Ukuthembela KuJehova Kuholela Ekuzinikezeleni Nobhapathizo
“Themba kuJehova, wenze okulungileyo; hlala ezweni, uzondle ngokukholeka.”—IHUBO 37:3.
1. Yibuphi ubufakazi obunikezwa izihlakaniphi zezwe obubonisa ukuthi kuwubuwula ukuthembela kubaholi abangabantu?
NGUBANI esingathembela kuye? Kubaholi abangabantu? Umlando wabo ubonisa ukuthi kuwubuwula ukuthembela ebantwini abangaphelele. Phela, ngisho nezihlakaniphi zezwe ziyaliqaphela leloqiniso! Ngakho, umagazini wezamabhizinisi waseYurophu iVision wake wathi “okubi kakhulu ngalesimo ukuthi akekho okwazi ukubona indlela yokuphuma kuso.” Futhi isazimlando sezomnotho uRobert Heilbroner saphawula: “Kukhona okunye okusidlayo. Isazela sokuthi akekho olawulayo, akekho ohlomele ukuba abhekane nezinkinga ezisijijimezayo.”
2. Yini engashiwo ngezinzuzo zesayensi yanamuhla?
2 Yiqiniso, abantu baye bathuthuka kakhulu emikhakheni ehlukahlukene yesayensi. Kodwa ingabe konke lokhu kuye kwaba nenzuzo? Cha, akuzange. Njengoba kwabonisa umlobi uLewis Mumford: “Umqondo wokuthi intuthuko yezemishini neyezesayensi iye yaqinisekisa abantu ngezinzuzo ezilinganayo . . . manje uye waba ongemukeleki ngokuphelele.” Isibonelo salokhu imvula ene-acid, engcolisa amachibi nemifula futhi elekelela ekubulaleni izigidi zezihlahla. Ngaphezu kwalokho, isimo esidabukisayo sezwe—ukwanda kobugebengu, ubudlova, nobuphekula, ukwanda kokuluthwa yimilaliso nophuzo oludakayo, nokwezifo ezithathelwana ngobulili, nesimo esintengantengayo sezomnotho—konke kufakazela ukuthi akusizi lutho ukubeka ithemba lethu kubaholi abangabantu.
3. IZwi likaNkulunkulu linikeza siphi iseluleko mayelana nokuthi kukuphi lapho kufanele sithembele khona?
3 IZwi likaNkulunkulu liseluleka ngokufaneleke kakhulu: “Ningethembi ezikhulwini nasendodaneni yomuntu okungekho kuyo ukusiza. Umoya wakhe uyaphuma, yena abuyele emhlabathini wakhe; ngalona lolosuku amacebo akhe ayaphela.” (IHubo 146:3, 4) Uma kungenakuba sebantwini, khona-ke ubani esingathembela kuye? Singabeka ithemba lethu kuMdali wezulu nomhlaba, njengoba sifunda: “Ubusisiwe umuntu othemba kuJehova, nothemba lakhe linguJehova.”—Jeremiya 17:7.
Kungani Sithembela KuJehova?
4. Ziyini izimfanelo zikaJehova eziyinhloko, futhi zisinikeza kanjani izizathu eziqinile zokuba sithembele kuye?
4 Singathembela kuJehova ngezizathu eziqinile. Okokuqala, singathembela kuye ngenxa yezimfanelo zakhe eziyinhloko—uthando, ukuhlakanipha, ukwahlulela ngokulunga, namandla—nezinye izimfanelo ezimangalisayo. IZwi lakhe liyasiqinisekisa ukuthi ungumninimandla onke, esinye seziqu zakhe “uNkulunkulu uSomandla.” (Genesise 28:3) Yeka isisekelo sokwethembela okuyiso! Akekho ongamelana noJehova ngokuphumelelayo, futhi akekho ongabhuntshisa izinjongo zakhe. Futhi ungoPhezukonke. Akazi nje kuphela isiphetho kusukela kwasekuqaleni, njengoba ikusasa linjengencwadi evuliwe phambi kwakhe, kodwa kuyena futhi kuhlala konke ukwazi nokuhlakanipha, njengoba kubonakala emisebenzini yakhe emangalisayo yendalo. Akakaze enze nelilodwa iphutha kuzo zonke izindlela zakhe zokusebenzelana. (Isaya 46:10; Roma 11:33-35) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova ukufanele ngokuphelele ukwethenjwa, uNkulunkulu wokulunga nokwethembeka. Akunakwenzeka ukuba aqambe amanga. (Duteronomi 32:4; Thithu 1:2; Heberu 6:18) Ngaphezu kwakho konke, njengoba uthando olungenabugovu luyimfanelo yakhe edlula zonke, kushiwo ngokufanele ukuthi: “UNkulunkulu uluthando.”—1 Johane 4:8, 16.
5. Yimuphi umlando oqukethwe iZwi likaNkulunkulu, ofakazela ukufanela kwakhe ukwethenjwa?
5 Ukusebenzelana kukaJehova nesintu kukufakazela ngokwengeziwe ukuba kwakhe uNkulunkulu wamandla onke, ukuhlakanipha, ukwahlulela ngokulunga, nothando ofanele ukwethenjwa. UMose waqinisekisa amaIsrayeli ukuthi uJehova ugcina isivumelwano nomusa wothando nalabo abamthandayo futhi abagcina imiyalo yakhe. (Duteronomi 7:9) Ngaphambili, uJehova walondoloza uNowa owayemesaba uNkulunkulu nomkhaya wakhe kuZamcolo omkhulu. UNkulunkulu wasindisa uLoti olungileyo namadodakazi akhe amabili ekubhujisweni ngomlilo kweSodoma neGomora. Kamuva, uNkulunkulu wakhipha amaIsrayeli eGibithe futhi wawanika izwe laseKhanani ngokuvumelana nesethembiso sakhe kuAbrahama. (Genesise 7:23; 17:8, 19:15-26) Futhi akazange yini uJehova akhulule amaHeberu amathathu ayephonswe esithandweni somlilo, kanye noDaniyeli owayesemphandwini wezingonyama?—Daniyeli 3:27; 6:23.
6. Yibuphi ubufakazi bosuku lwanamuhla esinabo obubonisa ukuthi ukuthembela kuJehova akukhona ukweduka?
6 Ukuthi uJehova nguye esifanele ukuthembela kuye, kwafakazelwa futhi okuhlangenwe nakho koFakazi bakhe bosuku lwanamuhla. Ngokwesibonelo, uAdolf Hitler waqhosha ngokuthi wayeyoqothula “iqembu” loFakazi BakaJehova eJalimane. Kodwa esikhundleni salokho uHitler neqembu lakhe lobuNazi baqothulwa, futhi namuhla leloqembu loFakazi liye landa ngokuphindwe kaningi lafinyelela izi-119 000. Ngaphezu kwalokho, amakhulu angokoqobo ezindaba zokuphila zoFakazi BakaJehova ezikhishwe kuyiNqabayokulinda nakumagazini ongumngane wayo iPhaphama! ziphethe ubufakazi obuqand’ ikhanda bokuthi uJehova ngempela unguNkulunkulu esingathembela kuye.
Isizathu Sokuba Abanye Bangathembeli KuJehova
7. Kungani omunye umuntu athi ‘uyiSibukeli sabantu bakaJehova’?
7 Nokho, yeka ukuthi bambalwa kangakanani namuhla abathembela kuJehova! Ngisho nabaningi abaye bafunda ngezimfanelo zakhe nangezenzo zakhe bayahluleka ukubeka ithemba labo kuye. Isihloko esavela kumagazini iU.S. Catholic (kaJanuary 1979) sathi ngomunye umuntu onjalo: “Lapho umhloli wemibono yabantu ebuza lendoda ukuthi ithanda yiphi inkolo, yaphendula, ‘Ngicabanga ukuthi ngiyiSibukeli sabantu bakaJehova.’ Lapho icelwa ukuba icacise lokhu yachaza, ‘Ngikholelwa kakhulu kulokho oFakazi BakaJehova abakukholelwayo—kodwa angifuni ukuhileleka.’” Umagazini waphawula: “UFakazi kaJehova ozinikezele akanakho ukuzikhethela kodwa ukuhileleka ngokujulile.”
8. Yiziphi izici eziyisisekelo ezenza umuntu afune ukuba ahileleke ekukhonzeni uJehova?
8 Kungani abaningi bengafuni ukuhileleka? Ngoba abanaso isimo senhliziyo esifanelekile. Umuntu kumelwe abe ‘nokuthambekela okufanele ekuphileni okuphakade.’ (IzEnzo 13:48, NW) Njengoba uJesu aphawula emfanekisweni wakhe womhlwanyeli, labo abathela izithelo bamukela izwi leqiniso “ngenhliziyo enhle nelungileyo.” (Luka 8:15) Yebo, iqiniso alibakhangi abantu abangeqotho. Imfuneko eyisisekelo inhliziyo ethembekileyo. Iqiniso leZwi likaNkulunkulu futhi alibakhangi abantu abazidlayo. Kudingeka isimo sengqondo sokuthobeka. (Jakobe 4:6) Ngaphezu kwalokho, iqiniso alibakhangi abantu abazisholo ngokwabo ukuthi banelisekile, balungile. Kodwa liyabakhanga labo abaqaphela isidingo sabo esingokomoya, labo abalambela futhi bomele ukulunga, futhi ababubula bekhala ngazo zonke izinengiso abazibona zenzeka emhlabeni namuhla.—Mathewu 5:3, 6; Hezekeli 9:4.
Ukuthembela KuJehova Kuholela Ekuzinikezeleni
9, 10. (a) Yini edingekayo ngaphambi kokuba umuntu athembele kuJehova, futhi basabela kanjani labo abanesimo esihle senhliziyo? (b) Abantu abanjalo bakholelwa kubani?
9 Ngaphambi kokuba umuntu athembele kuJehova, kumelwe ezwe ngaYe. Kodwa “bayakukhuleka kanjani kuye abangakholwanga nguye na? Bayakukholwa kanjani abangezwanga ngaye na? Bayakuzwa kanjani, kungekho oshumayelayo na?” (Roma 10:14) Njengoba izinceku zikaJehova zishumayela, labo abanesimo esihle senhliziyo basabela, njengoba kwenza abaningi eThesalonika lasendulo. Ngokuqondene nalaba, uPawulu wabhala: “Kuthé lapho namukela izwi likaNkulunkulu enalizwa ngathi, anilamukelanga njengezwi labantu kepha njengezwi likaNkulunkulu, njengokuba liyilo isibili, elona lisebenza futhi phakathi kwenu nina enikholwayo.”—1 Thesalonika 2:13.
10 Lapho abantu abanjalo abanenhliziyo enhle befunda ngoJehova, baba nokholo kuye. Lokhu kubalulekile, ngoba “ngaphandle kokukholwa akwenzeki ukumthokozisa; ngokuba ozayo kuNkulunkulu umelwe ukukholwa ukuthi ukhona nokuthi ungumvuzi walabo abamfunayo.” (Heberu 11:6) Okubalulekile futhi ukuba nokholo eNdodaneni kaNkulunkulu. “Ayikho insindiso ngomunye, ngokuba alikho futhi elinye igama phansi kwezulu elinikiwe ebantwini, esimelwe ukusindiswa ngalo”—yebo, alikho elinye igama ngaphandle kwelikaJesu Kristu.—IzEnzo 4:12.
11. Ukuthembela kuJehova kuyobangela umuntu ukuba alandele siphi iseluleko esanikezwa umphostoli uPetru?
11 Ukuthembela eZwini likaNkulunkulu, kuJehova, naseNdodaneni yakhe uJesu Kristu kuyoshukumisela umuntu ukuba alalele iseluleko somphostoli uPetru esasiqondiswe kumaJuda osuku lwakhe: “Ngalokhu phendukani, niguquke ukuba kuhlangulwe izono zenu, ukuze kufike izikhathi zokuhlunyelelwa ezivela ebusweni beNkosi.” (IzEnzo 3:19, 20) Ngokungenisa ulwazi ngoJehova nangezimfuneko zaKhe, umuntu ufunda ukuthi intando kaNkulunkulu ngaye iwukuba abe umlandeli kaJesu Kristu. Njengoba uPetru akubonisa: “Ngokuba nabizelwa khona lokho; ngokuba uKristu wahlushwa ngenxa yenu, enishiyela isibonelo sokuba nilandele ezinyathelweni zakhe.” (1 Petru 2:21) UJesu wakwenza kwacaca lokho okwakuhilelekile lapho ethi: “Uma umuntu ethanda ukuza emva kwami, makazidele, athabathe isiphambano sakhe, angilandele.” (Mathewu 16:24) Lokho kusho ukuzinikezela kuJehova uNkulunkulu ukuba wenze intando yakhe nokulandela ezinyathelweni zikaJesu Kristu.
Ukuzinikezela Akusona Nje Esinye Isibopho
12. Igama elithi ‘isibopho’ ngokuvamile lisetshenziswa ngayiphi indlela kweLobukholwa?
12 KweLobukholwa igama elithi “isibopho” lisetshenziswa ngokuphindaphindiwe ngokuqondene nokuba umKristu. Ngakho sitshelwa ukuthi iSonto labaVangeli laseUnited States “ligcizelela isibopho somuntu siqu kuJesu.” Umfundisi ongumRoma Katolika wakhuluma “ngesibopho sakhe enkolweni yobuKatolika.” Lapho evikela ukuhileleka kwakhe kwezombangazwe, umpristi ongumKatolika wake wathi: “Ukungenela ezombangazwe kwakuyingxenye yesibopho sami (sobupristi).” Futhi amafemu ezamabhizinisi amemezela “Isibopho Sethu Kubathengi Bethu.” Khona-ke, ngempela, umuntu angaba nezibopho eziningi ngesikhathi esifanayo: izibopho kwezamabhizinisi, izibopho kwezenhlalo, izibopho kwezombangazwe, nezibopho kwezenkolo.
13. Yini ehilelekile ekuzinikezeleni kuJehova?
13 Nokho, ukuzinikezela kuJehova uNkulunkulu akusona nje esinye sezibopho. Isibopho simane nje sisho “isivumelwano noma isifungo sokwenza okuthile esikhathini esizayo.” Kodwa ukuzinikezela kusho ‘ukuzinikela ngokuphelele enkonzweni noma ekukhulekeleni umuntu waphezulu noma ekusetshenzisweni okungcwele.’ Abantu baneliswa ukuzibopha kunokuzinikezela. Lokhu ngokungangabazeki kufakazela iqiniso lokuthi inkolo yabo imane nje ifana kakhulu nomculo ozimazisa umdlalo othile. Kumnandi ukuwulalela kodwa awuphazamisi noma yini umuntu afuna ukuyenza ngempela.
14. Kungani ukuba nje nesibopho kungemukeleki kuJehova uNkulunkulu?
14 Ukuzinikezela kuNkulunkulu kubangela ukuba ukwenza intando yakhe kube into ebaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni. Kudinga ukuba umuntu aqaphele umyalo wokuqala nomkhulu kunayo yonke, owacashunwa uJesu lapho ethi: “Woyithanda iNkosi, uNkulunkulu wakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, nangawo wonke umphefumulo wakho, nangayo yonke ingqondo yakho, nangawo onke amandla akho.” UJesu wagcizelela ukukhetheka kokukhonza uNkulunkulu lapho ethi: “Akakho ongakhonza amakhosi amabili. Ngokuba uyakuzonda enye, athande enye, noma abambelele kwenye adelele enye. Ningekhonze uNkulunkulu noMamona.” (Marku 12:30; Mathewu 6:24) Ngokusobala-ke, isibopho nje asemukeleki kuJehova.
Kungani Kucwiliswa Emanzini?
15. Yisiphi isibonelo uJesu asibeka mayelana nokubonakalisa obala ukholo kuNkulunkulu?
15 Kungani kubonakaliswa ukuzinikezela kuNkulunkulu ngokubhapathizwa? Uma umuntu efuna ukuba omunye woFakazi BakaJehova, akanakwenza ngenye indlela. Kungokufanayo futhi uma efuna ukwaziwa njengomKristu, umlandeli kaJesu Kristu. “UFakazi othembekile” kaJehova, uJesu, wabeka isibonelo salokhu, ngoba wabhapathizwa eMfuleni iJordani. Njengoba uJohane wayebhapathiza izoni eziphendukile, wayengaqondi ukuthi kungani uJesu ayefuna ukubhapathizwa, kodwa uJesu wamtshela: “Vuma kalokhu, ngokuba kusifanele ukugcwalisa kanjalo ukulunga konke.” (IsAmbulo 1:5; Mathewu 3:13-17) Kanjalo iNdodana kaNkulunkulu yalubonisa obala ukholo lwayo ngokuziletha kuJehova, ibekela isibonelo bonke abafuna ukwenza intando yaphezulu.
16. Yimuphi umyalo uJesu awunikeza abalandeli bakhe mayelana nobhapathizo, futhi yini ebonisa ukuthi abafundi bakhe bawulalela lomyalo?
16 Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngaphambi nje kokuba abuyele kuYise ezulwini, uJesu wayala abalandeli bakhe: “Ngalokho hambani nenze izizwe zonke abafundi, nibabhapathize egameni likaYise neleNdodana nelikaMoya oNgcwele, nibafundise ukugcina konke enginiyalé ngakho.” (Mathewu 28:19, 20) Umlando osencwadini yezEnzo ubonisa ukuthi abafundi bawulalela ngentshiseko lomyalo.—IzEnzo 2:40, 41; 8:12; 9:17, 18; 19:5.
17. Kungani ukufafazwa nje kuphela kungenakuba ubhapathizo lweqiniso?
17 Laba babhapathizwa kanjani? Ngokumane bafafazwe ngamanzi nje kuphela, njengoba kungumkhuba emasontweni amaningi eLobukholwa? Phinde neze! UJesu ‘wakhuphuka emanzini’ ngemva kokuba esebhapathiziwe. Lokhu kubonisa ngokusobala ukuthi wacwiliswa emanzini. (Marku 1:9, 10) Eqinisweni, akukho okunye okungaba ubhapathizo, ngoba igama lesiGreki elihunyushwe ngokuthi “ukubhapathiza” lisho “ukucwilisa ngokuphelele.”—IzEnzo 8:36-39.
18. Kungani ukucwiliswa kuwuphawu olufanelekile kakhulu lokuzinikezela komuntu kuNkulunkulu?
18 Ubhapathizo olunjalo luyisibonakaliso esifaneleka kakhulu sokuzinikezela. Ukucwila emanzini kukufanekisela kahle ukufa komuntu enkambweni yakhe yokuziphatha yakuqala. Ukukhushulwa kwakhe emanzini kufanekisela ukuvuselwa kwakhe endleleni entsha yokuphila. Njengoba ngisho nomgidi womshado usiza ekugcizeleleni kumakoti nakumyeni isimo sokuba abashadile, kanjalo ukucwiliswa emanzini phambi kofakazi cishe kuyoba isikhumbuzo esihlala njalo kumuntu obhapathizwayo. Akukho kungabaza ngakho: Ngesenzo sokubhapathizwa, ukuzinikezela komuntu kuJehova kufanelwe kugxiliswe ngokungenakukhohlakala engqondweni yomuntu nasenkumbulweni yakhe njengesenzakalo esibaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni kwakhe. Kuphawula inkathi yenguquko kusuka ekuzikhonzeni kuya ekukhonzeni uJehova uNkulunkulu.
19. Yisiphi esinye isizathu sokuba sibhapathizwe?
19 Masingalahlekelwa iqiniso lokuthi ubhapathizo lwamanzi luyimfuneko yokuqala yokuzuza unembeza omuhle noJehova. Lokhu kwenziwe kwacaca kweyoku-1 Petru 3:21, efundeka kanje: “Enisindiswa ngawo manje nani ngokomfanekiso, okungukuthi ngombhapathizo, kungesikho ukususa insila yenyama kepha ukucela kuNkulunkulu unembeza omuhle, ngokuvuka kukaJesu Kristu.”
Umuntu Ubhapathizwa Esemdala Kangakanani?
20. Kungani abantwana bangeke balufanelekele ubhapathizo?
20 Amazwi kaJesu kuMathewu 28:19, 20 abonisa ukuthi yilabo abaye benziwa abafundi bakhe okufanele babhapathizwe. Ngakho, kusobala ukuthi alukho usana noma umntwana omncane ongahlangabezana nezimfuneko ezingokomBhalo zobhapathizo. Usana alunakukwazi ukuba nokholo eZwini likaNkulunkulu, kuNkulunkulu uMdali, naseNdodaneni yakhe uJesu Kristu. Usana alunakukwazi ukuqonda ukuthi umoya ongcwele ungamandla kaNkulunkulu ayisiphekupheku; futhi alunakukwazi ukuphenduka ezonweni zalo zangaphambili futhi lwenze isifungo esingathi sína sokwenza intando kaNkulunkulu.
21. Ingabe kufanelekile ukuba intsha ibhapathizwe?
21 Kodwa kubonakala sengathi abathile phakathi kwabantu bakaJehova baye badlulela ngalé kwalokhu. Abazali abaningi abangamaKristu bavumela abantwana babo balinde kuze kube yilapho sebezohlanganisa iminyaka engamashumi amabili yobudala ngaphambi kokuba bathule indaba yobhapathizo. Kaningi, sifunda ngentsha ezinikezela ngeqiniso ngaphandle kokugqugquzelwa abazali. Ngokwesibonelo, indodana yomdala eyayingakahlanganisi iminyaka eyishumi yobudala yayifuna ngobuqotho ukubhapathizwa. Ngakho uyise wacela abanye abadala abathathu ukuba baxoxe nalomusha ngemibuzo elungiselelwe labo abacabangela ubhapathizo.a Isiphetho sabo saba wukuthi, nakuba isencane kakhulu, iyafaneleka ukuba ibhapathizwe njengesikhonzi esimisiwe sikaJehova uNkulunkulu. Ingani izikhonzi ezimbili zesikhathi esigcwele ezazikhona eSikoleni Senkonzo Samaphayona samuva nje eziqhingini zaseBahamas zinendodakazi ebhapathiziwe eneminyaka eyishumi!
22. Lapho abazali bakha izici zobuntu bobuKristu ebantwaneni babo, yini abangayilindela kubantwana babo?
22 Kulendaba, kubonakala sengathi abanye abazali bayasilela. Bazisebenzisa ngezinga elingakanani ‘izinto ezingashi’ ukuze bakhe izici zobuntu bobuKristu ebantwaneni babo? (1 Korinte 3:10-15) Okokuqala, ukwenza kanjalo kudinga ukuba ukukhulekela uJehova okumsulwa kube yinto ebaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni kwabazali. Ngaphezu kwalokho, abazali kumelwe balalele iseluleko esihle esinikezwe kuDuteronomi 6:6, 7 nakwabase-Efesu 6:4. Umphumela walokhu ungase ube ukuthi esikhundleni sokuba kudingeke ukuba abazali bagqugquzele abantwana babo, kamuva kuyodingeka ukuba babavimbele ukuba babhapathizwe ngoba besebancane kakhulu.
23. Uma umuntu esefinyelele iphuzu lokuzinikezela nobhapathizo, yini enye edingekayo?
23 Uma nje umuntu esebonise ukuthembela kuJehova ngokuzinikezela nobhapathizo lwamanzi, kumelwe aqhubeke ebonisa lokho kuthembela. Isihloko esilandelayo, esithi, “Ukukhonza Njengezisebenzi Ezikanye NoJehova Ezimethembayo,” sizosisiza ukuba siqonde ukuthi lokhu kuhlanganisani.
[Umbhalo waphansi]
a Uhide lwemibuzo okumelwe iphendulwe yibo bonke abafisa ukubhapathizwa njengoFakazi BakaJehova lutholakala encwadini Ukuhlelelwa Ukufeza Inkonzo Yethu. Itholwa yilabo abalungiselela ubhapathizo.
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Yimaphi amaqiniso aqokomisa ubuwula bokuthembela kubantu?
◻ Kungani izimfanelo zikaJehova nezindlela zakhe zokusebenzelana zisinikeza izizathu eziqinile zokuthembela kuye?
◻ Kungani ukuthembela kuJehova kudinga ukuzinikezela futhi hhayi nje ukuzibopha kuphela?
◻ Abazali bangasigxilisa kanjani isifiso sokuzinikezela kuJehova ebantwaneni babo lapho besebencane?
[Isithombe ekhasini 10]
Singathembela kuJehova njengoMkhululi oMkhulu