezinye izinto, banesikhathi esincane sokwenza umsebenzi wokuziphilisa noma abanaso nhlobo. Ihhovisi legatsha libasekela ngemadlana encane zinyanga zonke ukuze bagxile enkonzweni.

12. Abadala kanye nabanye bangawasiza kanjani amaphayona akhethekile?

¹² Singawasiza kanjani amaphayona akhethekile? Umdala osehhovisi legatsha osebenzelana namaningi awo uyachaza: “Abadala kudingeka bakhulume nawo, bathole ukuthi izimo zawo zinjani, bese benquma ukuthi bangawasiza kanjani. Abanye oFakazi bacabanga ukuthi amaphayona akhethekile akuthola konke akudingayo ngoba ayasekelwa ngokwezimali, kodwa abazalwane ebandleni bangawasiza ngezindlela eziningi.” Njengamaphayona avamile, amaphayona akhethekile ayakwazisa ukuba nabantu azohamba nabo ensimini. Ungasiza yini kulokho?

13, 14. (a) Yini okufanele siyikhumbule ngababonisi besigodi? (b) Yini ocabanga ukuthi ungayenza ukuze usize abasenkonzweni yokujikeleza?

¹³ Ababonisi besigodi nomkabo baye babhekwe njengabantu abaqinile ngokomoya nabakwazi ukuthwala izimo ezinzima. Kuyiqiniso lokho, kodwa nabo bayasidinga isikhuthazo, ukusekelwa enkonzweni nokuhilelwa ekuzilibaziseni okulinganiselayo. Kuthiwani uma begula futhi belaliswa esibhedlela, mhlawumbe kudingeka bahlinzwe noma belashwe? Yeka indlela okubaqabula ngayo lapho abazalwane nodade ebandleni bebasiza ngezidingo zabo futhi bebanaka. Singakubona ngeso lengqondo ukukhathalela “udokotela othandekayo” uLuka, umlobi wencwadi yezEnzo, okumelwe ukuba wakubonisa uPawulu nayehamba nabo.—Kol. 4:14; IzE. 20:5–21:18.

¹⁴ Ababonisi abajikelezayo nomkabo bayabadinga futhi bayabazisa abangane abaseduze. Omunye umbonisi wesigodi wathi: “Kubonakala sengathi abangane bami bayazi ukuthi kunini lapho ngidinga khona isikhuthazo. Bangibuza imibuzo ebonisa ukuthi bayaqonda, futhi lokhu kungenza ngikwazi ukukhuluma ngokungikhathazayo. Ukungilalela kwabo nje kukodwa kuwusizo olukhulu.” Ababonisi besigodi nomkabo bakwazisa ngokujulile ukukhathalela abakuboniswa abafowabo nodadewabo.

15, 16. Iyiphi inkonzo eyenziwa amalungu omkhaya waseBethel nalabo abasemaHholo OMhlangano, futhi singabasekela kanjani?

¹⁵ Emhlabeni kabanzi, abantu abakhonza eBethel nasemaHholo OMhlangano benza umsebenzi obaluleke kakhulu wokusekela umsebenzi woMbuso emazweni aqondiswa ihhovisi labo legatsha. Uma ibandla noma isigodi sakini sinezikhonzi zaseBethel, ungabonisa kanjani ukuthi uyazikhumbula?

¹⁶ Lapho beqala ukufika eBethel, bangase bakhumbule ekhaya ngoba bashiye imindeni nabangane ababathandayo. Yeka indlela abakwazisa ngayo lapho ezinye izikhonzi zaseBethel nabazalwane abasemabandleni abo amasha bebenza bazizwe besekhaya! (Marku 10:29, 30) Isimiso sabo somsebenzi esivamile siyabavumela ukuba babe khona emihlanganweni yebandla futhi bahlanganyele enkonzweni yasensimini masonto onke. Kepha ngezikhathi ezithile izikhonzi zaseBethel zingase zabelwe imisebenzi eyengeziwe. Lapho amabandla ekuqonda lokhu futhi ebonisa ukuthi ayazazisa izikhonzi zaseBethel nomsebenzi eziwenzayo, wonke umuntu uyazuza.—Funda eyoku-1 Thesalonika 2:9.

17, 18. Izabelo zakwamanye amazwe zihlanganisa miphi imikhakha yenkonzo?

¹⁷ Labo abamukela isabelo sokuyokhonza kwelinye izwe bangase bathole ukudla, ulimi, amasiko nezimo ezihluke kakhulu  kulezo abazijwayele. Kungani bekhetha ukwamukela lezi zinselele?

¹⁸ Abanye bayizithunywa zevangeli ezikhonza ngokuyinhloko emasimini lapho abaningi bengazuza ekuqeqeshweni kwazo okukhethekile. Ihhovisi legatsha linikeza izithunywa zevangeli indawo yokuhlala ekahle kanye nemadlana yokusekela izidingo zazo eziyisisekelo. Abanye abakhonza kwamanye amazwe babelwa ukuba bakhonze ehhovisi legatsha noma basize ekwakhiweni kwamagatsha, amahhovisi abahumushi, amaHholo OMhlangano noma amaHholo OMbuso. Banakekelwa ngokudla, indawo ekahle yokuhlala nezinye izinkonzo. Njengoba kunjalo ngezikhonzi zaseBethel, baba khona njalo emihlanganweni futhi bahlanganyele ensimini endaweni abakuyo, ngakho bayisibusiso ngezindlela eziningi.

19. Yini okufanele siyikhumbule ngalabo abakhonza kwamanye amazwe?

¹⁹ Ungazikhumbula kanjani izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele ezinjalo? Khumbula ukuthi—ikakhulukazi ekuqaleni—kungenzeka azikujwayele okunye ukudla kwendawo. Ungakukhumbula lokhu lapho uzimemela esidlweni; ungaqale uzibuze ukuthi yikuphi ukudla ezingakuthanda noma ezingathanda ukukuzama. Yiba nesineke njengoba zifunda ulimi namasiko endawo. Kungase kuthathe isikhathi ukuba ziqonde konke okushoyo, kodwa ngomusa ungazisiza ziphimisele kahle amagama. Ziyafuna ukufunda!

20. Iyiphi indlela enhle esingakhumbula ngayo izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele nabazali bazo?

²⁰ Izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele ziyakhula, ngokufanayo nabazali bazo. Uma abazali bazo bengoFakazi, cishe isifiso sabo esijulile siwukuba izingane zabo zihlale ezabelweni zazo. (3 Joh. 4) Akungatshazwa, izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele ziyokwenza konke ezingakwenza uma abazali bazo bedinga ukunakekelwa futhi ziyoya emakhaya ziyobasiza kaningi ngangokunokwenzeka. Noma kunjalo, labo abasele ekhaya bangasiza izikhonzi ezisenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele ngokulungela ukunakekela abazali bazo asebekhulile uma kudingeka. Khumbula ukuthi izikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele zinemithwalo yemfanelo emikhulu emsebenzini obaluleke kakhulu owake wenziwa emhlabeni. (Math. 28:19, 20) Ingabe wena noma ibandla lakini lingasiza uma abazali bezikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele bedinga usizo?

21. Abasenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele bazizwa kanjani ngosizo nesikhuthazo abasithola kwabanye?

²¹ Labo abangenela inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele abayingeneli ngoba befuna imali, kodwa ngoba befuna ukupha—ukupha uJehova kanye nabanye. Balwazisa ngokujulile noma iluphi usizo ongabanikeza lona. Udade okhonza kwelinye izwe wenanela imizwa yabaningi: “Ngisho nencwajana encane nje ebonisa ukwazisa ikutshela ukuthi abanye bacabanga ngawe nokuthi bayakujabulela okwenzayo.”

22. Uzizwa kanjani ngenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele?

²² Ukukhonza uJehova isikhathi esigcwele kuyindlela yokuphila enomvuzo ngempela. Kunezinselele, kuyafundisa futhi kuyenelisa. Kusicijela inkonzo ejabulisayo neyaphakade elindele zonke izikhonzi zikaJehova ezithembekile ngaphansi koMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Kwangathi sonke ‘singawukhumbula ngokungaphezi umsebenzi wokuthembeka nomshikashika wothando’ walabo abasenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele.—1 Thes. 1:3.