‘Funa Ukuthula Futhi Ukuphishekele’
‘Makadunyiswe uJehova [othokozela ukuthula, “NW”] kwenceku yakhe.’—IHUBO 35:27.
1. Yikuphi ukuthula esikujabulelayo namuhla?
YEKA ukuthi kuyinjabulo kangakanani ukuba nokuthula kulelizwe elihlukene phakathi! Yeka ukuthi kujabulisa kanjani ukukhulekela uJehova, ‘uNkulunkulu wokuthula uqobo,’ nokuhlanganyela ezibusisweni ‘zesivumelwano’ sakhe “sokuthula”! Lapho sikhungethwe izinto ezicindezelayo zokuphila, yeka ukuthi kuqabula kanjani ukwazi “ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu okudlula ukuqonda konke” kanye nokuzwa ‘isibopho sokuthula’ esihlanganisa abantu bakaNkulunkulu kungakhathaliseki ubuzwe babo, ulimi, uhlanga noma isizinda esingokwenhlalo!—1 Thesalonika 5:23; Hezekeli 37:26; Filipi 4:7; Efesu 4:3.
2, 3. (a) Njengoba abantu bakaNkulunkulu bebonke beyokhuthazela, yini engenzeka kumaKristu ngamanye? (b) Yini iBhayibheli elisinxusa ukuba siyenze?
2 NjengoFakazi BakaJehova, siyakwazisa lokhu kuthula. Nokho, asinakukuthatha kalula. Ukuthula akulondolozwa ngokuzenzakalelayo ngenxa nje yokuthi sihlanganyela nebandla lobuKristu noma siye saba ingxenye yomkhaya wamaKristu. Njengoba insali egcotshiwe nabangane bayo ‘bezinye izimvu’ bezokhuthazela njengomhlambi owodwa kuze kube sekugcineni, abantu ngabanye bangalahlekelwa ukuthula kwabo futhi bawe.—Johane 10:16; Mathewu 24:13; Roma 11:22; 1 Korinte 10:12.
3 Umphostoli uPawulu waxwayisa amaKristu agcotshiwe osuku lwakhe: “Xwayani, bazalwane, ukuba nakoyedwa kini kungabikhonhliziyo embi, engakholwayo, emhlubukisa kuNkulunkulu ophilayo.” (Heberu 3:12) Lesixwayiso sisebenza nasesixukwini esikhulu. Ngakho iBhayibheli linxusa amaKristu: ‘Funani ukuthula, nikujonge [nikuphishekele, NW], ngokuba amehlo eNkosi aphezu kwabalungileyo, izindlebe zayo zisekunxuseni kwabo, kepha ubuso beNkosi buphezu kwabenza okubi.”—1 Petru 3:10-12; IHubo 34:14, 15.
“Ukunaka Kwenyama”
4. Yini engaphazamisa ukuthula kwethu noNkulunkulu?
4 Yini engaphazamisa ukuphishekela kwethu ukuthula? UPawulu ukhuluma ngokukodwa lapho ethi: “Ukunaka kwenyama kungukufa kepha ukunaka kukaMoya kungukuphila nokuthula. Ngokuba ukunaka kwenyama kungubutha kuNkulunkulu.” (Roma 8:6, 7) Ngelithi ‘inyama,’ uPawulu ubhekisela esimweni sethu esiwile njengabantu abangaphelele abanokuthambekela okunesono okuzuzwe njengefa. Ukuvumela ukunqotshwa ukuthambekela kwenyama ewile kuzobhubhisa ukuthula kwethu. Uma umKristu ngokungaphenduki eziphatha kabi, eqamba amanga, eba, esebenzisa izidakamizwa, noma ngandlelathile ephula umthetho waphezulu, uphazamisa ukuthula okuphakathi kwakhe noJehova ake wakujabulela. (IzAga 15:8, 29; 1 Korinte 6:9, 10; IsAmbulo 21:8) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uma evumela izinto ezibonakalayo zibe izinto ezibaluleke kakhulu kuye kunezinto ezingokomoya, ukuthula kwakhe noNkulunkulu kusongelwa ngokungathi sina.—Mathewu 6:24; 1 Johane 2:15-17.
5. Yini ehilelekile ekuphishekeleni ukuthula?
5 Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uPawulu wathi: “Ukunaka kukaMoya kungukuphila nokuthula.” Ukuthula kuyingxenye yezithelo zomoya, futhi uma siqeqesha inhliziyo yethu ukuba yazise izinto ezingokomoya, sithandazela umoya kaNkulunkulu ukuba usisize kulokhu, khona-ke siyokugwema “ukunaka kwenyama.” (Galathiya 5:22-24) Kweyoku-1 Petru 3:10-12, ukuthula kuhlanganiswa nokulunga. (Roma 5:1) UPetru uthi ukuphishekela ukuthula kuhlanganisa ‘nokudeda ebubini, ka-nye nokwenza okuhle.’ Umoya kaNkulunkulu ungasisiza ukuba “[siphishekele] ukulunga” futhi kanjalo silondoloze ukuthula kwethu no-Nkulunkulu.—1 Thimothewu 6:11, 12.
6. Yimuphi omunye wemithwalo yemfanelo yabadala ngokuqondene nokuthula kwebandla?
6 Ukuphishekela ukuthula kuyinto abadala ebandleni abayikhathalela ngokuyinhloko. Ngokwesibonelo, uma othile ezama ukungenisa imikhuba engcolisayo, abadala banomthwalo wemfanelo wokuvikela ibandla ngokuzama ukusola isoni. Uma ekwamukela ukusolwa, uyophinde akuzuze ukuthula kwakhe. (Heberu 12:11) Uma engakwamukeli, kungase kudingeke axoshwe ukuze kulondolozwe ubuhlobo bebandla obunokuthula noJehova.—1 Korinte 5:1-5.
Ukuthula Nabafowethu
7. Yikuphi ukubonakaliswa ‘kokunaka inyama’ uPawulu abaxwayisa ngako abaseKorinte?
7 ‘Ukunaka inyama’ ngeke kubhubhise ukuthula kwethu noNkulunkulu kuphela kodwa futhi nobudlelwane bethu obuhle namanye amaKristu. UPawulu wabhalela abaseKorinte: “Niseyibo abenyama. Ngokuba uma kusekhona phakathi kwenu umhawu nokuphikisana, anisibo abenyama, anihambisi okwabantu na?” (1 Korinte 3:3) Umhawu nokuphikisana kuyizinto eziphambene kakhulu nokuthula.
8. (a) Yini engenzeka kumuntu obangela umhawu nokuphikisana ebandleni? (b) Ukuthula kwethu noNkulunkulu kuxhomekephi?
8 Ukuphazamisa ukuthula kwebandla ngokubangela umhawu nokuphikisana kungokungathi sina ngempela. Ekhuluma ngemfanelo ehlobene nokuthula njengeyisithelo somoya, umphostoli uJohane waxwayisa: “Uma umuntu esho ukuthi: Ngiyamthanda uNkulunkulu, kepha ezonda umzalwane wakhe, ungumqambimanga; ngokuba ongathandi umzalwane wakhe ambonileyo angemthande uNkulunkulu angambonanga.” (1 Johane 4:20) Ngendlela efanayo, uma umuntu ebangela umhawu noma ukuphikisana phakathi kwabazalwane, ingabe ngempela angaba nokuthula noNkulunkulu? Ngokuqinisekile ngeke! Siyanxuswa: ‘[Qhubekani, NW] nithokoza, nipheleliswe, niduduzwe, nibe-nhliziyonye, nibe-nokuthula; khona uNkulunkulu wothando nokuthula uyakubanani.’ (2 Korinte 13:11) Yebo, uma siqhubeka siphilisana ngokuthula, khona-ke uNkulunkulu wothando nokuthula uzoba nathi.
9. Sazi kanjani ukuthi amaKristu ngezinye izikhathi ayoba nokungezwani kanye nokungavumelani?
9 Lokhu akusho ukuthi ngeke kube nokungezwani phakathi kwamaKristu. Emasontweni alandela iPentekoste, kwaba khona ukungavumelani ebandleni lobuKristu elalisanda kumiswa ngokwabiwa kokudla kwansuku zonke. (IzEnzo 6:1) Kwesinye isenzakalo ukungezwani phakathi kukaPawulu noBarnaba kwaholela ‘ekuphikisaneni okukhulu.’ (IzEnzo 15:39) UPawulu kwadingeka aluleke uEvodiya noSintike, ngokungangabazeki odade abakahle nabashisekayo, “ukuba babe-nokuqonda kunye eNkosini.” (Filipi 4:2) Yingakho uJesu anikeza iseluleko esinayo yonke imininingwane ngendlela yokuxazulula izinto eziphazamisa ukuthula phakathi kwamaKristu futhi waqokomisa ukuphuthuma kokusingatha izinkinga ezinjalo ngokushesha! (Mathewu 5:23-25; 18:15-17) Wayengeke anikeze lesiseluleko uma wayengalindele ukuba kube nobunzima phakathi kwabalandeli bakhe.
10. Yiziphi izimo ngezinye izikhathi eziphakamayo ebandleni, futhi lokhu kubeka muphi umthwalo wemfanelo kubo bonke abahilelekile?
10 Khona-ke, namuhla kungokunokwenzeka kakhulu ukuthi othile acasulwe igama elingashiwongo ngokuhlakanipha noma okubonakala kuwukunganaki okwenziwa umKristu akanye naye. Isici esikomunye umuntu singase simcasule kakhulu omunye. Ubuntu bungase bungazwani. Othile angase angavumelani ngokuphelele nesinqumo sabadala. Endikimbeni yabadala ngokwayo, omunye umdala angase abe nombono oqinile futhi azame ukubusa abanye abadala. Naphezu kweqiniso lokuthi izinto ezinjalo ziyenzeka, kusamelwe sifune ukuthula futhi sikuphishekele. Inselele iwukusingatha lezinkinga ngendlela yobuKristu ukuze silondoloze ‘isibopho sokuthula.’—Efesu 4:3.
11. Yimaphi amalungiselelo uJehova aye wawenza okusisiza ukuba siphishekele ukuthula phakathi kwethu?
11 IBhayibheli lithi: ‘Makadunyiswe uJehova [othokozela ukuthula, NW] kwenceku yakhe.’ (IHubo 35:27) Yebo, uJehova ufuna ukuba sibe nokuthula. Ngakho, wenze amalungiselelo amabili avelele okusisiza ukuba silondoloze ukuthula phakathi kwethu nokuthula kwethu naye. Elinye liwumoya ongcwele, ukuthula okuyisithelo sawo, kanye nezimfanelo zokuthula ezihlobene nakho, njengokubekezela, ububele, ubumnene nokuzithiba. (Galathiya 5:22, 23) Elinye liwukuhlakanipha kwaphezulu, esifunda ukuthi ngakho: “Ukuhlakanipha okwaphezulu okokuqala kumhlophe, andukuba kube-nokuthula, nokuva, nokulalela, kugcwele isihawu nezithelo ezinhle.”—Jakobe 3:17, 18.
12. Yini okufanele siyenze uma ukuthula kwethu nabafowethu kuye kwaphazamiseka?
12 Ngakho-ke, lapho ukuthula kwethu nabanye kuphazamiseka, kufanele sithandazele ukuhlakanipha okuvela phezulu ukuba kusibonise ukuthi singenzenjani, futhi kufanele sicele umoya ongcwele ukuba usiqinise ukuba senze okulungile. (Luka 11:13; Jakobe 1:5; 1 Johane 3:22) Khona-ke, ngokuvumelana nemithandazo yethu, singabheka kulomthombo wokuhlakanipha kwaphezulu, iBhayibheli, ukuze sithole isiqondiso, futhi sibheke nezincwadi zeBhayibheli ezitholakalayo ukuze sithole iseluleko ngokuqondene nokuthi singayisebenzisa kanjani imiBhalo. (2 Thimothewu 3:16) Singase futhi sifise ukufuna iseluleko kubadala ebandleni. Isinyathelo sokugcina siyoba ukulandela isiqondiso esisitholile. UIsaya 54:13 uthi: “Bonke abantwana bakho bayakuba-ngabafundi bakaJehova, nokuthula kwabantwana bakho kuyakuba-kukhulu.” Lokhu kusikisela ukuthi ukuthula kwethu kuxhomeke ekusebenziseni kwethu izinto uJehova asifundisa zona.
“Bayajabula Abanokuthula”
13, 14. (a) Yini esikiselwa inkulumo kaJesu ethi “abanokuthula”? (b) Singaba kanjani abenzi bokuthula?
13 UJesu, eNtshumayelweni yakhe yaseNtabeni, wathi: “Bayajabula abanokuthula, ngoba bayobizwa ngokuthi ‘amadodana kaNkulunkulu.’” (Mathewu 5:9, NW) Lapha, ‘ukuba nokuthula’ akubhekiseli kumuntu othule nje ngokwemvelo. Igama lesiGreki lokuqala lisho “abenzi bokuthula.” Umenzi wokuthula unekhono lokubuyisela ukuthula lapho kuphazamiseka. Nokho, okubaluleke nangaphezulu umenzi wokuthula ulwela ukugwema ukuphazamisa ukuthula. ‘Ukuthula kuyabusa enhliziyweni yakhe.’ (Kolose 3:15) Uma izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zilwela ukuba ngabenzi boku-thula, khona-ke izinkinga eziba nazo ziyohlala zizincane.
14 Ukuba ngumenzi wokuthula kuhilela ukuqaphela ubuthakathaka bethu siqu. Ngokwesibonelo, umKristu angase abe nolaka noma abe ngosheshe azwele futhi asheshe ukucasuka. Lapho engaphansi kokucindezeleka, imizwelo yakhe ingase imenze akhohlwe izimiso zeBhayibheli. Lokho akukhona okungalindelekile kubantu abangaphelele. (Roma 7:21-23) Nokho, ubutha, nokubanga, nokuthukuthela kubalwa njengemisebenzi yenyama. (Galathiya 5:19-21) Uma sithola ukuthambekela okunjalo kithi—noma uma kulethwa ekunakekeleni kwethu abanye—kufanele sithandazele umoya kaJehova ngobuqotho nangokuqhubekayo ukuba usenze sibe nokuzithiba nobumnene. Ngempela, wonke umuntu kufanele alwele ukuhlakulela izimfanelo ezinjalo njengengxenye yobuntu bakhe obusha.—Efesu 4:23, 24; Kolose 3:10, 15.
15. Ukuhlakanipha okuvela phezulu kuphikisana kanjani nenkani ehambisana nokungacabangeli?
15 Ngezinye izikhathi, ibandla noma indikimba yabadala iphazanyiswa othile onenkani, njalo ophikelela ukuba kwenziwe ngendlela yakhe. Yiqiniso, uma kuziwa emthethweni waphezulu, umKristu kufanele abe nomqondo oqinile, abe ongaguquguquki. Futhi uma sinomuzwa wokuthi sinombono omuhle ongazuzisa abanye, akukho lutho olungalungile ngokuwuveza ngokuqondile, uma nje sichaza izizathu zethu. Kodwa asifuni ukuba njengalabobantu ezweni ‘abangafuni ukuvumelana nanoma ubani.’ (2 Thimothewu 3:1-4, NW) Ukuhlakanipha okuvela phezulu kunokuthula, kuyalinganisela. Labo abazenzo zabo zakha inkambo yokungaguquguquki okuhambisana nenkani kufanele balalele iseluleko sikaPawulu kwabaseFilipi ‘sokungenzi lutho ngokuzazisa.’—Filipi 2:3, qhathanisa neNW.
16. Iseluleko sikaPawulu esisencwadini yabaseFilipi sisisiza kanjani ukuba sinqobe ukuzazisa?
16 Kuyo leyoncwadi, uPawulu unxusa ukuba, “ngokuthobeka,” nangobuqotho ‘sishaye sengathi abanye bakhulu kunathi.’ Lokhu kuphambene kakhulu nokuzazisa. UmKristu ovuthiwe akacabangi ngokuphoqelela eyakhe imibono kuqala, evikela idumela lakhe, noma evikela isikhundla negunya lakhe. Lokhu bekuyoba okuphambene nesiyalo sikaPawulu ‘sokungabheki okwakhe kuphela, kepha abheke nokwabanye.’—Filipi 2:4; 1 Petru 5:2, 3, 6.
Amazwi Anokuthula
17. Yikuphi ukusetshenziswa okungafanele kolimi okungaphazamisa ukuthula kwebandla?
17 Umuntu ophishekela ukuthula uyakuqaphelisisa ukusebenzisa kwakhe ulimi. UJakobe uyaxwayisa: ‘Ulimi, luyisitho esincane, kanti luyazigabisa kakhulu. Bhekani umlilo omncane uvuthela ihlathi elingaka.’ (Jakobe 3:5) Inhlebo elimazayo, ukugxeka abanye bengekho, amazwi angenamusa nanokhahlo, ukukhononda, kanye nokutusa okweqile kokungathembeki ukuze umuntu azizuzise—konke lokhu kuyimisebenzi yenyama ephazamisa ukuthula kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu.—1 Korinte 10:10; 2 Korinte 12:20; 1 Thimothewu 5:13; Juda 16.
18. (a) Endabeni yokusetshenziswa okungafanele kolimi okungahlosiwe, iyiphi inkambo efanele ngawo wonke umuntu ohilelekile? (b) Lapho intukuthelo ibangela othile ukuba asho amazwi abuhlungu, amaKristu avuthiwe asabela kanjani?
18 Yiqiniso, uJakobe wathi: “Ulimi akakho kubantu onamandla okuluthambisa.” (Jakobe 3:8) Ngisho namaKristu avuthiwe ngezinye izikhathi asho izinto azisola ngobuqotho ngazo kamuva. Sonke siyethemba ukuthi abanye bayosithethelela amaphutha anjalo njengoba nje nathi sibathethelela. (Mathewu 6:12) Ngezinye izikhathi ukuqhuma kwentukuthelo kungase kubangele amazwi abuhlungu. Khona-ke, umenzi wokuthula uyokhumbula ukuthi “impendulo ethambileyo iyabuyisa ukufutheka, kepha izwi elilukhuni livusa ulaka.” (IzAga 15:1) Ngokuvamile, kuyomelwe nje aphefumule kakhulu futhi akwenqabe ukusabela emazwini entukuthelo ngamanye amazwi entukuthelo. Ngemva kwesikhathi, lapho ulaka selwehlile, umenzi wokuthula ohawukelayo uyazi ukuthi angazithalalisa kanjani izinto ezishiwo ngenkathi kusathukuthelwe. Futhi umKristu othobekile uyokwazi ukuxolisa futhi azame ukwelapha noma yimaphi amanxeba aye wawabangela. Kuwuphawu lokuba namandla ngokokuziphatha ukukwazi ukusho ngobuqotho ukuthi, “Ngiyaxolisa.”
19. Sifundani kuPawulu nakuJesu ngendlela yokunikeza iseluleko?
19 Ulimi lungase lusetshenziselwe ukweluleka abanye. UPawulu wakhuza uPetru obala lapho UPetru enza ngokungafanele eAntiyokiya. Futhi uJesu wanikeza iseluleko esinamandla ezigijimini zakhe eziya emabandleni ayisikhombisa. (Galathiya 2:11-14; IsAmbulo, izahluko 2, 3) Lapho sihlola lezibonelo, sithola ukuthi iseluleko akufanele sithambe kakhulu kuze kulahleke injongo yaso. Nokho, uJesu noPawulu babengenalo ukhahlo noma unya. Izeluleko zabo zazingeyona indlela ababeqeda ngayo ukukhungatheka kwabo. Babezama ngobuqotho ukusiza abafowabo. Uma umuntu onikeza iseluleko ezwa ukuthi akasalulawuli ngokuphelele ulimi lwakhe, angase akhethe ukuthula futhi abohle kancane ngaphambi kokuba asho noma yini. Uma engakwenzi, angase akhulume amazwi anokhahlo futhi abangele inkinga embi kakhulu kunaleyo azama ukuyisingatha.—IzAga 12:18.
20. Yini okufanele ibuse yonke into esiyishoyo kubafowethu nodadewethu noma esiyisho ngabo?
20 Njengoba sekushiwo kakade, ukuthula nothando njengoba kuhlobene kakhulu kuyizithelo zomoya. Uma lokho esikushoyo kubazalwane bethu—noma ngabo—ngaso sonke isikhathi kuwukubonakaliswa kothando lwethu ngabo, khona-ke kuyonikela ekuthuleni kwebandla. (Johane 15:12, 13) Ukukhuluma kwethu kumelwe kube ‘nomusa njalo, kuyoliswe ngosawoti.’ (Kolose 4:6) Kufanele kunambitheke, kujabulise enhliziyweni. UJesu waluleka: ‘Yibani-nosawoti phakathi kwenu, nihlalisane ngokuthula.”—Marku 9:50.
“Yenza Konke Ongakwenza”
21. Yini esobala ngabantu bakaNkulunkulu emihlanganweni yamasonto onke nasemihlanganweni emincane nemikhulu?
21 Umhubi wabhala: “Bheka, kuhle, kumnandi kangaka ukuba abazalwane bahlalisane ndawonye bemunye.” (IHubo 133:1) Ngempela, siyakujabulela ukuba nabafowethu, ikakhulukazi emihlanganweni yethu yamasonto onke nasemihlanganweni emincane nemikhulu. Ngezikhathi ezinjalo ukuthula kwethu kubonakala ngisho nakwabangaphandle.
22. (a) Yikuphi ukuthula okungamanga izizwe ngokushesha eziyocabanga ukuthi ziyakufinyelela, kuholelephi? (b) Yikuphi ukuthula kwangempela isivumelwano sokuthula sikaNkulunkulu esiyoholela kukho?
22 Ngokushesha izizwe zizocabanga ukuthi zifinyelela ukuthula ngaphandle kukaJehova. Kodwa lapho zisathi, “Ngukuthula nokuhlala kahle” imbubhiso ezumayo iyofikela bonke abangenakuthula noNkulunkulu. (1 Thesalonika 5:3) Ngemva kwalokho, iNkosi enkulu Yokuthula iyoqhubeka nokwelapha isintu emiphumeleni eyinhlekelele yokulahlekelwa kokuqala komuntu ukuthula noNkulunkulu. (Isaya 9:6, 7; IsAmbulo 22:1, 2) Khona-ke, isivumelwano sokuthula sikaNkulunkulu siyophumela ekuthuleni okujulile komhlaba wonke. Ngisho nezilo zasendle ziyojabulela ukuphumula ebutheni.—IHubo 37:10, 11; 72:3-7; Isaya 11:1-9; IsAmbulo 21:3, 4.
23. Uma silazisa ithemba lezwe elisha elinokuthula, yini okufanele siyenze manje?
23 Yeka ukuthi leso kuyoba isikhathi esikhazimula kanjani! Ingabe ubheka phambili kuso ngokulangazelela? Uma kunjalo, “phishekela ukuba nokuthula nabo bonke abantu.” Funa ukuthula manje nabafowenu, futhi ikakhulukazi noJehova. Yebo, ‘njengoba ubheka lezozinto, [yenza konke ongakwenza, NW] ukuba ufunyanwe unokuthula, ungenabala, ungenacala kuye.’—Heberu 12:14, NW; 2 Petru 3:14.
Ingabe Uyakhumbula?
Yini engonakalisa ukuthula kwethu noJehova?
Yiziphi izinhlobo zokungezwani ezingadinga ukuxazululwa ebandleni?
Yiliphi ilungiselelo uJehova alenzele ukusisiza ukuba sifune ukuthula futhi sikuphishekele?
Yiziphi izimo zengqondo ezingokwenyama ezingaphazamisa ukuthula kwebandla, futhi singalwisana kanjani nazo?
[Isithombe ekhasini 22]
Ukuthula kuyavama phakathi kwalabo abafundiswa uJehova
[Isithombe ekhasini 24]
Yeka ukuthi kuhle kanjani ukuthula kwabazalwane abakhonza ngobunye!