1. Yini umphostoli uPawulu ayivuma ngaye?

UMPHOSTOLI uPawulu wavuma ukuthi ngezinye izikhathi wayezizwa ebuthaka. Wavuma ukuthi umzimba wakhe ‘wawuwohloka,’ ukuthi kwakudingeka alwe ukuze enze okulungile, nokuthi uJehova wayengayiphenduli njalo imithandazo yakhe ngendlela ayefisa ngayo. (2 Kor. 4:16; 12:7-9; Roma 7:21-23) UPawulu wavuma nokuthi labo ababemphikisa babembheka njengomuntu obuthaka. * Kodwa akazange ayivumele imibono engakhi yabanye noma ubuthakathaka bakhe bumenze azizwe engelutho.​—2 Kor. 10:10-12, 17, 18.

2. Ngokwencwadi yesi-2 Korinte 12:9, 10, isiphi isifundo esibalulekile uPawulu asifunda?

² UPawulu wafunda isifundo esibalulekile—umuntu angaba namandla ngisho noma ezizwa ebuthaka. (Funda eyesi-2 Korinte 12:9, 10.) UJehova watshela uPawulu ukuthi amandla aKhe “enziwa aphelele ebuthakathakeni,” okusho ukuthi uJehova wayeyomnika amandla uPawulu lapho engasenawo. Okokuqala, ake sibone ukuthi kungani kungafanele sikhathazeke lapho izitha zethu zisithuka.

3. Kungani kufanele sijabule ngokuthukwa?

³ Akekho kithi othanda ukuthukwa. Nokho, uma izitha zethu zisithuka bese sikhathazeka ngokweqile ngalokho ezikushoyo, singadikibala. (IzAga 24:10) Pho, kufanele senzenjani lapho izitha zethu zisithuka? NjengoPawulu, ‘singajabula lapho sithukwa.’ (2 Kor. 12:10) Kungani? Ngenxa yokuthi ukuthukwa nokushushiswa kuyizimpawu zokuthi singabafundi  bakaJesu abaqotho. (1 Pet. 4:14) UJesu wathi abalandeli bakhe babeyoshushiswa. (Joh. 15:18-20) Lokho kwenzeka kumaKristu angekhulu lokuqala. Ngaleso sikhathi, labo ababethonywe amasiko amaGreki babebheka amaKristu njengabantu abangahlakaniphile nabangabalulekile. Nakuwo amaJuda, amaKristu ayebhekwa njengabantu “abangafundile nabavamile,” njengomphostoli uPetru noJohane. (IzE. 4:13) AmaKristu ayebukeka njengabantu ababuthaka nabangavikelekile; ayengangeni ezindabeni zepolitiki noma ezindabeni zempi futhi umphakathi wawungawamukeli.

4. Yini amaKristu okuqala ayenza lapho abaphikisi besho izinto ezimbi ngawo?

⁴ Ingabe amaKristu okuqala avumela izinto ezazishiwo abaphikisi ukuba ziwayekise ukuba abalandeli bakaJesu? Cha. Ngokwesibonelo, umphostoli uPetru noJohane bakubheka njengelungelo ukushushiswa ngenxa yokuthi balandela uJesu futhi bafundisa abanye ngaye. (IzE. 4:18-21; 5:27-29, 40-42) Sasingekho isidingo sokuba abafundi babe namahloni. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, lawo maKristu angekhulu lokuqala athobekile enzela abantu izinto ezinhle eziningi ukudlula abaphikisi bawo. Ngokwesibonelo, izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezabhalwa amanye alawo maKristu ziyaqhubeka ziwusizo futhi zinika izigidi zabantu ithemba. UMbuso ayeshumayela ngawo awugcini nje ngokubusa ezulwini, kodwa maduze uzobusa bonke abantu khona la emhlabeni. (Math. 24:14) Kodwa umbuso onamandla wamaRoma owawushushisa amaKristu sekuphele iminyaka eminingi washabalala, kuyilapho lawo maKristu aqotho manje esebusa njengamakhosi ezulwini. Kodwa abaphikisi bawo bafile; uma kwenzeka bevuswa bazobuswa uMbuso owawukhuthazwa amaKristu ababewazonda.​—IsAm. 5:10

5. NgokukaJohane 15:19, kungani abantu bakaJehova bebukelwa phansi?

⁵ Namuhla, njengoba singabantu bakaJehova, ngezinye izikhathi sibukelwa phansi futhi senziwe inhlekisa njengokungathi singabantu abangahlakaniphile nababuthakathaka. Kungani? Kungenxa yokuthi asicabangi ngendlela abantu abasizungezile abacabanga ngayo. Siyazama ukuba abantu abathobekile, abamnene nabalalelayo. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, izwe liyabathanda abantu abaqhoshayo, abanenkani, nabavukelayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, asizibandakanyi nezepolitiki futhi asiyisekeli impi yakunoma yiliphi izwe. Sihlukile kubantu esiphila nabo ezweni namuhla, ngakho basibukela phansi.​—Funda uJohane 15:19; Roma 12:2.

6. Yini uJehova ayifezayo ngabantu bakhe?

⁶ Nakuba izwe lisibukela phansi, uJehova ufeza izinto ezinkulu ngathi. Uyasisebenzisa emkhankasweni wokushumayela omkhulu kunayo yonke emlandweni wesintu. Izinceku zakhe namuhla zikhiqiza izincwadi ezihunyushwe ngezilimi eziningi kakhulu nezisakazwa kabanzi emhlabeni, futhi zisebenzisa iBhayibheli ukuze zisize izigidi zabantu zithuthukise ukuphila kwazo. Lonke udumo ngale misebenzi emangalisayo luya kuJehova, okunguye osebenzisa iqembu labantu ababukeka bebuthakathaka ukuba lenze imisebenzi emangalisayo. Kodwa kuthiwani ngathi ngabanye? UJehova angasisiza yini sibe namandla? Uma kunjalo, yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze asisize? Manje ake sixoxe ngezinto ezintathu esingazifunda esibonelweni esabekwa umphostoli uPawulu.

7. Yini esiyifundayo esibonelweni sikaPawulu?

⁷ Nakhu esikufunda esibonelweni sikaPawulu: Unganciki emandleni akho noma  emakhonweni akho lapho ukhonza uJehova. Ngeso lomuntu, uPawulu wayenesizathu sokuziqhayisa nokuzithemba yena. Wakhulela eTarsu, inhloko-dolobha yesifundazwe saseRoma. ITarsu lalichuma futhi linenyuvesi edumile. UPawulu wayefundile​—wafundiswa umholi wamaJuda owayehlonishwa kakhulu ngaleso sikhathi uGamaliyeli. (IzE. 5:34; 22:3) Kwake kwaba nesikhathi lapho uPawulu ayehlonishwa khona kakhulu emphakathini wamaJuda. Wathi: “Ngangenza intuthuko enkulu enkolweni yobuJuda kunabaningi kontanga yami ohlangeni lwakithi.” (Gal. 1:13, 14; IzE. 26:4) Kodwa uPawulu wayengazithembi yena.

8. NgokweyabaseFilipi 3:8, uPawulu wayezibheka kanjani izinto azidela, futhi kungani ‘ayejabula ngobuthakathaka’?

⁸ UPawulu wakujabulela ukudela izinto ezazimenza ahlonishwe ezweni. Wabona ukuthi izinto ayenazo ngaphambilini ezazibonakala sengathi zibalulekile, empeleni ‘zaziyinqwaba yezibi.’ (Funda eyabaseFilipi 3:8.) Buningi ubunzima uPawulu abhekana nabo ngenxa yokuba umlandeli kaKristu. Isizwe sakubo sasimzonda. (IzE. 23:12-14) Washaywa futhi waboshwa abantu bakubo, amaRoma. (IzE. 16:19-24, 37) Ngaphezu kwalokho, kwakumzwisa ubuhlungu ukuqaphela ukuthi kwakunzima kakhulu ukwenza okulungile ngenxa yesono. (Roma 7:21-25) Kodwa kunokuba avumele izitha zakhe noma amaphutha akhe ukuba kumqede amandla, ‘wajabula ngobuthakathaka.’ Kungani? Kungenxa yokuthi amandla kaNkulunkulu wayewabona esebenza ngesikhathi ayebuthaka ngaso ekuphileni kwakhe.​—2 Kor. 4:7; 12:10.

9. Kufanele sizizwe kanjani ngezinto ezisenza sibonakale singenamandla?

⁹ Uma sifuna uJehova asinike amandla, akumelwe sicabange ukuthi awethu amandla, imfundo, imvelaphi yethu, noma ingcebo yethu, yikona okunqumayo ukuthi sibaluleke kangakanani. Lezi zinto akuzona ezisenza sibe usizo kuJehova. Empeleni, kubantu bakaNkulunkulu ababaningi “abahlakaniphileyo ngendlela yenyama, ababaningi abanamandla, ababaningi abazalwa yizicukuthwane.”  Kunalokho uJehova wakhetha ukusebenzisa “izinto ezibuthakathaka zezwe.” (1 Kor. 1:26, 27) Ngakho ungabheki izinto ezikwenza ubonakale ungenamandla njengeziphazamiso ekukhonzeni uJehova. Esikhundleni salokho, zibheke njengethuba lokubona amandla kaJehova esebenza kuwe. Ngokwesibonelo, uma wesaba ukuphendula labo abazama ukukwenza ungabaze izinkolelo zakho, thandaza kuJehova umcele akuphe isibindi sokuvikela ukholo lwakho. (Efe. 6:19, 20) Uma ukuthola kunzima ukubhekana nokugula, cela uJehova akuphe amandla owadingayo ukuze uhlale umatasa ngezinga ongakwazi ngalo enkonzweni yakhe. Isikhathi ngasinye lapho ubona uJehova ekusiza, ukholo lwakho luyakhula futhi uba namandla.

10. Kungani kufanele sifunde ezibonelweni zabantu abathembekile abaseBhayibhelini, njengalezo okukhulunywa ngazo kumaHebheru 11:32-34?

¹⁰ UPawulu wayengumfundi wemiBhalo okhuthele. Maningi amaqiniso awafunda, kodwa wafunda nasezibonelweni zabantu okukhulunywa ngabo eZwini likaNkulunkulu. Lapho ebhalela amaKristu angamaHebheru, uPawulu wawacela ukuba acabange ngezibonelo zezinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile eziningi. (Funda amaHebheru 11:32-34.) Cabanga ngenye yalezo zinceku, iNkosi uDavide. Kwadingeka abhekane nokuphikiswa, wayengaphikiswa izitha zakhe kuphela, kodwa nangabantu abake baba abangane bakhe. Njengoba sifunda ngesibonelo sikaDavide, sizobona ukuthi yimaphi amandla okungenzeka uPawulu wawathola ngokuzindla ngesibonelo sikaDavide, nendlela esingamlingisa ngayo uPawulu.

11. Kungani uDavide ayebonakala engenamandla? (Bheka isithombe esisekhasini 1.)

¹¹ Iqhawe elinamandla uGoliyati lalibona uDavide njengomuntu ongenamandla. Lapho uGoliyati ebona uDavide, “wamedelela.” Ngaphezu kwakho konke, uGoliyati wayemkhulu kunoDavide, ehlome kangcono, futhi eqeqeshelwe impi. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uDavide wayengumfana nje futhi ebonakala engayihlomele kahle impi. Kodwa lokho okwakubonakala kuwubuthakathaka, uDavide wakushintsha kwaba amandla. Wancika kuJehova ukuze athole amandla futhi wasinqoba isitha sakhe.​—1 Sam. 17:41-45, 50.

12. Iyiphi enye inselele okwadingeka uDavide abhekane nayo?

¹² UDavide kwadingeka abhekane nenye inselele eyayingamenza azizwe ebuthaka futhi engenamandla. Wamkhonza ngobuqotho lowo uJehova ayembeke njengeNkosi yakwa-Israyeli, uSawulu. Ekuqaleni, iNkosi uSawulu yayimhlonipha uDavide. Kamuva, ukuqhosha kwenza uSawulu waba nomona ngoDavide. USawulu wamphatha kabi uDavide, waze wazama nokumbulala.​—1 Sam. 18:6-9, 29; 19:9-11.

13. Yini uDavide ayenza lapho iNkosi uSawulu ingamphathi ngobulungisa?

¹³ Nakuba iNkosi uSawulu ingazange imphathe ngobulungisa, uDavide waqhubeka eyibonisa inhlonipho inkosi eyayibekwe uJehova. (1 Sam. 24:6) Akazange asole uJehova ngezinto ezimbi ezenziwa uSawulu. Kunalokho, uDavide wathembela kuJehova ukuba amnike amandla ayewadinga ukuze akhuthazelele lolo vivinyo olwalunzima.—IHu. 18:1, umbhalo ongenhla.

14. Yisiphi isimo esifana nesikaDavide umphostoli uPawulu abhekana naso?

¹⁴ Umphostoli uPawulu wabhekana nesimo esifana nesikaDavide. Izitha zikaPawulu zaziziningi futhi zinamandla kunaye. Abaholi abaningi abahlonishwayo bangesikhathi sakhe babemzonda. Kaningi benza ukuba ashaywe futhi aboshwe. NjengoDavide,  uPawulu waphathwa kabi abantu okwakufanele babe abangane bakhe. Waphikiswa ngisho nangabathile ebandleni lobuKristu. (2 Kor. 12:11; Fil. 3:18) Kodwa uPawulu wabanqoba bonke ababelwa naye. Kanjani? Waqhubeka eshumayela naphezu kokuphikiswa. Waqhubeka eqotho kubafowabo nodadewabo ngisho nalapho bemdumaza. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, wathembeka kuNkulunkulu ukuphila kwakhe konke. (2 Thim. 4:8) Wanqoba izingqinamba ezinkulu, hhayi ngoba ayengumuntu onamandla, kodwa ngoba wathembela kuJehova.

15. Uyini umgomo wethu, futhi singawufinyelela kanjani?

¹⁵ Ingabe ubhekene nokuhlukunyezwa noma ukushushiswa abantu ofunda nabo, osebenza nabo, noma amalungu omndeni angebona oFakazi? Kwake kwenzeka yini othile ebandleni wakuphatha kabi? Uma kunjalo, khumbula isibonelo sikaDavide noPawulu. Ungakwazi ukuqhubeka “unqoba okubi ngokuhle.” (Roma 12:21) Umgomo wakho akukhona ukushaya umuntu ngetshe esiphongweni, njengoba kwenza uDavide, kodwa uwukutshala iZwi likaNkulunkulu ezingqondweni nasezinhliziyweni ezilijabulelayo. Ungawufinyelela lowo mgomo ngokuncika eBhayibhelini lapho uphendula imibuzo yabantu, ngokuba nenhlonipho nomusa kulabo abakuphatha kabi, nangokwenza okuhle kubo bonke abantu, ngisho nasezitheni zakho.​—Math. 5:44; 1 Pet. 3:15-17.

16-17. Yini uPawulu angazange ayikhohlwe?

¹⁶ Ngaphambi kokuba umphostoli uPawulu abe umfundi kaKristu, wayewumuntu oweyisayo, oshushisa abalandeli bakaJesu. (IzE. 7:58; 1 Thim. 1:13) UJesu wamnqanda uPawulu, owayaziwa ngokuthi uSawulu, ekuhlaseleni ibandla lobuKristu. Wakhuluma noPawulu esezulwini, wamenza impumputhe. Ukuze aphinde abone, uPawulu waphoqeleka ukuba afune usizo kubo kanye abantu ayebashushisa. Walamukela ngokuzithoba usizo aluthola kumfundi u-Ananiya, owenza uPawulu waphinde wabona.​—IzE. 9:3-9, 17, 18.

¹⁷ Kamuva uPawulu waba yilungu elaziwayo lebandla lobuKristu, kodwa akazange asikhohlwe  isifundo asifundiswa uJesu endleleni eya eDamaseku. UPawulu waqhubeka ethobekile futhi walwamukela ngothando usizo lwabafowabo nodadewabo. Wavuma ukuthi ‘babewusizo oluqinisayo’ kuye.​—Kol. 4:10, 11.

18. Kungani singase sinqikaze ukwamukela usizo lwabanye?

¹⁸ Yini esingayifunda kuPawulu? Ngesikhathi siqala ukuzihlanganisa nabantu bakaJehova, kungenzeka sasikujabulela ukwamukela usizo lwabanye, siqaphela ukuthi sisebasha eqinisweni futhi kuningi okusamelwe sikufunde. (1 Kor. 3:1, 2) Kodwa kusenjalo yini namanje? Uma sekuphele iminyaka eminingi sikhonza uJehova futhi sesifunde izinto eziningi, kungenzeka singakujabuleli kangako ukwamukela usizo, ikakhulukazi uma silunikwa umuntu ongakabi nesikhathi eside njengathi eqinisweni. Nokho, ngokuvamile uJehova usebenzisa abafowethu nodadewethu ukuze asiqinise. (Roma 1:11, 12) Kumelwe sikwazi lokho uma sifuna ukuthola amandla avela kuJehova.

19. Yini eyenza uPawulu waphumelela?

¹⁹ UPawulu wafeza izinto ezinkulu ngemva kokuba umKristu. Kungani? Kungenxa yokuthi wafunda ukuthi impumelelo ayincikile emandleni omuntu, emfundweni, engcebweni, noma kuyimvelaphi yakhe, kodwa incike ekuthobekeni nasekuthembeleni kuJehova. Kwangathi sonke singalingisa uPawulu (1) ngokuthembela kuJehova, (2) ngokufunda ezibonelweni eziseBhayibhelini, (3) nangokwamukela usizo kwesikholwa nabo. Uma senza kanjalo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sizizwa sibuthaka kangakanani, uJehova uyosenza sibe namandla!