Ukholo Lusishukumisela Kwisenzo!
“Uyabona ukuba ukholo [luka-Abraham] lwasebenzisana kunye nemisebenzi yakhe yaye ngemisebenzi yakhe ukholo lwakhe lwenziwa lwagqibelela.”—YAKOBI 2:22.
1, 2. Yintoni esiya kuyenza ukuba sikholo?
ABANTU abaninzi bathi banokholo kuThixo. Ukanti, ukukholwa ngomlomo kulilize njengesidumbu. Umfundi uYakobi wabhala esithi: “Ukholo, ukuba alunayo imisebenzi, lufile ngokwalo.” Kwakhona wathi uAbraham owayesoyika uThixo wayenokholo ‘olwalusebenzisana kunye nemisebenzi yakhe.’ (Yakobi 2:17, 22) Loo mazwi abaluleke kangakanani kuthi?
2 Ukuba sinokholo lokwenene, asiyi kukholelwa nje kuphela oko sikuvayo kwiintlanganiso zamaKristu. Siya kunikela ubungqina bokholo kuba singamaNgqina kaYehova akhutheleyo. Ewe, ukholo luya kusiqhubela ekusebenziseni iLizwi likaThixo ebomini kwaye luya kusishukumisela kwisenzo.
Ukuba Nomkhethe Akuhambisani Nokholo
3, 4. Ukholo lufanele luyichaphazele njani indlela esibaphatha ngayo abanye?
3 Ukuba sinokholo lokwenene kuThixo nakuKristu, asiyi kubonakalisa umkhethe. (Yakobi 2:1-4) Bambi kwabo babebhalelwa nguYakobi babengakubonakalisi ukungakhethi buso okwakufuneka kumaKristu okwenene. (Roma 2:11) Ngenxa yoko, uYakobi uyabuza: “Aniluphathanga ukholo lweNkosi yethu uYesu Kristu, uzuko lwethu, ngezenzo zomkhethe, andibi kunjalo?” Ukuba umntu ongakholwayo osisityebi owayenxibe imisesane yegolide neengubo ezimbejembeje wayenokuza entlanganisweni kunye ‘nendoda engakholwayo elihlwempu enesinxibo esinyhukunyhuku,’ bobabini aba bantu babemele bamkelwe kakuhle, kodwa kwakunikelwa ingqalelo ekhethekileyo kwabo bazizigwili. Babenikwa izihlalo “kwindawo entle,” ngoxa abangakholwayo abangamahlwempu babexelelwa ukuba beme ngeenyawo okanye bahlale phantsi bhaxa ezinyaweni zomnye umntu.
4 UYehova walungiselela idini lentlawulelo likaYesu Kristu kwabazizityebi nakwabangamahlwempu ngokufanayo. (2 Korinte 5:14) Ngoko ke, ukuba besinokuququzelela izityebi, besiya kuba siyalushiya ukholo lukaKristu, ‘owaba lihlwempu ukuze sibe zizityebi ngobuhlwempu bakhe.’ (2 Korinte 8:9) Masingaze sijonge abantu ngolo hlobo—sinentshukumisa ephosakeleyo yokuzukisa abantu. UThixo akakhethi buso, kodwa ukuba sibonakalisa ukukhetha ubuso, besiya kuba ‘sinikela izigqibo ezingendawo.’ (Yobhi 34:19) Sinomnqweno wokukholisa uThixo, ngokuqinisekileyo asiyi kunikezela kwisilingo sokubonakalisa umkhethe okanye ‘ukuncoma abantu ngenxa yengenelo yethu.’—Yude 4, 16.
5. Ngoobani abanyulwe nguThixo ukuba babe ‘zizityebi elukholweni,’ ibe abo bazizityebi ngezinto eziphathekayo badla ngokwenza ntoni?
5 UYakobi ufanisa abo bazizityebi zokwenene yaye ubongoza esithi uthando lumele lubonakaliswe kubo bonke ngaphandle kokukhetha. (Yakobi 2:5-9) ‘UThixo unyule abo bangamahlwempu ukuba babe zizityebi elukholweni neendlalifa zobukumkani.’ Oku kubangelwa kukuba amahlwempu adla ngokusabela ngakumbi kwiindaba ezilungileyo. (1 Korinte 1:26-29) Njengeqela, abo bazizityebi ngezinto eziphathekayo bayabacinezela abanye xa benamatyala, babaqhathe ngemivuzo yaye babacinezele kwimibandela engokwasemthethweni. Bathetha izinto ezingendawo ngoKristu yaye bayasitshutshisa ngenxa yokuba sithwele igama lakhe. Kodwa masizimisele ukuwuthobela “umthetho wakomkhulu,” ofuna ukuba sithande ummelwane—sibathande ngokufanayo abazizityebi nabangamahlwempu. (Levitikus 19:18; Mateyu 22:37-40) Ekubeni uThixo efuna senze oku, ukubonakalisa umkhethe ‘kukusebenza isono.’
‘Inceba Iyawuvuyelela Umgwebo’
6. Besiya kuba ngabaphuli-mthetho njani ukuba besingaqhubani ngenceba nabanye?
6 Ukuba sibonakalisa umkhethe ngokungenanceba, singabaphuli-mthetho. (Yakobi 2:10-13) Ngokuthabatha inyathelo eliphosakeleyo ngokuphathelele lo mba, siyaphula yonke imithetho kaThixo. AmaSirayeli angazange akrexeze kodwa awaba ngamasela awaphula uMthetho kaMoses. NjengamaKristu, sigwetywa “ngomthetho wabantu abakhululekileyo”—uSirayeli wokomoya okumnqophiso omtsha, nonemithetho yawo ezintliziyweni zakhe.—Yeremiya 31:31-33.
7. Kutheni abo baqhubeka bebonakalisa umkhethe besenokungalindeli nceba kuThixo?
7 Ukuba sithi sinokholo kodwa siqhubeke sibonakalisa umkhethe, sisengozini. Abo bangenaluthando nabangenanceba baza kugwetywa ngaphandle kwenceba. (Mateyu 7:1, 2) UYakobi uthi: “Inceba iwuvuyelela ngoloyiso umgwebo.” Ukuba siyalwamkela ulwalathiso lomoya oyingcwele kaYehova ngokubonakalisa inceba kuzo zonke iinkqubano zethu, asiyi kugwetyelwa intshabalalo. Kunoko, siya kwenzelwa inceba size ngaloo ndlela sikuphephe ukugwetywa ngokungqongqo okanye isigwebo esiqatha.
Ukholo Luvelisa Imisebenzi Emihle
8. Injani imeko yomntu othi unokholo kodwa abe eswele imisebenzi?
8 Ngaphandle kokusenza sibe nothando nenceba, ukholo luvelisa eminye imisebenzi emihle. (Yakobi 2:14-26) Kakade ke, ukuzibanga sinokholo ngoxa singenamisebenzi akuyi kusisindisa. Kuyinyaniso ukuba, asinako ukuma njengamalungisa kuThixo ngenxa yemisebenzi yoMthetho. (Roma 4:2-5) UYakobi uthetha ngemisebenzi engashukunyiswa yimithetho, kodwa eshukunyiswa lukholo naluthando. Ukuba sishukunyiswa zezo mpawu, osweleyo esinqula naye asiyi kusuka nje simnqwenelele okuhle. Siya kunikela uncedo lwezinto eziphathekayo kumzalwana okanye kudade oswele into yokunxiba okanye ukutya. UYakobi uyabuza: ‘Ukuba uxelela umzalwana osweleyo oku: “Hamba ngoxolo, uhlale ufudumele yaye wondleke kakuhle,” kodwa ungamniki izinto eziyimfuneko, kunangenelo ngantoni oko?’ Akunangenelo. (Yobhi 31:16-22) “Ukholo” olunjalo lufile!
9. Yintoni ebonisa ukuba sinokholo?
9 Sisenokuba siyanxulumana nabantu bakaThixo ukusa kumlinganiselo othile, kodwa yimisebenzi esuka entliziyweni kuphela enokulixhasa ibango lethu lokuba sinokholo. Kuyinto entle ukuba siyayigatya imfundiso kaBathathu Emnye yaye sikholelwa ekubeni kukho uThixo omnye wokwenyaniso. Ukanti, ukukholelwa nje asikukuba nokholo. “Needemon ziyakholwa,” ibe ‘ziyatyhwatyhwa’ luloyiko ngenxa yentshabalalo ezizelayo. Ukuba ngokwenene sinokholo, luya kusishukumisela ekubeni sivelise imisebenzi enjengokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo nokulungiselela ukutya nempahla yokunxiba kwamanye amakholwa asweleyo. UYakobi uyabuza: “Ngaba ukukhathalele na ukwazi, owu mntundini ulambathayo [ungazaliswanga lulwazi oluchanileyo ngoThixo], ukuba ukholo ngaphandle kwemisebenzi alusebenzi nto?” Ewe, ukholo lufuna senze okuthile.
10. Kutheni uAbraham ebizwa ngokuba ‘nguyise wabo bonke abo banokholo’?
10 Ukholo losolusapho owayehlonela uThixo uAbraham lwamshukumisela esenzweni. ‘Njengoyise wabo bonke abo banokholo,’ ‘wavakaliswa elilungisa ngemisebenzi emva kokuba wanikela ngoIsake unyana wakhe phezu kwesibingelelo.’ (Roma 4:11, 12; Genesis 22:1-14) Kuthekani ukuba uAbraham wayengenalo ukholo lokuba uThixo wayenokumvusa uIsake aze azalisekise idinga Lakhe lembewu eyayiza kuza ngaye? Ngoko uAbraham ngewayengazange azame ukumenza idini unyana wakhe. (Hebhere 11:19) Yimisebenzi yokuthobela ka-Abraham eyabangela ukuba ‘ukholo lwakhe lwenziwe lugqibelele,’ okanye luphelele. Ngaloo ndlela, “sazaliseka isibhalo [iGenesis 15:6] esithi: ‘UAbraham wakholwa kuYehova, kwaza kwabalelwa kuye njengobulungisa.’” Imisebenzi ka-Abraham yokuzama ukwenza uIsake idini yaqinisekisa amazwi kaThixo awayewathethe ngaphambilana evakalisa ukuba uAbraham ulilungisa. Ngemisebenzi yokholo, wabonakalisa uthando ngoThixo waza wabizwa ngokuthi “umhlobo kaYehova.”
11. Bubuphi ubungqina bokholo esibufumanayo kwimeko kaRahabhi?
11 UAbraham wabonisa ukuba “umntu uya kuvakaliswa elilungisa ngemisebenzi, yaye kungekhona ngokholo lodwa.” Kwaba njalo nakuRahabhi, ihenyukazi laseYeriko. ‘Wavakaliswa elilungisa ngemisebenzi, emva kokuba wabamkela ngomoya wokubuk’ iindwendwe abathunywa [abangamaSirayeli] waza wabakhupha ngenye indlela’ ukuze basabe kwiintshaba zabo ezingamaKanan. Ngaphambi kokuba adibane neentlola ezingamaSirayeli, wamgqala uYehova njengoThixo wokwenyaniso, ibe amazwi awawathethayo kamva kunye nokuyeka kwakhe ukuba ngunongogo kwalungqina ukholo lwakhe. (Yoshuwa 2:9-11; Hebhere 11:31) Emva kwalo mzekelo wesibini wokholo olwabonakaliswa ngemisebenzi, uYakobi uthi: “Eneneni, njengoko umzimba ngaphandle komoya ufile, ngokunjalo kwanokholo ngaphandle kwemisebenzi lufile.” Xa umntu efile, akakho amandla aphilisayo, okanye ‘umoya’ kuye, yaye akukho nto anokuyenza. Ukholo oluvakaliswa ngomlomo aluphili yaye aluncedi nto njengesidumbu. Ngoko ke, ukuba sinokholo lokwenene, luya kusishukumisela kwisenzo sokuhlonela uThixo.
Lawula Olo Lwimi!
12. Yintoni efanele yenziwe ngabadala ebandleni?
12 Ukuthetha nokufundisa nako kusenokunikela ubungqina bokholo, kodwa ukuzeyisa kuyafuneka. (Yakobi 3:1-4) Njengabafundisi ebandleni, abadala banembopheleleko enzima yaye uThixo uya kubaphendulisa kakhulu. Ngenxa yoko, ngokuthobeka bafanele bazihlole iintshukumisa nokufaneleka kwabo. Ukongezelela kulwazi nesakhono, la madoda amele abe nothando olunzulu ngoThixo nangamanye amakholwa. (Roma 12:3, 16; 1 Korinte 13:3, 4) Abadala bamele basekele isiluleko sabo kwiZibhalo. Ukuba umdala ebenokwenza impazamo ekufundiseni kwakhe ize loo nto idale iingxaki kwabanye, ebeya kugwetywa ngokuqatha nguThixo esebenzisa uKristu. Ngoko abadala bamele bathobeke yaye bafundisise nzulu, benamathela ngokuthembeka kwiLizwi likaThixo.
13. Kutheni sikhutyekiswa ngamazwi?
13 Kwanabona bafundisi balungileyo—eneneni, sonke—“siyakhubeka izihlandlo ezininzi” ngenxa yokuba asifezekanga. Ukukhubekisa ngamazwi yenye yezona ntsilelo ziqhelekileyo nezinamandla okudala umonakalo. UYakobi uthi: “Ukuba nabani na akakhubeki zwini, lo uyindoda egqibeleleyo, ekwaziyo ukuwubamba ngomkhala kwanomzimba wayo uphela.” Ngokungafaniyo noYesu Kristu, asikwazi kululawula ngokugqibeleleyo ulwimi lwethu. Ukuba besikwazi, besinokuwalawula namanye amalungu omzimba wethu. Ngapha koko, imikhala yenza amahashe aye apho sifuna aye khona, ibe kwanesikhephe esikhulu esityhalwa yimimoya enamandla sinokuqhutywa ngephini elincinane ukuya apho umqhubi wenqanawa anqwenela siye khona.
14. UYakobi uyibethelela njani imfuneko yokwenza umgudu wokulawula ulwimi?
14 Sonke simele sivume ngokunyaniseka ukuba kufuneka umgudu wokwenene ukuze silawule ulwimi. (Yakobi 3:5-12) Xa uthelekiswa nehashe, umkhala mncinane; linjalo nephini xa lithelekiswa nenqanawa. Nolwimi luncinane xa luthelekiswa nomzimba womntu, “ukanti luzigwagwisa kakhulu.” Ekubeni iZibhalo ziyicacisa mhlophe into yokuba ukuqhayisa akumkholisi uThixo, masifune uncedo lwakhe ukuze sizikhwebule kuko. (INdumiso 12:3, 4; 1 Korinte 4:7) Kwakhona ngamana singalubamba ulwimi lwethu xa sicatshukiswa, sikhumbule ukuba yintlantsi enye nje kuphela ebangela ihlathi livuthe. Njengoko uYakobi ebonisa, “ulwimi lungumlilo” okwaziyo ukudala umonakalo omkhulu. (IMizekeliso 18:21) Ewe, ulwimi olungalawulekiyo “lukwimo yehlabathi lentswela-bulungisa”! Lonke utyekelo olungendawo lweli hlabathi lingahloneli Thixo lunxulunyaniswa nolwimi olungalawulwayo. Lulo olubangela izinto ezonakalisayo ezinjengokudl’ abantu izithende neemfundiso zobuxoki. (Levitikus 19:16; 2 Petros 2:1) Ucinga ntoni ke? Ngaba ukholo lwethu alufanele lusishukumisele ekubeni sizibhokoxe ekulawuleni ulwimi lwethu?
15. Nguwuphi umonakalo onokudalwa lulwimi olungabanjwanga ngomkhala?
15 Ulwimi olungenamkhala ‘lusidyobha’ ngokupheleleyo. Ngokomzekelo, ukuba sisoloko sixoka, sisenokuba ngamaxoki aziwayo. Noko ke, ulwimi olungalawulekiyo ‘lulitshisa njani ivili lobomi bemvelo’? Ngokwenza ubomi bube bubi ngakumbi. Ibandla lonke linokuphazamiseka ngenxa yolwimi olunye olungalawulwayo. UYakobi ukhankanya “iGehena,” iNtlambo yakwaHinom. Ekubeni yayikhe yasetyenziswa ukuze kwenziwe amadini ngabantwana, yaba yindawo yokulahla nokutshisa inkunkuma yaseYerusalem. (Yeremiya 7:31) Ngoko iGehena ifuzisela intshabalalo. Ngangqiqo ithile, iGehena iye yadlulisela amandla ayo okutshabalalisa kulwimi olungalawulekiyo. Ukuba asilubambi ngomkhala ulwimi lwethu, nathi sisenokuzifumana singamaxhoba aloo mlilo siwuqalileyo. (Mateyu 5:22) Sisenokude sigxothwe ebandleni ngenxa yokunyelisa omnye omntu.—1 Korinte 5:11-13.
16. Ngenxa yomonakalo onokwenziwa lulwimi olungalawulekiyo, yintoni esifanele siyenze?
16 Njengoko usenokuba uye wafunda kwiLizwi likaThixo, uYehova wayalela umntu ukuba ayilawule indalo ezizilwanyana. (Genesis 1:28) Ibe zonke iindidi zezidalwa ziye zenziwa zalulama. Ngokomzekelo, ookhetshe abaqeqeshiweyo baye basetyenziswa ekuzingeleni. ‘Izinto ezirhubuluzayo’ ezikhankanywa nguYakobi zisenokuquka iinyoka ezilawulwa ngabantu abagcina iinyoka. (INdumiso 58:4, 5) Umntu unokude alawule neminenga, kodwa njengabantu abanesono asinako ukulululamisa ngokupheleleyo ulwimi. Noko ke, sifanele sikuphephe ukuthetha amazwi akrwada, ahlabayo okanye entlebendwane. Ulwimi olungalawulekileyo lunokuba sisixhobo esiyingozi esizaliswe yityhefu ebulalayo. (Roma 3:13) Okubuhlungu kukuba, ulwimi lwabafundisi bobuxoki lwenza amanye kumaKristu okuqala amshiya uThixo. Ngoko masingaze sizivumele ukuba soyiswe ngamazwi anetyhefu abawexuki, enoba ngamazwi athethwayo okanye ngabhaliweyo.—1 Timoti 1:18-20; 2 Petros 2:1-3.
17, 18. Kukuphi ukungavumelani okuchazwa nguYakobi 3:9-12, ibe yintoni esifanele siyenze ngokuphathelele lo mba?
17 Ukuba nokholo kuThixo nokunqwenela ukumkholisa kunokusikhusela kuwexuko yaye kunokusithintela ekusebenziseni ulwimi ngendlela engavumelaniyo. Esalatha kwabathile ababelusebenzisa ngendlela engavumelaniyo, uYakobi uthi ‘ngolwimi sibonga uBawo wethu, uYehova, size siqalekise abantu abaye bakho ngokwemfano kaThixo.’ (Genesis 1:26) UYehova unguBawo wethu kuba “ubanika bonke abantu ubomi nempefumlo nezinto zonke.” (IZenzo 17:24, 25) Kwakhona unguBawo wamaKristu athanjisiweyo ngengqiqo yokomoya. Sonke ‘sinemfano kaThixo’ ngeempawu zengqondo nezokuziphatha, eziquka uthando, okusesikweni nobulumko ezisenza sahluke kwizilwanyana. Ngoko ke, yintoni esifanele siyenze ukuba sinokholo kuYehova?
18 Ukuba besiya kuqalekisa abantu, oko bekuya kuthetha ukuba silangazelela okanye sifuna bahlelwe bububi. Ekubeni singengabo abaprofeti abaphefumlelwe nguThixo abanegunya lokuthumelela nabani na ububi, intetho enjalo ibiya kubonakalisa ukuba sinentiyo ebiya kwenza ukubonga kwethu uThixo kube lilize. Akufanelekanga ukuba “ukubonga nesiqalekiso” ziphume kumlomo omnye. (Luka 6:27, 28; Roma 12:14, 17-21; Yude 9) Hayi indlela ebekuya kuba sisono ngayo ukuvuma iindumiso kuThixo ezintlanganisweni size kamva sithethe izinto ezingendawo ngamanye amakholwa! Umthombo awunako ukuvelisa amanzi amnandi nakrakra kwiliso elinye. Njengoko ‘umkhiwane ungenako ukuvelisa iziqhamo zomnquma okanye umdiliya uvelise amakhiwane,’ amanzi amtyuba akanako ukuvelisa amanzi amnandi. Kukho undonakele ngokomoya ukuba thina, abafanele bathethe izinto ezilungileyo, siyazingisa ekuthetheni amazwi ahlabayo. Ukuba sinomkhwa onjalo, masithandazele uncedo lukaYehova ukuze siyeke ukuthetha ngolo hlobo.—INdumiso 39:1.
Yenza Izinto Ngobulumko Baphezulu
19. Ukuba salathiswa bubulumko basezulwini, sinokuba nayiphi impembelelo kwabanye?
19 Sonke sifuna ubulumko ukuze sithethe size senze izinto ezifanele abo banokholo. (Yakobi 3:13-18) Ukuba sinoloyiko lokumhlonela uThixo, usinika ubulumko basezulwini, amandla okusebenzisa ulwazi ngendlela efanelekileyo. (IMizekeliso 9:10; Hebhere 5:14) ILizwi lakhe lisifundisa indlela yokubonakalisa ‘ubulali bobulumko.’ Yaye ekubeni sinobulali, sikhuthaza uxolo ebandleni. (1 Korinte 8:1, 2) Nabani na ozigwagwisa ngokuba nobuchule bokufundisa amanye amakholwa ‘uyaxoka nxamnye nenyaniso yamaKristu,’ ekugwebayo ukuzigwagwisa kwakhe. (Galati 5:26) ‘Ubulumko’ bakhe ‘bobasemhlabeni’—obufuzisela uluntu olunesono oluchaseneyo noThixo. “Bobobulwanyana,” ekubeni buveliswa lutyekelo lokwenyama. Ewe, bude bube “bobobudemon,” kuba imimoya engendawo inekratshi! (1 Timoti 3:6) Ngoko masenze izinto ngobulumko nangokuthobeka ukuze kungabikho nto idala imekobume enokukhulisa ‘izinto ezingcolileyo’ ezinjengentlebendwane nomkhethe.
20. Unokubuchaza njani ubulumko basezulwini?
20 “Ubulumko obuvela phezulu okokuqala nje bunyulu,” busenza sicoceke ngokokuziphatha nangokomoya. (2 Korinte 7:11) “Boboxolo,” ekubeni busishukumisela ekubeni sifune uxolo. (Hebhere 12:14) Ubulumko basezulwini busenza sibe “nengqiqo,” singathandi ukunamathela kwimigaqo engenasiseko okanye kube nzima ukuqhubana nathi. (Filipi 4:5) Ubulumko baphezulu “bulungele ukuthobela,” ekubeni bukhuthaza ukuthobela imfundiso engokobuthixo nokusebenzisana nentlangano kaYehova. (Roma 6:17) Ubulumko baphezulu bukwasenza sibe nenceba nemfesane. (Yude 22, 23) Ekubeni buzele ‘ziziqhamo ezilungileyo,’ busiqhubela ekubeni sibaxhalabele abanye size senze ngokuvisisana nokulunga, ubulungisa nenyaniso. (Efese 5:9) Ibe njengabaxolelanisi, sinandipha ‘isiqhamo sobulungisa’ esikhula phantsi kweemeko ezinoxolo.
21. Ngokutsho kukaYakobi 2:1–3:18, ukukholwa kwethu kuThixo kufanele kusishukumisele kwiziphi izenzo?
21 Ngoko ke, kuyacaca ukuba ukholo lusishukumisela kwisenzo. Lusenza singakhethi buso, sibe nenceba yaye sikhuthale emisebenzini emihle. Ukholo luyasinceda silulawule ulwimi size sisebenzise ubulumko basezulwini. Kodwa akuphelelanga apho esinokukufunda kule ncwadi. UYakobi unesiluleko esongezelelekileyo esinokusinceda siziphathe ngendlela efanele abo banokholo kuYehova.
Ubuya Kuphendula Uthini?
◻ Yintoni ephosakeleyo ngokubonakalisa umkhethe?
◻ Ukholo nemisebenzi zidibana njani?
◻ Kutheni kubaluleke kangaka ukulawula ulwimi?
◻ Bunjani ubulumko basezulwini?