1. Abantu abaningi banamiphi imibono ngokusebenza?

ABANTU abaningi lapho ohlala khona bakubheka kanjani ukusebenza? Emazweni amaningi, abantu basebenza kanzima futhi basebenza amahora amaningi kunakuqala. Abantu abasebenza kanzima ngokuvamile abasitholi isikhathi sokuphumula, sokuba nemindeni yabo nesokuqhubeka befunda ngoNkulunkulu. (UmSh. 2:23) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, abanye abakuthandi nhlobo ukusebenza futhi babeka izaba zokungafuni ukusebenza.—IzAga 26:13, 14.

2-3. Yisiphi isibonelo esibekwa uJehova noJesu ngokuphathelene nokusebenza?

² Ngokuphambene nendlela abantu baleli zwe abakubheka ngayo ukusebenza, cabanga ngendlela uJehova noJesu abakubheka ngayo. Siyazi ukuthi uJehova uyakuthanda ukusebenza. UJesu wakwenza kwacaca lokho lapho ethi: “UBaba ulokhu esebenza kuze kube manje, nami ngiyasebenza.” (Joh. 5:17) Cabanga ngawo wonke umsebenzi uJehova awenza lapho edala izigidigidi zezingelosi, izinkanyezi namaplanethi. Sibona nobufakazi obuningi bezinto ezinhle uNkulunkulu azidala emhlabeni. Umhubi wawasho kufanele la mazwi: “O Jehova, yeka ukuthi miningi kangakanani imisebenzi yakho! Yonke uyenzé ngokuhlakanipha. Umhlaba ugcwele imikhiqizo yakho.”—IHu. 104:24.

³ UJesu wamlingisa uYise. Wayekhona ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu “elungiselela amazulu,” ‘eyisisebenzi esiyingcweti.’ (IzAga 8:27-31) Kamuva lapho esemhlabeni, uJesu wenza umsebenzi omangalisayo. Lowo msebenzi wawufana nokudla kuye futhi konke  akwenza kwakufakazela ukuthi wayethunywe uNkulunkulu.—Joh. 4:34; 5:36; 14:10.

4. Yini esingayifunda kuJehova nakuJesu ngokuphumula?

⁴ Ingabe isibonelo sikaJehova noJesu sokusebenza kanzima sisho ukuthi akufanele siphumule? Cha. UJehova akakhathali, ngakho akudingeki aphumule. Kodwa iBhayibheli liyasho ukuthi ngemva kokuba uJehova edale izulu nomhlaba, “waphumula futhi waqabuleka.” (Eks. 31:17) Nokho, kusobala ukuthi lokho kusho ukuthi uJehova wema okwesikhashana wajabulela ukubuka lokho ayekwenzile. Nakuba uJesu ayezikhandla ngesikhathi esemhlabeni, wayezipha isikhathi sokuphumula nesokudla nabangane bakhe.—Math. 14:13; Luka 7:34.

5. Yibuphi ubunzima abaningi ababhekana nabo?

⁵ IBhayibheli likhuthaza abantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuba bakujabulele ukusebenza. Izinceku zakhe kufanele zikhuthale, zingabi amavila. (IzAga 15:19) Kungenzeka nawe uyasebenza ukuze unakekele umndeni wakho. Ngaphezu kwalokho, bonke abafundi bakaKristu kumelwe benze umsebenzi wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle. Kodwa kuyadingeka nokuba uphumule. Ingabe ngezinye izikhathi kuba nzima ukuhlela kahle isikhathi sokusebenza, esokuya ensimini nesokuphumula? Sazi kanjani ukuthi kufanele sisebenze kangakanani bese siphumula kangakanani?

6. UMarku 6:30-34 ubonisa kanjani ukuthi uJesu wayenombono ofanele ngokusebenza nangokuphumula?

⁶ Kufanele sibe nombono ofanele ngokusebenza. INkosi uSolomoni yabhala: “Kukhona isikhathi esimisiwe . . . sazo zonke izindaba.” Yakhuluma ngokutshala, ukwakha, ukukhala, ukuhleka, ukudansa nezinye izinto. (UmSh. 3:1-8) Kusobala ukuthi ekuphileni kufanele sisebenze bese siyaphumula. UJesu wayenombono ofanele ngokusebenza nangokuphumula. Ngesinye isikhathi, abaphostoli baba matasa emsebenzini wokushumayela kangangokuba “babengenaso isikhathi esikhululekile ngisho nesokudla ukudla.” Lapho bebuya, uJesu wathi: “Wozani, nina nodwa, ngasese endaweni engenabantu niphumule kancane.” (Funda uMarku 6:30-34.) Nakuba uJesu nabafundi bakhe babengasitholi njalo isikhathi sokuphumula, uJesu wayazi ukuthi kwakudingeka baphumule.

7. Ukufunda ngoMthetho weSabatha kungasisiza kanjani?

⁷ Ngezinye izikhathi, sonke siyakudinga ukuphumula nokwenza okuhlukile kulokho esivame ukukwenza nsuku zonke. Lokho sikubona elungiselelweni uNkulunkulu ayelenzele abantu bakhe—iSabatha lamasonto onke. Asikho ngaphansi koMthetho kaMose, kodwa singazuza ngokufunda ngalokho okushoyo ngeSabatha. Esizokufunda kungasisiza sihlole ukuthi sinombono ofanele yini ngokusebenza nangokuphumula.

8. Ngokwencwadi ka-Eksodusi 31:12-15, iSabatha kwakuwusuku lokwenzani?

⁸ IZwi likaNkulunkulu lithi ngemva “kwezinsuku” eziyisithupha uNkulunkulu edala, wayeka ukudala izinto emhlabeni. (Gen. 2:2) Kodwa uJehova uyakuthanda ukusebenza futhi “ulokhu esebenza” ngezinye izindlela. (Joh. 5:17) UJehova wasebenza “izinsuku” eziyisithupha, waphumula “ngosuku” lwesikhombisa futhi watshela ama-Israyeli ukuthi nawo kwakufanele aphumule njalo ngosuku lwesikhombisa. UNkulunkulu wathi iSabatha laliyisibonakaliso phakathi kwakhe no-Israyeli. Kwakuwusuku “lokuphumula okuphelele . . . into engcwele kuJehova.” (Funda u-Eksodusi 31:12-15.) Abekho abantu ababevunyelwe ukusebenza, ngisho nezingane, izigqila  nezilwane ezifuywayo. (Eks. 20:10) Lolu suku lwalusiza abantu bagxile kakhulu ekukhonzeni uJehova.

9. Yimuphi umbono ongafanele abantu bangesikhathi sikaJesu ababenawo ngeSabatha?

⁹ Usuku lweSabatha lwalubazuzisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu; nokho, abaholi benkolo abaningi bangesikhathi sikaJesu babeka imithetho ehlukumezayo ngeSabatha. Babethi kwakungafanele ngisho nokukha izikhwebu noma ukusiza umuntu ogulayo ngeSabatha. (Marku 2:23-27; 3:2-5) Imibono enjalo yayingavumelani nalokho uNkulunkulu ayekufuna futhi uJesu wakuveza ngokucacile lokho kulabo ababemlalele.

10. Yini esingayifunda kuMathewu 12:9-12 mayelana nombono kaJesu ngeSabatha?

¹⁰ UJesu nabalandeli bakhe abangamaJuda babeligcina iSabatha ngenxa yokuthi babephila ngaphansi koMthetho kaMose. * Kodwa uJesu wabonisa ngezwi nangezenzo ukuthi ukugcina iSabatha kwakungasho ukuthi kufanele ungabonisi umusa noma usize abanye abantu. Washo ngokucacile ukuthi “kungokomthetho ukwenza into enhle ngesabatha.” (Funda uMathewu 12:9-12.) Akazange acabange ukuthi kwakungafanele abe nomusa futhi asize abanye ngeSabatha. Izinto uJesu azenza zabonisa ukuthi wayesiqonda isizathu esibalulekile sokuthi kungani uNkulunkulu atshela abantu bakhe ukuthi baphumule ngeSabatha. Ngenxa yokuthi abantu bakaNkulunkulu babengayenzi imisebenzi yansuku zonke,  babegxila kakhulu ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu. Kumelwe ukuba uJesu wakhulela emndenini owawenza izinto ezaziwusondeza kuNkulunkulu ngeSabatha. Lokhu kubonakala kulokho esikufunda ngoJesu ngesikhathi esedolobheni ayekhulele kulo eNazaretha: “Ngokwenqubo [kaJesu] ngosuku lwesabatha, wangena esinagogeni, wasukuma ukuba afunde.”—Luka 4:15-19.

11. Ubani owabekela uJesu isibonelo esihle sokusebenza?

¹¹ UJosefa wafundisa uJesu ukuba umbazi, wamfundisa nombono kaNkulunkulu ngokusebenza. (Math. 13:55, 56) UJesu wayembona uJosefa esebenza kanzima usuku nosuku ukuze anakekele umndeni wakhe omkhulu. Kamuva uJesu watshela abafundi bakhe: “Isisebenzi siyifanelekele inkokhelo yaso.” (Luka 10:7) Kusobala ukuthi wayekwazi ukuthi kunjani ukusebenza kanzima.

12. Imiphi imiBhalo ebonisa lokho okushiwo iBhayibheli ngokusebenza kanzima?

¹² Umphostoli uPawulu naye wayazi ukuthi kunjani ukusebenza kanzima. Umsebenzi wakhe oyinhloko kwakuwukutshela abanye ngoJesu nangalokho akufundisa. Nokho uPawulu wayesebenza ukuze aziphilise. AbaseThesalonika babewazi ‘umshikashika nokukhandleka’ kukaPawulu, ‘esebenza ubusuku nemini’ ukuze angabi ‘umthwalo oyizindleko ezinkulu’ kwabanye. (2 Thes. 3:8; IzE. 20:34, 35) Lapho uPawulu ebhala ngomsebenzi ayewenza, kungenzeka wayekhuluma ngokwenza amatende. Ngesikhathi eseKorinte, wayehlala no-Akhwila noPrisila futhi wayesebenza nabo njengoba “umsebenzi wabo kwakuwukwenza amatende.” Ukuthi uPawulu wayesebenza “ubusuku nemini” akusho ukuthi wayengaphumuli. NgeSabatha wayephumula angawenzi amatende. Lolo suku wayelusebenzisela ukushumayela kumaJuda, nawo ayengasebenzi ngeSabatha.—IzE. 13:14-16, 42-44; 16:13; 18:1-4.

13. Yini esingayifunda esibonelweni sikaPawulu?

¹³ Umphostoli uPawulu usibekela isibonelo esihle. Kwadingeka enze umsebenzi wokuziphilisa, noma kunjalo wayeqikelela ukuthi ngaso sonke isikhathi ‘uyawenza umsebenzi ongcwele wezindaba ezinhle zikaNkulunkulu.’ (Roma 15:16; 2 Kor. 11:23) Wayebakhuthaza nabanye ukuba bashumayele njalo. U-Akhwila noPrisila ‘babeyizisebenzi ezikanye naye kuKristu Jesu.’ (Roma 12:11; 16:3) UPawulu wanxusa abaseKorinte ukuba babe “nokuningi kokukwenza emsebenzini weNkosi.” (1 Kor. 15:58; 2 Kor. 9:8) UJehova waze waphefumulela uPawulu ukuba abhale: “Uma umuntu engafuni ukusebenza, makangadli futhi.”—2 Thes. 3:10.

14. UJesu wayeqonde ukuthini ngesikhathi esho amazwi akuJohane 14:12?

¹⁴ Umsebenzi wokushumayela nokwenza abafundi iwona obalulekile kulezi zinsuku zokugcina. Empeleni, uJesu wabikezela ukuthi abafundi bakhe babeyokwenza imisebenzi emikhulu kunaleyo ayenza! (Funda uJohane 14:12.) Wayengasho ukuthi nathi sasiyokwenza izimangaliso njengaye. Kunalokho, uJesu wayeqonde ukuthi abalandeli bakhe babeyoshumayela futhi bafundise ezindaweni eziningi, bashumayeze abantu abaningi futhi bashumayele isikhathi eside kunaye.

15. Yimiphi imibuzo okufanele sizibuze yona, futhi kungani?

¹⁵ Uma unomsebenzi wokuziphilisa, zibuze le mibuzo: ‘Ingabe ngaziwa njengomuntu okhuthele emsebenzini? Ingabe ngiwuqeda ngesikhathi umsebenzi enginikwe wona futhi ngiyazikhandla lapho ngiwenza?’ Uma uphendula ngoyebo, cishe umqashi wakho uyokwethemba nabantu osebenza nabo bayofuna ukulalela izindaba ezinhle. Uma kuziwa emsebenzini wokushumayela  nokufundisa, zibuze le mibuzo: ‘Ingabe ngaziwa njengomuntu ozikhandlayo enkonzweni? Ingabe ngikulungiselela kahle lokho engizokusho kubantu engiqalayo ukuxoxa nabo? Ingabe ngibuyela ngokushesha kubantu engibathembise ukubuya ngizoxoxa nabo? Ngiyazisebenzisa yini ezinye izindlela ezihlukahlukene zokushumayela?’ Uma uphendula ngoyebo, uyoyijabulela inkonzo yakho.

16. Umbono kaJesu nabaphostoli ngokuphumula uhluke kanjani kowabaningi namuhla?

¹⁶ UJesu wayazi ukuthi ngezinye izikhathi yena nabaphostoli babekudinga ukuphumula. Nokho, abantu abaningi ngesikhathi sakhe nanamuhla bafana nendoda ecebile esemfanekisweni kaJesu. Leyo ndoda yayithi enhliziyweni yayo: “Khululeka, udle, uphuze, uzijabulise.” (Luka 12:19; 2 Thim. 3:4) Yayibheka ukuphumula nobumnandi njengezinto ezibalulekile. Ngokuphambene nalokho, uJesu nabaphostoli babengagxilile ekuzijabuliseni bona.

17. Sisisebenzisa kanjani isikhathi sethu lapho singayanga emsebenzini wokuziphilisa?

¹⁷ Namuhla, sizama ukulingisa uJesu ngokuthi lapho singayanga emsebenzini singagcini nje ngokuphumula kuphela kodwa sishumayele, siye nasemihlanganweni yobuKristu. Empeleni, sibheka ukushumayela nokuya emhlanganweni njengemisebenzi ebaluleke kakhulu kangangokuba senza konke esingakwenza ukuze siyenze. (Heb. 10:24, 25) Ngisho noma siseholidini, siyaqhubeka simatasa ekukhonzeni uJehova ngokuya emhlanganweni njalo nangokufuna wonke amathuba okuxoxa ngeBhayibheli nabantu esihlangana nabo.—2 Thim. 4:2.

18. Yini iNkosi yethu, uJesu Kristu, efuna siyenze?

¹⁸ Ave sijabula ngokuthi iNkosi yethu, uJesu Kristu, ayifuni senze okungaphezu kwamandla ethu futhi iyasisiza sibe nombono ofanele ngokusebenza nangokuphumula! (Heb. 4:15) UJesu ufuna siphumule. Ufuna nokuba sizikhandle ukuze sithole izinto eziyisidingo ekuphileni, sihlanganyele nasemsebenzini ojabulisayo wokwenza abafundi. Esihlokweni esilandelayo, sizoxoxa ngokuthi yini uJesu ayenzile ukuze asikhulule ebugqilini obunonya.