Phila Ukuphila Okulinganiselwe Nokulula
“Bhekisisani ukuthi nihamba kanjani, kungabi-njengabangahlakaniphile kepha njengabahlakaniphileyo, . . . ngokuba izinsuku zimbi.”—EFESU 5:15, 16.
1, 2. Iyini inselele yangempela namuhla, futhi ingaqhathaniswa nani?
KUYINSELELE ukuhlela izinto eziza kuqala, ukulungiselela imithwalo yemfanelo, nokunikela ngesikhathi nangamandla ngendlela enhle ezicini ezibalulekile zokuphila. Kuyinselele futhi ukugwema ukweqisa nokulondoloza ukungaphamazeli kwengqondo nokomzwelo.—Efesu 5:17; 1 Thimothewu 4:8; 1 Petru 1:13.
2 Lenselele ingase iqhathaniswe naleyo umdlali ozama ukuhamba ocingweni oluncane oluphakeme abhekana nayo. Ukulahlekelwa ukuzimelela kungaba inhlekelele kuye. Ngokufanayo, ukulahlekelwa ukuzimelela okungokomoya kungaba inhlekelele kithi. Umuntu ohamba ocingweni oluphakeme ngokuqinisekile akazithwesi umthwalo ngezinto eziningi. Uphatha izinto ezidingekayo kuphela. Ngakho-ke, ukuze silondoloze ukuzimelela kwethu okungokomoya sidinga ukuphila ukuphila okulula nokungenamithwalo.—Heberu 12:1, 2.
3. Yini okufanele siyenze ukuze siphile ukuphila okuvamile?
3 Uma sifuna ukuphila ukuphila okulula, kumelwe sizigcine simatasa kuphela ngezinto ezidingekile ukuze silondoloze ukuphila okuhle. Ngokuphambene nalokho abafundi okufanele bakufune—uMbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwaKhe—uJesu Kristu wakhuluma ‘ngezinto abezizwe abazifunisisayo.’ (Mathewu 6:32, 33) Ngakho uJesu waseluleka ukuba sigweme ukuqongelela eziningi zalezinto. Ngani? Ngoba zenza ukuphila kwethu kube inkimbinkimbi futhi zisiphambukise. (Luka 12:16-21; 18:25) Lesi iseluleko esihle, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sicebile noma simpofu, sifunde kakhulu noma cha.
Isizathu Sokuba Kubaluleke Kangaka Manje
4. Kungani ukuphila ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula kubalulekile manje?
4 Ukuphila ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula kubaluleke ngokukhethekile manje ngoba uSathane namademoni akhe balahlelwe emhlabeni futhi bahlose ukusenza sisindwe futhi basuse ukunaka kwethu enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu. (IsAmbulo 12:7-12, 17) Ngakho-ke, akukaze nanini ngaphambili lomyalo weBhayibheli ufaneleke kunamanje: “Bhekisisani ukuthi nihamba kanjani, kungabi-njengabangahlakaniphile kepha njengabahlakaniphileyo, nithengisise isikhathi, ngokuba izinsuku zimbi.” (Efesu 5:15, 16) Yebo, siphila ezweni likaSathane elibi, hhayi ezweni elisha likaNkulunkulu. Ngakho, asinakukwazi ukuba ngabanganaki.—2 Korinte 4:4; 2 Petru 3:7, 13.
5. Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zasendulo zasibekela kanjani isibonelo esihle?
5 Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezaziphila kulelizwe elibuswa uDeveli ezikhathini zasendulo zasibekela isibonelo esihle. ‘Zavuma ukuthi zingabafokazi nezihambi emhlabeni.’ Ngakho-ke, zafuna “elihle kunalelo, okungukuthi elasezulwini.” (Heberu 11:13-16) Zazithembeké eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini, njengoba nje kufanele kube njalo nangathi. Ngenxa yalesizathu, umphostoli uPetru wabiza amaKristu ngokuthi ‘abafokazi nezihambi.’ (1 Petru 2:11; Filipi 3:20) Eqinisweni, uJesu wathi abalandeli bakhe beqiniso “abasibo abezwe.” Lokhu kusho ukuthi, njengoba umphostoli uPawulu asho, amaKristu akufanele ‘asebenzise izwe ngokugcwele.’—Johane 17:16; 1 Korinte 7:31, qhathanisa neNW.
6. (a) Yini esidinga ukuyikhumbula, futhi isimo sethu singaqhathaniswa nani? (b) Isiphi isibonelo esiyisixwayiso sonke okufanele sisilandele?
6 Ngakho njalo sidinga ukukhumbula ukuthi lelizwe likaSathane liyindawo eyingozi ukuba siphile kuyo. Ukuchezuka kungasho inhlekelele. (1 Johane 5:19; 1 Petru 5:8) Isimo sethu singase sifaniswe naleso somuntu ohamba endaweni okutshalwe kuyo iziqhumane. Ecaphuna isibonelo esiyisixwayiso kumaKristu, umphostoli uPawulu walandisa ngamaIsrayeli ayeselungele ukungena eZweni Lesithembiso. Amaningi alahlekelwa ukuzimelela kwawo okungokomoya, ahileleka ekuziphatheni okubi, futhi abulawa uNkulunkulu. UPawulu wabhala: ‘Ngakho-ke osuka ethi umi, akaqaphele ukuba [angalahlekelwa ukuzimelela kwakhe okungokomoya bese] eyawa.’—1 Korinte 10:12.
Isizathu Sokuba Kube Isivikelo
7. Ikuphi ukuzihlola komuntu siqu okufanele sikwenze ngokuhlakanipha?
7 Ukuphila ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula kuyokuvikela ngoba kuyokuvumela ukuba ube nesikhathi namandla engeziwe okwenza izinto ezingokomoya. Ngakho ngokuhlakanipha zibuze: Ingabe ngenza ukuphila kwami kube okulula, noma ingabe ngikwenza kube inkimbinkimbi? Iziphi izinto ngempela eziza kuqala ekuphileni kwami? Abanye bathi banesikhathi esincane sokutadisha iBhayibheli noma sokuhlanganyela enkonzweni yasensimini. Kodwa siyini isizathu? Ngokunokwenzeka, siwukwehluleka kwabo ukuphila ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula. Kungani ungaqhathanisi isikhathi osisebenzisa ekuzijabuliseni, njengokubukela ithelevishini, nesikhathi osisebenzisa ekukhonzeni uJehova engxenyeni ethile yomsebenzi wobuKristu? Ingabe ukusebenzisa kwakho isikhathi kulinganiselwe? Ukwenza ukuphila kwakho kube okulula kuyokunika isikhathi sezinto ezibaluleke kakhulu, ezihlanganisa ukuhlanganyela ngezinga elengeziwe ekuvuneni okungokomoya okubaluleke kakhulu.—Filipi 1:9, 10; Mathewu 9:37.
8. Umuntu usilalela kanjani iseluleko sikaJesu sokufuna kuqala uMbuso, futhi yini efanekisela ukubaluleka kokuqhubekela phambili?
8 Eqinisweni, imisebenzi yakho engokomoya iyona ebonisa ukuthi uphila ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula noma cha. AmaKristu alalela iseluleko sikaJesu sokufuna uMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuqala aqhubekela phambili ngejubane elihle esifundweni seBhayibheli sasikhathi sonke, ekubeni khona emihlanganweni, nasenkonzweni yasensimini. Ukuqhubekela phambili okunjalo kuyisivikelo sangempela ekuweni. Kungase kuqhathaniswe nokugibela ibhayisekili. Labo abaye bazama ukumisa ibhayisekili elihamba kancane kangangokuba lize lime bayakuqonda ukubaluleka kokuba liqhubeke lihamba. Ngokufanayo, uma nje uqhubekela phambili ngejubane elihle enqubweni yomsebenzi ongokomoya, uvikelekile ekulahlekelweni ukuzimelela kwakho nasekuweni.—Filipi 3:16.
9. (a) Yini eyisikhumbuzo esihle kithi sonke? (b) Lapho sicabangela umsebenzi othile, imiphi imibuzo esingase sizibuze yona?
9 Nokho, kunesidingo senkuthalo, sokukhumbula ukuthi ukungazithwesi izinto eziningi kungasivumela ukuba sibe nesikhathi esengeziwe sokutadisha, sokulungiselela imihlangano, nesokusiza abanye. “Noma nini lapho ngilingeka ukuba ngithenge into engingayidingi, noma ngisebenze umsebenzi engingawudingi,” kwasho omunye umKristu ongusomabhizinisi, “ngiyazivimba ngesikhumbuzo sokuthi kugcine kulula. Ngezinye izikhathi kudingeka ukuba ngizenze buthuntu.” Ingabe leso akusona yini isikhumbuzo esihle ngathi sonke? Lapho ucabangela umsebenzi othile, mhlawumbe ukwandisa indlu yakho noma enye into, kungani ungazibuzi: Ingabe lokhu kuyoba nengxenye kwingokomoya lami nelomkhaya wami noma kuyolivimbela? Ingabe ngiyazidinga ngempela zonke lezinto abantu bezwe abaziphishekela ngentshiseko, noma ngingakwazi ukuphila ngaphandle kwazo?
10. Imibono ‘yomuntu ongokwemvelo’ iphambene kanjani naleyo ‘yomuntu ongokomoya’?
10 Nokho, omunye angase aphikise ngokuthi: ‘Ingabe ukuzidela okunjalo kudingeke ngempela? Ingabe kudingekile ukuba siphile ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula?’ Nokho, uPawulu wakhuluma ‘ngokomuntu’ ‘nangokukaNkulunkulu’ futhi wathi: “Umuntu wemvelo kakwamukeli okukaMoya kaNkulunkulu, ngokuba kungubuwula kuye; angekuqonde, ngokuba kubonisiswa ngokomoya. Kepha ongowomoya ubonisisa konke.” (1 Korinte 2:11, 14, 15) Ungaba kalula “umuntu wemvelo” ngokufuna nokuthola izinto ezibonakalayo ezingadingekile. Endabeni enjalo, ukuzidela kubonakala kuwukweqisa, futhi kuyinto engenangqondo. Kodwa lokho kuwumbono ‘womuntu ongokwemvelo,’ akuwona umbono ‘womuntu ongokomoya.’
11. Iyiphi indlela eyayiyoba eyokungalinganiseli ngoNowa, futhi sikuphila kanjani ukuphila okulinganiselwe namuhla?
11 Umuntu ongokomoya yilowo obheka izinto ngeso lokholo. Ubheka izinto ngombono kaNkulunkulu. Cabanga ngoNowa. Ingabe wayeyoba ngolinganiselayo uma, ngemva kokwazi ngenjongo kaNkulunkulu yokubhubhisa umhlaba ngoZamcolo, ayengachitha isikhathi sakhe akha indlu enkulu nengcono futhi ethola nezinto eziningi ezibonakalayo ezengeziwe? Ngokuqinisekile wayengeke! Umkhumbi wawuyisivikelo sakhe sangempela. NgoNowa, ukuphila ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula kwakuhilela ukunikela ukunakekela okugcwele ekwakheni umkhumbi nasekubeni “umshumayeli wokulunga,” naphezu kokuhleka usulu ‘kwabantu bemvelo’ ababengenalo ukholo. (2 Petru 2:5; Mathewu 24:37-39) Ngokufanayo, njengoba sesiye sakhanyiselwa ngokuba seduze kwesiphelo sezwe, okuwukuphela kwendlela yethu yokuphila elinganiselwe kuwukugxilisa ukunakekela kwethu ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu nasekumemezeleni izindaba ezinhle, ngisho nakuba lokho kungase kuhlanganise lokho abaningi abakubheka njengokudela lokho okuthiwa indlela evamile yokuphila.—1 Johane 2:17.
UJesu Wasifundisa Indlela Yokukwenza
12. (a) UJesu wathi yini okufanele siyeke ukuyenza, futhi esikhundleni sayo kufanele senzeni? (b) Kungani lolushintsho lwenjongo ludingekile?
12 ENtshumayelweni yakhe yaseNtabeni, uJesu wanikeza iseluleko esihle ngokuphila ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula. Wathi: ‘[Yekani, NW] ukuzibekelela ingcebo emhlabeni, lapho kona inundu nokugqwala, nalapho amasela efohla khona, ebe.’ UJesu wasebenzisa igama elithi “yekani” ngoba abantu ngokuvamile bayaqhubeka nje ‘bezibekelela’ izinto ezibonakalayo. Kodwa umuntu oba umfundi kaJesu akanakukwazi ukuqhubeka enza lokhu. Ukuphila kwakhe kumelwe kube nenjongo ehlukile, njengoba kuboniswa yilomyalo kaJesu owenezelayo: “Kepha zibekeleleni ingcebo ezulwini, lapho kungoni inundu nokugqwala, nalapho amasela engafohli khona, ebe.” Enikeza isizathu sokuthi kungani lolushintsho lwenjongo ludingeka, uJesu wathi: “Ngokuba lapho kukhona ingcebo yakho, nenhliziyo yakho iyakuba-khona lapho.”—Mathewu 6:19-21.
13. Ukuze uzibekelele ingcebo ezulwini, yini okumelwe uqiniseke ngayo?
13 Ingcebo yakho iyona oyicabangela njengebaluleke ngempela. Ingabe izinto ezibonakalayo ziyingcebo yakho? Noma ingabe iwukungcweliswa kwegama likaJehova uNkulunkulu nomvuzo wakhe awuthembisile? Ukuze usebenzise ukuphila kwakho uzibekelela ingcebo ezulwini kunasemhlabeni, kumelwe uqiniseke ngokuphelele ngokuba ngokoqobo koMbuso. Izwe elisha kumelwe libe ngokoqobo kuwena kangangokuthi uze ulibone ngeso lengqondo futhi uzibone ulapho usebenzela ukufezwa kwezinjongo zikaNkulunkulu ngomhlaba. NjengoMose, kumelwe ‘umbone ongabonwayo’ futhi uqiniseke ngokuqinile ukuthi ‘uyobavuza labo abamfunayo.’—Heberu 11:6, 27.
14. Iyoba yini imiphumela uma izinhliziyo zethu zigxile ezintweni ezibonakalayo?
14 Kodwa kuthiwani uma inhliziyo yakho, ehlanganisa izifiso zakho nothando lomzwelo, igxilé engcebweni yezinto ezibonakalayo? IBhayibheli lithi: “Ukuthanda imali kuyimpande yakho konke okubi; abanye ngokuyifisa badukelwa ukukholwa, bazigwaza ngeminjunju eminingi.” Ukuphishekela izinto ezibonakalayo ezingase zithengwe ngemali akunikezi ukwaneliseka kweqiniso nokuhlala njalo. (1 Thimothewu 6:10; UmShumayeli 5:10) Kodwa okuyinhlekelele kunakho konke, uthando lwemali nezinto ezibonakalayo luyokonakalisa ubuhlobo bakho noNkulunkulu, olindele ukuba simkhonze “ngenhliziyo epheleleyo.”—1 IziKronike 28:9.
15. (a) Imuphi umfanekiso onikezwa uJesu ngeso? (b) Kokubili ngomqondo ongokwenyama nongokomoya, umuntu angalilondoloza kanjani iso elihle? (c) Uma iso lethu lilihle, umbono wethu ongokomoya ungaba kanjani njengowabaphostoli abathathu bakaJesu?
15 Ukuze asisize ukuba sigweme ugibe lokuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo, uJesu wanikeza imifanekiso emibili. Okokuqala, wathi: “Isibani somzimba yiso. Ngakho uma iso lakho lilihle, uzakukhanya umzimba wakho wonke. Kepha uma iso lakho lilibi, uzakuba-mnyama umzimba wakho wonke.” (Mathewu 6:22, 23) Ngomqondo ongokwenyama, iso ‘elihle’ elibona kahle, lidlulisela imifanekiso ecacile engqondweni. Iso elingaboni kahle lidlulisela imifanekiso engahlelekile nefiphele. Ngokufanayo, iso elingokomoya ‘elihle,’ noma elibona kahle, lidlulisela imifanekiso ecacile ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, hhayi umfanekiso ofiphele, ongacacile obangela ukuba izwe elisha libonakale liyinganekwane. Uma iso lakho elingokomoya libona kahle, izwe elisha likaNkulunkulu elithenjisiwe liyoba ngokoqobo kuwe njengoba uMbuso wawunjalo kubaphostoli abathathu ababa nelungelo lokuwubona kusengaphambili embonweni omangalisayo wokukhazinyuliswa kukaJesu.—Mathewu 16:28–17:9; Johane 1:14; 2 Petru 1:16-19.
16. Emfanekisweni wesibili, uJesu wasibonisa kanjani isidingo sokuba nenjongo eyodwa?
16 UJesu wanikeza umfanekiso wesibili. Wathi: “Akakho ongakhonza amakhosi amabili. Ngokuba uyakuzonda enye, athande enye, noma abambelele kwenye, adelele enye.” Ecacisa iphuzu, waphinda wagcizelela isidingo sokubonisa injongo eyodwa, ethi: “Ningekhonze uNkulunkulu noMamona.” (Mathewu 6:24) Lokho ngeke nje kusebenze. Ngakho uJesu waqhubeka: “Ngalokho-ke ngithi kini: Ningakhathazeki ngokuphila kwenu ukuthi niyakudlani noma niyakuphuzani, nangomzimba wenu ukuthi niyakwembathani. . . . Ngokuba konke lokhu abezizwe bayakufunisisa; ingani uYihlo wasezulwini uyazi ukuthi niyakudinga konke lokhu.”—Mathewu 6:25-32.
17. (a) Iliphi iphuzu elalivezwa uJesu ngemiyalo yakhe ephathelene nezinto ezibonakalayo? (b) Wayegcizelelani uJesu lapha, futhi ukuphila ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula kuhilelani?
17 UJesu wayengasho ukuthi abalandeli bakhe kufanele bakuyeke ukulungiselela izidingo zezinto ezibonakalayo ngengqondo yokuthi zizozizela noma ukuthi kufanele bavilaphe futhi benqabe ukusebenza ukuze bazondle bona nemikhaya yabo. (1 Thimothewu 5:8) Cha, kodwa iphuzu liwukuthi lezizinto ezibonakalayo eziphishekelwa abezizwe ngentshiseko akufanele zithathe indawo yokuqala. Kunalokho, njengoba uJesu weluleka: “Funani kuqala umbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe, khona konke lokhu kuyakwenezelwa nina.” (Mathewu 6:33) Ngakho uJesu lapha wayekhuluma ngemigomo ekuphileni futhi wayegcizelela ubuze bokuphishekela izinto ezibonakalayo. Ukuphila ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula kuhilela ukugxilisa amehlo ethu ezithakazelweni zoMbuso kuphela, senze ukuba zonke ezinye izinto zize kamuva.
Isibonelo SikaJesu Nesabanye
18. UJesu wasibekela kanjani isibonelo esihle?
18 Lapho enxusa amaKristu ukuba ‘alahle konke okusindayo nesono [sokuntula noma sokulahlekelwa ukholo] esithandela kangaka kithi,’ uPawulu wanxusa: “Sigijime ngokubekezela kulokhukuncintisana esikumiselweyo, sibhekile kuJesu, umqalisi nomphelelisi wokukholwa kwethu.” (Heberu 12:1, 2) UJesu Kristu wayezinikele ngokuphelele ezithakazelweni zoMbuso kangangokuthi isimo sakhe sasinjengoba asichaza: “Izimpungushe zinemigodi, nezinyoni zezulu zinezidleke, kepha iNdodana yomuntu kayinandawo, lapho ingacamelisa khona ikhanda.” (Mathewu 8:20) Ngesikhathi esifanayo, uJesu wayengeyona indela. ImiBhalo ibonisa ukuthi wayekujabulela ukudla okumnandi nezambatho ezinhle, nokho injongo yakhe eyinhloko ekuphileni yayiwukuba afeze inkonzo yakhe. Kanjalo uJesu waphila ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula.—Luka 5:29; Johane 19:23, 24.
19, 20. (a) Isiphi isibonelo esabekwa uPawulu ngokuphathelene nezinto ezibonakalayo? (b) Isiphi isifundo esiye safundwa abaningi namuhla, futhi bazizwa kanjani ngendlela yabo yokuphila?
19 Nomphostoli uPawulu wayehlele izinto zakhe eziza kuqala ngokufanelekile. Wachaza: “Ukuphila angikushayi into yalutho ukuba kube-yigugu kimi, kuphela ukuba ngiphelelise ukuhamba kwami nenkonzo engayamukela eNkosini uJesu yokufakaza ngevangeli.” (IzEnzo 20:24) Yebo, ukuze afeze inkonzo ebaluleke kakhulu, uPawulu wayenelisekile ngezinto ezidingekile kodwa ekujabulela ukubusa ngezinye izikhathi. Wabhala: “Kukho konke nasezintweni zonke ngifundisiwe: ukusutha, nokulamba, nokubusa, nokuswela.”—Filipi 4:12.
20 Amashumi angokoqobo ezinkulungwane zabantu aye afunda isifundo esifanayo namuhla. Amaningi awo ayizikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele zoFakazi BakaJehova, kuhlanganise nezithunywa zevangeli, amaphayona, ababonisi abajikelezayo, nalabo abakhonza endlunkulu yezizwe zonke nasemahhovisi egatsha eNhlangano. Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi yenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele, abaningi bathi: “Uma bengingaphindela ebusheni, bengingeke ngenze lutho ngendlela ehlukile.”
Izibusiso Ongazijabulela
21, 22. (a) Imiphi imivuzo ejatshulelwa ngisho namanje lapho siphila ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula? (b) Yiziphi izibusiso zesikhathi esizayo ongazijabulela?
21 Nakuba ukuphila ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula kuhilela ukuzidela, izibusiso nezinjabulo azinakuqhathaniswa. Kanjalo uyoba nesikhathi esengeziwe sokwandisa izithakazelo zoMbuso namathuba engeziwe okuthola abathakazelayo futhi ubafundise ngezinjongo zikaNkulunkulu. Uyoba nokwaneliseka kweqiniso, kuhlanganise nokuthula kwengqondo nokuqiniseka ngokuthi ujabulisa uJehova uNkulunkulu. Yilowo umvuzo ongase uwujabulele ngisho namanje.—Filipi 4:6, 7.
22 Kodwa izibusiso zesikhathi esizayo ziyoba zinkulu kakhulu, okubangela ukuba noma ikuphi ukuzidela kwamanje ongase ukwenze kube okungenakuqhathaniseka. Izibusiso zikaJehova zihlanganisa “ukuphila kuze kube-phakade.” Yebo, lesosibusiso kungaba esakho—ukuphila okuphakade ngenjabulo ezweni elisha lokulunga likaJehova. Phila ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula manje, ungalokothi uvumele izinto zalelizwe zikulahlekisele ukulinganisela kwakho. Ungalokothi ukhohlwe ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyokunika izinto ezifiswa inhliziyo yakho.—IHubo 21:3, 4; 37:4; 133:3.
Imibuzo Yokubukeza
◻ Iziphi izibonelo nemifanekiso okuphawulile okungakusiza ukuba uphile ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula?
◻ Ukuphila ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula kuyosivikela kanjani?
◻ Uma iso lethu elingokomoya lilihle, lokhu kuyosho ukuthini kithi?
◻ UJesu wasifundisa kanjani ukuphila ukuphila okuvamile?
◻ Ziyini izibusiso zokuphila ukuphila okulinganiselwe nokulula?