ISAHLUKO 6
Abantu Abashumayelayo—Izikhonzi Zizinikela Ngokuzithandela
1, 2. Yimuphi umsebenzi omkhulu owabikezelwa uJesu, okuphakamisa muphi umbuzo obalulekile?
ABABUSI BEZOMBUSAZWE bavame ukwenza izithembiso abahlulekayo ukuzifeza. Ngisho nalabo abanezinhloso ezinhle kuyenzeka bangakwazi ukufeza izithembiso zabo. Ngokujabulisayo, iNkosi EnguMesiya, uJesu Kristu, ihlale izifeza izithembiso zayo.
2 Ngemva kokuba yiNkosi ngo-1914, uJesu wayesekulungele ukugcwalisa isiprofetho asenza eminyakeni engu-1 900 ngaphambili. Ngaphambi nje kokuba afe, wabikezela: “Lezi zindaba ezinhle zombuso ziyoshunyayelwa emhlabeni wonke owakhiwe.” (Math. 24:14) Ukugcwaliseka kwalawo mazwi kwakuyoba ingxenye yesibonakaliso sokuba khona kwakhe emandleni oMbuso. Noma kunjalo, kuphakama umbuzo obalulekile: INkosi yayiyokwazi kanjani ukuhlela ibutho labashumayeli abakhuthele ezinsukwini zokugcina—inkathi eyayiyophawulwa umoya wobugovu, ukungabi naluthando nokungakholwa? (Math. 24:12; 2 Thim. 3:1-5) Kudingeka siyazi impendulo ngoba ihilela wonke amaKristu eqiniso.
3. Yini uJesu ayeqiniseka ngayo, futhi wakuthola kuphi lokho kuqiniseka?
3 Awuphinde ubheke amazwi kaJesu ayisiprofetho. Ingabe amagama athi “ziyoshunyayelwa” abonisa ukuqiniseka? Impela ayakubonisa! UJesu wayeqiniseka ukuthi uyoba nabo abantu abayomsekela ngokuzithandela ezinsukwini zokugcina. Wakutholaphi ukuqiniseka okungaka? Wakufunda kuYise. (Joh. 12:45; 14:9) Ngaphambi kokuba aphile njengomuntu, uJesu wazibonela mathupha ukuqiniseka uJehova anakho ngabantu abamkhulekela ngokuzithandela. Ake sizwe indlela uJehova abonisa ngayo lokho kuqiniseka.
“Abantu Bakho Bayozinikela Ngokuzithandela”
4. Yimuphi umsebenzi uJehova acela ama-Israyeli ukuba awusekele, futhi asabela kanjani?
4 Khumbula okwenzeka lapho uJehova eyala uMose ukuba akhe itabernakele, noma itende, elaliyoba isikhungo sokukhulekela sesizwe sakwa-Israyeli. Esebenzisa uMose, uJehova wamema bonke abantu ukuba basekele lowo msebenzi wokwakha. UMose wabatshela: ‘Wonke umuntu onenhliziyo ethandayo makalethe umnikelo kaJehova.’ Basabela kanjani abantu? “Baqhubeka beletha kuye umnikelo wokuzithandela njalo ekuseni.” Baletha umnikelo omningi kangangokuba baze “bavinjwa ukuba bawulethe”! (Eks. 35:5; 36:3, 6) Ama-Israyeli abonisa ukuthi uJehova wayengenzi iphutha ngokuwethemba.
5, 6. NgokweHubo 110:1-3, umoya onjani uJehova noJesu ababelindele ukuwuthola kubakhulekeli beqiniso ngesikhathi sokuphela?
5 Ingabe uJehova wayelindele ukuthola umoya onjalo wokuzinikela ngokuzithandela kubakhulekeli bakhe ezinsukwini zokugcina? Yebo! Kusasele iminyaka engaphezu kwenkulungwane uJesu azalwe emhlabeni, uJehova waphefumulela uDavide ukuba abhale ngesikhathi uMesiya ayoqala ngaso ukubusa. (Funda iHubo 110:1-3.) UJesu, iNkosi eyayizobe isanda kumiswa, yayiyoba nezitha ezaziyoyiphikisa. Kodwa futhi yayiyoba nebutho labayisekelayo. Babengeke baphoqwe ukuba bakhonze iNkosi. Ngisho nabancane phakathi kwabo babeyozinikela ngokuzithandela, babe baningi kangangokuba babengaqhathaniswa kufanele namazolo ekuseni.a
Abasekela uMbuso ngokuzithandela baningi njengamazolo (Bheka isigaba 5)
6 UJesu wayazi ukuthi isiprofetho esilotshwe kumaHubo 110 sasibhekisela kuye. (Math. 22:42-45) Yingakho ayeqiniseka kangaka ngokuthi wayeyoba nabasekeli abaqotho ababeyozinikela ngokuzithandela emsebenzini wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle emhlabeni. Abonisani amaqiniso angokomlando? Ingabe iNkosi ilithole ngempela ibutho elishumayela ngokuzithandela ezinsukwini zokugcina?
“Nginelungelo Nomsebenzi Wokumemezela Leso Sigijimi”
7. Ngemva kokumiswa njengeNkosi, iziphi izinyathelo uJesu azithatha ukuze alungiselele abasekeli bakhe umsebenzi owawuseza?
7 Ngokushesha ngemva kokubekwa njengeNkosi, uJesu wathatha izinyathelo zokulungiselela abalandeli bakhe umsebenzi omkhulu okwakumelwe wenziwe. Njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 2, kusukela ngo-1914 kuya ngasekuqaleni kuka-1919, wenza umsebenzi wokuhlola nokuhlanza. (Mal. 3:1-4) Ngo-1919 wamisa inceku ethembekile ukuba ihole phakathi kwabalandeli bakhe. (Math. 24:45) Ikakhulukazi kusukela ngaleso sikhathi kuqhubeke, leyo nceku yaqala ukwaba ukudla okungokomoya—ngezinkulumo ezinikezwa emihlanganweni nangezincwadi ezinyathelisiwe—okwagcizelela ngokuphindaphindiwe umthwalo wawo wonke amaKristu wokuba abe nengxenye emsebenzini wokushumayela.
8-10. Imihlangano emikhulu yalufaka kanjani ugqozi lomsebenzi wokushumayela? Nikeza isibonelo. (Bheka nebhokisi elithi “Imihlangano Yokuqala Emikhulu Eyafaka Ugqozi Lomsebenzi Wokushumayela.”)
8 Izinkulumo ezinikezwa emihlanganweni. Befisa ukuthola isiqondiso, abaFundi BeBhayibheli bahlangana eCedar Point, e-Ohio, e-U.S.A., kusukela ngo-September 1-8 ngo-1919. Kwakuwumhlangano wabo wokuqala omkhulu ngemva kweMpi Yezwe I. Ngosuku lwesibili, uMfoweth’ uRutherford washo ngaphandle kokunanaza lapho ethula inkulumo: “Umsebenzi womKristu emhlabeni . . . ukumemezela isigijimi sombuso weNkosi.”
9 Umvuthwandaba walowo mhlangano waba ngemva kwezinsuku ezintathu lapho uMfoweth’ uRutherford enikeza inkulumo ethi “Inkulumo Yezisebenzi Esikanye Nazo,” eyanyatheliswa kuyi-Nqabayokulinda ngaphansi kwesihloko esithi “Ukumemezela UMbuso.” Wathi: “Ngokuvamile lapho umKristu esangulukile uye azibuze, Kungani ngisemhlabeni? Futhi impendulo kumelwe ithi, Ngomusa, iNkosi ingenze inxusa layo lokuhambisela izwe isigijimi saphezulu sokubuyisana, futhi nginelungelo nomsebenzi wokumemezela leso sigijimi.”
10 Kuleyo nkulumo eyingqopha-mlando, uMfoweth’ uRutherford wamemezela ukuthi kwakuzonyatheliswa umagazini omusha i-Golden Age (manje obizwa ngokuthi i-Phaphama!), owawuzosetshenziselwa ukuqondisa abantu eMbusweni owukuphela kwethemba lesintu. Wabe esebuza izilaleli ukuthi bangaki kuzo ababengathanda ukuba nengxenye ekusakazeni lo magazini. Umbiko womhlangano wathi: “Kwenzeka into eyisimanga. Bonke ababekhona ababeyizinkulungwane eziyisithupha, basukuma.”b Ngokusobala, iNkosi yayinabo abantu abayisekela ngokuzithandela ababemagange ukumemezela uMbuso wayo!
11, 12. INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi yango-1920 yathi wawuyokwenziwa nini umsebenzi owabikezelwa uJesu?
11 Izincwadi ezinyathelisiwe. INqabayokulinda iye yakwenza kwaba sobala ngokwengeziwe ukubaluleka komsebenzi owabikezelwa uJesu—ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso. Nazi izibonelo zasekuqaleni kwawo-1920.
12 Yisiphi isigijimi esasiyomenyezelwa esasiyogcwalisa uMathewu 24:14? Wawuyokwenziwa nini lowo msebenzi? INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-July 1, 1920, eyayinesihloko esithi ‘Ivangeli LoMbuso,’ yachaza: “Izindaba ezinhle ziphathelene nokuphela kohlelo oludala lwezinto kanye nokumiswa kombuso kaMesiya.” Lesi sihloko sabonisa ngokucacile ukuthi isigijimi sasiyoshunyayelwa nini, sathi: “Lesi sigijimi kumelwe sishunyayelwe phakathi nesikhathi sempi yezwe enkulu [iMpi Yezwe I] nesikhathi ‘sosizi olukhulu.’” Ngenxa yalokho, lesi sihloko sathi: “Manje yisikhathi . . . sokumemezela kabanzi lezi zindaba ezinhle kweLobukholwa.”
13. INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-1921 yawanxusa yathini amaKristu agcotshiwe ukuba abonise umoya ovumayo?
13 Ingabe abantu bakaNkulunkulu babeyophoqwa ukuba benze umsebenzi uJesu awubikezela? Phinde. Isihloko esithi “Yibani Nesibindi,” esanyatheliswa kuyi-Nqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-March 15, 1921, sanxusa amaKristu agcotshiwe ukuba abonise umoya ovumayo. Sakhuthaza umuntu ngamunye ukuba azibuze: “Ingabe akulona ilungelo elikhulu nomsebenzi wami ukuhlanganyela kulo msebenzi?” Saqhubeka sathi: “Siyaqiniseka ukuthi uma ukubheka [njengelungelo ukuhlanganyela kulo msebenzi] uyofana noJeremiya, okwathi enhliziyweni yakhe izwi leNkosi ‘laba njengomlilo ovuthayo ovalelwe emathanjeni [akhe],’ limbelesela ukuba angayeki ukukhuluma.” (Jer. 20:9) Leso sikhuthazo sabonisa ukuqiniseka uJehova noJesu abanakho ngabantu abathembekile abasekela uMbuso.
14, 15. Isihloko se-Nqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-1922, sanxusa amaKristu agcotshiwe ukuba afinyelele abanye ngayiphi indlela?
14 AmaKristu eqiniso kufanele abafinyelele kanjani abanye ngesigijimi soMbuso? Isihloko esifushane kodwa esinamandla esasithi “Inkonzo Ibalulekile” kuyi-Nqabayokulida yesiNgisi ka-August 15, 1922, sanxusa amaKristu agcotshiwe ukuba abe nengxenye “ekuyiseni ngenkuthalo isigijimi esinyathelisiwe kubantu nasekuxoxeni nabo ezindlini zabo, anikeze ubufakazi bokuthi umbuso wamazulu useduze.”
15 Kusobala ukuthi kusukela ngo-1919 uKristu uye wasebenzisa inceku yakhe ethembekile neqondayo ukuba igcizelele kaningi ukuthi ilungelo nomsebenzi womKristu emhlabeni ukumemezela isigijimi soMbuso. Basabela kanjani abaFundi BeBhayibheli kuleso sikhuthazo sokuba bahlanganyele ekumemezeleni uMbuso?
“Abathembekile Bayoba Izisebenzi Zokuzithandela”
16. Basabela kanjani abadala abathile embonweni wokuba bonke kufanele bahlanganyele enkonzweni yasensimini?
16 Ngawo-1920 nangawo-1930, abanye baphikisana nombono wokuba wonke amaKristu agcotshiwe ashumayele. INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ka-November 1, 1927, yakuchaza okwakwenzeka: “Kunabathile esontweni [ebandleni] abangabadala . . . abangafuni ukushumayela futhi abafuni nokukhuthaza abafowabo ukuba bashumayele. . . . Bawuhleka usulu umbono wokushumayela isigijimi sikaNkulunkulu, iNkosi yakhe nombuso wayo endlini ngendlu.” Lesi sihloko sasho ngokungagwegwesi: “Sesifikile isikhathi sokuba abathembekile babaphawule abanjalo futhi babagweme, babatshele ukuthi amadoda anjalo ngeke aphinde anikwe isikhundla sokuba abadala.”c
17, 18. Iningi emabandleni lasabela kanjani esiqondisweni esivela endlunkulu, futhi izigidi zisabele kanjani kule minyaka eyikhulu edlule?
17 Ngokujabulisayo, iningi emabandleni lasabela ngentshiseko esiqondisweni esivela endlunkulu. Bakubheka njengelungelo ukuhlanganyela ekushumayeleni isigijimi soMbuso. INqabayokulinda ka-March 15, 1926, yakubeka kanje: “Abathembekile bayokuba izisebenzi zokuzithandela . . . bazise abantu lesi sigijimi.” Abathembekile abanjalo baphila ngokuvumelana namazwi ayisiprofetho akumaHubo 110:3 futhi babonisa ukuthi bayisekela ngokuzithandela iNkosi EnguMesiya.
18 Eminyakeni engaphezu kwekhulu edlule, izigidi ziye zazinikela ngokuzithandela emsebenzini wokumemezela ngoMbuso. Ezahlukweni ezimbalwa ezilandelayo, sizoxoxa ngokuthi baye bashumayela kanjani—izindlela namathuluzi abawasebenzisile—nokuthi ibe yini imiphumela. Nokho, ake siqale sixoxe ngokuthi kungani izigidi ziye zahlanganyela kulo msebenzi wokushumayela isigijimi soMbuso ngokuzithandela, nakuba zihlala ezweni eliqhakambisa ubumina. Njengoba sixoxa ngokuthi kungani, kuhle sizibuze, ‘Kungani ngixoxa nabanye ngezindaba ezinhle?’
“Qhubekani Nifuna Kuqala Umbuso”
19. Kungani silalela iseluleko sikaJesu ‘sokuqhubeka sifuna kuqala umbuso’?
19 UJesu weluleka abalandeli bakhe wathi ‘abaqhubeke befuna kuqala umbuso nokulunga kwakhe.’ (Math. 6:33) Kungani sisilalela leso seluleko? Ngokuyinhloko yingoba siyakuqaphela ukubaluleka koMbuso, ukuthi uwumgogodla wenjongo kaNkulunkulu. Njengoba sibonile esahlukweni esandulele, umoya ongcwele uwembule kancane kancane amaqiniso amangalisayo ngoMbuso. Lapho iqiniso loMbuso eliyigugu lithinta izinhliziyo zethu, sizizwa sishukumiseleka ukuba sifune kuqala uMbuso.
Njengomuntu ojabulayo lapho ethola ingcebo efihliwe, amaKristu ayajabula ngokuthi athole iqiniso loMbuso (Bheka isigaba 20)
20. Umfanekiso kaJesu womcebo ofihliwe uyibonisa kanjani indlela abalandeli bakhe ababeyosabela ngayo eselulekweni sokufuna kuqala uMbuso?
20 UJesu wayazi ukuthi abalandeli bakhe babeyosabela kanjani eselulekweni sokuba baqhubeke befuna kuqala uMbuso. Cabanga ngomfanekiso wakhe womcebo ofihliwe. (Funda uMathewu 13:44.) Njengoba lo muntu esebenza ensimini kulo mfanekiso, uthola umcebo ofihliwe futhi ngokushesha uyaqaphela ukuba yigugu kwawo. Wenzani? “Ngenxa yenjabulo anayo uyahamba ayothengisa lokho anakho athenge leso siganga.” Sifundani kule ndaba? Lapho sithola amaqiniso oMbuso futhi siqaphela ukubaluleka kwawo, ngenjabulo siyokwenza noma yikuphi ukuzidela okudingekile ukuze sigcine izithakazelo zoMbuso endaweni yazo—zize kuqala ekuphileni kwethu.d
21, 22. Abasekeli boMbuso abaqotho babonisa kanjani ukuthi bafuna uMbuso kuqala? Nikeza isibonelo.
21 Abasekeli boMbuso abaqotho babonisa ngezenzo, hhayi ngamazwi, ukuthi bafuna kuqala uMbuso. Banikela ngokuphila kwabo, amakhono abo nangezinto zabo emsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso. Abaningi baye bazidela ngezinga elikhulu ukuze baphishekele inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. Bonke laba baye bazibonela mathupha ukuthi uJehova uyababusisa ababeka uMbuso kuqala. Nazi izibonelo zangaphambili.
22 U-Avery noLovenia Bristow bakhonza ndawonye njengama-colporteur (amaphayona) eningizimu ye-United States kusukela ngasekupheleni kwawo-1920. Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi, uLovenia wakhumbula: “Mina no-Avery siye sakhonza ndawonye njengamaphayona iminyaka eminingi ejabulisayo kusukela ngaleso sikhathi. Izikhathi eziningi sasingazi ukuthi sizoyitholaphi imali yokuthenga ukudla nophethiloli. Kodwa ngaso sonke isikhathi uJehova wayelenza isu. Savele saqhubeka siziphayonela. Sasikuthola njalo esikudingayo.” ULovenia ukhumbula ngelinye ilanga bekhonza ePensacola, eFlorida, bengenayo imali nokudla. Lapho bebuyela kumahamba-nendlwana ababehlala kuwo bathola opulasitiki abakhulu ababili begcwele ukudla, kunencwadi ethi: “Ibandla LasePensacola liyanithanda.”e Lapho uLovenia ecabanga ngamashumi eminyaka ayichitha enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, wathi: “UJehova akasilahli nanini. Uhlale ethembekile kithi.”
23. Uzizwa kanjani ngeqiniso loMbuso olitholile, futhi uzimisele ukwenzani?
23 Asikwazi ukuchitha isikhathi esilinganayo lapho sishumayela. Izimo zethu azifani. Noma kunjalo, sonke sikubheka njengelungelo ukumemezela izindaba ezinhle ngomphefumulo wonke. (Kol. 3:23) Ngenxa yokuthi siyalazisa iqiniso loMbuso eliyigugu esilitholile, sizimisele—yebo, simagange—ukwenza noma yikuphi ukuzidela ukuze sikhonze ngokugcwele. Ingabe uzimisele ukwenza kanjalo?
24. Yimuphi umsebenzi woMbuso omkhulu kunayo yonke oye wafezwa ezinsukwini zokugcina?
24 Kuleli khulu leminyaka eledlule, ngokuqinisekile iNkosi ibilokhu igcwalisa isiprofetho sayo esikuMathewu 24:14. Ibingaphoqi muntu ukuba enze lo msebenzi. Ngemva kokuzihlukanisa naleli zwe elinobugovu, abalandeli bayo baye bazinikela ngokuzithandela emsebenzini wokushumayela. Ukushumayela kwabo izindaba ezinhle emhlabeni wonke kuyingxenye yesibonakaliso sokuba khona kukaJesu emandleni oMbuso—nomsebenzi woMbuso omkhulu kunayo yonke oye wafezwa kulezi zinsuku zokugcina.
a EBhayibhelini amazolo ahlotshaniswa nobuningi.—Gen. 27:28; Mika 5:7.
b Ipheshana lesiNgisi elithi To Whom the Work Is Entrusted lachaza: “I-Golden Age izosisiza emkhankasweni wokushumayela isigijimi sombuso endlini ngendlu. . . . Ngaphezu kwalokho, kufanele kushiywe i-Golden Age endlini ngayinye kungakhathaliseki ukuthi isikhokhelo sithathiwe yini noma cha.” Kwaphela iminyaka eminingi ngemva kwalokho abazalwane bekhuthazwa ukuba bahambise isikhokhelo se-Golden Age nese-Nqabayokulinda. Kusukela ngo-February 1, 1940, abantu bakaJehova bakhuthazwa ukuba bahambise ikhophi ngayinye kamagazini futhi babike inani lomagazini ababahambisile.
c Ngaleso sikhathi, abadala babekhethwa ngokwentando yeningi emabandleni. Ngakho, amabandla ayengenqaba ukukhetha amadoda ayengafuni ukuya enkonzweni yasensimini. ESahlukweni 12 kuzoxoxwa ngoshintsho olwenziwa lokumisa abadala ngendlela engokwasezulwini.
d UJesu washo iphuzu elifanayo emfanekisweni wakhe womthengisi ohambahambayo ofuna iparele lenani eliphakeme. Lapho umthengisi elithola, wahamba wathengisa zonke izinto ayenazo wayeselithenga. (Math. 13:45, 46) Le mifanekiso emibili isifundisa ukuthi singathola iqiniso loMbuso ngezindlela ezihlukene. Abanye balithola kalula; abanye bayalicinga. Kodwa kungakhathaliseki ukuthi silithola kanjani, sizimisele ukuzidela ukuze sibeke uMbuso kuqala ekuphileni kwethu.
e Amabandla ayesebizwa ngezi nkampani.