“Hlala Uboyisa Ububi Ngokulungileyo”
“Musa ukuzivumela woyiswe bububi, kodwa hlala uboyisa ububi ngokulungileyo.”—ROMA 12:21.
1. Kutheni siqinisekile nje ukuba sinokuboyisa ububi?
NGABA sinokukwazi ukuma nxamnye nabachasi abaneengcwangu bonqulo lokwenyaniso? Ngaba sinokuzoyisa iintshaba ezifuna sibuyele emva kwihlabathi elingoyiki uThixo? Kuyo yomibini le mibuzo impendulo nguewe. Kutheni sisitsho nje? Kungenxa yoko kuthethwa ngumpostile uPawulos kwincwadi eya kwabaseRoma. Uthi: “Musa ukuzivumela woyiswe bububi, kodwa hlala uboyisa ububi ngokulungileyo.” (Roma 12:21) Ukuba sikholosa ngoYehova yaye sizimisele ukunganikezeli kwihlabathi, ububi balo abuyi kusoyisa. Ibinzana elithi “hlala uboyisa ububi” libonisa ukuba sinako ukuboyisa ukuba asiyekeleli kumlo wethu wokomoya. Ngabo bayekelela umxakatho kuphela abaya koyiswa leli hlabathi lingendawo nomlawuli walo uSathana uMtyholi.—1 Yohane 5:19.
2. Kutheni simele siqwalasele iziganeko ezehlela uNehemiya?
2 Kwiminyaka engama-500 ngaphambi kokuzalwa kukaPawulos, umkhonzi kaThixo owayehlala eYerusalem wakungqina kakuhle ukuchana kwala mazwi kaPawulos okulwa nxamnye nobubi. Lo mkhonzi, uNehemiya, akazange anele nje ukunyamezela inkcaso yabantu abangahlonel’ uThixo kodwa waboyisa ububi ngokulungileyo. Bubuphi ubunzima awajamelana nabo? Wancedwa yintoni ukuze aphumelele? Sinokumxelisa njani? Ukuze sikwazi ukuphendula le mibuzo, simele siqwalasele ezinye zeziganeko ezamehlelayo.a
3. Yayinjani imeko awayephila kuyo uNehemiya, ibe nguwuphi umsebenzi awawufezayo?
3 UNehemiya wayesebenza kwibhotwe likaKumkani uArtashashta wasePersi. Nakuba uNehemiya wayehlala phakathi kwabantu abangamnquliyo uThixo, akazange ‘amilise okwenkqubo yezinto’ yelo xesha. (Roma 12:2) Kwathi kwakubakho ingxaki kwaYuda, wancama bonke ubutofotofo awayekubo, wathabatha uhambo olunzima oluya eYerusalem, esiya kuqalisa umsebenzi omkhulu wokuvusa iindonga zesixeko. (Roma 12:1) Nakuba wayeyirhuluneli yaseYerusalem, mihla le wayesebenza ngezandla zakhe encedisa amaSirayeli, “ukususela ekunyukeni kwesifingo de kube sekuphumeni kweenkwenkwezi.” Ngenxa yoko, lo msebenzi wagqitywa kwiinyanga nje ezimbini! (Nehemiya 4:21; 6:15) Oku kwakumangalisa gqitha, xa ucinga ngenkcaso awayesebenza phantsi kwayo amaSirayeli. Ngoobani abo babesilwa noNehemiya, ibe yayintoni injongo yabo?
4. Zazinayiphi injongo iintshaba zikaNehemiya?
4 Abona bantu babesilwa naye yayinguSanebhalati, uTobhiya noGeshem, izihandiba zamadoda awayehlala kufuphi kwaYuda. Ekubeni ayeziintshaba zabantu bakaThixo, ‘kwabonakala kukubi kakhulu ukuba [uNehemiya] eze kufunela oonyana bakaSirayeli okuthile okulungileyo.’ (Nehemiya 2:10, 19) Ezi ntshaba zakhe zazizimisele ukuwuchitha loo msebenzi, kangangokuba zabhenela nasekwenzeni amayelenqe. Ngaba uNehemiya wayeza “kuzivumela oyiswe bububi”?
‘Uba Nomsindo Aze Acaphuke Kakhulu’
5, 6. (a) Yintoni ezayenzayo iintshaba zikaNehemiya zakumbona esakha? (b) Kutheni uNehemiya engazange oyikiswe ziintshaba zakhe?
5 Ngenkalipho uNehemiya wabongoza abantu bakowabo wathi: “Yizani sibuye silwakhe udonga lwaseYerusalem.” Nabo baphendula bathi: “Masisukume, sakhe.” Emva koko uNehemiya wathi: “Izandla zabo bazomelezela umsebenzi olungileyo,” kodwa iintshaba ‘zaqalisa ukusigculela yaye zisijonga ngendelelo zisithi: “Yintoni na le niyenzayo? Nivukela ukumkani na?”’ UNehemiya akazange oyikiswe zizinyeliso nezityholo zazo ezibubuvuvu. Wathi kuzo: “UThixo wamazulu nguye oya kusinika impumelelo, kwaye thina, bakhonzi bakhe, siya kusukuma, sakhe.” (Nehemiya 2:17-20) UNehemiya wayezimisele ukutyhalela phambili ‘nomsebenzi olungileyo.’
6 Omnye wezo ntshaba, uSanebhalati, “waba nomsindo kwaye wacaphuka kakhulu” waqinisa ngakumbi ukugculela ethukisa. Wathi: “Enza ntoni na la maYuda abuthathaka? . . . Ngaba aya kuwavusa amatye atshisiweyo akwimfumba yenkunkuma?” NoTobhiya wagibisela awakhe amazwi, esithi: ‘Ukuba impungutye ingenyuka ngalo, ingaludiliza ngokuqinisekileyo udonga lwabo lwamatye.’ (Nehemiya 4:1-3) Wenza ntoni uNehemiya?
7. Yintoni awayenzayo uNehemiya xa wayegculelwa ziintshaba zakhe?
7 UNehemiya akazange azikhathaze ngezo zigculelo. Wathobela umyalelo kaThixo akazama ukuziphindezela. (Levitikus 19:18) Wawuyekela ezandleni zikaYehova lo mbandela wathandaza esithi: “Yiva, Thixo wethu, kuba siye saba yinto edelekileyo; kwaye lwenze ungcikivo lwabo lubuyele ezintlokweni zabo.” (Nehemiya 4:4) UNehemiya wayethembele kwisiqinisekiso sikaYehova esithi: “Yeyam impindezelo, nembuyekezo.” (Duteronomi 32:35) Ngoko, uNehemiya nabantu bakowabo ‘baqhubeka belwakha udonga.’ Abazange bazivumele baphazanyiswe. Enyanisweni, “udonga lwahlanganiswa lonke ukuya kufikelela kwisiqingatha sokuphakama kwalo, nabantu baqhubeka benentliziyo yokusebenza.” (Nehemiya 4:6) Ezo ntshaba zonqulo oluyinyaniso zafa namthanyana! Thina sinokumxelisa njani uNehemiya?
8. (a) Sinokumxelisa njani uNehemiya xa abachasi besityabeka ngezityholo zobuxoki? (b) Balisa amava akho okanye owaziyo abonisa ubulumko bokungaziphindezeli.
8 Namhlanje, enoba sisesikolweni, emsebenzini okanye emakhaya, abachasi basenokusigculela baze basityabeke ngezityholo zobuxoki. Noko ke, ezo zityholo zidla ngokusingathwa kakuhle xa sisebenzisa umgaqo weBhayibhile othi: “Kukho ixesha lokuthi cwaka.” (INtshumayeli 3:1, 7) NjengoNehemiya, nathi siyakuphepha ukuphindisa ngamazwi ahlabayo. (Roma 12:17) Sithandaza kuThixo, sikholose ngalowo usinika esi siqinisekiso: “Kuya kubuyekeza mna.” (Roma 12:19; 1 Petros 2:19, 20) Ngokwenjenjalo, asivumeli abachasi basiphazamise kowona msebenzi wokomoya simele siwenze namhlanje—ukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo zoBukumkani bukaThixo nokwenza abafundi. (Mateyu 24:14; 28:19, 20) Sihlandlo ngasinye sishumayela yaye singazivumeli siphazanyiswe yinkcaso, sixelisa uNehemiya owayethembekile.
‘Siza Kunibulala’
9. Yintoni ezayenzayo iintshaba zikaNehemiya ukulwa naye, ibe yena wenza ntoni?
9 Zathi iintshaba zonqulo lokwenyaniso zakuva ukuba “ukulungiswa kweendonga zeYerusalem kuhambele phambili,” zaxhoba zafohlela zisiya “kulwa neYerusalem.” Latshon’ emini kumaYuda. Ayerhangqwe ngamaSamariya emantla, ama-Amoni ngasempuma, ingama-Arabhu ngezantsi kunye nama-Ashdode entshona. Abo bakhi beYerusalem babonakala bezizisulu ezivaleleke phakathi bengenakuzikhusela. Babeza kuthini bethu? UNehemiya uthi: “Sathandaza kuThixo wethu.” Ezo ntshaba zaboyikisa zisithi: ‘Siza kunibulala size siwumise umsebenzi.’ Zathi zakutsho uNehemiya wayalela abakhi ukuba bakhusele isixeko “benamakrele abo, iincula zabo nezaphetha zabo.” Enyanisweni, emehlweni abantu, elo qaqobana lamaYuda labonakala lingenakumelana nezo ntshaba zinamandla, sekunjalo uNehemiya wathi: “Ningoyiki . . . khumbulani uYehova omkhulu naLowo woyikekayo.”—Nehemiya 4:7-9, 11, 13, 14.
10. (a) Yintoni eyabangela ukuba izinto ziguquke ngesiquphe kwiintshaba zikaNehemiya? (b) Ngawaphi amanyathelo awathatyathwa nguNehemiya?
10 Izinto zasuka zaguquka ngesiquphe. Iintshaba zarhoxa. Zazirhoxiswa yintoni? UNehemiya uthi: “UThixo oyinyaniso ulitshitshisile icebo lazo.” Noko ke, uNehemiya wayeqonda ukuba iintshaba zazisabafun’ esiqwini. Ngoko, ngobulumko wayitshintsha indlela ababesebenza ngayo abakhi. Ukususela ngoko ukusa phambili, “ngamnye wayesebenza emsebenzini ngesinye isandla sakhe ngoxa ngesinye isandla wayebambe umjukujelwa.” Wamisela nendoda eyayiza ‘kuvuthela isigodlo’ sokulumkisa abakhi xa behlaselwa ziintshaba. Ukongezelela koko, uNehemiya waqinisekisa abantu wathi: “UThixo wethu uya kusilwela.” (Nehemiya 4:15-20) Bekhuthazekile yaye belungele ukuzikhusela xa behlaselwa, abakhi batyhalela phambili nokwakha. Yintoni esinokuyifunda kule ngxelo?
11. Yintoni enceda amaKristu okwenyaniso akwazi ukumelana nobubi kumazwe ovaliweyo kuwo umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoBukumkani, ibe akoyisa njani okubi ngokulungileyo?
11 Maxa wambi, amaKristu okwenyaniso akhe achaswe ngogonyamelo. Enyanisweni, kwamanye amazwe abachasi abanengcwangu bonqulo lokwenyaniso baye basebenzise ugonyamelo olungathethekiyo. Xa sijonga izinto ngeliso lenyama, abazalwana bethu abakuloo mazwe babonakala bezizisulu ezingenakuzenzela nto. Nakuba kunjalo, loo maNgqina aqinisekile ukuba ‘uThixo uya kuwalwela.’ Ewe, abo batshutshiselwa ukholo lwabo basoloko bebona ukuba uYehova uyayiphendula imithandazo yabo ‘ngokutshitshisa icebo’ leentshaba zabo. Kwanakumazwe ovaliweyo umsebenzi wokushumayela ngoBukumkani, amaKristu aba neendlela ezithile zokushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo. Kanye njengokuba abakhi baseYerusalem bayitshintshayo indlela yabo yokusebenza, namaNgqina kaYehova namhlanje ngobulumko aye azitshintshe iindlela zokushumayela xa ehlaselwa. Kakade ke, akasebenzisi zixhobo zenyama. (2 Korinte 10:4) Kwanokuba sele esongelwa ngogonyamelo akayeki ukushumayela. (1 Petros 4:16) Kunokwenjenjalo, abo bazalwana noodade banenkalipho ‘bahlala besoyisa ububi ngokulungileyo.’
‘Yiza, Sihlangane’
12, 13. (a) Liliphi iqhinga elaphekwa ziintshaba zikaNehemiya? (b) Kwakutheni ukuze uNehemiya angavumi ukudibana neentshaba zakhe?
12 Iintshaba zikaNehemiya zathi zisakubona ukuba iqhinga lazo liwe phantsi, zabhenela kwiindlela ezichuliweyo zokulwa naye. Enyanisweni, zayila amayelenqe amathathu. Ngawaphi lo mayelenqe?
13 Elokuqala, zazama ukukhohlisa uNehemiya. Zathi kuye: “Yiza, senze idinga lokuhlangana ndawonye kwiidolophana zethafa elisentlanjeni yaseOno.” Le Ono yayiphakathi kweYerusalem neSamariya. Zacela uNehemiya ukuba adibane nazo phakathi kwezi zixeko ukuze bathethe. UNehemiya wayesenokugqiba ngelithi: ‘Siyavakala noko esi sicelo sabo. Kubhetele sithethe kunokuba silwe.’ Noko ke uNehemiya akazange avume. Wachaza isizathu esithi: “Babeceba ukundenzakalisa.” Wakwazi ukubona ukuba yayiliyelenqe elo. Izihlandlo ezine wathi kwezo ntshaba: “Andinako ukuhlala. Kutheni ndifanele ndiyeke umsebenzi ukuze ndihle ndize kuni?” Ezo nzame zaphanza. Waxakeka kukwakha.—Nehemiya 6:1-4.
14. Wenza ntoni uNehemiya xa wayetyholwa ziintshaba zakhe?
14 Elesibini, zabhenela ekusasazeni amarhe obuxoki, zityhola uNehemiya ‘ngokuceba ukuvukela’ uKumkani uArtashashta. Zaphinda zathi kuye: “Yiza, sibhunge kunye.” Nakwesi sihlandlo akazange avume, kuba wayeziqonda iinjongo zazo. UNehemiya wathi: “Bonke babezama ukusoyikisa, besithi: ‘Izandla zabo ziya kuwa emsebenzini ukuze ungenziwa.’” Noko ke, kwesi sihlandlo wazikhaba izityholo zeentshaba zakhe, esithi: “Izinto ezinjengezi uzithethayo azenzekanga, kodwa ziyilwa nguwe entliziyweni yakho.” Wathandaza ecela uncedo kuYehova esithi: “Yomeleza izandla zam.” Wayeqonda ukuba xa exhaswa nguYehova unokuliphanzisa elo yelenqe aze atyhalele phambili nomsebenzi.—Nehemiya 6:5-9.
15. Lalisithini icebiso lomprofeti wobuxoki, ibe kwakutheni ukuze uNehemiya angalamkeli?
15 Kwisihlandlo sesithathu zasebenzisa umngcatshi, uShemaya owayengumSirayeli, ukuze enze uNehemiya ophule uMthetho kaThixo. UShemaya wathi kuNehemiya: “Masenze idinga lokuhlangana endlwini yoThixo oyinyaniso, ngaphakathi etempileni; size sizivale iingcango zetempile; kuba bangenela ukuza kukubulala.” Wayesithi uNehemiya usesichengeni sokubulawa ngoko wayemele azisindise ngokuzifihla etempileni. Noko ke, uNehemiya wayengenguye umbingeleli. Wayeya kuba wenza isono xa ezimela endlwini kaThixo. Ngaba wayeya kwaphula uMthetho kaThixo kuba nje efuna ukusindisa ubomi bakhe? UNehemiya waphendula wathi: “Ngubani na onjengam onokungena etempileni aze aphile? Andiyi kungena!” Yintoni eyanceda uNehemiya akawela kuloo mgibe? Kungenxa yokuba wayesazi ukuba nakuba uShemaya wayengumSirayeli, “wayengathunywanga nguThixo.” Ngapha koko, umprofeti wenyaniso wayengayi kumkhuthaza ukuba aphule uMthetho kaThixo. Nakwesi isihlandlo uNehemiya akazange anikezele kwezo ntshaba zakhe zingendawo. Kungekudala emva koko wathi: “Ekugqibeleni lwagqitywa udonga ngosuku lweshumi elinesihlanu lukaEluli, ngeentsuku ezingamashumi amahlanu anesibini.”—Nehemiya 6:10-15; Numeri 1:51; 18:7.
16. (a) Simele sibaphathe njani abantu abazenza abahlobo, abo basityabeka izityholo zobuvuvu nabazalwana benkohliso? (b) Wenza njani ukuze uphephe ukulalanisa kwizinto ozikholelwayo xa usekhaya, esikolweni okanye emsebenzini?
16 NjengoNehemiya, nathi sisenokuchaswa ngabantu abazenza abahlobo, abasityabeka izityholo zobuvuvu nabazalwana benkohliso. Ngokungathi kunjalo, abanye basenokude bacele ukuba silalanise kwimibandela ethile. Banokuzama ukusiqinisekisa ukuba xa sinokuyekelela nje kancinane kwinzondelelo esinayo yokukhonza uYehova, singakwazi ukubetha iintaka ezimbini ngelitye elinye siphumeza neminqweno yethu. Noko ke, ekubeni uBukumkani bukaThixo buyeyona nto iphambili kubomi bethu, siyakuphepha ukulalanisa. (Mateyu 6:33; Luka 9:57-62) Abachasi bade basasaze izityholo zobuxoki ngathi. Kwamanye amazwe sityholwa ngokuba sisisongelo kuRhulumente, kanye njengokuba uNehemiya watyholwa ngokuvukela ukumkani. Zimbi izityholo ziye zangqinwa zibubuvuvu kwiinkundla zomthetho. Enoba zinjani na iziphumo kwimeko nganye, sithandaza kuYehova sinentembelo yokuba kuya kwenzeka ukuthanda kwakhe. (Filipi 1:7) Maxa wambi sisenokuchaswa ngabo benza ngathi bakhonza uYehova. Kanye njengaloo mYuda wazama ukuqobongela uNehemiya ukuba aphule uMthetho kaThixo ukuze asinde, nabawexuki ababesakuba ngamaNgqina banokuzama ukusiphembelela ukuba silalanise ngandlel’ ithile. Kodwa, siyabagatya kuba siyazi ukuba kukugcina imithetho kaThixo okunokusisindisa kungekhona ukuyaphula. (1 Yohane 4:1) Ewe, uYehova unokusinceda soyise naluphi na uhlobo lobubi.
Ukuvakalisa Iindaba Ezilungileyo Nakuba Sijamelene Nobubi
17, 18. (a) Yintoni afuna ukuyiphumeza uSathana namahlakani akhe? (b) Wena yintoni ozimisele ukuyenza, ibe kutheni?
17 Lithetha ngabazalwana bakaKristu abathanjisiweyo, iLizwi likaThixo lithi: “Bamoyisile [uSathana] ngenxa . . . yelizwi lokungqina kwabo.” (ISityhilelo 12:11) Ngoko, kukho unxibelelwano phakathi kokoyisa uSathana—umthombo wobungendawo—nokushumayela ngoBukumkani. Yiloo nto uSathana engaphumli ehlasela intsalela yabathanjiswa ‘nesihlwele esikhulu’ ngokuphembelela inkcaso.—ISityhilelo 7:9; 12:17.
18 Njengokuba siye sabona, sisenokuchaswa ngamazwi, okanye sisongelwe ngogonyamelo okanye ngezinye iindlela ezichuliweyo. Enoba kunjani na, injongo kaSathana inye—kukuphelisa umsebenzi wokushumayela. Noko ke, uya kukatya kuba njengoNehemiya, abantu bakaThixo bazimisele ‘ukuhlala besoyisa ububi ngokulungileyo.’ Baya kuhlala beboyisa ngokushumayela iindaba ezilungeleyo de uYehova athi kwanele!—Marko 13:10; Roma 8:31; Filipi 1:27, 28.
[Umbhalo osemazantsi]
Ngaba Uyakhumbula?
• Yiyiphi inkcaso ababejamelene nayo abakhonzi bakaThixo bamandulo namaKristu namhlanje?
• Yayiyintoni eyona njongo yeentshaba zikaNehemiya, ibe iyintoni injongo yeentshaba zikaThixo namhlanje?
• Siboyisa njani ububi ngokulungileyo namhlanje?
[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 29]
Izifundo Ezikwincwadi KaNehemiya
Abakhonzi bakaThixo bajamelana
• nokugculelwa
• nezisongelo
• nenkohliso
Banokukhohliswa
• ngabantu abazenza abahlobo
• abo basityabeka izityholo zobuvuvu
• ngabazalwana benkohliso
Abakhonzi bakaThixo boyisa ububi
• ngokunamathela kumsebenzi abawunikwe nguThixo
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 27]
UNehemiya nabo wayesebenza nabo bakha udonga lwaseYerusalem nangona babechaswa ngokuqatha
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 31]
AmaKristu okwenyaniso ashumayela iindaba ezilungileyo ngenkalipho