1, 2. (a) Yibuphi ubunzima amaKristu aseJudiya abhekana nabo? (b) Yisiphi isenzo sothando amaKristu aseJudiya asibona?

CISHE ngu-46 C.E., elaseJudiya likhungethwe indlala. Abafundi bakaKristu abangamaJuda abahlala lapho abanayo imali yokuthenga ukudla okusanhlamvu okuncane okumba eqolo. Balambile, indlala iyababhuqa. Kodwa masinyane nje bazobona ukuvikela kwesandla sikaJehova ngendlela okungekho bafundi bakaKristu abake bakubona ngayo ngaphambili. Kuzokwenzekani?

² Ethintwe ukuhlupheka kwamaKristu angamaJuda eJerusalema naseJudiya, amaKristu angamaJuda nangabeZizwe e-Antiyokiya, eSiriya, aqoqa izimali zokusiza abakholwa nabo. Ngemva kwalokho, akhetha abazalwane ababili abanokwethenjelwa phakathi kwawo, uBarnaba noSawulu, ukuba badlulisele izimpahla zosizo kubadala bebandla eJerusalema. (Funda izEnzo 11:27-30; 12:25.) Yibone ngeso lengqondo indlela abazalwane abantulayo baseJudiya okumelwe ukuba sabathinta ngayo lesi senzo sothando sabafowabo base-Antiyokiya!

3. (a) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu bosuku lwanamuhla basaqhubeka kanjani emkhondweni wamaKristu ase-Antiyokiya? Nikeza isibonelo. (Bheka nebhokisi elithi “ Umsebenzi Wethu Wokuqala Omkhulu Wokunikeza Usizo Ezikhathini Zanamuhla.”) (b) Yimiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo kulesi sahluko?

³ Leso senzakalo sangekhulu lokuqala C.E., siyisibonelo sokuqala esalotshwa samaKristu ahlala engxenyeni ethile yomhlaba ethumela usizo kumaKristu ahlala kwenye ingxenye yomhlaba. Namuhla, silandela isibonelo esabekwa abafowethu base-Antiyokiya. Lapho sizwa ukuthi esikholwa nabo bakwenye indawo behlelwe inhlekelele noma uvivinyo, siyabasiza. * Ukuze siqonde ukuthi imisebenzi yethu yokunikeza usizo ihlobana kanjani neminye imisebenzi yenkonzo, ake sixoxe ngemibuzo emithathu ephathelene nenkonzo yokunikeza usizo: Kungani umsebenzi wokunikeza usizo siwubheka njengenkonzo? Ziyini izinjongo zomsebenzi wethu wokunikeza usizo? Sizuza kanjani enkonzweni yokunikeza usizo?

4. Yini uPawulu ayitshela abaseKorinte ngenkonzo yobuKristu?

⁴ Encwadini yakhe yesibili kwabaseKorinte, uPawulu wachaza ukuthi amaKristu anenkonzo ekabili. Nakuba incwadi kaPawulu yayiqondiswe kumaKristu agcotshiwe, amazwi akhe ayasebenza ‘nakwezinye izimvu’ zikaKristu namuhla. (Joh. 10:16) Ingxenye yokuqala yenkonzo yethu ihlanganisa “inkonzo yokubuyisana,”  okungumsebenzi wethu wokushumayela nokufundisa. (2 Kor. 5:18-20; 1 Thim. 2:3-6) Enye ingxenye ihlanganisa inkonzo esiyenza ukuze kuzuze esikholwa nabo. UPawulu wabhekisela ‘enkonzweni emiselwe abangcwele’ [inkonzo yokunikeza usizo]. (2 Kor. 8:4) Mayelana nenkulumo ethi “inkonzo yokubuyisana” nethi ‘inkonzo yokunikeza usizo,’ kuzo zombili lezi zinkulumo elithi “inkonzo” lihunyushwe lisuselwa kwelesiGreki elithi di·a·ko·niʹa. Kungani kubalulekile lokhu?

5. Kungani kubalulekile ukuthi uPawulu wabiza umsebenzi wokunikeza usizo ngokuthi inkonzo?

⁵ Ngokusebenzisa igama elifanayo lesiGreki kuyo yomibili le misebenzi, uPawulu wayebopha ngabhande linye umsebenzi wokunikeza usizo nezinye izinhlobo zenkonzo ezenziwa ebandleni lobuKristu. Wayekade ethe: “Kukhona izinhlobonhlobo zezinkonzo, kodwa nokho kukhona iNkosi eyodwa; kukhona izinhlobonhlobo zemisebenzi, . . . Kodwa yonke le misebenzi yenziwa yiwo lowo moya owodwa.” (1 Kor. 12:4-6, 11) Empeleni, uPawulu wahlobanisa izinkonzo ezihlukahlukene zebandla ‘nenkonzo engcwele.’ * (Roma 12:1, 6-8) Shono nje akubona kufanelekile ukusebenzisa isikhathi sakhe esithile ukuba ‘ayokhonza abangcwele’!—Roma 15:25, 26.

6. (a) Njengoba uPawulu achaza, kungani umsebenzi wokunikeza usizo uyingxenye yokukhulekela kwethu? (b) Chaza ukuthi umsebenzi wethu wokunikeza usizo ufezwa kanjani emhlabeni namuhla. (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ Lapho Kugadla Inhlekelele!” ekhasini 214.)

⁶ UPawulu wasiza abaseKorinte ukuba babone ukuthi kungani umsebenzi wokunikeza usizo wawuyingxenye yenkonzo yabo nokukhulekela kwabo uJehova. Phawula indlela akuchaza ngayo: AmaKristu anikeza usizo kwabanye enza kanjalo ngoba ‘engabazithobayo ezindabeni ezinhle mayelana noKristu.’ (2 Kor. 9: 13) Ngakho, amaKristu ashukunyiswa isifiso sokusebenzisa izimfundiso zikaKristu, asize amakholwa akanye nawo. UPawulu wathi izenzo zomusa azenzela abafowabo, empeleni ziwukubonakaliswa ‘komusa kaNkulunkulu ongafanelwe odlulele.’ (2 Kor. 9:14; 1 Pet. 4:10) Ngakho, lapho iphawula ngosizo esilunika abafowethu abantulayo, okuhlanganisa nomsebenzi wokunikeza usizo, INqabayokulinda ka-December 1, 1975, yasho kufanele: “Akufanele nanini singabaze ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu neNdodana yakhe uJesu Kristu bayibheka njengebaluleke ngempela le nkonzo.” Yebo, umsebenzi wokunikeza usizo uwuhlobo olubalulekile lwenkonzo engcwele.—Roma 12:1, 7; 2 Kor. 8:7; Heb. 13:16.

7, 8. Iyini injongo yokuqala yenkonzo yethu yokunikeza usizo? Chaza.

⁷ Ziyini izinjongo zenkonzo yethu yokunikeza usizo? UPawulu wawuphendula lowo mbuzo encwadini yakhe yesibili kwabaseKorinte. (Funda eyesi-2 Korinte 9:11-15.) Kula mavesi, uPawulu uqokomisa izinjongo, noma imigomo, emithathu eyinhloko esiyifinyelela ngokufaka isandla ‘enkonzweni yalo msebenzi womphakathi,’ okuwukuthi, umsebenzi wokunikeza usizo. Ake sixoxe ngeyodwa ngesikhathi.

⁸ Eyokuqala, inkonzo yethu yokunikeza usizo idumisa uJehova. Phawula ukuthi emavesini amahlanu akhonjwe ngenhla, uPawulu ukudonsela kaningi kangakanani ukunaka kwabafowabo kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Lo mphostoli ubakhumbuza  ‘ngesenzo sokubonisa ukubonga kuNkulunkulu’ kanye ‘nezenzo eziningi zokubonisa ukubonga kuNkulunkulu.’ (Amavesi 11, 12) Usho izindlela imizamo yokunikeza usizo eyenza ngayo ukuba amaKristu ‘akhazimulise uNkulunkulu’ futhi adumise ‘umusa kaNkulunkulu ongafanelwe odlulele.’ (Amavesi 13, 14) UPawulu uphetha ingxoxo yakhe yenkonzo yokunikeza usizo ngokuthi: “Makabongwe uNkulunkulu.”—Ivesi 15; 1 Pet. 4:11.

9. Umsebenzi wokunikeza usizo ungabangela luphi ushintsho endleleni yokucabanga? Nikeza isibonelo.

⁹ NjengoPawulu, izinceku zikaNkulunkulu namuhla zibheka imizamo yokunikeza usizo njengamathuba okudumisa uJehova nokuhlobisa izimfundiso zakhe. (1 Kor. 10:31; Thithu 2:10) Eqinisweni, umsebenzi wokunikeza usizo uvame ukuba ube neqhaza elikhulu ekuqedeni imibono engemihle abanye abanayo ngoJehova noFakazi bakhe. Ngokwesibonelo: Esicabheni sowesifazane ohlala endaweni eyahlaselwa isiphepho kwakunophawu olwaluthi: “BoFakazi BakaJehova—Ningangeni.” Kwathi langa limbe wabona ngaphesheya komgwaqo izisebenzi ezisiza abanye zilungisa indlu eyayicekeleke phansi. Kwaphela izinsuku eziningi elokhu ezibuka lezi zisebenzi ezinomusa, wayesewelela kuzo eyokuzwa ukuthi zingobani. Lapho ezwa ukuthi zingoFakazi BakaJehova, wahlabeka umxhwele wayesethi: “Ngenze iphutha nganahlulela ngokungafanele.” Waba yini umphumela? Walususa lolo phawu esicabheni sakwakhe.

10, 11. (a) Yiziphi izibonelo ezibonisa ukuthi siyayifinyelela injongo yethu yesibili yomsebenzi wokunikeza usizo? (b) Iyiphi incwadi esiza izisebenzi ezinikeza usizo? (Bheka ibhokisi elithi “ Elinye Ithuluzi Lezisebenzi Ezinikeza Usizo.”)

¹⁰ Eyesibili, ‘sanelisa kakhulu ukuswela’ kwesikholwa nabo. (2 Kor. 9:12a) Sihlale simagange ukwanelisa izidingo eziphuthumayo zabafowethu nodade nokusiza ekunciphiseni ukuhlupheka kwabo. Ngani? Ngoba amalungu ebandla lobuKristu akha ‘umzimba owodwa,’ futhi “uma ilungu elilodwa lihlupheka, wonke amanye amalungu ahlupheka kanye nalo.” (1 Kor. 12:20, 26) Ngakho, uthando lobuzalwane nobubele kushukumisa inqwaba yabazalwane nodade namuhla ukuba basukumele phezulu, bathathe amathuluzi bayosiza abakholwa nabo endaweni eyehlelwe inhlekelele. (Jak. 2:15, 16) Ngokwesibonelo, ngemva kokuba itsunami ihlasele eJapane ngo-2011, ihhovisi legatsha lase-United States lathumela incwadi emaKomitini Okwakha Esifunda ase-United States libuza ukuthi “abazalwane abambalwa abafanelekayo” bangatholakala yini ukuba bayosiza ekwakheni kabusha amaHholo OMbuso eJapane. Basabela kanjani? Kungakapheli masonto amangaki, izisebenzi zokuzithandela ezingaba ngu-600 zafaka izicelo zokuyosiza—futhi zavuma ukuya eJapane ngezindleko zazo! Ihhovisi legatsha lase-United States lathi: “Ukusabela kube ngaphezu kwalokho ebesikulindele.” Lapho umzalwane waseJapane ebuza isisebenzi esasizosiza sivela e-United States ukuthi kungani sizosiza, saphendula: “Abafowethu baseJapane bangamalungu ‘omzimba wethu.’ Siyabuzwa ubuhlungu nokuhlupheka kwabo.” Njengoba zishukunyiswa uthando lokuzidela, lezi zisebenzi ezinikeza usizo ziye zabeka nokuphila kwazo engozini ngezinye izikhathi ukuze zisize ezikholwa nabo. *—1 Joh. 3:16.

 ¹¹ Abangebona oFakazi nabo bathi bayawazisa umsebenzi wethu wokusiza abanye. Ngokwesibonelo, ngemva kokuba inhlekelele yehlele isifunda sase-Arkansas e-U.S.A. ngo-2013, iphephandaba labika ngokusabela okusheshayo kwezisebenzi zokuzithandela ezingoFakazi: “Indlela oFakazi BakaJehova abahlele ngayo izisebenzi zabo zokuzithandela yinhle kangangokuthi bakwazi ukusabela ngokushesha okukhulu nangaphandle kobuhixihixi.”

12-14. (a) Kungani ukufinyelela injongo yesithathu yomsebenzi wethu wokunikeza usizo kubaluleke kangaka? (b) Yikuphi okwashiwo abathile okuqokomisa ukubaluleka kokuqhubeka nemisebenzi engokomoya?

¹² Eyesithathu, sisiza abathintekile ukuba babuyele esimisweni sabo esingokomoya. Kungani kubalulekile lokhu? UPawulu uthi labo abamukela usizo bayoshukumiseleka ukuba benze ‘izenzo eziningi zokubonisa ukubonga kuNkulunkulu.’ (2 Kor. 9:12b) Ikhona yini indlela engcono abahluphekile abangabonisa ngayo ukubonga kuJehova uma kungekhona ukubuyela esimisweni sabo sezinto ezingokomoya ngokushesha ngangokunokwenzeka? (Fil. 1:10) Ngo-1945 INqabayokulinda yathi: “UPawulu wasekela ukuqoqwa . . . kweminikelo ngoba kwakusiza . . . amaKristu antulayo ukuba athole usizo lwezinto ezibonakalayo, ngaleyo ndlela akwazi ukuhlanganyela ngokukhululeke kakhudlwana nangomdlandla emsebenzini kaJehova wokufakaza.” Injongo yethu ayikashintshi. Ngokuphinde babuyele emsebenzini wokushumayela, abafowethu abagcini nje ngokuqinisa omakhelwane babo abacindezelekile kodwa futhi baziqinisa nabo ngokwabo.—Funda eyesi-2 Korinte 1:3, 4.

¹³ Cabanga ngokwashiwo abathile abathola usizo ababeludinga kakhulu, baphinde baqala ukushumayela futhi bathola amandla ngokwenza kanjalo. Umzalwane othile wathi: “Kwaba isibusiso emndenini wami ukuya enkonzweni yasensimini. Kwasinika ithuba lokuphumula ekucindezelweni yizinkinga zethu ngoba sasizama ukududuza abanye.” Udade othile wathi: “Ukugxila emsebenzini ongokomoya kwangenza ngathi ukukhohlwa umonakalo owawungikake nxazonke. Kwangenza ngazizwa ngilondekile.” Omunye waphawula: “Nakuba okuningi kwakungaphezu kwamandla ethu, inkonzo yanika umndeni wami injongo. Ukuxoxa nabanye ngethemba lethu lomhlaba omusha kwaqinisa ukholo lwethu lokuthi konke kuyokwenziwa kube kusha.”

¹⁴ Ukuba khona emihlanganweni kungomunye umsebenzi ongokomoya esikholwa nabo abahluphekile okudingeka baphinde bawuqale ngokushesha ngangokunokwenzeka. Cabanga ngokwenzeka kuKiyoko, udade owayeneminyaka ecela ku-60 ngaleso sikhathi. Ngemva kokulahlekelwa yikho konke ngenxa yetsunami, wasala nezembatho nezingxabulela ayezigqokile, wayekhungathekile engazi ukuthi uzophila kanjani. Umdala wabe esemtshela ukuthi bazoba nomhlangano wobuKristu njalo emotweni yakhe. UKiyoko uthi: “Lo mdala, umkakhe nomunye udade kanye nami sahlala emotweni. Lo mhlangano wawungenazo izinto eziningi ezivame ukuba khona kweminye imihlangano,  noma kunjalo ngavele ngayikhohlwa nya indaba yetsunami. Ngaba nokuthula kwengqondo. Lowo mhlangano wangibonisa amandla okuhlangana namanye amaKristu.” Ephawula ngemihlangano aya kuyo ngemva kwenhlekelele, omunye udade wathi: “Iyona eyangisiza ngakhuthazela!”—Roma 1:11, 12; 12:12.

15, 16. (a) AmaKristu aseKorinte nakwezinye izindawo ayeyozuza kanjani ngokusekela umsebenzi wokunikeza usizo? (b) Sizuza kanjani nathi namuhla emsebenzini wokunikeza usizo?

¹⁵ Engxoxweni yakhe yenkonzo yokunikeza usizo, uPawulu wachazela abaseKorinte nangezinzuzo bona namanye amaKristu ababeyozithola ngokuhlanganyela kulo msebenzi. Wathi: ‘Ngokuninxusela ayanilangazelela [amaKristu angamaJuda eJerusalema ayethole usizo] ngenxa yomusa kaNkulunkulu ongafanelwe odlulele ophezu kwenu.’ (2 Kor. 9:14) Yebo, ukupha kwabaseKorinte kwakuyoshukumisa amaKristu angamaJuda ukuba athandazele abafowabo baseKorinte, kuhlanganise nabeZizwe, futhi kwakuyojulisa uthando abanalo ngabo.

¹⁶ Isebenzisa amazwi kaPawulu mayelana nezinzuzo zomsebenzi wokunikeza usizo osukwini lwethu, INqabayokulinda ka-December 1, 1945 yathi: “Lapho iqembu elithile labantu bakaNkulunkulu abangcwelisiwe linikelela izidingo zelinye iqembu labo, yeka ubunye obuba umphumela!” Yilokho kanye izisebenzi ezinikeza usizo ezikutholayo namuhla. Umdala owasiza enhlekeleleni yezikhukhula wathi: “Ukwenza umsebenzi wokunikeza usizo ungenze ngasondelana nabafowethu kunanini ngaphambili.” Omunye udade onokwazisa ngosizo aluthola wakubeka kanje: “Into ethi ayifane nePharadesi emhlabeni ubunye bethu bomhlaba wonke.”—Funda izAga 17:17.

17. (a) Amazwi aku-Isaya 41:13 asebenza kanjani emsebenzini wokunikeza usizo? (b) Shono izibonelo ezithile zendlela umsebenzi wokunikeza usizo odumisa ngayo uJehova futhi uqinise isibopho sethu sobunye. (Bheka nebhokisi elithi “ Izisebenzi Zokuzithandela Emhlabeni Wonke Ziletha Usizo.”)

 ¹⁷ Lapho izisebenzi ezinikeza usizo zifika endaweni yenhlekelele, abafowethu abahluphekile bayazibonela ukuba iqiniso kwesithembiso sikaNkulunkulu: “Mina, Jehova uNkulunkulu wakho, ngibambé isandla sakho sokunene, Mina engithi kuwe, ‘Ungesabi. Ngizokusiza mina mathupha.’” (Isaya 41:13) Ngemva kokusinda enhlekeleleni, udade wathi: “Lapho ngibona umonakalo owawenzekile ngaphelelwa ithemba, kodwa uJehova welula isandla sakhe. Ngiswele amazwi okuchaza usizo engaluthola kubafowethu.” Ngemva kokuba inhlekelele icekele phansi indawo yakubo, abadala ababili babhala incwadi bemelela ibandla abakhonza kulo: “Ukuzamazama komhlaba kwasizwisa ubuhlungu obukhulu, kodwa sathola usizo uJehova alunikeza ngabafowethu. Sasifundile ngomsebenzi wokunikeza usizo, kodwa manje sesizibonele wona ngawethu.”

18. Yini ongayenza uma ufuna ukufaka isandla emsebenzini wokunikeza usizo? (Bheka nebhokisi elithi “ Yanquma Ikusasa Lakhe.”)

¹⁸ Ungathanda yini ukunambitha injabulo elethwa umsebenzi wokunikeza usizo? Uma kunjalo, khumbula ukuthi izisebenzi ezinikeza usizo ngokuvamile zikhethwa kulabo abasebenza ekwakhiweni kwamaHholo OMbuso. Ngakho-ke, yazisa abadala bakini ukuthi ufisa ukugcwalisa ifomu lesicelo. Umdala osenesikhathi eside emsebenzini wokunikeza usizo uyasikhumbuza: “Iya endaweni evelelwe inhlekelele kuphela uma usuthole isimemo esisemthethweni esivela eKomitini Yokusiza Ezinhlekeleleni.” Ngaleyo ndlela, umsebenzi wethu wokunikeza usizo uyokwenziwa ngendlela ehlelekile.

19. Izisebenzi ezinikeza usizo zisiza kanjani ekuboniseni ukuthi singabafundi bakaKristu isibili?

¹⁹ Ngempela umsebenzi wokunikeza usizo uyindlela evelele esilalela ngayo umyalo kaKristu wokuba ‘sithandane.’ Ngokubonisa uthando olunjalo, sibonisa ukuthi singabafundi bakaKristu isibili. (Joh. 13:34, 35) Yeka isibusiso okuyiso kithi namuhla ukuba nezisebenzi ezivumayo eziningi kangaka ezidumisa uJehova ngokunikeza usizo kulabo abasekela uMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngobuqotho!