Yenza Isifundiso Esiphilileyo Sibe Indlela Yakho Yokuphila
“Ukumesaba uNkulunkulu kusiza ezintweni zonke.”—1 THIMOTHEWU 4:8.
1, 2. Abantu babonisa ukukhathalela impilo yabo ngezinga elingakanani, kube namuphi umphumela?
ABANTU abaningi bangavuma kalula ukuthi impilo enhle ingenye yengcebo eyigugu kakhulu ekuphileni. Banikela ngensada yesikhathi nemali ukuze bazigcine beyimiqemane futhi baqikelele ukuthi bathola ukunakekela okufanele kwezokwelapha lapho bekudinga. Ngokwesibonelo, e-United States, izindleko zokunakekela kwezokwelapha kwaminyaka yonke zangonyaka othile muva nje zazingaphezu kwezigidi zezigidi ezintathu zamaRandi. Lokhu kufinyelela emalini engaphezu kuka-R10 000 ngonyaka ekhokhelwa izindleko zendoda, owesifazane, nengane ngayinye kulelozwe, futhi kwamanye amazwe athuthukile inani lezindleko ezikhokhelwa umuntu ngamunye licishe lifane.
2 Kuye kwalethani ukusetshenziswa kwaso sonke isikhathi, amandla, nemali? Ngokuqinisekile akekho ongaphika ukuthi, sekukonke, sinezindawo zezokwelapha namalungiselelo okuthuthuke kakhulu namuhla kunanoma isiphi esinye isikhathi emlandweni. Nokho, lokhu akuholeli ngokuzenzekelayo ekuphileni okunempilo. Eqinisweni, enkulumweni eyayinikeza uhlu lwesimiso sokunakekela kwezempilo esihlongozwayo sase-United States, umongameli waveza ukuthi ngaphezu “kwezindleko ezimbi kakhulu zobudlova kulelizwe,” izakhamuzi zase-United States “zinamazinga aphakeme kakhulu engculaza, okubhema nokuphuza ngokweqile, okukhulelwa kwabeve eshumini nambili, abantwana abazalwa benesisindo esiphansi” kunanoma isiphi esinye isizwe esithuthukile. Waphetha ngokuthini? “Kufanele sishintshe izindlela zethu uma sikufuna ngempela ukuba nempilo njengabantu.”—Galathiya 6:7, 8.
Indlela Yokuphila Enempilo
3. Ngenxa yobuciko bamaGreki asendulo, uPawulu wanikeza siphi iseluleko?
3 Ekhulwini lokuqala, amaGreki ayaziwa ngokuzinikela kwawo ebucikweni bezokuvocwavocwa komzimba, ukwakhiwa kwezinyama, nemincintiswano yokusubatha. Ngenxa yalesizinda, umphostoli uPawulu waphefumlelwa ukuba abhalele insizwa enguThimothewu: “Ukujwayeza umzimba kusiza ingcosana, kepha ukumesaba uNkulunkulu kusiza ezintweni zonke, kunesithembiso salokhukuphila nalokho okuzayo.” (1 Thimothewu 4:8) Ngakho, uPawulu wayeveza lokho abantu namuhla abaya bekuvuma, okungukuthi, amalungiselelo ezokwelapha noma angokomzimba awaqinisekisi indlela yokuphila enempilo ngempela. Nokho, uPawulu uyasiqinisekisa ukuthi okubalulekile ukuthuthukisa inhlalakahle engokomoya nokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu.
4. Ziyini izinzuzo zokuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu?
4 Inkambo enjalo iyinzuzo ‘kulokhu kuphila’ ngoba inikeza isivikelo kuzo zonke izinto eziyingozi abantu abangamesabi uNkulunkulu, noma labo “abanesimo [noma, ukubonakala] sokumesaba uNkulunkulu” kuphela, abazilethela zona. (2 Thimothewu 3:5; IzAga 23:29, 30; Luka 15:11-16; 1 Korinte 6:18; 1 Thimothewu 6:9, 10) Labo abavumela ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu kulolonge ukuphila kwabo banenhlonipho enhle ngemithetho nezimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu, futhi lokho kubashukumisela ekwenzeni isifundiso sikaNkulunkulu esiphilileyo sibe indlela yabo yokuphila. Inkambo enjalo ibalethela impilo engokomoya nengokomzimba, ukwaneliseka, nenjabulo. Futhi ‘bazibekelela isisekelo esihle sesikhathi esizayo, ukuze babambe ukuphila okuyikho.’—1 Thimothewu 6:19.
5. UPawulu wanikeza ziphi iziyalo esahlukweni sesibili sencwadi yakhe eya kuThithu?
5 Njengoba ukuphila okuqondiswa isifundiso esiphilileyo sikaNkulunkulu kuletha izibusiso ezinjalo manje nasesikhathini esizayo, kudingeka sazi, ngokoqobo, ukuthi singasenza kanjani isifundiso sikaNkulunkulu esiphilileyo sibe indlela yethu yokuphila. Umphostoli uPawulu wanikeza impendulo encwadini yakhe eya kuThithu. Sizonakekela ngokukhethekile isahluko sesibili saleyoncwadi, lapho ayala khona uThithu ukuba ‘akhulume okufanele isifundiso esiphilileyo.’ Ngokuqinisekile sonke, abasha nabadala, abesilisa nabesifazane, singazuza ‘esifundisweni esinjalo esiphilileyo’ namuhla.—Thithu 1:4, 5; 2:1.
Iseluleko Esiya Emadodeni Amadala
6. Yisiphi iseluleko uPawulu asinikeza “amadoda amadala,” futhi kungani ukwenza kwakhe kanjalo kwakuwukubonisa umusa?
6 Okokuqala, uPawulu wayeneseluleko esiya emadodeni amadala ebandleni. Siza ufunde uThithu 2:2. “Amadoda amadala,” njengeqembu, ayahlonishwa futhi abhekwa njengezibonelo zokholo nokwethembeka. (Levitikusi 19:32; IzAga 16:31) Ngenxa yalokhu, abanye bangase babe madolonzima ukunikeza iseluleko noma ukusikisela emadodeni amadala ezindabeni ezingezona ezingathi sína. (Jobe 32:6, 7; 1 Thimothewu 5:1) Ngakho-ke, kuwukubonisa umusa ngoPawulu ukukhuluma namadoda amadala kuqala, futhi kuyoba kuhle ngawo ukuba alalele amazwi kaPawulu futhi aqikelele ukuthi nawo, njengoPawulu, afanele ukulingiswa.—1 Korinte 11:1; Filipi 3:17.
7, 8. (a) Kuhilelani ukuba ‘ngolinganiselayo’? (b) Kungani ukuba ‘nesizotha’ kumelwe kwenziwe kube sesilinganisweni ngokuba ‘ohluzekile engqondweni’?
7 Okokuqala, amadoda amadala angamaKristu, kufanele abe “ngazithibayo [alinganiselayo, NW].” Nakuba igama eliwumsuka lingabhekisela emkhubeni wokuphuza (“osangulukile,” Kingdom Interlinear), libuye libe nencazelo yokuba ophapheme, onokuqonda, noma oqaphile. (2 Thimothewu 4:5; 1 Petru 1:13) Ngakho, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kusekuphuzeni noma kwezinye izinto, amadoda amadala kumelwe abe alinganiselayo, angabi eqisayo.
8 Khona-ke, kufanele futhi abe “azothileyo” kanye “[nahluzekile engqondweni, NW].” Ukuba nesizotha, noma isithunzi, nokufanelekela inhlonipho, ngokuvamile kuhambisana nokukhula. Nokho, abanye bangase babe ngabazothe ngokweqile, bengakubekezeleli ukungqabashiya kwentsha. (IzAga 20:29) Yingakho ‘ukuzotha’ kwenziwa kube sesilinganisweni ngokuba ‘ohluzekile engqondweni.’ Amadoda amadala kudingeka alondoloze isizotha esifanelana nokukhula, kodwa ngesikhathi esifanayo abe alinganiselayo, akwazi ukulawula imizwa nezisusa zawo ngokugcwele.
9. Kungani amadoda amadala kumelwe aphile okholweni nasothandweni futhi ikakhulukazi ekukhuthazeleni?
9 Okokugcina, amadoda amadala kumelwe abe “aphilile ekukholweni, nasothandweni, [nasekukhuthazeleni, NW].” Izikhathi eziningi emibhalweni yakhe, uPawulu wafaka ohlwini ukholo nothando kanye nethemba. (1 Korinte 13:13; 1 Thesalonika 1:3; 5:8) Lapha ufake ‘ukukhuthazela’ esikhundleni ‘sethemba.’ Mhlawumbe kungenxa yokuthi umuzwa wokuyeka ungase uqale ukuvela njengoba lamadoda amadala ekhula. (UmShumayeli 12:1) Nokho, njengoba uJesu abonisa, “okhuthazelayo kuze kube-sekupheleni nguyena oyakusindiswa.” (Mathewu 24:13) Ngaphezu kwalokho, abantu abadala bayizibonelo ezifanele kwabaningi hhayi nje ngenxa yokukhula kwabo noma okuhlangenwe nakho kodwa nangenxa yezimfanelo zabo ezinhle ezingokomoya—ukholo, uthando, nokukhuthazela.
Esiya Kwabesifazane Abadala
10. Yisiphi iseluleko uPawulu asinikeza “abesifazane abadala” ebandleni?
10 Ngokulandelayo uPawulu uphendulela ukunakekela kwakhe kwabesifazane abadala ebandleni. Siza ufunde uThithu 2:3. “Abesifazane abadala” bangamalungu amadala phakathi kwabesifazane ebandleni, kuhlanganise namakhosikazi “amadoda amadala” nawomama nogogo bamanye amalungu. Njengoba benjalo, bangaba nethonya elikhulu, lokuhle noma okubi. Yingakho uPawulu ethula amazwi akhe ngokuthi “kanjalo,” esho ukuthi “abesifazane abadala” nabo banemithwalo yemfanelo ethile okumelwe bayifeze ukuze bagcwalise indima yabo ebandleni.
11. Kuyini ukuziphatha ngokuhloniphekile?
11 Okokuqala, ‘abesifazane abadala mabaziphathe [ngokuhloniphekile],’ kusho uPawulu. ‘Ukuziphatha’ kuwukubonakaliswa kwangaphandle kwesimo sengqondo nobuntu bomuntu bangaphakathi, njengoba kuboniswa kukho kokubili ukuziphatha nokubonakala komuntu. (Mathewu 12:34, 35) Khona-ke, kufanele sibe yini isimo sengqondo noma ubuntu bowesifazane ongumKristu osekhulile? Ngegama elilodwa, ‘kuhlonipheke.’ Lokhu kuhunyushwe egameni lesiGreki elisho “lokho okufanelekayo kubantu, izenzo, noma izinto ezihlukaniselwe uNkulunkulu.” Lesi iseluleko esifaneleka ngempela uma sicabangela ithonya abanalo kwabanye, ikakhulukazi kwabesifazane abasha ebandleni.—1 Thimothewu 2:9, 10.
12. Yikuphi ukusetshenziswa kabi kolimi sonke okumelwe sikugweme?
12 Ube eselandelisa ngezici ezimbili ezingathandeki: “bangabi-ngabahlebi, bangabi-yizigqila zewayini eliningi.” Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi zombili lezizici zihlanganiswe ndawonye. “Ezikhathini zasendulo, lapho iwayini laliwukuphela kwesiphuzo,” kuphawula uProfesa E. F. Scott, “kwakusemicinjaneni yewayini lapho abesifazane abadala babenyundela khona omakhelwane babo.” Ngokuvamile abesifazane babakhathalela kakhulu abantu ukudlula amadoda, okuyinto etusekayo. Nokho, ukukhathalela kungaphendukela ekubeni ukuhleba ngisho nokunyundela, ikakhulukazi lapho ulimi luphambaniswa uphuzo. (IzAga 23:33) Ngokuqinisekile, bonke abaphishekela indlela ephilileyo yokuphila, amadoda nabesifazane, benza kahle ukuqaphela lolugibe.
13. Kungaziphi izindlela abesifazane abadala abangaba ngazo abafundisi?
13 Ukuze basebenzise isikhathi abanaso ngendlela eyakhayo, abesifazane asebekhulile bakhuthazwa ukuba babe “ngabafundisi bokuhle.” Kwenye indawo, uPawulu wanikeza iziyalo ezicacile zokuthi abesifazane akumelwe babe abafundisi ebandleni. (1 Korinte 14:34; 1 Thimothewu 2:12) Nokho, lokhu akubavimbeli ekudluliseleni ulwazi lukaNkulunkulu oluyigugu emizini yabo nasemphakathini. (2 Thimothewu 1:5; 3:14, 15) Futhi bangafeza okuningi okuhle ngokuba izibonelo ezingamaKristu kwabesifazane abasha ebandleni, njengoba amavesi alandelayo ebonisa.
Esiya Kwabesifazane Abasha
14. Abesifazane abasha abangamaKristu bangakubonisa kanjani ukulinganisela ekunakekeleni imisebenzi yabo?
14 Lapho ekhuthaza abesifazane abadala ukuba babe “ngabafundisi bokuhle,” uPawulu wakhuluma ngokukhethekile ngabesifazane abasha. Siza ufunde uThithu 2:4, 5. Nakuba ingxenye enkulu yalesiyalo igxile ezindabeni zasekhaya, abesifazane abasha abangamaKristu akumelwe beqise, bevumela ukukhathazeka ngezinto ezibonakalayo kubuse ukuphila kwabo. Kunalokho, kumelwe babe “[abahluzekile engqondweni], abamhlophe, . . . abamnene,” futhi ngaphezu kwakho konke, babe abakulungele ukusekela ilungiselelo lobunhloko lobuKristu, “ukuba izwi likaNkulunkulu lingahlanjalazwa.”
15. Kungani abesifazane abasha abaningi ebandleni kufanele batuswe?
15 Namuhla, isimo somkhaya siye sashintsha kakhulu kulokho esasiyikho osukwini lukaPawulu. Imikhaya eminingi ihlukene phakathi okholweni, futhi eminye inomzali oyedwa kuphela. Ngisho nakulokho okubizwa ngokuthi imikhaya engokwesiko, kuya kuba into evame ngokwandayo ukuba inkosikazi noma umama abe umnakekeli wekhaya wasikhathi sonke. Konke lokhu kuletha ukucindezela nomthwalo wemfanelo omkhulu kwabesifazane abasha abangamaKristu, kodwa lokhu akubakhululi ezibophweni zabo ezingokomBhalo. Ngakho-ke, kuyinjabulo enkulu ukubona abesifazane abaningi abathembekile abasha besebenza kanzima ukuze balinganisele imisebenzi yabo eminingi futhi besakwazi ukubeka izithakazelo zoMbuso kuqala, abanye bengenele ngisho nenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele njengamaphayona asizayo noma avamile. (Mathewu 6:33) Kumelwe batuswe ngempela!
Esiya Ezinsizweni
16. Yisiphi iseluleko uPawulu ayesiphathele izinsizwa, futhi kungani sifike ngesikhathi?
16 Khona-ke uPawulu ube esephendukela ezinsizweni, kuhlanganise noThithu. Siza ufunde uThithu 2:6-8. Ngenxa yezindlela zokungakhathaleli nezibhubhisayo zentsha eningi yanamuhla—ukubhema, ukusebenzisa kabi izidakamizwa nophuzo oludakayo, ubulili obungemthetho, neminye iminako yezwe, njengemidlalo yobulwane nomculo nokuzijabulisa okonakele—ngempela lesi iseluleko esifike ngesikhathi esiya entsheni engamaKristu efuna ukulandela indlela ephilile neyanelisayo yokuphila.
17. Insizwa ingaba kanjani ‘ehluzekile engqondweni’ futhi ibe “yisibonelo semisebenzi emihle”?
17 Ngokungafani nentsha yezwe, insizwa engumKristu kufanele ibe ‘[ehluzekile engqondweni]’ kanye ‘neyisibonelo semisebenzi emihle.’ UPawulu wachaza ukuthi ingqondo ehluzekile nevuthiwe ayizuzwa yilabo abamane batadishe nje, kodwa izuzwa yilabo abathi “ngokujwayela ukuwusebenzisa umqondo, sebenawo osulungele ukwahlukanisa okuhle nokubi.” (Heberu 5:14) Yeka indlela okuhle ngayo ukubona intsha inikela ngesikhathi namandla ayo ngokuzithandela ukuze ihlanganyele ngokugcwele emisebenzini eminingi ebandleni lobuKristu, esikhundleni sokuchitha amandla ayo obusha eminakweni yobugovu! Njengoba yenza kanjalo, nayo njengoThithu, ingaba izibonelo ‘zemisebenzi emihle’ ebandleni lobuKristu.—1 Thimothewu 4:12.
18. Kusho ukuthini ukuba ongonakele ekufundiseni, owenza izinto ngesizotha, nokhuluma okuqondileyo?
18 Izinsizwa zikhunjuzwa ukuthi ‘nasekufundiseni kwazo kufanele zibonakalise ukungonakali, zibe-nesizotha, zikhulume okuqondileyo okungasolekiyo.’ Ukufundisa ‘okungonakele’ kumelwe kusekelwe ngokuqinile eZwini likaNkulunkulu; ngakho, izinsizwa kumelwe zibe abafundi beBhayibheli abakhuthele. Njengamadoda amadala, izinsizwa nazo kumelwe zibe nesizotha. Kudingeka ziqaphele ukuthi ukuba isikhonzi seZwi likaNkulunkulu kuwumthwalo wemfanelo ongathi sína, futhi ngaleyondlela kumelwe ‘zihambe ngokufanele ivangeli.’ (Filipi 1:27) Ngokufanayo inkulumo yazo kumelwe ibe ‘eqondileyo’ kangangokuthi ibe ‘engasolekiyo’ ukuze inganikezi abazisolayo isizathu sokukhuluma kabi ngazo.—2 Korinte 6:3; 1 Petru 2:12, 15.
Esiya Ezigqileni Nasezincekwini
19, 20. Labo abaqashwe abanye abantu ‘bangasihlobisa kanjani isifundiso sikaNkulunkulu uMsindisi wethu’?
19 Ekugcineni, uPawulu uphendukela kulabo abaqashwe abanye abantu. Siza ufunde uThithu 2:9, 10. Ababaningi kithi namuhla abayizigqila noma izinceku, kodwa abaningi bangabaqashwa nezisebenzi ezisebenzela abanye. Ngakho, izimiso ezalandiswa uPawulu zisebenza ngendlela efanayo nanamuhla.
20 Ukuba “zithobele amakhosi azo . . . ezintweni zonke” kusho ukuthi abaqashwa abangamaKristu kumelwe babonise abaqashi nabaqondisi babo inhlonipho yangempela. (Kolose 3:22) Kumelwe futhi babe nedumela lokuba izisebenzi ezithembekile, benze umsebenzi ogcwele wosuku njengokufanele umqashi wabo. Futhi kumelwe balondoloze indinganiso ephakeme yokuziphatha kobuKristu ezindaweni zabo zomsebenzi kungakhathaliseki ukuthi abanye baziphatha kanjani lapho. Konke lokhu bakwenza “ukuze [ba]hlobise isifundiso sikaNkulunkulu uMsindisi wethu ezintweni zonke.” Kukaningi sizwa ngemiphumela ejabulisayo lapho izingqapheli eziqotho zisabela eqinisweni ngenxa yokuziphatha okuhle kwabasebenza nabo noma abaqashwa abangoFakazi! Lona umvuzo uJehova awunikeza labo abalandela isifundiso sakhe esiphilileyo ngisho nasezindaweni zabo zomsebenzi.—Efesu 6:7, 8.
Abantu Abahlanziwe
21. Kungani uJehova eye walungiselela isifundiso esiphilileyo, futhi kufanele sisabele kanjani?
21 Isifundiso esiphilileyo uPawulu akhuluma ngaso asilona nje uhlu lwemithetho yezimiso zokuhle noma imibono yokuziphatha esingaphendukela kuyo lapho sifisa kanjalo. UPawulu waqhubeka echaza injongo yaso. Siza ufunde uThithu 2:11, 12. Ngenxa yothando lwakhe ngathi nomusa ongasifanele, uJehova uNkulunkulu uye walungiselela isifundiso esiphilileyo ukuze sifunde ukuphila ukuphila okunenjongo nokwanelisayo kulezikhathi ezibucayi neziyingozi. Ingabe uzimisele ukwamukela nokwenza isifundiso esiphilileyo sibe indlela yakho yokuphila? Ukwenza kanjalo kuyosho ukusindiswa kwakho.
22, 23. Yiziphi izibusiso esizivunayo ngokwenza isifundiso esiphilileyo sibe indlela yethu yokuphila?
22 Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukwenza isifundiso esiphilileyo sibe indlela yethu yokuphila kusilethela ilungelo eliyingqayizivele manje nethemba elijabulisayo lesikhathi esizayo. Siza ufunde uThithu 2:13, 14. Ngempela, ukwenza isifundiso esiphilileyo sibe indlela yethu yokuphila kusenza sihluke kulelizwe elonakele nelifayo njengabantu abahlanziwe. Amazwi kaPawulu afana nezikhumbuzo zikaMose kubantwana bakwa-Israyeli eSinayi: “UJehova . . . [uyakukuphakamisa] phezu kwazo zonke izizwe azenzileyo ngokubongwa, nangegama, nangodumo, ube-yisizwe esingcwele kuJehova uNkulunkulu wakho njengokusho kwakhe.”—Duteronomi 26:18, 19.
23 Kwangathi singalazisa njalo ilungelo lokuba abantu bakaJehova abahlanziwe ngokwenza isifundiso esiphilileyo sibe indlela yethu yokuphila! Kuphaphameleni njalo ukulahla noma yiluphi uhlobo lokungamesabi uNkulunkulu nezinkanuko zezwe, kanjalo nihlale nihlanziwe futhi nikufanelekela ukusetshenziswa uJehova emsebenzini omkhulu abangela ukuba wenziwe namuhla.—Kolose 1:10.
Uyakhumbula?
◻ Kungani ukuzinikela kokwesaba uNkulunkulu kuzuzisa ezintweni zonke?
◻ Amadoda nabesifazane abadala abangamaKristu bangasiphishekela kanjani isifundiso esiphilileyo njengendlela yokuphila?
◻ Isiphi isifundiso esiphilileyo uPawulu ayesiphathele izinsizwa nabesifazane abasha ebandleni?
◻ Yiliphi ilungelo nesibusiso okungaba okwethu uma senza isifundiso esiphilileyo sibe indlela yethu yokuphila?
[Izithombe ekhasini 18]
Abaningi namuhla basebenzisa iseluleko esikuThithu 2:2-4