KHAWUBE nomfanekiso-ngqondweni kaTimoti ehamba eshiya ikhaya lakhe, amehlo akhe ethe ntsho apho asinge khona. Abahlobo bakhe bakhokele njengoko benqumla kumathafa awazi ukusuka nokuhlala. Njengoko besiya behamba, nesixeko saseListra esimi phezu kwenduli siya sisithela. UTimoti ufanel’ ukuba wancuma yedwa xa wayecinga ngebhongo ababenalo unina noninakhulu njengoko bembukele ebashiya. Mhlawumbi wakha wacinga nokujika abajonge aze ababhabhayise okokugqibela.

Mhlawumbi umpostile uPawulos umana emthi krwaqu uTimoti, ancume. Wayesazi ukuba uTimoti kwakusafuneka lilwe neentloni, kodwa wayevuyiswa kukubona umdla elalinawo. UTimoti wayeselityendyana lomfana, ekusenokwenzeka ukuba lalisondele kwiminyaka eyi-20 okanye lidlule nje kancinci, ibe lalimhlonipha yaye limthanda kakhulu uPawulos. Ngoku, uTimoti wayehamba nale ndoda inokholo nekhutheleyo, besiya kwimimandla ekude lee nekhaya lakhe. Babeza kuhamba ngeenyawo nangenqanawa, bejamelene neengozi ezininzi endleleni. UTimoti wayengazi ukuba uya kuze abuyele ekhaya kwakhona.

Yintoni eyenza eli tyendyana likhethe obu bomi? Yintoni le ingaka laliza kuyifumana ngokuzincama ngolu hlobo? Lungasincenda njani ukholo lukaTimoti?

Makhe sibuyele kwiminyaka emibini okanye emithathu. Masithi iListra yidolophana awayekhulele kuyo uTimoti. Yayisemagqagaleni kwintlambo eyayinamanzi amaninzi. Nakuba kusenokwenzeka ukuba abantu abaninzi babesazi isiGrike, babeluthetha nolwimi lomthonyama, isiLikawoniya. Ngenye imini kwavuk’ uqhushululu kule dolophana izolileyo. Kwakufike abavangeli ababini abangamaKristu, uPawulos noBharnabhas besuka kwisixeko esikhudlwana, i-Ikoniyo. Ngoxa babeshumayela kwindawo enabantu abaninzi, uPawulos wabona indoda esisiqhwala eyeyibonakala ukuba inokholo. Ngoko uPawulos wenza ummangaliso wayiphilisa!—IZenzo 14:5-10.

Abantu abaninzi baseListra babekholelwa kwiintsomi zokuba izithixo zabo zazizijika zibe ngabantu ibe zazisiza kule dolophana. Ngoko abantu babecinga ukuba uPawulos wayesisithixo esinguHermes, yena uBharnabhas esisithixo esinguZeyus! La madoda athobekileyo angamaKristu abila esoma ezama ukubanqanda banganikeli mibingelelo kuwo.—IZenzo 14:11-18.

Kwiqaqobana labantu eListra, ukufika kukaPawulos noBharnabhas yayingekokufikelwa ngoothixo bobuhedeni basentsomini, kodwa yayikukufika kwabantu bokwenene yaye babevuya ngokwenene. Ngokomzekelo, sinokuqiniseka ukuba uLoyisi nentombi yakhe engumYuda, uYunike, eyayitshate nendoda engumGrike engakholwayo, * bammamela ngomdla uPawulos noBharnabhas. AmaYuda athembekileyo ayeza kuva iindaba ekwakudala ezilindele, zokuba uMesiya weza emhlabeni waza wazalisekisa iziprofeto ezininzi ezazibhalwe ngaye eBhayibhileni!

 Khawucinge indlela ekumele ukuba kwamnceda ngayo uTimoti ukufika kukaPawulos. Kaloku uTimoti wayekufundiswe “kwasebusaneni” ukuthanda iZibhalo zesiHebhere. (2 Timoti 3:15) Njengokuba kwakunjalo kunina noninakhulu, kwakucace gca kuTimoti ukuba uPawulos noBharnabhas babethetha inyaniso ngoMesiya. Khawucinge nangala ndoda isisiqhwala eyaphiliswa nguPawulos. Kufanel’ ukuba uTimoti wayeyibona yonk’ imihla kwizitrato zaseListra. Ngoku wayeyibona okokuqala izihambela ngeenyawo zayo! Akunakuba sesi siganeko ke esenza uYunike, uLoyisi noTimoti baba ngamaKristu? Ininzi gqitha into enokufundwa ngooomakhulu, ootamkhulu nabazali kumzekelo kaLoyisi noYunike. Aninakuluncenda ulutsha lusondele kuYehova?

Amele ukuba achwayita gqitha amaKristu eListra xa esiva ngezinto ezaziza kuxhamlwa ngabalandeli bakaKristu. Kodwa abona nokuba akuzi kuba lula ukuba ngumKristu. AmaYuda awayesuka eIkoniyo nakwa-Antiyokwe, awayengafuni nokuwabona amaKristu afika aphembelela abantu eListra, efuna bajikele uPawulos noBharnabhas. Kungekudala emva koko, uPawulos waleqwa ligquba leendlobongela, limgibisela ngamatye wada wawa. Lamrhuqela ngaphandle, laza lamshiya licinga ukuba ufile.—IZenzo 14:19.

Kusenjalo, amaKristu aseListra aya kuPawulos. Kumele ukuba kwathi xibilili xa ambona ephakama, ngesibindi ebuyela kwaseListra! Ngosuku olulandelayo, wahamba noBharnabhas baya kushumayela eDerbhe. Emva kokuba benze abafundi abatsha apho, ngesibindi babuyela eListra nakuba oko kwakubeka ubomi babo esichengeni. Kwenzeka ntoni emva koko? IBhayibhile ithi, ‘Bomeleza imiphefumlo yabafundi, bebakhuthaza ukuba bahlale elukholweni.’ Yiba nomfanekiso-ngqondweni wetyendyana elinguTimoti lijonge uPawulos noBharnabhas yaye libaphulaphule ngoxa befundisa loo maKristu indlela amele azivuyele ngayo izinto ezenzekayo ngenxa yethemba analo ngekamva. Bathi: “Simele singene ebukumkanini bukaThixo ngokuphumela kwiimbandezelo ezininzi.”—IZenzo 14:20-22.

Umele ukuba uTimoti wambona uPawulos ephila ngokuvisisana naloo mazwi, ejamelana neentshutshiso ngesibindi ukuze ashumayele iindaba ezilungileyo ebantwini. Ngoko ke, uTimoti wayesazi ukuba xa elandela emanyathelweni kaPawulos, abantu baseListra babeza kumchasa, ibe noyise wayenokumchasa. Kodwa uTimoti wayengazimiselanga  ukuvumela ezo ntshutshiso zimenze angamkhonzi uThixo. Namhlanje, luninzi ulutsha olunjengoTimoti. Ngobulumko, bakhetha abahlobo abathanda uYehova, ababakhuthazayo nababomelezayo. Ibe abavumeli intshutshiso ibayekise ukukhonza uThixo!

Njengoko bekuchaziwe ngaphambili, kusenokwenzeka ukuba uPawulos waya eListra kwiminyaka emibini okanye emithathu kamva. Khawuthelekelele imincili ababanayo kuloTimoti xa uPawulos wafika ehamba noSilas. Ngokuqinisekileyo noPawulos wayevuya kakhulu. Wayezibonela ngokwakhe ukuhluma kwembewu yenyaniso awayeyityale eListra. Ngoku uLoyisi nentombi yakhe uYunike babengamaKristu anokholo “olungenalo naluphi na uhanahaniso,” ibe yayimvuyisa kakhulu loo nto. (2 Timoti 1:5) Lwalunjani lona olukaTimoti?

UPawulos weva ukuba eli tyendyana laliqhuba kakuhle kakhulu. “Kwakunikelwa ingxelo entle ngaye ngabazalwana” kungekuphela nje eListra kodwa naseIkoniyo ekumgama weekhilomitha eziyi-32 ukusuka apho. (IZenzo 16:2) Wazenzela njani igama elihle kangaka?

“Imibhalo engcwele” uTimoti awayifundiswa “kwasebusaneni” ngunina noninakhulu, yayinamacebiso aluncedo kubantu abatsha. (2 Timoti 3:15) Nanku omnye umzekelo: “Khumbula uMdali wakho Ozukileyo ngemihla yobufana bakho.” (INtshumayeli 12:1) Loo mazwi athetha lukhulu kuTimoti akuba ngumKristu. Wabona ukuba enye yezona ndlela zokukhumbula uMdali wakhe Ozukileyo kukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo ngoNyana kaThixo, uKristu. Ngokuthe ngcembe, wafunda ukulwa nento eyayimlibazisa, iintloni, waza ngesibindi wafundisa abanye iindaba ezilungileyo ezingoYesu Kristu.

Amadoda ayekhokhela emabandleni ayibona indlela awayeqhuba kakuhle ngayo uTimoti. Ngokuqinisekileyo yayiwavuyisa indlela uTimoti awayebakhuthaza nawayebakha ngayo abanye. Kodwa eyona nto ibalulekileyo kukuba noYehova waliqaphela eli tyendyana. Waphefumlela ukuba kubhalwe iziprofeto ngoTimoti, ezinye zazo mhlawumbi zithetha ngemisebenzi awayeza kuyenza kumabandla amaninzi. Xa uPawulos wayetyelele ibandla likaTimoti, wabona ukuba eli tyendyana lomfana lalinokuba luncedo kumsebenzi wobuvangeli. Nabazalwana baseListra bavumelana naye. Bambeka izandla, nto leyo ebonisa ukuba wayenikwa ilungelo elikhethekileyo kwinkonzo kaYehova uThixo.—1 Timoti 1:18; 4:14.

Sinokuyithelekelela indlela ekumele ukuba kwamothusa kwaza kwamvuyisa ngayo uTimoti ukunikwa umsebenzi obaluleke ngolo hlobo. Wayekulungele ukuhamba nooPawulos. * Wathini utata kaTimoti owayengengomKristu, xa weva ukuba unyana wakhe uza kuba ngumKristu ohambela amabandla? Umele ukuba wayenamanye amabhongo ngonyana wakhe. Babevakalelwa njani bona unina noninakhulu? Ngaba babenegugu ngaye, kwangaxeshanye benexhala lokhuseleko lonyana wabo? Loo nto yayilindelekile.

Esiqiniseke ngako kukuba uTimoti wahamba nabo. Ngentsasa esithethe ngayo ekuqaleni kweli nqaku, uTimoti waqalisa umsebenzi awayeza kuwenza nompostile uPawulos ubomi bakhe bonke. Nyathelo ngalinye alithathayo wayesiba kude nekhaya engazazi nokuba uza kudibana nantoni apho aya khona. Emva kohambo olude, la madoda mathathu ade afika eIkoniya. UTimoti waqalisa ukubona indlela uPawulos noSilas ababeyigqithisa ngayo imiyalelo esuka kwiqumrhu elilawulayo eYerusalem, nendlela ababewakhuthaza ngayo amakholwa eIkoniyo. (IZenzo 16:4, 5) Kodwa yayisisiqalo nje eso.

Emva kokutyelela amabandla aseGalati, aba bavangeli bathath’ uhambo olude kwiindlela ezigangathiweyo ezazakhiwe ngamaRoma, benqumla kumathambeka aseFrigiya besingise ngasemntla, kodwa beza kuya nasentshona. Bekhokelwa ngumoya kaThixo, baya eTrowa baza badlulela eMakedoni ngenqanawa. (IZenzo 16:6-12) Ngeli xesha, uPawulos wayesele eyibona indlela uTimoti aluncedo ngayo. Ngoko wamshiya eBhereya kunye noSilas. (IZenzo 17:14) Wada wamthumela yedwa naseTesalonika.  Ngoku uTimoti wayesele ekwazi ukwenza izinto awayezifundile, ibe wawakhuthaza amaKristu alapho.—1 Tesalonika 3:1-3.

Kamva uPawulos wathi ngoTimoti: “Andinamntu wumbi onokuninyamekela ngokwenene njengaye.” (Filipi 2:20) UTimoti akazange abe negama elihle kangaka ngokuzenzekelayo. Walifumana kuba wayesebenza nzima, ethobekile kwaye enyamezela ngokuthembeka phantsi kweemeko ezinzima. Ungumzekelo omhle ngokwenene kulutsha namhlanje! Ungaze ulibale ukuba ukuzenzela igama elihle kuxhomekeke kuwe. Ukuba usemtsha, unethuba lokuzenzela igama elihle ngokwenza ukukhonza uYehova uThixo eyona nto ibalulekileyo ebomini bakho, nangokubaphatha ngobubele nangentlonelo abanye.

UTimoti wasebenza kakhulu nomhlobo wakhe umpostile uPawulos kangangeminyaka emalunga neyi-14. Kuloo msebenzi babejamelana neengozi, kwangaxeshanye befumana uvuyo. (2 Korinte 11:24-27) Wakha wavalelwa entolongweni ngenxa yokholo lwakhe. (Hebhere 13:23) Naye, njengoPawulos wayebakhathalele ibe ebathanda ngokusuk’ entliziyweni abazalwana noodade wabo abangamaKristu. Yiloo nto uPawulos wambhalela esithi: “Ndikhumbula iinyembezi zakho.” (2 Timoti 1:4) NjengoPawulos, kuyacaca ukuba wafunda ‘nokulila nabalilayo,’ intlungu yabanye eyenza eyakhe, nto leyo eyayimnceda ukuze abakhuthaze aze abathuthuzele. (Roma 12:15) Nathi kungasinceda ukwenza okufanayo.

Yiloo nto kungasothusi ukuba kamva uTimoti waba ngumzalwana ohambela amabandla obalaseleyo. UPawulos akazange amnike umsebenzi wokutyelela amabandla ukuze awakhuthaze aze awomeleze nje kuphela, kodwa wamnika nowokumisela amadoda akufanelekelayo ukuba ngabadala nezicaka zolungiselelo.—1 Timoti 5:22.

UPawulos wayemthanda kakhulu uTimoti, emcebisa ngokungathi nguyise. Wamkhuthaza ukuba akhulise iziphiwo azinikwe nguThixo, aqhubeke esenza inkqubela. (1 Timoti 4:15, 16) Wathi angaze avumele ubutsha okanye iintloni anazo zimenze angakwazi ukumela into elungileyo. (1 Timoti 1:3; 4:6, 7, 11, 12) UPawulos wamcebisa nangendlela yokunyanga isisu esasimhlupha.—1 Timoti 5:23.

Lalisondele ixesha lokuba uPawulos abulawe. Wabhalela uTimoti incwadi yokugqibela ephefumlelwe nguThixo. Yayinamazwi abangel’ umdla athi: “Yenza unako-nako wokuza kum kamsinya.” (2 Timoti 4:9) UPawulos wayemthanda kakhulu uTimoti, wayembiza ngokuba ‘ngumntwana wakhe oyintanda nothembekileyo eNkosini.’ (1 Korinte 4:17) Siyacaca isizathu sokuba wayefuna lo mhlobo wakhe abe kunye naye ngeli xesha linzima. Ngamnye wethu umele azibuze, ‘Ngaba abantu beza kum xa besentlungwini, bedinga intuthuzelo?’

Ngaba uTimoti wafika kwangethuba kuPawulos? Asazi. Kodwa esikwaziyo kukuba, wayesoloko esenza unako-nako ukuthuthuzela nokukhuthaza uPawulos nabanye. Walilandela igama lakhe elithetha ukuthi, “Lowo Uhlonela UThixo.” Wasimisela umzekelo omhle wokholo sonke, enoba sibatsha okanye sibadala.