1, 2. (a) UMzalwana uRussell wamphendula njani umfundisi ebekafuna ukwazi bona abaFundi beBhayibheli bayithathaphi imali yokusekela umsebenzabo? (b) Sizokukhuluma ngani esahlukwenesi?

KWAKHE kwenzeka ngesinye isikhathi uMzalwana uCharles T. Russell wabuzwa ngomunye umfundisi weReformed Church, afuna ukwazi ukuthi abaFundi beBhayibheli bawusekela njani umsebenzabo lo.

UMzalwana uRussell nakamphendulako wathi: “Asiyithathi ikongozelo.”

Umfundisi lo wambuza ukuthi: “Manje imali yona niyithathaphi?”

URussell wathi: “Engizokutjela khona angekhe ukukholwe lula njalo. Phela abantu nabeza emihlanganweni yethu bathola kunganasikotlelwana somnikelo esidluliswako. Kodwana bayalemuka bona iindleko zona zikhona, yeke kuphume kibo ukuthi ‘Njengombana iwolweli libiza nje, . . . mina ngingasekela njani?’”

Umfundisi lo wamqala sakubilayela.

URussell wathi: “Ngikutjela iqiniso, nabo baze bangibuze ukuthi, ‘Ngingayithola njani imali emsebenzini lo?’ Yeke, engingakutjela khona kukuthi umuntu nakanayo imali, uyakuthanda ukuphele aphe neKosi. Kodwana nekanganayo, kusiza ngani ukumkatelela?” *

² Nangambala uMzalwana uRussell “bekaqinisile”. Abantu bakaZimu banomlando omuhle khulu wokunikela ngokusuka ehliziyweni malungana nokusekela ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Esahlukwenesi, sizokuhlola ezinye zeembonelo zakade ezisemiTloweni, kunye nezanamhlanjesi. Yeke, njengombana sidemba indaba yokuthi namhlanjesi umsebenzi womBuso usekelwa njani ngokweemali, kuzokuba kuhle ngamunye azibuze ukuthi, ‘Mina ngingawusekela njani umBuso?’

3, 4. (a) UJehova uqiniseka ngani malungana nabakhulekeli bakhe? (b) Ama-Israyeli awusekela njani umsebenzi wokwakhiwa kwethaberinakeli?

³ UJehova uyabathemba abakhulekeli bakhe beqiniso. Uyazi ukuthi nabangathola ithuba, bazolisebenzisa kuhle ekutheni  banikele ngokusuka ehliziyweni. Cabanga nganazi iimbonelo ezimbili zakwa-Israyeli.

⁴ Kwathi ngemva kobana akhiphe ama-Israyeli eGibhide, uJehova wawatjela bona akhe itende elincani namkha ithaberinakeli lokukhulekela ebelizokusunduzeka lula. Umakhiwo walo bewuzokutlhoga izinto ezisezingeni. Yeke, uJehova watjela uMosi bona avulele abantu ithuba lokusekela umsebenzi lo, nakathi: “Nanyana ngubani onehliziyo evumako, akalethe umnikelo [‘kaJehova,’ NW].” (Eks. 35:5) Nje-ke, abantwabo ekhebenziswa “umsebenzi obudisi” njengamakhoboka, bayidla njani indaba le? (Eks. 1:14) Ukulandisa banikela ubuthaphuthaphu, kuligolide, isiliva, nezinye izinto ezinengi ebebazithethe emakhosini wabo weGibhide. (Eks. 12:35, 36) Ama-Israyeli anikela okungaphezu kwalokho ebekutlhogeka, kwabe kwalayelwa bona “kungasalethwa umnikelo.”—Eks. 36:4-7.

5. Ama-Israyeli asabela njani lokha uDavida nakawanikela ithuba lokusekela umsebenzi wokwakhiwa kwethempeli?

⁵ Eminyakeni ema-475 eyalandela, noDavida wanikela ‘ngalokho okungekwakhe’ malungana nethempeli elaba yikaba yokukhulekela ezinzileko ephasini. Ngemva kwalokho wanikela ama-Israyeli wakwabo ithuba lokupha, nekazakuthi: “Ngubani kinapha namhlanje ofuna ukuzahlukanisela uZimu ngokunikela ngehliziyo evumako na?” Ekuphenduleni umbuzo loyo, abantwabo “banikela ngokuvuma kwehliziyo [‘kuJehova,’ NW].” (1 Kron. 29:3-9) Kwathi nasekalemuka ukuthi umthombo wamambala weminikelo le uyini, uDavida wathandaza kuJehova wathi: “Koke kuvela kuwe . . . thina sinikele kwaphela lokho esikuphiwe sisandla sakho.”—1 Kron. 29:14.

6. Kubayini namhlanjesi kutlhogeka imali malungana nokusekela umsebenzi womBuso, begodu kuphakama miphi imbuzo?

⁶ UMosi noDavida akhange khebakatelele abantu bakaZimu ngeminikelo. Kunalokho, abantu bebanikela ngokusuka ehliziyweni. Kuthiwani nganamhlanjesi? Soke siyazi ukuthi umsebenzi womBuso kaZimu utlhoga imali. Phela kubizela izinto ezinengi ukuthi kugadangiswe bekukhanjiswe iincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini, ukwakha nokulungisa iindawo esihlanganyela kizo kunye nemakhiwo yamagatja, ingasaphathwa yokusiza ebujamweni oburhabako beenhlekelele ezehlakalela esikholwa nabo. Yeke, imibuzo eqakathekileko ngile: Zitholwa njani iimali zakho koke lokhu? Kghani abalandeli beKosi kufuze basunduzwe ngemva na bona bakhiphe iminikelo?

7, 8. Kubayini abantu bakaJehova abangakhambi babawa imali ebantwini?

⁷ UMzalwana uRussell nabalingani bakhe akhenge bakhambe babawa imali njengombana kwenza amasondo amanengi wekolo yamala. Kumagazini wesibili wesiThala, ngaphasi kwesihloko esithi, “Uyayifuna Na ‘iZion’s Watch Tower’?” uMzalwana uRussell wathi: “‘iZion’s Watch Tower’ isekelwa nguJEHOVA, ngikho ingekhe yakhamba ibawana nabantu bona  bayisekele. Kwayena uze uyatjho ukuthi: ‘Isiliva ngelami, negolide ngelami,’ yeke, nakungaba nguye obhalelwa kusekela umsebenzi lo, kuzakutjho ukuthi kufuze ijanyiswe incwadi le.” (Hag. 2:7-9) Eminyakeni engaphezu kweli-130 eyalandela, isiThala nehlangano egadangisako bekusolo kuthuthuka!

⁸ Abantu bakaJehova abakhambi babawa imali. Akunasitja sekongozelo abasidlulisako, namkha batlole iincwadi zokubawa igulego. Kunalokho, basabambelele kilokho okwatjhiwo siThala nasithi: “Sakubona kungasikuhle ukubawela iKosi imali njengombana kwenza amanye amasondo . . . Sibona ngathi izinto ezisetjenziselwa ukubawa imali ebizweni leKosi, kuyihlamba, akwamukeleki kiyo, begodu lokho akunasibusiso okusilethako kilabo abakhipha imali namkha emsebenzini owenziwa ngemali leyo.” *

9, 10. Ngiliphi ibanga elisenza sinikele ngokuzithandela?

⁹ Njengezakhamuzi zomBuso zanamhlanjesi, nathi akukafaneli sizizwe sikatelelekile ukuthi sinikele. Esikhundleni salokho, imali esinayo siyisebenzisa ngokuthanda kwethu malungana nokusekela umsebenzi womBuso. Khuyini-ke okusenza sikululukele kangaka ukupha? Cabangela naka amabanga amathathu.

¹⁰ Kokuthoma, sinikela ngokuzithandela ngombana siyamthanda uJehova begodu sifuna ukwenza “okumthokozisako.” (1 Jwa. 3:22) UJehova uyamthanda umuntu opha ngokusuka ehliziyweni. Nje-ke akhesihlole amezwi kaPowula akhuluma ngomKrestu ophako. (Funda 2 Korinte 9:7.) UmKrestu wamambala akatsitsili namkha azizwe akatelelekile nakufuze anikele. Kunalokho unikela “njengokuzibekela kwakhe ehliziyweni.” * Lokhu kutjho bona umuntu unikela ngokwendlela ahlele ukuthi uzokwenza ngayo. UJehova umthanda kwamambala umuphi onjalo, ngombana “uZimu uyamthanda loyo onikela ngethabo.” Enye iBhayibheli iyibeka bunje: “UZimu uyabathanda abantu abathanda ukupha.”

11. Khuyini okusitjhukumisela bona siphe uJehova isipho esisezingeni lamandlethu?

¹¹ Kwesibili, sinikela ngezinto esinazo ngombana sithokoza uJehova ngeembusiso ezinengi asenzele zona. Cabanga nganasi ikambiso yokuzihlola esemThehweni kaMosi. (Funda uDuteronomi 16:16, 17.) Bekuthi ama-Israyeli nawazakuya eminyaneni emithathu yaqobe mnyaka, umuntu ngamunye anikele ngendlela “akghona ngayo” ngokuya ngokwezinga uJehova ambusise ngalo. Ngikho ngaphambi kokuthi baye emnyaneni, indoda ngayinye bekufuze ibale iimbusiso ezifumeneko, ikhulume nehliziywayo, bese ikhani iqunta bona izokunikela kangangani. Kunjalo-ke nangathi, nasizindla ngeendlela ezinengi ezihlukahlukeneko uJehova asibusise ngazo, sizizwa kwanga singanikela ngakho koke okuhle esinakho.  Iminikelo yethu esuka ehliziyweni—okuzizinto zethu esinganikela ngazo—itjengisa ukuthi simthokoza khulu uJehova ngewomakazi leembusiso asenzele zona.—2 Kor. 8:12-15.

12, 13. Iminikelo yethu yokuzithandela itjengisa njani ukuthi siyayithanda iKosi, begodu ngamunye wethu unikela kangangani?

¹² Kwesithathu, iminikelo yethu esuka ehliziyweni itjengisa bona siyayithanda iKosi uJesu Krestu. Ngayiphi indlela? Khewuzwe bona uJesu wabatjelani abafundi bakhe ngobusuku bamaswaphela bokuphila kwakhe ephasini. (Funda uJwanisi 14:23.) UJesu wathi, “Loyo ongithandako uzakuhlonipha ifundiswami.” ‘Ifundiso’ kaJesu le beyibandakanya nomyalo wakhe wokutjhumayela ivangeli lomBuso ephasini loke. (Mat. 24:14; 28:19, 20) Yeke, ‘ifundiso’ leyo siyilalela ngokuthi senze koke okusemandlenethu—ngokusebenzisa isikhathi sethu, amandla, nezinto esinazo—bona kuthuthukiswe umsebenzi wokutjhumayela. Lokho ngikho okuveza bona siyayithanda iKosi enguMesiya.

¹³ Thina-ke esizizakhamuzi zomBuso ezithembekileko, sifuna ukuwusekela ngazo zoke iinhliziyo zethu umBuso,  ngokuthi sinikele. Kodwana ukuthi siyokwenza njani lokho, yindaba yomuntu mathupha. Ngiloyo naloyo unikela ngokusemandlenakhe. Nokho, abanengi babantu esikholwa nabo abanazo kangako izinto zephaseli. (Mat. 19:23, 24; Jak. 2:5) Kodwana abanjalo, bazakududuzeka nabazi ukuthi uJehova neNdodanakhe bathatjiswa ngokuncani abakwenza ngokusuka ehliziyweni.—Mar. 12:41-44.

14. Eminyakeni eminengi eyadlulako, aboFakazi bakaJehova bebazikhambisa njani iincwadi zabo?

¹⁴ Seminengi iminyaka aboFakazi bakaJehova bakhambisa iincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini ngendlela yokukhulumela nomnikelo. Iminikelo leyo beyiphasi khulu, kangangokuthi nomuntu onemandlana encani bekangakghona ukuzithola iincwadi zethu. Okuhle kukuthi umuntu nakayifunako incwadi leyo kodwana anganawo umnikelo, abatjhumayeli bomBuso bebamnikela yona isihle. Ngombana isifiso sabo esisuka ehliziyweni bekukunikela boke abantu abazithandako iincwadi zethu bona zibazuzise.

15, 16. (a) Ngo-1990, isiHlopha esiBusako sayilungisa njani indlela ebesizikhambisa ngayo iincwadi zethu? (b) Yenziwa njani iminikelo yokuzithandela? (Qala nebhoksi elithi, “ Iyaphi Iminikelo Esiyenzako?”)

¹⁵ Ngo-1990, isiHlopha esiBusako sayibuyekeza indlela ezikhanjiswa ngayo iincwadi zethu. Kusukela ngomnyaka loyo e-United States, zoke iincwadi zathoma ukukhanjiswa ngendlela yokuthi umuntu anganikela nakathandako. Incwadi eyatlolelwa woke amabandla wendawo leyo yahlathulula ukuthi: “Abomangazini neencwadi ezizokunikelwa abatjhumayeli, kufuze bazikhambisele umphakathi ngaphandle kokubawa namkha ukukhulumela inani elithileko lomnikelo malungana nencwadi leyo. . . . Nanyana ngubani okhanuka ukunikela malungana nokusekela umsebenzi wethu lo wephasi loke, utjhaphulukile ukwenza njalo, kodwana iincwadi zona uzozithola kungakhathaliseki bona umnikelo ukhitjhiwe namkha awa.” Ihlelwelo layikhanyisa kuhle indlela ikolo yethu esebenza ngayo eendabeni zeminikelo malungana nomsebenzi esiwenzako, lacacisa nokuthi “asikhambi sikhangisa ngelizwi lakaZimu.” (2 Kor. 2:17) Kwathi ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, ihlelweli lathoma ukusetjenziswa nakwamanye amagatja ephasini mazombe.

¹⁶ Nje-ke, iminikelo yokuzithandela le yenziwa njani? EmaWolweni womBuso waboFakazi bakaJehova, kunamabhoksi weminikelo. Abantu bangasebenzisa wona, namkha imnikelo yabo bayithumele ngonqophileko kwelinye lama-ofisi agunyaziweko waboFakazi bakaJehova. Nyaka uvela, isiThala naso siba nesihloko esikhuluma ngokuthi iminikelo enjalo ingenziwa njani.

17-19. Khewusihlathululele bona iminikelo isetjenziswa njani (a) malungana nomsebenzi wephasi loke, (b) malungana nesikhwama sokwakha amaWolo ephasini loke, (c) malungana neendleko zebandla.

¹⁷ Umsebenzi wephasi loke. Imali le isetjenziselwa iindleko ezimalungana nomsebenzi wokutjhumayela ephasini loke.  Iindlekwezi zihlanganisa ukugadangisa iincwadi ezikhanjiswa ephasini loke, ukwakha nokulungisa imakhiwo yamagatja, nezindlu zeBethel, kunye nokuraga iinkolo ezihlukahlukeneko zefundo kaZimu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, imali le isetjenziselwa nokutlhogomela iinthunywa zevangeli, ababonisi abakhambako, namaphayona akhethekileko. Iminikelo yethu le iphinde isetjenziselwe nokusiza ebujamweni oburhabako lokha esikholwa nabo nebavelelwe yihlekelele. *

¹⁸ Isikhwama sokwakha amaWolo womBuso ephasini loke. Imali le isetjenziselwa ukusiza amabandla bona akhe namkha avuselele iWolo lomBuso. Njengombana neminikelo isolo ingena, lokho kuvulela namanye amabandla ithuba lokuthi angasizakala ngomnqopho ofanako. *

¹⁹ Iindleko zebandla. Imali le yona isetjenziselwa ukutlhogomela iWolo lomBuso. Yeke, abadala bangaqunta bona enye yemali leyo ithunyelwe e-ofisini legatja malungana nokusekela umsebenzi wephasi loke. Ebujamweni obunjalo, abadala bazokubuza ibandla ukuthi kungenziwa na lokho. Nengabe ibandla liyavuma, imali leyo iyathunyelwa. Bese kuthi-ke inyanga nenyanga, umzalwana osebenza ngeemali, ahlele umbiko weemali ozokufundelwa ibandla.

20. Ungamdumisa njani uJehova ‘ngomnono’ wakho?

²⁰ Nasesicabanga ngakho koke okubandakanyekileko ekuthuthukiseni umsebenzi wokutjhumayela nokwenza abafundi ephasini loke, sitjhukumisekela bona sidumise uJehova ‘ngomnono’ wethu. (IzA. 3:9, 10) Nakukhulunywa ngomnono wethu, kusuke kuqaliselwe emizimbeni yethu, ingqondo, kunye nepilo yethu engokomoya. Koke lokhu sifuna ukukusebenzisela umsebenzi womBuso. Ukhumbule-ke ukuthi umnono lo, uphinde utjho nezinto esinazo. Yeke, asizimiseleni ukupha ngendlela esingakghona ngayo ngokusemandlenethu. Iminikelo esiyenza ngokusuka ehliziyweni iyamdumisa uJehova, itjengise nokuthi siyawusekela umBuso kaMesiya.