1-2. (a) Kungani kungafanele simangale lapho umsebenzi wethu uvinjelwa? (b) Sizoxoxa ngani kulesi sihloko?

NGO-2018, abamemezeli bezindaba ezinhle abangaphezu kuka-223 000 babehlala ezindaweni lapho umsebenzi wethu uvinjelwe khona noma ubekelwe imingcele. Lokhu akusimangazi. Njengoba sifundile esihlokweni esidlule, amaKristu eqiniso akulindele ukushushiswa. (2 Thim. 3:12) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sihlalaphi, ngokungalindelekile ohulumeni bangase basivimbele ukuba sikhonze uNkulunkulu wethu onothando, uJehova.

² Uma uhulumeni walapho uhlala khona unquma ukunivimbela ukuba nikhonze uJehova, ungase uzibuze le mibuzo: ‘Ingabe ushushiso lusho ukuthi uJehova akajabuli ngathi? Ingabe ukuvinjelwa kuzosenza siyeke ukukhonza uJehova? Ingabe kufanele ngithuthele endaweni engingakhonza kuyo uNkulunkulu ngokukhululekile?’ Kulesi sihloko, sizoxoxa ngaleyo mibuzo. Sizoxoxa nangendlela esingaqhubeka ngayo sikhonza uJehova lapho umsebenzi wethu uvinjelwe nangalokho okungamelwe sikwenze.

3. Ngokweyesi-2 Korinte 11:23-27, umphostoli uPawulu wabhekana naluphi ushushiso, futhi sifundani esibonelweni sakhe?

³ Lapho uhulumeni uvimbela umsebenzi wethu, singase siphethe ngokuthi uNkulunkulu akajabuli ngathi. Kodwa khumbula, ushushiso alusho ukuthi uJehova akajabuli ngathi. Cabanga ngesibonelo somphostoli uPawulu. UNkulunkulu  wayejabula ngempela ngaye. Waba nelungelo lokubhala izincwadi ezingu-14 zemiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki futhi wayengumphostoli ezizweni. Yize kunjalo, washushiswa kakhulu. (Funda eyesi-2 Korinte 11:23-27.) Isibonelo somphostoli uPawulu sisifundisa ukuthi uJehova uyazivumela izinceku zakhe ezithembekile ukuba zishushiswe.

4. Kungani izwe lisizonda?

⁴ UJesu wachaza ukuthi kungani kufanele sikulindele ukuphikiswa. Wathi siyozondwa ngenxa yokuthi asiyona ingxenye yezwe. (Joh. 15:18, 19) Ukushushiswa akulona uphawu lokuthi uJehova akajabule ngathi. Kunalokho, lubonisa ukuthi senza lokho uNkulunkulu akufunayo!

5. Ingabe abantu banawo amandla okusiyekisa ukukhonza uJehova? Chaza.

⁵ Abantu ngeke bakwazi ukusiyekisa ngokuphelele ukukhonza uNkulunkulu onguMninimandla onke, uJehova. Abaningi sebeke bazama kodwa bahluleka. Cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka phakathi neMpi Yezwe II. Ngaleso sikhathi, ohulumeni emazweni amaningi babashushisa kanzima abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Umsebenzi woFakazi BakaJehova wavinjelwa iqembu lamaNazi eJalimane, wavinjelwa nawohulumeni base-Australia naseCanada nakwamanye amazwe. Noma kunjalo, phawula okwenzeka. Ngo-1939 ngesikhathi kuqala impi, kwakunabamemezeli abangu-72 475 emhlabeni wonke. Imibiko yabonisa ukuthi ngasekupheleni kwempi ngawo-1945, uJehova wayebabusisile abantu bakhe futhi kwase kunabamemezeli abangu-156 299. Inani labamemezeli lase liphindeke kabili!

6. Kunokuba ushushiso lusesabise, kufanele lusenze senzeni? Nikeza isibonelo.

⁶ Kunokuba ushushiso lusenze sesabe, kufanele lusenze sizimisele nakakhulu ukukhonza uJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, indoda nomkayo ababenengane babehlala endaweni lapho uhulumeni wawuvimbele khona umsebenzi wethu. Kunokuba besabe, banquma ukuba amaphayona avamile. Inkosikazi yaze yashiya nomsebenzi wayo oholela kahle ukuze iphayone. Umyeni wayo wathi lokhu kuvinjelwa kwenza abantu abaningi bafisa ukwazi ngoFakazi BakaJehova. Ngenxa yalokho, kwaba lula ukuqala izifundo zeBhayibheli. Lokhu kuvinjelwa kwaba neminye imiphumela emihle.  Umdala othile kulelo zwe wathi abaningi ababengasamkhonzi uJehova baqala ukuya emihlanganweni nasensimini.

7. (a) Yini esiyifunda kuLevitikusi 26:36, 37? (b) Yini ozoyenza lapho umsebenzi wethu uvinjelwe?

⁷ Lapho izitha zivimbela umsebenzi wethu, zisuke zifuna ukusenza sesabe ukukhonza uJehova. Zingase zisakaze izindaba ezingamanga, zithumele amaphoyisa ukuba aseshe izindlu zethu, zisiyise ezinkantolo noma zisibophe. Zinethemba lokuthi sizoba novalo uma abanye bethu beboshwa. Uma sizivumela ukuba zisesabise, singase siziyekele thina ukukhonza uNkulunkulu. Asifuni ukufana nalabo okukhulunywa ngabo kuLevitikusi 26:36, 37. (Yifunde.) Ngeke sivumele ukwesaba kusenze sinciphise noma siyeke ukukhonza uJehova. Sithembela ngokuphelele kuye futhi asinavalo. (Isaya 28:16) Siyathandaza sicele isiqondiso sikaJehova. Siyazi ukuthi uma enathi, ngisho nohulumeni onamandla kunabo bonke ngeke akwazi ukusivimbela ukuba sikhonze uNkulunkulu wethu ngokwethembeka.—Heb. 13:6.

8-9. (a) Yisiphi isinqumo inhloko ngayinye yomndeni noma umuntu ngamunye okufanele asenze? (b) Yini ezosiza umuntu ukuba enze isinqumo esihlakaniphile?

⁸ Uma uhulumeni walapho uhlala khona uvimba umsebenzi wethu, ungase uzibuze ukuthi kufanele yini uthuthele kwelinye izwe lapho ungakwazi khona ukukhonza uJehova ngokukhululekile. Lesi isinqumo ongazenzela sona. Abanye bangase bakuthole kuwusizo ukucabanga ngalokho okwenziwa amaKristu angekhulu lokuqala ngesikhathi eshushiswa. Ngemva kokuba izitha zikhande uStefanu ngamatshe waze wafa, abafundi eJerusalema baya eJudiya naseSamariya baze bafika eFenike, eKhupro nase-Antiyokiya. (Math. 10:23; IzE. 8:1; 11:19) Nokho, abanye bangase bathi ngemva kokuba amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala ebhekene nolunye ushushiso, umphostoli uPawulu wanquma ukungahambi ezindaweni lapho umsebenzi wokushumayela wawuvinjelwe khona. Kunalokho, wabeka ukuphila kwakhe engozini ukuze asakaze izindaba ezinhle futhi aqinise abazalwane ababehlala emadolobheni lapho ushushiso lwalunzima khona.​—IzE. 14:19-23.

⁹ Yini esiyifunda kulezi zibonelo? Inhloko yomndeni ngamunye kufanele inqume ukuthi bazothutha yini njengomndeni. Ngaphambi kokuba inqume, kufanele ithandaze futhi icabangisise ngezimo zomndeni wayo nokuthi ukuthutha kuzowuthinta kanjani. Kulokhu, umKristu ngamunye kufanele ‘azithwalele owakhe umthwalo.’ (Gal. 6:5) Akufanele sibahlulele abanye ngalokho abanqume ukukwenza.

10. Yiziphi iziqondiso eziyokhishwa yihhovisi legatsha nabadala?

¹⁰ Ungaqhubeka kanjani ukhonza uJehova lapho umsebenzi wethu uvinjelwe? Ihhovisi legatsha liyonikeza abadala bendawo iziqondiso namacebiso mayelana nendlela yokuthola ukudla okungokomoya, indlela yokuhlangana ukuze kube nemihlangano yebandla nendlela yokushumayela izindaba ezinhle. Uma ihhovisi legatsha lingakwazi ukuxhumana nabadala, abadala bayokusiza wena nabo bonke abasebandleni ukuze niqhubeke nikhonza uJehova. Bayokhipha isiqondiso esisekelwe eBhayibhelini nasezincwadini zethu zobuKristu.​—Math. 28:19, 20; IzE. 5:29; Heb. 10:24, 25.

11. Kungani ungaqiniseka ngokuthi uyohlale ukuthola okudingayo ukuze ugcine ukholo lwakho luqinile, futhi yini ongayenza ukuze uvikele iBhayibheli nezincwadi zakho zobuKristu?

 ¹¹ UJehova wathembisa ukuthi izinceku zakhe zaziyothola konke ezikudingayo ukuze zihlale zinokholo oluqinile. (Isaya 65:13, 14; Luka 12:42-44) Ngakho ungaqiniseka ukuthi inhlangano yakhe iyokwenza konke engakwenza ukuze ikusize uhlale uthembekile. Yini wena ongayenza? Lapho umsebenzi wethu uvinjelwe, thola indawo ekahle yokufihla iBhayibheli nezincwadi zobuKristu okungenzeka unazo. Qaphela ukuba ungazishiyi endaweni lapho zingatholakala khona kalula, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi zinyathelisiwe noma zikumakhalekhukhwini owusebenzisayo. Ngamunye wethu kumelwe enze konke angakwenza ukuze agcine ukholo lwakhe luqinile.

12. Abadala bangayihlela kanjani imihlangano ngendlela yokuthi ingadonsi amehlo abantu?

¹² Kuthiwani ngemihlangano yaphakathi nesonto? Abadala bayohlela imihlangano ngendlela yokuthi ingadonsi amehlo abantu. Bangase banicele ukuba nihlangane nibe amaqembu amancane futhi cishe bayohlale beshintsha izikhathi zemihlangano nezindawo okuzohlanganwa kuzo. Kungaba usizo ukukhulumela phansi lapho siya emihlanganweni nalapho siphuma ukuze singazidonseli amanzi ngomsele. Kungase futhi kudingeke singagqoki ngendlela esigqoka ngayo lapho siya emihlanganweni.

13. Yini esingayifunda kubafowethu basendaweni eyayiyiSoviet Union?

¹³ Ngokuqondene nomsebenzi wokushumayela, izimo ziyohluka kuye ngendawo. Kodwa siyamthanda uJehova futhi siyakuthanda nokuxoxela abanye ngoMbuso wakhe, ngakho siyoyithola indlela yokushumayela. (Luka 8:1; IzE. 4:29) Isazi-mlando u-Emily B. Baran washo lokhu ngokuphathelene nomsebenzi wokushumayela woFakazi BakaJehova endaweni eyayibizwa ngokuthi yiSoviet Union: “Lapho uhulumeni utshela oFakazi BakaJehova ukuthi bayeke ukushumayela, oFakazi babexoxa nomakhelwane babo, abasebenza nabo nabangane babo. Lapho bebagweba ngokubayisa emakamu okufukuzwa kuwo, oFakazi babeshumayeza ezinye iziboshwa.” Nakuba umsebenzi wethu wawuvinjelwe endaweni eyayiyiSoviet Union, abafowethu abazange bayeke ukushumayela. Uma kwenzeka umsebenzi wokushumayela uvinjelwa lapho uhlala khona, zimisele ukwenza okufanayo nawe!

14. IHubo 39:1 lisixwayisa ngani?

¹⁴ Masiqaphele lokho esikutshela abanye. Lapho umsebenzi wethu uvinjelwe, kumelwe sisazi “isikhathi sokuthula.” (UmSh. 3:7) Akumelwe siyidalule imininingwane  ebalulekile, njengamagama abafowethu nodadewethu, izindawo esihlangana kuzo, indlela esishumayela ngayo nendlela esithola ngayo izincwadi zethu. Akumelwe siyidalule le mininingwane eziphathimandleni; akufanele siyitshele ngisho nabangane noma izihlobo zethu ezihlala ezweni esikulo noma ezikwamanye amazwe. Uma singakwenzi lokhu, siyobeka ukuphila kwabafowethu engozini.—Funda iHubo 39:1.

15. Yini uSathane azozama ukuyenza kithi, futhi singakugwema kanjani ukubanjwa yileso sicupho?

¹⁵ Masingavumeli izinto ezingathi shu zisihlukanise. USathane uyazi ukuthi indlu ehlukene phakathi ayikwazi ukuma. (Marku 3:24, 25) Uyolokhu nje ezama ukusihlukanisa. Unethemba lokuthi sizoqala ukulwa sodwa kunokuba silwe naye.

16. Udade Gertrud Poetzinger usibekela siphi isibonelo esihle?

¹⁶ Ngisho namaKristu asengomakad’ ebona kudingeka aqaphe angabanjwa yilesi sicupho. Cabanga ngesibonelo sodadewethu ababili abagcotshiwe, uGertrud Poetzinger no-Elfriede Löhr. Babeboshwe nabanye odade abangamaKristu ekamu lokuhlushwa lamaNazi. UGertrud waba nomona lapho u-Elfriede enikeza izinkulumo ezazikhuthaza abanye odade ekamu. Kamuva, uGertrud wazisola futhi wacela usizo kuJehova. Wabhala, “Kumelwe sifunde ukwamukela lapho abanye benamakhono esingenawo noma besetshenziswa kakhulu kunathi.” Yini eyamsiza wayeka ukuba nomona? UGertrud wagxila ezimfanelweni ezinhle zika-Elfriede nasebuntwini bakhe obuhle. Ngale ndlela bakwazi ukuhlala bengabangane. Bobabili bahlala bethembekile ekamu lokuhlushwa futhi baqhubeka bekhonza uJehova kwaze kwaba yilapho beqeda inkambo yabo yasemhlabeni. Uma senza konke ukuze silungise ukungezwani nabafowethu, ngeke sivumele lutho lusihlukanise.​—Kol. 3:13, 14.

17. Kungani kumelwe silandele isiqondiso esisithola enhlanganweni kaJehova?

¹⁷ Masizilandele njalo iziqondiso. Uma silandela isiqondiso esisithola kubazalwane abaholayo abanokwethenjelwa siyogwema izinkinga eziningi. (1 Pet. 5:5) Ngokwesibonelo, endaweni lapho umsebenzi wethu wawuvinjelwe khona, abazalwane abaholayo bakhipha isiqondiso esasithi abamemezeli kwakungafanele bashiye izincwadi zethu lapho beshumayela enkonzweni. Nokho, omunye umzalwane oyiphayona kuleyo ndawo wazitshela ukuthi wazi kangcono futhi wazishiya izincwadi kubantu. Waba yini umphumela? Ngokushesha nje ngemva kokuba yena nabanye sebeqedile ukushumayela  ngokwethukela, amaphoyisa abathatha ayobabuza imibuzo. Kusobala ukuthi amaphoyisa ayelokhu ebalandela futhi akwazi ukuthola zonke izincwadi ababelokhu bezihambisa kubantu. Yini esiyifunda kulokhu? Kudingeka silandele isiqondiso ngisho noma sinomuzwa wokuthi sazi kangcono. UJehova uhlale ejabula ngathi lapho sibambisana nabazalwane abamise ukuba bahole phakathi kwethu.​—Heb. 13:7, 17.

18. Kungani kumelwe sigweme ukubeka imithetho engenasidingo?

¹⁸ Masingabeki imithetho engenasidingo. Uma abadala bebeka imithetho engenasidingo, bayothwesa abanye umthwalo. Umzalwane uJuraj Kaminský ukhumbula okwenzeka endaweni eyayibizwa ngokuthi iCzechoslovakia ngesikhathi umsebenzi wethu uvinjelwe, uthi: “Ngemva kokuba abadala abaningi beboshiwe, abanye abazalwane abaholayo emabandleni baqala ukubekela abamemezeli imithetho eminingi, bebatshela ukuthi yini okufanele bayenze nokungafanele bayenze.” UJehova akasinikezanga ilungelo lokubekela abafowethu imithetho. Umuntu obeka imithetho engenasidingo usuke ebeka abafowabo engozini​—uzama ukuzenza inkosi phezu kokholo lwabo.​—2 Kor. 1:24.

19. Naphezu kwemizamo kaSathane, eyesi-2 IziKronike 32:7, 8 isiqinisekisa ngani?

¹⁹ Isitha sethu esikhulu, uSathane uDeveli, ngeke siyeke ukuzama ukushushisa izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile. (1 Pet. 5:8; IsAm. 2:10) USathane nabantu bakhe bazozama ukusiyekisa ukukhonza uJehova. Nokho, akumelwe sesabe! (Dut. 7:21) UJehova unathi futhi uzoqhubeka esisekela ngisho noma umsebenzi wethu uvinjelwe.​—Funda eyesi-2 IziKronike 32:7, 8.

20. Yini ozimisele ukuyenza?

²⁰ Kwangathi singazimisela ukulingisa isibonelo samaKristu angekhulu lokuqala, atshela ababusi bangosuku lwawo: “Ukuthi kulungile yini emehlweni kaNkulunkulu ukulalela nina kunoNkulunkulu, yahlulelani nina. Kodwa thina, ngeke siyeke ukukhuluma ngezinto esizibonile nesizizwile.”​—IzE. 4:19, 20.