1, 2. (a) AmaKrestu weJudiya aqalana nabuphi ubudisi? (b) Lithando bani elezwiwa maKrestu weJudiya?

KUSEMINYAKENI yabo-46, njengombana iJudiya lidosa emhlweni. Abafundi bakaKrestu abamaJuda baqalene neembila zithutha, zinto aziduri zibuya nomuntu phasi. Iphapha ngomswani, indlala nayo ithi ngimi nani esitikini. Kodwana naso isivikelo esivela kuJehova phezu kwabo, abafundaba bazokubona into engazange kheyibonwe ngamanye amaKrestu ngaphambili. Kazi yini leyo?

² AmaKrestu atjhili we-Anthiyorhiya neSiriya aphatheka kabuhlungu khulu nakacabanga ngamaKrestu amaJuda weJerusalema neJudiya, yeke awacocanisela imadlana ebeyizowasiza. Ngemva kwalokho kwakhethwa abazalwana ababili, uBharinabhasi noSawula bona bathumele iziphwezo kubadala beJerusalema. (Funda izEnzo 11:27-30; 12:25.) Ungacabanga-ke nawe ukuthi abazalwana beJudiya bazizwa njani nababona indlela abafowabo be-Anthiyorhiya ababathanda ngayo!

3. (a) Abantu bakaZimu banamhlanjesi bayilandela njani ikambiso yamaKrestu wakade we-Anthiyorhiya? Yiza nesibonelo. (Qala nebhoksi elithi “ Izinga Eliphakemeko Lokuhlangula Esikhathini Sethu.”) (b) Esahlukwenesi sizokucabangela miphi imibuzo?

³ Isenzakalo sakadeso, ngesokuthoma esatlolwa eBhayibhelini, ukuthi amaKrestu wangakwelinye ihlangothi lephasi asize abafowabo abamaKrestu ahlala kwenye indawo. Namhlanjesi nathi silandela yona ikambiso leyo yabazalwana be-Anthiyorhiya. Nasizwa ukuthi esikholwa nabo bakwenye indawo bavelelwe yibangamatlhuwo, sivele sisikimele phezulu ngokubasiza. * Nje-ke nasifuna ukubona ukuthi imizamo yethu le yokuhlangula ihlobana njani neminye imisebenzi yokukhonza esiyenzako, khesicoce nganasi imibuzo emithathu malungana nekonzo yokuhlangula: Kubayini umsebenzi wokuhlangula siwuqala njengekonzo? Uyini umnqopho womsebezi wethu wokuhlangula? Sizuza njani ekonzweni le yokuhlangula?

4. UPowula wabatjelani beKorinte ngekonzo yobuKrestu?

⁴ Encwadinakhe yesibili ayitlolela beKorinte, uPowula wahlathula ukuthi amaKretsu anekonzo ekabili. Nanyana incwadi kaPowula le beyiqalisele emKrestwini azesiweko, namhlanjesi amezwi lawo sekasebenza ‘nakwezinye izimvu.’ (Jwa. 10:16) Ihlandla lokuthoma lekonzwethu, ‘yikonzo yokubuyisana,’  okumsebenzethu wokutjhumayela nokufundisa. (2 Kor. 5:18-20; 1 Thim. 2:3-6) Bese kuthi ihlandla lesibili lekonzo yethu kube yindlela esibasiza ngayo abazalwana esikhonza nabo. Leyo-ke yikonzo uPowula akhuluma ngayo nakathi “ukufaka isandla ekusizeni amakholwa.” (2 Kor. 8:4, ITastamende Elitjha namaRhalani akhethiweko.) Emutjhweni othi, “ikonzo yokubuyisana” nothi “ekusizeni amakholwa” kunebizo elithi “ikonzo” nelithi ‘isizo’ womabili atjhugululwe kususelwa ebizweni lesiGirigi elithi di·a·ko·niʹa. Kubayini lokhu kuphawuleka kangaka?

5. Kubayini uPowula abiza umsebenzi wokuhlangula ngekonzo?

⁵ Ngokusebenzisa kwakhe ibizo lesiGirigeli kiyo yomibili imisebenzi le, uPowula bekalumbanisa umsebenzi wokuhlangula neminye imisebenzi yekonzo eyenziwa ebandleni lobuKrestu. Wakhe watjho nekuthomeni ukuthi: “Kunemisebenzi eyahlukahlukeneko yezipho, kodwana ngeKosi yinye. Kunokusebenza okuhlukahlukeneko, . . . [Begodu] koke lokhu kumsebenzi kaMoya munye.” (1 Kor. 12:4-6, 11) Ekhabolakhona, la uPowula uyihlobanisa nekonzo “ecwengileko,” imisebenzi ehlukahlukeneko eyenziwa ebandleni lobuKrestu. * (Rom. 12:1, 6-8) Ngikho akubona kufanele ukuzipha isikhathi ‘sokuyokusiza abacwengileko’!—Rom 15:25, 26.

6. (a) Njengombana uPowula ahlathulile, kubayini umsebenzi wokuhlangula uyingcenye yokukhulekela kwethu? (b) Khewusihlathululele bona wenziwa njani umsebenzi wokuhlangula ephasini loke namhlanjesi. (Qala ibhoksi elithi, “ Nakuvela Ihlekelele!” ekhasini 214.)

⁶ UPowula walemukisa beKorinte ukuthi umsebenzi wokuhlangula nawo uyikonzo yabo yokulotjha uJehova. Khewumuzwe ukuthi ubonisana nabo uthini nakathi: Ikonzo yokuhlangula le, amaKrestu ayenziswa kukuthi ‘ayazithoba . . . evangelini lakaKrestu.’ (2 Kor. 9:13) Okwenza amaKrestu asize labo akholwa nabo kukuthi asuke atjhukunyiswe kukwenza ngokuvumelana namezwi kaKrestu. Ngikho uPowula athi isirhawu abanaso ngabanakwabo sibufakazi obupheleleko ‘bomusa omkhulu uZimu abaphe wona.’ (2 Kor. 9:14; 1 Pit. 4:10) NesiThala sakaDisemba 1, 1975 sakhe sakhuluma ngendaba yokukhonza abafowethu ngomsebenzi wokuhlangula, sathi: “Akukafaneli nakancani sibilayele bona uJehova uZimu neNdodanakhe uJesu Krestu bawuqala njengoqakatheke kangangani umsebenzi lo.” Yeke, singatjho ngokungananazi ukuthi umsebenzi wokuhlangula uyikonzo ecwengileko.—Rom. 12:1, 7; 2 Kor. 8:7; Heb. 13:16.

7, 8. Ngimuphi umnqopho wokuthoma wekonzo yethu yokuhlangula? Hlathulula.

⁷ Iyini iminqopho yekonzwethu le yokuhlangula? Umbuzo lo uPowula wawuphendula encwadinakhe yesibili ayitlolela beKorinte. (Funda 2 Korinte 9:11-15.) Emavesini la uPowula uveza iminqopho emithathu eyihloko esiyifezako ‘ngomsebenzi wokuphakela iindingo zabantu bakaZimu,’ okumsebenzi wokuhlangula. Akhesicoce ngomnqopho ngamunye.

⁸ Kokuthoma, ikonzwethu yokuhlangula idumisa uJehova. Emavesini angehla, khewutjheje izinga uPowula aqalisela ngalo kuJehova uZimu nakakhuluma nabazalwana. Umpostoli lo ubakhumbuza ‘ngokuthokoza uZimu’ nangeendlela  “ezinengi . . . zokuletha ukuthokoza kuZimu.” (Amavesi 11, 12) Uyatjho nokuthi imizamo yokuzikhandla kwamaKrestu ekonzweni le ‘idumisa uZimu.’ (Amavesi 13, 14) Kuthi-ke emaswapheleni, uPowula aphethe ngokutjho naka amazwi malungana nekonzo yokuhlangula le: “Akathokozwe uZimu.”—Ivesi 15; 1 Pit. 4:11.

9. Umsebenzi wokuhlangula ungabangela liphi itjhuguluko endleleni abanye abacabanga ngayo? Yiza nesibonelo.

⁹ Njengombana bekunjalo ngoPowula, neenceku zakaZimu zanamhlanjesi umsebenzi wokuhlangula ziwuqala njengoletha idumo kuJehova, uhlobise neemfundiso zakhe. (1 Kor. 10:31; Tit. 2:10, 13) Eqinisweni, umsebenzi wokuhlangula udlala nendima eqakathekileko ekuswabiseni labo abavame ukukhuluma kumbi ngaboFakazi bakaJehova. Nasi isibonelo: Omunye umma wendaweni eyasahlelwa siwuruwuru, emnyango wakwakhe bekafake iphawu elithi: “AboFakazi bakaJehova bangangeni la!” Kwathi ngelinye ilanga wabona abasebenza kwezokuhlangula balungisa indlu ephambi kwakwakhe. Kwadlula amalanga solo lokhu kwenzeka, wabona ukuthi abantwaba banobuntu kwamambala, yeke weqa indlela wayokubuza. Wathi nakezwa bona abantwabo boFakazi bakaJehova, waphatheka kabuhlungu khulu bewathi, “Uyazi benginiqala njengabantu abangakalungi.” Umphumela waba kukuthi nakafika kwakhe, walisusa khonokho iphawu ebelisemyangwelo.

10, 11. (a) Ngiziphi iimbonelo eziveza ukuthi sesiyafika emnqophweni wethu wesibili womsebenzi wokuhlangula? (b) Ngiyiphi incwadi esiza abasebenza kwezokuhlangula? (Qala ibhoksi elithi, “ Ithulusi Labasebenza Kwezokuhlangula.”)

¹⁰ Kwesibili, ‘siphakela iindingo’ zalabo esikholwa nabo. (2 Kor. 9:12a) Sihlala sinetjisakalo yokusiza abanakwethu nabodadwethu abasemtlhagweni. Lokhu kubangelwa kukuthi amalunga webandla lobuKrestu ‘amzimba munye’ begodu “nangabe isitho esisodwa siyatlhaga, zoke ezinye zitlhaga kanye naso.” (1 Kor. 12:20, 26) Ngikho abazalwana navane bezwe ngesigemegeme esehlakalele abathileko abakholwa nabo, basikimela phezulu ekutheni bayobasiza ngokubahlangula, begodu koke lokhu kungebanga lethando lobuKrestu. (Jak. 2:15, 16) Ngokwesibonelo, ngemva kokugadla kwetsunami eJapan ngo-2011, i-ofisi legatja le-United States lathumela incwadi eKomidini yoKwakha yesiFunda yakhona, libuza ukuthi “abekho na abazalwana abafanelekako” abangayokusiza ekuvuseleleni amaWolo womBuso arhirikileko eJapan? Waba yini umphumela? Eemvekeni ezimbalwa, besekuneensebenzi zokuzithandela ezingaba ma-600 ezitlolisele ukuyokusiza—begodu bezivumile nokuthi zizokusebenzisa yazo imali ekuyeni eJapan! I-ofisi legatja le-United States labe lathi: “Indlela abantwaba abasabele ngayo isitjhiye sibambe ongenzasi.” Kwathi omunye umzalwana weJapan nakabuza omunye walabo abavela ngaphetjheya ukuthi kubayini ezile wazobasiza, watjelwa ukuthi: “Abanakwethu beJapan bayingcenye ‘yomzimba wethu.’ Nathi siyabuzwa ubuhlungu nomtlhago abakiwo.” Ngebanga lokuphehlwa lithando, abanye abesebenza kwezokuhlangula baze bafake namaphilo wabo engozini ngebanga lokusiza abakholwa nabo. *—1 Jwa. 3:16.

 ¹¹ NabangasiboFakazi bayathokoza ngesizo lezokuhlangula esilenzako. Ngokwesibonelo, ngemva kwehlekelele eyasahlela isifunda se-Arkansas, e-U.S.A., ngo-2013, iphephandaba lendawo leyo labika ngezinga eliphakemeko leensebenzi zokuzithandela eziboFakazi lathi: “AboFakazi bakaJehova bahlele iinsebenzi zokuzithandela ezinekghono elihle lokuhlangula eendaweni ezehlakalelwe ziingemegeme.” Ngikho nompostoli uPowula athi ‘siphakela iindingo’ zesikholwa nabo abasemtlhagweni.

12-14. (a) Kubayini kuqakatheke kangaka ukufikelela emnqophweni wethu wesithathu womsebenzi wokuhlangula? (b) Ngiziphi izenzo eziveza ukuqakatheka kokuragela phambili nemisebenzi yethu engokomoya?

¹² Kwesithathu, sisiza abatsirimezekileko ngokomoya bona babuyele esigeni. Kubayini lokhu kuqakathekile? UPowula uthi labo abahlangulwako bazokuba neendlela “ezinengi ezihlukahlukeneko zokuletha ukuthokoza kuZimu.” (2 Kor. 9:12b) Kazi ikhona na enye indlela abantwabo abangamthokoza ngayo uJehova ngaphandle kokuthi barhabe babuyele esigeni sabo sokumlotjha? (Flp. 1:10) IsiThala sango-1945 sathi: “UPowula wavuma . . . bona kukolegwe iminikelo ngombana beyilisizo . . . emaKrestwini atlhagileko ukuthi abonelelwe, khona azokuhlanganyela ngokutjhaphulukileko nangomdlandla emsebenzini wokufakaza ngoJehova.” Nathi namhlanjesi umnqopho wethu kusesengiwo loyo. Phela abazalwanaba nababuyela emsebenzini wokutjhumayela, abagcini ngokukhuthaza abomakhelwana babo abagandelelekileko, kodwana nabo ngokwabo bayakhuthazeka.—Funda 2 Korinte 1:3, 4.

¹³ Khewuzwe nalabo abafumana isizo ngokuhlangulwa ukuthi bazizwa njani njengombana barhaba babuyela emsebenzini wokutjhumayela. Omunye umzalwana uthi, “Kube sibusiso emndeninethu ukuthi sibuyele ekonzweni yokutjhumayela, kusenze sakhohlwa ngezethu izinto ezisitshwenyako njengombana silinga ukutjhiriya abanye.” Udade yena uthi: “Ukuqala khulu ezintweni ezingokomoya kungenze ngalibala ngomonakalo ongehlakaleleko. Esikhundleni salokho ngizizwa ngivikelekile.” Omunye udade uthi: “Zinengi khulu izinto ebezitjharagene begodu zingaphezu kwamandlethu, kodwana ikonzo ibe sinqophiso esihle khulu emndenenini. Ukucocela abanye ngethemba lethu lephasi elitjha kuqinisa ithemba lethu lokuthi zoke izinto zizokuba zitjha.”

¹⁴ Ukuya emihlanganweni yebandla nakho ngokhunye okufuze kuphatjhanyelwe ngilabo abahlubayezekeliko. Khewuzwe ukuthi kwenzekani kuKiyoko, udade ebekaseminyakeni yama-50. Itsunami yamtjhiya neempahla ebekazimbethe namapatlagwana kwaphela, kangangobana bekazibuza ukuthi uzokubona enzeni. Kwathi nakusesenjalo, umdala wamtjela ukuthi kuzokuba nemihlangano yobuKrestu yaqobe abazoyibambela ekoloyini. UKiyoko uthi: “Ngekoloyinapho bekuba ngimi, umkamzalwana nomunye udade. Umhlanganwethu bewubulula kodwana bewuyikarisomraro, kangangobana netsunami beyingasekho engqondwenami. Ingqondwami beyizola. Begodu umhlangano  lo wangitjengasa ukuthi ukuba hlangana namanye amaKrestu kunamandla kangangani.” Nomunye udade owaya emihlanganweni ngemva kokuvelelwa yihlekele uthi: “Imihlangano le ngiyo ebeyingenza ngikghodlhelele!”—Rom. 1:11, 12; 12:12.

15, 16. (a) Ngiziphi iinzuzo ebezizokutholwa maKrestu weKorinte newakwezinye iindawo malungana nokusekela umsebenzi wokuhlangula? (b) Namhlanjesi thina sizuza njani emsebenzini wokuhlangula?

¹⁵ Nakakhuluma ngekonzo yokuhlangula, uPowula wahlathululela amaKrestu weKorinte ngeenzuzo ebewazozithola wona kunye namanye amaKrestu ahlanganyela emsebenzini loyo. Wathi: “Nabanithandazelako, [amaKrestu amaJuda weJerusalema abonelelwako] iinhliziyo zabo zizakunamathela kini ngebanga lomusa omkhulu uZimu aniphe wona.” (2 Kor. 9:14) Ukupha kwamaKrestu lawo bekuzokwenza amaKrestu amaJuda bona abathandazele abanakwabo beKorinte, kuhlanganise nabaTjhili, begodu lokho bekuzobenza babathande khulu.

¹⁶ Malungana namezwi kaPowula weenzuzo ezilethwa yikonzo yokuhlangula esikhathini sanamahlanjesi, isiThala sakaDisemba 1, 1945 sathi: “Navane esinye isigaba sabantu bakaZimu siqalelela esinye ngokokuswela kwaso, ungabona ukuthi lokho kubangela ubunye obungangani!” Lokho ngikho kanye nalabo abasebenza kwezokuhlangula abakuzwako namahlanjesi. Umdala owasiza esehlakalweni seenkhukhula uthi, “Ukwenza umsebenzi wokuhlangula, kungenza ngizizwe ngitjhidelene khulu nabazalwana.” Omunye udade owasizwako naye uthi: “Indlela esibumbene ngayo nabazalwana, yiPharadeyisi lizihlalele.”—Funda izAga 17:17.

17. (a) Amezwi ka-Isaya 41:13 asebenza njani emsebenzini wokuhlangula? (b) Khewusibekele iimbonelo zokuthi umsebenzi wokuhlangula umdumisa njani uJehova, uqinise nendlela esibumbene ngayo. (Qala nebhoksi elithi, “ Iinsebenzi Zokuzithandela Zephasini Mazombe Ziyahlangula.”)

 ¹⁷ Isiqhema sabahlanguli nasifika endaweni ebanjwe yihlekelele, abazalwana abathintekileko esehlakalweneso bayabona ukuthi uZimu bekaqinisile ngesithembiso sakhe nakathi: “[‘NginguJehova,’ NW] uZimakho, oqinisa isandla sakho sokudla, othi kuwe, ‘Ungesabi, mina ngokwami ngiyakusiza.’” (Isa. 41:13) Omunye udade owasinda ehlekeleleni wathi: “Ngavele ngalahla ithawula nangibona umonakalo ongaka, kodwana uJehova wangilulela isandla sakhe. Isizo engalithola kubazalwana angazi ngingalihlathulula ngithini.” Kanti-ke abanye abadala ababili bendaweni eyabanjwa yihlekelele, bakhuluma malungana namabandla abakhonza kiwo bathi: “Ukusikinyeka kwephasi kusibangele amatlhuwo, kodwana sezwa ukuthi nje sesisizwa nguJehova ngabafowethu. Sakhe safunda ngomsebenzi wokuhlangula, kodwana nje lokho sikubone ngewethu amehlo.”

18. Khuyini ongakwenza nawufuna ukufaka isandla emsebenzini wokuhlangula? (Qala nebhoksi elithi, “ Kwabumba Umnqopho Wepilwakhe.”)

¹⁸ Ungathanda na ukuzwa ukuthi linjani ithabo elilethwa msenbenzi wokuhlangula? Nengabe kunjalo, khumbula bona labo abavame ukuyokusiza ngokuhlangula, bakhethwa kilabo abasebenza ekwakhiweni kwamaWolo womBuso. Yeke, tjela abadala bekhenu ukuthi nawe ufuna ukuzalisa iforomo lakhona. Umdala esekanesikhathi eside asemsebenzini wokuhlangula utjho nasi isikhumbuzo: “Kuhle ukuyokusiza endaweni ebanjwe yihlekelele ngemva kokuthi uthole imvuko eKomidini Yokuhlangula.” Nasenza njalo, umsebenzethu uzokwenzeka ngendlela ehlophisekileko.

19. Abasebenza kwezokuhlangula, bakuveza njani ukuthi sibalandeli bakaKrestu bamambala?

¹⁹ Umsebenzi wokuhlangula uyindlela ehle khulu yokuveza ukuthi sisilalela kangangani isinqophiso sakaKrestu ‘sokuthandana.’ Nasinethando elinjalo, sisuke sitjengisa ukuthi sibalandeli bakaKrestu bamambala. (Jwa. 13:34, 35) Qala bona kusibusiso kangangani-ke kithi namhlanjesi bona sibe nabasebenzi abanengi kakangana abarhuluphele ukuphazimbulisa uJehova njengombana basiza labo abawusekela ngokuthembeka umBuso kaZimu!