1-2. (a) IMizekeliso 16:31 ithi simele siwajonge njani amaKristu akhulileyo? (b) Yeyiphi imibuzo eza kuphendulwa kweli nqaku?

 ABANTU abaye kubuka ipaki yaseArkansas, eMerika, basenokubona iidayimani zizihlalele nje emhlabeni. Azicaci ukuba ziidayimani kuba azilungiswanga kakuhle ukuze kwenziwe ngazo izinto ezintle zokuzihombisa. Loo nto isenokwenza abantu bangaqapheli ukuba ngamatye abalulekileyo nabiza imali eninzi, bazinyathele bagqithe bengahoyanga.

² NamaKristu akhulileyo afana nezi dayimani zingamatye abiza imali. ILizwi LikaThixo lifanisa izimvi zabo nesithsaba. (Funda iMizekeliso 16:31; 20:29) Kodwa sisenokungayiqapheli loo nto kubo. Ulutsha oluyiqondayo into yokuba amaKristu akhulileyo afana namatye abiza imali eninzi, lunokufumana into ebaluleke ngaphezu kobutyebi kuwo. Kweli nqaku siza kuphendula le mibuzo mithathu: Kutheni uYehova ewafanisa namatye abalulekileyo abiza imali eninzi? Kutheni ebalulekile nje kwintlangano yakhe? Ziintoni esinokuzifunda kuwo?

3. Ngokutsho kweNdumiso 92:12-15, kutheni uYehova ewathanda futhi ebalulekile kuye amaKristu akhulileyo nathembekileyo?

³ UYehova uThixo uyawathanda futhi abalulekile kuye amaKristu akhulileyo abambelele kuye. Uwazi kakuhle, ezithanda kakhulu neempawu ezintle anazo. Uvuya kakhulu xa efundisa ulutsha ubulumko anabo nezinto azifunde kuyo yonke le minyaka amkhonze ngayo. (Yobhi 12:12; IMize. 1:1-4) Uyithanda kakhulu nendlela anyamezele ngayo. (Mal. 3:16) Ubomi bawo bebungekho lula; kodwa ukholo lwawo khange lugungqe. Ithemba analo lexesha elizayo liqine ngaphezu kokuba lalinjalo xa ayesand’ ufunda  ngoThixo. UYehova uwathanda kakhulu kuba khange ayeke ukuthetha ngegama lakhe nangoku ‘alupheleyo.’—Funda iNdumiso 92:12-15.

4. Ziintoni ezinokubakhuthaza abazalwana noodade abalupheleyo?

⁴ Ukuba uya usiba mdala, qiniseka ukuba uYehova akasoze ayilibale imisebenzi oyenzileyo. (Heb. 6:10) Uye wakhuthala kumsebenzi wokushumayela, loo nto iyamvuyisa uTata wethu osezulwini. Unyamezele izinto ezinzima nezixhel’ intliziyo. Uye wayithobela waza wayimela imigaqo yeBhayibhile, uye wazama ukuyenza ngendlela efuneka ngayo imisebenzi obuyinikwa entlanganweni, khange uyeke nokuqeqesha abanye abavakalisi. Uzame ngazo zonke iindlela ukuhambisana nentlangano kaYehova, xa itshintsha indlela ebizenza ngayo izinto, nawe ubutshintsha. Ububakhuthaza abavakalisi abakwinkonzo yexesha elizeleyo. Ukuthanda kakhulu uYehova uThixo kuba uye wabambelela kuye. Uthembisa ukuba “akazukubalahla abo banamathela kuye”! (INdu. 37:28) Khawuve la mazwi akuqinisekisa ngawo: ‘Ndiza kuqhubeka ndikuthwele nokuba sowunezimvi.’ (Isa. 46:4) Ngoko, ungaze ucinge ukuba, kuba sowumdala awusabalulekanga kwintlangano yakhe. Ubaluleke kakhulu!

5. Yintoni ekufuneka abantu abadala bangayilibali?

⁵ Zininzi iindlela abaluncedo ngazo abantu abadala entlanganweni. Abasenamandla njengakuqala, kodwa zininzi izinto abazifundileyo kule minyaka bayiphilileyo. UYehova unokuqhubeka ebasebenzisa ngeendlela ezininzi. Loo nto siyibona kwindlela awabasebenzisa ngayo abantu abadala ekuthethwa ngabo eBhayibhileni, nabala maxesha.

6-7. Ngoobani abantu abadala ekuthethwa ngabo eBhayibhileni awabasikelelayo uYehova ngenxa yokuthembeka kwabo?

⁶ IBhayibhile ithetha ngabantu esinokufunda kubo ababebambelele kuYehova, ababengazange bayeke ukumkhonza naxa sebebadala. Ngokomzekelo, uMoses waba ngumprofeti kaYehova nenkokheli yamaSirayeli ena-80. Mhlawumbi  uDaniyeli yena wade wadlula kwiminyaka eyi-90 esengumprofeti kaYehova. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba nompostile uYohane wayekuloo minyaka xa waphefumlelwa ukuba abhale incwadi yeSityhilelo.

⁷ Abanye abakhonzi bakaYehova abathembekileyo zange badume nganto, kusenokwenzeka ukuba loo nto yayibenza bangaqapheleki. Kodwa yena wayebabona, wade wababonisa indlela ababulela ngayo ngokuthembeka kwabo. Ngokomzekelo, indoda ‘eyayililungisa, isoyika uThixo,’ uSimeyon, akukho nto ingako ithethwayo ngayo eBhayibhileni, kodwa uYehova wayeyazi kakuhle. Wayenza yabona usana olunguYesu, yaprofeta ngalo nangomama walo. (Luka 2:22, 25-35) Cinga nangomprofetikazi owayengumhlolokazi, uAna, wayeneminyaka eyi-84, kodwa ‘wayesiya qho etempileni.’ UYehova wamsikelela ngaloo nto, wamenza walubona usana olunguYesu. Wayebathanda kakhulu aba bakhonzi bakhe, uSimeyon noAna.​—Luka 2:36-38.

8-9. Wenza ntoni uLois akuswelekelwa ngumyeni?

⁸ Nakule mihla, baninzi abantu abadala ababambelele kuYehova olunokufunda kubo ulutsha. Khawuve into eyenzeka kudade Lois Didur. Waba nguvulindlela okhethekileyo eKhanada ena-21. Emva koko, benomyeni wakhe uJohn baba kumsebenzi wesiphaluka iminyaka emininzi. Emva koko baba seBheteli eKhanada iminyaka engaphezu kweyi-20. Xa wayena-58, bacelwa ukuba baye eUkraine. Bathini bakucelwa? Ngaba bacinga ukuba abanakuya kwelinye ilizwe kuba sebebadala kakhulu? Bavuma, uJohn waba kwiKomiti YeSebe lalapho. Kwiminyaka eyi-7 belapho, uJohn wasweleka. ULois zange ayeke ukusebenza eBheteli eUkraine. Ngoku una-81, kodwa usamkhonza ethembekile uYehova nentsapho yaseBheteli emthanda kakhulu.

⁹ Abahlolokazi abafana noLois basenokungahoywa ngendlela ababehoywe ngayo besaphila abayeni babo. Sekunjalo, basabalulekile futhi basathandeka kakhulu. UYehova ubathanda nyhani oodade abaye bamkhonza nabayeni babo iminyaka emininzi, abasabambelele kuye nangoku. (1 Tim. 5:3) Balukhuthaza kakhulu ulutsha.

10. Yintoni esiyifundayo kuTony?

¹⁰ Nabantu abadala abahlala bodwa okanye abahlala nabantwana babo sinokufunda izinto ezininzi kukholo lwabo. Omnye umzalwana onjalo nguTony. Wabhaptizwa ena-20 ePennsylvania, eMerika, ngoAgasti 1942. Kungadlulanga xesha lide ebhaptiziwe, kwathiwa makabe lijoni. Zange avume, waza wavalelwa iminyaka emibini neenyanga eziyi-6. Benomfazi wakhe uHilda bakhulisa abantwana  babo ababini bebafundisa ngoYehova. Iminyaka emininzi uTony ukhonze kumabandla amathathu engumnxibelelanisi wequmrhu labadala, enguye nomveleli wendibano. Wayeqhuba iintlanganiso etrongweni, efundisa namabanjwa iBhayibhile. Ngoku uneminyaka eyi-98, akakafuni ukuyeka ukusebenzela uYehova. Usamkhonza ngazo zonke iindlela akwazi ngazo ekunye nabazalwana noodade abasebandleni lakhe.

11. Yintoni esinokuyenza ebonisa ukuba siyabathanda abantu abadala abahlala bodwa?

¹¹ Yintoni esinokuyenza ebonisa ukuba siyabathanda futhi siyabahlonipha abantu abadala abazihlalelayo nabahlala nabantwana babo? Abadala bebandla banokwenza iindlela zokuba babekho kwiintlanganiso okanye bazimamele, babancede bakwazi nokushumayela. Sinokubenza babone ukuba sibahoyile ngokuya kubabona okanye sincokole nabo ngevideoconferencing. Abona sifuna ukubahoya kakhulu ngabahlala kude nebandla labo. Masisebenzele ukuba singaze sibalibale aba abantu badala. Kusenokuba nzima kwabanye ukuncokola ngezinto ezenzeke kubo. Ukuba siyababuza size simamele xa besixelela ngezinto ezibenze bakuvuyela ukuba kwintlangano kaYehova, banokusikhuthaza kakhulu.

12. Ngoobani esinokufumanisa ukuba bakhona nakwelethu ibandla?

¹² Sinokufumanisa ukuba nakwelethu ibandla sinabantu abadala esinokufunda izinto ezininzi kukholo lwabo. Iminyaka emininzi udade onguHarriette zange agungqe ekukhonzeni uYehova kwibandla lakowabo eNew Jersey, eMerika. Wemka apho waya kuhlala nentombi yakhe. Xa abazalwana bebandla awafikela kulo bazipha ixesha lokumazi, bafumanisa ukuba zininzi izinto abanokuzifunda kuye. Wabakhuthaza ngokubabalisela ngezinto ezazisenzeka entsimini phaa ngoo-1925 xa wayeqala ukufunda ngoYehova. Ngelo xesha, wayehamba netoothbrush qho xa esiya entsimini kuba wayesenokudibana namapolisa aye kumvalela. Ngo-1933 waba setrongweni iveki yonke. Le nto yenzeka kabini kuloo nyaka. Umyeni wakhe wayengeloNgqina kodwa zange amlahle. Xa wayesetrongweni, washiyeka ehoye abantwana babo abathathu. Ngokuqinisekileyo simele sibahloniphe abazalwana noodade abanokholo njengoHarriette!

13. Yintoni esiyifundileyo ngabazalwana noodade abakhulileyo?

¹³ Abazalwana noodade abakhulileyo babalulekile kuYehova nakwintlangano yakhe. Bazibonile iindlela ezininzi uYehova abonise ngazo ukuba le yintlangano yakhe, nendlela aye wabasikelela ngayo. Baye bafunda izinto ezibalulekileyo kwiimpazamo abazenzileyo. Mababe ‘ngumthombo wobulumko’ kuwe, ufunde kubo. (IMize. 18:4) Ukuba uzinika ixesha lokubazi, ukholo lwakho luza kuqina!

14. IDuteronomi 32:7 ilukhuthaza ukuba lwenze ntoni ulutsha?

¹⁴ Sukubalinda beze kuncokola nawe, hamb’ okuncokola nabo. (Funda iDuteronomi 32:7.) Kusenokwenzeka ukuba abasaboni kakuhle, bayacotha xa behamba, abasakwazi nokuthetha kakuhle. Sekunjalo, basafuna ukumsebenzela uYehova. Baye bazenzela “igama elihle” kuye. (INtshu. 7:1) Hlala ucinga isizathu sokuba babaluleke kuYehova. Ungaze  uyeke ukubathanda nokubahlonipha. Fana noElisha. Kwiintsuku zokugqibela ekunye noEliya, wayengafuni ukwahlukana naye. Kathathu wathi kuye: “Andizukwahlukana nawe.”​—2 Kum. 2:2, 4, 6.

15. Yeyiphi imibuzo esinokuyibuza abantu abadala?

¹⁵ Bonisa abantu abadala ukuba unomdla kubo ngokubabuza imibuzo. (IMize. 1:5; 20:5; 1 Tim. 5:1, 2) Babuze imibuzo efana nale: “Yintoni eyakwenza waqiniseka ukuba izinto ezifundiswa ngamaNgqina ziyinyani?” “Izinto ezenzeke kuwe zikuncede njani waya usiba ngumhlobo kaYehova?” “Uncedwe yintoni ukuze uhlale ukuvuyela ukukhonza uYehova?” (1 Tim. 6:6-8) Bamamele xa bekubalisela.

16. Umntu omdala nosemtsha banokuncedana njani xa bencokola?

¹⁶ Xa umntu omdala nosemtsha bencokola, bayakhuthazana. (Roma 1:12) Osemtsha utsho aqiniseke kakhulu ukuba uYehova akabalahli abantu bakhe, kanti yena umntu omdala uye azive ukuba uyathandwa. Uza kukuvuyela ukukubalisela indlela asikelelwe ngayo nguYehova.

17. Kutheni sinokuthi abantu abadala baya besiba bahle ngokuya iminyaka ihamba?

¹⁷ Ngokuya sikhula, ubuhle bangaphandle buya buphela, kodwa abantu abathembekileyo kuYehova baya besiba bahle kuye ngokuya iminyaka ihamba. (1 Tes. 1:2, 3) Asixoki xa sisitsho. Ngoba? Kaloku kuyo yonke le minyaka bamkhonze ngayo, baye bavumela umoya wakhe wabenza baneempawu ezintle. Xa sisiya sibazi kakuhle, sibahlonipha size sifunde kubo, baza kuya befana namatye abalulekileyo nabiza imali eninzi.

18. Siza kuthetha ngantoni kwiveki ezayo?

¹⁸ Ibandla aliqiniswa kukuba ulutsha lubathanda futhi lubahlonipha abantu abadala qha, kodwa naxa abantu abadala belubonisa indlela olubaluleke ngayo kubo. Kwinqaku esiza kulifunda kwiveki ezayo, siza kubona ukuba yintoni enokwenziwa ngabantu abadala ebonisa ukuba ulutsha olusemabandleni abo lubalulekile kubo.