1. (a) Kuyini obekuzwisiswa yizinceku zikaNkulunkulu kusukela kudala, njalo lokhu kusebenza njani lamuhla? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni lesi?

KUSUKELA kudala abantu bakaNkulunkulu bebekuzwisisa ukuthi ukuze umuntu aphumelele kumele aqale afundiswe. U-Abhrama ‘wabutha amadoda ayefundisiwe ekulweni’ ukuze ayekhulula uLothi, lakanye afika anqoba. (Gen. 14:14-16) Ngesikhathi kubusa iNkosi uDavida kwakulabahlabeleli ethempelini likaNkulunkulu ‘ababewufundele umsebenzi wokuhlabelela’ bedumisa uJehova. (1 ImiLan. 25:7) Lamuhla lathi sisempini, silwa loSathane labalandeli bakhe. (Efe. 6:11-13) Kanti njalo sisebenza gadalala ukuze sidumise uJehova. (Heb. 13:15, 16) Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi ukuze siphumelele, kumele siqeqetshwe njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu zasendulo. Ebandleni, uJehova unike abadala umsebenzi wokuqeqetsha abanye. (2 Tim. 2:2) Pho abadala asebelesikhathi bengabelusi basebenzisa ziphi izindlela nxa beqeqetsha abanye abazalwane ukuze labo bafanele ukunakekela umhlambi?

2. Umdala angaqala enzeni engakaqeqetshi umzalwane, njalo kungani kumele akwenze lokhu?

² Umdala angafaniswa lomlimi. Kwezinye izikhathi umlimi uyananzelela ukuthi engakahlanyeli kufanele aqale athele umquba ukuze  umhlabathi uvunde. Lawe nxa uzafundisa umzalwane izinto ezintsha, kungaba kuhle ukuthi uqale uxoxe laye ngemicijo emihle eseMibhalweni ukuze akwamukele ngenhliziyo yonke lokho ozamfundisa khona.—1 Tim. 4:6.

3. (a) Umdala angawasebenzisa njani amazwi kaJesu akuMakho 12:29, 30 nxa exoxa lomzalwane amfundisayo? (b) Chaza ukuthi umzalwane ofundiswayo angancedakala njani nxa umdala ethandaza laye.

³ Nxa ufuna ukubona ukuthi iqiniso liyintshintshile yini indlela umzalwane omfundisayo acabanga ngayo kanye lezenzo zakhe, ungambuza uthi, ‘Ukuzinikela kuJehova kuyintshintshe njani indlela ophila ngayo?’ Umbuzo lo ungavusa ingxoxo ezamnceda kakhulu ephathelane lokuthi singamkhonza njani uNkulunkulu ngomphefumulo wonke. (Bala uMakho 12:29, 30.) Mhlawumbe ekucineni kwengxoxo yenu ungathandaza laye, ucele uJehova ukuthi amnike umoya ongcwele ukuze azwisise konke ozamfundisa khona. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi kuzamkhuthaza kakhulu ukuzwa uthandaza ngenhliziyo yonke umcelela kuJehova!

4. (a) Yiziphi izibonelo eziseBhayibhilini ezinganceda ofundayo ukuthi athuthuke? (b) Abadala bayabe behloseni nxa beqeqetsha abanye?

⁴ Uqala nje ukumqeqetsha, xoxani ngezibonelo eziseBhayibhilini ezingamenza ananzelele ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuthi azimisele, athembeke njalo azithobe. (1 AmaKho. 19:19-21; Neh. 7:2; 13:13; ImiSeb. 18:24-26) Ukuzimisela, ukuthembeka lokuzithoba kufanana lomquba othelwe emhlabathini. Kuqakatheke kakhulu ngoba kuzamnceda ukuthi athuthuke masinyane. Omunye umdala ohlala eFrance okuthiwa nguJean-Claude wathi: “Engiyabe ngikufuna kakhulu nxa ngiqeqetsha umuntu yikuthi ngimsize ukuthi enelise ukusebenzisa iBhayibhili nxa esenza izinqumo. Ngiyazama lokuthi nxa ngingathola ithuba sibale umbhalo ‘ongamvula amehlo’ ukuze abone ‘izinto ezimangalisayo’ eziseLizwini likaNkulunkulu.” (Hubo. 119:18) Kuyini okunye umdala angakwenza ukuze aqinise ofundayo?

5. (a) Kuqakatheke ngani ukuthi umdala lomzalwane amfundisayo baxoxe ngemisebenzi yenkonzo angayenza? (b) Kungani kumele abadala baqeqetshe abazalwane besesebancane? (Khangela amabala angaphansi.)

⁵ Buza umuntu omqeqetshayo ukuthi kuyini ahlose ukukwenza ekukhonzeni uJehova. Nxa kungela asekucabangile ungamncedisa ukuthi akhethe lokho azakwenelisa ukukufeza njalo okungasoze kumthwalise nzima. Mxoxele ngalokho wena owake wakhetha ukukwenza njalo woba lomdlandla nxa umlandisela indlela owathokoza ngayo lapho ubona owawukuhlosile kuphumelela. Icebo leli lilula kodwa liyasebenza. Omunye umdala webandla oliphayona okuthiwa nguVictor, ohlala e-Africa wathi: “Ngisakhula omunye umdala wangibuza imibuzo eyayiphathelane lokuthi ngifuna ukwenzani empilweni. Imibuzo le yanginceda ukuthi ngiqalise ukucabangisisa ngenkonzo yami.” Abazalwane asebelesikhathi bengabadala bagcizelela ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuqeqetsha abafowethu besakhula, bengakafiki ebangeni lokuba ngamajaha. Bathi lokhu kungenziwa ngokubanika imisebenzi yebandla ebalingeneyo. Ukubaqeqetsha besesebancane kuzabasiza ukuthi nxa sebengamajaha balwisane lezinto ezingabaphambula njalo baqhubeke bezimisele ukukhetha ukwenza imisebenzi yenkonzo.—Bala iHubo 71:5, 17. *

6. Kuyini okuqakathekileyo okwakusenziwa nguJesu lapho eqeqetsha abanye?

⁶ Nxa ufuna ukukhuthaza ofundayo ukuthi abe lesifiso sokwenza imisebenzi yebandla, akumelanga umtshele ukuthi kuyini okumele akwenze kuphela, kodwa kumele umchasisele lokuthi kungani kumele enze njalo. Uyabe  ulingisela uJesu uMfundisi oMkhulu nxa usenza njalo. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho enika abalandeli bakhe umsebenzi wokwenza abafundi, waqala wabatshela ukuthi kungani kumele bawenze. Wathi: “Wonke amandla ezulwini lasemhlabeni aphiwe mina.” Ngemva kwalokho wasesithi: “Ngakho hambani lenze abafundi ezizweni zonke.” (Mat. 28:18, 19) Ungamlingisela njani uJesu nxa uqeqetsha abanye?

7, 8. (a) badala bangamlingisela njani uJesu nxa beqeqetsha abanye? (b) Kungani kuqakathekile ukuncoma umzalwane ofundayo? (c) Kuyini okungenziwa ngabadala nxa beqeqetsha abanye? (Khangela ibhokisi elithi, “ Ungamqeqetsha Njani Omunye Umzalwane?”)

⁷ Chasisela ofundayo izizathu eziseMibhalweni ukuze azwisise ukuthi kungani kumele enze akutshelwayo. Nxa usenza njalo uyabe umfundisa ukuthi asebenzise izimiso eziseBhayibhilini, kulokuthi aphongulandela lokho omtshela khona. Ngokwesibonelo, ake sithi unika umzalwane umsebenzi wokuthi alungise lapho abantu abahamba khona nxa bengena eWolu yoMbuso ukuze kungabi lezinto ezingabalimaza. Lingaxoxa ngokulotshwe kuThithusi 2:10, umchazele ukuthi akwenzayo ukuze agcine iWolu yoMbuso ibukeka kuzanceda njani ukuthi ‘imfundiso ngoNkulunkulu uMsindisi wethu ibe ngehugayo.’ Okunye ongakwenza yikucela ofundayo ukuthi acabange ngasebeluphele langokuthi ukwenza umsebenzi lo kuzabanceda njani. Ukuxoxa ngezinto lezi nxa uqeqetsha umzalwane kuzamnceda ukuthi abone ukuthi lanxa esenza lokho okuthiwa akwenze, okuqakatheke kakhulu yikuthi abe lendaba labantu. Umzalwane lo uzathokoza kakhulu esebona ukuthi akwenzayo kuyabanceda kakhulu abafowabo labodadewabo ebandleni.

⁸ Okunye futhi ongakwenza yikumncoma nxa ubona ukuthi uyazama ukusebenzisa omtshela khona. Kuqakatheke ngani lokhu? Phela amanzi enza isihlahla sikhule sibe sihle. Yikho-ke lokuncoma umzalwane ngenhliziyo yonke kwenza aqhubeke ethuthuka.—Khangela uMathewu 3:17.

9. (a) Yibuphi ubunzima abanye abadala abasemazweni ame kuhle kwezomnotho abahlangana labo? (b) Kuyini okubangela ukuthi abanye abazalwane abasesebatsha bangakuqakathekisi kangako ukukhonza?

⁹ Abadala abahlala emazweni ame kuhle kwezomnotho bahlangana lohlupho lokuthi bangabakhuthaza njani abazalwane asebeleminyaka engu-20 kusiya kubo-30 ukuze benze imisebenzi yebandla. Sike sabuza abazalwane abahlala emazweni angaba ngu-20 njalo asebelesikhathi bengabadala ukuthi babona angani kuyini okubangela ukuthi abazalwane abasesebatsha bathikaze ukwenza imisebenzi yebandla. Inengi labo laphendula lathi: Besesebancane, abanye abazalwane kabazange bakhuthazwe ukuthi bakhethe ukwenza imisebenzi yenkonzo. Okudanisa kakhulu yikuthi bakhona ababelesifiso sokwenza imisebenzi yenkonzo  kodwa abazali babo babakhuthaza ukuthi baye emayunivesithi kumbe bazenzele okunye nje. Lokhu kwabangela ukuthi baqakathekise ezinye izinto ukwedlula ukukhonza.—Mat. 10:24.

10, 11. (a) Umdala angamsiza njani kancane kancane umzalwane okhanya engelasifiso sokuncedisa emisebenzini yebandla? (b) Yiwaphi amavesi umdala angawasebenzisa nxa exoxa lomzalwane okhanya engelasifiso sokwenza imisebenzi yebandla, njalo kungani kumele enze njalo? (Khangela amabala angaphansi.)

¹⁰ Nxa umzalwane ekhanya engelasifiso sokwenza imisebenzi yebandla, kungaba nzima ukumncedisa ukuthi antshintshe njalo kuyabe kumele ubekezele, kodwa ungaphumelela. Nxa isilimo singani sibuthakathaka umlimi uyazama ukusisekela ngezinye izinto ukuze siqonde kancane kancane. Ngakho-ke lomdala angamsiza kancane kancane umzalwane lo ukuthi abone ukuthi kumele antshintshe, abe lesifiso sokwenza imisebenzi yebandla. Kodwa umdala angakwenza njani lokhu?

¹¹ Mfake ekhwapheni umzalwane omqeqetshayo, libe ngabangane. Mtshele lokuthi imisebenzi angayenza ingalisiza kakhulu ibandla. Ngokuya kwesikhathi, ungahlala laye phansi libonisane ngeminye imibhalo engamsiza njalo umncede lokuthi acabange ngokuzinikela kwakhe kuJehova. (UmTshu. 5:4; Isaya. 6:8; Mat. 6:24, 33; Luk. 9:57-62; 1 Khor. 15:58; 2 Khor. 5:15; 13:5) Ungambuza umbuzo lo: ‘Wamthembisani uJehova ngesikhathi uzinikela kuye?’ Zama ukwenza ukuthi okutshoyo kuthophele enhliziyweni yakhe ngokumbuza imibuzo le: ‘Ubona angani uJehova wezwa njani mhla ubhaphathizwa?’ (Zaga. 27:11) ‘USathane-ke?’ (1 Phet. 5:8) Ungakuthathi lula ukubala amavesi aseBhayibhilini ngoba kungamsiza kakhulu njalo kungenza ukuthi antshintshe indlela acabanga ngayo.—Bala uHebheru 4:12. *

12, 13. (a) Chaza ukuthi u-Elisha wayengumfundi onjani. (b) UJehova wambusisa njani u-Elisha ngokuthembeka kwakhe?

¹² Bazalwane abasesebatsha kumele lincedise ebandleni. Kuyini okuzalinceda ukuthi liphumelele? Ukuze sithole impendulo yombuzo lo, ake sixoxe ngomunye owake waqeqetshwa endulo.

¹³ Eminyakeni engaba ngu-3 000 eyadlulayo, umphrofethi u-Elija wacela ijaha okwakuthiwa ngu-Elisha ukuthi libe yinceku yakhe. U-Elisha kazange atshone ethikaza kodwa wahle wavumela phezulu njalo waqhubeka encedisa indoda le eyayisikhulile ngokwenza imisebenzi eyayingakhanya ingatsho lutho. (2 AmaKho. 3:11) U-Elija waqeqetsha u-Elisha okweminyaka engaba yisithupha. Ngemva kwalokho u-Elisha wezwa ukuthi umsebenzi owawusenziwa ngumphrofethi lo ko-Israyeli wawususiya komlindi uyacina. U-Elija watshela ijaha leli elaseliqeqetshwe kuhle ukuthi lingasahambi laye, kodwa lona lala kwaze kwaba kathathu lisithi: “Angiyikutshiyana lawe.” U-Elisha wayezimisele ukuthi loba sekutheni yena lomqeqetshi wakhe bangatshiyani, nxa umumo usavuma. UJehova wambusisa ngenxa yokuthi wayeqotho futhi ethembekile, wamvumela ukuthi azibonele ngawakhe u-Elija esuka kuye ngendlela eyisimangaliso.—2 AmaKho. 2:1-12.

14. (a) Abafundayo bangamlingisela njani u-Elisha? (b) Kungani kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi ofundayo athembeke?

¹⁴ Wena oqeqetshwayo ungamlingisela njani u-Elisha? Ungathikazi ukwamukela imisebenzi oyiphiwayo lanxa ingakhanya angani ayitsho lutho. Yenza umdala okufundisayo abe ngumngane wakho njalo mtshele ukuthi uyabonga kakhulu ngalokho akwenzela khona. Nxa ubambisana laye ngesikhathi ekuqeqetsha uyabe ungani umtshela amazwi athi: “Angiyikutshiyana lawe.” Okunye okuqakathekileyo yikuthi nxa ungaphiwa loba yiwuphi umsebenzi uthembeke, ungabalahlisi abadala. Kungani kuqakatheke kakhulu lokhu?  Ngenxa yokuthi nxa ungatshengisa ukuthi uthembekile lokuthi ungaphiwa umsebenzi uyawenza, abadala kabasoze bathandabuze ukuthi uJehova ufuna uphiwe eminye imisebenzi yenkonzo ebandleni.—Hubo. 101:6; bala u-2 Thimothi 2:2.

15, 16. (a) U-Elisha watshengisa njani ukuthi wayemhlonipha umqeqetshi wakhe? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.) (b) Kuyini okwabangela ukuthi abanye abaphrofethi bamthembe u-Elisha?

¹⁵ Okwasala kusenziwa ngu-Elisha esehlukane lo-Elija kutshengisa lokuthi abazalwane abaqeqetshwayo bangatshengisa njani ukuthi bayabahlonipha abafowethu asebeleminyaka eminengi bengabadala. U-Elija lenceku yakhe u-Elisha bathi sebevela bona abaphrofethi eJerikho bahamba eMfuleni iJodani. Sebekhonale, ‘u-Elija wathatha ingubo yakhe, wayigoqa watshaya ngayo amanzi. Amanzi adabuka phakathi.’ Bathi sebechaphile emhlabathini owomileyo baqhubeka ‘behamba bekhuluma.’ Kusegcekeni ukuthi u-Elisha kazange azitshele ukuthi wayesekwazi konke, kodwa waqhubeka elalela konke ayekutshelwa ngu-Elija baze behlukana ngesikhathi u-Elija esesenyuka ngesivunguzane. U-Elisha wathi esebuyela eMfuleni iJodani wafika wathatha ingubo ka-Elija watshaya ngayo amanzi ememeza esithi: “Ungaphi khathesi uJehova, uNkulunkulu ka-Elija?” Amanzi aphinda adabukana phakathi.—2 AmaKho. 2:8-14.

¹⁶ Ukunanzelele yini ukuthi isimangaliso sokuqala esenziwa ngu-Elisha sasifanana xathu lesimangaliso sokucina esasenziwe ngu-Elija? Ukufanana kwezimangaliso lezi kusifundisani? Kuyacaca ukuthi u-Elisha kazange athi, ‘Khathesi yimi esengizibambile, sekumele izinto zintshintshe.’ Kodwa waqhubeka elandela indlela u-Elija ayesenza ngayo futhi lokhu kwatshengisa ukuthi wayemhlonipha umqeqetshi wakhe kwaphinda kwenza lokuthi abanye abaphrofethi bamthembe u-Elisha. (2 AmaKho. 2:15) U-Elisha waba ngumphrofethi okweminyaka engu-60 njalo ngesikhathi leso uJehova wamnika amandla okwenza izimangaliso ezinengi ukwedlula ezika-Elija. Lokhu kungabafundisani abaqeqetshwayo?

17. (a) Abafundayo bangamlingisela njani u-Elisha? (b) Ngokuya kwesikhathi, uJehova angabasebenzisa njani abazalwane abafundiswayo abathembekileyo?

¹⁷ Ungaboni angani nxa usuphathiswe umsebenzi othile ebandleni usuthole ithuba lokuthi untshintshe indlela izinto ebezisenziwa ngayo. Phela untshintsho kaluyi ngokuthi wena ufunani, kodwa luya ngemilayezo esiyinikwa yinhlanganiso kaJehova kanye lokuthi kuyini okufunakalayo ebandleni. Sibonile ukuthi u-Elisha wayemhlonipha u-Elija njalo abanye abaphrofethi bamthemba ngenxa yokuthi kazange afikele ukuntshintsha indlela u-Elija ayesenza ngayo. Ngakho-ke nxa lawe ungaqhubeka ulandela izindlela ezisekelwe eBhayibhilini ezisetshenziswa ngabafowethu asebeleminyaka bengabadala, uyabe utshengisa ukuthi uyabahlonipha njalo lokhu kuzakwenza ukuthi abafowenu labodadewenu bakuthembe. (Bala u-1 Khorinte 4:17.) Kodwa nxa uqhubekela phambili usiba lolwazi, akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uzakwenelisa ukuncedisa ibandla ukuthi lenze untshintsho oluzanceda ukuthi lingasaleli emuva nxa inhlanganiso kaJehova isiya phambili. Ngokuya kwesikhathi, uJehova angakuncedisa ukuthi wenze izinto ezinkulu ukwedlula eziyabe zenziwe ngabakufundisayo, njengo-Elisha owacina esenza izinto ezimangalisayo.—Joh. 14:12.

18. Kungani kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuqeqetsha abazalwane emabandleni?

¹⁸ Silethemba lokuthi esixoxe ngakho esihlokweni lesi lakwesidlulileyo kuzakhuthaza abadala abanengi ukuthi bazinike isikhathi sokuqeqetsha abanye. Kungaba kuhle ukuthi abazalwane abaqeqetshwayo bakwamukele ngazo zombili abakufundiswayo njalo bakusebenzise kuhle nxa sebenakekela izimvu zikaJehova. Nxa bengenza njalo, amabandla emhlabeni wonke azaqiniswa njalo kuzasinceda sonke ukuthi sihlale sithembekile lapho kufika izenzakalo ezizanyikinya umhlaba.