Ukuhamba Ngokuhlakanipha Ngokuqondene Nezwe
“Hambani ngokuhlakanipha kubo abangaphandle.”—KOLOSE 4:5.
1. Yini amaKristu okuqala ayebhekene nayo, futhi yisiphi iseluleko uPawulu asinikeza ebandleni laseKolose?
AMAKRISTU okuqala ayehlala emizini yezwe laseRoma ngaso sonke isikhathi ayebhekene nokukhonza izithombe, ukufuna injabulo kokuziphatha okubi, namasiko nemikhuba yobuqaba. Lawo ayehlala eKolose, umuzi owawumaphakathi nentshonalanga ye-Asia Minor, ngokungangabazeki ayebhekene nokukhulekelwa kukankulunkulukazi ongumama nokusebenzisa imimoya kwabantu bendabuko baseFrigiya, nefilosofi yobuqaba yamaGreki ayakhe lapho, kanye nobuJuda basendaweni eyayihlala amaJuda. Umphostoli uPawulu waluleka ibandla lobuKristu ukuba ‘lihambe ngokuhlakanipha’ kubantu abanjalo ‘bangaphandle.’—Kolose 4:5.
2. Kungani oFakazi BakaJehova namuhla kudingeka bahambe ngokuhlakanipha kulabo abangaphandle?
2 Namuhla, oFakazi BakaJehova babhekana nemikhuba engalungile efanayo, ngisho neyengeziwe. Ngakho-ke, nabo kudingeka babonise ukuhlakanipha ebuhlotsheni babo nalabo abangaphandle kwebandla lobuKristu beqiniso. Abaningi ezinhlanganweni zenkolo nezombangazwe kanye nasemthonjeni wezindaba bamelene nabo. Abanye balaba, kungaba ngokuhlasela okuqondile noma, okuvame kakhulu, ngendlela egigiyelayo, bazama ukonakalisa idumela loFakazi BakaJehova futhi benze ukuba babandlululwe. Njengoba nje amaKristu okuqala ayebhekwa ngokungafanele ‘njengehlelo’ elishiseka ngokungenangqondo ngisho neliyingozi, oFakazi BakaJehova namuhla ngokuvamile baba yizisulu zokubandlululwa nokukhulunyelwa kabi.—IzEnzo 24:14; 1 Petru 4:4.
Ukunqoba Ukubandlululwa
3, 4. (a) Kungani amaKristu eqiniso engasoze athandwe yizwe, kodwa yini okumelwe sizame ukuyenza? (b) Yini omunye umlobi ayibhala mayelana noFakazi BakaJehova ababevalelwe ekamu lokuhlushwa lamaNazi?
3 AmaKristu eqiniso awalindele ukuthandwa yizwe, ngokukamphostoli uJohane, ‘elimi ebubini.’ (1 Johane 5:19) Nakuba kunjalo, iBhayibheli likhuthaza amaKristu ukuba azame ukudonsela abantu kuJehova nasekukhulekeleni kwakhe okumsulwa. Lokhu sikwenza ngokufakaza ngokuqondile nangokuziphatha kwethu okuhle. Umphostoli uPetru wabhala: “Nibe-nenkambo enhle phakathi kwabezizwe, ukuze kuthi lapho benihleba ngokungathi ningabenzi bokubi‚ ngokubona imisebenzi yenu emihle badumise uNkulunkulu ngosuku lokuhanjelwa.”—1 Petru 2:12.
4 Encwadini yakhe ethi Forgive—But Do Not Forget, umlobi uSylvia Salvesen wathi ngabesifazane abangoFakazi ababevalelwe ndawonye naye ekamu lokuhlushwa lamaNazi: “Labo ababili, uKäthe noMargarethe, nabanye abaningi, bangisiza kakhulu, hhayi ngokholo lwabo nje kuphela kodwa nangezindlela ezingokoqobo. Basitholela izindwangu zokuqala ezihlanzekile esasinazo zezilonda zethu . . . Ngamafuphi nje, sazithola siphakathi kwabantu ababesifisela okuhle, futhi ababebonisa imizwa yabo yobungane ngezenzo zabo.” Yeka ubufakazi obuhle obuvela ‘kwabangaphandle’!
5, 6. (a) Yimuphi umsebenzi uKristu awufezayo kulesikhathi samanje, futhi yini okungamelwe siyikhohlwe? (b) Kufanele sibe yini isimo sethu sengqondo kubantu bezwe, futhi ngani?
5 Singafeza okukhulu ekunqobeni ukubandlululwa ngendlela yokuhlakanipha esiziphatha ngayo kwabangaphandle. Yiqiniso, siphila esikhathini lapho iNkosi yethu ebusayo, uKristu Jesu, ihlukanisa abantu bezizwe, “njengomalusi ahlukanisa izimvu nezimbuzi.” (Mathewu 25:32) Kodwa akumelwe sikhohlwe ukuthi uKristu ungumaHluleli; nguye onqumayo ukuthi obani “izimvu” nokuthi obani “izimbuzi.”—Johane 5:22.
6 Lokhu kumelwe kuthonye isimo sethu sengqondo kulabo abangeyona ingxenye yenhlangano kaJehova. Singase sicabange ngabo ngokuthi bangabantu bezwe, kodwa bayingxenye yezwe lesintu ‘uNkulunkulu alithanda waze wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa ukuba yilowo nalowo okholwa yiyo angabhubhi‚ kodwa abe-nokuphila okuphakade.’ (Johane 3:16) Kungcono kakhulu ukubheka abantu njengabayoba yizimvu kunokuba ngokugabadela sinqume ukuthi bayizimbuzi. Abanye abake baba abaphikisi beqiniso abanobudlova manje bangoFakazi abazinikezele. Futhi abaningi balaba bazuzwa ngezenzo zomusa kuqala, ngaphambi kokuba basabele kunoma yikuphi ukufakaza okuqondile. Ngokwesibonelo, bheka umfanekiso osekhasini 18.
Banentshiseko, Kodwa Abahlaseli
7. Yikuphi ukugxeka upapa akuveza, kodwa yimuphi umbuzo esingawubuza?
7 UPapa John Paul II wagxeka wonke amahlelo, ikakhulukazi oFakazi BakaJehova, lapho ethi: “Cishe intshiseko yokuhlasela, abanye abafuna ngayo abalandeli abasha, behamba indlu nendlu, noma bemisa abantu abadlulayo emakhoneni emigwaqo, iyintshiseko-mbumbulu yamahlelo azama ngayo ukulingisa intshiseko yabaphostoli neyezithunywa zevangeli.” Kungase kubuzwe ukuthi, Uma intshiseko yethu ‘iyintshiseko-mbumbulu esizama ngayo ukulingisa intshiseko yabaphostoli neyezithunywa zevangeli,’ ingatholakalaphi intshiseko yangempela yokushumayela ivangeli? Ngokuqinisekile ayinakutholakala phakathi kwamaKatolika, ngisho naphakathi kwamaProtestani noma kumalungu amasonto obu-Orthodox.
8. Kufanele sikufeze kanjani ukufakaza kwethu kwendlu nendlu, sinethemba lamiphi umphumela?
8 Nokho, ukuze sibonise ukuba yiphutha kwanoma yikuphi ukubekwa icala lokuhlasela ekufakazeni kwethu, kumelwe ngaso sonke isikhathi sibe nomusa, inhlonipho, nesizotha lapho siya kubantu. Umfundi uJakobe wabhala: “Ngubani ohlakaniphileyo nowaziyo phakathi kwenu na? Makakhombise ngenkambo enhle imisebenzi yakhe ngobumnene bokuhlakanipha.” (Jakobe 3:13) Umphostoli uPawulu usinxusa ukuba ‘singabi yizilwi.’ (Thithu 3:2) Ngokwesibonelo, kunokuba sizilahle ngokuqondile izinkolelo zomuntu esifakaza kuye, kungani singabonisi isithakazelo esiqotho emibonweni yakhe? Ngemva kwalokho tshela lowomuntu izindaba ezinhle eziseBhayibhelini. Ngokuba nesimo esihle sokukhuluma nabantu nangokubonisa inhlonipho efanele kubantu abanezinye izinkolelo, siyobasiza ukuba babe nesimo esihle sengqondo sokulalela, futhi mhlawumbe bayokuqonda ukubaluleka kwesigijimi seBhayibheli. Umphumela ungase ube wukuthi abanye bayoza ‘bazodumisa uNkulunkulu.’—1 Petru 2:12.
9. Singasisebenzisa kanjani iseluleko uPawulu asinikeza (a) kwabaseKolose 4:5? (b) kwabaseKolose 4:6?
9 Umphostoli uPawulu waluleka: “Hambani ngokuhlakanipha kubo abangaphandle‚ nithengisise isikhathi [esifanelekile, NW].” (Kolose 4:5) Echaza lamazwi okugcina, uJ. B. Lightfoot wabhala: “Ningaphunyukwa yithuba, lokusho kanye nokwenza lokho okungase kuqhubekisele phambili injongo kaNkulunkulu.” (Omalukeke sizenzele.) Yebo, kumelwe silungele isikhathi esifanelekile ngamazwi nangezenzo. Ukuhlakanipha okunjalo kuhilela nokukhetha isikhathi sosuku esifanelekile sokwenza ukuhambela. Uma isigijimi sethu sinqatshwa, ingabe kungenxa yokuthi abantu abasazisi isigijimi, noma ingabe kungenxa yokuthi sibahambele cishe ngesikhathi ebesingafanelekile? UPawulu wabhala futhi: “Ukukhuluma kwenu makube-nomusa njalo‚ kuyolisiwe ngosawoti‚ ukuze nazi enifanele ukubaphendula ngakho bonke abantu.” (Kolose 4:6) Lokhu kudinga ukucabanga kusengaphambili nokuba nothando lweqiniso ngomakhelwane. Ngaso sonke isikhathi masethule isigijimi soMbuso ngomusa.
Ukuhlonipha ‘Nokulungela Imisebenzi Yonke Emihle’
10. (a) Yisiphi iseluleko umphostoli uPawulu asinikeza amaKristu ayehlala eKrethe? (b) OFakazi BakaJehova bebelokhu beyisibonelo kanjani ekulandeleni iseluleko sikaPawulu?
10 Asinakuyekethisa ezimisweni zeBhayibheli. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, akumelwe sivuse impikiswano ngokungadingekile ngezindaba ezingahileli ubuqotho bobuKristu. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Bakhumbuze [amaKristu aseKrethe] ukuba bathobele ababusi neziphathimandla‚ balalele‚ balungele imisebenzi yonke emihle‚ bangahlambalazi-muntu‚ bangabi-yizilwi‚ babe-ngabavileyo‚ bebonakalisa ubumnene obukhulu kubantu bonke.” (Thithu 3:1, 2) Isazi seBhayibheli u-E. F. Scott sabhala ngokuqondene nalendima: “AmaKristu kwakungamelwe alalele iziphathimandla nje kuphela, kodwa kwakumelwe alungele noma yimuphi umsebenzi omuhle. Lokhu . . . kusho ukuthi, lapho izimo zibizela, amaKristu kumelwe abe phakathi kwabokuqala ekuboniseni umoya wokusiza umphakathi. Njalo kuyoba khona ukuqubuka komlilo, umqedazwe, inhlekelele eyizinhlobo ezihlukahlukene, lapho zonke izakhamuzi ezinhle ziyofisa ukusiza omakhelwane bazo.” Kuwo wonke umhlaba kuye kwaba khona izikhathi eziningi zokugadla kwezinhlekelele futhi oFakazi BakaJehova beba phakathi kwabokuqala ukwenza umsebenzi wokusiza. Abazange basize abafowabo nje kuphela kodwa baye basiza nabangaphandle.
11, 12. (a) AmaKristu kufanele aziphathe kanjani kulabo abayiziphathimandla? (b) Lapho kuziwa ekwakhiweni kwamaHholo OMbuso ukuzithoba kulabo abayiziphathimandla kuhlanganisani?
11 Yona lendima efanayo yencwadi kaPawulu eya kuThithu igcizelela futhi ukubaluleka kokuba nesimo sengqondo senhlonipho kulabo abayiziphathimandla. Intsha engamaKristu evela phambi kwabahluleli ngenxa yokuma kwayo kokungathathi-hlangothi kufanele ikuqaphele ngokukhethekile ukuhamba ngokuhlakanipha kulabo abangaphandle. Ingafeza okukhulu ekuthuthukiseni noma ekonakaliseni idumela labantu bakaJehova ngokubukeka kwayo, ukuziphatha kwayo, nendlela ekhuluma ngayo nalezoziphathimandla. Kufanele ‘inike udumo kofanele udumo,’ futhi izivikele ngenhlonipho ejulile.—Roma 13:1-7, qhathanisa ne-NW; 1 Petru 2:17; 3:15.
12 ‘Iziphathimandla’ zihlanganisa izikhulu zendawo zikahulumeni. Manje njengoba kunamaHholo OMbuso amaningi akhiwayo, ukusebenzelana neziphathimandla zendawo akunakugwenywa. Ngokuvamile, abadala babhekana nokubandlululwa. Kodwa kuye kwatholakala ukuthi lapho abameleli bebandla bakha ubuhlobo obuhle neziphathimandla futhi bebambisana nekomiti yokuhlelwa kwedolobha, lokhu kubandlululwa kunganqotshwa. Ngokuvamile kunikezwa ubufakazi obuhle kubantu esikhathini esidlule ababazi okuncane noma bengazi lutho ngoFakazi BakaJehova nesigijimi sabo.
‘Uma Kungenzeka, Hlalisanani Ngokuthula Nabantu Bonke’
13, 14. Yisiphi iseluleko uPawulu asinikeza kumaKristu aseRoma, futhi singasisebenzisa kanjani ebudlelwaneni bethu nabantu bangaphandle?
13 UPawulu wanikeza iseluleko esilandelayo kumaKristu ayehlala eRoma lobuqaba: “Ningaphindiseli-muntu okubi ngokubi; nakani okuhle phambi kwabantu bonke; uma kungenzeka‚ ngokwenu hlalisanani ngokuthula nabantu bonke; ningaziphindiseli nina-bathandwa‚ kodwa dedelani ulaka‚ ngokuba kulotshiwe ukuthi: Ngokwami ukuphindisela‚ ngiyakubuyisela mina‚ isho iNkosi. Kepha uma isitha sakho silambile‚ siphe sidle; uma somile‚ siphuzise‚ ngokuba ngokwenza lokho uyakube ufumbela amalahle avuthayo ekhanda laso. Unganqotshwa ngokubi‚ kodwa nqoba okubi ngokuhle.”—Roma 12:17-21.
14 Ebudlelwaneni bethu nabantu bangaphandle, thina njengamaKristu eqiniso ngokungenakugwenywa sibhekana nabaphikisi. Kulendima engenhla, uPawulu ubonisa ukuthi inkambo yokuhlakanipha iwukuzama ukunqoba ukuphikiswa ngezenzo zomusa. Njengamalahle avuthayo, lezizenzo zomusa zingancibilikisa ubutha futhi zenze umphikisi abe nesimo sengqondo somusa ngokwengeziwe kubantu bakaJehova, mhlawumbe zivuse ngisho nesithakazelo sakhe ezindabeni ezinhle. Lapho lokhu kwenzeka, okubi kunqotswa ngokuhle.
15. Kunini lapho umKristu kufanele aqaphele khona ngokukhethekile ukuba ahambe ngokuhlakanipha kulabo abangaphandle?
15 Ukuhamba ngokuhlakanipha kulabo abangaphandle kubaluleke ngokukhethekile emakhaya lapho omunye wabangane bomshado engakalamukeli iqiniso. Ukugcinwa kwezimiso zeBhayibheli kuveza amadoda angcono, abafazi abangcono, obaba abangcono, omama abangcono, nabantwana abalalela kakhudlwana nabatadisha ngokuzikhandla esikoleni. Umuntu ongakholwa kumelwe akwazi ukubona umphumela omuhle izimiso zeBhayibheli eziba nawo kokholwayo. Kanjalo, abanye ‘bangazuzwa ngaphandle kwezwi ngenkambo’ yamalungu omkhaya azinikezele.—1 Petru 3:1, 2.
‘Ukwenza Okuhle Kubo Bonke’
16, 17. (a) Yimiphi imihlatshelo uNkulunkulu emthokozisayo? (b) Kukanjani kumelwe ‘senze okuhle’ kubafowethu kanye nakulabo abangaphandle?
16 Okuhle kunakho konke esingakwenzela umakhelwane wethu kuwukumlethela isigijimi sokuphila nokumfundisa ngokubuyisana noJehova ngoJesu Kristu. (Roma 5:8-11) Ngakho-ke umphostoli uPawulu uyasitshela: “Masinikele njalonjalo kuNkulunkulu ngaye [uKristu] umhlatshelo wokubonga‚ okungukuthi isithelo sezindebe ezivuma igama lakhe.” (Heberu 13:15) UPawulu uyanezela: “Kepha maningakhohlwa ukwenza okuhle nokuphana‚ ngokuba iminikelo enjalo uNkulunkulu uthokoziswa yiyo.” (Heberu 13:16) Ngaphezu kokufakaza kwethu kwasobala, akumelwe sikhohlwe “ukwenza okuhle.” Kwakha ingxenye eyinhloko yemihlatshelo ethokozisa uNkulunkulu.
17 Njengokulindelekile, siyakwenza okuhle kubafowethu abangokomoya, okungenzeka badinga usizo ngokomzwelo, ngokomoya, ngokwenyama, noma ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo. UPawulu wakubonisa lokhu lapho ebhala: “Njengokuba sinethuba‚ asenze okuhle kubo bonke‚ kepha ikakhulu kwabendlu yokukholwa.” (Galathiya 6:10; Jakobe 2:15, 16) Nokho, akumelwe siwakhohlwe amazwi athi, “Asenze okuhle kubo bonke.” Isenzo somusa esihlotsheni, kumakhelwane, noma kosebenza naye singafeza okukhulu ekunqobeni ukubandlululwa futhi singenza inhliziyo yomuntu yamukele iqiniso.
18. (a) Yiziphi izingozi okumelwe sizigweme? (b) Singabusebenzisa kanjani ubuhle bethu bobuKristu njengendlela yokusekela umsebenzi wethu wokufakaza kwasobala?
18 Ukuze senze lokhu, akudingeki ukuba sibe abangane abaseduze nalabo abangaphandle. Ubungane obunjalo bungaba yingozi. (1 Korinte 15:33) Futhi asifisi ukuba abangane bezwe. (Jakobe 4:4) Kodwa ubuhle bethu bobuKristu bungakusekela ukushumayela kwethu. Kwamanye amazwe kuya kuba nzima ukukhuluma nabantu emakhaya abo. Ezinye izakhiwo zivikelwe ngemishini kagesi esivimbela ukuba sithintane nabantu abahlala kuzo. Emazweni athuthukile ucingo luyindlela yokushumayela. Emazweni amaningi ukufakaza kwasemgwaqweni kungenziwa. Nokho, kuwo wonke amazwe, ukuba nobungane, isizotha, umusa, nokuba wusizo kuvula amathuba okunqoba ukubandlululwa futhi kunikeza ubufakazi obuhle.
Ukuthulisa Abaphikisi
19. (a) Njengoba injongo yethu ingekhona ukujabulisa abantu, yini esingayilindela? (b) Kumelwe sizame kanjani ukulandela isibonelo sikaDaniyeli nokusebenzisa iseluleko sikaPetru?
19 OFakazi BakaJehova abafuni ukujabulisa abantu noma ukubesaba. (IzAga 29:25; Efesu 6:6) Baqaphela ngokugcwele ukuthi naphezu kwayo yonke imizamo yabo yokuba abakhokhi bentela abayisibonelo nezakhamuzi ezinhle, abaphikisi bayosakaza amanga enzondo futhi bakhulume ngendlela yokweyisa ngabo. (1 Petru 3:16) Njengoba bekwazi lokhu, bazama ukulingisa uDaniyeli, izitha zakhe ezathi ngaye: “Asiyikuthola lutho ngoDaniyeli, uma singalutholi kokuqondene nomthetho kaNkulunkulu wakhe.” (Daniyeli 6:5) Asinakulokotha siyekethise izimiso zeBhayibheli ukuze sijabulise abantu. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, asifuni ukuba abafel’ ukholo. Sizama ukuphila ngokuthula futhi silalele iseluleko somphostoli: “Injalo intando kaNkulunkulu ukuba ngokwenza okuhle nithulise ukungazi kwabantu abayiziwula.”—1 Petru 2:15.
20. (a) Yini esiqiniseka ngayo, futhi yisiphi isikhuthazo uJesu asinikeza sona? (b) Singaqhubeka kanjani sihamba ngokuhlakanipha kulabo abangaphandle?
20 Siyaqiniseka ukuthi ukuma kwethu kokwehluka ezweni kuvumelana ngokugcwele neBhayibheli. Kusekelwa umlando wamaKristu ekhulu lokuqala. Amazwi kaJesu asinikeza isikhuthazo: “Ezweni niyakuba-lusizi‚ kepha yimani isibindi‚ mina ngilinqobile izwe.” (Johane 16:33) Asesabi. “Pho‚ ubani onganilimaza‚ uma nishisekela okuhle na? Kepha noma nihlupheka ngenxa yokulunga‚ nibusisiwe. Ningesabi ukwesabisa kwabo‚ ningakhathazeki‚ kepha mngcweliseni uKristu abeyiNkosi ezinhliziyweni zenu‚ nihlale ningabalungele ukubaphendula bonke abanibuza isizathu sethemba elikini‚ kodwa kube-ngobumnene [nangenhlonipho ejulile, NW].” (1 Petru 3:13-15) Nakuba senza ngalendlela, siyoqhubeka sihamba ngokuhlakanipha kulabo abangaphandle.
Imibuzo Yokubukeza
◻ Kungani oFakazi BakaJehova kudingeka bahambe ngokuhlakanipha kulabo abangaphandle?
◻ Kungani amaKristu eqiniso engenalo ithemba lokuthi izwe liyowathanda, kodwa yini okufanele azame ukuyenza?
◻ Kufanele sibe yini isimo sethu sengqondo ngabantu bezwe, futhi ngani?
◻ Kungani kufanele ‘senze okuhle’ hhayi kubafowethu nje kuphela kodwa nakulabo abangaphandle?
◻ Ukuhamba kwethu ngokuhlakanipha kulabo abangaphandle kungasisiza kanjani emsebenzini wethu wokufakaza kwasobala?
[Isithombe ekhasini 18]
Kwesobunxele: AmaKristu eqiniso eFrance esiza omakhelwane bawo ngemva kwesikhukhula
[Isithombe ekhasini 20]
Izenzo zamaKristu zomusa zingafeza okukhulu ekunqobeni ukubandlululwa
[Isithombe ekhasini 23]
AmaKristu kumelwe ‘alungele imisebenzi yonke emihle’