1, 2. (a) Isiphi iseluleko uSolomoni aphefumulelwa ukuba asibhalele intsha? (b) Kungani namaKristu aneminyaka engu-50 nangaphezulu kufanele asinake iseluleko sikaSolomoni?

INKOSI USOLOMONI yaphefumulelwa ukuba isho la mazwi kwabasebasha: “Khumbula uMdali wakho Omkhulu ezinsukwini zobunsizwa bakho, ngaphambi kokuba kufike izinsuku eziyinhlekelele.” Ziyini “izinsuku eziyinhlekelele”? USolomoni wasebenzisa ulimi olusankondlo oluthakazelisayo ukuze achaze izinsuku eziyinhlekelele zokuguga—ukuba nedumbe, ukuxega kwamadolo, ukuphuma amazinyo, ukuqundeka kwamehlo, ukungezwa kahle, ubumpunga nokugoba. Akekho umuntu okufanele ahlele ukulinda kuze kube yilapho efika kuleso sigaba sokuphila ngaphambi kokuqala ukukhonza uJehova.—Funda umShumayeli 12:1-5.

² AmaKristu amaningi aneminyaka engu-50 nangaphezulu asenabo ubungqabavu. Kungenzeka aseqala ukuba mpunga, kodwa mhlawumbe awakaxhwali ngendlela eyachazwa uSolomoni. La maKristu asemadala angazuza yini eselulekweni esiphefumulelwe esasibhekiswe entsheni: “Khumbula uMdali wakho Omkhulu”? Sisho ukuthini leso seluleko?

3. Yini ehilelekile ekukhumbuleni uMdali wethu Omkhulu?

 ³ Nakuba kungenzeka ukuthi besilokhu sikhonza uJehova iminyaka eminingi, kuhle ukuba sizinike ithuba ngesinye isikhathi sicabange ngokwazisa ngobukhulu boMdali wethu. Ingabe ukuphila ngokwakho akuyona into emangalisayo? Abantu abanakuyiqonda indlela eyinkimbinkimbi ukuphila okungayo. Amalungiselelo kaJehova anhlobonhlobo kakhulu kangangokuba ziningi izinto esingazijabulela ekuphileni. Lapho sicabanga ngendalo kaJehova, sivuselela ukwazisa esinakho ngothando lwakhe, ukuhlakanipha namandla. (IHu. 143:5) Kodwa ukukhumbula uMdali wethu Omkhulu kuhilela nokucabanga ngezibopho zethu kuye. Phakathi nalezo zikhathi zokuzindla, ngokuqinisekile sifikelwa umuzwa wokuzimisela ukubonisa ukwazisa ngoMdali wethu ngokumkhonza ngokugcwele ngangokunokwenzeka uma nje sisaphila.—UmSh. 12:13.

4. Imuphi umbuzo amaKristu anokuhlangenwe nakho angazibuza wona, futhi kungani?

⁴ Uma usunokuhlangenwe nakho kweminyaka eminingi njengomuntu omdala, kunombuzo obalulekile okufanele uzibuze wona, ‘Yini engizoyenza ngokuphila kwami manje njengoba ngisenamandla athile nobungqabavu?’ NjengomKristu onokuhlangenwe nakho, unamathuba angabavulekele abanye. Ungadlulisela kwabasebasha lokho okufundile ngoJehova. Ungaqinisa abanye ngokulandisa okuhlangenwe nakho okujabulele lapho ukhonza uNkulunkulu. INkosi uDavide yathandazela ukuba ithole amathuba okwenza kanjalo. Yabhala: “O Nkulunkulu, ungifundisile kusukela ebusheni bami kuqhubeke . . . O Nkulunkulu, ungangishiyi, kuze kube ngisho nasekugugeni nasebumpungeni, ngize ngilandise ngengalo yakho esizukulwaneni, ngamandla akho kubo bonke abasazofika.”—IHu. 71:17, 18.

5. AmaKristu amadala angakudlulisela kanjani kwabanye lokho aye akufunda?

⁵ Ungabazisa kanjani abanye ukuhlakanipha okuthole eminyakeni yokuphila kwakho? Kunganjani umeme izikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu ezisencane ukuze nijabulele ubudlelwane obakhayo? Ungazicela yini ukuba zisebenze nawe enkonzweni yobuKristu futhi zibone injabulo oyitholayo ngokukhonza uJehova? U-Elihu wasendulo wathi: “Izinsuku ngokwazo kufanele zikhulume, futhi ngubuningi beminyaka okufanele benze ukuhlakanipha kwaziwe.” (Jobe 32:7) Umphostoli uPawulu wanxusa abesifazane abangamaKristu abanokuhlangenwe nakho ukuba bakhuthaze abanye ngamazwi nangesibonelo. Wabhala: ‘Abesifazane asebekhulile mababe abafundisi bokuhle.’—Thithu 2:3.

6. Kungani amaKristu anokuhlangenwe nakho kweminyaka eminingi kungafanele alibukele phansi ithuba analo?

⁶ Uma ungumKristu onokuhlangenwe nakho, usethubeni elihle kakhulu lokusiza abanye. Cabanga ngezinto oziqondayo manje owawungazazi eminyakeni engu-30 noma engu-40 edlule. Usunekhono lokusebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibheli ekuphileni. Akungabazeki ukuthi unekhono lokufinyelela izinhliziyo zabanye ngeqiniso leBhayibheli. Uma ungumdala, uyakwazi ukusiza abazalwane abaphambukayo. (Gal. 6:1) Mhlawumbe ufunde ukwengamela imisebenzi yebandla, iminyango ethile emihlanganweni emikhulu noma ukwakhiwa kwamaHholo OMbuso. Kungenzeka uyakwazi ukubonisana nodokotela ukuba basebenzise ezinye izindlela zokwelapha ezingalisebenzisi igazi. Ngisho noma usanda kulithola iqiniso, unokuhlangenwe nakho okuwusizo ekuphileni. Ngokwesibonelo, uma ukhulise izingane, kumelwe ukuba uye wathola ukuhlakanipha okukhulu okusebenzayo. AmaKristu amadala angaba umthombo onamandla wesikhuthazo kubantu bakaJehova ngokufundisa, ukuhola, nangokuqinisa abafowabo nodadewabo.—Funda uJobe 12:12.

7. AmaKristu amadala angayiqeqesha kanjani intsha ngendlela ewusizo?

⁷ Ungalisebenzisa kanjani ngokugcwele  ithuba onalo? Mhlawumbe ungase ubonise intsha indlela yokuqala nokuqhuba isifundo seBhayibheli. Uma ungudade, ungabacebisa yini omama abasebasha ukuthi bangenza kanjani ukuze bangasileli emisebenzini engokomoya kuyilapho benakekela izingane zabo ezincane? Uma ungumzalwane, ungabafundisa yini abazalwane abasebasha ukunikeza izinkulumo ngentshiseko nokuba abashumayeli bezindaba ezinhle abaphumelelayo? Ungababonisa yini ukuthi wenze njani lapho uhambele abazalwane nodade asebekhulile ukuze ubakhuthaze ngokomoya? Ngisho noma ungasenawo amandla owawunawo, unamathuba amahle kakhulu okuqeqesha intsha. IZwi likaNkulunkulu lithi: “Ubuhle bezinsizwa ngamandla azo; nobukhazikhazi bamaxhegu ngubumpunga bawo.”—IzAga 20:29.

8. Yini umphostoli uPawulu ayenza lapho esemdala?

⁸ Umphostoli uPawulu walisebenzisa lonke ithuba ayenalo ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu lapho esemdala. Ngesikhathi akhululwa ngaso ejele eRoma cishe ngo-61 C.E., wayesekhuthazele iminyaka eminingi enkonzweni ekhandlayo yokuba isithunywa sevangeli futhi wayengavele ahlale eRoma ashumayele khona. (2 Kor. 11:23-27) Cishe abazalwane bakulowo muzi omkhulu babezokwazisa ukuba aqhubeke ebasekela. Kodwa uPawulu wabona ukuthi kwakunesidingo esikhulu kakhulu phesheya kwezilwandle. Lapho esebuyela emsebenzini wakhe wezithunywa zevangeli, wahamba noThimothewu noThithu baya e-Efesu, badlulela eKrethe, cishe naseMakedoniya. (1 Thim. 1:3; Thithu 1:5) Asazi ukuthi waya yini eSpaniya, kodwa wayehlose ukuya.—Roma 15:24, 28.

9. Kungenzeka ukuthi uPetru wathutha nini ukuze ayokhonza lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

⁹ Kungenzeka ukuthi umphostoli uPetru wayeseneminyaka eyevile kwengu-50 ngesikhathi ethuthela lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona. Kungani kucatshangwa kanjalo? Uma kuwukuthi wayelingana noJesu ngobudala noma emdadlana, cishe wayeseneminyaka engu-50 lapho ehlangana nabanye abaphostoli eJerusalema ngo-49 C.E. (IzE. 15:7) Ngemva kwesikhathi esithile kudlule lowo mhlangano, uPetru wathuthela eBhabhiloni, ngokungangabazeki ukuze ayoshumayela kumaJuda amaningi ayehlala kuleyo ndawo. (Gal. 2:9) Wayehlala lapho ngesikhathi ebhala incwadi yakhe yokuqala ephefumulelwe, cishe ngo-62 C.E. (1 Pet. 5:13) Ukuhlala ezweni ongazalelwanga kulo kungaba yinselele, kodwa uPetru akazange avumele ukukhula kwakhe ngeminyaka kumephuce injabulo yokukhonza uJehova ngokugcwele.

10, 11. Landisa okuhlangenwe nakho kothile owathutha ukuze ayokhonza lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona esemdala.

¹⁰ Namuhla, amaKristu amaningi aneminyaka engu-50 nangaphezulu ayaqaphela ukuthi izimo zawo sezishintshile nokuthi asengakhonza uJehova ngezinye izindlela. Amanye aye athuthela lapho kunendingeko enkulu khona. Ngokwesibonelo, uRobert uyabhala: “Mina nomkami sasineminyaka engaba ngu-55 lapho sibona amathuba asivulekele. Indodana yethu ewukuphela kwayo yayingasahlali nathi, sasingasenabo abazali abadinga ukunakekelwa futhi babesishiyele imadlana eyifa. Ngabala ngathola ukuthi uma singadayisa indlu yethu singathola imali eyokwazi ukukhokhela sonke isikweletu sendlu futhi isiqhube kuze kube yilapho sithola impesheni. Sezwa ukuthi eBolivia abantu abaningi bayazamukela izifundo zeBhayibheli futhi izindleko zokuphila azinkulu kakhulu. Ngakho sanquma ukuthuthela khona. Kwakungelula ukujwayela ikhaya lethu elisha. Yonke into yayihlukile kulokho esasikujwayele eNyakatho Melika. Kodwa imizamo yethu yavuzwa kakhulu.”

¹¹ URobert uyanezela: “Manje ukuphila kwethu konke kugxile emisebenzini yebandla. Abanye babantu esafunda nabo iBhayibheli sebebhapathiziwe. Kunomkhaya ohluphekayo esawufundela ohlala emaphandleni aqhele ngamakhilomitha amaningi. Kodwa  masonto onke amalungu alo mkhaya athatha uhambo olunzima eze edolobheni ukuze abe khona emihlanganweni yebandla. Awucabange nje ukuthi sajabula kanjani lapho sibona lo mkhaya uthuthuka futhi indodana endala ize iba iphayona!”

12, 13. Landisa okuhlangenwe nakho komKristu owaqala ukukhonza uJehova ngendlela entsha ngemva kokuthatha umhlalaphansi.

¹² Amabandla namaqembu akhuluma olunye ulimi angazuza kakhulu esibonelweni sabazalwane nodade abadala. Kungaba okujabulisa kakhulu nokusebenza insimu enjalo. Ngokwesibonelo, uBrian uyabhala: “Ukuphila kwami nomkami kwaqala ukungathakazelisi lapho ngifinyelela eminyakeni engu-65 othatha ngayo umhlalaphansi eBrithani. Izingane zethu zazingasahlali ekhaya futhi kwakuqabukela sithola abantu abathakazelayo esingabaqhubela izifundo zeBhayibheli. Ngabe sengihlangana nensizwa ethile engumShayina eyayenza ucwaningo eyunivesithi yendawo. Yavuma lapho ngiyimemela ukuba ize emhlanganweni wethu, futhi ngaqala ukufunda nayo iBhayibheli. Ngemva kwamasonto ambalwa, yaqala ukuza nomunye umfundi ongumShayina. Emasontweni amabili kamuva, yeza nowesithathu, yaphinde yeza nowesine.

¹³ “Kwathi lapho umcwaningi wesihlanu ecela isifundo seBhayibheli, ngacabanga, ‘Ukuthi ngineminyaka engu-65 akusho ukuthi kufanele ngithathe umhlalaphansi enkonzweni kaJehova.’ Ngakho, ngabuza umkami engimshiya ngeminyaka emibili ukuthi angethande yini ukufunda isiShayina. Sasebenzisa amakhasethi okufunda ulimi. Lokho kwenzeka eminyakeni eyishumi edlule. Ukushumayela ensimini yolunye ulimi kwasenza sazizwa sibasha futhi. Sikhuluma nje, sesifundele abantu abakhuluma isiShayina abangu-112! Iningi labo liye leza emihlanganweni yebandla. Omunye wabo usekhonza nathi njengephayona.”

14. Ukwazi ini okungenza amaKristu amadala ajabule, futhi isibonelo sikaPawulu siwakhuthaza kanjani?

¹⁴ Nakuba amaKristu amaningi aneminyaka engaphezu kwengu-50 ubudala enamathuba amaningi okwenza izinto ezintsha enkonzweni kaJehova, akuwona  wonke angenza kanjalo. Amanye awo anempilo ebuthaka, amanye anakekela abazali asebekhulile noma anezingane ezisathembele kuwo. Kuyokujabulisa ukwazi ukuthi uJehova wazisa noma yini oyenzayo enkonzweni yakhe. Ngakho kunokuba ukhungathekiswe yilokho ongasakwazi ukukwenza, jabulela lokho osakwazi ukukwenza. Cabanga ngesibonelo somphostoli uPawulu. Waboshelwa endlini iminyaka eminingi, engakwazi ukuqhubeka nohambo lwakhe njengesithunywa sevangeli. Kodwa noma nini lapho abantu bemvakashela, wayekhuluma nabo ngemiBhalo futhi abaqinise okholweni.—IzE. 28:16, 30, 31.

15. Kungani amaKristu asekhulile aziswa kakhulu?

¹⁵ UJehova uyakwazisa nalokho asebekhulile abakwaziyo ukukwenza enkonzweni yakhe. Nakuba uSolomoni abonisa ukuthi izinsuku eziyinhlekelele zempilo ebuthaka aziyona inkathi engcono kakhulu yokuphila, uJehova ukwazisa kakhulu lokho amaKristu asekhulile akwaziyo ukukwenza ekumdumiseni. (Luka 21:2-4) Amabandla ayasazisa isibonelo sokwethembeka sezinceku ezingomakadebona eziphakathi kwawo.

16. Cishe imaphi amalungelo u-Ana osekhulile angakwazanga ukuwajabulela, kodwa yini akwazi ukuyenza ekukhulekeleni uNkulunkulu?

¹⁶ IBhayibheli libika ukuthi owesifazane osekhulile ogama lakhe lingu-Ana waqhubeka ngokwethembeka edumisa uJehova nasekugugeni kwakhe. Wayengumfelokazi oneminyaka engu-84 lapho uJesu ezalwa. Cishe, akazange aphile isikhathi eside ukuba abe umlandeli kaJesu, agcotshwe ngomoya ongcwele noma ajabulele ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Noma kunjalo, u-Ana wakujabulela ukwenza lokho ayenamandla okukwenza. “Wayengakaze aphuthe ethempelini, enikela inkonzo engcwele ubusuku nemini.” (Luka 2:36, 37) Njengoba umpristi enikela impepho ethempelini njalo ekuseni nakusihlwa, cishe u-Ana wayephakathi kwesixuku esibuthene egcekeni sithandaza buthule mhlawumbe isikhathi esingangengxenye yehora. Lapho ebona usana olunguJesu, waqala ‘ukukhuluma ngomntwana kubo bonke ababelindele ukukhululwa kweJerusalema.’—Luka 2:38.

17. Singakwazi kanjani ukusiza amaKristu asekhulile nabuthaka emzimbeni ukuba abe nengxenye ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso?

¹⁷ Namuhla, kufanele sikuphaphamele ukusiza amaKristu asekhulile noma asebuthaka emzimbeni. Nakuba efisa kakhulu ukuba khona emihlanganweni yebandla nakwemikhulu, kungenzeka ukuthi amanye sekuyaqabukela eba khona. Kwezinye izindawo, amabandla anelungiselelo lothando lokuba lawo maKristu asekhulile akwazi ukulalela imihlangano ngocingo. Kungenzeka ukuthi kwezinye izindawo ilungiselelo elinjalo alinakwenzeka. Noma kunjalo, amaKristu angenakukwazi ukuba khona emihlanganweni angaba nengxenye ekusekeleni ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Ngokwesibonelo, imithandazo yawo inengxenye empumelelweni yebandla lobuKristu.—Funda iHubo 92:13, 14.

18, 19. (a) Kungani amaKristu asekhulile engase engaqapheli ukuthi ayisikhuthazo esikhulu kanjani kwabanye? (b) Obani abangasebenzisa iseluleko esithi: “Khumbula uMdali wakho Omkhulu”?

¹⁸ AmaKristu asekhulile angase angaqapheli ukuthi ayisikhuthazo kangakanani kwabanye. Ngokwesibonelo, nakuba u-Ana ayethembekile yonke leyo minyaka ethempelini, cishe wayengaqapheli ukuthi isibonelo sakhe sasiyoqhubeka sikhuthaza abanye emva kwamakhulu eminyaka. Uthando luka-Ana ngoJehova lwalotshwa emiBhalweni. Akungabazeki ukuthi uthando lwakho ngoNkulunkulu lulotshiwe ezinhliziyweni zabakhulekeli okanye nabo. Shono iZwi likaNkulunkulu lithi: “Ubumpunga bungumqhele wobuhle lapho butholakala endleleni yokulunga”!—IzAga 16:31.

¹⁹ Sonke silinganiselwe kulokho esingakwenza enkonzweni kaJehova. Kodwa labo kithi abasenamandla nobungqabavu mabawathathe ngokungathí sina la mazwi aphefumulelwe: “Khumbula uMdali wakho Omkhulu . . . ngaphambi kokuba kufike izinsuku eziyinhlekelele.”—UmSh. 12:1.