1. Yintoni enokunceda amaKristu aphumelele kugqatso lobomi?

AMAKRISTU afana nabantu abaselugqatsweni, kodwa wona akugqatso lobomi. Enoba sisandokungena kolu gqatso, okanye kudala sibaleka, simele sizimisele side siyokufika entanjeni. Icebiso uPawulos awalinika ibandla laseFilipi lingasinceda siyenze loo nto. Xa uPawulos wabhala le leta, abazalwana noodade abaninzi kweli bandla babesele bekhonze uYehova kangangeminyaka. Babethembekile kuYehova, kodwa uPawulos wabakhumbuza ukuba bamele bahlale benyamezele njengembaleki ekugqatso. Wayefuna ‘basukele umvuzo’ njengaye.​—Fil. 3:14.

2. Kutheni sisithi uPawulos wabacebisa ngexesha elifanelekileyo abazalwana noodade baseFilipi?

² UPawulos wabacebisa ngexesha elifanelekileyo abazalwana noodade baseFilipi. Batshutshiswa lisandokubakho ibandla labo. Malunga no-50 C.E, uPawulos noSilas bavuma xa uThixo wathi mabawelele eMakedoni. Ngoko, baya kushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo eFilipi. (IZe. 16:9) Apho, badibana noLidiya waza “uYehova wayivula yabanzi intliziyo yakhe” ukuze amamele iindaba ezilungileyo. (IZe. 16:14) Akuzange kube kudala, uLidiya nabo bonke abantu ababehlala endlini yakhe babhaptizwa. Kodwa ke uSathana akazange ayithande loo nto ibe wenza into ngoko nangoko. UPawulos noSilas basiwa kubaphathi besixeko baza batyholwa kusithiwa bayaphazamisa. Ngenxa yaloo nto, babethwa, bavalelwa ejele, baza emva koko bagxothwa esixekweni. (IZe. 16:16-40) Ngaba banikezela? Hayi! Benza ntoni bona abazalwana noodade beli bandla lalisandokubakho? Nabo banyamezela, ibe incomeka kakhulu loo nto. Siqinisekile ukuba bakhuthazwa kakhulu yinto eyenziwa nguPawulos noSilas.

3. UPawulos wabona ukuba kufuneka enze ntoni, ibe yeyiphi imibuzo esiza kuyiphendula?

 ³ UPawulos wazixelela ukuba uza kuhlala enyamezele. (2 Kor. 4:16) Kodwa ke, wayesazi ukuba kufuneka ahlale ezimisele ukuze akwazi ukukhonza uYehova ethembekile de ayokufa. Yintoni esinokuyifunda kuPawulos? Ngabaphi namhlanje abantu ababonisa ukuba sinokuqhubeka sinyamezele nokuba sineengxaki? Ithemba esinalo lingasinceda njani ukuze singanikezeli?

4. Wenza njani uPawulos ukuze aqhubeke eshumayela nangona wayebanjiwe?

⁴ Khawucinge ngezinto ezazisenziwa nguPawulos xa wayebhalela ibandla laseFilipi. Wayebanjiwe eRoma. Wayengakwazi ukuya kushumayela. Kodwa akazange ahlale nje angenzi nto. Wayeshumayela kubantu abeze kumbona aze abhalele namabandla akude iileta. Nanamhlanje, abazalwana noodade abangakwaziyo ukuphuma ezindlini zabo bayaqiniseka ukuba bashumayela kubantu abeze kubabona. Kwakhona, babhala iileta ukuze bakhuthaze abantu esingakwaziyo ukushumayela kubo.

5. Ngokutsho kwamaFilipi 3:12-14, yintoni eyanceda uPawulos akaphazamiseka ekukhonzeni uYehova?

⁵ UPawulos akazange avumele izinto ezintle nezimbi awazenzayo zimphazamise ekukhonzeni uYehova. Ngapha koko, wathi ukuze aphumelele kolu gqatso, kufuneka ‘azilibale izinto ezingasemva aze olulele kwizinto ezingaphambili.’ (Funda amaFilipi 3:12-14.) Zeziphi izinto ezazinokumphazamisa uPawulos? Okokuqala, ngaphambi kokuba abe ngumKristu, wayebonakala ephumelele kakhulu ebantwini. Kodwa wathi zonke ezi zinto ‘zaziyinkunkuma eninzi.’ (Fil. 3:3-8) Okwesibini, nangona wayesenokuzisola kuba wayetshutshisa amaKristu, akazange avumele loo nto imenze ayeke ukukhonza uYehova. Okwesithathu, akazange acinge ukuba umele ayeke ukusebenza nzima kuba zazisele zininzi izinto azenzele uYehova. UPawulos washumayela kakhulu nangona wayekhe wabanjwa, wabethwa, wophukelwa yinqanawa, wabethwa nangamatye waza waphelelwa kukutya naziimpahla. (2 Kor. 11:23-27) Kodwa, nangona wayemenzele izinto ezininzi uYehova waza waneengxaki, wayesazi ukuba umele aqhubeke emkhonza. Nathi simele senze njalo.

6. Zeziphi ezinye ‘zezinto ezingasemva’ ekusenokufuneka sizilibale?

⁶ Singenza njani ukuze ‘sizilibale izinto ezingasemva’ njengoPawulos? Abanye bethu kusenokufuneka balwe nzima ukuze bayeke ukuzisola ngezono abakha bazenza. Ukuba kunjalo nakuwe, kunokukunceda kakhulu ukufunda ngentlawulelo. Sisenokuyeka ukuzigweba ukuba siyafunda ngentlawulelo, sicinge ngayo size sithandaze. Sisenokude siyeke nokucinga ukuba sinetyala ngezinto uYehova asele esixolele ngazo. Nantsi enye into esinokuyifunda kuPawulos. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba abanye bethu bancama imisebenzi eyayinokubenza babe nemali eninzi ukuze basebenzele uYehova ngakumbi. Ukuba wenze loo nto, unokuzilibala izinto ezingasemva ngokungahlali ucinga ngezinto obunokuba nazo ngoku. (Num. 11:4-6; INtshu. 7:10) “Izinto ezingasemva” isenokuba zizinto esikhe sazenza kwintlangano kaYehova okanye iingxaki esiye sazinyamezela. Kakade, ukucinga ngendlela uYehova aye wasisikelela waza wasinceda ngayo kwiminyaka edlulileyo kungasinceda sisondele ngakumbi kuTata wethu. Kodwa ke, asifuni ukucinga ukuba simsebenzele kakhulu uYehova, kangangokuba akusekho nto sinokuphinda siyenze.​—1 Kor. 15:58.

7. Kweyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte 9:24-27, amaKristu amele enze ntoni ukuze aphumelele kugqatso lobomi? Yenza umzekelo.

 ⁷ UPawulos wayekuqonda kakuhle oko kwathethwa nguYesu xa wathi ‘masizibhokoxe ngamandla.’ (Luka 13:23, 24) Wayesazi ukuba umele azimisele njengoYesu ade ayokufa. Wade wafanisa ukuba ngumKristu nokubaleka elugqatsweni. (Funda eyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte 9:24-27.) Umntu obaleka elugqatsweni akazihoyi izinto ezinokumphazamisa, kodwa eyona nto ibalulekileyo kuye kukufika entanjeni. Ngokomzekelo, namhlanje abantu basenokubaleka kwisitrato esineevenkile nezinye izinto eziphazamisayo. Ucinga ukuba ikhona imbaleki enokuma ize ilibale kukubuka izinto ezikwezo venkile? Ayinakuyenza loo nto ukuba ifuna ukufika kuqala entanjeni. Kugqatso lobomi, nathi kufuneka singazihoyi izinto eziphazamisayo. Nathi sinokuphumelela kolu gqatso lobomi njengoPawulos ukuba siyazimisela ize eyona nto iphambili kuthi ibe kukukhonza uYehova.

8. Zeziphi iingxaki ezintathu esiza kuthetha ngazo?

⁸ Makhe sithethe ngezinto ezintathu ezinokusityhafisa kolu gqatso. Eyokuqala, kuxa izinto ebesizilindele zingade zenzeke. Eyesibini, kuxa sigula, ize eyesithathu ibe kuxa iingxaki esinazo zingapheli. Sinokuncedakala xa sifunda ngendlela abanye abenza ngayo xa babenezi ngxaki.​—Fil. 3:17.

9. Yintoni enokwenzeka xa izinto ebesizilindele zingade zenzeke?

⁹ Xa into esiyilindileyo ingade yenzeke. Sizilindele ngamehlo abomvu izinto uYehova asithembise zona. Xa uHabhakuki wacela uYehova ukuba aphelise izinto ezimbi ezazisenzeka kwaYuda, uYehova wathi kuye ‘makahlale elindile.’ (Hab. 2:3) Kodwa ke, sisenokuzibona sesingakhuthelanga njengakuqala xa izinto ebesizilindele zingade zenzeke. Sisenokude sityhafe. (IMize. 13:12) Le nto yakha yenzeka malunga no-1914. Abazalwana noodade abaninzi abathanjisiweyo  babecinga ukuba baza kuya ezulwini ngo-1914. Benza ntoni xa yayingade yenzeke le nto babeyilindele?

10. URoyal noPearl benza ntoni xa yayingade yenzeke into ababeyilindele?

¹⁰ Makhe sithethe ngabantu ababini abaqhubeka bekhonza uYehova nangona ingazange yenzeke into ababeyilindele. UMzalwan’ uRoyal Spatz wabhaptizwa ngo-1908 eneminyaka eyi-20. Wayeqinisekile ukuba uza kuya ezulwini kungekudala. Ngenxa yaloo nto, xa wayecela uPearl amtshate ngo-1911, wathi kuye: “Ukuba siza kutshata, kubhetele sitshate ngoku kuba uyayazi into eza kwenzeka ngo-1914.” Ngaba bayeka ukubaleka kolu gqatso lobomi kuba bengazange baye ezulwini ngo-1914? Hayi. Kaloku eyona nto yayibalulekile kubo yayingekokuya ezulwini, kodwa yayikukwenza ukuthanda kukaThixo. Babezixelele ukuba abazukuyeka ukubaleka kolu gqatso ibe baza kuqhubeka benyamezele. Ngaphezu koko, uRoyal noPearl baqhubeka bekhuthele ibe bethembekile de bayokusweleka emva kweminyaka emininzi eyalandelayo. Siqinisekile ukuba nawe sewufuna ukuba uYehova acoce igama lakhe, abonise abantu ukuba nguye omele alawule, aze azenze nezinto asithembise zona. Qiniseka ukuba ezi zinto ziza kwenzeka ngexesha uYehova alikhethe ngokwakhe. Okwangoku, masizimisele ekukhonzeni uThixo wethu size siqiniseke ukuba izinto esizilindileyo ezingade zenzeke azisityhafisi.

11-12. Yintoni esenza siqiniseke ukuba singamkhonza uYehova sithembekile enoba asisenamandla? Yenza umzekelo.

¹¹ Xa siphelelwa ngamandla. Umntu kufuneka abe namandla ukuze akwazi ukubaleka kugqatso. Kodwa thina sinokuba nokholo olungakumbi size sikhuthale ekukhonzeni uYehova enoba siphelelwe ngamandla. Ngapha koko, abazalwana noodade abaninzi abangasenamandla basafuna ukumkhonza kangangoko banako uYehova. (2 Kor. 4:16) Ngokomzekelo, xa uMzalwan’ uArthur Secord * wayeneminyaka eyi-88, wayesele eneminyaka eyi-55 eseBheteli. Ngeny’ imini, kwafika inesi engqengqe ebhedini yakhe izomhoya, yaza yathi kuye: “Mzalwan’ uSecord, ininzi into omenzele yona uYehova.” Kodwa ke, eyona nto yayibalulekile kuMzalwan’ uSecord yayingezozinto awakha wazenza. Wayijonga emehlweni le nesi, wancuma waza wathi kuyo: “Ewe, unyanisile. Kodwa azibalulekanga izinto esakha sazenza. Eyona nto ibalulekileyo, yile siyenza ngoku.”

¹² Mhlawumbi kudala ukhonza uYehova, kodwa ngoku impilo ayisakuvumeli ukuba wenze izinto obukade uzenza. Ukuba  kunjalo, ungatyhafi. Qiniseka ukuba uYehova akazilibelanga ibe uyazixabisa zonke izinto owakha wamenzela zona. (Heb. 6:10) Khumbula nokuba uYehova akajongi ukuba zingakanani izinto esimenzela zona ukuze abone ukuba siyamthanda okanye asimthandi. Kwakhona, sibonisa ukuba siyamthanda uYehova xa sicinga izinto ezintle naxa sizimisela kwizinto esikwaziyo ukuzenza. (Kol. 3:23) UYehova akalindelanga ukuba senze izinto esingenakukwazi ukuzenza.—Marko 12:43, 44.

13. Ibali lika-Anatoly noLidiya lingakunceda njani uqhubeke unyamezele noba uneengxaki ezingapheliyo?

¹³ Xa sineengxaki ezingapheliyo. Abanye abakhonzi bakaThixo baye banyamezela izinto ezibuhlungu baza batshutshiswa kangangeminyaka. Ngokomzekelo, utata ka-Anatoly Melnik * wabanjwa waza wasiwa eSiberia. Le ndawo ikude kangangeekhilomitha eziyi-7 000 ukusuka kokwabo, eMoldova. Yonke le nto yenzeka uAnatoly eneminyaka eyi-12 nje qha. Kwagqitha nje unyaka, kwabanjwa uAnatoly, umama wakhe, utamkhulu nomakhulu wakhe, baza nabo basiwa eSiberia. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, bakwazi ukuya kwiintlanganiso ezaziqhutyelwa kwenye ilali. Kwakufuneka bahambe kangangeekhilomitha eziyi-30 ekhephini, kubanda nyhani. Kamva, uMzalwan’ uMelnik wabanjwa kangangeminyaka emithathu. Le nto yenzeka enenkosikazi ekuthiwa nguLidiya kunye nomntwana owayenonyaka ezelwe. Nangona wayenezi ngxaki, uAnatoly nentsapho yakhe zange banikezele kolu gqatso lobomi. Ngoku uMzalwan’ uAnatoly uneminyaka eyi-82 ibe ukwiKomiti yeSebe ekuMbindi weAsia. Nathi, njengoAnatoly noLidiya, masiqhubeke sinyamezele size simkhonze ngamandla ethu onke uYehova njengoko besisenza ngaphambili.—Gal. 6:9.

14. UPawulos waqonda ukuba kufuneka enze ntoni ukuze afumane “umvuzo wobizo lwaphezulu lukaThixo?”

¹⁴ UPawulos wayezixelele ukuba uza kulugqiba ugqatso lobomi. Kuba wayengumKristu othanjisiweyo, eyona nto wayeyifuna yayikukufumana “umvuzo wobizo lwaphezulu lukaThixo.” Kodwa wayesazi ukuba ukuze yenzeke loo nto kwakufuneka ‘awusukele,’ ngamany’ amazwi kwakufuneka azimisele. (Fil. 3:14) UPawulos wenza umzekelo obangela umdla ukuze ancede  abantu baseFilipi bazimisele ukufumana owabo umvuzo.

15. Ngowuphi umzekeliso owenziwa nguPawulos ukuze akhuthaze amaKristu aseFilipi ukuba azimisele ukufumana umvuzo wawo?

¹⁵ UPawulos wakhumbuza amaKristu aseFilipi ukuba wona ngawasezulwini. (Fil. 3:20) Kutheni ayengamele ayilibale loo nto? Ngelo xesha, abantu babefuna ukuba ngabaseRoma ukuze bafumane amalungelo athile. * Kodwa amaKristu athanjisiweyo ayeza kuhlala kwindawo ebhetele aze alawulwe ngurhulumente obhetele kakhulu kunowaseRoma. Ngenxa yoko, wathi ‘ukuziphatha kwawo makube kokuzifaneleyo iindaba ezilungileyo ezingoKristu.’ (Fil. 1:27) AmaKristu athanjisiweyo namhlanje angumzekelo kuthi kuba ayazimisela ukuze aphile ngonaphakade ezulwini.

16. Ngokutsho kwamaFilipi 4:6, 7, yintoni esimele siqhubeke siyenza enoba sinethemba lokuphila ezulwini okanye kwiparadesi esemhlabeni?

¹⁶ Enoba sinethemba lokuphila ezulwini okanye kwiparadesi esemhlabeni, simele sizimisele. Masizilibale izinto ezingasemva size singavumeli nantoni na isiyekise ukukhonza uYehova enoba kwenzeka ntoni kuthi. (Fil. 3:16) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba kudala ulindele ukuba uYehova azenze izinto akuthembise zona, okanye sele ukhulile ibe awusenamandla. Mhlawumbi kudala unyamezele izinto ezimbi okanye utshutshiswa kangangeminyaka. Enoba kwenzeka ntoni, ‘ungaxhaleli nantoni na.’ Endaweni yoko, mxelele uThixo yonk’ into ibe uza kukunceda uzole ngendlela ongakhange uyicinge.—Funda amaFilipi 4:6, 7.

17. Siza kuthetha ngantoni kwinqaku elilandelayo?

¹⁷ Imbaleki iye izimisele kakhulu xa sele iza kufika entanjeni. Nathi masizimisele ukulugqiba olu gqatso lobomi size singavumeli nantoni na isiphazamise. Sifuna ukuqhubeka sibaleka kolu gqatso kangangoko sinako njengoko sele sikufuphi phambili. Yintoni enokusinceda sihlale sinyamezele? Inqaku elilandelayo liza kusinceda sizazi ezona zinto zimele zize kuqala kuthi nezinto esinokuzenza ukuze ‘siqiniseke ngezinto ezibaluleke ngakumbi.’​—Fil. 1:9, 10.