1, 2. (a) Sikhuthazo bani uSolomoni aphefumulelwa bona asitlolele abantu abatjha? (b) Isikhuthazo sakaSolomonesi siwakhuthaza njani amaKrestu aseminyakeni yama-50 nangaphezulu?

IKOSI USOLOMONI yaphefumulelwa bona ikhuthaze abantu abatjha nganaka amezwi: “Khumbula umdali wakho emalangeni wobutjha bakho, kungakafiki imihla emimbi.” “Imihla emimbi” le, iyini? USolomoni wasebenzisa ilimi elisakondlo nakahlathulula isikhathi esibudisi sokuluphala—izandla ezihlengezelako, imilenze ebuhlungu, ukuphuma amazinyo, ukungasaboni kuhle, ukungasezwa, iinhluthu ezimhlophe, nokugobana kwamathambo. Akukho namunye-ke okufuze alinde bekube sikhathesi, ngaphambi kokusebenzela uJehova.—Funda umTjhumayeli 12:1-5.

² AmaKrestu amanengi aseminyakeni yama-50 ubudala, asesenawo amandla wokwenza njalo. Nanyana zimhlophe zinjalo iinhluthu zabo, ipilwabo nokho isengakabi sibaga ngokwezinga elihlathulwa nguSolomoni. Yeke, amaKrestu layo angazuza njani esikhuthazweni esiphefumulelwekwesi sabantu abatjha esithi: “Khumbula umdali wakho”? Kanti vele sitjho ukuthini isikhuthazwesi?

3. Kubandakanya nani ukukhumbula uMbumbi wethu omKhulu?

 ³ Ngitjho nanyana sekuminyaka sikhonza uJehova, kusese kuhle ngathi ukuzibuza qobe sikhathi, bese sicabange ngobukhulu bakhe. Khewucabange nje, akukukhuthazi na ukucabanga ngepilo? Ngendlela eburhanyarhanya ngayo, nabantu abasazi ukuthi bathomephi nabacabanga ngayo. Esikwenzelwa nguJehova kunengi khulu, kangangobana sinakho koke okungasenza sithabele ukuphila. Nesicabanga ngendalo kaJehova, sisuke suvuselela indlela esithokoza ngayo ngokusithanda kwakhe, ukuhlakanipha kwakhe, namandla. (Rhu. 143:5) Kodwana ukukhumbula uMbumbi wethu omKhulu kubandakanya ukucabangisisa ngesibopho sethu naye. Nasisakukhumbula lokho, kuyatjho ukuthi sizokuhlohlozeleka bona simthokoze ngokumsebenzela ngakho koke okusemandlenethu, ikani nasisaphila.—UmTj. 12:13.

4. Ngimuphi umbuzo labo esebanesikhathi eside bamaKrestu abangazibuza wona? Bangazibuza wona ngamuphi umqondo?

⁴ Njengombana sewunelwazi elingaka olibuthelele yoke iminyaka le, ungazibuza naku umbuzo, ‘Ngizokwenzani-ke ngokuphila kwami njengombana naku namandla ngisesenawo?’ Ilemuko onalo njengomKrestu likuvulela ithuba elihle khulu abanye abanganalo. Okufunde ngoJehova ungakutjela abasesebatjha. Abanye bangaqiniswa nakukuzwa izinto ozilemukiswe kukhonza uZimu. Ikosi uDavidi yawathandazela amathuba anjalo, nayithi: “Kwasebutjheni bami Zimu, ungifundisile. . . . Njengombana sengimdala ngithukghele, ungangitjhiyi Zimu bengikhulume ngamandlakho eenzukulwaneni, okutjho ubungorho bakho kibo boke abazakubelethwa.”—Rhu. 71:17, 18.

5. AmaKrestu amadala angabafundisa njani abanye lokho wona esekakwazi?

⁵ Ungakuveza njani-ke ukuhlakanipha okuzuze yoke iminyaka le? Angekhe wazimemela kwakho na iinceku zakaZimu ezisesezincani bona nizokwakhana? Mhlamunye ungabe bewubabawe bakuphekelele nesimini, ubatjengise ukuthi wena bewuthatjiswa yini kangaka ngoJehova. U-Elihu wekadeni wathi: “Akukhulume isikhathi, iminyaka ifundise ukuhlakanipha.” (Job. 32:7) Umpostoli uPowula naye wakhuthaza abomma abamaKrestu anelemuko ukuthi bakhuthaze abanye ngamezwi nangesibonelo. Wathi: “Abafazi abadala . . . ababe ngabafundisa okuhle.”—Tit. 2:3.

6. Kubayini kungakafaneli bona amaKrestu esekanelwazi lesikhathi eside anyaze amakghono wawo?

⁶ NawumKrestu osekanesikhathi eside ayibambile, mahle amathuba akuvulekeleko. Akhe ucabange ngesewukwazi nje, ebekukuraranisela eminyakeni ema-30 namkha ema-40 egadungileko. Nje, sewungakwazi ukuzisebenzisa kuhle khulu iinkambisolawulo zeBhayibheli epilweni. Kuyatjho-ke ukuthi nabantu sewukwazi ukubafundisa kuhle iqiniso leBhayibheli. Nawungumdala, uyakwazi ukusiza abazalwana esebathoma ukukhasela eziko. (Gal. 6:1) Kungenzeka ukuthi wafunda nokunqophisa imisebenzi ethileko ebandleni, emihlanganweni, namkha ekwakhiweni kwamaWolo. Nabodorhodere mhlamunye khewabakhuthaza ngeendlela ezingcono zokulapha ngaphandle kokuthela iingazi. Akunandaba ukuthi umutjha kangangani eqinisweni, okusalako kukuthi ilemuko lona unalo. Ngokwesibonelo, nakhewakhulisa abantwana, kukhona okwaziko. AmaKrestu akhulileko asikhuthazo kwamambala ebantwini bakaJehova, ngokufundisa ukunqophisa nokuqinisa abazalwana nabodade.—Funda uJobho 12:12.

7. AmaKrestu esewakhulile angababandula njani abasesebatjha?

⁷ Ungawasebenzisa njani ngokuzeleko amakghono onawo? Mhlamunye ungatjengisa abasakhulako ukuthi zithonywa  beziragwe njani iimfundo zeBhayibheli. Nawungudade, ungabakhuthaza njani abomma abasesebatjha ukuthi benze umsebenzi kaZimu kibe ngapha bakhulisa abantwana? Nawumzalwana, ungabafundisa na abazalawana abasesebatjha amakghono wokubeka iinkulumo ezimnandi nokuzitjhumayela ngokuphumelelako iindaba ezimnandi? Ungabalemukisa na, nokuthi bavakatjhelwa njani abazalwana nabodade esebakhulile, babakhuthaze ngokomoya? Nanyana sewungasenawo amandla egade unawo, amathuba wokubandula abasesebatjha wona asekhona. IliZwi lakaZimu lithi: “Idumo labantu abatjha mamandlabo, kodwana ubuhle babadala kuthukghela kwabo.”—IzA. 20:29.

8. Umpostoli uPowula wenzani ngesikhathi sakhe esiseleko?

⁸ Umpostoli uPowula wenza koke angakwenza bona akhonze uZimu ngesikhathi sakhe esiseleko. Ngemva kokutjhatjhululwa kwakhe ejele leRoma ngomnyaka ka-61, besekakhuthazelele ubudisi obungangobudisi ekonzweni yokuba sithunywa sevangeli, kangangobana bekufuze ngathana sekazihlalela eRomapho atjhumayele khona. (2 Kor. 11:23-27) Asibilayeli bona abazalwana balapho bathokoza kwamambala ngokuragela kwakhe phambili nokubasekela. Kodwana uPowula lo wanyekele walemuka bona ngaphetjheya umsebenzi utlhoga izandla. Wabhincela ikhambo lakhe lesine njengesithunywa sevangeli, wakhamba noThimothi noTitosi, barabhula i-Efesu, batjhinga neKrete bebayokuthi khithi eMasedoniya. (1 Thim. 1:3; Tit. 1:5) Asazi ukuthi eSipeyini wafika na, kodwana esikwaziko kukuthi bekanqophe ukuya nakhona.—Rom. 15:24, 28.

9. UPitrosi wafuduka nini wayokukhonza la umsebenzi wokutjhumayela umkhulu khona? (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.)

⁹ Nompostoli uPitrosi naye kungenzeka besekangale kweminyaka ema-50, nekazakufudukela la umsebenzi wokutjhumayela ebewande khona. Sikutjhwiso yini lokho? Phela nangathana bekalingana noJesu namkha amdadlana kunaye, kuyatjho ukuthi bekazabe sekaseminyakeni yama-50 nekahlangana nabanye abapostoli eJerusalema ngomnyaka ka-49. (IzE. 15:7) Kwathi ngemva komhlangano loyo, uPitrosi watjhinga eBhabheli, nakhona okungasirari ukuthi wafika watjhumayeza iwomakazi lamaJuda wendawo leyo. (Gal. 2:9) Bekahlala lapho nekazakutlola incwadakhe yokuthoma ephefumulelweko, iminyaka bekubo-62. (1 Pit. 5:13) Khona vele ukuhlala endaweni engasi ngeyakwenu kungaba budisanyana, kodwana uPitrosi akhange avumele ukuluphala kumbophele phasi ekukhonzeni uJehova ngokuzeleko.

10, 11. Khewusibekele indaba yabantu okwathi ngokokukhamba kwesikhathi bafudukela la umsebenzi wokutjhumayela wande khona.

¹⁰ Nanamhlanjesi, manengi amaKrestu aseminyakeni yama-50 esekalemuke bona ubujamo abusafani nangaphambili, kodwana angakhonza uJehova nangezinye iindlela. Abanye bafudukele la umsebenzi wokutjhumayela wande khona. Ngokwesibonelo, uRobert uthi: “Sinomkami besiseminyakeni yama-50, nesilemuka bona manengi kangangani amathuba asivulekeleko. Indodanethu ebekungiyo yodwa ngakwabo beseyingasahlali ekhaya, singasenabo nababelethi abatlhoga itjhejo, begodu besifumene nelifa elincazana. Sathi nasibala, sabona ukuthi nasingathengisa indlwethu singakghona ukubhadela isikolodo sayo, bese imadlana esalako sizondle ngayo bekufike isikhathi sami somndende. Sezwa-ke ukuthi eBolivia banengi abantu abathanda ukufunda iBhayibheli, nokuthi ipilo yakhona itjhiphile. Saqunta ukufudukela khona. Ukujayela indawo yalapho bekubudisi. Koke kwalapho bekuhlukile kwebesikujayele eTlhagwini Amerika. Kodwana imizamo yethu yabusiseka.”

¹¹ URobert unaba ngokuthi: “Esesiphilela ukukwenza nje, misebenzi yebandla. Abanye  balabo ebesifunda nabo iBhayibheli babhajadisiwe. Omunye umndeni ebesifunda nawo ophila ipilo ephasi, la uhlala khona kulibanganyana. Kodwana iveke neveke abantwabo benza umzamo wokuba khona emihlanganweni, kukude kunjalo. Awazi kusithabisa kangangani ukubona umndeni loyo uthuthuka, kangangokuthi ngikhuluma nje, isokana lakhona elidala liyaphayona!”

12, 13. Khewusitjele ngomKrestu owathoma ukukhonza uJehova ngezinye iindlela ngemva kokuthatha umhlala phasi emsebenzini.

¹² Amabandla neenqhema ezikhuluma ilimi langaphandle zingazuza kwamambala eembonelweni zabazalwana nabodade abadala. Indawo enjalo kungaba mnandi ukutjhumayela kiyo. Ngokwesibonelo, uBrine uthi: “Sinomkami sathi ukukhokha umoya ngemva kokuthatha umhlala phasi ngineminyaka ema-65. Abantwana bethu nabo bebangasahlali ekhaya, kanti-ke nabantu esingabafundela iBhayibheli bebayindlala. Kwathi kusese njalo ngahlangana nenye indoda yeTjhayina ebeyenza irhubhululo eyunivesithi yendaweni yekhethu. Sayimemela esifundweni yeza, bengathoma ukufunda nayo iBhayibheli. Kwathi ngemva kweemveke ezimbalwa yathoma ukuza nabalingani bayo ababili. Godu ngemva kweemveke ezimbili yaletha wesithathu newesine.”

¹³ “Kwathi ngemva kokuthi wesihlanu ebeza naye angibawe bona ngifunde naye iBhayibheli, ngalemuka bona, ‘Ukuthi sengineminyaka ema-65, akutjho bona kufuze ngithathe umhlala phasi ngakuJehova.’ Ngabuza umkami ebengimtjhiya ngeminyaka emibili ukuthi kungaba njani nasingafunda isiTjhayina. Besisebenzisa isifundo esirekhodiweko. Ngesikhatheso besekudlule iminyaka elitjhumi. Ukutjhumayeza abantu abakhuluma elinye ilimi kusenza sizizwe sibatjha. Bekube nje, sesifunde nabantu abali-112 abakhuluma isiTjhayina! Abanengi babo bayeza nemihlanganweni. Omunye wabo nje, siphayona naye.”

14. Angathatjiswa yini amaKrestu esekamadala, begodu isibonelo sakaPowula siwakhuthaza njani?

¹⁴ Nanyana amanengi nje amaKrestu asebenzela  uJehova aseminyakeni yama-50, kwabanye sekuyabhala. Abanye sebalawulwa yipilo, kanti abanye baqalelela ababelethi babo esebaluphele namkha abantwababo abasatlhoga itjhejo. Kodwana ungaduduzeka ngokwazi ukuthi uJehova uthatjiswa ngikho koke okwenzako bona umsebenzele. Yeke, kunokuthi udaniswe ngesewubhalelwa kukwenza, thatjhiswa ngosakghona ukukwenza. Nasi isibonelo sakaPowula. Wabotjhwa isikhathi eside khulu, abhalelwa kuraga nomsebenzakhe wokutjhumayela. Kodwana bekasebenzisa nanyana ngiliphi ithuba nekavakatjhelweko bona atjhumayeze abantwabo be abaqinise nekholweni.—IzE. 28:16, 30.

15. AmaKrestu esekakhulile athandelwani kangaka?

¹⁵ UJehova uthatjhiswa nangilokho esebakhulile abangamenzela khona ngokumkhonza. Nanyana uSolomoni athi isikhathi sokuluphala akusi sikhathi esihle ongathoma ngaso ukusebenzela uJehova, uJehova uthatjiswa nangokuncani akwenzelwa maKrestu layo. (Luk. 21:2-4) Amabandla athokoza kwamambala ngokukhonza namaKrestu esekanesikhathi eside la.

16. Ngimaphi amalungelo aphunda isalukazi esingu-Ana, kodwana besenzani bona silotjhe uZimu?

¹⁶ Nelikhuluma ngesilukazi esaziwa ngo-Ana iBhayibheli lithi waragela tjhubelo nokukhonza uJehova nanyana ukukhula besekuziphe amandla nje. Bekamfelokazi oneminyaka ema-84 nakubelethwa uJesu. Kwadanisa-ke nokho ukuthi akhange aphile bekube sikhathi sokobana alandele uJesu, azeswe ngomoya ocwengileko, namkha athabele ukutjhumayela iindaba ezimnandi ngomBuso. Kodwana ngikuphi u-Ana ebekathatjhiswa kukwenza. “Azange akhe asuke ethempelini kodwana bekadumisa ubusuku nemini.” (Luk. 2:36, 37) Njengombana umphristi bekathunyisa itjhwalo ethempelini qobe ekuseni nantambama, u-Ana bewuzamfunyana hlangana nesiqubuthu ngejaradenelo athandaza buthule mhlamunye bekube siquntu se-iri. Wathi nakabona uJesu osemncani, wathoma ukukhuluma “ngomntwana kibo boke ebebalindele ukuhlengwa kweJerusalema.”—Luk. 2:38.

17. Singawasiza njani amaKrestu akhulileko nalupheleko bona ahlanganyele ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso?

¹⁷ Namhlanjesi, nathi kufuze sikuphaphamele ukubambisana namaKrestu akhulileko nalupheleko. Amanye wawo asakuthanda ukuza esifundweni nemhlanganweni, kodwana sekuyenyukela. Kwezinye iindawo, amabandla ahlela bona abaluphelekwaba balalele imihlangano ngomtato. Kanti-ke kwezinye akusibulula. Nanyana kunjalo, amaKrestu esekabhalelwa kukuza emihlanganweni la, asesenesandla ekusekeleni iqiniso. Ngokwesibonelo, angathandazela bona ibandla lobuKrestu lihlale liqinile.—Funda iRhubo 92:14, 15, [92:13, 14, NW].

18, 19. (a) AmaKrestu esekakhulile la angenziwa yini bona angayilemuki indlela asikhuthazo ngayo kwabanye? (b) Isiluleko esithi: “Khumbula umdali wakho,” sisebenza kibobani?

¹⁸ Abaluphelekwaba mhlamunye abalemuki bona basikhuthazo kangangani kwabanye. Isibonelo salokho ngu-Ana, owathembeka ethempelini bewayokufa, naye ebekangalemuki bona isibonelo sakhe besizowaqinisa kangangani amanye amaKrestu. U-Ana kwabe kwatlolwa nangaye eBhayibhelini ngebanga lokuthanda uJehova. Akubilayelwa-ke ukuthi nawe ukhona eenhliziyweni zabazalwana njengombana uthanda uZimu. Ngikho iliZwi lakaZimu lithi: “Iinhluthu ezimhlophe zisihlohlo sedumo, zifumaneka endleleni yokulunga.”!—IzA. 16:31.

¹⁹ Soke nje, kunala sikhamba sifike khona ekukhonzeni uJehova. Kodwana akuthi labo abasese namathuba wokwenza njalo bazindle nganaka amezwi aphefumulelweko: “Khumbula umdali wakho . . . kungakafiki imihla emimbi.”—UmTj. 12:1.