1. Ngokutsho kwama-1 Tesalonika 5:11, ngowuphi umsebenzi esiwenzayo?

 NGABA kwibandla okulo kuye kwakhiwa okanye kwalungiswa iHolo YoBukumkani? Ukuba uthi ewe, ngokuqinisekileyo usayikhumbula intlanganiso yakho yokuqala kuloo Holo. Wambulela kakhulu uYehova. Phofu inoba wawuvuya kakhulu kangangokuba wawukhala, ungakwazi nokuyicula ingoma yokuvula. IiHolo zethu zoBukumkani ezakhiwe kakuhle zenza uYehova adunyiswe. Kodwa kukho nomnye umsebenzi wokwakha esithi xa siwenza adunyiswe kakhulu. Lo ayingomsebenzi wokwakha nje iindawo esikhonzela kuzo, sakha nabantu abaze kukhonza kwezi ndawo. Umpostile uPawulos wayecinga ngaloo nto xa wayebhala amazwi aku-1 Tesalonika 5:11, othathwe kuwo umxholo weli nqaku.—Wafunde.

2. Yintoni esiza kuyifunda kweli nqaku?

² Umpostile uPawulos wayeyazi kakuhle indlela yokwakha abazalwana bakhe, ngoko ngomnye wabona bantu sinokufunda kubo. Wayebavela abantu. Kweli nqaku siza kubona indlela awabanceda ngayo (1) banyamezela iingxaki, (2) benza kwakho uxolo, (3) baqinisa nokholo lwabo. Masibone indlela esingamlinganisa ngayo ekwakheni abazalwana noodade.—1 Kor. 11:1.

3. Nangona uPawulos wayexakeke ngumsebenzi wokwenza iintente, ngaba wayilibala eyona nto yayibalulekile ebomini bakhe?

³ UPawulos wayebathanda kakhulu abazalwana bakhe. Wayeqhelene neemeko ezinzima, ngoko wayekwazi ukubavela abazalwana noodade xa besezingxakini. Wakha akabi  namali, kwaza kwafuneka asebenze ukuze yena nabahlobo bakhe bafumane izinto abazidingayo. (IZe. 20:34) Umsebenzi wakhe yayikukwenza iintente. Ukufika kwakhe eKorinte, wasebenza noAkwila noPrisila, nabo ababesenza iintente. Kodwa “qho ngesabatha” wayeshumayela kumaYuda nakumaGrike. Emva koko, xa kwafika uSilas noTimoti, “uPawulos waxakeka kakhulu kukushumayela ilizwi.” (IZe. 18:2-5) Zange alibale ukuba eyona nto wayeyiphilela yayikukukhonza uYehova. Kwakulula kuPawulos ukukhuthaza abazalwana noodade kuba babembona exakeke kakhulu ngumsebenzi wokushumayela, ezama nokuziphilisa. Wabakhumbuza ukuba bangavumeli iingxaki zobomi nokuhoya iintsapho kubabangele bangazihoyi ‘ezona zinto zibalulekileyo,’ iindlela zokukhonza uYehova.—Fil. 1:10.

4. UPawulos noTimoti babanceda njani abanye abazalwana noodade bakwazi ukunyamezela ukuphathwa kakubi?

⁴ Kungabanga xesha lide ibandla laseTesalonika likhona, abazalwana noodade balapho ababesand’ ukuba ngamakholwa, baphathwa kakubi kakhulu. Lathi lakungamfumani uPawulos noSilas igquba labantu abakhohlakeleyo, ‘larhuqa abanye abazalwana labasa kubalawuli besixeko,’ lisithi: “La madoda ayayidelela imithetho kaKesare.” (IZe. 17:6, 7) Khawucinge indlela abamele ukuba boyika ngayo abo bazalwana babesand’ ukuba ngamaKristu xa bafumanisa ukuba amadoda esixeko abajikele. Babesenokutyhafa ekukhonzeni uYehova, kodwa uPawulos wayengafuni yenzeke loo nto. Nangona yena noSilas kwakufuneka bahambe, baqiniseka ukuba elo bandla litsha lihoywe kakuhle. Wakhumbuza abazalwana baseTesalonika esithi: “Sathumela uTimoti, umzalwana wethu . . . , ukuba aniqinise aze anithuthuzele ukuze nibe nokholo oluqinileyo, ukuze kungabikho mntu ogungqiswa yile ntshutshiso.” (1 Tes. 3:2, 3) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba uTimoti naye wakhe waphathwa kakubi kwidolophu yakowabo iListra. Wayibona indlela uPawulos awayebaqinisa ngayo abazalwana apho. Ngenxa yokuba wayibona indlela uYehova awabanceda ngayo abazalwana baseListra, uTimoti wayenokubaqinisekisa abazalwana noodade baseTesalonika ukuba nabo uYehova wayeza kubanceda.—IZe. 14:8, 19-22; Heb. 12:2.

5. Ukukhuthazwa ngomnye umdala kwamnceda njani uBryant?

⁵ UPawulos waphinda wabaqinisa njani abazalwana noodade? Ukubuyela kwabo eListra, eIkoniyo nakwa-Antiyokwe, uPawulos noBharnabhas “bakhetha namadoda aza kuba ngabadala kwibandla ngalinye.” (IZe. 14:21-23) Siqinisekile ukuba loo madoda awathuthuzela amabandla, njengokuba abadala besenza namhlanje. Nantsi into ethethwa ngomnye umzalwana, uBryant: “Xa ndandina-15 utata wemka ekhaya, yena umama wakhutshelwa ngaphandle. Yayingathi ndilahliwe, ndityhafe nokutyhafa.” Yintoni eyanceda uBryant wanyamezela? Uthi: “UTony ongumdala wayencokola nam xa sikwiintlanganiso naxa singekho kuzo. Wandibalisela ngabantu ababonwabile nangona babeneengxaki. Wandifundela iNdumiso 27:10, futhi ehlala ethetha ngoHezekiya, owakhonza uThixo ethembekile nangona utata wakhe wayengalunganga.” Yamnceda njani ke loo nto uBryant? Uthi: “Ukukhuthazwa nguTony kwandinceda ndaba kwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo, futhi ndiyawuthanda nyhani umsebenzi endiwenzayo.” Badala, hlalani nibakhangela abo  bafana noBryant, nabadinga ukukhuthazwa ‘ngelizwi elilungileyo.’—IMize. 12:25.

6. UPawulos wawasebenzisa njani amabali obomi ukuze akhuthaze abazalwana noodade?

⁶ UPawulos wakhumbuza abazalwana noodade ukuba kukho ‘ilifu elikhulu lamangqina’ awancedwa nguYehova anyamezela iingxaki. (Heb. 12:1) Wayesazi ukuba la mabali abantu bakudala abaye banyamezela iingxaki ayeza kubakhuthaza abazalwana noodade batsho bahlale bejonge ‘kwisixeko sikaThixo ophilayo.’ (Heb. 12:22) Kuyafana ke nanamhlanje. Ngubani okungamkhuthaziyo ukufunda ngendlela uYehova awamnceda ngayo uGidiyon, uBharaki, uDavide, uSamuweli, nabanye ababephila kudala? (Heb. 11:32-35) Nakule mihla bakhona abantu abanokholo esinokufunda kubo. Kwikomkhulu lehlabathi sisoloko sifumana iileta zabazalwana noodade abaye bomelezwa kukufunda ibali lobomi bomnye wabakhonzi bakaYehova abathembekileyo banamhlanje.

7. Yintoni esiyifundayo kwinto eyathethwa nguPawulos kumaRoma 14:19-21?

⁷ Siyabakha abazalwana noodade xa sithetha futhi sisenza izinto ezenza kubekho uxolo ebandleni. Asivumeli ukungaziboni ngasonye izinto kusenze singamanyani. Siyayekelela xa into ingaphikisani nemigaqo yeBhayibhile. Nanku umzekelo. Kwibandla laseRoma kwakukho amaKristu angamaYuda nangengomaYuda. Wathi wakuphelelwa uMthetho owabhalwa nguMoses, yaphela nento yokuba kubekho izinto ezingatyiwayo. (Marko 7:19) Ukususela ngoko, amanye amaKristu angamaYuda akhululeka ukuba angatya nantoni na ayifunayo. Kodwa amanye ayengayiginyisisi ncam loo nto. Le nto yenza ibandla alamanyana. UPawulos wabethelela indlela ekubaluleke ngayo ukwenza kubekho uxolo, esithi: “Kubhetele ukuba ungayityi inyama, ungayiseli iwayini, okanye ungenzi nantoni na emkhubekisayo umzalwana wakho.” (Funda amaRoma 14:19-21.) Ngaloo ndlela wanceda loo maKristu ayibona indlela ezo ngxabano ezazibakhathaza ngayo abanye, nezazilonakalisa ngayo ibandla lilonke. Wayengenangxaki yokutshintsha indlela azenza ngayo izinto ukuze angakhubekisi abanye. (1 Kor. 9:19-22) Nathi sinokubakha abanye size senze kubekho uxolo xa singabanyanzeli ukuba benze izinto ngendlela efunwa sithi.

8. Wenza ntoni uPawulos xa kwakukho ingxaki eyayinokwenza kungabikho xolo ebandleni?

⁸ UPawulos wasifundisa indlela yokuhlalisana ngoxolo xa kukho izinto esingavumelaniyo ngazo nabanye. Ngokomzekelo, abanye ebandleni babesithi abantu abangengomaYuda abaye baguquka bangamaKristu maboluke, mhlawumbi kuba babengafuni kuthethwe kakubi ngabo ngabantu abangengomaKristu. (Gal. 6:12) UPawulos wayengavumelani tu nabo, kodwa kunokuba anyanzelise indlela yena azibona ngayo izinto, wacela uncedo kubapostile nabadala eYerusalem. (IZe. 15:1, 2) Le nto wayenzayo yawanceda loo maKristu ukuba ahlale evuya kuze kubekho uxolo ebandleni.—IZe. 15:30, 31.

9. Singamlinganisa njani uPawulos?

⁹ Xa kukho into ebalulekileyo ekungavisiswana ngayo, senza kubekho uxolo ngokucela uncedo kumadoda amiselwe nguYehova ukuba akhathalele ibandla. Amaxesha amaninzi into esimele siyenze  sidla ngokuyifumana kwiimpapasho zethu ezithetha ngeBhayibhile nakwimiyalelo esiyinikwa yintlangano. Ukuba silandela ulwalathiso kunokuba sifune izinto zenzeke ngendlela yethu, senza kubekho uxolo ebandleni.

10. Yeyiphi enye into uPawulos awayenzayo ukuze kubekho uxolo ebandleni?

¹⁰ UPawulos wayesenza kubekho uxolo ebandleni ngokuthetha kakhulu ngeempawu ezintle zabazalwana noodade. Ngokomzekelo, xa wayegqibezela ileta awayeyibhalela ibandla laseRoma, abantu abaninzi wababiza ngamagama, kwabanye echaza nezinto ezintle abazenzayo. Singamlinganisa ngokungonqeni ukuthetha ngeempawu ezintle zabazalwana noodade. Loo nto yenza abazalwana ebandleni bamanyane baze bathandane kakhulu.

11. Xa kukho izinto esingavani ngazo nabazalwana noodade, yintoni esinokuyenza ukuze kuhlale kukho uxolo?

¹¹ Nabanye abantu abanokholo oluqinileyo ekudala bengamaKristu bakhe baphikisane. Loo nto yenzeka kuPawulos noBharnabhas. Kwakukubi, la madoda ephikisana ngokuba ahambe na noMarko kuhambo lwawo lobuvangeli olulandelayo. “Baxambulisana benomsindo,” bayeka nokuhamba kunye. (IZe. 15:37-39) Kodwa uPawulos, uBharnabhas noMarko bayilungisa loo nto, baxolelana, bebonisa ukuba eyona nto yayibalulekile kubo yayiluxolo nokumanyana kwebandla. Ekuhambeni kwexesha uPawulos wathetha kakuhle ngoBharnabhas noMarko. (1 Kor. 9:6; Kol. 4:10) Ngoko ukuba kukho into esingavani ngayo nabazalwana noodade, masiyilungise size siqhubeke sijonga izinto ezintle kubo. Loo nto iza kwenza kubekho uxolo ebandleni lize limanyane.—Efe. 4:3.

12. Zeziphi ezinye iingxaki abanazo abazalwana noodade?

¹² Siyabakha abazalwana noodade xa siqinisa ukholo lwabo. Abanye kuhlekiswa ngabo ngabantu abazalana nabo abangengomaNgqina, abantu abaphangela nabo okanye abafunda nabo. Abanye bagula kakhulu, okanye bazama ukuyeka ukuziva buhlungu ngenxa yezinto eziye zabehlela. Kanti abanye sekuyiminyaka bebhaptiziwe ibe kudala belinde ukuba eli hlabathi litshatyalaliswe. Ezi isenokuba zizinto ezifuna ukuba abazalwana noodade babonise ukuba ukholo lwabo luqine kangakanani. Nangexesha labapostile amaKristu ayenazo iingxaki ezifana nezi. UPawulos wabaqinisa njani abazalwana noodade?

13. UPawulos wabanceda njani abantu ekwakuhlekiswa ngabo ngenxa yezinto ababezikholelwa?

¹³ UPawulos wasebenzisa iZibhalo ukuze aqinise ukholo lwabazalwana noodade. Ngokomzekelo, kungenzeka ukuba amaKristu angamaYuda ayengazi ukuba mawaphendule athini xa abantu abazalana nawo abangakholwayo besithi unqulo lwamaYuda lubhetele kunolwamaKristu. Ngokuqinisekileyo ileta umpostile uPawulos awayibhalela loo maKristu yawaqinisa. (Heb. 1:5, 6; 2:2, 3; 9:24, 25) Zazinengqondo nyhani izinto ezazikuloo leta kangangokuba zazinokuwanceda akwazi ukuphendula abantu abangawafuniyo. Nathi singabanceda abazalwana noodade ekuhlekiswa ngabo basebenzise iimpapasho ezithetha ngeBhayibhile ukuze bacacise izizathu zezinto abazikholelwayo. Kanti xa kuhlekiswa ngabo basebatsha ngenxa yokuba bekholelwa ukuba izinto zadalwa, sinokubabonisa izinto ekuthethwa ngazo kwincwadana ethi Ngaba Izinto Eziphilayo  Zadalwa? neyesiNgesi ethi The Origin of Life—Five Questions Worth Asking, ukuze bacacise ukuba kutheni bekholelwa ukuba izinto zadalwa.

14. Nangona uPawulos wayexakeke ngumsebenzi wokushumayela nokufundisa, yintoni enye awayeyenza?

¹⁴ UPawulos wakhuthaza abazalwana noodade ukuba babonise uthando ngokwenza “izinto ezilungileyo.” (Heb. 10:24) Wayengabancedi nje ngezinto awayezithetha, kodwa nangezinto awayezenza. Ngokomzekelo, xa kwakukho indlala kwaYuda, wabanceda ngokubathumelela izinto ababezidinga. (IZe. 11:27-30) Phofu nangona wayexakeke kukushumayela nokufundisa, wayesoloko ekhangela iindlela zokunceda abantu abadingayo. (Gal. 2:10) Loo nto yabenza baqiniseka ukuba uYehova uza kubanika izinto abazidingayo. Nathi xa sinikela ngexesha lethu, amandla ethu size sisebenzise ubuchule esinabo xa kukho intlekele, siqinisa ukholo lwabazalwana noodade. Siyayenza le nto naxa sinikela qho kumsebenzi owenziwa emhlabeni wonke. Ngezi ndlela nangezinye, sinceda abazalwana noodade bamthembe uYehova ukuba akasoze abashiye.

15-16. Simele siwaphathe njani amaKristu aphelelwa lukholo?

¹⁵ UPawulos wayengawancami amaKristu awayephelelwa lukholo. Wayewavela, ethetha nawo ngendlela ekhuthazayo. (Heb. 6:9; 10:39) Ngokomzekelo, kwileta awayibhalela amaKristu akwaYuda wayesebenzisa amagama afana nelithi “thina,” ebonisa ukuba naye wayemele azenze izinto awayewacebisa zona. (Heb. 2:1, 3) NjengoPawulos, nathi asiwancami amaKristu aphelelwa lukholo. Kunoko siyawakha ngokubonisa ukuba sinomdla nyhani kuwo. Ngaloo ndlela siyawaqinisekisa  ukuba siyawathanda. Ukuba sinobubele xa sithetha nawo, ziza kutsho ziwakhuthaze izinto esizithethayo.

¹⁶ UPawulos wabaqinisekisa abazalwana noodade ukuba uYehova wayezibona izinto ezintle ababezenza. (Heb. 10:32-34) Sinokwenza into efanayo naxa sikhuthaza umKristu ophelelwa lukholo. Singamcela asibalisele ngendlela awayifumana ngayo inyaniso okanye simkhuthaze ukuba acinge ngeendlela uYehova akhe wamnceda ngazo. Singasebenzisa elo xesha ukuze simqinisekise ukuba uYehova akazilibalanga izinto ebekade emenzela zona futhi akazukumshiya. (Heb. 6:10; 13:5, 6) Ukuncokola ngezi zinto kungabakhuthaza abo bazalwana noodade ukuba baqhubeke bekhonza uYehova.

17. Yintoni esinokuqhubeka sizama ukuba ngamachule kuyo? Cacisa.

¹⁷ Njengokuba umakhi esiya esiba lichule kumsebenzi awenzayo ngokuya lihamba ixesha, nathi sinokuya sisiba ngamachule ekwakheni abazalwana noodade. Sinokubanceda abanye banyamezele iingxaki abanazo ngokubabalisela ngamanye amaKristu aye anyamezela. Nazi izinto onokuzenza ukuze kuhlale kukho uxolo; thetha ngeempawu ezintle abanazo abantu, lungisa xa kukho into esenokulwenza lungabikho. Xa kukho into eniye naxambulisana ngayo, zama indlela yokuba niphinde nixolelane. Sinokuqhubeka silwakha ukholo lwabazalwana noodade ngokuncokola nabo ngeenyaniso ezibalulekileyo eziseBhayibhileni, ngokubanceda xa bedinga uncedo nangokubakhuthaza xa bephelelwa lukholo.

18. Yintoni ozimisele ukuyenza?

¹⁸ AmaKristu akha izakhiwo zentlangano onwabile. Nathi sinokonwaba xa sisakha abazalwana noodade ngokuqinisa ukholo lwabo. Izindlu ezakhiwayo zinokuphelelwa lixesha, kodwa imiphumo yokwakha abazalwana noodade ingahlala ikho ngonaphakade. Ngoko masizimisele ‘ukuhlala sikhuthazana yaye sisakhana.’—1 Tes. 5:11.