‘Yibani Nothando Phakathi Kwenu’

“Bonke bayokwazi ngalokho ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma ninothando phakathi kwenu.”—JOHANE 13:35.

 1. Iyiphi imfanelo uJesu ayigcizelela ngaphambi nje kokufa kwakhe?

“BANTWANYANA.” (Johane 13:33) UJesu wababiza ngalelo gama elinomusa abaphostoli bakhe ngobusuku obandulela ukufa kwakhe. Akukho ndawo ekulandiseni kwamaVangeli lapho uJesu ake asebenzisa khona leli gama elinesihawu lapho ekhuluma nabo. Nokho, ngalobo busuku obukhethekile washukumiseleka ukuba asebenzise leli gama elibonisa uthando ukuze aveze indlela ayebathanda ngokujule ngayo abalandeli bakhe. Eqinisweni, uJesu wakhuluma ngothando izikhathi ezingaba ngu-30 ngalobo busuku. Kungani ayigcizelela kangaka le mfanelo?

 2. Kungani ukubonisa uthando kubaluleke kakhulu kumaKristu?

² UJesu wachaza ukuthi kungani uthando lubaluleke kakhulu. Wathi: “Bonke bayokwazi ngalokho ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma ninothando phakathi kwenu.” (Johane 13:35; 15:12, 17) Ukuba umlandeli kaKristu kuhambisana nokubonisa uthando lobuzalwane. AmaKristu eqiniso awabonakali ngendlela ethile engavamile yokugqoka noma ngamasiko angavamile, kodwa abonakala ngothando olufudumele nolunesisa abonisana lona. Ukuba nalolu hlobo oluvelele lothando kuyimfuneko yesibili kwezintathu eziyinhloko zokuba ngumfundi kaKristu ezishiwo ekuqaleni kwesihloko esandulele. Yini eyosisiza ukuba siqhubeke sihlangabezana nale mfuneko?

‘Ukukwenza Ngesilinganiso Esigcwele Ngokwengeziwe’

 3. Umphostoli uPawulu wanikeza siphi isikhuthazo mayelana nothando?

³ Njengoba kwakunjalo kubalandeli bakaKristu ekhulwini lokuqala, lolu thando oluvelele luyabonakala nanamuhla kubafundi bangempela bakaKristu. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhalela amaKristu ekhulu lokuqala, wathi: “Maqondana nothando lobuzalwane, anidingi ukuba sinilobele, ngoba nina ngokwenu nifundiswa uNkulunkulu ukuba nithandane; futhi, eqinisweni, lokho niyakwenza kubo bonke abazalwane.” Noma kunjalo, uPawulu wanezela: “Niqhubeke nikwenza ngesilinganiso esigcwele ngokwengeziwe.” (1 Thesalonika 3:12; 4:9, 10) Nathi kudingeka sisilalele isikhuthazo sikaPawulu sizame ukubonisana uthando “ngesilinganiso esigcwele ngokwengeziwe.”

 4. NgokukaPawulu noJesu, obani okufanele sibacabangele ngokukhethekile?

⁴ Kuyo leyo ncwadi ephefumulelwe, uPawulu wakhuthaza akholwa nabo ukuba ‘bakhulume ngokududuzayo nemiphefumulo ecindezelekile’ nokuba ‘basekele ababuthakathaka.’ (1 Thesalonika 5:14) Ngesinye isikhathi, wakhumbuza amaKristu ukuthi labo ‘abaqinile kufanele bathwale ubuthakathaka balabo abangaqinile.’ (Roma 15:1) UJesu naye wanikeza iziyalezo mayelana nokusiza ababuthakathaka. Ngemva kokubikezela ukuthi ngobusuku ayezoboshwa ngabo uPetru wayeyomshiya, uJesu watshela uPetru: “Lapho nje usubuyile, uqinise abafowenu.” Ngani? Ngoba nabo babeyobe bemshiyile uJesu futhi ngenxa yalokho babeyodinga usizo. (Luka 22:32; Johane 21:15-17) Ngakho, iZwi likaNkulunkulu lithi masibonise uthando kulabo ababuthakathaka ngokomoya nokungenzeka baye bahlukana nebandla lobuKristu. (Hebheru 12:12) Kungani kufanele senze kanjalo? Imifanekiso emibili ecacile kaJesu inikeza impendulo.

Imvu Elahlekile Nohlamvu Lwemali Olulahlekile

 5, 6. (a) Imiphi imifanekiso emibili emifushane uJesu ayilandisa? (b) Le mifanekiso yambulani ngoJehova?

⁵ Ukuze afundise izilaleli zakhe umbono kaJehova ngalabo abaye baphambuka, uJesu walandisa imifanekiso emibili emifushane. Omunye wawumayelana nomalusi. UJesu wathi: “Ukhona yini umuntu kini onezimvu eziyikhulu, okungathi lapho elahlekelwa eyodwa kuzo angashiyi ngemuva ezingamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesishiyagalolunye ehlane ahambe ayofuna elahlekile aze ayithole na? Lapho eseyitholile uyayitshatha ajabule. Lapho efika ekhaya ubiza abangane bakhe nomakhelwane bakhe, athi kubo, ‘Jabulani kanye nami, ngoba ngiyitholile imvu yami ebilahlekile.’ Ngiyanitshela ngithi kanjalo kuyoba nenjabulo eyengeziwe ezulwini ngesoni esisodwa esiphendukayo kunangabangamashumi ayisishiyagalolunye nesishiyagalolunye abangenasidingo sokuphenduka.”—Luka 15:4-7.

⁶ Umfanekiso wesibili wawumayelana nowesifazane. UJesu wathi: “Ukhona yini owesifazane onezinhlamvu zesiliva eziyishumi, othi uma elahlekelwa uhlamvu lwesiliva olulodwa, angakhanyisi isibani ashanele indlu yakhe afune ngokucophelela aze aluthole? Lapho eselutholile ubiza abesifazane abangabangane bakhe nomakhelwane, athi, ‘Jabulani kanye nami, ngoba ngilutholile uhlamvu lwesiliva obelungilahlekele.’ Kanjalo, ngiyanitshela, kuba khona injabulo phakathi kwezingelosi zikaNkulunkulu ngesoni esisodwa esiphendukayo.”—Luka 15:8-10.

 7. Iziphi izifundo ezimbili esizithola emfanekisweni wemvu elahlekile nowohlamvu lwemali olulahlekile?

⁷ Yini esiyifunda kule mifanekiso emifushane? Isibonisa ukuthi (1) kufanele sizizwe kanjani ngalabo asebebe buthakathaka nokuthi (2) yini okufanele siyenze ukuze sibasize. Ake sixoxe ngala maphuzu.

Kulahlekile Kodwa Kuyaziswa

 8. (a) Umalusi nowesifazane basabela kanjani ekulahlekelweni kwabo? (b) Indlela abasabela ngayo isitshelani ngombono ababenawo ngalokho okwakulahlekile?

⁸ Kuyo yomibili le mifanekiso kwakunokuthile okwakulahlekile, kodwa phawula indlela abanikazi abasabela ngayo. Umalusi akazange athi: ‘Iyini nje imvu eyodwa ngisenezingu-99? Ngingaphila ngaphandle kwayo.’ Owesifazane akazange athi: ‘Ngizozihluphelani ngalolo hlamvu olulodwa? Nganelisekile ngalezi ezingu-9 engisenazo.’ Kunalokho, umalusi wafuna imvu elahlekile njengokungathi ukuphela kwayo anayo. Nowesifazane kwamthinta ukulahlekelwa uhlamvu lwakhe njengokungathi wayengenazo ezinye. Kukho kokubili, okwakulahlekile kwaqhubeka kuyigugu engqondweni yomnikazi wakho. Kufanekiselani lokhu?

 9. Kufanekiselani ukukhathalela okuboniswa umalusi nowesifazane?

⁹ Phawula isiphetho sikaJesu kuzo zombili izimo: “Kanjalo kuyoba nenjabulo eyengeziwe ezulwini ngesoni esisodwa esiphendukayo” futhi “kanjalo, ngiyanitshela, kuba khona injabulo phakathi kwezingelosi zikaNkulunkulu ngesoni esisodwa esiphendukayo.” Ngakho-ke, ukukhathalela kukamalusi nokowesifazane, ngezinga elithile kubonisa imizwa kaJehova neyezidalwa zakhe zasezulwini. Njengoba nje lokho okwakulahlekile kwaqhubeka kuyigugu emehlweni omalusi nowesifazane, nalabo abaye bahlehla futhi bahlukana nabantu bakaNkulunkulu baqhubeka beyigugu emehlweni kaJehova. (Jeremiya 31:3) Abantu abanjalo kungenzeka babuthakathaka ngokomoya, kodwa akukhona ngempela ukuthi abezwa. Naphezu kwesimo sabo sokuba buthakathaka, kungenzeka ukuthi ngezinga elithile basazigcina izimfuneko zikaJehova. (IHubo 119:176; IzEnzo 15:29) Ngakho, njengasezikhathini zasendulo, uJehova uyephuza ‘ukubalahla phambi kobuso bakhe.’—2 AmaKhosi 13:23.

10, 11. (a) Sifuna ukubabheka kanjani labo abaye bahlehla ebandleni? (b) Ngokwemifanekiso kaJesu emibili, singabonisa kanjani ukuthi siyabakhathalela?

¹⁰ NjengoJehova noJesu, nathi sibakhathalela kakhulu labo ababuthakathaka nabangasabonakali ebandleni lobuKristu. (Hezekeli 34:16; Luka 19:10) Umuntu obuthakathaka ngokomoya simbheka njengemvu elahlekile—hhayi njengomuntu ongasenakusizwa. Asithi: ‘Sizozihluphelani ngomuntu obuthakathaka? Ibandla liqhubeka kahle ngaphandle kwakhe.’ Kunalokho, njengoJehova, labo abaye bahlehla kodwa abafuna ukubuya sibabheka njengabayigugu.

¹¹ Nokho, singayibonisa kanjani imizwa yethu yokukhathalela? Imifanekiso kaJesu emibili ibonisa ukuthi lokho singakwenza (1) ngokuthatha isinyathelo, (2) ngokuba nesisa (3) nangokukhuthala. Ake sihlole isici ngasinye.

Thatha Isinyathelo

12. Amazwi athi “ahambe ayofuna elahlekile” asitshelani ngesimo sengqondo sikamalusi?

¹² Emfanekisweni wokuqala kulena emibili, uJesu uthi umalusi ‘uyohamba ayofuna elahlekile.’ Umalusi uthatha isinyathelo enze umzamo oqondile wokuthola imvu elahlekile. Ubunzima, izingozi nebanga akumvimbi. Kunalokho, umalusi uyaphikelela “aze ayithole.”—Luka 15:4.

13. Amadoda athembekile asendulo asabela kanjani ezidingweni zababuthakathaka, futhi singazilingisa kanjani izibonelo ezinjalo eziseBhayibhelini?

¹³ Ngokufanayo, ukuzama ukusiza umuntu odinga isikhuthazo ngokuvamile kufuna ukuba lowo onamandla athathe isinyathelo. Amadoda athembekile asendulo ayekuqonda lokhu. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho uJonathani, indodana yeNkosi uSawule, ebona ukuthi umngane wakhe omkhulu uDavide udinga isikhuthazo, “wasuka waya kuDavide eHoreshi, ukuze aqinise isandla sakhe ngokuphathelene noNkulunkulu.” (1 Samuweli 23:15, 16) Ngemva kwamakhulu eminyaka, lapho uMbusi uNehemiya ebona ukuthi abanye babafowabo abangamaJuda base bedangele, naye ‘wasukuma ngokushesha’ wabakhuthaza ukuba ‘bacabange ngoJehova.’ (Nehemiya 4:14) Nathi namuhla sifuna ‘ukusukuma’—sithathe isinyathelo—ukuze siqinise labo ababuthakathaka. Kodwa ubani ebandleni okufanele enze lokhu?

14. Ubani ebandleni lobuKristu okufanele azame ukusiza labo ababuthakathaka?

¹⁴ Abadala abangamaKristu, ngokukhethekile, banomthwalo wemfanelo ‘wokuqinisa izandla benze amadolo axegayo aqine,’ futhi ‘bathi kulabo abakhathazekile enhliziyweni: “Yibani namandla. Ningesabi.”’ (Isaya 35:3, 4; 1 Petru 5:1, 2) Nokho, phawula ukuthi isikhuthazo sikaPawulu ‘sokukhuluma ngokududuzayo nemiphefumulo ecindezelekile nokusekela ababuthakathaka’ sasingabhekisiwe kubadala kuphela. Kunalokho, amazwi kaPawulu ayeqondiswe kulo lonke ‘ibandla laseThesalonika.’ (1 Thesalonika 1:1; 5:14) Ngakho ukuzama ukusiza ababuthakathaka kuwumsebenzi okufanele wenziwe yiwo wonke amaKristu. Njengomalusi osemfanekisweni, umKristu ngamunye kufanele ashukumiseleke ukuba ‘ahambe ayofuna olahlekile.’ Yiqiniso, lokhu kuyokwenziwa ngokuphumelelayo uma sibambisana nabadala. Ungasithatha yini isinyathelo sokuba usize othile obuthakathaka ebandleni lakini?

Yiba Nesisa

15. Mhlawumbe kungani umalusi eyitshatha imvu?

¹⁵ Wenzani umalusi lapho ekugcineni ethola imvu elahlekile? “Uyayitshatha.” (Luka 15:5) Yeka into ethinta inhliziyo neveza lukhulu! Kungenzeka imvu ibisinezinsuku eziningi izulazula endaweni engayazi, mhlawumbe isengozini ngisho neyamabhubesi azingelayo. (Jobe 38:39, 40) Akungabazeki ukuthi leyo mvu ayisenamandla ngenxa yokungadli. Isibuthakathaka kakhulu ukuba ikwazi ngamandla ayo ukubhekana nezingqinamba zokubuyela emuva emhlambini. Ngakho, umalusi uyagoba, ayifukule ngesisa, ayitshathe ayidlulise kuzo zonke izingqinamba njengoba ibuyela emhlambini. Singakulingisa kanjani ukukhathalela okuboniswa yilo malusi?

16. Kungani kufanele silingise isisa esaboniswa umalusi emvwini elahlekile?

¹⁶ Umuntu oye wahlukana nebandla kungenzeka ukhathele ngomqondo ongokomoya. Njengemvu ehlukene nomalusi, umuntu onjalo kungenzeka uye wazulazula kuleli zwe elinobutha. Ngaphandle kokuvikeleka akuthola emhlambini, ibandla lobuKristu, uchayeke kakhulu ekuhlaseleni kukaDeveli, ‘ohambahamba njengengonyama ebhongayo, efuna engamshwabadela.’ (1 Petru 5:8) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uba buthakathaka ngenxa yokungakutholi ukudla okungokomoya. Ngakho, ngamandla akhe eyedwa cishe ubuthakathaka kakhulu ukuba akwazi ukunqoba izingqinamba azobhekana nazo endleleni ebuyela ebandleni. Ngakho-ke, kudingeka sigobe, ngokomfanekiso, simfukule ngesisa obuthakathaka, futhi simtshathe simbuyise. (Galathiya 6:2) Singakwenza kanjani lokho?

17. Singamlingisa kanjani umphostoli uPawulu lapho sivakashele umuntu obuthakathaka?

¹⁷ Umphostoli uPawulu wathi: “Uma noma ubani ebuthakathaka, angibi buthakathaka kanye naye yini?” (2 Korinte 11:29, The New English Bible; 1 Korinte 9:22) UPawulu wayenozwela ngabantu, kuhlanganise nababuthakathaka. Sifuna ukubonisa ukuzwelana okufanayo nalabo ababuthakathaka. Lapho uvakashele umKristu obuthakathaka ngokomoya, mqinisekise ukuthi uyigugu emehlweni kaJehova nokuthi abanye oFakazi bamkhumbula kakhulu. (1 Thesalonika 2:17) Mazise ukuthi bakulungele ukumsekela, futhi kuye, bazimisele ukuba ‘ngumfowabo ozalelwe isikhathi sosizi.’ (IzAga 17:17; IHubo 34:18) Amazwi ethu asuka enhliziyweni angase amkhuthaze ngesisa kancane kancane aze akwazi ukubuyela emhlambini. Yini okufanele siyenze emva kwalokho? Umfanekiso wowesifazane nohlamvu lwemali olwalahleka uyasiqondisa.

Khuthala

18. (a) Kungani owesifazane osemfanekisweni engalahlanga ithemba? (b) Imiphi imizamo yenkuthalo eyenziwa owesifazane, futhi kwaphumelaphi?

¹⁸ Owesifazane olahlekelwe uhlamvu lwemali uyazi ukuthi isimo sinzima kodwa asisona esingenathemba. Ukube uhlamvu lwemali lwalulahleke esikhotheni esikhulu noma echibini elijulile elinodaka, cishe wayeyodela azitshele ukuthi akasenakuluthola. Nokho, njengoba azi ukuthi uhlamvu lwemali kumelwe ukuba lundawana-thile endlini yakhe, lapho engaluthola khona, uqala ukufunisisa ngenkuthalo. (Luka 15:8) Uqale akhanyise isibani ukuze kukhanye. Ube eseshanela, enethemba lokuthi uzozwa umsinjwana. Ekugcineni, ufunisisa kuzo zonke izindawo ezisekusithekeni kuze kube yilapho isibani sikhanyisa uhlamvu lwesiliva. Umzamo wenkuthalo walona wesifazane uyavuzwa!

19. Iziphi izifundo eziphathelene nokusiza ababuthakathaka esingazithola kulokho okwenziwa owesifazane osemfanekisweni wohlamvu lwemali olulahlekile?

¹⁹ Njengoba lesi sici somfanekiso sisikhumbuza, isibopho semiBhalo sokusiza umKristu obuthakathaka asikho ngaphezu kwamandla ethu. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, siyaqaphela ukuthi sidinga umzamo. Kakade, umphostoli uPawulu wathi kubadala base-Efesu: “Ngokushikashikeka ngale ndlela kumelwe nisize ababuthakathaka.” (IzEnzo 20:35) Khumbula ukuthi owesifazane akalutholi uhlamvu lwemali ngokuhambahamba nje endlini, lapha nalaphaya, noma ngankathi, uma kuthuke kwenzeka. Cha, uphumelela ngoba ufuna ngendlela ehlelekile “aze aluthole.” Ngokufanayo, lapho sizama ukuzuza umuntu obuthakathaka ngokomoya, indlela esenza ngayo kudingeka ibe nenkuthalo nokuzimisela. Yini esingayenza?

20. Yini engase yenziwe ukuze kusizwe ababuthakathaka?

²⁰ Singamsiza kanjani obuthakathaka ukuba akhe ukholo nokwazisa? Isifundo seBhayibheli somuntu siqu ngencwadi efanelekayo yamaKristu singase sibe yiyona nto edingekayo. Ngempela, ukuqhuba isifundo seBhayibheli nomuntu obuthakathaka kusinika ithuba lokumsiza njalo nangokungashwampuluzi. Cishe umbonisi wenkonzo anganquma kangcono ukuthi ubani onganikeza lolo sizo oludingekayo. Angase asikisele izihloko ezingatadishwa nencwadi engaba usizo kakhulu. Njengoba nje nowesifazane osemfanekisweni esebenzisa amathuluzi awusizo kulokho akwenzayo, nathi namuhla sinamathuluzi asisiza ukuba sifeze umthwalo esiwunikwe uNkulunkulu wokusiza labo ababuthakathaka. Sinamathuluzi amabili amasha, noma izincwadi, ayoba usizo ngokukhethekile kulokhu. Yincwadi ethi Khulekela Okuwukuphela KukaNkulunkulu Weqiniso nethi Sondela KuJehova.a

21. Ukusiza ababuthakathaka kuziletha kanjani izibusiso kuwo wonke umuntu?

²¹ Ukusiza labo ababuthakathaka kuletha izibusiso kuwo wonke umuntu. Osizwayo uthola injabulo yokuphinde ahlangane nabangane beqiniso. Sithola injabulo esuka enhliziyweni elethwa ukupha kuphela. (Luka 15:6, 9; IzEnzo 20:35b) Imfudumalo yebandla lilonke iyakhula njengoba ilungu ngalinye libonisa isithakazelo sothando kwabanye. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, udumo luya kuBelusi bethu abakhathalelayo, uJehova noJesu, njengoba isifiso sabo sokusekela ababuthakathaka sibonakala ezincekwini zabo zasemhlabeni. (IHubo 72:12-14; Mathewu 11:28-30; 1 Korinte 11:1; Efesu 5:1) Ngakho-ke, yeka izizathu ezinhle esinazo zokuqhubeka ‘sinothando phakathi kwethu’!

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Ungachaza?

• Kungani ukubonisa uthando kubalulekile kumuntu ngamunye kithi?

• Kungani kufanele sibonise uthando kulabo ababuthakathaka?

• Umfanekiso wemvu elahlekile nohlamvu lwemali olulahlekile isifundisa ziphi izifundo?

• Iziphi izinyathelo ezingokoqobo esingazithatha ukuze sisize umuntu obuthakathaka?

[Izithombe ekhasini 16, 17]

Lapho sisiza ababuthakathaka, sithatha isinyathelo, siba nesisa futhi sikhuthale

[Isithombe ekhasini 16, 17]

Ukusiza ababuthakathaka kulethela bonke izibusiso