Ukuphila Ngokuvumelana Nokuzinikezela Kwethu “Usuku Nosuku”

“Uma noma ubani efuna ukungilandela, makazidele athathe isigxobo sakhe sokuhlushwa usuku nosuku angilandele njalo.”—LUKA 9:23.

 1. Iyiphi indlela esingabona ngayo ukuthi ingakanani impumelelo yethu njengamaKristu?

“INGABE sasingabantu abazinikezele ngempela?” Impendulo yalombuzo, ngokukaJohn F. Kennedy, uMongameli wama-35 wase-United States, iyisici sokubona ukuthi ingakanani impumelelo yalabo abasezikhundleni zikahulumeni. Lombuzo ungase ube nokubaluleka okujulile ekuhloleni impumelelo yethu njengezikhonzi ezingamaKristu.

 2. Isichazamazwi silichaza kanjani igama elithi “ukuzinikezela”?

² Nokho, kuyini ukuzinikezela? I-Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary ikuchaza ngokuthi “isenzo noma isiko lokuzinikezela kumuntu waphezulu noma ekusetshenzisweni okungcwele,” “ukunikela noma ukubekela eceleni ngenjongo ethile,” “ukuzinikela kokuzidela.” Ngokusobala uJohn F. Kennedy wayesebenzisa leligama ukuze asho “ukuzinikela kokuzidela.” NgomKristu, ukuzinikezela kusho okwengeziwe.

 3. Kuyini ukuzinikezela kobuKristu?

³ UJesu Kristu watshela abafundi bakhe: “Uma noma ubani efuna ukungilandela, makazidele athathe isigxobo sakhe sokuhlushwa angilandele njalo.” (Mathewu 16:24) Ukuhlukaniselwa ukusetshenziswa kwaphezulu akuhileli nje ukwenza isenzo sokukhulekela ngeSonto noma lapho umuntu evakashele indawo ethile yokukhulekela. Kuhilela yonke indlela yomuntu yokuphila. Ukuba umKristu kusho ukuzidela noma ukuziphika kuyilapho umuntu ekhonza uNkulunkulu owakhonzwa uJesu Kristu, uJehova. Ngaphezu kwalokho, umKristu uthatha “isigxobo sakhe sokuhlushwa” ngokubekezela ngaphansi kwanoma ikuphi ukuhlupheka okungase kubangelwe ukuba umlandeli kaKristu.

Isibonelo Esiphelele

 4. Kwakufanekiselani ukubhapathizwa kukaJesu?

⁴ Lapho esemhlabeni, uJesu wabonisa lokho okuhilelekile ekuzinikezeleni komuntu kuJehova. Waveza imizwa yakhe ngalendlela: “Umhlatshelo nomnikelo awukufunanga, kodwa ungilungiselele umzimba.” Khona-ke wanezela: “Bheka! Ngizile (emqulwini wencwadi kulotshiwe ngami) ukuba ngenze intando yakho, O Nkulunkulu.” (Heberu 10:5-7) Njengelungu lesizwe esizinikezele, wayenikezelwe kuJehova lapho ezalwa. Nakuba kunjalo, lapho eqala inkonzo yakhe yasemhlabeni, wazinikela ukuba abhapathizwe njengesibonakaliso sokuziletha kwakhe ukuba enze intando kaJehova, eyayiyohlanganisa ukunikela ukuphila kwakhe njengomhlatshelo wesihlengo. Ngaleyondlela wabekela amaKristu isibonelo sokwenza noma ngabe yini eyintando kaJehova.

 5. UJesu wawubonisa kanjani umbono oyisibonelo ngezinto ezibonakalayo?

⁵ Ngemva kokubhapathizwa kwakhe uJesu walandela inkambo yokuphila ekugcineni eyaholela ekufeni okuwumhlatshelo. Wayengenaso isithakazelo sokwenza imali noma sokuphila ukuphila okunethezekile. Kunalokho, ukuphila kwakhe kwakugxile enkonzweni yakhe. Wayala abafundi bakhe ukuba ‘baqhubeke befuna kuqala umbuso nokulunga kwakhe,’ futhi naye ngokwakhe waphila ngokuvumelana nalamazwi. (Mathewu 6:33) Phela, ngesinye isikhathi waze wathi: “Amankentshane anemiphandu nezinyoni zezulu zinezidleke, kodwa iNdodana yomuntu yona ayinandawo yokubeka ikhanda layo.” (Mathewu 8:20) Wayengase avumelanise izimfundiso zakhe nesimo ukuze aphange imali kubalandeli bakhe. Njengoba ayengumbazi wayengase athathe isikhathi sokuphumula ukuze enze ifenisha enhle azoyithengisa, ngaleyondlela abe nezinhlamvana zesiliva ezengeziwe. Kodwa akazange asebenzise amakhono akhe ukuze afune ukuchuma ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo. Njengezinceku ezizinikezele zikaNkulunkulu, ingabe silingisa uJesu ngokuba nombono ofanele ngezinto ezibonakalayo?—Mathewu 6:24-34.

 6. Singamlingisa kanjani uJesu ekubeni izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezizidelayo, ezizinikezele?

⁶ Ngokwenza inkonzo yakhe eya kuNkulunkulu ize kuqala, uJesu akazange afune izithakazelo zakhe siqu. Ukuphila kwakhe phakathi neminyaka emithathu nengxenye yenkonzo yakhe yasobala kwakuwukuphila kokuzidela. Ngesinye isikhathi ngemva kosuku olumatasa, ngaphandle kokuthola ngisho nesikhathi sokudla, uJesu wayezimisele ukufundisa abantu ‘ababephundlekile futhi behlakazekile njengezimvu ezingenamalusi.’ (Mathewu 9:36; Marku 6:31-34) Nakuba ‘ayekhathele ukuhamba,’ wathatha isinyathelo kuqala ekukhulumeni nowesifazane ongumSamariya owayeze emthonjeni kaJakobe eSikhari. (Johane 4:6, 7, 13-15) Ngaso sonke isikhathi wayekhathalela inhlalakahle yabanye kuqala kuneyakhe. (Johane 11:5-15) Singamlingisa uJesu ngokudela ngokungagodli izithakazelo zethu siqu ukuze sikhonze uNkulunkulu nabanye. (Johane 6:38) Ngokucabanga ngezindlela esingamjabulisa ngazo ngempela uNkulunkulu kunokumane nje senze okuncane okulindelekile, siyobe siphila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwethu.

 7. Singamlingisa kanjani uJesu ekunikezeni uJehova udumo ngaso sonke isikhathi?

⁷ Ngokusiza abantu, uJesu wayengazami neze ukudonsela ukunakekela kuye. Wayezinikezele kuNkulunkulu ukwenza intando yaKhe. Ngakho ngaso sonke isikhathi wayeqiniseka ukuthi uJehova, uYise, wayethola lonke udumo nganoma yini eyayifezwa. Lapho umbusi othile embiza ngokuthi “Mfundisi Omuhle,” esebenzisa igama elithi “omuhle” njengesiqu, uJesu walungisa inkulumo yalombusi ngokuthi: “Akekho omuhle, ngaphandle koyedwa, uNkulunkulu.” (Luka 18:18, 19; Johane 5:19, 30) Ingabe nathi, njengoJesu, siyashesha ukususa udumo kithi siluqondise kuJehova?

 8. (a) Njengomuntu ozinikezele, uJesu wazihlukanisa kanjani nezwe? (b) Kufanele simlingise kanjani?

⁸ Kuyo yonke inkambo yakhe yokuphila kokuzinikezela emhlabeni, uJesu wabonisa ukuthi wayezihlukanisele inkonzo yaphezulu. Wazigcina ehlanzekile ukuze azinikele ‘njengewundlu elingenasici nelingenabala’ lokuba umhlatshelo wesihlengo. (1 Petru 1:19; Heberu 7:26) Wagcina zonke izimiso zoMthetho kaMose, ngaleyondlela egcwalisa lowoMthetho. (Mathewu 5:17; 2 Korinte 1:20) Waphila ngokuvumelana nemfundiso yakhe ngokuphathelene nokuziphatha. (Mathewu 5:27, 28) Akekho owayengamsola ngokufanelekile ngokuthi wayenezisusa ezimbi. Ngempela, “wazonda ukungabi namthetho.” (Heberu 1:9) Njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu, masilingise uJesu ngokugcina ukuphila kwethu ngisho nezisusa zethu zihlanzekile phambi kukaJehova.

Izibonelo Eziyisixwayiso

 9. Isiphi isibonelo esiyisixwayiso uPawulu abhekisela kuso, futhi kungani kufanele sisicabangele?

⁹ Ngokungafani nesibonelo sikaJesu, sinesibonelo esiyisixwayiso sama-Israyeli. Ngisho nangemva kokuba ememezele ukuthi ayeyokwenza konke lokho uJehova ayewatshele khona, ahluleka ukwenza intando yakhe. (Daniyeli 9:11) Umphostoli uPawulu wakhuthaza amaKristu ukuba afunde kulokho okwehlela ama-Israyeli. Ake sihlole izenzakalo ezithile uPawulu abhekisela kuzo encwadini yakhe yokuqala eyayiya kwabaseKorinte futhi sibone ukuthi iziphi izingibe okudingeka ukuba zigwenywe izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezizinikezele esikhathini sethu.—1 Korinte 10:1-6, 11.

10. (a) Ama-Israyeli ‘akufisa kanjani okubi’? (b) Kungani ama-Israyeli ayezolandisa kakhulu lapho ekhonona ngokudla okwesibili, futhi yini esingayifunda kulesisibonelo esiyisixwayiso?

¹⁰ Okokuqala, uPawulu wasixwayisa ukuba “singafisi izinto ezilimazayo.” (1 Korinte 10:6) Lokho kungase kukukhumbuze isikhathi lapho ama-Israyeli ekhonona ngokudla imana kuphela. UJehova wawathumelela izigwaca. Okuthile okufanayo kwakwenzekile esikhathini esingangonyaka ngaphambili ehlane laseSini, ngaphambi nje kokuba ama-Israyeli amemezele ukuzinikezela kwawo kuJehova. (Eksodusi 16:1-3, 12, 13) Kodwa isimo sasingafani nsé. Lapho uJehova elungiselela izigwaca okokuqala, akazange awabeke icala ama-Israyeli ngokukhonona kwawo. Nokho, manje isimo sasihlukile. “Inyama isekhona phakathi kwamazinyo abo, ingakahlafunwa, ulaka lukaJehova lwavuthela abantu, uJehova wabashaya abantu ngokufa okukhulu kakhulu.” (Numeri 11:4-6, 31-34) Yini eyayisishintshile? Njengesizwe esizinikezele, manje sase sizolandisa. Ukuntula kwaso ukwazisa ngamalungiselelo kaJehova kwasiholela ekubeni sikhonone ngoJehova, naphezu kokuthembisa kwaso ukwenza konke lokho uJehova ayekukhulumile! Ukukhonona ngetafula likaJehova namuhla kungokufanayo. Abanye bayahluleka ukwazisa amalungiselelo kaJehova angokomoya atholakala ‘ngesigqila esikholekile nesiqondayo.’ (Mathewu 24:45-47) Nokho, khumbula ukuthi ukuzinikezela kwethu kudinga ukuba sikhumbule ngokwazisa lokho uJehova aye wasenzela khona futhi samukele ukudla okungokomoya uJehova akulungiselelayo.

11. (a) Ama-Israyeli akungcolisa kanjani ukukhulekela kwawo uJehova ngokukhonza izithombe? (b) Lungasithinta kanjani uhlobo oluthile lokukhonza izithombe?

¹¹ Ngokulandelayo, uPawulu waxwayisa: “Futhi ningabi abakhonza izithombe, njengoba abanye kubo benza.” (1 Korinte 10:7) Ngokobufakazi obutholakalayo umphostoli lapha wayebhekisela ekukhulekelweni kwethole okwenzeka ngokushesha nje ngemva kokuba ama-Israyeli enzé isivumelwano noJehova eNtabeni iSinayi. Ungase uthi, ‘Njengenceku kaJehova ezinikezele, angisoze ngahileleka ekukhulekeleni izithombe.’ Nokho, phawula ukuthi ngokombono wama-Israyeli, awazange ayeke ukukhonza uJehova; nokho, aletha ukukhulekelwa kwethole—okuthile okwenyanyekayo kuNkulunkulu. Lwaluhilelani loluhlobo lokukhulekela? Abantu benza imihlatshelo phambi kwethole, base ‘behlala phansi ukuba badle, baphuze; bavuka ukuyodlala.’ (Eksodusi 32:4-6) Namuhla, abanye bangase bathi bakhonza uJehova. Kodwa ukuphila kwabo kungase kungagxili ekukhulekeleni uJehova, kodwa ekujabuleleni izinto zalelizwe, futhi bazame ukumpintshanisa inkonzo yabo eya kuJehova kulezizinto. Yiqiniso, lokhu akukubi ngokwedlulele njengokukhulekela ithole legolide, kodwa akuhlukile kakhulu ngokwesimiso esisebenzayo. Ukwenza isifiso somuntu sibe unkulunkulu kuhluke kakhulu ekuphileni ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela komuntu kuJehova.—Filipi 3:19.

12. Yini esiyifundayo ngokuzidela, kokuhlangenwe nakho kwama-Israyeli noBali-Peyori?

¹² Kwakunolunye uhlobo lokuzijabulisa olwaluhilelekile esibonelweni esiyisixwayiso uPawulu akhuluma ngaso: “Futhi masingabenzi umkhuba ubufebe, njengoba abanye kubo benza ubufebe, kwamane kwaphumela ekuweni kwabo, abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili nantathu kubo ngosuku olulodwa.” (1 Korinte 10:8) Ama-Israyeli, ehungwe injabulo yokuziphatha okubi eyayinikezwa amadodakazi akwaMowabi, aholelwa ekukhulekeleni uBali-Peyori eShithimi. (Numeri 25:1-3, 9) Ukuzidela ukuze senze intando kaJehova kuhlanganisa ukwamukela izindinganiso zakhe zokuhle ngokokuziphatha. (Mathewu 5:27-30) Kulenkathi yezindinganiso eziwohlokayo, sikhunjuzwa ngesidingo sokuzigcina sihlanzekile kuzo zonke izinhlobo zokuziphatha okubi, sizithobe egunyeni likaJehova lokusinqumela okuhle nokubi.—1 Korinte 6:9-11.

13. Isibonelo sikaFinehasi sisisiza kanjani ukuba siqonde lokho okuhlanganiswa ukuzinikezela kuJehova?

¹³ Nakuba abaningi bawela ogibeni lobufebe eShithimi, abanye baphila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwesizwe kuJehova. Phakathi kwabo, uFinehasi wayenentshiseko evelele. Lapho ebona isikhulu sakwa-Israyeli siletha owesifazane wakwaMidiyani etendeni laso, ngokushesha uFinehasi wathatha umkhonto ngesandla sakhe futhi wabagwaza. UJehova watshela uMose: “UFinehasi . . . ukhalimile intukuthelo yami kubantwana bakwaIsrayeli, ngokuba wayehawuka ngomhawu wami phakathi kwabo, ukuze ngingaqothuli abantwana bakwaIsrayeli [ekufuneni kwami ukuzinikela okuphelele, NW].” (Numeri 25:11) Ukungakubekezeleli neze ukubangisana noJehova—yilokho okushiwo ukuzinikezela. Asinakuvumela lutho luthathe indawo ukuzinikezela kuJehova okufanele kuyithathe ezinhliziyweni zethu. Intshiseko yethu ngoJehova isishukumisela futhi ukuba sigcine ibandla lihlanzekile ngokubika ukuziphatha okubi okungathi sína kubadala, singakubekezeleli.

14. (a) Ama-Israyeli amlinga kanjani uJehova? (b) Ukuzinikezela ngokuphelele kuJehova kusisiza kanjani ukuba “singakhathali”?

¹⁴ UPawulu wabhekisela kwesinye isibonelo esiyisixwayiso: “Futhi masingamfaki ovivinyweni uJehova, njengoba abanye kubo bamfaka ovivinyweni, kwamane kwaphumela ekubhujisweni kwabo ngezinyoka.” (1 Korinte 10:9) UPawulu lapha wayekhuluma ngesikhathi lapho ama-Israyeli ayekhonona ngoNkulunkulu kuMose lapho ‘ephela amandla ngenxa yendlela.’ (Numeri 21:4) Ingabe nawe uke ulenze lelophutha? Lapho uzinikezela kuJehova, ingabe wawucabanga ukuthi i-Armagedoni iseduze kakhulu? Ingabe ukubekezela kukaJehova kubé kude kunalokho obukulindele? Khumbula, asizange sizinikezele kuJehova isikhathi esithile nje noma kuze kube yilapho kufika i-Armagedoni. Ukuzinikezela kwethu kuqhubeka phakade. Ngakho-ke, “masingayeki ukwenza okuhle, ngoba ngenkathi efaneleyo siyovuna, uma singakhathali.”—Galathiya 6:9.

15. (a) Ama-Israyeli akhonona ngobani? (b) Ukuzinikezela kwethu kuJehova kusishukumisela kanjani ukuba sihloniphe igunya elingokwasezulwini?

¹⁵ Ekugcineni, uPawulu waxwayisa ‘ngokububula’ ngezinceku zikaJehova ezimisiwe. (1 Korinte 10:10) Ama-Israyeli akhonona ngesankahlu ngoMose nango-Aroni lapho izinhloli eziyishumi kwezingu-12 ezazithunywe ukuyohlola izwe laseKhanani ziletha imibiko emibi. Aze akhuluma ngisho nangokufaka othile esikhundleni sikaMose njengomholi wawo nangokubuyela eGibithe. (Numeri 14:1-4) Namuhla, ingabe siyabamukela ubuholi esibunikezwa ngesenzo somoya ongcwele kaJehova? Ngokubona itafula elingokomoya eliyinala elilungiselelwa isigaba senceku ethembekileyo neqondayo, kusobala ukuthi ubani uJesu amsebenzisayo ekwabeni “ukudla ngesikhathi sakho.” (Mathewu 24:45) Ukuzinikezela kuJehova ngomphefumulo wonke kudinga ukuba sibonise inhlonipho ngezinceku zakhe ezimisiwe. Kwangathi singelokothe sifane nabantu abathile abakhononayo bosuku lwanamuhla, ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, abaye baphendukela kumholi omusha ukuba abaholele emuva ezweni.

Ingabe Ngenza Konke Okusemandleni Ami?

16. Imiphi imibuzo izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezizinikezele ezingase zithande ukuzibuza yona?

¹⁶ Ama-Israyeli ayengenakuwela emaphutheni anjalo angathi sína uma ayekhumbula ukuthi ukuzinikezela kwawo kuJehova kwakungenamibandela. Ngokungafani nalawoma-Israyeli ayengenalukholo, uJesu Kristu waphila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwakhe kwaze kwaba sekupheleni. Njengabalandeli bakaKristu, silingisa isibonelo sakhe sokuzinikela ngomphefumulo wonke, singabe sisaphila ukuphila kwethu ‘ngezifiso zabantu kodwa ngentando kaNkulunkulu.’ (1 Petru 4:2; qhathanisa neyesi-2 Korinte 5:15.) Intando kaJehova namuhla iwukuba “zonke izinhlobo zabantu zisindiswe futhi zifinyelele olwazini olunembile lweqiniso.” (1 Thimothewu 2:4) Sinalowomgomo, kumelwe sishumayele “lelivangeli lombuso” ngaphambi kokuba kufike ukuphela. (Mathewu 24:14) Senza umzamo ongakanani kulenkonzo? Singase sithande ukuzibuza, ‘Ingabe ngenza konke okusemandleni ami?’ (2 Thimothewu 2:15) Izimo ziyehluka. UJehova uyajabula ngokukhonzwa “ngokwalokho umuntu anakho, hhayi ngokwalokho umuntu angenakho.” (2 Korinte 8:12; Luka 21:1-4) Akekho okufanele ahlulele ukujula nobuqotho bokuzinikezela komunye. Ngamunye kufanele ahlaziye izinga lokuzinikela kwakhe siqu kuJehova. (Galathiya 6:4) Uthando lwethu ngoJehova kufanele lusishukumisele ukuba sizibuze, ‘Ngingamjabulisa kanjani uJehova?’

17. Kuhlobene ngani ukuzinikela nokwazisa? Bonisa.

¹⁷ Ukuzinikela kwethu kuJehova kuyajula njengoba sikhula ekumaziseni. Umfana oneminyaka engu-14 eJapane wazinikezela kuJehova futhi wabonisa lokhu kuzinikezela ngokubhapathizwa emanzini. Kamuva, wafuna ukuphishekela imfundo ephakeme futhi abe isazi sesayensi. Akazange neze acabange ngenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele, kodwa njengenceku ezinikezele, wayengafuni ukushiya uJehova nenhlangano yakhe ebonakalayo. Ukuze afinyelele umgomo womsebenzi wakhe, wafunda eyunivesithi. Lapho wabona abathweswe iziqu zaseyunivesithi bephoqelelwa ukuba banikezele konke ukuphila kwabo ezinkampanini noma ezifundweni zabo. Wazibuza, ‘Ngifunani lapha? Ngingayiphishekela yini ngempela indlela yabo yokuphila futhi ngizinikezele emsebenzini wami wokuziphilisa? Angizinikezele yini kakade kuJehova?’ Enokwazisa okuvuselelwe, waba iphayona elivamile. Ukuqonda kwakhe ukuzinikezela kwakhe kwajula futhi kwamshukumisela ukuba anqume enhliziyweni yakhe ukuya noma kuphi lapho ayedingeka khona. Waya eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo futhi wathola isabelo sokukhonza njengesithunywa sevangeli phesheya kwezilwandle.

18. (a) Kuhileleke okungakanani ekuzinikezeleni kwethu kuJehova? (b) Imuphi umvuzo esingawuvuna ngokuzinikezela kwethu kuJehova?

¹⁸ Ukuzinikezela kuhilela konke ukuphila kwethu. Kumelwe sizidele futhi “usuku nosuku” silandele isibonelo esihle sikaJesu. (Luka 9:23) Lapho sesizidelile, asimceli uJehova ukuba asinike isikhathi sokuhlab’ ingulube, ukudl’ endala. Ukuphila kwethu kuvumelana nezimiso uJehova azimisele izinceku zakhe. Ngisho nasezintweni esingenza kuzo ukuzikhethela komuntu siqu, senza kahle ngokubona ukuthi senza okungcono kakhulu yini ukuze siphile ukuphila kokuzinikezela kuJehova. Njengoba simkhonza usuku nosuku, senza konke esingakwenza ukuze simjabulise, siyophumelela njengamaKristu futhi siyobusiswa ngokuthola ukuvunyelwa uJehova, Lowo ofanelwe ukuzinikela kwethu komphefumulo wonke.

Ungachaza?

◻ Ukuzinikezela kwakuhilelani ngoJesu Kristu?

◻ Kungani kufanele sigweme ukukhonona ngoJehova?

◻ Iyiphi indlela esingagwema ngayo ukuvumela ukukhonza izithombe kungene ekuphileni kwethu?

◻ Ukukhumbulani okuyosisiza ukuba “singakhathali” ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu?

[Isithombe ekhasini 17]

AmaKristu azinikezele ‘awayeki ukwenza okuhle’