Ukuba Ocebile Nakuba Umpofu—Kungenzeka Kanjani?

Emakhulwini eminyaka adlule indoda ehlakaniphile yathandazela ukuba ingabi mpofu. Kungani yenza isicelo esinjalo? Ngoba yayesaba ukuthi ubumpofu babungase bubangele izimo zengqondo nezenzo ezingasongela ubuhlobo bayo noNkulunkulu. Lokhu kubonakala emazwini ayo: “Ngiphe isinkwa engisimiselweyo . . . funa ngibe-mpofu, ngebe, ngilone igama likaNkulunkulu wami.”—IZAGA 30:8, 9.

INGABE lokhu kusho ukuthi akunakwenzeka ngomuntu ompofu ukuba akhonze uNkulunkulu ngokwethembeka? Lutho neze! Kuwo wonke umlando izinceku zikaJehova uNkulunkulu ezingenakubalwa ziye zahlala ziqotho kuye naphezu kobunzima obubangelwa ubumpofu. UJehova naye uyabathanda labo abathembela kuye futhi uyabanakekela.

Abantu Basendulo Abakholekile

Umphostoli uPawulu ngokwakhe wabhekana nezikhathi zokuswela. (2 Korinte 6:3, 4) Futhi walandisa ‘ngefu elikhulu’ lofakazi abathembekile bangaphambi kobuKristu, abanye babo ‘abazulazula bembethe izikhumba zezimvu, izikhumba zezimbuzi, kuyilapho beswela. Bazulazula ezingwadule nasezintabeni nasemihumeni nasemiphandwini yomhlaba.’—Heberu 11:37, 38; 12:1.

Omunye walaba bantu abakholekile kwakungumprofethi u-Eliya. Phakathi nesomiso seminyaka emithathu nengxenye, uJehova wamlungiselela ukudla njalo. Okokuqala, uNkulunkulu wathuma amagwababa ukuba alethele lomprofethi isinkwa nenyama. (1 AmaKhosi 17:2-6) Kamuva, uJehova walondoloza ngokuyisimangaliso ufulawa namafutha umfelokazi ayondla ngako u-Eliya. (1 AmaKhosi 17:8-16) Lokho kwakuwukudla okuyisisekelo kakhulu, kodwa kwagcina umprofethi, owesifazane nendodana yakhe bephila.

Ngokufanayo uJehova wasekela umprofethi othembekile uJeremiya phakathi nezikhathi ezinzima ngokwezomnotho. UJeremiya wasinda ekuvinjezelweni kweJerusalema abaseBabiloni, lapho abantu kwakudingeka “badle isinkwa ngesilinganiso ngokwesaba.” (Hezekeli 4:16) Ekugcineni, indlala emzini yaba nkulu kangangokuthi abesifazane abathile badla inyama yezingane zabo. (IsiLilo 2:20) Nakuba uJeremiya ayesejele ngenxa yokushumayela kwakhe ngesibindi, uJehova waqikelela ukuthi unikwa “iqebelengwane lesinkwa” nsuku zonke “kwaze kwaphela isinkwa sonke emzini.”—Jeremiya 37:21.

Ngakho uJeremiya, njengo-Eliya, wayenokuncane kokukudla. ImiBhalo ayisitsheli ukuthi uJeremiya wayedlani noma wayedla kangaki ngemva kokuba iJerusalema liphelelwe isinkwa. Nokho, siyazi ukuthi uJehova wamsekela nokuthi wasinda kuleso sikhathi esinzima sendlala.

Namuhla, indlala ikuzo zonke izingxenye zomhlaba. NgokweZizwe Ezihlangene, indlala igxile kakhulu e-Afrika. Umbiko wezindaba we-UN ngo-1996 wathi: “Okungenani ingxenye yabo bonke abantu base-Afrika impofu.” Naphezu kwezimo zomnotho eziba zimbi ngokwandayo, inani elandayo labantu base-Afrika lisebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibheli ekuphileni futhi likhonza uNkulunkulu ngokuthembeka, liqiniseka ukuthi uyolisekela. Cabangela ezinye izibonelo zakwenye ingxenye yezwe lethu elinezinkathazo.

Ukulondoloza Ukuthembeka

UMichael,a ohlala eNigeria, ungumlimi onezingane eziyisithupha okudingeka azondle. Uthi: “Kunzima ukuthembeka lapho ungenayo imali yokunakekela umkhaya wakho. Nokho, lapho ngilingeka ukuba ngingathembeki, ngizikhumbuza ngeyabase-Efesu 4:28, ethi: ‘Owebayo makangabe eseba, kodwa kunalokho makenze umsebenzi onzima, enze lokho okuwumsebenzi omuhle ngezandla zakhe.’ Ngakho lapho ngifikelwa isilingo, ngiyazibuza, ‘Ingabe ngiyisebenzele lemali?’”

“Ngokwesibonelo,” kunezela uMichael, “lapho ngizihambela ngolunye usuku, ngabona isikhwama siwa ngemuva esithuthuthwini. Ngahluleka ukumisa umgibeli wesithuthuthu, ngakho ngacosha leso sikhwama futhi ngathola ukuthi sigcwele imali! Ngisebenzisa umazisi owawukuleso sikhwama, ngamthola umniniso futhi ngasibuyisela kuye.”

Ukulwa Nokucindezeleka

Indoda ethile yaseNyakatho Afrika yaphawula: “Indlala [ifana] nokuvaleleka emgodini ojulile, ukwazi ukubona ukukhanya nabantu bezihambela ngokukhululekile, kodwa ungenalo iphimbo lokumemeza ucele usizo noma isitebhisi sokuphuma.” Akumangalisi ukuthi ngokuvamile indlala ibangela imizwa yokucindezeleka nokukhungatheka! Ngisho nezinceku zikaNkulunkulu zingase zibone ingcebo yabanye bese ziqala ukucabanga ukuthi ukuphila kokugcina ubuqotho akusizi ngalutho. (Qhathanisa neHubo 73:2-13.) Inganqotshwa kanjani imizwa enjalo?

UPeter, waseNtshonalanga Afrika, wanikwa umhlala-phansi ngemva kweminyaka engu-19 esebenzela uhulumeni. Manje ngokuyinhloko uphila ngemali encane yempesheni. “Ngezikhathi zokudumazeka,” kusho uPeter, “ngizikhumbuza ngalokho engiye ngakufunda eBhayibhelini nasezincwadini ze-Watch Tower Society. Lesi simiso esidala sesizodlula, futhi silindele isimiso esingcono.

“Futhi, ngiyaye ngicabange ngeyoku-1 Petru 5:9, ethi: ‘Thathani ukuma kwenu ngokumelene [noSathane], niqinile okholweni, nazi ukuthi izinto ezifanayo eziyizinhlupheko ziyafezwa kuyo yonke inhlangano yabafowenu ezweni.’ Ngakho akumina ngedwa obhekene nobunzima. Lezi zikhumbuzo zingisiza ukuba ngiphebeze imicabango edumazayo necindezelayo.”

“Ngaphezu kwalokho,” kunezela uPeter, “uJesu wenza izimangaliso eziningi lapho esemhlabeni, kodwa akazange enze othile acebe ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo. Kungani kufanele ngilindele ukuba angenze ngicebe?”

Amandla Omthandazo

Ukusondela kuJehova uNkulunkulu ngomthandazo kungenye indlela yokulwa nomcabango ongafanele. Lapho uMary eba omunye woFakazi BakaJehova ngo-1960, umkhaya wakubo wamlahla. Njengoba engashadile futhi manje eseminyakeni yawo-50 yobudala, unempilo ebuthakathaka futhi unokuncane kakhulu ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo. Noma kunjalo, uyashiseka enkonzweni yobuKristu.

UMary uthi: “Lapho ngizizwa ngidumele, ngiya kuJehova ngomthandazo. Ngiyazi ukuthi akekho onganginika usizo olungaphezu kolwakhe. Ngiye ngafunda ukuthi uma uthembela kuJehova, uyakusiza. Ngiwakhumbula njalo lamazwi eNkosi uDavide, atholakala kumaHubo 37:25: ‘Kade ngimusha, manje sengimdala; angizange ngibone olungileyo eshiyiwe nenzalo yakhe iphanza ukudla.’

“Futhi ngithola isikhuthazo kokuhlangenwe nakho kwabafowethu nodadewethu abangokomoya asebekhulile okulandiswa ngako kuyi-Nqabayokulinda. UJehova uNkulunkulu uye wabasiza, ngakho ngiyazi ukuthi nami uzoqhubeka engisiza. Uyalibusisa itoho lami lokuthengisa i-fufu [impuphu yomdumbula], futhi ngiyakwazi ukuhlangabezana nezidingo zami zansuku zonke. Ngezinye izikhathi lapho ngingenalo nesenti elimnyama futhi ngizibuza ukuthi ngizokwenzenjani, uJehova uthumela othile ukuba anginike isipho athi, ‘Dadewethu, ngicela uthathe lokhu.’ UJehova akakaze angidumaze.”

Ukubaluleka Kokutadisha IBhayibheli

OFakazi BakaJehova, kuhlanganise nabampofu abaphakathi kwabo, bayakwazisa ukutadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu, iBhayibheli. UJohn oneminyaka engu-60 ukhonza njengephayona (umshumayeli wevangeli loMbuso wesikhathi esigcwele) nanjengenceku ekhonzayo ebandleni. Uhlala esakhiweni esiwohlokayo esinezitezi ezimbili asihlanganyela nemikhaya engu-13. Ikamelo lakhe liyingxenye yephasishi lesitezi sokuqala, ehlukaniswe ngamapulangwe. Kulo kunezihlalo ezimbili ezindala netafula okupakishwe kulo inqwaba yezinsiza-kufundisa zeBhayibheli. Ulala ocansini.

UJohn wayevame ukuthola cishe iRandi ngosuku ngokuthengisa isinkwa, kodwa lapho ukungeniswa kukakolweni ezweni kunqatshelwa, walahlekelwa indlela yakhe yokuziphilisa. Uthi: “Ngezinye izikhathi izinto ziba nzima kakhulu, kodwa ngiyaqhubeka ngiphayona. Ngisekelwa uJehova. Ngenza noma yimuphi umsebenzi engingawuthola futhi angincikile kothile ukuba angisekele noma angondle, nakuba abafowethu ebandleni bewusizo kakhulu. Bayangisiza bangifunise umsebenzi futhi ngezinye izikhathi bangiphe imali.

“Ngizibekela isikhathi sokufunda iBhayibheli nezincwadi ze-Watch Tower Society. Ngitadisha ekuseni kakhulu lapho kusathulile endlini bese ngifunda ebusuku njalo lapho sinogesi. Ngiyazi ukuthi kumelwe ngibe naso njalo isifundo somuntu siqu.”

Ukuqeqesha Izingane Ukuze Zizuze Ukuphila

UDaniel ungumfelwa onezingane eziyisithupha. Ngo-1985 walahlekelwa umsebenzi ayesesebenze kuwo iminyaka engu-25, kodwa wathola umsebenzi wokuba umgcini-sitolo. “Umkhaya udonsa kanzima ngokwezomnotho,” esho. “Manje sikwazi ukudla kanye nje ngosuku. Ngesinye isikhathi, sahlala singadlile izinsuku ezintathu. Sasiphuza amanzi kuphela ukuze siphile.”

UDaniel ukhonza njengomdala ebandleni. “Angilokothi ngiphuthe emihlanganweni yobuKristu, futhi ngizigcina ngimatasa ngezabelo ezingokwasezulwini,” esho. “Noma nini lapho kuba nomsebenzi odinga ukwenziwa eHholo LoMbuso, ngiyaqiniseka ukuthi ngiba khona. Futhi lapho kunzima, ngizikhumbuza amazwi uPetru awasho kuJesu, alotshwe kuJohane 6:68: ‘Nkosi, ubani esiyoya kuye?’ Uma ngiyeka ukukhonza uJehova, ngizoyaphi? Amazwi kaPawulu esiwathola kwabaseRoma 8:35-39 nawo ayangikhuthaza kakhulu ngoba abonisa ukuthi akukho okuyosahlukanisa nothando lukaNkulunkulu noKristu. Lesi isimo sengqondo engisigxilisa ezinganeni zami. Ngihlale ngizitshela ukuthi akumelwe nanini sishiye uJehova.” Intshiseko kaDaniel, kanye nesifundo seBhayibheli somkhaya sasikhathi sonke, kuye kwaba nethonya elihle ezinganeni zakhe.

Umoya Wokupha

Omunye angase acabange ukuthi abampofu kakhulu ngeke babe sesimweni sokunikela ngokwezimali ekuthuthukiseni izithakazelo zoMbuso. Kodwa akunjalo. (Qhathanisa noLuka 21:1-4.) OFakazi abathile eGhana abaphila ngokulima babekela eceleni ingxenye yendawo yabo ukuze isetshenziselwe ukuthuthukisa izithakazelo zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Lapho umkhiqizo waleyo ngxenye yendawo yabo uthengiswa, imali isetshenziselwa leyo njongo ngokukhethekile, kuhlanganise nokunikela eHholo LoMbuso lendawo loFakazi BakaJehova.

UJoan, ohlala e-Afrika Ephakathi, uyiphayona. Ukuze anakekele umyeni wakhe ogogekile nabanye abantu abane abondlayo, uthengisa isinkwa. Lapho ibandla ahlanganyela nalo lidinga amabhentshi eHholo LoMbuso, umkhaya kaJoan wanquma ukunikela ngayo yonke imali owawunayo endlini. Lokho kwawushiya ungenalutho. Nokho, ngosuku olulandelayo kungazelelwe, othile wakhokha isikweletu sakhe esidala, ewunika imali owawungasenathemba lokuphinde uyithole!

UJoan uyajabula futhi akakhathazeki ngokungadingekile ngemali. “Ngichazela uJehova ngomthandazo isimo sami, bese ngiya enkonzweni yasensimini. Siyazi ukuthi lincane ithemba lezikhathi ezingcono kulesi simiso sezinto. Nokho, siyaqaphela ukuthi uJehova uzozinakekela izidingo zethu.”

Ukubonisa Inkuthalo

OFakazi BakaJehova babonakala ngokuthandana kwabo. (Johane 13:35) Abanemali basiza amaKristu akanye nabo aswelayo. Ngokuvamile lokhu kuba isipho futhi ngezinye izikhathi njengosizo lokutholelwa umsebenzi.

UMark, ohlala eCongo, uphethwe uchoko. Luye lwakhubaza izinzwane neminwe yakhe. Ngakho-ke, uhamba ngezinduku. Lapho uMark enquma ukukhonza uJehova, waqala ukwenza izinguquko ezinkulu ekuphileni kwakhe. Esikhundleni sokucela ukudla njengoba ayenza ngaphambili, waqala ukuzitshalela okwakhe. Wenza nezitini ezomiswa ngelanga, azithengise.

Naphezu kokukhubazeka kwakhe ngokomzimba, uMark waqhubeka esebenza ngenkuthalo. Ekugcineni wathenga indawo futhi wakha indlu efanelekayo. Namuhla, uMark ukhonza njengomdala webandla futhi uhlonishwa kakhulu edolobheni ahlala kulo. Manje usiza abanye abantu abaswelayo.

Yiqiniso, ezindaweni eziningi cishe akunakwenzeka ukuthola umsebenzi. Umdala ongumKristu okhonza kwelinye lamahhovisi egatsha e-Watch Tower Society e-Afrika Ephakathi wabhala: “Lapha, abafowethu abaningi abasebenzi. Abanye bazama ukuzakhela imisebenzi, kodwa kunzima. Abaningi baye bacabanga ukuthi njengoba bezohlupheka kungakhathaliseki ukuthi benzani, kungcono badele izinto ezibonakalayo babe izikhonzi ezingamaphayona. Ngokwenza kanjalo, abaningi baye bathola ukuthi babusiswa ngokucebe kakhulu kunalapho benomsebenzi oholela kancane noma ongaholeli nhlobo.”

UJehova Uyabasekela Abantu Bakhe

UJesu Kristu wathi ngaye ngokwakhe: “Amankentshane anemiphandu nezinyoni zezulu zinezidleke, kodwa iNdodana yomuntu yona ayinandawo yokubeka ikhanda layo.” (Luka 9:58) Ngokufanayo, umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Kuze kube yilo kanye lelihora siyaqhubeka silamba futhi soma sigqoka ngokunganele sidukluzwa singenamakhaya.”—1 Korinte 4:11.

Bobabili uJesu noPawulu bakhetha ukuphila ukuphila okulinganiselwe ngokwezomnotho ukuze bakwazi ukuphishekela inkonzo yabo ngokugcwele kakhudlwana. AmaKristu amaningi osuku lwanamuhla ampofu ngoba kungekho angakwenza. Noma kunjalo, asebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibheli ekuphileni kwawo futhi afuna ngentshiseko ukukhonza uNkulunkulu. Ayazi ukuthi uJehova uwathanda kakhulu njengoba ebona ukuba yiqiniso kwesiqinisekiso sikaJesu: “Khona-ke, qhubekani nifuna kuqala umbuso nokulunga kwakhe, futhi zonke lezi ezinye izinto [ezibonakalayo] ziyonezelwa kini.” (Mathewu 6:25-33) Ngaphezu kwalokho, lezi zinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezimpofu ziye zabona ukuthi “isibusiso sikaJehova siyacebisa.”—IzAga 10:22.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

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Obani “Abenzi Bezwi”?

NGOKOKUHLOLA kukaGallup kuka-1994, amaphesenti angu-96 abantu baseMelika “akholelwa kuNkulunkulu noma emoyeni wendawo yonke.” Futhi i-U.S.News & World Report ithi: “Ngokwenani labantu e-United States, kunamasonto amaningi kunakunoma iliphi elinye izwe eMhlabeni.” Naphezu kwesimo esinjalo esibonisa intshiseko ngokwenkolo, umhloli wemibono ongumakadebona uGeorge Gallup, Jr., uthi: “Iqiniso elisobala liwukuthi, abantu abaningi baseMelika abayazi into abakholelwa kuyo noma ukuthi kungani bekholelwa kuyo.”

Izibalo zibonisa nokuthi kunegebe elikhulu phakathi kwezinkolelo zabantu abaningi ezingokwenkolo nezenzo zabo. Ngokwesibonelo, umbhali uJeffery Sheler uthi: “Izazi zezokuhlalisana kwabantu ziphawula ukuthi ezinye zezindawo ezinobugebengu kakhulu ezweni zibuye zibe izindawo lapho izinkolelo nemikhuba engokwenkolo kunamandla kakhulu khona.”

Lokhu akumelwe kumangaze. Ngani? Ngoba emuva ekhulwini lokuqala, umphostoli uPawulu waxwayisa amaKristu ayekanye naye ukuba aqaphele labo “[abavuma] obala ukuthi bayamazi uNkulunkulu, kodwa [abamphika] ngemisebenzi yabo.” (Thithu 1:16) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uPawulu watshela insizwa enguThimothewu ukuthi ‘izinsuku zokugcina’ zaziyophawuleka ngabantu ‘abanesimo sokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kodwa abazibonakalisa bengathembekile emandleni ako.’—2 Thimothewu 3:1, 5.

Nokho, amaKristu eqiniso enza okusemandleni awo ukulandela umyalo kaJesu Kristu wokuba ‘ahambe ayokwenza abantu bazo zonke izizwe babe abafundi.’ (Mathewu 28:19) Ngalendlela ‘aba abenzi bezwi, awabi abalizwayo kuphela.’—Jakobe 1:22.

[Isithombe ekhasini 7]

Emhlabeni wonke abantu bayakwazisa ukutadisha iBhayibheli