Phishekelani Ukuzinikela Kokwesaba UNkulunkulu NjengamaKristu Abhapathiziwe
“Kepha wena, O, muntu kaNkulunkulu, . . . phishekela ukulunga, ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu.”—1 THIMOTHEWU 6:11, “NW.”
1. Ubungawuphendula kanjani umbuzo othi, Iluphi usuku olubaluleke kunazo zonke ekuphileni kwakho? Kungani uphendula kanjalo?
ILUPHI usuku olubaluleke kunazo zonke ekuphileni kwakho? Uma unguFakazi kaJehova obhapathiziwe, ngokungangabazeki uzophendula ngokuthi, ‘Phela, usuku engabhapathizwa ngalo!’ Yiqiniso, ukubhapathizwa kuyisinyathelo esibaluleke kakhulu ekuphileni kwakho. Kuyisibonakaliso sangaphandle sokuthi uzinikezele kuJehova ngokuphelele nangokungagodli ukuba wenze intando yakhe. Ukubhapathizwa kwakho kuphawula usuku lokumiswa kwakho njengesikhonzi sikaNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, uJehova.
2. (a) Kungafanekiswa kanjani ukuthi ukubhapathizwa akusona isinyathelo sokugcina osithathayo enkambweni yakho yobuKristu? (b) Iziphi izinyathelo ezandulelayo ezibalulekile owazithatha ngaphambi kokuba ubhapathizwe?
2 Nokho, ingabe ukubhapathizwa kuyisinyathelo sokugcina osithathayo enkambweni yakho yobuKristu? Lutho neze! Ngokwesibonelo: Emazweni amaningi umcimbi womshado usho ukuphela kwenkathi yokuhlela nokulungiselela (futhi ngokuvamile sokuqomisana). Ngesikhathi esifanayo, usho ukuqala kokuphila ndawonye njengabantu ababili abashadile. Ngokufanayo, ukubhapathizwa kwakho kuwukuphela kwenkathi yokulungiselela phakathi nayo othathe izinyathelo ezandulelayo eziningana ezibalulekile. Uzuzé ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu nangoKristu. (Johane 17:3) Waqala ukubonisa ukholo kuJehova njengoNkulunkulu weqiniso, kuKristu njengoMsindisi wakho, naseBhayibhelini njengeliyiZwi likaNkulunkulu. (IzEnzo 4:12; 1 Thesalonika 2:13; Heberu 11:6) Wabonisa lolokholo ngokuphenduka enkambweni yakho yesikhathi esidlule nangokuguqukela enkambweni elungile. (IzEnzo 3:19) Wabe sewenza isinqumo sokuzinikezela kuJehova ukuba wenze intando yakhe. (Mathewu 16:24) Ekugcineni, wabhapathizwa.—Mathewu 28:19, 20.
3. (a) Singakubonisa kanjani ukuthi ukubhapathizwa kwethu kusho ukuqala kokuphila kokwenza inkonzo engcwele kuNkulunkulu? (b) Imiphi imibuzo ephakamayo, futhi kungani izimpendulo zayo kufanele zisithakazelise kakhulu?
3 Nokho, ukubhapathizwa kwakho akusona isiphetho kodwa kuyisiqalo sokuphila kokwenza inkonzo engcwele kuNkulunkulu. Njengoba esinye isazi seBhayibheli saphawula, ukuphila komKristu akumelwe kube ‘ukuthatheka okulandelwa ukungenzi lutho kwafuthi.’ Ungabonisa kanjani-ke ukuthi kuwena ubhapathizo alumeleli nje ‘ukuthatheka’? Ngokuphishekela inkambo yokuphila konke yokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu. Kuyini lokhu kuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu? Kungani kudingekile ukukuphishekela? Ungakuhlakulela kanjani ngokugcwele ekuphileni kwakho? Izimpendulo kufanele zisithakazelise kakhulu, ngoba kumelwe sibe ngabantu ababonakala ‘ngezenzo zokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu’ ukuze sisinde osukwini olusondelayo lokwahlulela kukaJehova.—2 Petru 3:11, 12, qhathanisa neNW.
Incazelo Yokuzinikela Kokwesaba UNkulunkulu
4. Yini uPawulu aluleka uThimothewu ukuba ayenze, futhi sasinjani isimo sikaThimothewu ngalesikhathi?
4 Ngesinye isikhathi phakathi kuka-61 no-64 C.E., umphostoli uPawulu wabhala incwadi yakhe yokuqala ephefumlelwe eya kumfundi ongumKristu uThimothewu. Ngemva kokuchaza izingozi ukuthanda imali okungaholela kuzo, uPawulu wabhala: “Kepha wena, O, muntu kaNkulunkulu, balekela lezozinto; phishekela . . . ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu.” (1 Thimothewu 6:9-11, NW) Ngokuthakazelisayo, mhlawumbe uThimothweu ngalesikhathi wayesanda kweva eminyakeni engu-30. Kakade wayesehambe kakhulu nomphostoli uPawulu futhi wayenikwe igunya lokumisa ababonisi nezinceku ezikhonzayo emabandleni. (IzEnzo 16:3; 1 Thimothewu 5:22) Nokho, uPawulu weluleka lendoda evuthiwe engumKristu ezinikezele futhi yabhapathizwa, ukuba iphishekele ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu.
5. Iyini incazelo yamazwi athi “ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu”?
5 UPawulu wayesho ukuthini ngamazwi athi “ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu”? Igama lokuqala lesiGriki (eu·seʹbei·a) lingase lihunyushwe ngokwezwi nezwi ngokuthi “ukuhlonipha okukhulu.” Ngokuqondene nencazelo yalo, sifunda lokhu: “Elithi eusebeia livela izikhathi eziningana ngomqondo osikisela ukuzinikela komuntu siqu okungokwenkolo emibhalweni yangalesosikhathi . . . kodwa incazelo yalo evamile esiGrikini esasandile sangenkathi yamaRoma ‘yayiwukwethembeka.’ . . . KumaKristu ieusebeia uhlobo oluphakeme lokuzinikela kuNkulunkulu.” (Christian Words, kaNigel Turner) Ngakho njengoba esetshenziswa emiBhalweni, amazwi athi “ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu” abhekisela ekuhlonipheni noma ekuzinikeleni komuntu siqu ngokwethembeka kuJehova uNkulunkulu.
6. UmKristu ubunikeza kanjani ubufakazi bokuzinikela kwakhe kokwesaba uNkulunkulu?
6 Nokho, lokhu kuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu akuwona nje umuzwa wokuthanda ukukhulekela. Njengoba nje ‘ukukholwa ngaphandle kwemisebenzi kufile,’ kanjalo futhi, ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu kumelwe kubonakaliswe ekuphileni komuntu. (Jakobe 2:26) KuyiNew Testament Words, uWilliam Barclay wabhala: “Akukhona nje ukuthi [elithi eu·seʹbei·a namagama ahlobene nalo] abonisa lowomuzwa wokwesaba nokuhlonipha, kodwa asikisela futhi ukukhulekela okufanelana nalokho kwesaba, nokuphila kokulalela ngezenzo okufanelana nalokho kuhlonipha.” Ngokuqhubekayo elithi eu·seʹbei·a libuye lichazwe ngokuthi “ukuqaphela uNkulunkulu kuzo zonke izici zokuphila.” (The Second Epistle General of Peter and the General Epistle of Jude, kaMichael Green) Khona-ke, umKristu kumelwe anikeze ubufakazi bokusondelana kwakhe noJehova ngendlela aphila ngayo ukuphila kwakhe.—1 Thimothewu 2:2; 2 Petru 3:11.
Kudingeka Umzamo Wokuzikhandla
7. UPawulu wayesho ukuthini lapho ekhuthaza uThimothewu, nakuba ayesebhapathiziwe, ukuba ‘aphishekele’ ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu?
7 Nokho, yini ehilelekile ekuthuthukiseni nasekuboniseni ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu? Ingabe kumane nje kuyindaba yokubhapathizwa? Khumbula ukuthi uThimothewu, nakuba ayebhapathiziwe, wakhuthazwa ukuba “akuphishekele [ngokwezwi nezwi, ‘yiba ngokuphishekelayo’].”a (1 Thimothewu 6:11, Kingdom Interlinear) Ngokusobala, uPawulu wayengasikiseli ukuthi umfundi uThimothewu wayentula ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu. Kunalokho, wayegcizelela kuye isidingo sokuqhubeka ekuphishekela ngobuqotho nangentshiseko. (Qhathanisa neyabaseFilipi 3:14.) Ngokucacile, lokhu kwakumelwe kube ukuphishekela kwakho konke ukuphila. UThimothewu, njengawo wonke amaKristu abhapathiziwe, wayengaqhubeka ethuthuka ekuboniseni ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu.
8. UPetru wabonisa kanjani ukuthi kudingeka umzamo wokuzikhandla ngomKristu ozinikezele, obhapathiziwe ukuze aphishekele ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu?
8 Kudingeka umzamo wokuzikhandla ngomKristu ozinikezele, nobhapathiziwe ukuze aphishekele ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu. Ebhalela amaKristu abhapathiziwe ayenethemba lokuba ‘abahlanganyeli esimweni sobuNkulunkulu,’ umphostoli uPetru wathi: “Ngalokho nengezela inkuthalo yonke nelekele ubuhle ekukholweni, nasebuhleni ukwazi, nasekwazini ukuzithiba, nasekuzithibeni ukukhuthazela, nasekukhuthazeleni [ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu, NW].” (2 Petru 1:4-6) Ngokusobala, kudingeka isilinganiso esithile sokholo ukuze sizilethe ukuba sibhapathizwe. Nokho, ngemva kobhapathizo asinakuba abaphelezeli, saneliswe ubuKristu obungenayo imisebenzi. Kunalokho, njengoba sithuthuka ekuphileni kobuKristu, sidinga ukuqhubeka sithuthukisa ezinye izimfanelo ezinhle, kuhlanganise nokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu, ezinganezelwa okholweni lwethu. UPetru uthi lokhu kudinga umzamo oqotho ngathi.
9. (a) Igama lesiGreki elisho “ukunezela” lilibonisa kanjani izinga lomzamo odingekile ukuze sakhe ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu? (b) Yini uPetru asikhuthaza ukuba siyenze?
9 Igama lesiGriki uPetru alisebenzisela elithi ‘ukunezela’ (e·pi·kho·re·geʹo) linomlando othakazelisayo futhi libonisa izinga lomzamo odingekile. Livela ebizweni (kho·re·gosʹ) ngokwezwi nezwi elisho “umholi weqembu labadlali basesiteji.” Lalibhekisela kothile owayekhokha zonke izindleko zokuqeqesha nokusekela iqembu labadlali ekudlaleni umdlalo wasesiteji. Amadoda anjalo ayethatha lomthwalo ngokuzithandela ngenxa yothando ngedolobha lakubo futhi akhokhe izindleko ngemali yawo siqu. Amadoda anjalo ayeziqhenya ngokuchitha izimali ezinkulu ukuze alungiselele konke okudingekayo ngomdlalo osezingeni eliphakeme. Leligama lakhula laze lasho “ukunezela, ukulungiselela insada.” (Qhathanisa neyesi-2 Petru 1:11.) Ngakho uPetru usikhuthaza ukuba singanezeli nje isilinganiso esincane sokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu, kodwa ukubonakaliswa okugcwele ngangokunokwenzeka kwalemfanelo eyigugu.
10, 11. (a) Kungani kudingeka umzamo ukuze sihlakulele futhi sibonakalise ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu? (b) Singanqoba kanjani kulempi?
10 Nokho, kungani kudingeka umzamo onjalo ukuze sihlakulele futhi sibonakalise ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu? Phakathi kokunye, kukhona impi yokulwa nenyama ebuthaka. Njengoba “imicabango yomuntu [i]mibi kwasebusheni bakhe,” akulula ukuphishekela ukuphila kokulalela uNkulunkulu okubonakala ngezenzo. (Genesise 8:21; Roma 7:21-23) Umphostoli uPawulu uthi: “Bonke abathanda ukuhamba ngokumesaba uNkulunkulu kuKristu Jesu bayakuzingelwa.” (2 Thimothewu 3:12) Yebo, umKristu olwela ukuphila ngendlela ethokozisa uNkulunkulu kumelwe ahluke ezweni. Unezindinganiso ezihlukile nemigomo ehlukile. Njengoba uJesu axwayisa, lokhu kubangela inzondo yezwe elibi.—Johane 15:19; 1 Petru 4:4.
11 Noma kunjalo, singanqoba kulempi, ngoba “iNkosi iyakwazi ukuhlangulisa ekulingweni [abanokuzinikela kokwesaba, NW] uNkulunkulu.” (2 Petru 2:9) Nokho, thina kumelwe senze ingxenye yethu ngokuqhubeka siphishekela ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu.
Ukuhlakulela Ukuzinikela Kokwesaba UNkulunkulu
12. UPetru ukubonisa kanjani okudingekile ukuze sibe nokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu ngezinga eligcwele?
12 Khona-ke, ungakuhlakulela kanjani lokhu kuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu ngesilinganiso esigcwele? Umphostoli uPetru uyasivezela. Kweyesi-2 Petru 1:5, 6, lapho ebhala uhlu lwezimfanelo okumelwe zinezelwe okholweni lwethu, ubeka ulwazi ngaphambi kokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu. Ngaphambili kuso lesahluko, wabhala lokhu: “Amandla akhe obuNkulunkulu [a]sinikile konke okuqondene nokuphila noku[zinikela kokwesaba] uNkulunkulu ngokumazi yena owasibiza.” (2 Petru 1:3) Kanjalo uPetru uhlanganisa ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu nolwazi oluqondile ngoJehova.
13. Kungani ulwazi oluqondile lubalulekile ekwakheni ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu?
13 Eqinisweni, ngaphandle kolwazi oluqondile akunakwenzeka ukuhlakulela ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu. Ngani? Phela, khumbula ukuthi ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu kwenziwa kuJehova ngokwakhe futhi kufakazelwa indlela esiphila ngayo ukuphila kwethu. Kanjalo ulwazi oluqondile ngoJehova lubalulekile, njengoba luhlanganisa ukumazi yena siqu, ngokuseduze, ukujwayelana ngokuphelele nezimfanelo nezindlela zakhe. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kuhilela ukulwela ukumlingisa. (Efesu 5:1) Lapho sithuthuka ekufundeni ngoJehova nasekubonakaliseni izindlela nezimfanelo zakhe ekuphileni kwethu, yilapho simazi kangcono khona. (2 Korinte 3:18; qhathanisa neyoku-1 Johane 2:3-6.) Lokhu kuphumela ekuzaziseni ngokujule ngokwengeziwe izimfanelo zikaJehova eziyigugu, isilinganiso esikhudlwana sokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu.
14. Ukuze sizuze ulwazi oluqondile, isimiso sethu sesifundo somuntu siqu kufanele sihlanganise nani, futhi ngani?
14 Uluzuza kanjani ulwazi olunjalo oluqondile? Azikho izindlela ezinqamulelayo. Ukuze sizuze ulwazi oluqondile, kumelwe sikhuthale ekutadisheni iZwi likaNkulunkulu nezincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini. Isifundo esinjalo somuntu siqu kufanele sihlanganise nesimiso sasikhathi sonke sokufunda iBhayibheli, njengaleso esihlelelwe iSikole Senkonzo EsingokwaseZulwini. (IHubo 1:2) Njengoba iBhayibheli liyisipho esivela kuJehova, lokho esikwenzayo ngokuphathelene nesifundo seBhayibheli somuntu siqu kubonisa izinga esisazisa ngalo lesosipho. Imikhuba yakho yesifundo sakho siqu seBhayibheli yembulani ngokujula kokwazisa kwakho ngamalungiselelo kaJehova angokomoya?—IHubo 119:97.
15, 16. (a) Yini engasisiza ukuze sibe nokulangazelela okungokomoya ngesifundo seBhayibheli somuntu siqu? (b) Ukuze umphumela wesifundo somuntu siqu ube ukuthuthuka kokuzinikela kwethu kokwesaba uNkulunkulu, yini okufanele siyenze lapho sifunda ingxenye ethile yeZwi likaNkulunkulu?
15 Yiqiniso, ukufunda nokutadisha akulula kwabanye. Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi nangomzamo, ungakuthuthukisa ukusilangazelela okungokomoya isifundo seBhayibheli somuntu siqu. (1 Petru 2:2) Uma ucabanga ngokwazisa ngakho konke uJehova akwenzile, akwenzayo, nasazokwenza ngenxa yethu, inhliziyo yakho iyokushukumisela ukuba ufunde konke ongakufunda ngaye.—IHubo 25:4.
16 Kodwa ukuze umphumela wesifundo sakho siqu esinjalo ube ukuthuthukisa kwakho ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu, injongo yakho ayinakumane nje ibe ukufunda amakhasi okwaziswa noma ukugcwalisa ingqondo yakho ngokwaziswa. Kunalokho, lapho ufunda ingxenye ethile yeZwi likaNkulunkulu, kumelwe uchithe isikhathi ucabanga ngalokho kwaziswa, uzibuza imibuzo enjengokuthi: ‘Kungifundisani ngezimfanelo zikaJehova zothando nezindlela zakhe? Ngingafana kanjani noJehova ngokwengeziwe kulezici?’
17. (a) Yini esiyifundayo ngomusa kaJehova encwadini kaHoseya? (b) Kufanele kusithinte kanjani ukucabanga ngomusa kaJehova?
17 Cabangela lesibonelo. Esikhathini esidlule ukufundwa kweBhayibheli esasikwabelwe eSikoleni Senkonzo EsingokwaseZulwini kwasenza safunda incwadi kaHoseya. Ngemva kokufunda lencwadi yeBhayibheli, ungase uzibuze: ‘Yini engiyifundayo ngoJehova njengoMuntu—ngezimfanelo nezindlela zakhe—kulencwadi?’ Indlela esetshenziswa ngayo abalobi beBhayibheli bakamuva ibonisa ukuthi sifunda okuningi ngomusa kaJehova wothando encwadini kaHoseya. (Qhathanisa uMathewu 9:13 noHoseya 6:6; amaRoma 9:22-26 noHoseya 1:10 no2:21-23.) Ukuzimisela kukaJehova ukubonisa uIsrayeli umusa kwaboniswa ukusebenzelana kukaHoseya nomkakhe, uGomere. (Hoseya 1:2; 3:1-5) Nakuba ukuchitha igazi, ukweba, ubufebe, nokukhonza izithombe kwakudlangile kwaIsrayeli, uJehova ‘wakhuluma nenhliziyo kaIsrayeli.’ (Hoseya 2:13, 14, NW; 4:2) UJehova wayengaphoqelekile ukubonisa umusa onjalo kodwa wayeyokwenza kanjalo “ngesihle,” kuphela uma uIsrayeli ebonisa ukuphenduka okuqotho futhi ebuya enkambweni yakhe yokona. (Hoseya 14:4; qhathanisa noHoseya 3:3.) Njengoba ucabanga ngalendlela ngomusa kaJehova omangalisayo, kuyoshukumisa inhliziyo yakho, kuqinise ukusondelana kwakho siqu naye.
18. Ngemva kokucabanga ngomusa kaJehova njengoba ugcizelelwa kuHoseya, yini ongazibuza yona?
18 Nokho, kudingeka okwengeziwe. UJesu wathi: “Babusisiwe abanesihawu, ngokuba bayakuhawukelwa.” (Mathewu 5:7) Ngakho, ngemva kokucabanga ngomusa kaJehova njengoba ugcizelelwa encwadini kaHoseya, zibuze: ‘Ngingawulingisa kanjani kangcono umusa kaJehova ekusebenzelaneni kwami nabanye? Uma umzalwane noma udade ongonile ecela intethelelo, ingabe ngithethelela “ngentokozo”?’ (Roma 12:8; Efesu 4:32) Uma ukhonza ebandleni njengomdala omisiwe, ungase uzibuze: ‘Lapho ngisingethe izindaba zokwahlulela, ngingamlingisa kanjani kangcono uJehova, ‘ongothethelelayo,’ ikakhulukazi uma owonile enikeza ubufakazi obuqotho bokuphenduka ngenhliziyo yonke?’ (IHubo 86:5; IzAga 28:13) ‘Yini okufanele ngiyibheke njengesisekelo sokubonisa umusa?’—Qhathanisa noHoseya 5:4 no–7:14.
19, 20. (a) Uba yini umphumela uma silitadishisisa iBhayibheli? (b) Kunaluphi olunye usizo ekuhlakuleleni ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu?
19 Yeka ukuthi isifundo seBhayibheli sakho siqu siba esivuza kanjani uma usenzisisa ngaleyondlela! Inhliziyo yakho iyophuphuma ukwazisa ngezimfanelo zikaJehova eziyigugu. Futhi ngokukulwela njalo ukulingisa lezimfanelo ekuphileni kwakho, uyoqinisa ukusondelana kwakho naye. Ngaleyondlela uyobe uphishekela ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu njengenceku kaJehova ezinikezele, ebhapathiziwe.—1 Thimothewu 6:11.
20 Olunye usizo ekuhlakuleleni lemfanelo eyigugu lungatholakala kuJesu Kristu—isibonelo esiphelele sokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu. Kungakusiza kanjani ukulandela isibonelo sikaJesu ekuhlakuleleni nasekubonakaliseni ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu? Isihloko esisekhasini 18 sizoxoxa ngalokhu nangemibuzo ehlobene nakho.
[Umbhalo waphansi]
a Ngokuqondene negama lesiGriki elithi di·oʹko (“phishekela”), iNew International Dictionary of New Testament Theology ichaza ukuthi emibhalweni yobuciko leligama “lisho ngokwezwi nezwi ukusukela, ukuphishekela, ukujaha, . . .futhi ngokomfanekiso lisho ukuphishekela into ngentshiseko, ukuzama ukufeza okuthile, ukuzama ukuthola.”
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Kungani ukubhapathizwa kungesona isinyathelo sokugcina osithathayo enkambweni yakho yobuKristu?
◻ Kusho ukuthini “ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu,” futhi ubunikeza kanjani ubufakazi bako?
◻ Kungani kudingeka umzamo wokuzikhandla ukuze sakhe ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu?
◻ Ungakuhlakulela kanjani ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNklunkulu ngokugcwele?