“Yibani Ngababongayo”
“Ukuthula kukaKristu makubuse ezinhliziyweni zenu, . . . futhi yibani-ngababongayo.”—KOLOSE 3:15.
1. Yini amaKristu okumelwe aziqaphele kuyo kulelizwe elingabongi?
LELIKHULU lama-20 leminyaka elinezinkinga liye lafinyelela izinga lapho abantu abaningi beye bakhohlwa ukuthi kubongwa kanjani. Amazwi okwazisa anjengokuthi “ngiyacela” nokuthi “ngiyabonga” azwiwa ngokwethukela unyaka ngamunye odlulayo. Ukungabongi kuye kwaba yingxenye ‘yomoya,’ umoya wobugovu obusa abantu balelizwe. (Efesu 2:1, 2) Nakuba amaKristu ‘engesibo abezwe,’ kumelwe ahlale kulo uma nje lesimiso sezinto samanje sisekhona. (Johane 17:11, 16) Ngakho, kumelwe aqaphele ukuba lomoya wokungabongi ungadluleli kuwo, ubangele ukuba ukubonga kwawo kunciphe.
2. (a) Yiziphi ezinye izindlela izinceku zikaJehova ezingabonisa ngazo ukubonga kuye? (b) Yini edingekayo ngaphezu kwamazwi okubonga ngomlomo?
2 Ukwazisa ngokulunga kukaNkulunkulu kungaboniswa ngokuvamile engxoxweni nesikholwa nabo. Ngokufanelekile amaKristu amaningi azinikezele abonga uYise wasezulwini, uJehova, ngokulunga kwakhe izikhathi eziningi ngosuku, enza kanjalo ngomthandazo womuntu siqu. Ukubonga kuyaboniswa futhi emithandazweni yebandla nalapho sicula izingoma zoMbuso emihlanganweni yobuKristu. Yiqiniso, kulula kakhulu ukubonisa ukubonga ngamazwi. Nokho, umphostoli uPawulu wakhuthaza abafowabo eKolose ukuba bangasho ukuthi bayabonga nje kuphela kodwa futhi bakhombise noma babonise ukubonga kwabo ekuphileni kwabo kwansuku zonke. Wabhala: “Ukuthula kukaKristu makubuse ezinhliziyweni zenu, enabizelwa futhi kukho emzimbeni munye; futhi yibani-ngababongayo.”—Kolose 3:15.
Izizathu Eziningi Zokubonga
3. Kungani kufanele ukuba sonke sibonge kuNkulunkulu?
3 Noma ubani ophilayo unezizathu eziningi zokubonga. Isizathu esivelele kunazo zonke siwukujabulela ukuphila ngokwakho, ngoba konke esinakho noma esingase sikucebe ngokushesha kuyoba yize uma silahlekelwa ukuphila kwethu. Umhubi uDavide wakhuthaza bonke abantu ukuba bakhumbule ukuthi “ukuwe [Jehova Nkulunkulu] umthombo wokuphila.” (IHubo 36:9) Nomphostoli uPawulu wakhumbuza amadoda aseAthene ngeqiniso elifanayo eliphakade lapho ekhuluma eAreyophagu. (IzEnzo 17:28) Yebo, ukuba nje ophilayo kuyisizathu esikhulu sokubonga. Futhi ukwazisa kwethu kuyajula uma sikhumbula amakhono uNkulunkulu asinikeze wona—izinzwa zokunambitha, zokuthinta, zokuhogela, zokubona, nezokuzwa—ukuze sikwazi ukujabulela ukuphila nobuhle bendalo esizungezile.
4. Yini eyosivikela ekubeni singazithathi kalula izibusiso zokuphila?
4 Nokho, abaningi bazithatha kalula lezinto ezinhle. Kuyilapho bephucwe ikhono elithile kuphela, njengokubona noma ukuzwa, lapho abantu abaningi beqaphela khona izibusiso abahluleka ukuzazisa lapho besenempilo enhle. AmaKristu azinikezele kudingeka aqaphele ngaso sonke isikhathi ukuba angaweli ekuntuleni ukwazisa okufanayo. Kumelwe asebenze kanzima ukuze alondoloze isimo sokubonga esifana naleso esaboniswa umhubi owathi: “Jehova Nkulunkulu wami, ziningi izimangaliso zakho ozenzileyo, nezizindlo zakho ngathi; akukho okungafaniswa nawe; uma ngiyilanda, ngiyisho, miningi kunokuba ibalwe.”—IHubo 40:5.
5. Naphezu kwezibusiso ezengeziwe zikaIsrayeli ezivela kuJehova, iyiphi inkambo ehlazisayo aye ayilandela?
5 IHubo le-106 lisinikeza umongo osankondlo wezenzo zamandla uJehova azenzela abantu bakhe, uIsrayeli. Ukusebenzelana kukaNkulunkulu nawo kwakunezela ekulungeni nasezibusisweni ezivamile zokuphila azinika isintu sisonke. Nokho, naphezu kwalezinto ezinhle, umhubi uveza ukuthi amaIsrayeli awazange aqhubeke ebonisa ukubonga ngenxa yezibusiso zawo eziyingqayizivele. Ivesi 13 lithi: “Bashesha bakhohlwa imisebenzi yakhe, abalindelanga isiluleko sakhe.” Cha, kwakungekhona ukuhamba kwesikhathi okwanciphisa kancane kancane ukubonga kwawo, kangangokuba emashumini eminyaka kamuva ayengasakukhumbuli lokho uNkulunkulu ayewenzele khona. Kunalokho, akhohlwa ngokushesha—phakathi namasonto ambalwa ezimangaliso zikaJehova ezivelele awenzela zona oLwandle Olubomvu. (Eksodusi 16:1-3) Ngokudabukisayo, izenzakalo ezilandelayo zabonisa ukuthi ukungabongi kwaba yinsakavukela ekuphileni kwawo.
Indlela Yokubonisa Ukubonga
6. Kungani imfuneko yokukhipha okweshumi yayingewona umthwalo?
6 Ngokuningiliziwe, uJehova washo izindlela ezintathu eziqondile amaIsrayeli okwakumelwe abonise ngazo ukwazisa kweqiniso ngokulunga kwakhe. Enye yazo kwakuwukuqaphela imfuneko yokweshumi ngokunikeza uJehova okweshumi kwayo yonke imikhiqizo nemfuyo. (Levitikusi 27:30-32) Lokho kwakungeke kube umthwalo, ngoba uNkulunkulu nguye owayebangela ilanga, inhlabathi evundile, imvula, nesimangaliso sokukhula. Ngakho, ukunikela okweshumi kubapristi endlini kaJehova engcwele kwakuwukubonakaliswa okungokoqobo kokubonga kuJehova ngokwakhe.
7. (a) Yimuphi umehluko omkhulu owawukhona phakathi kokukhipha okweshumi nokwenza iminikelo kuJehova? (b) Lokho kwavumela amaIsrayeli ukuba embuleni ngawo ngokwawo?
7 Enye imfuneko yayiwukwenza iminikelo kuNkulunkulu lapho isilinganiso sasinqunywa isimo senhliziyo yomIsrayeli ngamunye. Nakuba sasingekho isilinganiso esinqunyiwe esashiwo, iminikelo kwakudingeka ibe ulibo—ulibo lwamabele, lwewayini, noloboya bezimvu. (Numeri 15:17-21; Duteronomi 18:4) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJehova wayaleza ukuba abantu bakhe ‘babengayikunikela ngokungabaza’ nokuthi babezonikela ‘ngokungcono kakhulu kolibo lwezwe.’ (Eksodusi 22:29, NW; 23:19) Lokho kwanikeza amaIsrayeli amathuba okubonisa ukubonga kwawo kuJehova ngendlela ebonakalayo. Ayengabonisa ukujula kokubonga kwawo ngesilinganiso seminikelo yawo. Ingabe ayeyonikela ngehlukuzo elilodwa lamagilebhisi? Noma ingabe inhliziyo ephanayo yayiyowashukumisela ukuba anikele ngeqoma eligcwele? Ngakho, umuntu ngamunye noma umkhaya wawungabonisa ukubonga kwawo ngaphandle kokucindezelwa.
8. (a) Yiziphi izinzuzo ezimbili ezazinikezwa yilungiselelo lokukhothoza? (b) Ukuphana nokubonga kwakungaboniswa kanjani yibo bonke ababehilelekile elungiselelweni lokukhothoza?
8 Indlela yesithathu eqondile yokubonisa ukubonga yayiphathelene nelungiselelo likaNkulunkulu lokukhothoza. Ngesikhathi sokuvuna, izingxenye ezithile kwakudingeka zishiywe zingavunwanga ngenxa yabaswelayo. Lokhu kwakungafundisi uzwela nokucabangela abampofu kuphela kodwa futhi kwakuqinisekisa ukuthi bangaphili ngezipho ezikhuthaza ubuvila kuphela ngaphandle kokwenza umzamo othile. (Levitikusi 19:9, 10) Ukuthi kwakufanele abasweleyo bashiyelwe okungakanani kwakungashiwongo ngokuqondile. Kodwa uma abalimi abangamaIsrayeli bebonisa umoya wokuphana ngokushiya okuningi ngasemaphethelweni amasimu abo kanjalo babonise umusa kwabampofu, babeyobe badumisa uNkulunkulu. (IzAga 14:31) Kwakushiyelwa kubo ukuba banqume ukuthi bashiya indawo encane noma ebanzi ingavuniwe. Kodwa uNkulunkulu wanikeza iziqondiso eziqatha ngokuphathelene nokuphana ngokuyaleza ukuthi noma yiziphi izithungu ezazingabonwanga ensimini noma izithelo ezazishiywe emthini noma emvinini kwakufanele zibe ezabakhothozi. (Duteronomi 24:19-22) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, abakhothozi babengabonisa ukubonga kwabo kuJehova ngalelilungiselelo ngokunikela ngokweshumi kokukhothoza kwabo endaweni yakhe yokukhulekela.
Ukupha Kwenhliziyo
9. Kungani labo ababebonisa isimo sobugovu eqinisweni babezilimaza ngokwabo?
9 Uma amaIsrayeli enza iminikelo yomusa, isibusiso sikaJehova sasiyoba phezu kwemikhaya yawo. (Qhathanisa noHezekeli 44:30; Malaki 3:10.) Nokho, naphezu kwenala yezivuno, ngokuvamile ayehluleka ukwenza iminikelo. Khona-ke uNkulunkulu wasebenzisa izikhumbuzo ngamakhosi noma ngabaprofethi ukuba kuvuselelwe ukubonga kwawo. Eqinisweni, amaIsrayeli anobugovu yiwona ayelahlekelwa, ngoba uJehova wayengenakuwabusisa lawo ayegodla iminikelo ephathelene nokukhulekelwa kwakhe noma ephathelene nabampofu.
10. (a) Yayiyini imiphumela ejabulisayo yezikhumbuzo zeNkosi uHezekiya ngokubonga? (b) Ingabe lezizimo zahlala isikhathi eside?
10 Ngesinye isikhathi, izikhumbuzo zeNkosi uHezekiya zaphumela emkhosini wenjabulo wezinsuku eziyi-14 eJerusalema. Abantu babevuselelwe ngokomoya. Okokuqala, babhubhisa zonke izinto ababezisebenzisela ukukhulekela izithombe “bakubeka izinqwaba ngezinqwaba. . . . Lapho uHezekiya nezikhulu beza futhi bebona izinqwaba, bambonga uJehova nabantu bakhe uIsrayeli.” (2 IziKronike 30:1, 21-23; 31:1, 6-8) Nokho, ngokudabukisayo ngemva kokuvuselelwa okunjalo kwesikhashana, abantu babuyela esimweni sokungabongi. Ekugcineni, ukubekezela kukaNkulunkulu kwaphela, futhi wavumela abantu bakhe ukuba bathunjelwe eBabiloni. Umuzi wabo nethempeli elihle kwabhujiswa. (2 IziKronike 36:17-21) Kamuva, ngemva kokubuyiselwa, izimo zaphinde zaba ngezingathi sína kangangokuba uJehova wafanisa ubuqonqela babo nokweba kuye, nokumphanga!—Malaki 3:8.
11. Yisiphi isimiso esifundwa emlandweni kaIsrayeli esingazuzisa amaKristu aphila manje?
11 Yisiphi isimiso esingafundwa emlandweni wokuphambuka kukaIsrayeli? Yilesi: Lapho nje ukubonga kwakunamandla ezinhliziyweni zawo, abonisa lokhu ngenjabulo ngokupha “izinqwaba ngezinqwaba” kuJehova. Kodwa lapho ukubonga ekukhohlwa noma kuba sezingeni eliphansi, ukunikela ngenjabulo ngezinto ezibonakalayo kwaphela ngokoqobo. Ingabe isimo esinjalo esibi singaboniswa amaKristu azinikezele namuhla? Yebo, ngoba ukungapheleli kobuntu kusekhona. Yeka ukuthi sijabula kanjani ukuthi uNkulunkulu waloba ukusebenzelana kwakhe namaIsrayeli ukuze thina esiphila ekupheleni kwalesimiso sezinto, sifunde futhi sizuze kukho!—Roma 15:4; 1 Korinte 10:11.
12. (a) Kungayiphi indlela abantu bakaJehova namuhla besesimweni esifanayo naleso samaIsrayeli? (b) Imiphi imibuzo okudingeka siyibuze?
12 NjengamaIsrayeli, abantu bakaJehova namuhla banezizathu eziningi zokubonga. Nathi futhi singabamukeli bezibusiso ezengeziwe kunalezo ezijatshulelwa abantu esiphila nabo. Eqinisweni, sazi okwengeziwe ngezinjongo zikaJehova ngaphezu kokuba abantu bakwaIsrayeli babazi. Siye safunda ngendlela uNkulunkulu ngokuzithandela anikela ngayo ngeNdodana yakhe, futhi siyaziqaphela izibusiso lokhu okuyoziletha kulabo abanokuvunyelwa kwaphezulu. Futhi namuhla sinelungelo lokuba sepharadesi elingokomoya, ngoba kusukela ngo-1919, uJehova uye wadalela abantu bakhe izwe elihle elingokomoya. Yebo, oFakazi BakaJehova banezizathu eziningi ezengeziwe zokubonga. Ngakho kudingeka sizibuze: Kujule kangakanani ukubonga kwethu kuNkulunkulu? Futhi singazibonisa kanjani singababongayo kulelikhulu lama-20 leminyaka?
Imifuziselo Yosuku Lwanamuhla
13, 14. Nakuba amaKristu engekho ngaphansi koMthetho kaMose, ingabe ukhona yini umfuziselo angawuthola emthethweni wokukhipha okweshumi?
13 AmaKristu awekho ngaphansi koMthetho kaMose owawuchaza izindlela zokubonisa ukubonga kuNkulunkulu. (Galathiya 3:24, 25) Owethu “umhlatshelo” wokudumisa uJehova, ‘uyisithelo sezindebe ezivuma igama lakhe.’ (Heberu 13:15) Khona-ke, lena indlela eyinhloko amaKristu azinikezele angabonisa ngayo ukubonga kuNkulunkulu. Kodwa imifuziselo ethakazelisayo ingatholakala emithethweni ephathelene nokukhipha okweshumi, iminikelo, nokukhothoza.
14 Ukukhipha okweshumi kwakusho ukunikela ngesilinganiso esiqondile sengxenye eyodwa kweziyishumi—futhi kwakungekho kukhetha ngalokhu. Ngokufanayo, namuhla kunemiyalo eqondile ephezu kwazo zonke izinceku zikaJehova, ezingenakukhetha kuyo. Kudingeka sihlangane ndawonye njalo, futhi kumelwe sishumayele obala izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaJehova futhi sisize abanye ukuba babe abafundi bakaKristu.—Heberu 10:24, 25; Mathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20.
15. Yiziphi izibonelo zezinhliziyo eziphanayo zezikhathi zanamuhla ezifana nalezo ezembulwa amalungiselelo eminikelo nokukhothoza kwaIsrayeli wasendulo?
15 Futhi, khumbula, amalungiselelo eminikelo nokukhothoza. Izilinganiso eziqondile zazinganqunyiwe. Ngokufanayo, imiBhalo ayisimisi isilinganiso esiqondile sesikhathi okumelwe uFakazi kaJehova ngamunye asisebenzise enkonzweni engcwele. Isilinganiso sesikhathi esisinikela ekutadisheni iZwi likaNkulunkulu nasekushumayeleni kwabanye sishiyelwa ekushukunyisweni yizinhliziyo eziphanayo nezingenabugovu. Ngokufanayo, izinga leminikelo yezinto ezibonakalayo ukuze kuthuthukiswe izithakazelo zoMbuso lishiyelwa enhliziyweni yomuntu ngamunye ukuba inqume. Ukuthi umuntu ngamunye ezincekwini zikaNkulunkulu namuhla uyoletha “izinqwaba ngezinqwaba” noma uyoletha okokugcina icala nje kuyonqunywa ukujula kokubonga. (2 IziKronike 31:6) Nokho, njengasendabeni kaIsrayeli lapho ukubonisa ukubonga komuntu kukhula, nezibusiso ezivela kuNkulunkulu zazichichima ngokwengeziwe.
Izindlela Zokubonisa Ukubonga
16-18. Kungaziphi izindlela eziqondile amaKristu azinikezele angabonisa ngazo ukuthi ayabonga?
16 Enye yezindlela eziqondile zokubonisa ukubonga kuJehova iwukuhileleka enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele. Ingabe ukubonga kwakho kukhulu kangangokuthi inhliziyo yakho iyakulangazelela lokho? Kuye kwaqashelwa ukuthi iphayona eliphumelelayo okokuqala lidinga ukuba nesifiso sokukhonza bese kuba yizimo ezinhle. Uma ukubonga kunamandla, isifiso esishukumisayo sokukhonza uNkulunkulu siphuphuma ngokwengeziwe enhliziyweni eyazisayo. Ingabe yileyondlela ozizwa ngayo? Ngisho noma izimo zakho zamanje zikuvimbela ukuba uhlanganyele enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, lokhu akumelwe kuwuqede umoya wobuphayona. Ungasekela futhi ukhuthaze amaphayona ngayo yonke inhliziyo.
17 Uma ungakwazi ukuphayona manje, ungaba yini iphayona elisizayo ngezikhathi ezithile? Kunezinkathi ezikhethekile unyaka ngamunye lapho ibandla lobuKristu likhuthaza umzamo ongaphezu kovamile emsebenzini wokushumayela. Ngokwesibonelo, izinyanga zasehlobo ziwumgomo wabaningi, futhi ngo-October kunomsebenzi owengeziwe ophathelene nomkhankaso wokufuna izikhokhelo zomagazini. Mayelana nesikhathi esengeziwe senkonzo engcwele, isimiso sokuthi ukubonga kuveza ukuphana sihlala njalo siyiqiniso.
18 Enye indlela eqondile yokubonisa ukubonga iwukusekela isimiso esingokwasezulwini sokwakha okwenziwa emhlabeni wonke. Emazweni amaningi, amaHholo oMbuso amasha ayakhiwa, namahholo akhona ayakhuliswa ngenxa yokuminyana. AmaHholo Omhlangano amasha ayakhiwa, futhi kunezelwa izakhiwo emaKhaya aseBethel nasemafektri. Yeka indlela engokoqobo yokubonisa ukubonga kuJehova—ukunikela kwethu ngezandla noma ngezimali zokunakekela lomsebenzi wokwakha!
Isibonelo Esihle Somfelokazi Ompofu
19. Yini ekuhlaba umxhwele kakhulu ngomfelokazi ompofu ethempelini?
19 Isibonelo esiseBhayibhelini esidumile sokubonisa ukubonga ngokuphana ngezinto ezibonakalayo yileso somfelokazi owachazwa uJesu. (Luka 21:1-4) Kumelwe ukuba waqaphela ukuthi amafadingi akhe amabili enani eliphansi kangaka ayengeke afeze lutho ngokuphathelene nokunakekelwa kahle kwezinto ezibonakalayo zethempeli nenhlala-kahle yalabo abakhonza lapho. Kodwa akazange abheke ithempeli nabapristi ababekhonza lapho wayesecabanga ngokuthi: ‘Baphila kahle kakhulu kunami futhi banesakhiwo esihle kunekhaya lami eliphansi.’ Yiqiniso, ithempeli lalikhazimula ngokwengeziwe futhi lilihle. “Lihlotshiswé ngamatshe amahle nangezipho.” (Luka 21:5) Kodwa lokho akuzange kumvimbele umfelokazi ukuba enze umnikelo. Wayefuna ukuzibonakalisa engobongayo kuJehova, hhayi emadodeni ayekhonza ethempelini.
20. Singasibonisa kanjani isimo esifanayo nesitusekayo esinjengaleso esaboniswa umfelokazi ompofu?
20 Namuhla abantu bakaJehova bayafunda kulesibonelo. Njengomfelokazi ompofu, bayazi ukuthi iminikelo yabo, emikhulu noma emincane, inikezwa uNkulunkulu. Futhi baqinisekiswa ukwazi ukuthi inhlangano kaJehova yasemhlabeni ihlelwe ngendlela yokuba kungabikho-muntu othola inzuzo ngokwezimali. Izakhiwo zeNhlangano zakhelwe futhi zisetshenziselwa ukuhlomisa izisebenzi ezikhuthele ukuba zithole imiphumela emihle ekukhiqizweni kwamaBhayibheli nezincwadi zeBhayibheli zohlobo oluhle nasekukhonzeni izithakazelo zoMbuso. Lokhu kuphambene kakhulu nokusetshenziswa kabi okuhlazisayo kwemali enikelwayo okubikwe muva nje ngokuphathelene nabanye abavangeli bethelevishini.
Izikhumbuzo Ngokubonga Ziyasiza
21, 22. Izikhumbuzo zomusa zokuthi sizibonise singababongayo kufanele ziveze muphi umphumela ezinhliziyweni ezazisayo?
21 AmaIsrayeli ayedinga izikhumbuzo ezihlala njalo ngomthwalo wawo wemfanelo kuJehova, ikakhulukazi ngesidingo sokubonisa umoya wokubonga. Ngokuvamile, lapho lezindaba zilethwa ekunakekeleni kwawo, ukubonga kwakuvuselelwa ezinhliziyweni zawo, futhi lokhu kwaphumela kokungaphezu kwamazwi nje okubonisa ukwazisa kwawo kokubonga. Ayezimisele ukunikela “izinqwaba ngezinqwaba” zomkhiqizo wawo kuJehova ukuze zisetshenziswe endlini yakhe yokukhulekela.
22 Ngakho sengathi labo abakha “uIsrayeli kaNkulunkulu” wosuku lwanamuhla ‘nesixuku esikhulu’ sabangane babo bangazizwa ngendlela efanayo ngaso sonke isikhathi. (Galathiya 6:16; IsAmbulo 7:9) Sengathi izinhliziyo zabo ezinokubonga zingabashukumisela ukuba banikele “izinqwaba ngezinqwaba” zodumo kuJehova. Khona-ke bangasho beqinisile ukuthi: “Sizibonakalisa singababongayo kuNkulunkulu wethu ophanayo nonothando uJehova.”
Ingabe Uyakhumbula?
◻ Kungani amaKristu kudingeka alihlole ngaso sonke isikhathi izinga lokubonga kwawo?
◻ Kungani abantu bakaJehova ngaso sonke isikhathi benesizathu esengeziwe sokubonga?
◻ Kungaziphi izindlela eziqondile amaIsrayeli ayengabonisa ngazo ukubonga kwawo kuJehova?
◻ NjengamaIsrayeli, yiziphi izinto eziqondile esingazenza ukuze sibonise ukubonga?
◻ Yini esingayifunda kumfelokazi ompofu ethempelini?
[Izithombe ekhasini 7]
AmaIsrayeli abonisa ukubonga ngokunikela okweshumi nolibo nangokwenza ilungiselelo lokuba abampofu bakhothoze emasimini awo
[Isithombe ekhasini 8]
Umhubi wabonga uJehova ngemisebenzi nangemicabango yaKhe emangalisayo ngabantu baKhe
[Izithombe ekhasini 10]
OFakazi BakaJehova namuhla babonisa ukubonga ngokuhlanganyela enkonzweni yasensimini nasemisebenzini engokwasezulwini yokwakha, kanye nangokwenza izipho ezibonakalayo