Hambani Njengabantu Abahlakaniphile
1 Lapho uJesu ecela abadobi abane ukuba babe abalandeli bakhe, abazange bazindele, kodwa ‘bamlandela ngaso leso sikhathi.’ (Math. 4:18-22) Lapho uSawulu waseTarsu eguquka futhi ephinde ebona, naye akazange azindele, kodwa “masinyane waqala ukushumayela emasinagogeni ngoJesu.” (IzE. 9:20) Isikhathi siya phambili njalo; uma sesidlulile ngeke usihlehlise. Yingakho kubalulekile ngathi ‘ukuhamba njengabantu abahlakaniphile’ ngokuqondene nendlela esisebenzisa ngayo isikhathi sethu.—Efe. 5:15, 16.
2 Isenzakalo Esingalindelekile: Amathuba esinawo namuhla okukhonza uJehova singase singabi nawo kusasa. (Jak. 4:14) ‘Isenzakalo esingalindelekile’ sisithinta sonke. (UmSh. 9:11) Ngaphezu kwalokho, sonke siyakhula, futhi asinakuzibalekela “izinsuku eziyinhlekelele” ezihambisana nokuguga nezenza kulinganiselwe lokho esikwazi ukukwenza enkonzweni kaJehova kulesi simiso sezinto. (UmSh. 12:1) Ngakho, akukhona ukuhlakanipha ukuhlehlisa ukuzinikezela kuNkulunkulu noma ukulinda izimo ezingcono ukuze sandise inkonzo yethu ngezinga esingenza ngalo manje. (Luka 9:59-62) U-Abrahama waba nokuthula eminyakeni yakhe yokuguga, wafa “esemdala, anelisekile” ngoba wayekusebenzise ngokuhlakanipha ukuphila kwakhe, ezinikele ngokuphelele kuJehova.—Gen. 25:8.
3 Isikhathi Sesinciphile: Esinye isizathu esenza sifune ukusebenzisa isikhathi sethu ngokuhlakanipha ukuthi “isikhathi esesisele sinciphile.” (1 Kor. 7:29-31) Maduze nje lesi simiso esidala sizophela. Azophela amathuba okuhlanganyela ekubuthweni okukhulu kwabanjengezimvu phakathi ‘nokuvunwa komhlaba.’ (IsAm. 14:15) Kumelwe siqaphele singavumeli izinkathazo neziphazamiso zokuphila zisiphuce isikhathi ebesingasisebenzisa kangcono enkonzweni. (Luka 21:34, 35) Yeka indlela esiyogculiseka ngayo lapho sibheka emuva sikhumbule esiye sakwenza, sazi ukuthi siye sahlanganyela ngokugcwele ekuvuneni!
4 Kufanele sihlale siqaphile ukuze siwasebenzise wonke amalungelo enkonzo ajabulisayo angase asivulekele. Masizimisele ukwenza konke esingakwenza ukuze sikhonze uJehova “uma nje kusengathiwa ‘Namuhla.’” (Heb. 3:13) Ngokwenza kanjalo, siyobonisa ukuthi sihlakaniphe ngempela ngoba “lowo owenza intando kaNkulunkulu uhlala kuze kube phakade.”—1 Joh. 2:17.