Ukukhukhumala Kukhokelela Kwihlazo

“Kufikile na ukukhukhumala? Ngoko ihlazo liyeza; kodwa bunabathozamileyo ubulumko.”—IMIZEKELISO 11:2.

1, 2. Yintoni ukukhukhumala, yaye kungaziphi iindlela okuye kwakhokelela kwintlekele?

UMLEVI othile obhuqwa ngumona ukhokela ihlokondiba elinemvukelo ukuba livukele igunya elimiselwe nguYehova. Itshawe elithile elinamabhongo lipheka iyelenqe elichuliweyo ukuze lihluthe uyise isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi. Ukumkani ongenamonde ugatya imiyalelo ecacileyo ebinikelwe ngumprofeti kaThixo. La maSirayeli mathathu anesiphako esinye afana ngaso: ukukhukhumala.

² Ukukhukhumala luphawu olubonisa intliziyo esisisongelo esinzulu kuye wonk’ ubani. (INdumiso 19:13) Umntu okhukhumeleyo uba nenkalipho yokwenza unothanda enganikwanga gunya lakwenjenjalo. Oku kudla ngokukhokelela kwintlekele. Enyanisweni ukukhukhumala kuye kwangqula phantsi ookumkani kwaza kwaqethula izikumkani. (Yeremiya 50:29, 31, 32; Daniyeli 5:20) Kude kwarhintyela nabanye babakhonzi bakaYehova kwaza kwabakhokelela kwintshabalalo.

 3. Yiyiphi indlela esinokufunda ngayo ngeengozi zokukhukhumala?

³ Ngesizathu esiqondakalayo iBhayibhile ithi: “Kufikile na ukukhukhumala? Ngoko ihlazo liyeza; kodwa bunabathozamileyo ubulumko.” (IMizekeliso 11:2) IBhayibhile isinika imizekelo engqina ubunyaniso balo mzekeliso. Ukuhlola eminye yale mizekelo kuya kusinceda sibone ingozi yokutsiba imida esingafanele siyitsibe. Ngenxa yoko, makhe siqwalasele indlela umona, amabhongo, nokungabi namonde okwabangela ukuba amadoda amathathu akhankanywe ekuqaleni enze izinto ezibonisa ukukhukhumala, nto leyo eyakhokelela ekubeni ahlazeke.

UKora—Umvukeli Owayebhuqwa Ngumona

 4. (a) Wayengubani uKora, yaye ziziphi iziganeko zembali ngokuqinisekileyo awayeyinxalenye yazo? (b) Kwiminyaka yamva, sisiphi isenzo esingathandekiyo esantyontyelwa nguKora?

⁴ UKora wayengumLevi ongunyana kaKohati, engumza kaMoses noAron. Kuyabonakala ukuba wayenyanisekile kuYehova kangangamashumi eminyaka. UKora wayefumene ilungelo lokuba phakathi kwabo bahlangulwa ngokungummangaliso bewezwa uLwandle Olubomvu, kwaye kusenokwenzeka ukuba waba nesabelo ekudluliseleni umgwebo kaYehova nxamnye namaSirayeli awayenqula ithole kwiNtaba yeSinayi. (Eksodus 32:26) Noko ke, ekugqibeleni uKora waba yinkokeli yemvukelo eyayinxamnye noMoses noAron eyayiquka oonyana bakaRubhen uDatan, uAbhiram no-Oni kunye nezikhulu zakwaSirayeli ezingama-250.a “Kwanele ngani,” batsho bebhekisa kuMoses noAron, “ngokuba indibano iphela ingcwele yaye uYehova uphakathi kwayo. Yini na, ke, ukuba niziphakamise phezu kwebandla likaYehova?”—Numeri 16:1-3.

5, 6. (a) Kwakutheni ukuze uKora avukele uMoses noAron? (b) Kutheni kunokutshiwo ukuba uKora usenokuba wayeyeya indawo yakhe kwilungiselelo likaThixo?

⁵ Yintoni eyabangela ukuba uKora avukele emva kweminyaka ethembekile? Ngokuqinisekileyo ukhokelo lukaMoses kwaSirayeli lwalungenangcinezelo, kuba kaloku ‘wayeyeyona ndoda ilulamileyo kubantu bonke ababephezu komhlaba.’ (Numeri 12:3) Ukanti kubonakala ukuba uKora wayemmonela uMoses noAron yaye eyicaphukela into yokuba bevelele, ibe loo nto yamkhokelela ekubeni athi—ephazama ke phofu—babeye baziphakamisa ngokungeyomfuneko nangokuzingca ngaphezu kwebandla.—INdumiso 106:16.

⁶ Enye yezinto ezisenokuba zaziyingxaki kuKora kukuba wayengawaxabisi amalungelo awayenawo kwilungiselelo likaThixo. Kuyinyaniso kona ukuba abaLevi ababengoonyana bakaKohati babengengabo ababingeleli, kodwa ke babengabafundisi boMthetho kaThixo. Kwakhona babethwala ifanishala kunye nempahla yetabanakile xa kwakufuneka zihanjisiwe. Loo msebenzi wawungeyondlwan’ iyanetha, kuba impahla engcwele yayinokuphathwa kuphela ngabantu ababecocekile ngokonqulo nangokokuziphatha. (Isaya 52:11) Ngenxa yoko, xa uMoses wathetha noKora, ngokungathi kunjalo, wayembuza oku, Ngaba isabelo sakho usigqala njengesingento kangangokude uzifunele nobubingeleli na? (Numeri 16:9, 10) UKora akazange ayiqonde into yokuba eyona nto izuke nangakumbi kukukhonza uYehova ngokuthembeka ngokuvisisana nelungiselelo lakhe—kungekhona ukufumana iwonga okanye isikhundla esithile esikhethekileyo.—INdumiso 84:10.

 7. (a) UMoses waqhubana njani noKora namadoda akhe? (b) Imvukelo kaKora yaba nasiphi isiphelo esiyintlekele?

⁷ UMoses wambiza uKora noonongqayi bakhe, esithi mabahlanganisane ngentsasa elandelayo kwintente yokuhlangana yaye beze bephethe iingcedevu neziqhumiso. UKora namahlakani akhe babengenalo igunya lokunyusa isiqhumiso, kuba babengengobabingeleli. Ukuba babenokuza neengcedevu neziqhumiso, loo nto yayiya kubonisa kakuhle ukuba la madoda asavakalelwa ukuba kulilungelo lawo ukuba ngababingeleli—kwanasemva kokuba benikwe ubusuku bonke ukuze bawuhlafunisise lo mba. Xa bezayo ngentsasa elandelayo, ngokufanelekileyo uYehova wabonakalisa ingqumbo yakhe. Ke bona oonyana bakaRubhen, ‘umhlaba wawuvula umlomo wawo waza wabaginya.’ Abanye, ababequka uKora, badliwa ngumlilo owawuvela kuThixo. (Duteronomi 11:6; Numeri 16:16-35; 26:10) Ukukhukhumala kukaKora kwakhokelela kwelokugqibela ihlazo—ukungamkholisi uThixo!

Luxhathise Utyekelo ‘Lokukhweleta’

 8. ‘Ukukhweleta’ kunokuzibonakalisa njani kumaKristu?

⁸ Ingxelo engoKora isisilumkiso kuthi. Ekubeni ‘ukukhweleta’ kusegazini kubantu abangafezekanga, kunokuzibonakalisa kwanakwibandla lamaKristu. (Yakobi 4:5) Ngokomzekelo, sisenokuthi phithi thwanga zizikhundla. NjengoKora, sisenokubakhweletela abo banikwa amalungelo esiwanqwenelayo. Okanye ke sisenokufana nomKristu wenkulungwane yokuqala ogama linguDiyotrefe. Wayeligxeka ashiy’ alilibeleyo igunya labapostile, kucaca ke phofu ukuba uncwase ukuba ibe nguye obambe iintambo. Okunene uYohane wabhala esithi uDiyotrefe ‘uthanda ukuba kwindawo yokuqala.’—3 Yohane 9.

 9. (a) Sisiphi isimo sengqondo ekufuneka sisiphephe xa kufikwa kwiimbopheleleko zebandla? (b) Yiyiphi indlela efanelekileyo esinokujonga ngayo indawo yethu kwilungiselelo likaThixo?

⁹ Kakade ke, akuyonto iphosakeleyo ukuba indoda engumKristu izabalazele ukufumana iimbopheleleko ebandleni. UPawulos wada wayikhuthaza loo nto. (1 Timoti 3:1) Noko ke, singaze nje sijonge amalungelo enkonzo njengeembasa ezisibeka emaqhuzwini, ngokungathi xa siwafikelele sinyukele kwinqwanqwa elingasentla lenkqubela. Khumbula, uYesu wathi: “Nabani na ofuna ukuba mkhulu phakathi kwenu makabe ngumlungiseleli wenu, yaye nabani na ofuna ukuba ngowokuqala phakathi kwenu makabe likhoboka lenu.” (Mateyu 20:26, 27) Kucacile ukuba bekuya kuba yinto ephosakeleyo ukubakhweletela abo banikwa iimbopheleleko ezingakumbi, ngokungathi ixabiso esinalo emehlweni kaThixo lixhomekeke “kwisigxina” esikuso kwintlangano yakhe. UYesu wathi: “Nonke nina ningabazalwana.” (Mateyu 23:8) Ewe, enoba ungumvakalisi okanye unguvulindlela, usandul’ ukubhaptizwa okanye kudala ungumgcini wengqibelelo—bonke abakhonza uYehova ngomphefumlo uphela banendawo exabisekileyo kwilungiselelo lakhe. (Luka 10:27; 12:6, 7; Galati 3:28; Hebhere 6:10) Kuyintsikelelo yokwenene ukusebenza ngaxhathalinye nezigidi ezizabalazela ukusebenzisa isiluleko seBhayibhile esithi: ‘Bhinqani ukuthobeka kwengqondo omnye ngakomnye.’—1 Petros 5:5.

UAbhisalom—Uzingel’ Ichele Owayenamabhongo

10. Wayengubani uAbhisalom, yaye wazama njani ukuzicengezela kwabo babesiza kukumkani ukuba kugwetywe amatyala abo?

¹⁰ Ikhondo lobomi elalandelwa ngunyana wesithathu kaKumkani uDavide, uAbhisalom, lalisisifundo ngokuba namabhongo. Lo zingel’ ichele owayenamaqhinga wazama ukuzicengezela kwabo babesiza kukumkani ukuze agwebe amatyala abo. Waqala ngokuzithandisa esithi uDavide akazinanze nganto iintswelo zabo. Wandula ke wayeka ukugwegweleza waza wangen’ emxholweni. “Owu ukuba nje bendimiselwe ndangumgwebi elizweni,” wayesitsho uAbhisalom, “ukuba wonke umntu onetyala okanye umgwebo eze kum! Ngokuqinisekileyo ke bendiya kumenzela okusesikweni.” Iyelenqe elaliphekwa nguAbhisalom lalingenamida. IBhayibhile ithi: “Kwakusithi kwakusondela umntu ukuze aqubude kuye, yena olule isandla sakhe ambambe aze amange. Wenza into enjengale uAbhisalom kuwo onke amaSirayeli awayefika ukuze agwetyelwe kwakumkani.” Waba yintoni umphumo? “UAbhisalom wamana eziba iintliziyo zamadoda akwaSirayeli.”—2 Samuweli 15:1-6.

11. UAbhisalom wazama njani ukuhlutha isikhundla sikaDavide?

¹¹ UAbhisalom wayezimisele ukubuhlutha ubukumkani bukayise. Kwiminyaka emihlanu ngaphambilana, uAbhisalom wayalela ukuba izibulo likaDavide, uAmnon, libulawe, ngelithi uphindezela ukudlwengulwa kukaTamare udadewabo. (2 Samuweli 13:28, 29) Noko ke, kwanangoko uAbhisalom usenokuba wayezigxeleshele isihlalo sobukhosi, egqala ukubulala uAmnon njengendlela esebenzisekayo yokushenxisa lowo wayebangisana naye.b Enoba kwakutheni na, xa kwafika ixesha, uAbhisalom wathabatha inyathelo. Wavakalisa kulo lonke ilizwe ukuba ungukumkani.—2 Samuweli 15:10.

12. Chaza indlela ukukhukhumala kuka-Abhisalom okwakhokelela ngayo kwihlazo.

¹² UAbhisalom waphumelela kangangethuba elithile, kuba “laya lisomelela ngakumbi iyelenqe, nabantu baqhubeka besanda kuAbhisalom.” Ethubeni, uKumkani uDavide wanyanzeleka ukuba asabe esindisa ubomi bakhe. (2 Samuweli 15:12-17) Noko ke, kungekudala lwanqanyulwa ulawulo luka-Abhisalom xa wabulawa nguYowabhi, waphoswa emhadini waza wagutyungelwa ngamatye. Khawufan’ ucinge—le ndedeba eyayinamabhongo neyayifuna ukuba ngukumkani ayizange ingcwatywe nangendlela endilisekileyo yakufa!c Ngokwenene ukukhukhumala kwabangela ukuba uAbhisalom ahlaziswe.—2 Samuweli 18:9-17.

Luphephe Usukelo Lokuzingca

13. Amabhongo anokukhula njani entliziyweni yomKristu?

¹³ Ukuthabatha kuka-Abhisalom ulawulo nokuwa kwakhe okwalandelayo kusisifundo kuthi. Kweli hlabathi lizaliswe yinkohlakalo lanamhlanje, kuyinto eqhelekileyo ukuba abantu banyhwalaze kwabo bakwizikhundla ezingaphezulu kwezabo, ngelizama ukuzicengezela ukuze bathandwe okanye bafumane ilungelo elithile okanye banyuselwe. Kwangaxeshanye, basenokuqhayisa kwabo bangaphantsi kwabo, benethemba lokuba nabo baya kubathanda yaye babaxhase. Ukuba asilumkanga, loo moya wokuba namabhongo unokukhula ezintliziyweni zethu. Kuyabonakala ukuba loo nto yenzeka kwabanye ngenkulungwane yokuqala, de kwafuneka abapostile banikele izilumkiso eziqatha nxamnye nabanjalo.—Galati 4:17; 3 Yohane 9, 10.

14. Kutheni sifanele siphephe ukuba namabhongo nokuzibeka kwindawo yokuqala?

¹⁴ UYehova akanayo indawo yoosomaqhingana abathanda ukuzibalula nabazama ‘ukufuna uzuko lwabo’ kwintlangano yakhe. (IMizekeliso 25:27) Okunene iBhayibhile iyalumkisa: “UYehova uya kuyinqumla yonke imilebe egudileyo, ulwimi oluthetha izinto ezinkulu.” (INdumiso 12:3) UAbhisalom wayenemilebe egudileyo. Wayezigwagwisa xa ethetha nabo wayefuna bamxume—yonke loo nto eyenzela ukuze afumane isikhundla solawulo awayesibawela. Ngokwahlukileyo koko, hayi indlela esisikelelwe ngayo kuba siphakathi kobuzalwana obulandela isiluleko sikaPawulos esithi: “Ningenzi nanye into ngokusukuzana okanye ngokuzigwagwisa, kodwa ngokuthobeka kwengqondo, [bagqaleni] abanye njengabongamileyo kunani.”—Filipi 2:3.

USawule—Ukumkani Ongenamonde

15. Ngaxa lithile uSawule wakubonakalisa njani ukuthozama?

¹⁵ Ngaxa lithile uSawule, owathi kamva waba ngukumkani wakwaSirayeli, wayelulamile. Masenze umzekelo ngoko kwenzekayo xa wayeselula. Xa umprofeti kaThixo uSamuweli wamtyibela emncoma, uSawule waphendula ngokuthobeka esithi: “AndingumBhenjamin na wesona sizwe sincinane kwezakwaSirayeli, nentsapho yakowethu eyona ingabalulekanga kuzo zonke iintsapho zesizwe sakwaBhenjamin? Ngoko kutheni na ukuba uthethe into enjengale kum?”—1 Samuweli 9:21.

16. Yiyiphi indlela uSawule awabonakalisa ngayo ukungabi namonde?

¹⁶ Noko ke, kamva ukululama kukaSawule kwathi shwaka. Xa wayebambene ngezigalo namaFilisti, warhoxa waya kutsho eGiligali, apho wayelindeleke ukuba alinde uSamuweli ukuba eze kubongoza uThixo ngokunyusa imibingelelo. Wathi uSamuweli akungafiki ngexesha elalimiselwe, uSawule ngokukhukhumala wayinyusa ngokwakhe imibingelelo etshiswayo. Wathi kanye xa agqibayo, wagaleleka uSamuweli. “Yintoni na le uyenzileyo?” uSamuweli wabuza. USawule waphendula esithi: “Ndibone abantu besasazeka besimka kum, yaye nawe—akufikanga ngemihla emiselweyo . . . Ngoko ndazinyanzela ndaza ndanikela umbingelelo otshiswayo.”—1 Samuweli 13:8-12.

17. (a) Kutheni izenzo zikaSawule zisenokubonakala zithetheleleka xa uzikha nje phezulu? (b) Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova amohlwaye uSawule ngenxa yesenzo sakhe sokungabi namonde?

¹⁷ Xa uwukha nje phezulu lo mba, izenzo zikaSawule zisenokubonakala zithetheleleka. Ngapha koko, abantu bakaThixo ‘babesezingxakini ezinkulu,’ “bebandezelekile,” yaye betyhwatyhwa ngenxa yemeko yabo enganiki themba. (1 Samuweli 13:6, 7) Ngokuqinisekileyo akuyonto iphosakeleyo ukuthabatha inyathelo kuqala xa iimeko zifuna kwenziwe njalo.d Noko ke, khumbula ukuba uYehova uyakwazi ukubona oko kusezintliziyweni aze aqonde nezona ntshukumisa zethu zifihlakeleyo. (1 Samuweli 16:7) Ngenxa yoko, umele ukuba waphawula izinto ezithile kuSawule ezingachazwanga ngokungqalileyo kuloo ngxelo yeBhayibhile. Ngokomzekelo, uYehova usenokuba wabona ukuba ukungabi namonde kukaSawule kwakubangelwa likratshi. Mhlawumbi uSawule wayelugcalagcala ngumsindo kuba yena—kumkani wakwaSirayeli—kwakufuneka elinde inkathavu yomprofeti eyayisalibele kukungqunga! Enoba kwakutheni na, uSawule wavakalelwa kukuba ukucotha kukaSamuweli kwakumnika ilungelo lokuyithabathela ezandleni zakhe imicimbi nokutyeshela imiyalelo ecacileyo awayeyinikiwe. Waba yintoni umphumo? USamuweli akazange amncome uSawule ngesenzo sakhe. Kunoko, wamohlwaya uSawule, esithi: “Ubukumkani bakho abuyi kuhlala . . . ngenxa yokuba akukugcinanga oko uYehova akuyalele kona.” (1 Samuweli 13:13, 14) Nangesi sihlandlo, ukukhukhumala kwakhokelela kwihlazo.

Kulumkele Ukungabi Namonde

18, 19. (a) Chaza indlela ukungabi namonde okunokubangela umkhonzi kaThixo wale mihla enze izinto ezibonisa ukukhukhumala. (b) Yintoni esifanele siyikhumbule ngendlela elisebenza ngayo ibandla lamaKristu?

¹⁸ Ingxelo engesenzo sokukhukhumala sikaSawule iye yabhalwa kwiLizwi likaThixo ukuze kungenelwe thina. (1 Korinte 10:11) Kulula ukuba sicatshukiswe zizenzo zokungafezeki zabazalwana bethu. NjengoSawule, sisenokuphelelwa ngumonde, sivakalelwa kukuba ukuze izinto zisingathwe kakuhle, simele sizithabathele ezandleni zethu. Ngokomzekelo, masithi umzalwana unobuchule obungayiwayo kulungelelwaniso lwezinto. Uyalibamba ixesha, uhambisana neenkqubo ezintsha zebandla kwaye unesiphiwo sokuthetha nokufundisa. Kwangaxeshanye, uvakalelwa kukuba abanye abasondeli kwaukusondela kwimilinganiselo yakhe ebaxiweyo, kwaye basekude nokufikelela umlinganiselo awufunayo. Ngaba oko kumnika igunya lokuba aphelelwe ngumonde? Ngaba ufanele abagxeke abazalwana bakhe, mhlawumbi esithi ukuba ibingeyomigudu ayenzayo yena, akukho nto ibinokwenziwa kwaye nebandla beliya kufadalala? Ibiya kuba yile nto kuthiwa kukukhukhumala ke leyo!

¹⁹ Yintoni kanye kanye ebangela ukuba ibandla lamaKristu limanyane? Bubuchule bokulawula? kukuba nesandla ezintweni? kukuba sisisele senyathi? Kuyavunywa ukuba ezi zinto ziyingenelo ukuze ibandla lisebenze kakuhle. (1 Korinte 14:40; Filipi 3:16; 2 Petros 3:18) Noko ke, uYesu wathi abalandeli bakhe ngokuyintloko babeya kufaniswa ngothando. (Yohane 13:35) Kungoko abadala abanenkathalo, ngoxa besenza izinto ngocwangco, beqonda ukuba ibandla aliloshishini elifuna ukulawulwa ngqwabalala, kunoko, liyilwe ngumhlambi ofuna inyameko enothando. (Isaya 32:1, 2; 40:11) Ukuyityeshela ngokukhukhumala imigaqo enjalo kudla ngokuphumela kusukuzwano. Ngokwahlukileyo koko, ucwangco lobuthixo luvelisa uxolo.—1 Korinte 14:33; Galati 6:16.

20. Yintoni eza kuxutyushwa kwinqaku elilandelayo?

²⁰ Iingxelo zeBhayibhile ezibalisa ngoKora, uAbhisalom noSawule zibonisa kakuhle ukuba ukukhukhumala kuphumela kwihlazo, njengoko iMizekeliso 11:2 isitsho. Noko ke, kwaloo ndinyana inye yeBhayibhile iyongezelela: “Bunabathozamileyo ubulumko.” Yintoni ukuthozama? Yiyiphi imizekelo eseBhayibhileni enokusikhanyisela ngolu phawu, yaye namhlanje sinokukubonakalisa njani ukuthozama? Le mibuzo iza kuxutyushwa kwinqaku elilandelayo.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]

“Bunabathozamileyo Ubulumko”

‘Yintoni ayibizayo kuwe uYehova ngaphandle kokuthozama ekuhambeni noThixo wakho?’—MIKA 6:8.

1, 2. Yintoni ukuthozama, yaye kwahluke njani ekukhukhumaleni?

UMPOSTILE othile obalaseleyo akavumi kutsalela ingqalelo kwisiqu sakhe. Umgwebi okhaliphileyo wakwaSirayeli uthi ungoyena mncinane kwindlu kayise. Oyena mntu ubalaseleyo owakha waphila uyavuma ukuba igunya analo lilinganiselwe. Ngamnye kula madoda ubonakalisa ukuthozama.

² Ukuthozama sisichasi sokukhukhumala. Umntu othozamileyo ukugqala ngokusengqiqweni oko anako ukukwenza nokubaluleka kwakhe kwaye akanakratshi okanye impakamo. Kunokuba azingce, aqhayise okanye abe namabhongo, umntu othozamileyo usoloko ekuqonda ukulinganiselwa kwakhe. Ngenxa yoko, uyazihlonela aze azigqale iimvakalelo kunye neembono zabanye.

 3. Kungayiphi indlela obuthi ubulumko ‘bube nabathozamileyo’?

³ Ngesizathu esifanelekileyo iBhayibhile ithi: “Bunabathozamileyo ubulumko.” (IMizekeliso 11:2) Umntu othozamileyo usisilumko kuba ulandela ikhondo elikholisa uThixo, kwaye uyawuphepha umoya wokukhukhumala okhokelela kwihlazo. (IMizekeliso 8:13; 1 Petros 5:5) Isibakala sokuba ukuthozama kububulumko singqinwa likhondo lobomi labakhonzi bakaThixo abaninzi. Makhe siqwalasele imizekelo emithathu ecatshulwe kwisiqendu sokuqala.

UPawulos—‘Wayengongaphantsi’ Yaye ‘Eligosa’

 4. Ngawaphi amalungelo akhethekileyo awafunyanwa nguPawulos?

⁴ UPawulos wayebalasele kumaKristu okuqala, kwaye siyaqondakala ke phofu isizathu soko. Ebudeni bobulungiseleli bakhe, wahamba amawaka eekhilomitha elwandle nasemhlabeni, kwaye wamisela amabandla amaninzi. Ukongezelela koko, uYehova wamsikelela uPawulos ngemibono nangesiphiwo sokuthetha iilwimi zasemzini. (1 Korinte 14:18; 2 Korinte 12:1-5) Kwakhona waphefumlela uPawulos ukuba abhale iincwadi ezili-14 ngoku eziyinxalenye yeZibhalo zamaKristu zesiGrike. Kucacile ukuba imisebenzi kaPawulos yayiyigqwesa eyabanye abapostile.—1 Korinte 15:10.

 5. UPawulos wabonisa njani ukuba wayenembono ethozamileyo ngesiqu sakhe?

⁵ Ekubeni uPawulos wayephambili kumsebenzi wamaKristu, bambi basenokulindela ukuba abe wayengumntu othanda amawonga, de acel’ injezu ngegunya analo. Noko ke, uPawulos akazange enjenjalo kuba wayethozamile. Wazibiza ngokuba “ngoyena mncinane kubapostile,” esongezelela: “Andikufanelekelanga ukubizwa ngokuba ngumpostile, ngenxa yokuba ndalitshutshisa ibandla likaThixo.” (1 Korinte 15:9) Ekubeni wayefudula etshutshisa amaKristu, uPawulos akazange alibale ukuba kwakungobubele obungasifanelanga kuphela awathi wakwazi ukuba nolwalamano noThixo, singasathethi ke ngokufumana amalungelo akhethekileyo enkonzo. (Yohane 6:44; Efese 2:8) Ngenxa yoko, uPawulos akazange avakalelwe ukuba izinto ezingaqhelekanga awaziphumeza kubulungiseleli zazimenza abongamele abanye.—1 Korinte 9:16.

 6. UPawulos wakubonisa njani ukuthozama kwindlela awayeqhubana ngayo nabaseKorinte?

⁶ Ukuthozama kukaPawulos kwakubonakala ngokukhethekileyo kwindlela awayeqhubana ngayo nabaseKorinte. Kuyabonakala ukuba abanye babo babechukumisekile ngabanye ababecinga ukuba bangabaveleli ababalaseleyo, ababequka uApolo, uKefas noPawulos ngokwakhe. (1 Korinte 1:11-15) Kodwa uPawulos akazange akucele oko kunconywa ngabaseKorinte engazange kananjalo axhamle elo cham lokuthandwa ngabo. Xa wayebatyelela, akazange athethe “ngakugqithisela kwantetho okanye kwabulumko.” Kunoko, uPawulos wathetha wenjenje ngaye siqu noogxa bakhe: “Makenjenjalo ke umntu ukusigqala njengabangaphantsi kukaKristu namagosa eemfihlelo ezingcwele zikaThixo.”a—1 Korinte 2:1-5; 4:1.

 7. UPawulos wakubonakalisa njani ukuthozama kwanaxa wayenikela isiluleko?

⁷ UPawulos wada wabonakalisa ukuthozama xa kwakufuneka anikele isiluleko esiqatha nolwalathiso. Wawabongoza amanye amaKristu “ngeemfesane zikaThixo” ‘nangothando’ kunokuba asebenzise igunya lakhe lobupostile. (Roma 12:1, 2; Filemon 8, 9) Kwakutheni ukuze uPawulos enze oko? Kungenxa yokuba ngokwenene wayezigqala ‘njengomsebenzi olidlelane’ nabazalwana bakhe, kungekhona ‘inkosi phezu kokholo lwabo.’ (2 Korinte 1:24) Alithandabuzeki elokuba yayikukuthozama kukaPawulos okwamenza wathandwa kunene ngamabandla amaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala.—IZenzo 20:36-38.

Ukuwagqala Ngokuthozama Amalungelo Ethu

8, 9. (a) Kutheni sifanele sibe nembono ethozamileyo ngeziqu zethu? (b) Abo banomlinganiselo othile wembopheleleko banokukubonakalisa njani ukuthozama?

⁸ UPawulos wamisela umzekelo omhle kumaKristu anamhlanje. Kungakhathaliseki ukuba ziziphi na iimbopheleleko esiziphathisiweyo, akukho namnye kuthi omele azive emkhulu kunabanye. UPawulos wabhala: “Ukuba ubani ucinga ukuba unguthile xa engeyonto, ukhohlisa ingqondo yakhe.” (Galati 6:3) Ngoba? Kaloku “bonke bonile baza basilela kuzuko lukaThixo.” (Roma 3:23; 5:12) Ewe, singaze silibale ukuba sonke siye sasizuz’ ilifa isono nokufa kuAdam. Amalungelo akhethekileyo akasinyusi kubugxwayiba besono esikubo. (INtshumayeli 9:2) Njengoko kwakunjalo ngemeko kaPawulos, kungobubele obungasifanelanga kuphela abanokuthi abantu bakhe ulwalamano noThixo, singasathethi ke ngokufumana amalungelo athile.—Roma 3:12, 24.

⁹ Akuyiqonda loo nto, umntu othozamileyo akazigwagwisi ngamalungelo anawo engaqhayisi kananjalo ngezinto aziphumezileyo. (1 Korinte 4:7) Xa enikela isiluleko okanye ulwalathiso, ukwenza oko njengomsebenzi olidlelane—kungekhona inkosi. Ngokuqinisekileyo bekuya kuba yinto ephosakeleyo ukuba ubani onesandla kwimisebenzi ethile afune ukunconywa okanye alisebenzise kakubi ilungelo lokubukwa ngamanye amakholwa. (IMizekeliso 25:27; Mateyu 6:2-4) Okona kunconywa kuxabisekileyo koko kusuka kwabanye—kwaye kufanele kuzizele kungacelwanga. Kwanaxa kusiza, asifanele sikuvumele kusenze sizicingele ngaphezu kokuba kuyimfuneko.—IMizekeliso 27:2; Roma 12:3.

10. Chaza indlela abanye abasenokubonakala bephantsi abasenokuthi kanti ‘bazizityebi elukholweni.’

¹⁰ Xa siphathiswe umlinganiselo othile wembopheleleko, ukuthozama kuya kusinceda siphephe ukugxininisa kwiziqu zethu ngokungeyomfuneko, kude kube ngathi ibandla lisenza inkqubela nje kungenxa yemigudu namandla ethu kuphela. Ngokomzekelo, sisenokuba nesiphiwo esikhethekileyo sokufundisa. (Efese 4:11, 12) Noko ke, ukuba sithozamile siya kuqonda ukuba ezinye zezona zifundo zibalaseleyo ezifundwa kwintlanganiso yebandla aziveli eqongeni. Ngokomzekelo, akukhuthazeki na xa ubona umzali ongenaqabane oza rhoqo kwiHolo yoBukumkani nabantwana bakhe? Okanye othile odandathekileyo oza ngokuthembeka ezintlanganisweni phezu kwazo nje iimvakalelo zokungabi nto yanto? Okanye oselula owenza inkqubela ngokomoya phezu kwazo nje iimpembelelo ezonakeleyo esikolweni nakwezinye iindawo? (INdumiso 84:10) Aba bantu basenokungaveleli. Iimvavanyo zengqibelelo abajamelana nazo zidla ngokungabonwa ngabanye. Ukanti, basenokuba ‘bazizityebi elukholweni’ kanye njengabo babalaseleyo. (Yakobi 2:5) Ngapha koko, ekugqibeleni iba kukuthembeka okwenza ubani afumane inkoliseko kaYehova.—Mateyu 10:22; 1 Korinte 4:2.

UGidiyon—“Oyena Mncinane” Endlwini Kayise

11. Yiyiphi indlela uGidiyon awabonakalisa ngayo ukuthozama xa wayethetha nengelosi kaThixo?

¹¹ UGidiyon, umfana oselula nokhaliphileyo wesizwe sakwaManase, wayephila ngexesha elalizaliswe zizaqunge kwimbali yakwaSirayeli. Kangangeminyaka esixhenxe, abantu bakaThixo babecinezelwe ngamaMidiyan. Noko ke, ngoku kwakufike ixesha lokuba uYehova abahlangule abantu bakhe. Ngenxa yoko, kwabonakala ingelosi kuGidiyon yaza yathi: “UYehova unawe, kroti, elinamandla.” UGidiyon wayethozamile, ngoko akazange asele enyathelela phezulu ngenxa yoko kunconywa kungalindelekanga. Kunoko, ngentlonelo wathi kwingelosi: “Ndiyangxengxeza, nkosi yam, kodwa ukuba uYehova unathi, kutheni ke ngoko ukuba sifikelwe koku konke?” Ingelosi yawandlala umcimbi yaza yaxelela uGidiyon oku: “Ngokuqinisekileyo uya kumsindisa uSirayeli entendeni kaMidiyan.” Wathini uGidiyon? Kunokuba asithi hlasi ngokunyoluka eso sabelo aze asijonge njengethuba lokuzenza iqhawe lesizwe, uGidiyon waphendula: “Ndiyangxengxeza, Yehova. Ndiya kumsindisa ngantoni na uSirayeli? Khangela! Iwaka lam lelona lincinane kwaManase, yaye nam ndingoyena mncinane endlwini kabawo.” Okunjani kona ukuthozama!—ABagwebi 6:11-15.

12. UGidiyon wakubonakalisa njani ukuqonda ekuphumezeni isabelo sakhe?

¹² Ngaphambi kokuba uYehova athumele uGidiyon edabini, wamvavanya. Njani? UGidiyon waxelelwa ukuba achithe isibingelelo sikayise esasenzelwe uBhahali aze ashenxise isibonda esingcwele esasimi ecaleni kwaso. Esi sabelo sasiza kufuna ubani akhaliphe, kodwa uGidiyon wabonakalisa ukuthozama nokuqonda kwindlela awasiphumeza ngayo. Kunokuba acel’ injezu, uGidiyon wasebenza ngobusuku, xesha elo awayengenakubonwa ngalo. Ngaphezu koko, uGidiyon wasenza ngononophelo olufanelekileyo isabelo sakhe. Wahamba nabakhonzi abalishumi—ekusenokwenzeka ukuba wayesenzela ukuba abanye babe liliso ngoxa abanye babemncedisa ekutshabalaliseni isibingelelo kunye nesibonda esingcwele.b Enoba kwakutheni na, ngentsikelelo kaYehova, uGidiyon wasiphumeza isabelo sakhe, waza ethubeni wasetyenziswa nguThixo ukuba akhulule uSirayeli kumaMidiyan.—ABagwebi 6:25-27.

Ukubonakalisa Ukuthozama Nokuqonda

13, 14. (a) Sinokukubonakalisa njani ukuthozama xa sinikwa ilungelo lenkonzo? (b) UMzalwan’ uA. H. Macmillan wawumisela njani umzekelo omhle wokuthozama?

¹³ Kuninzi esinokukufunda ngokuthozama kukaGidiyon. Ngokomzekelo, sisabela njani xa sinikwa ilungelo lenkonzo? Ngaba into ethi qatha kuqala sisikhundla okanye iwonga esiza kulifumana ngenxa yalo? Okanye ngaba siye sicingisise ngokuthozama nangomthandazo enoba sinako na ukuzifikelela izinto ezifunwa seso sabelo? UMzalwan’ uA. H. Macmillan, owagqiba ikhondo lakhe lasemhlabeni ngowe-1966, wamisela umzekelo omhle xa kufikwa kulo mba. UC. T. Russel, umongameli wokuqala weWatch Tower Society, wakha wacela uluvo lukaMzalwan’ uMacmillan ngokuphathelele ubani anokumshiya nomsebenzi xa engekho. Kwingxubusho eyalandelayo, uMzalwan’ uMacmillan akazange nakanye azincomele yena siqu, nangona iimeko zazimvumela ukuba enjenjalo. Ekugqibeleni, uMzalwan’ uRussell wacela uMzalwan’ uMacmillan ukuba acinge ngokusamkela eso sabelo. Kwiminyaka ethile kamva uMzalwan’ uMacmillan wabhala: “Ndema apho ndimatshekile. Ndakha ndayicingisisa nzulu loo nto, ndaza ndayithandazela ngaphambi kokuba ndimxelele ukuba ndiya kukuvuyela ukwenza nantoni na endinokuyenza ukuze ndimncede.”

¹⁴ Kungekudala emva koko, uMzalwan’ uRussell waya kulala kobandayo, eshiya isikhundla somongameli weWatch Tower Society singenabani. Ekubeni yayinguMzalwan’ uMacmillan owayebambe iintambo ebudeni bokhenketho lokugqibela lokushumayela lukaMzalwan’ uRussell, omnye umzalwana wathi kuye: “Uyabona ke Mac, ngoku ithuba lelakho lokuba uzibambele nawe. Kaloku ubuyintonga esekhosi kaMzalwan’ uRussell xa emkile, ibe sonke ebesixelela ukuba senze nantoni na othi siyenze. Kodwa uye wemka waza akabuya. Kubonakala ngathi nguwe indoda emele ithabath’ apho ebeyeke khona.” UMzalwan’ uMacmillan waphendula wathi: “Mzalwana, leyo asiyondlela ifanelekileyo yokuwujonga lo mba. Kaloku ngumsebenzi weNkosi lo yaye ekuphela kwesikhundla osifumanayo kwintlangano yeNkosi seso iNkosi ikubona kufanelekile ukukunika sona; kwaye mna ndiqinisekile ukuba andiwufanelekeli lo msebenzi.” Emva koko uMzalwan’ uMacmillan wancomela mntu wumbi kweso sikhundla. Wayenembono ethozamileyo ngesiqu sakhe njengoGidiyon—mbono leyo esiya kuba siyatyapha ukuyilandela.

15. Ziziphi iindlela eziluncedo esinokusebenzisa kuzo ukuqonda xa sishumayela kwabanye?

¹⁵ Nathi sifanele sithozame kwindlela esisiphumeza ngayo isabelo sethu. UGidiyon wasebenzisa ukuqonda, kwaye walwela ukuba angabaphathi emanyeni ngokungeyomfuneko abachasi bakhe. Nathi, kumsebenzi wethu wokushumayela, sifanele sithozame yaye sisebenzise ukuqonda kwindlela esithetha ngayo nabanye. Kuyinyaniso ukuba, sibandakanyeke kwimfazwe yokomoya yokubhukuqa ‘izinto ezinqatyisiweyo’ ‘neengcinga.’ (2 Korinte 10:4, 5) Kodwa ke asifanele sibadelele abanye xa sithetha nabo okanye sibanike isizathu esibambekayo sokukhutyekiswa sisigidimi sethu. Kunoko, sifanele sizihlonele iimbono zabo, sigxininise koko sivumelana ngako nabo, size sijolise ingqalelo kwiinkalo ezakhayo zesigidimi sethu.—IZenzo 22:1-3; 1 Korinte 9:22; ISityhilelo 21:4.

UYesu—Umzekelo Ophakamileyo Wokuthozama

16. UYesu wabonisa njani ukuba unembono ethozamileyo ngesiqu sakhe?

¹⁶ Owona mzekelo mhle wokuthozama ngokaYesu Kristu.c Phezu kwalo nje ulwalamano olusenyongweni awayenalo noYise, uYesu akazange alibazise ukuvuma ukuba ezinye izinto zazingekho phantsi kwegunya lakhe. (Yohane 1:14) Ngokomzekelo, xa unina kaYakobi noYohane wayecela ukuba oonyana bakhe bobabini bahlale ecaleni kwakhe ebukumkanini bakhe, uYesu wathi: “Ukuhlala ngasekunene kwam nangasekhohlo kwam asikokwam ukunikisa ngako.” (Mateyu 20:20-23) Ngesinye isihlandlo, uYesu wavuma lula nje esithi: “Andinakwenza nanye into ngokwam . . . ndifuna, kungekhona ukuthanda kwam, kodwa ukuthanda kwalowo undithumileyo.”—Yohane 5:30; 14:28; Filipi 2:5, 6.

17. UYesu wakubonakalisa njani ukuthozama kwindlela awayeqhubana ngayo nabanye?

¹⁷ UYesu wayengaphezulu kunabantu abangafezekanga, kwaye wayenikwe igunya elingenakuthelekiswa nanto nguYise, uYehova. Noko ke, uYesu wayethozamile kwindlela awayeqhubana ngayo nabalandeli bakhe. Akazange abagagamele ngokubangxixha ngolwazi oluninzi. Waba novelwano nemfesane waza wanolwazelelo ngeentswelo zabo njengabantu. (Mateyu 15:32; 26:40, 41; Marko 6:31) Ngaloo ndlela, nangona uYesu wayefezekile, wayengengomntu uthanda izinto ezigqibeleleyo kuphela. Akazange afune okungakumbi kunoko kwakunokunikelwa ngabafundi bakhe, kwaye akazange abathwalise okungakumbi kunoko babenokukuthwala. (Yohane 16:12) Akumangalisi ngoko ukuba abaninzi bamfumanise ehlaziya!—Mateyu 11:29.

Xelisa Umzekelo KaYesu Wokuthozama

18, 19. Sinokukuxelisa njani ukuthozama kukaYesu (a) kwindlela esizijonga ngayo thina (b) nakwindlela esibaphatha ngayo abanye?

¹⁸ Ukuba oyena mntu ubalaseleyo wakha waphila wathozama, sifanele sibekele phi ke thina. Abantu abangafezekanga badla ngokuyamkela nzima into yokuba igunya labo lilinganiselwe. Noko ke, exelisa uYesu, amaKristu azabalazela ukuthozama. Akazingci kakhulu kangangokuba angabaniki imbopheleleko abo bakufanelekelayo ukuyifumana; kananjalo akaphakamanga kwaye akanankani kangangokuba angalwamkeli ulwalathiso oluvela kwabo banegunya lokulunikela. Ebonakalisa umoya wentsebenziswano, avumela zonke izinto ebandleni ukuba zenzeke “ngokundilisekileyo nangolungelelwano.”—1 Korinte 14:40.

¹⁹ Kwakhona ukuthozama kuya kusishukumisela ukuba sibe nolindelo olusengqiqweni kwabanye yaye sibe nolwazelelo ngeemfuno zabo. (Filipi 4:5) Sisenokuba sinobuchule kunye namandla abanye abangenawo. Kodwa ke ukuba sithozamile, asiyi kusoloko silindela ukuba abanye benze ngendlela esifuna benze ngayo. Ekubeni sisazi ukuba mntu ngamnye unezinto alinganiselweyo kuzo, ngokuthozama siya kulindela ukuba nabanye babe neentsilelo. UPetros wabhala: “Ngaphezu kwezinto zonke, yibani nothando olunzulu omnye ngomnye, kuba uthando lugubungela inkitha yezono.”—1 Petros 4:8.

20. Yintoni esinokuyenza ukuze seyise naluphi utyekelo lokuzingca?

²⁰ Njengoko sele sifundile, bunabathozamileyo ubulumko. Noko ke, kuthekani ukuba ufumanisa ukuba unotyekelo lokuzingca okanye lokukhukhumala? Ungadimazeki. Kunoko, landela umzekelo kaDavide, owathandaza esithi: “Nakwizenzo zokukhukhumala mnqande umkhonzi wakho; musa ukuzivumela zindilawule.” (INdumiso 19:13) Ngokuxelisa ukholo lwamadoda anjengoPawulos, uGidiyon kunye—ngaphezu kwabo bonke—noYesu Kristu, siya kuzibonela ngokwethu ubunyaniso bamazwi athi: “Bunabathozamileyo ubulumko.”—IMizekeliso 11:2.

[Imibhalo esemazantsi]