1. Yisiphi isibusiso abadala abalaso okukhulunywa ngaso ku-1 Phetro 5:2?

 ABADALA abangamaKhristu baphiwe umsebenzi wokugcina izimvu zikaJehova eziligugu. Amadoda la azinikeleyo ayasiqakathekisa isibusiso alaso esokuncedisa abafowabo labodadewabo. Asebenza nzima ukuze abe ‘ngabelusi abelusa kuhle.’ (Jer. 23:4; bala u-1 Phetro 5:2.) Siyambonga kakhulu uJehova ngokusinika amadoda anjalo emabandleni!

2. Yibuphi obunye ubunzima abadala abahlangana labo?

² Bunengi ubunzima abadala abahlangana labo nxa besenza imisebenzi yabo. Ngokwesibonelo, minengi kakhulu imisebenzi yebandla okumele yenziwe ngabadala. Omunye umdala wase-United States okuthiwa nguTony wafunda ukuthi ayisiyo yonke imisebenzi ayiphiwayo okumele ayamukele. Uthi: “Ngesikhathi umkhuhlane weCOVID-19 uqalisa ngazama ukwenza imisebenzi eminengi yokuhlela imihlangano yebandla lenkonzo yokutshumayela. Kodwa ngabona ukuthi imisebenzi yakhona yayingapheli. Ngangingaselaso isikhathi eseneleyo esokubala iBhayibhili, esokutaditsha ngingedwa kanye lesokuthandaza.” U-Ilir umdala webandla ohlala eKosovo yena wayehlutshwa yikuthi wayehlala endaweni elempi futhi wayekuthola kunzima ukulalela lokho inhlanganiso eyayisithi kumele kwenziwe. Uthi: “Iwofisi yegatsha yake yanginika umsebenzi wokuthi ngiyencedisa abafowethu labodadewethu ababesendaweni eyayiyingozi kakhulu. Kodwa ngezwa ngingelasibindi sokwenza umsebenzi lowo. Ngangisesaba sibili futhi engangikuthunyiwe kwakukhanya angani akusoze kusebenze.” Omunye umnali ose-Asia okuthiwa nguTim yena wayekuthola kunzima ukuthi aqede yonke imisebenzi okwakumele ayenze nsuku zonke. Uthi: “Kwezinye izikhathi ngangisizwa ngingasathandi lutho kucine kungehlula ukwenza imisebenzi yami.” Manje kuyini okunganceda abadala abalenhlupho ezinjengalezi?

3. Kuzasinceda ngani ukuxoxa ngalokho okwenziwa nguGidiyoni owayengumahluleli?

 ³ Abadala bangafunda okunengi kuGidiyoni owayengumahluleli. (Heb. 6:12; 11:32) Wayelomsebenzi wokuvikela abantu bakaNkulunkulu lowokubelusa. (Abahlu. 2:16; 1 Imilan. 17:6) Abadala labo baphiwe umsebenzi wokuvikela lowokuncedisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu ezikhathini lezi ezinzima kakhulu. (Imiseb. 20:28; 2 Thim. 3:1) Nxa singahlola indaba kaGidiyoni siyabona ukuthi wayengenzi izinto ezingaphezu kwamandla akhe, lokuthi wayethobekile futhi elalela. Kwakumele afunde ukuqinisela ngesikhathi esenza imisebenzi yakhe. Kungelani ukuthi singabadala kumbe asisibobadala, isifundo lesi sizasinceda sibone ukuthi kunengi abadala abakwenzayo esingababonga ngakho. Kumele siwasekele amadoda la asebenza nzima ukuthi asincede emabandleni.—Heb. 13:17.

4. UGidiyoni watshengisa njani ukuthi wayethobekile?

⁴ UGidiyoni wayekwazi ukuthi kulezinto angenelisi ukuzenza futhi wayethobekile. b Ingilosi kaJehova yathi itshela indoda le eyayithobekile ukuthi ikhethwe ukuthi iyekhulula abantu bako-Israyeli kumaMidiyani ayelamandla, yaphendula yathi: “Usendo lwakithi yilo oluncinyane koManase njalo mina ngimncane kulabo bonke endlini kababa.” (Abahlu. 6:15) Wayebona angathi ngeke enelise ukwenza umsebenzi lo kodwa uJehova wayekwazi ukuthi angawenza. UJehova wamncedisa waphumelela ukuwenza.

5. Kuyini okungenza kube nzima ukuthi umdala athobeke?

⁵ Abadala benza konke okusemandleni abo ukuthi bangathathi imisebenzi engaphezu kwamandla abo lokuthi bathobeke kukho konke. (Mik. 6:8; Imiseb. 20:18, 19) Kabaziphakamisi ngalokho abenelisa ukukwenza kumbe abaphumelele ukukwenza njalo nxa bangaphambanisa kabalali bengalele sebezitshela ukuthi kabancedi ngalutho. Lanxa kunjalo ngezinye izikhathi kungaba nzima ukuthi umdala athobeke. Ngokwesibonelo, angavuma ukwenza imisebenzi eminengi besekumehlula ukuthi ayenze yonke. Kanti njalo kungaba nzima ukuthi athobeke nxa anganconywa ngomsebenzi awenzileyo kumbe achothozwe ngendlela ayenze ngayo omunye umsebenzi. Nxa umdala angaba lobunzima obunjalo angafundani kuGidiyoni?

6. Abadala bangafundani kulokho okwenziwa nguGidiyoni? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

⁶ Cela ukuncediswa. Umuntu othobekileyo  uyakwazi ukuthi kulezinto ezingaphezu kwamandla akhe. UGidiyoni wayecela abanye ukuthi bamncedise ngoba wayekwazi ukuthi kulezinto angeke enelise ukuzenza eyedwa. (Abahlu. 6:27, 35; 7:24) Abadala abahlakaniphileyo benza lokho okwakusenziwa nguGidiyoni. UTony okuke kwakhulunywa ngaye uthi: “Indlela engakhuliswa ngayo yayisenza ukuthi ngithathe imisebenzi eminengi mina ngingenelisi ukuyenza yonke. Ngacina ngisithi ekukhonzeni kwethu kwemuli sixoxe ngokuthi umuntu angenzani ukuze angazikhami ngemisebenzi eminengi, ngasengicela lomkami ukuthi atsho ukuthi yena ubona njani. Ngabukela levidiyo eku-jw.org ethi Lingisela UJesu Ngokuqeqetsha, Ngokwethemba Langokupha Abanye Amandla.” UTony waqalisa ukucela abanye ukuthi bamncedise ukwenza eminye imisebenzi. Kwanceda ngani lokhu? UTony uthi: “Yonke imisebenzi yebandla iyenziwa futhi lami sengilesikhathi esinengi sokuqinisa ukholo lwami.”

7. Abadala bangamlingisela njani uGidiyoni nxa bangachothozwa? (UJakhobe 3:13)

⁷ Ungacaphuki nxa ungachothozwa. Okunye okungenza kube nzima ukuthi umdala athobeke yikuchothozwa. Lasendabeni le lokho okwenziwa nguGidiyoni kungamnceda. Ngesikhathi abako-Efrayimi bemchothoza waphendula kuhle ngoba kumele ukuthi wayekwazi ukuthi laye wayeke aphambanise. (Abahlu. 8:1-3) UGidiyoni kazange avuke ngolaka. Watshengisa ukuthi uthobekile ngokulalela bemtshela okwakubahlupha wasekhuluma labo kuhle ukuze behlise umoya. Abadala abahlakaniphileyo balingisela uGidiyoni ngokulalelisisa langokuphendula kuhle nxa abanye bebasola. (Bala uJakhobe 3:13.) Nxa bangenza njalo kuzakuba lokuthula ebandleni.

8. Amadoda abekiweyo kumele enzeni nxa anganconywa? Nika isibonelo.

⁸ Yenza ukuthi udumo lonke luye kuJehova. Ngesikhathi abantu bedumisa uGidiyoni ngokuthi wanqoba abakoMidiyani, yena wahambisa udumo lonke kuJehova. (Abahlu. 8:22, 23) Amadoda abekiweyo angamlingisela njani uGidiyoni? Kumele adumise uJehova nxa angaphumelela ukwenza okuthile. (1 Khor. 4:6, 7) Ngokwesibonelo, nxa abantu bangancoma umdala ngokuthi ufundisa kuhle kakhulu, angabatshela ukuthi lokho abekukhuluma kuvela eLizwini likaNkulunkulu kumbe abatshele ngendlela inhlanganiso kaJehova esifundisa ngayo. Abadala kumele bahlalahlale bacabangisise ngokuthi indlela abafundisa ngayo idumisa uJehova yini kumbe sebefundisela ukuthi babukwe ngabantu. Cabanga ngalokho okwenziwa ngomunye umdala okuthiwa nguTimothy. UTimothy wathi esanda kuba ngumdala wayekuthanda ukwenza inkulumo zikazulu wonke. Uthi: “Nxa ngangisenza izinkulumo, izethulo zami lemizekeliso engangiyisebenzisa kwakumangalisa. Abantu basebehlala bengibuka futhi bengidumisa kulokuthi bacabange ngeBhayibhili kumbe ngoJehova.” Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uTimothy wabona kungcono ukuthi atshintshe indlela ayefundisa ngayo ukuze angafundiseli ukubukwa ngabantu. (Zaga. 27:21) Kwamnceda ngani lokhu? Uthi: “Nxa ngingenza inkulumo abafowethu labodadewethu bayangitshela indlela ebancede ngayo ukuthi balwisane lohlupho abalalo, lokuthi baqinisele kumbe basondele kuJehova. Lokho kwenza ngithokoze kakhulu ukwedlula indlela enganginconywa ngayo eminyakeni eyadlulayo.”

9. Kuyini uGidiyoni atshelwa ukuthi akwenze okwakuzatshengisa ukuthi uyalalela lokuthi ulesibindi? (Khangela umfanekiso ongaphandle.)

⁹ UGidiyoni wathi esanda kubekwa ukuthi abe ngumahluleli waphiwa imisebenzi eyayizakwenza kukhanye ukuthi uyalalela lokuthi ulesibindi. Waphiwa umsebenzi wokudiliza i-alithare likayise ayelakhele uBhali futhi lokho kwakungafaka impilo yakhe engozini. (Abahlu. 6:25, 26) Wathi eseqoqe ibutho lakhe, kabili konke watshelwa ukuthi ehlise inani lamabutho lawo. (Abahlu. 7:2-7) Ekucineni watshelwa ukuthi  ahlasele inkamba yezitha phakathi kobusuku.—Abahlu. 7:9-11.

10. Kuyini okungenza kube nzima ukuthi umdala alalele?

¹⁰ Abadala kumele ‘bazimisele ukulalela.’ (Jak. 3:17) Umdala olalelayo kaphuzi ukwenza lokho okutshiwo yiMibhalo lalokho okutshiwo yinhlanganiso kaNkulunkulu. Lokho kwenza abe yisibonelo kwabanye. Lanxa kunjalo kwezinye izikhathi kungaba nzima ukuthi alalele. Ngokwesibonelo, nxa angatshelwa izinto ezinengi okumele azenze kuphinde kube lezinye intshintsho, kungaba nzima ukuthi akulandelele konke. Kwezinye izikhathi umdala angazibuza ukuthi lokho atshelwa ukuthi akwenze kuyasebenza yini sibili. Kumbe angacelwa ukuthi enze umsebenzi ongambophisa. Manje abadala bangatshengisa njani ukuthi bayalalela njengoGidiyoni?

11. Kuyini okunganceda abadala ukuthi balalele?

¹¹ Lalelisisa lokho okutshiwo yinhlanganiso futhi ukwenze masinyane. UNkulunkulu watshela uGidiyoni ukuthi kwakumele alidilize njani i-alithare likayise, alakhele ngaphi i-alithare likaJehova elitsha lokuthi anikele ngayiphi inyamazana. UGidiyoni wenza khona kanye ayekutshelwe nguJehova, kazange atshone ezibuza lokhu lalokhuya. Lamuhla abadala bathola iziqondiso ezivela enhlanganisweni kaJehova ezisinceda ukuthi sihlale sivikelekile futhi siseduze laye. Bazithola ngezincwadi langezaziso kanye lemilayezo yokuthi izinto kumele zenziwe njani. Siyabathanda abadala bamabandla ngoba benza khona kanye abakutshelwa yinhlanganiso futhi lokho kuyalinceda kakhulu ibandla.—Hubo. 119:112.

12. Abadala bangasebenzisa njani lokho okukuHebheru 13:17 nxa inhlanganiso ingathi batshintshe indlela izinto ebezisenziwa ngayo?

¹² Zimisele ukutshintsha. Khumbula ukuthi uJehova aze acele uGidiyoni ukuthi ehlise inani lamabutho akhe, walehlisa wasala lamalutshwana nje. (Abahlu. 7:8) Mhlawumbe wazibuza wathi, ‘Kanti vele ngiwehliselani? Pho sizaphumelela?’ Kodwa uGidiyoni kazange ayekele ukulalela. Lamuhla abadala balingisela uGidiyoni ngokwenza lokho inhlanganiso ebatshela ukuthi bakwenze lanxa kusitsho ukuthi batshintshe. (Bala uHebheru 13:17.) Kudala kwakusithi kungakhiwa iWolu yoMbuso kumbe iWolu Yemihlangano Emikhulu amabandla abhadale imali eyabe isetshenzisiwe. Kodwa ngo-2014 iQula Elikhokhelayo lakutshintsha lokhu. (2 Khor. 8:12-14) Khathesi kusetshenziswa iminikelo evela emabandleni emhlabeni wonke ukuthi kwakhiwe izakhiwo zokukhonzela lapho ezifuneka khona, kungelani lokuthi amabandla asendaweni leyo enelisa ukukhipha imali enganani. UJosé wathi esizwa ngotshintsho lolo wabona angani alusoze lusebenze. Wayecabanga esithi: ‘Akula ngitsho leyodwa iWolu yoMbuso ezafa yakhiwa. Lapha esihlala khona ngeke kusebenze lokho.’ Kuyini okwenza uJosé wacina eselusekela utshintsho lolu? Uthi: “Amazwi akuZaga 3:5, 6 angikhumbuze ukuthi ngithembe uJehova. Lakanye uhlelo lolu beluphumelela! Khathesi sekusakhiwa amaWolu oMbuso amanengi futhi sesifunde ukunikela ngezindlela ezinengi ukuze kube lokulingana.”

13. (a) Kuyini uGidiyoni ayengakuthandabuzi? (b) Abadala bangamlingisela njani? (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

 ¹³ Woba lesibindi sokwenza intando kaJehova. UGidiyoni waqhubeka elalela uJehova lanxa wayesesaba futhi ephiwe umsebenzi ofaka impilo yakhe engozini. (Abahlu. 9:17) UJehova wathi esemkhuthazile wayengasathandabuzi ukuthi wayezamsekela ngesikhathi esenza umsebenzi ovikela abantu bakhe. Abadala abahlala ezindaweni lapho umsebenzi wethu ongavunyelwa khona bayamlingisela uGidiyoni. Batshengisa ukuthi balesibindi ngokukhokhela emihlanganweni yebandla lasemsebenzini wokutshumayela lanxa besengozini yokubotshwa lokuthonisiswa, kumbe bengaphelelwa yimisebenzi kumbe batshaywe. c Ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu, abadala kuzamele babe lesibindi sokwenza lokho abayabe bekutshelwa lanxa kungafaka ukuphila kwabo engozini. Esizakutshelwa ngalesosikhathi kungenzakala ukuthi kuyabe kumayelana lokuthi siwutshumayele njani umlayezo wokwahlulela oyabe unjengohlupho lwesiqhotho lokuthi senzeni ukuze sisinde nxa sesihlaselwa nguGogi waseMagogi.—Hez. 38:18; Isam. 16:21.

14. Kuyini okwakungenza kube nzima ukuthi uGidiyoni aqinisele?

¹⁴ UGidiyoni kwakumele asebenze nzima emsebenzini wakhe wokuba ngumahluleli. Ngesikhathi abakoMidiyani bebaleka kuliwa ebusuku, uGidiyoni wabaxotshanisa kusukela esigodini seJeziriyeli waze wayafika emfuleni uJodani njalo kumele ukuthi indawo yakhona yayilezihlahla ezinengi futhi iminyene. (Abahlu. 7:22) UGidiyoni wafika wabeka izikhali phansi yini emfuleni uJodani? Hatshi! Lanxa wayesediniwe, yena lamadoda ayelawo angu-300 bachapha umfula baqhubeka begijimisa abakoMidiyani. Bacina sebebabambile babanqoba.—Abahlu. 8:4-12.

15. Kuyini okungenza kube nzima ukuthi umdala aqinisele?

¹⁵ Kwezinye izikhathi umdala angazizwa edinwe kakhulu, ephela amandla futhi sekunzima ukuthi enze umsebenzi wakhe wokukhangela ibandla lemuli yakhe. Nxa sekunjalo, abadala bangamlingisela njani uGidiyoni?

16-17. Kuyini okwanceda uGidiyoni ukuthi aqinisele, njalo kuyini abadala okungamelanga bakuthandabuze? (U-Isaya 40:28-31) (Khangela lomfanekiso.)

 ¹⁶ Ungathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzakuqinisa. UGidiyoni wayengathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzamqinisa. Lakanye uJehova wamnika amandla. (Abahlu. 6:14, 34) UGidiyoni lamabutho akhe baxotshanisa amakhosi amabili amaMidiyani ngenyawo futhi kumele ukuthi amakhosi lawo ayegade amakamela. (Abahlu. 8:12, 21) Kodwa uNkulunkulu wawancedisa ama-Israyeli ngenxa yokuzimisela kwawo, awanqoba amaMidiyani. Labadala kumele bathembe uJehova ngoba yena “kadinwa njalo kapheli amandla.” Kasoze ayekele ukubapha amandla ngesikhathi bewadinga.—Bala u-Isaya 40:28-31.

¹⁷ Ake sixoxe ngoMatthew okuKhomithi Esebenzelana Lezibhedlela. Kuyini okumnceda ukuthi aqinisele? UMatthew uthi: “Ngikubonile sibili ukuthi amazwi akuFiliphi 4:13 aliqiniso. Izikhathi ezinengi kwakusithi nxa sengiphelile ngokudinwa ngithandaze ngisathandaza ngincenga uNkulunkulu ukuthi angiphe amandla okuqhubeka ngisekela abazalwane. Lakanye ngiyakubona ukuthi umoya kaJehova uyangipha amandla ungincede ukuthi ngiqhubeke ngiqinisela.” Labadala abasebenza nzima ukuthi beluse abantu bakaNkulunkulu bangaba lezikhathi ezinzima njengoGidiyoni. Nxa sekunjalo kuyabe sekumele bananzelele ukuthi bangenzi izinto ezingaphezu kwamandla abo. Lanxa kunjalo kumele bathembe ukuthi uJehova uzayiphendula imithandazo yabo nxa becela uncedo lokuthi uzabanika amandla ukuze baqhubeke beqinisela.—Hubo. 116:1; Flp. 2:13.

18. Abadala bangamlingisela njani uGidiyoni?

¹⁸ Zinengi izifundo abadala abangazifunda kuGidiyoni abangazisebenzisa nxa besenza imisebenzi yabo. Abadala kumele bathathe imisebenzi abenelisa ukuyenza kuphela futhi kumele bathobeke nxa benconywa njalo bangazondi nxa bechothozwa. Kumele balalele njalo batshengise ukuthi balesibindi ikakhulu njengoba umumo lo wezinto ususiya ekupheleni. Kanti njalo akumelanga bathandabuze ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzabaqinisa kungelani lokuthi bahlangana labuphi ubunzima. Siyawubonga kakhulu umsebenzi omkhulu owenziwa ngabelusi laba futhi ‘siyawaqakathekisa kakhulu amadoda anjalo.’—Flp. 2:29.