Ingabe Uthembekile Kuzo Zonke Izinto?
“Umuntu othembekile kokuncane kakhulu uthembekile nakokukhulu.”—LUKA 16:10.
1. Iyiphi enye yezindlela uJehova athembeke ngazo?
WAKE waphawula yini ukuthi kwenzekani ethunzini lomuthi njengoba usuku luhamba? Ubukhulu balo nendawo elibheke kuyo kulokhu kushintsha! Imizamo nezithembiso zabantu ngokuvamile kushintsha njalo njengethunzi. UJehova uNkulunkulu yena akashintshi njengoba isikhathi sihamba. Embiza ngokuthi “uYise wezinkanyiso zasezulwini,” umfundi uJakobe uthi: “Kuye akukho ukushintshashintsha kokuphenduka kwethunzi.” (Jakobe 1:17) UJehova akashintshashintshi futhi uthembekile, ngisho nasezintweni ezincane kakhulu. “UnguNkulunkulu wokuthembeka.”—Duteronomi 32:4.
2. (a) Kungani kufanele sizihlole ukuze sibone ukuthi sithembekile yini? (b) Imiphi imibuzo ephathelene nokwethembeka esizoxoxa ngayo?
2 UNkulunkulu ukubheka kanjani ukwethembeka kwabakhulekeli bakhe? Ngendlela noDavide ayekubheka ngayo, owathi ngabo: “Amehlo ami aphezu kwabathembekile bomhlaba, ukuba bahlale kanye nami. Ohamba ngendlela engenaphutha, nguye oyongikhonza.” (IHubo 101:6) Yebo, uJehova uyakujabulela ukwethembeka kwezinceku zakhe. Kuyaqondakala ukuthi kungani umphostoli uPawulu abhala: “Okufunekayo kubaphathi ukuba umuntu atholakale ethembekile.” (1 Korinte 4:2) Kuhilelani ukuba ngumuntu othembekile? Iziphi izici zokuphila okufanele sithembeke kuzo? Ziyini izibusiso ‘zokuhamba ngendlela engenaphutha’?
Lokho Okushiwo Ukwethembeka
3. Yini ebonisa ukuthi sithembekile?
3 AmaHebheru 3:5 athi: “UMose njengesikhonzi wayethembekile.” Kungani kuthiwa umprofethi uMose wayethembekile? Lapho kwakhiwa futhi kumiswa itabernakele, “uMose wenza ngokuvumelana nakho konke uJehova ayemyale ngakho. Wenza kanjalo nje.” (Eksodusi 40:16) Njengabakhulekeli bakaJehova, sibonisa ukwethembeka ngokumlalela simkhonze. Akungabazeki ukuthi lokhu kuhlanganisa nokuhlala siqotho kuJehova lapho sibhekene novivinyo noma ukulingwa okukhulu. Nokho, ukuphumelela ekubhekaneni novivinyo olukhulu akukhona kuphela okubonisa ukuthi sithembekile. UJesu wathi: “Umuntu othembekile kokuncane kakhulu uthembekile nakokukhulu, nomuntu ongalungile kokuncane kakhulu akalungile nakokukhulu.” (Luka 16:10) Kumelwe sihlale sithembekile ngisho nasezintweni ezibonakala zincane.
4, 5. Ukwethembeka kwethu “kokuncane kakhulu” kuvezani?
4 Ukulalela nsuku zonke “kokuncane kakhulu” kubalulekile ngenxa yezizathu ezimbili. Okokuqala, kuveza indlela esizizwa ngayo ngobukhosi bukaJehova. Cabanga ngovivinyo lobuqotho abantu bokuqala ababili, u-Adamu no-Eva, ababhekana nalo. Kwakuyimfuneko eyayingabadaleli nobuncane ubunzima. Nakuba babevunyelwe ukudla zonke izinhlobo zokudla ensimini yase-Edene, kwakunesithelo somuthi owodwa vò ababenqatshelwe ukusidla—‘umuthi wolwazi lokuhle nokubi.’ (Genesise 2:16, 17) Ukuwulalela kwabo ngokwethembeka lowo myalo olula kwakuyobonisa ukuthi lo mbhangqwana wokuqala wawusekela ubukhosi bukaJehova. Ukulandela iziyalezo zikaJehova ekuphileni kwethu kwansuku zonke kubonisa ukuthi sisekela ubukhosi bukaJehova.
5 Okwesibili, indlela esenza ngayo “kokuncane kakhulu” kuthinta indlela esiyokwenza ngayo “nakokukhulu,” okungukuthi, lapho sibhekene nezimpikiswano ezinkulu ekuphileni. Kulokhu, cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka kuDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu abangamaHebheru—uHananiya, uMishayeli, no-Azariya. Badingiselwa eBhabhiloni ngo-617 B.C.E. Besebancane, cishe bengakafiki eminyakeni engamashumi amabili ubudala, bazithola besesigodlweni seNkosi uNebukhadinezari bobane. Lapho, “[bamiselwa] isabelo sansuku zonke ezibilibocweni zenkosi nasewayinini layo, ukuba bondliwe nokondliwa iminyaka emithathu, ukuze kuthi ekupheleni kwayo bame phambi kwenkosi.”—Daniyeli 1:3-5.
6. UDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu abangamaHebheru babhekana naluphi uvivinyo esigodlweni saseBhabhiloni?
6 Nokho, ukudla kwenkosi yaseBhabhiloni kwazibekela inselele lezi zinsizwa ezine ezingamaHebheru. Ezibilibocweni zenkosi cishe kwakukhona nokudla okwakwenqatshelwe eMthethweni KaMose. (Duteronomi 14:3-20) Izilwane ezihlatshiwe kungenzeka zazingophiswanga ngokufanele, futhi ukudla inyama enjalo kwakuyoba ukwephula uMthetho kaNkulunkulu. (Duteronomi 12:23-25) Kungenzeka nokuthi lokho kudla kwakunikelwe ezithombeni, njengoba babevame ukwenza abakhulekeli baseBhabhiloni ngaphambi kokudla isidlo senhlanganyelo.
7. Ukulalela kukaDaniyeli nabangane bakhe abathathu kwabonisani?
7 Akungabazeki ukuthi imingcele ephathelene nokudla yayingasho lutho endlini yenkosi yaseBhabhiloni. Nokho ezinhliziyweni zabo, uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe babezimisele ukungazingcolisi ngokudla ukudla okwakwenqatshelwe eMthethweni uNkulunkulu ayewunike u-Israyeli. Lena kwakuyindaba ehilela ubuqotho nokwethembeka kwabo kuNkulunkulu. Ngakho bacela ukuba ukudla kwabo kube imifino namanzi, bavunyelwa. (Daniyeli 1:9-14) Kwabanye abantu namuhla, lokho okwenziwa yilezo zinsizwa ezine kungase kubonakale kuyinto engasho lutho. Nokho, ukulalela kwazo uNkulunkulu kwabonisa ukuthi zisekela bani empikiswaneni yobukhosi bukaJehova.
8. (a) Iluphi uvivinyo lobuqotho olubucayi amaHebheru amathathu abhekana nalo? (b) Waba yini umphumela, futhi lokhu kubonisani?
8 Ukwethembeka kulokho okwakungase kubonakale kungabalulekile kangako kwalungiselela abangane bakaDaniyeli abathathu ukubhekana nokulingwa okukhulu. Vula isahluko 3 sencwadi yeBhayibheli kaDaniyeli, uzifundele indlela la maHebheru amathathu abhekana ngayo nesijeziso sokufa ngenxa yokwenqaba ukukhulekela isithombe segolide esasimiswe iNkosi uNebukhadinezari. Lapho eselethwe phambi kwenkosi, akuveza ngokuqiniseka lokho ayezimisele ngakho: “Uma kumelwe kube njalo, uNkulunkulu wethu esimkhonzayo uyakwazi ukusophula. Uyosophula esithandweni somlilo esivuthayo nasesandleni sakho nkosi. Kodwa uma kungenjalo, makwazeke kuwe, nkosi, ukuthi onkulunkulu bakho akubona onkulunkulu esibakhonzayo, futhi umfanekiso wegolide owumisile ngeke siwukhulekele.” (Daniyeli 3:17, 18) Ingabe uJehova wawophula? Abaqaphi abaphonsa lezi zinsizwa esithandweni somlilo bafa, kodwa la maHebheru amathathu athembekile aphuma ephila—ngisho nje nokuhanguka lokhu esithandweni somlilo esishisayo! Umkhuba wawo wokwethembeka wawasiza ukuba akulungele ukwethembeka kulolo vivinyo olubucayi. Ingabe lokhu akubonisi ukuthi kubalulekile ukwethembeka ezintweni ezincane?
Ukwethembeka Mayelana “Nengcebo Engalungile”
9. Uyini umongo wamazwi kaJesu akuLuka 16:10?
9 Ngaphambi kokuba asho isimiso esithi umuntu othembekile ezintweni ezibonakala zincane uthembekile nakwezibalulekile, uJesu weluleka izilaleli zakhe: “Zenzeleni abangane ngengcebo engalungile, ukuze kuthi lapho ihluleka, banamukele ezindaweni zokuhlala zaphakade.” Wabe esesho la mazwi akhuluma ngokwethembeka kokuncane kakhulu. Ngemva kwalokho, wathi: “Ngakho-ke, uma ningathembekanga mayelana nengcebo engalungile, ubani oyoniphathisa okuyikonakona? . . . Ayikho inceku engaba isigqila samakhosi amabili; ngoba, iyozonda enye ithande enye, noma iyonamathela kwenye idelele enye. Aninakuba izigqila zikaNkulunkulu nezeNgcebo.”—Luka 16:9-13.
10. Singakubonisa kanjani ukwethembeka endleleni esisebenzisa ngayo ‘ingcebo engalungile’?
10 Ngokomongo, lapho uJesu esho amazwi akuLuka 16:10 wayekhuluma ngokusebenzisa ‘ingcebo engalungile,’ izinto zethu ezibonakalayo. Kuthiwa le ngcebo—ikakhulu imali—ayilungile ngoba ilawulwa abantu abanesono. Ngaphezu kwalokho, isifiso sokuthola ingcebo singaholela ezenzweni zokungalungi. Sibonisa ukwethembeka ngokusebenzisa ukuhlakanipha endleleni esisebenzisa ngayo izinto zethu ezibonakalayo. Kunokuba siyisebenzisele ukuzizuzisa thina, sifuna ukuyisebenzisela ukuthuthukisa izithakazelo zoMbuso nokusiza abaswele. Ngokwethembeka ngale ndlela, sakha ubungane noJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu, abanikazi ‘bezindawo zokuhlala zaphakade.’ Bayosamukela kulezi zindawo, basinike ukuphila okuphakade ezulwini noma ePharadesi emhlabeni.
11. Kungani kungafanele sizigodle ekuchazeleni abaninikhaya ukuthi siyayamukela iminikelo yokusekela umsebenzi womhlaba wonke owenziwa oFakazi BakaJehova?
11 Cabanga nangalokho esikunika abantu esibahambisela amaBhayibheli noma izincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini lapho simemezela isigijimi soMbuso futhi sibachazela ukuthi siyayamukela iminikelo yokusekela umsebenzi womhlaba wonke owenziwa abantu bakaJehova. Sisuke singabaniki yini ithuba lokusebenzisa izinto zabo ezibonakalayo ngokuhlakanipha? Nakuba amazwi akuLuka 16:10 ashiwo kukhulunywa ngokusebenzisa izinto ezibonakalayo, isimiso sawo siyasebenza nakwezinye izici zokuphila.
Ukwethembeka Kwezezimali Nasemsebenzini
12, 13. Iziphi izici esingabonisa kuzo ukwethembeka?
12 Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Sithemba ukuthi sinonembeza othembekile, njengoba sifisa ukuziphatha ngokwethembeka ezintweni zonke.” (Hebheru 13:18) Ngokuqinisekile, inkulumo ethi “ezintweni zonke” ihlanganisa nakho konke okuhilela imali. Izikweletu zethu nentela sikukhokha ngokushesha nangokwethembeka. Ngani? Senza kanjalo ngenxa kanembeza wethu. Ngokuyinhloko kungenxa yothando lwethu ngoNkulunkulu nangenxa yokulalela imiyalo yakhe. (Roma 13:5, 6) Senzenjani lapho sithola okuthile okungekhona okwethu? Sizama ukuthozisela umninikho. Yeka ukuthi lokhu kuba ubufakazi obuhle kanjani lapho sichaza ukuthi yini esenze samthozisela into yakhe!
13 Ukwethembeka kuzo zonke izinto kuhilela nokwethembeka emsebenzini. Ukwethembeka emikhutsheni yethu yokusebenza kuqhakambisa uNkulunkulu esimmelelayo. “Asintshontshi” isikhathi ngokuvilapha. Kunalokho, sisebenza kanzima, njengokungathi sisebenzela uJehova. (Efesu 4:28; Kolose 3:23) Kwelinye izwe laseYurophu kulinganiselwa ukuthi ingxenye eyodwa kwezintathu ezisebenzini ezicela incwadi kadokotela egunyaza ukuba zingayi emsebenzini ngenxa yokugula, isuke ikhohlisa. Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zeqiniso azenzi izaba zokungayi emsebenzini. Ngezinye izikhathi, oFakazi BakaJehova bayakhushulwa ezikhundleni ngoba abaqashi bebona ukwethembeka nokukhuthala kwabo.—IzAga 10:4.
Ukwethembeka Enkonzweni Yethu YobuKristu
14, 15. Iziphi ezinye zezindlela esingathembeka ngazo enkonzweni yobuKristu?
14 Sikubonisa kanjani ukwethembeka enkonzweni esiyiphathisiwe? IBhayibheli lithi: “Masinikele ngaso sonke isikhathi kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo wokudumisa, okuwukuthi, isithelo sezindebe ezivuma obala igama lakhe.” (Hebheru 13:15) Indlela eyinhloko yokubonisa ukwethembeka enkonzweni yasensimini iwukuhlanganyela njalo kuyo. Singavumelani nje ukuba kuze kuphele inyanga singazange sishumayele ngoJehova nangezinjongo zakhe? Ukuhlanganyela njalo emsebenzini wokushumayela kusisiza nokuba sithuthukise amakhono ethu futhi siphumelele ngokwengeziwe.
15 Enye indlela enhle yokubonisa ukwethembeka enkonzweni yasensimini iwukusebenzisa ukusikisela okukuyi-Nqabayokulinda nakuyi-Nkonzo Yethu YoMbuso. Lapho silungiselela futhi sisebenzisa izintshumayelo ezisikiselwe noma ezinye ezifanelekayo, inkonzo yethu ayitheli yini ngokwengeziwe? Lapho sihlangana nomuntu obonisa isithakazelo esigijimini soMbuso, ingabe silandelela ngokushesha ukuze sisihlakulele leso sithakazelo? Kuthiwani ngezifundo zeBhayibheli zasekhaya esingase siziqale nabantu abathakazelayo? Ingabe siziqhuba njalo ngokwethembeka? Ukwethembeka kwethu enkonzweni kungasiholela ekuphileni, thina nabasilalelayo.—1 Thimothewu 4:15, 16.
Ukuzigcina Sihlukile Ezweni
16, 17. Iziphi izindlela esingabonisa ngazo ukuthi sihlukile ezweni?
16 Lapho ethandaza kuNkulunkulu, uJesu wathi ngabalandeli bakhe: “Ngibaniké izwi lakho, kodwa izwe liye labazonda, ngoba bengeyona ingxenye yezwe, njengoba nje nami ngingeyona ingxenye yezwe. Angikuceli ukuba ubakhiphe ezweni, kodwa ukuba ubabheke ngenxa yomubi. Abayona ingxenye yezwe, njengoba nje nami ngingeyona ingxenye yezwe.” (Johane 17:14-16) Singase sizimisele kakhulu ukuhlala sihlukile ezweni ezindabeni ezinkulu, ezinjengokungathathi-hlangothi, amaholide namasiko enkolo, nokuziphatha okubi. Kodwa senzenjani ezintweni ezincane? Kungenzeka yini ukuthi sithonywa izindlela zezwe singaqaphele nakuqaphela? Ngokwesibonelo, yeka indlela okungaba lula ngayo ukuba sigqoke ngendlela engahloniphekile nengafaneleki uma singanakile! Ukwethembeka kufuna ukuba sibe ‘nesizotha nokuhluzeka kwengqondo’ ekugqokeni nasekuzilungiseni. (1 Thimothewu 2:9, 10) Yebo, “asinikezi sizathu sokukhubeka nangayiphi indlela, ukuze inkonzo yethu ingatholakali inephutha; kodwa ngazo zonke izindlela sizitusa njengezikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu.”—2 Korinte 6:3, 4.
17 Ngenxa yokuthi sifisa ukudumisa uJehova, sigqoka ngendlela ehloniphekile lapho siya emihlanganweni yethu yebandla. Senza kanjalo nalapho sihlangene sibaningi emihlanganweni yethu yesifunda neyesigodi. Kudingeka sigqoke ngendlela efanelana nezimo futhi ehloniphekile. Lokhu kunikeza ubufakazi kwabasibhekile. Ngisho nezingelosi ziyakuphawula esikwenzayo, njengoba zazikuphawula nalokho uPawulu namanye amaKristu ababekwenza. (1 Korinte 4:9) Eqinisweni, kufanele sigqoke ngendlela efanelekayo ngazo zonke izikhathi. Kwabanye, ukwethembeka endabeni yokukhetha izingubo zokugqoka kungase kubonakale kuyinto encane, kodwa kuNkulunkulu kubalulekile.
Izibusiso Zokwethembeka
18, 19. Ukwethembeka kuletha ziphi izibusiso?
18 AmaKristu eqiniso abizwa “ngabaphathi abahle bomusa ongafanelwe kaNkulunkulu obonakaliswe ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene.” Njengabaphathi, ‘ancike emandleni anikezwa nguNkulunkulu.’ (1 Petru 4:10, 11) Ngaphezu kwalokho, njengabaphathi, siphathiswe okuthile okungekhona okwethu—imisebenzi ebonisa umusa kaNkulunkulu ongafanelwe, ehlanganisa inkonzo. Lapho siba abaphathi abahle, sincika emandleni anikezwa nguNkulunkulu, “amandla angaphezu kwavamile.” (2 Korinte 4:7) Yeka ukuqeqeshwa okuhle kokusisiza sibhekane nanoma ikuphi ukulingwa okungase kusehlele esikhathini esizayo!
19 Umhubi wahlabelela: “O mthandeni uJehova, nina nonke abaqotho bakhe. UJehova uyabalonda abathembekile.” (IHubo 31:23) Masizimisele ukuba abathembekile, siqiniseka ngokugcwele ukuthi uJehova ‘unguMsindisi wazo zonke izinhlobo zabantu, ikakhulukazi wabathembekile.’—1 Thimothewu 4:10.
Uyakhumbula?
• Kungani kufanele ‘sithembeke kokuncane kakhulu’?
• Singaba kanjani abathembekile
kwezezimali nasemsebenzini?
enkonzweni?
ngokuphathelene nokuzigcina sihlukile ezweni?
[Izithombe ekhasini 26]
Othembekile kokuncane kakhulu uthembekile nakokukhulu
[Isithombe ekhasini 29]
‘Ziphatheni ngokwethembeka ezintweni zonke’
[Isithombe ekhasini 29]
Indlela enhle yokubonisa ukwethembeka ukuyilungiselela kahle inkonzo yasensimini
[Isithombe ekhasini 30]
Gqoka futhi uzilungise ngendlela enesizotha