1. Yini eyabangela uPawulu ukuba ajabule ngamaKristu aseKorinte?

KWAKUNGONYAKA ka-55 C.E. Umphostoli uPawulu wayesemzini oyitheku waseTrowa, kodwa wayelokhu ecabanga ngabaseKorinte. Ngaphambilini kuwo lowo nyaka, kwakumzwise ubuhlungu ukuzwa ukuthi kwakunezingxabano phakathi kwabazalwane. Ngakho ngenxa yokubakhathalela njengoyise, wayebathumelele incwadi ebayala. (1 Kor. 1:11; 4:15) Wayethumele khona noThithu isisebenzi akanye naso futhi ehlele naye ukuba abuyise umbiko kuye eTrowa. Manje uPawulu wayelinde uThithu eTrowa, elangazelela ukuzwa ukuthi babeqhuba kanjani abaseKorinte. Kodwa wadumala lapho uThithu engafiki. Wayezokwenzenjani? Wahamba ngomkhumbi waya eMakedoniya, futhi wajabula lapho behlangana. UThithu wamlandisa ukuthi abazalwane baseKorinte babeyamukele kahle incwadi yakhe nokuthi babelangazelela ukumbona. Lapho ezwa lo mbiko omuhle, uPawulu ‘wajabula kakhulu.’—2 Kor. 2:12, 13; 7:5-9.

2. (a) Yini uPawulu ayibhalela abaseKorinte ngokuphathelene nokholo nenjabulo? (b) Imiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo?

² Ngemva nje kwalokho, uPawulu wabhalela abaseKorinte incwadi yesibili. Wabatshela: “Akukhona ukuthi singamakhosi phezu kokholo lwenu, kodwa siyizisebenzi ezikanye nani ukuze nijabule, ngoba nimi ngokholo lwenu.” (2 Kor. 1:24) Wayesho ukuthini uPawulu ngalawo mazwi? Lawo mazwi kufanele abathinte kanjani abadala abangamaKristu namuhla?

3. (a) Wayesho ukuthi uPawulu lapho ebhala ukuthi: “Nimi ngokholo lwenu”? (b) Abadala basilandela kanjani isibonelo sikaPawulu namuhla?

³ UPawulu wakhuluma ngezici ezimbili ezibalulekile ekukhulekeleni kwethu—ukholo nenjabulo. Khumbula lokho akubhala ngokholo: “Akukhona ukuthi singamakhosi phezu kokholo lwenu, . . . ngoba nimi ngokholo  lwenu.” Ngala mazwi uPawulu wayevuma ukuthi abazalwane baseKorinte babeqinile okholweni, hhayi ngenxa yakhe noma omunye umuntu, kodwa ngenxa yokholo lwabo siqu kuNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yalokho, uPawulu akasibonanga isidingo sokulawula ukholo lwabafowabo, futhi wayengafisi ukwenza kanjalo. Wayeqiniseka ukuthi babengamaKristu athembekile ayefuna ukwenza okulungile. (2 Kor. 2:3) Namuhla, abadala balandela isibonelo sikaPawulu ngokubonisa ukuthi bayalwethemba ukholo lwabafowabo nezisusa zabo zokukhonza uNkulunkulu. (2 Thes. 3:4) Kunokubeka imithetho eqinile ebandleni, abadala bancika ezimisweni ezisemiBhalweni nasesiqondisweni esivela enhlanganweni kaJehova. Kakade, abadala banamuhla abawona amakhosi phezu kokholo lwabafowabo.—1 Pet. 5:2, 3.

4. (a) UPawulu wayesho ukuthini lapho ebhala: “Siyizisebenzi ezikanye nani ukuze nijabule”? (b) Abadala basilingisa kanjani isimo sengqondo sikaPawulu namuhla?

⁴ UPawulu wabuye wathi: “Siyizisebenzi ezikanye nani ukuze nijabule.” Ngala mazwi, wayebhekisele kuye nakulabo ayebambisene kakhulu nabo. Kungani sifinyelela leso siphetho? Kuleyo ncwadi, uPawulu wakhumbuza abaseKorinte ngababili balabo ayebambisene nabo: ‘UJesu, okwashunyayelwa ngaye phakathi kwenu kusetshenziswa thina, okuwukuthi, kusetshenziswa mina noSilvanu noThimothewu.’ (2 Kor. 1:19) Ngaphezu kwalokho, noma nini lapho uPawulu esebenzisa inkulumo ethi “izisebenzi ezikanye nami” ezincwadini zakhe, ngaso sonke isikhathi wayebhekisela kulabo ayebambisene kakhulu nabo njengo-Apholo, u-Akhwila, uPriska, uThimothewu, uThithu nabanye. (Roma 16:3, 21; 1 Kor. 3:6-9; 2 Kor. 8:23) Ngakho, lapho ethi: “Siyizisebenzi ezikanye nani ukuze nijabule,” uPawulu wayeqinisekisa abaseKorinte ukuthi yena nabangane bakhe babefuna ukwenza konke okusemandleni abo ukuze banezele enjabulweni yawo wonke amalungu ebandla. Namuhla, abadala abangamaKristu banesifiso esifanayo. Bafuna ukwenza konke okusemandleni abo ukuze basize abafowabo ‘bakhonze uJehova ngokuthokoza.’—IHu. 100:2; Fil. 1:25.

5. Izimpendulo zamuphi umbuzo esizozicabangela, futhi yini okufanele sizindle ngayo?

⁵ Muva nje, kucelwe iqembu labafowethu nodadewethu abashisekayo abahlala ezingxenyeni ezihlukahlukene ukuba baphendule lo mbuzo, “Yimaphi amazwi noma izenzo zomdala othile ezanezela enjabulweni yakho?” Njengoba manje sicabangela lokho okwaphawulwa yilelo qembu lalaba esikholwa nabo, qhathanisa amazwi abo nendlela wena obuyosabela ngayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, sonke masizindle ngendlela esinganezela ngayo emoyeni wenjabulo ebandleni esikulo. *

6, 7. (a) Iyiphi enye indlela abadala abangalingisa ngayo uJesu, uPawulu nezinye izinceku zikaNkulunkulu? (b) Kungani ukukhumbula amagama abafowethu kunezela enjabulweni yabo?

⁶ Abafowethu nodadewethu abaningi bathi bajabula kakhulu lapho abadala bebonisa ukuthi bayabakhathalela. Enye indlela eyisisekelo abadala abangakwenza ngayo lokhu ukulandela isibonelo esabekwa uDavide, u-Elihu noJesu. (Funda eyesi-2 Samuweli 9:6; Jobe 33:1; Luka 19:5.) Ngayinye yalezi zinceku zikaJehova yabonisa ukukhathalela othile ngokusuka enhliziyweni ngokumbiza ngegama lakhe. UPawulu naye wayekwazisa ukubaluleka kokukhumbula nokusebenzisa amagama alabo ayekholwa nabo. Waphetha enye yezincwadi zakhe ngokukhonza kubafowabo nodadewabo abangaphezu kuka-25 ebagagula ngamagama, kuhlanganise noPersisi, udade ongumKristu uPawulu athi ngaye: “Khonzani kuPersisi, othandekayo wethu.”—Roma 16:3-15.

 ⁷ Abanye abadala bakuthola kunzima ukukhumbula amagama. Noma kunjalo, lapho benza umzamo wangempela wokuwakhumbula, kuba njengokungathi bathi kulabo abakholwa nabo, ‘Ubalulekile kimi.’ (Eks. 33:17) Ngokukhethekile, abadala bayonezela enjabulweni yabafowabo lapho bekhumbula amagama abo uma bebakhomba ukuba baphendule eSifundweni Se-Nqabayokulinda noma kweminye imihlangano.—Qhathanisa noJohane 10:3.

8. Iyiphi enye indlela ebalulekile uPawulu alandela ngayo isibonelo esabekwa uJehova noJesu?

⁸ UPawulu wabuye wabonisa ukubakhathalela abanye ngokubancoma ngobuqotho, okungenye yezindlela eziyisisekelo zokunezela enjabulweni yalabo esikholwa nabo. Ngakho, encwadini efanayo aveza kuyo isifiso sakhe sokusebenzela injabulo yabafowabo, uPawulu wabhala: “Ngiziqhayisa kakhulu ngani.” (2 Kor. 7:4) Lawo mazwi okubancoma kumelwe ukuba azithinta izinhliziyo zabafowabo eKorinte. UPawulu washo amazwi afanayo okuncoma nakwamanye amabandla. (Roma 1:8; Fil. 1:3-5; 1 Thes. 1:8) Eqinisweni, ngemva kokukhuluma ngoPersisi encwadini yakhe eya ebandleni laseRoma, wanezela: “Wenza imisebenzi eminingi eNkosini.” (Roma 16:12) Yeka ukuthi lokho kunconywa kumelwe ukuba kwamkhuthaza kanjani lowo dade othembekile! Lapho encoma abanye, uPawulu wayelandela isibonelo esabekwa uJehova noJesu.—Funda uMarku 1:9-11; Johane 1:47; IsAm. 2:2, 13, 19.

9. Kungani ukuncoma nokunconywa kunezela emoyeni wenjabulo ebandleni?

⁹ Namuhla abadala nabo bayakubona ukubaluleka kokuzwakalisa ngamazwi ukwazisa abanakho ngabafowabo. (IzAga 3:27; 15:23) Noma nini lapho umdala enza kanjalo, kunjengokungathi uthi kubafowabo, “Ngikubonile enikwenzile. Ngiyanikhathalela.’ Akholwa nabo bakudinga ngempela ukuzwa amazwi abaqinisekisayo avela kubadala. Udade oweve eminyakeni engu-50 wakhulumela abaningi lapho ethi: “Akuvamile ukuba nginconywe emsebenzini. Alukho uthando khona futhi kunomoya wokuncintisana. Ngakho lapho umdala engincoma ngokuthile engikwenzele ibandla, akuve kungiqabula, kungenza ngibe namandla ngempela! Kungenza ngizizwe ngithandwa uBaba osezulwini.” Umzalwane ongumzali ongayedwa okhulisa izingane ezimbili naye wazizwa ngendlela efanayo. Usanda kunconywa omunye umdala ngobuqotho. Wathinteka kanjani lo mzalwane? Uthi: “Amazwi omdala angikhuthaza ngempela!” Ngempela, ngokuncoma akholwa nabo, umdala uvuselela umoya wabo futhi andise injabulo yabo. Lokho kubanika amandla engeziwe okuqhubeka besendleleni yokuphila, “bangakhathali.”—Isaya 40:31.

10, 11. (a) Abadala bangasilandela kanjani isibonelo esabekwa uNehemiya? (b) Yini eyosiza umdala ukuba adlulisele isipho esingokomoya lapho enza ukuhambela kokwalusa?

¹⁰ Iyiphi indlela ebaluleke kakhulu abadala abangabonisa ngayo ukuthi bayabakhathalela abafowabo futhi banezele enjabulweni yebandla? Ngokuthatha isinyathelo kuqala sokuya kulabo abadinga isikhuthazo. (Funda izEnzo 20:28.) Lapho abadala benza kanjalo, balingisa abelusi abangokomoya basendulo. Ngokwesibonelo, phawula lokho umbonisi othembekile uNehemiya akwenza lapho ebona ukuthi abanye babafowabo abangamaJuda base bebuthaka ngokomoya. Ukulandisa kusitshela ukuthi wasukuma masinyane wabakhuthaza. (Neh. 4:14) Namuhla, abadala bafuna ukwenza okufanayo. ‘Bayasukuma,’ noma bathatha isinyathelo kuqala, ukuze basize abakholwa nabo ukuba baqine okholweni. Ukuze babakhuthaze ngokuqondile, bahambela abafowabo nodadewabo emakhaya abo uma izimo zivuma. Lapho benza ukuhambela okunjalo kokwalusa, bafuna ‘ukudlulisela kubo isipho esithile esingokomoya.’ (Roma 1:11) Yini eyosiza abadala ukuba benze kanjalo?

 ¹¹ Ngaphambi kokwenza ukuhambela kokwalusa, umdala kudingeka azinike isikhathi sokucabanga ngomuntu azomhambela. Iziphi izinselele abhekene nazo? Imaphi amazwi angase amakhe? Imuphi umBhalo noma okuhlangenwe nakho komuntu othile oseBhayibhelini okungasebenza ezimweni zakhe? Ukucabangisisa ngalezi zinto kusengaphambili kuyosiza umdala ukuba ingxoxo yakhe ibe eyakhayo, kungaxoxwa nje ngezinto zansuku zonke. Lapho enza ukuhambela kokwalusa, umdala unika abafowabo nodadewabo ithuba lokusho okusenhliziyweni yabo, yena alalelisise. (Jak. 1:19) Omunye udade wathi: “Akuve kududuza lapho umdala elalela ngenhliziyo yakhe.”—Luka 8:18.

12. Obani ebandleni abadinga isikhuthazo, futhi ngani?

¹² Obani okuyobazuzisa ukuhanjelwa kokweluswa? UPawulu wayala abadala abangamaKristu abakanye naye ukuba ‘baqaphele wonke umhlambi.’ Ngempela, wonke amalungu ebandla ayakudinga ukuthola isikhuthazo, kuhlanganise nabamemezeli namaphayona abebelokhu befeza inkonzo yabo ngokwethembeka minyaka yonke. Kungani bedinga ukuba abelusi abangokomoya babakhuthaze? Kungenxa yokuthi ngezinye izikhathi nabo laba abaqinile ngokomoya baba sengcupheni yokunqotshwa izingcindezi zaleli zwe elibi. Ukubonisa ukuthi ngisho nenceku kaNkulunkulu eqinile, kungenzeka ngezinye izikhathi idinge usizo lomunye umuntu, ake sicabangele isenzakalo esenzeka ekuphileni kweNkosi uDavide.

13. (a) U-Ishibi-bhenobhi wafuna ukusizakala ngasiphi isimo sikaDavide? (b) U-Abhishayi wakwazi kanjani ukusindisa uDavide?

¹³ Ngemva nje kokuba uDavide osemusha egcotshwe njengenkosi, wabhekana noGoliyati, omunye wamaRefa, uhlanga lwemidondoshiya. UDavide onesibindi wambulala lowo mdondoshiya. (1 Sam. 17:4, 48-51; 1 IziKr. 20:5, 8) Eminyakeni eminingi kamuva, ngesikhathi belwa namaFilisti, uDavide waphinde wabhekana nomunye umdondoshiya. Igama lakhe kwakungu-Ishibi-bhenobhi, naye engomunye wamaRefa.  (2 Sam. 21:16) Nokho, kulokhu, lowo mdondoshiya wacishe wambulala uDavide. Kungani? Akukhona ukuthi uDavide wayengasenaso isibindi, kodwa wayephelelwe amandla. Umlando uthi: “UDavide wakhathala.” Kwathi lapho u-Ishibi-bhenobhi ephawula ukuthi uDavide wayesekhathele, “wacabanga ukubulala uDavide.” Kodwa ngaphambi nje kokuba lowo mdondoshiya ubhokode uDavide, “ngaso leso sikhathi u-Abhishayi indodana kaZeruya wamsiza [uDavide] wamshaya lo mFilisti wambulala.” (2 Sam. 21:15-17) Wasinda emlonyeni wengonyama! Yeka ukuthi kumelwe ukuba uDavide wabonga kanjani ngokuthi u-Abhishayi wayembhekile nokuthi wathatha isinyathelo masinyane sokumsiza lapho ukuphila kwakhe kusengozini! Iziphi izifundo esizithola kulokhu kulandisa?

14. (a) Yini eyenza sikwazi ukunqoba izinselele ezifana noGoliyati? (b) Abadala bangabasiza kanjani abanye ukuba bavuselele amandla nenjabulo yabo? Nikeza isibonelo.

¹⁴ Emhlabeni wonke, njengabantu bakaJehova sifeza inkonzo yethu naphezu kwezithiyo uSathane nezikhonzi zakhe abazibeka phambi kwethu. Abanye bethu baye babhekana nezinselele ezinkulu, kodwa ngokuncika ngokuphelele kuJehova, siye sabhekana ngesibindi nalezi zinselele ezifana ‘noGoliyati’ futhi sanqoba. Nokho, ngezinye izikhathi, impi esiyilwa njalo nezingcindezi zaleli zwe isenza sikhathale futhi sidangale. Uma sikuleso simo sokuba buthaka, siba izisulu ezilula futhi sibe sengozini ‘yokubulawa’ izingcindezi ebesiyokwazi ukubhekana nazo ngokuphumelelayo ezimweni ezivamile. Ngalezo zikhathi, isikhuthazo esifike ngesikhathi somdala singasisiza ukuba siphinde sithole injabulo yethu namandla ethu njengoba kuye kwaba njalo ngabaningi. Udade oyiphayona oweve eminyakeni engu-60 walandisa: “Esikhathini esithile esidlule, ngake ngangazizwa kahle, futhi ngangibuya ngiyingcuba enkonzweni yasensimini. Umdala othile wakuphawula lokho kuphelelwa kwami amandla futhi waxoxa nami. Saba nengxoxo ekhuthazayo esekelwe endinyaneni ethile yeBhayibheli. Ngasebenzisa ukusikisela anginika khona futhi kwangizuzisa.” Wanezela: “Yeka ukuthi kube isenzo sothando kangakanani ukuba lowo mdala abuphawule lobo buthaka bami futhi anginike usizo!” Yebo, kuyakhuthaza ukwazi ukuthi sinabadala abahlale besibhekile futhi abakulungele ‘ukusisiza’ njengo-Abhishayi wasendulo.

15, 16. (a) Kungani ayekholwa nabo babemthanda kakhulu uPawulu? (b) Kungani sibathanda abadala bebandla lakithi abakhathalelayo?

¹⁵ Ukuba umalusi kuhilela umsebenzi omkhulu. Ngezinye izikhathi, abadala abalali ebusuku becabangela ngomthandazo umhlambi kaNkulunkulu noma besekela ngokomoya abakholwa nabo. (2 Kor. 11:27, 28) Noma kunjalo, abadala bafeza umthwalo wabo wemfanelo ngokugcwele nangenjabulo, njengoba kwenza uPawulu. Wabhalela abaseKorinte: “Ngizokuthokozela kakhulu ukusebenzisa konke enginakho nokuba ngisetshenziswe ngokuphelele ngenxa yemiphefumulo yenu.” (2 Kor. 12:15) Ngempela, ngenxa yokuthi uPawulu wayebathanda abafowabo, wazikhandla ngokugcwele ebaqinisa. (Funda eyesi-2 Korinte 2:4; Fil. 2:17; 1 Thes. 2:8) Shono abazalwane babemthanda kangaka!—IzE. 20:31-38.

¹⁶ Njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu namuhla, nathi siyabathanda abadala abangamaKristu abakhathalelayo futhi siyambonga uJehova emithandazweni yethu ngokusinika bona. Banezela enjabulweni yethu ngokubonisa ukuthi basikhathalela ngabanye. Sizizwa sibusisekile ngokusihambela kwabo kokwalusa. Ngaphezu kwalokho, siyabonga ngokuthi bahlale bemi ngomumo ukuba basisize lapho izingcindezi zaleli zwe zifuna ukusiwisa. Yebo, abadala abangamaKristu abanakisisa kanjalo ‘bayizisebenzi esikanye nazo ukuze sijabule.’