Ukufundisa Okuwusizo Kwezikhathi Zethu Ezinzima
“Yazi lokhu ukuthi ezinsukwini zokugcina kuzakuvela izikhathi [ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo, NW]. . . . Abantu ababi nabakhohlisi bazakuqhubekela phambili ebubini, bedukisa, bedukiswa.”—2 THIMOTHEWU 3:1, 13.
1, 2. Kungani kufanele sibe nesithakazelo ngokuthi yiziphi izimfundiso esizilandelayo?
INGABE uyasizwa, noma ingabe uyalinyazwa? Ingabe izinkinga zakho ziyaxazululwa, noma zenziwa zibe zimbi kakhulu? Zenziwa yini? Izimfundiso. Yebo, izimfundiso zingakuthonya kakhulu ukuphila kwakho, zikwenze kube ngcono noma kube kubi kakhulu.
2 Oprofesa abathathu abangakagogodi bahlola lendaba muva nje futhi bakhipha imiphumela yokuhlola kwabo kuyi-Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. Yiqiniso, kungenzeka abazange bakuhlole wena noma umkhaya wakho. Nokho, lokho abakuthola kubonisa ukuthi kunokuhlobana okungathandabuzeki phakathi kwezimfundiso nempumelelo yomuntu, noma ukwehluleka, ekubhekaneni nezikhathi zethu ezibucayi. Esihlokweni esilandelayo, sizoxoxa ngokukhethekile ngalokho abakuthola.
3, 4. Yibuphi obunye bobufakazi obubonisa ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini ezibucayi?
3 Nokho, okokuqala cabangela lombuzo: Ingabe uyavuma ukuthi siphila ezikhathini okunzima ukubhekana nazo? Uma kunjalo, khona-ke ngokuqinisekile uyobona ukuthi ubufakazi bubonisa ukuthi lezi ngempela “izikhathi ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo.” (2 Thimothewu 3:1-5, NW) Indlela abantu abathinteka ngayo iyahlukahluka. Ngokwesibonelo, cishe uyazi ngamazwe njengamanje ahlukene phakathi njengoba amaqembu ahlukene elwela ukuvelela kwezombangazwe. Kwezinye izindawo, ukubulala kuvela ezingxabanweni ezingokwenkolo noma ezingokobuhlanga. Akuwona amasosha kuphela alimalayo. Cabanga ngabesifazane namantombazane abangenakubalwa abaye baphathwa ngonya noma abantu asebekhulile abaye baphucwa ukudla, ukufudumala, nendawo yokuhlala. Abantu abaningi bahlupheka kakhulu, okuholela emananini ashaqisayo ababaleki nosizi oluningi oluhlobene nalokho.
4 Izikhathi zethu ziphawuleka nangezinkinga ezingokomnotho, ezibangela ukuvalwa kwamafekthri, ukuntuleka kwemisebenzi, ukulahlekelwa usizo olungokwezimali olutholakalayo nezimpesheni, ukuwohloka kwamandla emali, nokuba nokudla okuyingcosana. Kukhona ongakwenezela kuloluhlu lwezinkinga? Cishe kunjalo. Ezinye izigidi embulungeni yonke zihlushwa ukuntuleka kokudla nezifo. Cishe uye wazibona izithombe ezisabekayo ezithwetshulwe eMpumalanga Afrika ezibonisa amadoda, abesifazane, nabantwana abazacile. Izigidi e-Asia zihlupheka ngendlela efanayo.
5, 6. Kungani kungase kuthiwe izifo nazo ziyisici esikhulu sezinsuku zethu ezibucayi?
5 Sonke siye sezwa ngezifo ezisabekayo manje ezandayo. Ngo-January 25, 1993, i-New York Times yathi: “Njengoba sanda phakathi kokuziphatha okuxekethile ngokobulili, ubuzenzisi nokuvinjelwa okwenziwa ngokunganaki, isifo esiwumqedazwe sengculaza saseLatin America sesizodlula esase-United States . . . Ukwanda okukhulu kubangelwa amanani akhulayo alabo abanalesisifo phakathi . . . kwabesifazane.” Ngo-October 1992, i-U.S.News & World Report yathi: “Kwakuseminyakeni engamashumi amabili kuphela edlule lapho udokotela omkhulu ohlinzayo wase-U.S., ememezela ukuthi kwase kuyisikhathi ‘sokuyeka ukukhathazeka ngezifo ezithathelwanayo,’ etusa okunye kokunqoba okukhulu kunakho konke komzamo wokulondoloza impilo yomphakathi.” Kuthiwani ngesikhathi samanje? “Ezibhedlela sekuyaphinda futhi kutheleka izisulu eziningi zezifo okwakucatshangwa ukuthi zinqotshiwe. . . . Amagciwane aqamba amasu ezakhi zofuzo ahlakaniphe ngokwengeziwe awavumela ukuba ande ukwedlula imithi emisha esungulwayo elwa namagciwane. . . . ‘Singena enkathini entsha yezifo ezithathelwanayo.’”
6 Njengesinye isibonelo, i-Newsweek ka-January 11, 1993, yabika: “Amagciwane kamalaleveva manje angena kubantu abalinganiselwa ezigidini ezingu-270 minyaka yonke, ebulala abafinyelela ezigidini ezimbili . . . futhi ebangela ukuba okungenani abantu abayizigidi eziyikhulu babangwe nezibi. . . . Ngesikhathi esifanayo, lesisifo siyaqhubeka simelana nemithi eyake yaselapha. . . . Ezinye izinhlobo zalesisifo ngokushesha zingase zingabe zisalapheka.” Kuyashaqisa.
7. Abaningi namuhla basabela kanjani ezikhathini ezinzima?
7 Kungenzeka uye waqaphela ukuthi kulezinsuku ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo, abaningi bafuna usizo lokuxazulula izinkinga zabo. Cabanga ngalabo abaphendukela ezincwadini ezikhuluma ngokubhekana nokucindezeleka noma isifo esithile esisha. Abanye basidinga kakhulu iseluleko esiphathelene nemishado ewohlokayo, ukunakekelwa kwabantwana, izinkinga zotshwala noma izidakamizwa, noma indlela abangalinganisela ngayo izidingo zemisebenzi yabo nokucindezeleka abakuzwayo ekhaya. Yebo, baludinga ngempela usizo! Ingabe ulwisana nenkinga yomuntu siqu noma ubhekene nezinye zezinkinga ezibangelwa impi, indlala, noma inhlekelele? Ngisho nakuba inkinga ecindezelayo ibonakala ingenakuxazululeka, unesizathu sokubuza, ‘Kungani siye safinyelela esimweni esibucayi kanjena?’
8. Kungani kufanele siphendukele eBhayibhelini ukuze sithole ukuqonda nesiqondiso?
8 Ngaphambi kokuba sibhekane nokuphila ngokuphumelelayo futhi sithole ukwaneliseka kukho manje nasesikhathini esizayo, kudingeka sazi ukuthi kungani sibhekene nezikhathi ezibucayi kanjena. Ngokungagunci, lokhu kunikeza ngamunye wethu isizathu sokucabangela iBhayibheli. Kungani sikhomba eBhayibhelini? Ngoba yilona kuphela elinesiprofetho esinembile, umlando owalotshwa kusengaphambili, obonisa izizathu zesimo esibucayi esibhekene naso, ukuthi sikuphi, nokuthi siyaphi.
Isifundo Esitholakala Emlandweni
9, 10. Isiprofetho sikaJesu esikuMathewu isahluko 24 sagcwaliseka kanjani ekhulwini lokuqala?
9 INqabayokulinda ka-February 15, 1994, yanikeza ukubukezwa okuphawulekayo kwesiprofetho sikaJesu esicacile esikuMathewu isahluko 24. Uma uvula iBhayibheli lakho kulesosahluko, ungabona evesini 3 ukuthi abaphostoli bakaJesu bacela isibonakaliso esiphathelene nokuba-khona kwakhe kwangesikhathi esizayo nesiphelo sesimiso sezinto. Khona-ke, evesini 5 kuya ku-14, uJesu wabikezela oKristu bamanga, izimpi, ukuntuleka kokudla, ukushushiswa kwamaKristu, ukungabi namthetho, nokushunyayelwa kabanzi koMbuso kaNkulunkulu.
10 Umlando ufakazela ukuthi zona kanye lezozinto zenzeka phakathi nesiphelo sesimiso sezinto sobuJuda. Ukube wawuphila ngalesosikhathi, ingabe lezo kwakungeke kube izikhathi ezinzima? Nokho, izinto zaziqhubekela emvuthwandaba, osizini olwalungakaze lube khona eJerusalema nasesimisweni sobuJuda. Evesini 15 siqala ukufunda ngalokho okwenzeka ngemva kokuba amaRoma ehlasele iJerusalema ngo-66 C.E. Lezozenzakalo zafinyelela umvuthwandaba osizini uJesu akhuluma ngalo evesini 21—ukubhujiswa kweJerusalema ngo-70 C.E., usizi olubi ukwedlula lonke olwake lwehlela lowomuzi. Nakuba kunjalo, uyazi ukuthi umlando awugcinanga ngalesosikhathi, futhi uJesu akazange athi uyogcina ngalesosikhathi. Emavesini 23 kuya ku-28, wabonisa ukuthi ngemva kosizi lwango-70 C.E., kwakuyokwenzeka ezinye izinto.
11. Kungayiphi indlela ukugcwaliseka kukaMathewu isahluko 24 ekhulwini lokuqala kuhlobene nosuku lwethu?
11 Abanye namuhla bangase bathambekele ekuthalaliseni izindaba ezinjalo zesikhathi esidlule ngokuthi ‘pho-ke?’ Lokho kungaba yiphutha. Ukugcwaliseka kwesiprofetho emuva ngalesosikhathi kubaluleke kakhulu. Ngani? Nokho, izimpi, indlala, ukuzamazama komhlaba, izinhlupho, nokushushiswa phakathi nesiphelo sesimiso sobuJuda kwakumelwe kubonakale ekugcwalisekeni okukhulu ngemva kokuphela ‘kwezikhathi ezimisiwe zabezizwe’ ngo-1914. (Luka 21:24, NW) Abaningi abaphilayo manje babengofakazi bokuzibonela beMpi Yezwe I lapho lokhu kugcwaliseka kosuku lwanamuhla kuqala. Kodwa ngisho nakuba wazalwa ngemva kuka-1914, uye wasibona isiprofetho sikaJesu sigcwaliseka. Izenzakalo zalelikhulu lama-20 zinikeza ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthi manje siphila esiphelweni salesimiso sezinto samanje esibi.
12. NgokukaJesu, yini esisengalindela ukuyibona?
12 Lokhu kusho ukuthi ‘usizi’ lukaMathewu 24:29 luphambi kwethu. Luyohilela izenzakalo zasemkhathini ezingase zingacatshangwa nokucatshangwa. Ivesi 30 libonisa ukuthi ngalesosikhathi abantu bayobona isibonakaliso esihlukile—esifakazela ukuthi ukubhujiswa sekusondele. Ngokuvumelana nokulandisa okuhlobene nalokhu okukuLuka 21:25-28, ngalesosikhathi esizayo, ‘abantu bayophela amandla ngokwesaba nangokubheka okuvelela umhlaba.’ Ukulandisa kukaLuka kubonisa futhi ukuthi amaKristu ngalesosikhathi ayophakamisa amakhanda awo ngoba ukukhululwa kwawo kuyobe sekuseduze kakhulu.
13. Yimaphi amaphuzu amabili ayinhloko okufanele siwanakekele?
13 Ungase uthi, ‘Ngikuzwa kahle lokho, kodwa bengicabanga ukuthi inkinga iwukuthi ngingaziqonda futhi ngibhekane nazo kanjani izikhathi zethu ezinzima?’ Uqinisile. Iphuzu lethu lokuqala liwukuthola izinkinga eziyinhloko bese sibona indlela esingazigwema ngayo. Okuhlobene nalokho iphuzu lesibili, indlela izimfundiso ezingokomBhalo ezingasisiza ngayo ukuba sijabulele ukuphila okungcono manje. Ngokuqondene nalokhu, vula iBhayibheli lakho kweyesi-2 Thimothewu isahluko 3, futhi ubone indlela amazwi kamphostoli uPawulu angakusiza ngayo ukuba ubhekane nezikhathi ezinzima.
Isiprofetho Esiphathelene Nezikhathi Zethu
14. Kungani kunesizathu sokukholelwa ukuthi ukucabangela eyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:1-5 kungasizuzisa?
14 UNkulunkulu waphefumlela uPawulu ukuba abhalele umKristu othembekile uThimothewu iseluleko esihle kakhulu esamsiza ukuba aphile ukuphila okuphumelelayo nokujabulisa kakhulu. Ingxenye yalokho uPawulu akubhala yayiyosebenza ngokuyinhloko osukwini lwethu. Ngisho nakuba unomuzwa wokuthi uwazi kahle, wafunde ngokucophelela manje amazwi angokwesiprofetho akweyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:1-5. UPawulu wabhala: “Yazi lokhu ukuthi ezinsukwini zokugcina kuzakuvela izikhathi [‘ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo,’ NW]; ngokuba abantu bazakuba-ngabazithandayo, nabathandimali, nabazigabisayo, nabazidlayo, nabahlambalazayo, nabangalaleli abazali, nabangabongiyo, nabahlazisayo, nabangenaluthando, [abangafuni sivumelwano, NW] nabahlebi, nabangazithibi, nabangenabumnene, nabangathandi okuhle, nabakhapheli, nabanamawala, nabakhukhumele, nabathanda injabulo kunokuthanda uNkulunkulu, nabanesimo sokumesaba uNkulunkulu, kepha amandla akho bewaphika.”
15. Kungani eyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:1 kufanele isithakazelise ngokukhethekile manje?
15 Siza uphawule, kunezinto ezingu-19 ezibaliwe. Ngaphambi kokuba sizihlole futhi sizuze kuzo, ake uthole umongo walesiprofetho. Bheka ivesi 1. UPawulu wabikezela: “Ezinsukwini zokugcina kuzakuvela izikhathi [‘ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo,’ NW].” Ziphi ‘izinsuku zokugcina’? Kuye kwaba nezinsuku zokugcina eziningi, njengezinsuku zokugcina zePompeii yasendulo noma izinsuku zokugcina zenkosi noma uhlanga lwamakhosi. Ngisho neBhayibheli likhuluma ngezinsuku zokugcina eziningi, njengezinsuku zokugcina zesimiso sobuJuda. (IzEnzo 2:16, 17) Nokho, uJesu wasibekela isisekelo sokuqonda ukuthi ‘izinsuku zokugcina’ uPawulu akhuluma ngazo zibhekisela esikhathini sethu.
16. Yisiphi isimo umfanekiso wamabele nokhula owasibikezelela isikhathi sethu?
16 UJesu wenza kanjalo ngomfanekiso wamabele nokhula. Lokhu kwahlwanyelwa ensimini kwase kuyekwa ukuba kukhule. Wathi amabele nokhula kumelela abantu—amaKristu eqiniso nawamanga. Siqokomisa lomfanekiso ngoba ufakazela ukuthi kwakuyodlula inkathi ende ngaphambi kwesiphelo saso sonke isimiso esibi. Lapho lesiphelo sifika, kunokuthile okwakuyobe kwandile. Kuyini? Ukuhlubuka, noma ukuphambuka ebuKristwini beqiniso, okwakuyobangela ukuba kube nesivuno esikhulu sobubi. Ezinye iziprofetho zeBhayibheli ziqinisekisa ukuthi lokhu kwakuyokwenzeka phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina zesimiso esibi. Yilapho sikhona, esiphelweni sesimiso sezinto.—Mathewu 13:24-30, 36-43.
17. Yikuphi ukwaziswa okuhlobene eyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:1-5 ekunikezayo ngokuphathelene nesiphelo sesimiso sezinto?
17 Ingabe uyakubona ukubaluleka kwalokhu? UThimothewu wesiBili 3:1-5 usinikeza isibonakaliso esihlobene nalokhu sokuthi phakathi nesiphelo sesimiso, noma izinsuku zokugcina, isithelo esizungeze amaKristu sasiyoba sibi. UPawulu wayengasho ukuthi izinto ezingu-19 ezibaliwe zaziyoba indlela eyinhloko yokufakazela ukuthi izinsuku zokugcina sezifikile. Kunalokho, wayexwayisa ngalokho okwakuyodingeka sibhekane nakho phakathi nezinsuku zokugcina. Ivesi 1 likhuluma ‘ngezikhathi ezibucayi okunzima ukubhekana nazo.’ Lenkulumo ivela esiGrekini, futhi ngokwezwi nezwi isho “izikhathi ezimisiwe ezingalawuleki.” (Kingdom Interlinear) Awuvumi yini ukuthi igama elithi “ezingalawuleki” likuchaza kahle lokho esibhekene nakho namuhla? Lendima ephefumlelwe iyaqhubeka inikeza ukuqonda kwaphezulu ngokuphathelene nosuku lwethu.
18. Yini okufanele sigxile kuyo njengoba sihlola amazwi kaPawulu angokwesiprofetho?
18 Isithakazelo sethu kulesiprofetho kufanele sisenze sikwazi ukubona izibonelo eziyinhlekelele zendlela inkathi yethu enzima, noma engalawuleki ngayo. Khumbula amaphuzu ethu amabili ayinhloko: (1) ukuthola izinkinga ezenza izikhathi zethu zibe nzima nokubona ukuthi singazigwema kanjani; (2) ukulandela izimfundiso eziwusizo ngempela nezingasisiza ukuba sijabulele ukuphila okungcono. Ngakho kunokuba sigxile ezinkingeni, sizogxila ezimfundisweni ezingasiza thina nemikhaya yethu kulezikhathi okunzima ukubhekana nazo.
Vuna Izinzuzo Ezicebile
19. Yibuphi ubufakazi obubonile bokuthi abantu bangabazithandayo?
19 UPawulu uqala uhlu lwakhe ngokubikezela ukuthi ezinsukwini zokugcina, “abantu bazakuba-ngabazithandayo.” (2 Thimothewu 3:2) Wayesho ukuthini? Uyobe uqinisile uma uthi kuwo wonke umlando kuye kwaba namadoda nabesifazane abazazisayo, abakhathalela izithakazelo zabo siqu. Nokho, akungabazeki ukuthi lokhu kushiyeka kwande ngendlela engavamile namuhla. Kuyedlulela kubantu abaningi. Cishe kuyindlela yokuphila evamile kwabezombangazwe nabezentengiselwano. Amadoda nabesifazane baphishekela amandla nodumo kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwenzekani. Ngokuvamile lokhu kuba njalo kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwenzekani kwabanye, ngoba abantu abanjalo abazithandayo abanandaba nokuthi babalimaza kanjani abanye abantu. Bayashesha ukumangalela noma ukuphamba abanye. Ungabona ukuthi kungani abaningi bebiza lesizukulwane ngokuthi “isizukulwane esizazisayo.” Okhanda limtshel’ okwakhe nabantu abazazisayo bagcwele yonke indawo.
20. Iseluleko seBhayibheli sihluke kanjani esimweni sengqondo esivamile sokuzithanda?
20 Akudingekile ukuba sikhunjuzwe ngokuhlangenwe nakho okungathandeki esiye saba nakho ekusebenzelaneni nabantu ‘abazithandayo.’ Nokho kuyiqiniso ukuthi ngokuyichaza ngokungagwegwesi lenkinga, iBhayibheli liyasisiza, ngoba lisifundisa indlela yokugwema lolugibe. Nakhu elikushoyo: “Ningenzi lutho ngenxa yesifiso sobugovu noma isifiso sokuqhosha ngobala, kodwa thobelanani, njalo nibheka abanye njengabangcono kunani. Futhi khathalelani izithakazelo zomunye nomunye, hhayi ezenu kuphela.” “Ungazicabangeli ngaphezu kokuba kufanele. Kunalokho, yiba nesizotha ekucabangeni kwakho.” Lesoseluleko esihle kakhulu sitholakala kweyabaseFilipi 2:3, 4 nakweyabaseRoma 12:3, njengoba lawomavesi ehunyushwe esuselwa kuyi-Today’s English Version.
21, 22. (a) Yibuphi ubufakazi obusobala esinabo bokuthi iseluleko esinjalo singaba usizo namuhla? (b) Yimuphi umphumela iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu esiye saba nawo kubantu abavamile?
21 Omunye angase aphikise ngokuthi, ‘Lokho kuzwakala kahle, kodwa akusebenzi.’ Akuve kusebenza. Kungasebenza, futhi kuyasebenza kubantu abavamile namuhla. Ngo-1990 inkampani enyathelisela i-Oxford University yanyathelisa i-Social Dimensions of Sectarianism. Isahluko 8 sasinesihloko esithi “OFakazi BakaJehova Ezweni LamaKatolika,” futhi sachaza ukuhlola okwenziwa eBelgium. Siyafunda: “Lapho kucatshangelwa lokho okwenza ukuba uFakazi kuthakazelise, ngaphandle kokukhanga ‘kweQiniso’ ngokwalo, ngezinye izikhathi labo abasabelayo baye futhi babala izici eziningi. . . . Imfudumalo, ubungane, uthando, nobunye kwakuyizimfanelo ezashiwo kaningi, kodwa ukuthembeka, nendlela umuntu aziphatha ngayo lapho ‘enza ngokuvumelana nezimiso zeBhayibheli’ nakho kwakuyizimfanelo ezazaziswa oFakazi.”
22 Lokho kuhlola singase sikufanise nesithombe esithwetshulwe ngomshini othwebula izinto ezikude; uma esikhundleni sawo ubungasebenzisa umshini wokuthwebula onento yokusondeza izinto ezikude, noma yokukhulisa izinto eziqhelile, ubungabona lokho izinto eziyikho ngempela, okuhlangenwe nakho okuningi kokuphila okungokoqobo. Lokhu bekuyohlanganisa amadoda ngaphambili ayeqhosha, engomashiqela, noma enobugovu manje asemnene, asengabayeni nobaba ababonisa uthando lomzwelo olunesisa nomusa ngokwengeziwe kubangane babo bomshado, ezinganeni, nakwabanye. Futhi bekuyohlanganisa nabesifazane ababengozwilabo noma ababengenaluzwela kodwa manje asebesiza abanye ukuba bafunde indlela yobuKristu beqiniso. Kunamakhulu ezinkulungwane ezibonelo ezinjalo. Manje, ake uveze okusenhliziyweni yakho. Ubungeke yini ukuthole kungcono kakhulu ukuba phakathi kwabantu abanjalo kunokuba ngaso sonke isikhathi uzithole uzungezwe amadoda nabesifazane abazithanda ngokweqile? Ingabe lokho bekungeke kukwenze kube lula ukubhekana nezikhathi zethu ezinzima? Ngakho ukulalela izimfundiso ezinjalo zeBhayibheli bekungeke yini kukwenze ujabule ngokwengeziwe?
23. Kungani kuyoba yinzuzo ukucabangela eyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:2-5 ngokwengeziwe?
23 Nokho, sicabangele iphuzu lokuqala kuphela ohlwini lukaPawulu olulotshwe kweyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:2-5. Kuthiwani ngamanye? Ingabe ukuwahlola kwakho ngokucophelela nakho kuyokusiza ukuba ubone izinkinga eziyinhloko zesikhathi sethu ukuze uzigweme futhi kukwenze uqonde ukuthi iyiphi inkambo eyolethela wena nabathandekayo bakho injabulo enkudlwana? Isihloko esilandelayo siyokusiza ukuba uphendule leyomibuzo futhi uzuze isibusiso esicebile.
Amaphuzu Okumelwe Siwakhumbule
◻ Yibuphi obunye bobufakazi obubonisa ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini ezibucayi?
◻ Kungani singaqiniseka ukuthi siphila ezinsukwini zokugcina?
◻ Yimaphi amaphuzu amabili ayinhloko esingawazuza ekuhloleni eyesi-2 Thimothewu 3:1-5?
◻ Phakathi nalesikhathi lapho abaningi bengabazithandayo, izimfundiso zeBhayibheli ziye zabasiza kanjani abantu bakaJehova?
[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 8]
Photo top left: Andy Hernandez/Sipa Press; photo bottom right: Jose Nicolas/Sipa Press