1-3. (a) Kuyini kutisola, futsi kungasitsintsa njani? (b) Yini lesingayifundza kuPawula ngekukhonta Nkulunkulu ngaphandle kwekutisola?

LENYE imbongi yabhala: “Kuwo onkhe emavi labuhlungu lake ashiwo nobe abhalwa, labuhlungu kakhulu ngulawa latsi: ‘Kube mane!’” Lembongi kwakungu-J. G. Whittier, futsi abekhuluma ngetintfo lesitisola ngato, lesifisa shengatsi singaphindze sitente ngendlela leyehlukile. “Kutisola” kuyintfo lesenta sibe lusizi, sive buhlungu ngentfo lesayenta nobe lesavele sayishiya, futsi kungaphindze kusho “kukhala.” Sonkhe sike senta tintfo lesifisa shengatsi singabuyela emuva sitente ngendlela leyehlukile. Nguyiphi intfo wena lotisola ngayo?

² Bantfu labanyenti bente emaphutsa labuhlungu kakhulu ekuphileni kwabo, baze ngisho benta netono letinkhulu. Labanye abazange bente intfo lembi, kodvwa bayatibuta kutsi letinye tincumo labatenta ekuphileni kwabo betitinhle yini. Labanye bona bakhonile kushiya tintfo letenteke esikhatsini lesendlulile bachubeka nekuphila kwabo. Kantsi labanye bayachubeka bativisa buhlungu ngekutsi batsi “kube mane,” nabakhuluma ngetintfo letenteke esikhatsini lesendlulile. (Hla. 51:3) Wena ukusiphi simo? Ufisa kutsi kube mane ukhonta Nkulunkulu ngephandle kwekutisola yini—mhlawumbe kusukela lamuhla kuchubeke? Sikhona yini sibonelo saloko lokwenteka mbamba lesingafundza kuso kwenta njalo? Yebo sikhona, ngumphostoli Pawula.

³ Ekuphileni kwakhe, Pawula wenta emaphutsa lamabi netincumo letihlakaniphile. Watisola kakhulu ngetintfo latenta esikhatsini lesendlulile, kodvwa wafundza kukhonta Nkulunkulu ngekwetsembeka. Ase sibone kutsi sibonelo sakhe singasifundzisa ini ngekukhonta Nkulunkulu ngaphandle kwekutisola.

4. Ngutiphi tintfo Pawula latenta esikhatsini lesendlulile latisola ngato?

⁴ Ngesikhatsi aselijaha lelingumFarisi, Pawula wenta tintfo latisola ngato. Sibonelo saloku kutsi wahola libutfo  lelinebudlova kutsi lishushise bafundzi baKhristu. Kulandzisa kweliBhayibheli kuveta kutsi ngekushesha ngemuva kwekubulawa kwaStefano, “Sawula [kamuva lowaba nguPawula] wetama kulibhubhisa libandla, aphuma angena tindlu ngetindlu, awahudvula emakholwa, labadvuna nalabasikati, abafaka ejele.” (Imis. 8:3) Sati lesingu-Albert Barnes satsi emavi esiGriki lahunyushwe ngekutsi “wetama kulibhubhisa” asho “emavi lanemandla, laveta inshisekelo kanye nelulaka [Sawula] labenalo ngesikhatsi ashushisa.” Ngako-ke, Barnes watsi: “Sawula abelitondza lisontfo njengesilwane sasehlane.” NjengemJuda lonenshisekelo, Sawula abekholelwa kutsi kucedza inkholo yebuKhristu ngumsebenti lawunikwe nguNkulunkulu. Ngaleso sizatfu, washushisa emaKhristu ngelunya, ‘achubeka ngekusongela nekubulala bafundzi . . . labadvuna nalabasikati,’ etama kubacedza.—Imis. 9:1, 2; 22:4. *

5. Chaza kutsi Sawula wayekeliswa njani kushushisa balandzeli baJesu kute ashumayele ngaKhristu.

⁵ Bekuyinjongo yaSawula kutsi aye eDamaseko, akhiphe bafundzi baJesu etindlini tabo, aye nabo eJerusalema kute babukane neSanhedrini leyayinelulaka. Nobe kunjalo, wehluleka kwenta njalo ngobe abephikisana neNhloko yelibandla lebuKhristu. (Ef. 5:23) Ngesikhatsi Sawula asendleleni leya eDamaseko, Jesu wamvimba futsi emehlo aSawula avalwa kukhanya lokumangalisako. Jesu wabese utfumela Sawula eDamaseko kute alindze khona. Siyakwati konkhe lokwenteka nakefika lapho.—Imis. 9:3-22.

6, 7. Yini lekhombisa kutsi Pawula abewati kahle emaphutsa labuhlungu lawenta esikhatsni lesendlulile?

⁶ Indlela Pawula labephila ngayo yashintja ngekushesha ngemuva kwekutsi abe ngumKhristu. Kunekutsi abe sitsa senkholo yebuKhristu, waba ngummeli wayo. Ngisho nobe kunjalo, naku lakubhala ngaye: “Senivile ngemphilo yami yakucala ngekwenkholo yebuJuda kutsi ngalihlupha kamatima kanjani libandla laNkulunkulu ngetama kulicedza.” (Gal. 1:13) Ngekuhamba kwesikhatsi waphindze washo kutsi uyatisola ngaloko lakwenta esikhatsini lesendlulile ngesikhatsi abhalela baseKhorinte, baseFiliphi naThimothi. (Fundza 1 Khorinte 15:9; Fil. 3:6; 1 Thim. 1:13) Pawula abengakujabuleli kubhala ngaletintfo letinjalo letimayelana naye, futsi akazange etame kwenta shengatsi tonkhe letintfo atizange tenteka. Bekati kutsi wente emaphutsa lamakhulu.—Imis. 26:9-11.

⁷ Sati seliBhayibheli Frederic W. Farrar sakhuluma ngencenye Sawula laba nayo “emsebentini lowetfusako wekushushisa.” Farrar wachubeka watsi nasibuka tintfo letibuhlungu letentiwa nguPawula ekuphileni kwakhe, “siyabubona buhlungu lobukhulu labebukene nabo, nekuphatfwa kabi titsa takhe.” Kungenteka kutsi ngaletinye tikhatsi bazalwane basemabandleni lehlukahlukene Pawula labewavakashela kanye nalabo labebacala kumbona, bebaya kuye batsi: ‘Kantsi nguwe Pawula—nguwe lobewusishushisa!’—Imis. 9:21.

8. Pawula wativa njani ngemusa nangelutsandvo Jehova naJesu labamkhombisa lona, futsi loko kusifundzisa siphi sifundvo?

⁸ Pawula wacaphela kutsi wakhona kuchubeka enta umsebenti wakhe wekushumayela ngelusito lwemusa waNkulunkulu. Wakhuluma ngalomusa waNkulunkulu tikhatsi letingaba ngu-90 etincwadzini takhe letingu-14—tikhatsi letinyenti kwendlula nobe ngumuphi lomunye umbhali weliBhayibheli. (Fundza 1 Khorinte 15:10.) Pawula wayijabulela kakhulu indlela laphatfwa ngayo ngemusa futsi abefuna kuciniseka kutsi umusa waNkulunkulu awubi lite kuye. Ngako ‘wasebenta kakhulu’ kunalaba labanye baphostoli. Sibonelo sakhe sikhombisa ngalokucacile kutsi nasivuma tono  tetfu sishintja nendlela yetfu yekuphila, Jehova uhlale akulungele kusitsetselela ngisho netono tetfu letimbi kakhulu ngesisekelo semhlatjelo wenhlawulo waJesu. Lesi sibonelo lesihle kakhulu kunobe ngubani lokutfola kumatima kukholwa kutsi tinzuzo tenhlawulo yaKhristu naye angatitfola. (Fundza 1 Thimothi 1:15, 16.) Ngisho nobe Pawula abengumshushisi lomkhulu waKhristu, watsi: ‘INdvodzana yaNkulunkulu leyangitsandza yatinikela yona matfupha esikhundleni sami.’ (Gal. 2:20; Imis. 9:5) Wafundza indlela yekukhonta Nkulunkulu ngaphandle kwekutisola kakhulu. Nawe ufundze indlela lefanako yini?

9, 10. (a) Yini leyenta labanye bantfu baJehova batisole? (b) Yini leyenta kube kubi kukhatsateka kakhulu ngetintfo lesatenta esikhatsini lesendlulile?

⁹ Nawe uke watenta yini tintfo lotisola ngato nyalo? Uke wasisebentisa kabi yini sikhatsi sakho nemandla uphishanekela tintfo letimbi? Uke watenta yini tintfo letaba yingoti kulabanye bantfu? Nobe kungenteka kutsi unemiva yekutisola ngetizatfu letitsite. Umbuto ukutsi: Ungentani kute ulungise leso simo?

¹⁰ Bantfu labanyenti bayakhatsateka! Kukhatsateka kakhulu kusho kutihlupha, kutijezisa nekutishushisa. Kwenta umuntfu akhatsateke kakhulu. Kukhatsateka kuyatilungisa yini tinkinga? Cha, akuyilungisi ngisho nayinye! Loko kungase kufane nekudlala mjikeni ema-awa lamanyenti, usebentisa onkhe emandla akho, kodvwa ungafiki ndzawo! Kunekutsi ukhatsateke, kunetintfo letinhle longatenta ekuphileni kwakho letingaba nemiphumela lemihle. Ungase ucolise kumuntfu lomonile, mhlawumbe uphindze ube nebuhlobo lobuhle naye. Ungabalekela nobe yini leyaholela ekutseni wente tintfo letimbi, ngekwenta njalo utivikele etinkingeni esikhatsini lesitako. Kungadzingeka nekutsi uphile nato letinye timo. Kodvwa kukhatsateka kungenta umuntfu ehluleke kukhonta Nkulunkulu ngenhlitiyo yakhe yonkhe. Kute tinzuzo tekukhatsateka!

11. (a) Singawutfola njani umusa nelutsandvo lwaJehova? (b) Nguyiphi indlela lengasisita sitfole kuthula kwengcondvo ngemaphutsa lesawenta esikhatsini lesendlulile?

 ¹¹ Labanye banemkhuba wekuvumela tintfo letibuhlungu letenteka esikhatsini lesendlulile tibahluphe kute kube ngulapho batibona bangakabaluleki kuNkulunkulu. Bangase bacabange kutsi angeke bawutfole umusa waNkulunkulu ngobe bente emaphutsa lamanyenti nobe letfusa kakhulu. Liciniso likutsi ngisho nobe senteni esikhatsini lesendlulile, singaphendvuka, sishintje sicele nekutsetselelwa. (Imis. 3:19) Jehova angabapha umusa wakhe abakhombise nelutsandvo, njengobe loko akwente kubantfu labanyenti. Jehova angababonisa umusa labo labatfobekile, labetsembekile futsi labaphendvuka ngalokusuka enhlitiyweni. Nkulunkulu wenta lokufanako nakuJobe, lowatsi: “Ngiyaphendvuka ngitilahla elutfulini nasemlotseni.” (Jobe 42:6) Sonkhe kufanele sisebentise lendlela kute sitfole kuthula kwengcondvo: “Umuntfu lofihla tono takhe angeke aphumelele; kodvwa lotivumako atishiye uyewutfola umusa.” (Taga 28:13; Jak. 5:14-16) Ngako-ke, kufanele sivume tono tetfu kuNkulunkulu, sithantaze simcele asitsetselele siphindze sitsatse tinyatselo tekulungisa emaphutsa lesiwentile. (2 Khor. 7:10, 11) Nangabe sente letintfo, singajabulela umusa waLoyo ‘lotsetselela ngenkhululeko.’—Isa. 55:7.

12. (a) Sibonelo saDavide sisifundzisa kutsi nguyiphi indlela lencono yekulungisa nembeza wetfu lonelicala? (b) Jehova utisole ngamuphi umcondvo, futsi kwati loko kusisita njani? (Fundza libhokisi.)

¹² Umthantazo unemandla; Nkulunkulu usebentisa wona kute asisite. Davide waveta indlela labetiva ngayo emthantazweni wakhe wekukholwa losencwadzini yeTihlabelelo. (Fundza Tihlabelelo 32:1-5.) Njengobe naDavide avuma, kwetama kungawunaki nembeza lonelicala kwamcedza emandla. Wagula kakhulu futsi waphelelwa yinjabulo ngobe wehluleka kuvuma tono takhe. Yini leyenta Davide wacola futsi wativa akhululekile? Wasitwa kuvuma tono takhe kuNkulunkulu. Jehova waphendvula imithantazo yaDavide wamcinisa kute achubeke nekuphila kwakhe futsi ente nemisebenti lebalulekile. Ngendlela lefananako, nawuthantaza ngalokusuka enhlitiyweni, ungaciniseka kutsi Jehova utawulalelisisa umthantazo wakho. Nangabe uhlushwa ngimicabango yetintfo letimbi lowatenta esikhatsini lesendlulile, silungise leso simo, kute nawe usikholelwe sicinisekiso saJehova sekutsi ukutsetsele.—Hla. 86:5.

13, 14. (a) Yini nyalo lokufanele sikhatsateke ngayo kakhulu? (b) Ngumiphi imibuto lengasisita sihlole simo setfu sekuphila sanyalo?

¹³ Kutsiwa kute ucondze kuphila kufanele ubuke tintfo letenteke esikhatsini lesendlulile, kodvwa uphile ubuke embili. Kunekutsi sikhatsateke ngetintfo letendlulile, kufanele sinake loko lokwenteka nyalo nalokutawenteka esikhatsini lesitako. Eminyakeni letako, ngitatisola yini ngaloko lengikukhetsako? Ngitawufisa shengatsi ngabe ngenta tintfo ngendlela leyehlukile yini? Ngitiphatsa ngekwetsembeka yini nyalo lokutangisita  kutsi ngingabi nemiva yekutisola esikhatsini lesitako?

¹⁴ Njengobe kuhlupheka lokukhulu kusondzela, asifuni kuhlushwa ngimiva yekutisola lefana nalena letsi: ‘Kube mane ngenta imisebenti leminyenti enhlanganweni yaNkulunkulu. Yini leyangivimba kutsi ngibe lihlahlandlela ngesikhatsi timo tingivumela? Yini leyangivimba kutsi ngingabi yinceku lesebentako ebandleni? Ngiwentile yini umetamo wekugcoka buntfu lobusha? Ngiluhlobo lwemuntfu Jehova latawufuna luphile emhlabeni wakhe lomusha yini?’ Kunekutsi sikhatsateke ngalemibuto lecedza emandla, sifuna kuyisebentisa kute sitihlole futsi siciniseke ngekutsi senta lokuncono kakhulu emsebentini waJehova. Nasingenti njalo sitawuchubeka siphila imphilo lengase isente sitisole kakhulu.—2 Thim. 2:15.

15, 16. (a) Ngutiphi tintfo labanye bantfu labatishiya kute bente kukhonta Nkulunkulu kute kucala ekuphileni kwabo? (b) Yini lokufanele isente singatisoli ngekushiya letinye tintfo kute imisebenti yeMbuso ite kucala?

¹⁵ Kutsiwani ngalabo labashiye leminye imisebenti kute bakhonte Jehova ngesikhatsi sabo sonkhe? Kungenteka ushiye umsebenti lotakuholela kahle nobe libhizinisi leliphumelelako kute wente kuphila kwakho kube melula futsi ube nesikhatsi lesenele sekwenta imisebenti yeMbuso. Kungenteka nekutsi ukhetse kungashadi nobe nawushadile ukhetse kungabi nebantfwana kute ukwati kwenta imisebenti yasikhatsi sonkhe lobewungeke ukhone kuyenta—kukhonta eBethel, kwenta umsebenti wekwakha emhlabeni wonkhe, umsebenti wekuhambela tifundza nobe kuba sitfunywa selivangeli. Kufanele utisole yini ngaletincumo lotitsetse njengobe uchubeka ukhula enhlanganweni yaJehova? Kufanele yini utisole ngekushiya letinye tintfo? Cha, akukafaneli!

¹⁶ Wente leto tincumo ngobe utsandza Jehova futsi unesifiso lesikhulu sekusita labo labafuna kumkhonta. Akukafaneli ucabange kutsi kube awuzange utsatse leso sincumo kuphila kwakho ngabe kuncono kakhulu. Ungaba nayo injabulo yekwati kutsi wente loko lokwatiko kutsi kuhle ekuphileni kwakho. Ungajabulela nekutsi wente lokuncono kakhulu ekukhonteni kwakho Jehova. Angeke akukhohlwe kuphila kwakho kwekutinikela kuye. Kulokuphila lokuncono kakhulu lokutako, utakuletsela tibusiso letincono kakhulu kunaleto longaticabanga nyalo.—Hla. 145:16; 1 Thim. 6:19.

17, 18. (a) Yini leyasita Pawula wakhonta Nkulunkulu ngaphandle kwekutisola? (b) Yini lotimisele kuyenta ngetintfo letenteka esikhatsini lesendlulile, leto lotentako nyalo nelikusasa lelihle ukhonta Jehova?

¹⁷ Yini Pawula layifundza leyamsita wakhonta Nkulunkulu ngaphandle kwekutisola? Njengobe kuvetiwe ehumushweni la-J. B. Phillips, Pawula wabhala: “Ngikukhohliwe lokungemuva futsi ngelulele tandla tami kulokusembili kute ngibambelele emgomeni.” (Fundza Filiphi 3:13, 14.) Pawula akazange anake emaphutsa lawenta enkholweni yebuJuda. Esikhundleni saloko, wasebentisa onkhe emandla akhe kute atfole umvuzo wesikhatsi lesitako, lokuphila lokute kufa.

¹⁸ Sonkhe singawasebentisa lamavi aPawula. Kunekutsi sikhatsateke kakhulu ngaloko lesakwenta, futsi sinaka tintfo lesingeke sikhone kutilungisa, kufanele sibuke loko lokuseta ngembili. Kuliciniso kutsi singase singawakhohlwa emaphutsa lesawenta, kodvwa akukafaneli sihlale sititfukutselele ngekutsi sawentelani. Singetama kukushiya emuva loko lesakwenta esikhatsi lesendlulile, sikhonte Nkulunkulu ngawo onkhe emandla etfu futsi sibuke embili esikhatsini lesitako lesijabulisako.