IBethel Idinga Ukusekela Kwakho Okuqhubekayo
1 Unyaka kwakungu-1910. UMfoweth’ uRussell wayala uWill Johnston ukuba avule ihhovisi legatsha elalizoqondiswa umuntu oyedwa kuSchool Lane, eThekwini. Njengoba ayenekamelo elilodwa elincane, uMfoweth’ uJohnston wayeqondisa i-Afrika yonke eseningizimu kanye nengxenye enkulu emaphakathi nayo. Ngo-1923 igatsha lathuthelwa eKapa lapho abazalwane abambalwa babesebenzela khona ekamelweni elilodwa elikhulu. Eminyakeni eyishumi kamuva ihhovisi legatsha lathuthelwa ezakhiweni ezinkudlwana, kodwa yayingakabi bikho into okungathiwa iKhaya LaseBethel. Njengoba uMfoweth’ uKnorr kamuva abhala: “Izisebenzi azikwazi ukujabulela ukuphila komkhaya ndawonye njengakwamanye amagatsha.”
2 Kodwa “usuku lwezinto ezincane” kwakungamelwe ludelelwe. (Zak. 4:10) Namuhla umkhaya wethu waseBethel lapha eNingizimu Afrika uye wakhula waba nabantu abangaphezu kuka-800! Kodwa, ngisho nakuba kunalomkhaya omkhulu wezisebenzi zokuzithandela, kusenesidingo esiphuthumayo sezisebenzi zokuzithandela ezengeziwe. “Kungani kunalesi sidingo esikhulu kangaka?” ungase ubuze.
3 UJehova Usheshisa Umsebenzi: Kalula nje, kunalesi sidingo ngenxa yokuthi uJehova uye wagcwalisa isithembiso sakhe sokusheshisa umsebenzi woMbuso kulezi zinsuku zokugcina. (Isaya 60:22) Lokhu kuyiqiniso, hhayi nje eNingizimu Afrika kuphela, kodwa nasemazweni amaningi angomakhelwane. Ngenxa yalokho, kudingeka izakhiwo ezinkulu zamagatsha emazweni amaningi anjengeMozambique, iMauritius, iMadagascar, iKenya, iZimbabwe, iZaire ngisho nakhona lá eNingizimu Afrika. IMalawi nayo maduzane izoqala ukwakha izakhiwo ezintsha zegatsha. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kudingeka kwakhiwe amahholo omhlangano emazweni amaningana kwashiwo ngenhla nasesiqhingini saseReunion. Konke lokhu kwenezelwa ngaphezu kwamaHholo OMbuso akhiwa kuzo zonke izindawo. Yebo, uJehova uyawusheshisa ngempela umsebenzi. Futhi igatsha lakithi lihileleke kakhulu ekwandisweni kwalamagatsha ashiwo ngenhla.
4 Ngenxa yakho konke lokhu kwanda okwenzeka kulengxenye yezwe, iNdikimba Ebusayo iye yasicela ukuba sibe igatsha elinakekela izidingo zazo zonke izakhiwo ezakhiwayo emazweni ashiwo ngenhla. Isizathu salokhu siwukuthi imishini yokwakha nezinye izinto ngokuvamile akutholakali kulamazwe. Izinto eziningi zokwakha lezi zakhiwo zingatholakala lapha eNingizimu Afrika kuphela. Ngenxa yalokho, kuye kwadingeka sibe neminyango emikhulu yokunakekela lomsebenzi owengeziwe. Okokuqala, kufanele kutholakale amanani ezinto bese ziyathengwa. Izinto ezidiliviwe kufanele zihlolwe bese zigcinwa kuze kube yilapho sesithole amaphepha angokomthetho asigunyaza ukuba sizithumele. Okokugcina, izinto ezizothunyelwa ziyapakishwa, zitholelwe amaphepha angokomthetho, bese zithunyelwa kwamanye amagatsha. Ubuningi bomsebenzi buye benza ukuba uMnyango Wamaloli Amakhulu uthwale kanzima. Manje sinamaloli amakhulu kakhulu okuthumela lezi zinto ezinkulu zokwakha kwamanye amagatsha, noma ezikhumulweni ezizothunyelwa kuzo.
5 Sakha nezinto eziningi ezidingekayo kulezi zakhiwo. Ngokwesibonelo, sakha amafasitela neminyango ye-aluminium, amakhabethe okhuni, kanye namapayipi akhiwa nge-sheet-metal. Njengoba ungabona, lona umsebenzi omkhulu futhi sihlala simatasa. Nakuba kunjalo, sikubheka njengelungelo ukunakekela amanye amagatsha ngezidingo zawo zezinto zokwakha.
6 Ngaphezu kwalokho, iNdikimba Ebusayo ihlele ukuba igatsha lakithi linyathelise omagazini bamagatsha amaningi aseduzane. Okwamanje sinyathelisa omagazini be-Nqabayokulinda abahlukahlukene abaphumayo abangu-32 kanye nabe-Phaphama! abangu-18 inyanga ngayinye. Kusukela ngo-January 1996, sizobe sinyathelisa omagazini abangu-34 be-Nqabayokulinda inyanga ngayinye. Sinyathelisa nezincwajana ezingangomazini ngezilimi eziningi, kanye namafomu adingwa amagatsha ahlukahlukene e-Afrika eseningizimu.
7 Igatsha Lethu Liqhubekela Phambili!: Kube-ke sekuba khona umsebenzi wethu wokwakha. Umhla ka-6 ku-April wawuwusuku olujabulisayo ngomkhaya waseBethel lapho kuqalwa ukuhlalwa esakhiweni sokuhlala esisha (esiwuNombolo 7). Kodwa kuncane esikwenzile ekunciphiseni ukuminyana. Ngakho, ake sinichathazele ukuthi yini enye esazokwenziwa esakhiweni.
8 Usuqaliwe umsebenzi engxenyeni exhuma iSakhiwo Sokuhlala 7 no-8. Ngasekupheleni konyaka sinethemba lokuqala ukwakha iSakhiwo 8 esizoba namakamelo angu-64 kanye nezinye izakhiwo. Ngesikhathi esifanayo sesiqale ukwandisa isakhiwo samahhovisi ukuze kube namahhovisi angu-77 engeziwe adingeka kakhulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ekuqaleni kuka-1996 sinethemba lokuqala umsebenzi wokwandisa indlu yokudlela nelondolo. Sibheke phambili ekubeni nendawo yokudlela ezohlalisa abantu abayinkulungwane. Futhi akupheleli lapho! Njengoba kungenzeka ukuthi uphawulile uma uke wavakashela iBethel muva nje, indawo yethu yokunyathelisa isiminyene. Ngokufanelekile, sesiqalile ukudweba amapulani okwandisa okuyobhekana nokwanda kwesikhathi esizayo.
9 Ngokwalokhu osekushiwo ungabona ngokucacile ukuthi sisenomsebenzi omningi phambi kwethu. Nanku umbuzo esikumema ukuba uwucabangele: Ingabe ungasisiza? Ake usivumele sikuchazele izindlela wena siqu ongasiza ngazo ekunakekeleni ukwanda uJehova akunikezayo kulesi sikhathi.
10 “Abantu Bakho Bayazinikela Ngokuzithandela”: Yebo, uJehova wathembisa kumaHubo 110:3 ukuthi “abantu bayazinikela [ngokuzithandela, NW] ngosuku lwempi [yakhe].” Akukhona yini ngempela lokho esibona abantu bakaJehova bekwenza? Kuyo yonke indawo bazinikela ngokuzithandela ukukhonza izithakazelo zoMbuso, beshumayela ngentshiseko izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abanye bayakwazi ukukhonza emakhaya aseBethel noma ukusebenza emisebenzini yokwakha. Leli vesi liyaqhubeka lithi abasha bayoba “njengamazolo” aqabulayo kulomsebenzi omkhulu. Futhi banjalo ngempela. Sikhuluma nje lapha eBethel sinamakhulu ezinsizwa eziye zazinikela ngokuzithandela ezicini ezihlukahlukene zenkonzo kaJehova—ukuhumusha, ukunyathelisa, ukupheka, ukwakha, nakweminye imisebenzi eminingi. Ziwumthombo wokuqabuleka futhi siyazisa kakhulu inkonzo yazo. Ingabe zikhona ezinye izinsizwa ezingazenza zitholakalele umsebenzi kaJehova?
11 Njengensizwa ungase ubuze: ‘Kunjani ukukhonza eBethel? Ingabe ngizokwazi ukufaneleka?’ Ukuze siphendule lemibuzo kanye neminye, ake sikutshele ukuthi injani iBethel nanokuthi yini ongayilindela lapho uza uzosisiza.
12 Usuku “Endlini KaJehova”: Igama elithi Bethel (“Indlu KaNkulunkulu”) lifaneleka kakhulu ngenxa yokuthi wonke umuntu ohlala eBethel uyinceku ezinikezele kaJehova. Wonke umoya waseBethel ungokwasezulwini. Usuku siluqala ngokukhulekela kwasekuseni okuthatha imizuzu engu-15 phakathi nayo esilalela ingxoxo eyakhayo yetekisi losuku bese sihlanganyela ndawonye emthandazweni osuka enhliziyweni. Sithola ukuthi ukugxilisa imiqondo yethu kuJehova nasekukhulekelweni kwakhe kuyindlela engcono kakhulu yokuqala usuku.
13 Sinamanye amalungiselelo amaningi angokomoya ayigugu kakhulu kithi. Ngokwesibonelo, sisijabulela kakhulu isifundo sethu somkhaya—iSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda esikhethekile esiba khona njalo kusihlwa ngoMsombuluko. Izimpendulo ezilungiselelwe kahle zeqembu labadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo ziyaqabula futhi zisivuselele ngokomoya. Futhi sisinikeza amaphuzu amahle esingawahlanganyela ngeSonto elilandelayo nabafowethu emabandleni esabelwe kuwo. Njalo ngezikhathi ezithile sijabulela inkulumo ekhethekile elungiselelwe iNdikimba Ebusayo iyilungiselela amalungu omkhaya waseBethel kuphela emhlabeni wonke.
14 Omunye umthombo wenjabulo nokuqabuleka ukuhlanganyela kwethu njalo enkonzweni yasensimini namabandla esabelwe kuwo. Abaningi bethu babengamaphayona ngaphambi kokuba beze eBethel, ngakho siyakujabulela ukuhlanganyela kuzo zonke izici zomsebenzi wasensimini phakathi nesonto kusihlwa nangezimpelasonto. Lesi sici senkonzo yethu engcwele sisisiza ukuba kuhlale kucacile engqondweni ukubaluleka komsebenzi esiwenza eBethel.
15 Ngokuvamile kufika nezivakashi ezivela kwamanye amagatsha, noma eBrooklyn, ezihlanganyela nathi okuhlangenwe nakho kanye nemibiko ethakazelisayo evela kuwo wonke umhlaba. Ngokwesibonelo, sisanda kujabulela umbiko okhuthazayo ophathelene nentuthuko enhle yomsebenzi eMalawi. Siyaqiniseka uzovuma ukuthi, ngenxa yalamalungiselelo angokomoya angenakuqhathaniswa, ayikho indawo engcono kunalena lapho insizwa ingathuthuka khona ngempela ngokomoya.—1 Thim. 4:15.
16 Ngaphandle kwentuthuko engokomoya, abazalwane bafundiswa imikhuba emihle yokusebenza. Njalo siqeqesha abazalwane emisebenzini eminingi eyinzuzo eyobenza babe sethubeni elihle kukho konke ukuphila kwabo. Ngokwesibonelo, sinesimiso esikhethekile sokuqeqesha izinsizwa esakhiweni ukuze zifanelekele imisebenzi ehlukahlukene yamakhono enjengokupenda noma ukufaka amapayipi. Ezinye zeziSebenzi Zomhlaba Wonke ziye zafundisa eziningi zezinsizwa esinazo ukuba zibe ochwepheshe emikhakheni yazo ehlukahlukene.
17 Nokho, ukuphila eBethel akusho ukusebenza nje kuphela singabibikho isikhathi sokuphumula. INhlangano iye yenza ilungiselelo lothando lokuzilibazisa nokuvivinya umzimba okunempilo. Futhi abazalwane bethu abancane eBethel bafunda ukuba nokulinganisela okuhle—nakuba izithakazelo zoMbuso ziza kuqala, bayazi ukuthi bangazijabulisa kanjani ngendlela eyakhayo. Lalela lokho abanye babo abakushoyo:
18 “Kwakukhuthaza ngempela lapho ilungu ngalinye leKomiti Yegatsha lisamukela eBethel,” kukhumbula omunye wamalungu amasha ovela eKapa. “Omunye welungu leKomiti Yegatsha wakhumbula ebona izithombe zethu emafomini ezicelo zethu, futhi wathi: ‘Manje kuyilungelo ukubonana ubuso nobuso.’ Wasenza sazizwa sisekhaya futhi wasikhuthaza ngemfudumalo ukuba senze iBethel ibe umsebenzi wokuphila kwethu konke. Ngazizwa ngijabula ngempela ngemva kokuzwa lokho!”
19 Umzalwane othile ongumPutukezi wathi, “ukuza eBethel kuyinkambo yokuhlakanipha okukhulu kunanoma iyiphi engake ngayithatha ekuphileni kwami—uma singakubali ukubhapathizwa. Ngaphambi kokuba ngifike nganginovalo futhi ngingaqiniseki ngokuthi ngilindeleni. Kodwa manje ngiyathuthuka ngokomoya. Futhi kuye kwaba elikhulu ilungelo ukwazi abantu abavela emazweni nasezizindeni ezihlukahlukene, nokulalela imibiko nokuhlangenwe nakho. Isikhathi sami sokuphumula sengisijabulela kakhulu kunangaphambili. Ngiye ngakujabulela ukusebenzisa izindawo zokosa inyama ezisezindaweni ezinhle, ukuphumula kuyi-sauna, noma ukusebenzisa indawo yomtapo wethu wezincwadi enhle kakhulu.”
20 “Abanye bethu,” kulandisa oseneminyaka eyisithupha eseBethel, “bayathanda ukuphetha isonto elimatasa lokukhonza uJehova ngokuzihambela emzileni omuhle osentabeni engemuva kwesakhiwo sethu saseBethel, noma ngokubhukuda okuqabulayo echibini lokubhukuda.”
21 “Kimina iBethel iyiBethel ngabantu,” kwasho umzalwane oneminyaka engu-27 ubudala. “Ngiyakuthanda ukuba ingxenye yeqembu elijabulayo labantu abakhonza uNkulunkulu oyedwa futhi bonke besebenzela injongo efanayo. Nakuba sinesimiso esimatasa, siyathandana futhi siyakhathalelana njengabangane nanjengomkhaya.”
22 Yebo, ilungelo elivelele esilazisayo eBethel ubudlelwane bethu obungokwasezulwini. Usuku lonke sijabulela ubungane babafowethu nodadewethu abazinikezele. Yeka indlela esibonga ngayo ngokungathintani njalo nabantu bezwe, njengoba kwenzeka kwabaningi benu esikhathini esiningi. Siyaqonda ukuthi kungani abaningi benu beye bazwakalisa isifiso sokusebenza endaweni efana nesiyijabulela nsuku zonke lapha eBethel. Ngokungangabazeki, umoya oseBethel uyasiza ekukhuleni ngokomoya.
23 Nokho, lokho kuphakamisa lombuzo: Kuthiwani ngokuza kodadewethu abasebasha eBethel? Sinodade abasebasha abaningi manje futhi siwazisa ngokujulile umsebenzi abawenzayo. Nokho, njengoba umsebenzi omningi ukhandla, okwamanje asinakukwazi ukusebenzisa odade abengeziwe. Kunalokho, sicela odadewethu abasebasha abashisekayo bavale izikhala zezinhlu zamaphayona eziye zavulwa inani elikhulu labafowethu abasha abaye babizwa eBethel.
24 Kudingeka Izisebenzi Ezinekhono: Ngaphezu kwezinsizwa esiziqeqeshayo, sidinga abazalwane abaningi abanamakhono ukuba basisize. Badingeka eminyangweni ehlukahlukene yaseBethel—ezakhiweni zokuhlala, zokunyathelisa, futhi ikakhulukazi nasesakhiweni. Sidinga nedlanzana labazalwane asebekhulile—abadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo—abakufanelekelayo ukuhola ekubazeni nasekulolongeni ifenisha, ekubekeni isitini, ekumiseni uphahla lwensimbi, nasekusizeni ekufundiseni izinsizwa. Ngonyaka odlule idlanzana labazalwane abanjalo abangahlali eBethel liye laba usizo kakhulu esakhiweni. Abanye babo baye banikela ngezinkonzo zabo ngokunganqamuki futhi manje sebeyingxenye yezisebenzi zethu zasikhathi sonke. Abanye abanemithwalo yemfanelo yemikhaya baye bakwazi ukusisiza isonto noma amabili, noma ngisho inyanga ngesikhathi esisodwa. Izisebenzi ezingochwepheshe zinengxenye ebaluleke kakhulu esimisweni sethu sokwakha. Khona-ke, sibamema bonke abachwepheshile kunoma imuphi umsebenzi ophathelene nokwakha ukuba bacabangele ukuthi bangazinikela yini ngokuzithandela isonto noma amabili, noma ngaphezulu. Kungani unganqumi manje ukuthi uyokwazi nini ukuza uzosisiza?
25 Labo abazenza batholakale, nakanjani bayojabulela isikhathi esiqabulayo ngokomoya lapha eBethel. “Sengisebenze lapha inyanga,” kuchaza omunye umzalwane ovela eMpumalanga Kapa, “futhi sengifunde okuningi. Hhayi emsebenzini nje kuphela, kodwa nangokuziphatha, ukunamathela ngokuseduze ezimisweni zokulunga, ukuhleleka, nokuthuthuka ngokomoya. Lokhu kungenze ngajabula kakhulu!” Umzalwane osemusha waseThekwini wathi: “Nakuba ngikude nasekhaya ngamakhilomitha angu-600, nina bafowethu nodadewethu niye nenza lendawo yaba ikhaya elikude nasekhaya.” Omunye umzalwane wase-U.S.A wabhala: “Leli khadi ngeke likwazi ukuchaza imizwa yethu yangempela. Ngempela sinomuzwa wokuthi siye sabusiswa ngokusebenza esakhiweni, ngokubona amandla omoya kaJehova esebenza, ngokuzibonela ngawethu uthando nobunye. Yeka isibusiso okuyiso ukuba yingxenye yenhlangano kaJehova!” Omunye umbhangqwana wakufushanisa ngalendlela: “Kuwukunambitha iPharadesi kusengaphambili okumnandi!”
26 Khona-ke, sidlulisela isimemo esisuka enhliziyweni esiya kubo bonke abafanelekayo ukuba beze bazohlanganyela nathi enjabulweni yokwanda koMbuso. Silindele ukuba umsebenzi wethu wokwakha uqhubeke eminye iminyaka emine. Kodwa manje, njengoba ucabangela lendaba ngobuqotho, nangomthandazo, kungenzeka uyazibuza:
27 Ubani Ofanelekayo?: Noma imuphi umzalwane ozinikezele, wabhapathizwa angafaka isicelo senkonzo yaseBethel eqhubekayo uma ephakathi kuka-19 no-35 ubudala, noma esokusebenza esakhiweni uma ephakathi kuka-19 no-55 ubudala. Phakathi kwezinye izinto, kufanele abe nempilo enhle ngokomzimba, futhi abe oqinile ngokomoya. Uma ungase ukwazi ukuzinikela ngokuzithandela kulolu suku lapho uJehova esheshisa khona umsebenzi, siza ubhale ucele ifomu lesicelo. Yisho ngokucacile ukuthi isicelo sakho esasiphi isici senkonzo: inkonzo yaseBethel noma yasesakhiweni. Empeleni, siwumkhaya waseBethel owodwa ojabulayo nonobunye. Ngakho ungase unqume ukufaka isicelo sakho kokubili eBethel kanye naseSakhiweni, bese ushiyela eNhlanganweni ukuba ikwabele lapho udingeka khona kakhulu.
28 Nokho, ngemva kokucabangisisa ungase ngokudabukisayo uqaphele ukuthi umane nje awunakukwazi ukufaka isicelo saseBethel okwamanje. Uma kunjalo, ingabe ikhona enye indlela ongasiza ngayo ekunakekeleni ukwanda okukhulu uJehova akunikezayo manje e-Afrika eseningizimu? Yebo, ngokuqinisekile ikhona, njengoba sizochaza.
29 Ukusekela Kwamabandla Aseduzane Ngezimpelasonto: Ukuze sihambisane nesimiso sethu somsebenzi sisebenza esakhiweni njalo ngoMgqibelo wesibili. Khona-ke, sincike kakhulu ekusekeleni okunikezwa amabandla aseduze ngezimpelasonto. Sikukhumbula ngokwazisa ukuthi ukusekela kwenu ngezimpelasonto esakhiweni sangaphambili kwakukuhle kakhulu. Kwasiza kakhulu ekuqedeni umsebenzi ngesikhathi. Nakulesi sakhiwo sizoba nomsebenzi omningi ozohlelelwa izimpelasonto futhi siyokwazisa konke ukusekela esingase sikuthole.
30 Kungani ningakwenzi kube indaba yomkhaya? “Kodwa kuthiwani ngezingane zethu?” ungase ubuze. Ngenxa yokulondeka nezinye izizathu, inkambiso yethu iwukusebenzisa labo abaneminyaka engu-19 nangaphezulu kuphela esakhiweni. Nokho, amalungu omkhaya wakho angaphansana kwalokho angaba yinzuzo ngezinye izindlela. Izingane eziphakathi kweminyaka engu-12 nengu-15 ubudala zingasiza kakhulu ekulungiseni amagceke, uma nje zinomunye wabazali bazo. Intsha ephakathi kweminyaka engu-16 nengu-18 yamukelekile ukuba isebenze ekulungiseni amagceke ngaphandle kokuqondisa kwabazali bayo, uma nje isebenza ngaphansi kokuqondisa kwabanye bababonisi bethu bokulungiswa kwamagceke. Siyadabuka ukuthi asinakukwazi ukwenza ilungiselelo lokuba izingane ezingaphansi kweminyaka engu-12 zisebenze lapha eBethel. Ngakho, sikhuthaza imikhaya ukuba yenze amalungiselelo okuba lezo zingane zinakekelwe ekhaya ukuze abaningi ngangokunokwenzeka bakhululeke ukuza eBethel ngoMgqibelo wokusebenza kwebandla labo. Abanye abazalwane baye bafaka isicelo sokusebenza lapha uMgqibelo owodwa inyanga ngayinye, futhi ngaleyo ndlela baye bakwazi ukunikela inkonzo eyinzuzo esabelweni somsebenzini sasikhathi sonke.
31 Nokho, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sihlala eduze naseBethel noma kude nayo, kunokuthile sonke esingakwenza ukuze sihlanganyele ekwandisweni kwezithakazelo zoMbuso.
32 Ukusekelwa Ngezimali Kwezakhiwo Ezingokwasezulwini: Izivakashi ezibuka izakhiwo zethu ngokuvamile ziyabuza: “Izakhiwo zeNhlangano zisekelwa kanjani ngezimali?” Konje izakhiwo zakwa-Israyeli zazikhokhelwa kanjani? Impendulo iwukuthi: Zazikhokhelwa abantu abavamile abanhliziyo zabo zazibashukumisela ukuba basekele ukukhulekelwa kukaJehova. Cabanga ngesizwe sakwa-Israyeli sisehlane ngesikhathi okwakumelwe kwakhiwe ngaso itabernakele. Akekho kubo owayesebenza. Yayingekho indlela yokuvala isikhala sanoma yini ababenikele ngayo ekwakhiweni kwetabernakele. Kodwa, bazizwa kanjani ngaleso sakhiwo? Umlando weBhayibheli ku-Eksodusi 35:21 uthi: “Bafika, kwaba-yilowo nalowo owavuswa yinhliziyo yakhe nowaqhutshwa ngumoya wakhe, baletha umnikelo kaJehova ube-ngowomsebenzi wetende lokuhlangana.” Ivesi 22 libonisa ukuthi baletha izitsha ezingenakubuyiselwa zegolide nesiliva ngenxa yokuthi ‘babeqhutshwa izinhliziyo.’ Ekugcineni baletha “okungaphezu kokwanele, NW” okwenza uMose wakhipha umyalo wokuba ‘abantu bavinjelwe.’—Eks. 36:4-7, qhathanisa ne-NW.
33 Kamuva, lapho sebezinzile eZweni Lesithembiso kwadingeka bakhe ithempeli. Ngalesi sikhathi isizwe sase sizinzile futhi sichuma. Babeyozizwa kanjani manje ngokusekela isakhiwo salelo thempeli elibizayo? Babonisa umoya ofanayo ‘wokuqhutshwa inhliziyo’ abawubonisa ehlane. IziKronike zokuQala isahluko 29 zisitshela ngendlela inkosi nezikhulu ezanikela ngayo ngenani elikhulu legolide nesiliva. Bonke abanye abantu nabo banikela ngenhliziyo ejabulayo. Ivesi 9 lithi “abantu bajabula ngokunikela kwabo ngenhliziyo, ngokuba banikela ngenhliziyo epheleleyo kuJehova.” Nalapha baqhutshwa izinhliziyo zabo. Babefuna ukusekela ukukhulekela kweqiniso ngokusuka enhliziyweni, futhi ukunikela okunjalo kwabenza bajabula kakhulu.
34 Lowo moya ofanayo uJesu wakhuluma ngawo ngokuphathelene nomfelokazi owafaka umnikelo ebhokisini lomcebo lethempeli. Nakuba umnikelo wakhe wawumncane ngempela, inhliziyo yakhe yamshukumisela ukuba anikele “konke abenakho abeziphilisa ngakho.” (Luka 21:1-4) UJesu wathi abanye banikela okuvela ezinsaleleni zabo. Kubona kwakungekhona ukuzidela; akudingekanga bazincishe okuthile ukuze banikele. Kodwa inhliziyo yalomfelokazi yamshukumisela ukuba anikele ngakho konke ayenakho. Njengendlela yokubonakalisa ukuzinikela kokuzidela, umnikelo wakhe wawuyigugu kakhulu emehlweni kaJehova.
35 Ukupha ‘Okuqhutshwa Inhliziyo’ Ezikhathini Zanamuhla: Lapho kuziwa ekusekeleni ukuqhubeka kokukhulekela kweqiniso namuhla, abaningi bafana nalawo ma-Israyeli ashukunyiswa izinhliziyo. Babonisa umoya ofana nowomfelokazi owanikela “ekusweleni kwakhe.” Siyaqaphela ukuthi abaningi banikela ngokusuka enhliziyweni—hhayi nje okuncane okuvela ensaleleni. Ngabaningi, ukunikela kwabo ngempela kuwukuzidela. Ngokuvamile bazincisha izidingo ezithile, hhayi nje izinto ezingesona isidingo ukuze basekele umsebenzi kaJehova. Sibabonga ngobuqotho nangokwazisa ngokunikela okunjalo okusuka enhliziyweni enothando. Lapho siye sazidela ngempela ukuze sinikele, lapho kudingeka sizincishe izinto ezithile, kuba yilapho kwamukeleka ngokukhethekile kuJehova. UJehova “uthanda umuntu okujabulelayo ukunikela.”—2 Korinte 9:6, 7, An American Translation.
36 Ziningi izikhathi abafowethu abaye ‘bakujabulela ngazo ukunikela,’ futhi kwabamangaza lokho abangase bakwazi ukukufeza ngesibusiso sikaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, ekuqaleni kwawo-1980 igatsha laseSpain lalidinga ukwandisa izakhiwo zalo. Labuza ukuthi iNdikimba Ebusayo yayingalinikeza yini izimali ezidingekayo. Nokho, ngenxa yeminye imithwalo esindayo engokwezimali eyayikhona ngaleso sikhathi, usizo olunjalo lwalungeke lutholakale eNhlanganweni. Umbuzo manje wawuwukuthi: Ingabe oFakazi baseSpain, njengoba behola imali encane ngokuqhathaniswa, babeyokwazi ukunikela izimali ezanele zaleso sakhiwo?
37 “Basichazelwa isimo,” kubika ethi OFakazi BakaJehova—Abamemezeli BoMbuso KaNkulunkulu. “Ngenjabulo beza nezinto zabo zokuhloba, izindandatho, namasongo ukuze kuthengiswe. Lapho uFakazi othile osekhulile ebuzwa ukuthi wayeqiniseka yini ngempela ukuthi wayefuna ukunikela ngesongo legolide elibizayo ayenikele ngalo, waphendula: ‘Mfowethu, kukhulu okuhle elingakwenza ekukhokheleni iBethel entsha kunokuba sesihlakaleni sami!’ . . . Imibhangqwana yanikela ngemali eyayiyongele uhambo. Abantwana bathumela imali ababeyibekile. Umfanyana othile owayehlela ukuthenga isiginci wanikela ngaleyo mali emsebenzini wegatsha.”
38 Yebo, belingisa ama-Israyeli ehlane, oFakazi baseSpain babonisa isimo sokupha ‘nokuqhutshwa inhliziyo.’ Abazange nje banikele ngakho konke okwakudingeka ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo, kodwa bazinikela bona ngokwabo ukuze baqede umsebenzi. Bafika ngezinkulungwane. Abanye beza bazosebenza isikhathi esigcwele, abanye basebenza ngezikhathi zamaholide nangezimpelasonto. Kodwa umsebenzi bawenza! Ngenxa yomoya wabo wokuzidela ‘nokuqhutshwa inhliziyo,’ bakwazi ukuqeda lokho ngaphambili okwakubonakala njengomsebenzi ongenakwenziwa.
39 Yilowo moya kanye nesimo senhliziyo sabantu bakaJehova okwenza iNhlangano ikwazi ukuba nezimali zomsebenzi wokushumayela kanye nomsebenzi wokwakhiwa kwegatsha okuqhubekayo manje. Khona-ke, kuhle ukuba ngamunye wethu acabange ngesimo sakhe sengqondo ekunikeleni njalo ngezikhathi ezithile. Njengoba uPawulu asho kweyesi-2 Korinte 9:7, umuntu ngamunye kufanele anqume enhliziyweni yakhe ukuthi uyonikela kangakanani—akwenze “kungabi ngokungathandi . . . ngoba uNkulunkulu uthanda umuphi onamileyo.” Kuyafaneleka ukuba sonke sizibuze ukuthi: Uma izimali zokwenza umsebenzi woMbuso zixhomeke emoyeni mina enginikela ngawo, ingabe zonke izidingo kungahlangatshezwana nazo? Ingabe ngiyazidela ngempela? Noma, ingabe ngimane nje nginikela kancane kokuseleyo enginakho ukuze ngisekele umsebenzi kaJehova? Ingabe inhliziyo yami ingishukumisela ukuba ngisekele inkonzo kaJehova ngokugcwele?
40 Abazalwane abaningi bakhetha ukuyithumela eNhlanganweni ngokuqondile iminikelo yabo yomsebenzi woMbuso neyomsebenzi wokwakha. Siyazisa ngokujulile yonke iminikelo enjalo futhi ngamunye wawo esiwutholayo siwubonga ngencwadi. Uma ufisa ukunikela ngalendlela, siza uthumele umnikelo wakho kuleli kheli: Watch Tower Society, Private Bag X2067, Krugersdorp, 1740. Abanye bangase bathande ukufaka umnikelo wabo ebhokisini eliseHholo LoMbuso elibhalwe ukuthi “ISikhwama Segatsha Sokwakha.”
41 Kuyavunywa, kunezici eziningi ezidinga ukusekela kwakho ngokwezimali. Zihlanganisa iHholo LoMbuso lenu, umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoMbuso emhlabeni wonke, mhlawumbe nehholo lomhlangano endaweni yakini, kanye nomsebenzi wokwakha igatsha leNhlangano. Lokhu kudinga ukuba ugcine ukulinganisela futhi wenze lokho okwazi ukukwenza. Siza uqiniseke ukuthi, noma yini inhliziyo yakho ekushukumisela ukuba uyenze, iNhlangano iyakwazisa ukusekela kwakho kwasikhathi sonke. Siyaqaphela ukuthi ukuphila akulula kwabaningi benu. Kwabaningi benu kunzima ukuhlangabezana nezindleko zokuphila ngenxa yokuphakama kwezindleko zokuphila nokucindezela kwezwe. Yingakho ngamunye kufanele anqume enhliziyweni yakhe ukuthi uyoyisekela ngezinga elingakanani iNhlangano ekunakekeleni umsebenzi woMbuso. Nakuba kunjalo, singaqiniseka ngothando lukaJehova uma senza konke okusemandleni ukuba sithuthukise izithakazelo zoMbuso.
42 Wagcina Nini Ukuvakashela EBethel?: Njengoba ucabangisisa ngalemiqondo ngomthandazo, singathanda ukukumema ukuba uze uzobona okwenzekayo eBethel. Omunye umbhangqwana waseKapa uyalandisa: “Sasingakulindele ukubona igatsha elikhulu neliyinkimbinkimbi kangaka. Ukholo lwethu lokuthi lena ngempela inhlangano kaJehova lwaqiniswa ikakhulukazi inkuthalo yabafowethu nodadewethu, kanye nothando olusobala oluboniswayo.” Umbhangqwana waseNatali wabhala ngokwazisa: “Kwafudumeza izinhliziyo zethu ukuzibonela ngawethu isikhungo esihle sokukhulekela esinaso. Lasihlaba umxhwele ngempela iqophelo lomsebenzi, kanye nezinto zokwakha ezinhle ezasetshenziselwa ukwakha iBethel. Ngempela, uJehova uye wehlisa isibusiso sakhe!—Malaki 3:10.”
43 Ngakho, kungani ungezi uzozibonela mathupha izakhiwo zamuva ezenezelwe? Ukubukisa kwethu indawo manje sekuhlanganisa nokuya endaweni yesakhiwo, lapho okuthi uma umi endaweni eyisiqongo, ukwazi ukubona indlela okwakhiwa ngayo isakhiwo ngezindonga ezakhelwa phansi bese ziphakanyiswa. Futhi lapho ubona umsebenzi omkhulu owenziwayo, siza uphawule ukuthi kungenxa yokuthi ngamunye wethu, ‘oshukunyiswa inhliziyo,’ uye wanikela kulomsebenzi omkhulu uJehova awubusisayo.
44 USolomoni ngokuhlakanipha waphawula: “Uma uJehova engayakhi indlu, basebenzela ize abayakhayo.” (IHubo 127:1) Yebo, ngaphandle komoya kaJehova nesibusiso sakhe, umsebenzi wethu eBethel ubungaba yize. Ngakho bafowethu, ngokuzithoba sicela ukuba niqhubeke nikhulekela isiqondiso sikaJehova kulomsebenzi obaluleke kunayo yonke. Ngaphezu kwakho konke okunye inhliziyo yakho ekushukumisela ukuba ukwenze, ungabonisa ukusekela kwakho okuqhubekayo ngeBethel ngemithandazo yakho esuka enhliziyweni yasikhathi sonke. Kwangathi uNkulunkulu wethu, uJehova, angayibusisa ngokucebile inkonzo yokuzinikela yazo zonke izinceku zakhe ‘eziqhutshwa inhliziyo’ kube udumo lwaphakade egameni lakhe eliphakeme nelikhazimulayo!