Badala—Phathani Umhlambi KaNkulunkulu Ngothando!

“Saba-mnene phakathi kwenu njengokuba umdlezane ondla abantwana bakhe.”—1 THESALONIKA 2:7.

 1. Kungani noma yimuphi uFakazi KaJehova othembekile engazizwa elondekile?

UJEHOVA unguMalusi Omkhulu. Izinceku zakhe ezinjengezimvu uzenzela amalungiselelo ayinala futhi uzihola ‘ezindleleni zokulunga’ ngenxa yegama lakhe elingcwele. Ngakho, labo abenza intando yakhe ngeke kudingeke besabe lutho olubi futhi bangathembela kuNkulunkulu wabo onesihawu ukuze bathole induduzo. Ngempela, noma imuphi uFakazi KaJehova othembekile unesizathu esizwakalayo sokuzizwa elondekile ekunakekeleni kukaNkulunkulu kothando.—IHubo 23:1-4.

 2. Njengowukubonakaliswa kwenkazimulo kaNkulunkulu, iziphi izimfanelo uJesu azibonisayo?

² UJesu Kristu ‘ungukubengezela kwenkazimulo [kaNkulunkulu], ufuzé yena uqobo.’ (Heberu 1:1-4) Ngakho uJesu, uMalusi Omuhle, naye ubonisa uthando nesihawu. (Johane 10:14, 15) Ngokwesibonelo, ngesinye isikhathi “wabona isixuku esikhulu, waba-nesihe ngabantu, ngokuba babenjengezimvu ezingenamalusi; waqala ukubafundisa okuningi.”—Marku 6:34.

 3. (a) NjengoJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu, abelusi abangaphansi abangamaKristu kufanele babonise ziphi izimfanelo? (b) Yisiphi iseluleko nesixwayiso umphostoli uPawulu asinikeza ababonisi?

³ Wonke amaKristu kufanele ‘alingise uNkulunkulu ahambe othandweni njengalokho uKristu awathanda.’ (Efesu 5:1, 2) Ngakho kufanele abe nothando nesihawu. Lokhu kufanele kube njalo ngokukhethekile ngabelusi abangaphansi bomhlambi kaNkulunkulu. Umphostoli uPawulu wathi: “Ziqapheleni nina nomhlambi wonke anibeké kuwo uMoya oNgcwele ukuba nibe-ngababonisi bokwalusa ibandla likaNkulunkulu azizuzele lona ngegazi lakhe. Mina ngiyazi ukuthi emva kokumuka kwami kuzakungena kini izimpisi ezihahayo zingawuhawukeli umhlambi, naphakathi kwenu kuzakuvuka amadoda akhuluma okudukisayo, ahunge abafundi ukubalandela.”—IzEnzo 20:28-30.

 4. (a) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, yini eyenzeka ngokuvumelana nesixwayiso sikaPawulu kuzEnzo 20:29, 30? (b) Imiphi imibuzo manje efanele ukucatshangelwa?

⁴ Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, “izimpisi ezihahayo” eziyizihlubuki zavela futhi ‘aziwuhawukelanga umhlambi.’ Kodwa yeka ukuthi sijabula kanjani ngokuthi abadala abaphakathi koFakazi BakaJehova ababenzi ubudlova obunjalo! Nokho, hlobo luni lwempatho abakholwa nabo abangalulindela kulababonisi abamiswe ngomoya? Futhi labo abamisiwe bangakubonisa kanjani ukuzicabangela ngothando izimvu zikaJehova?

Bangawubusi Umhlambi

 5. (a) Ngokuvamile abaholi bezwe babaphatha kanjani labo abangaphansi kwabo? (b) UJesu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi ubushiqela abunandawo phakathi kwabalandeli bakhe?

⁵ Singakulindela ngokufanelekile ukuba abadala abangamaKristu basiphathe ngendlela enesihawu. Abafani nababusi bezwe, ngokuvamile abababusa ngobushiqela abangaphansi kwabo. Ngokwesibonelo, kubikwa ukuthi inkosi engumFulentshi uCharlemagne (owabusa ngo-768-814 C.E.) “waphoqelela amaSaxon, ngaphansi kwesigwebo sokufa, ukuba amukele ubhapathizo, wabagwebela ezijezisweni ezinzima abaphula iLent (inkathi yokuzila nokubuyisana), futhi yonke indawo wasebenzisa impoqo esikhundleni sokubonisana.” (The History of the Christian Church, kaWilliam Jones) Ubushiqela abunandawo phakathi kwabalandeli bakaJesu, ngoba wathi: “Niyazi ukuthi ababusi babahedeni bababusa ngobushiqela, futhi amadoda abo amakhulu abaphatha ngobudlova. Akumelwe kube njalo phakathi kwenu, kunalokho noma ngubani ofuna ukuba mkhulu phakathi kwenu kumelwe abe inceku yenu, futhi noma ngubani ofuna indawo ephambili phakathi kwenu kumelwe abe isigqila senu, njengoba neNdodana yomuntu ingezelanga ukukhonzwa, kodwa ukuzokhonza abanye abantu, nokunikela ngokuphila kwayo ukuze ihlenge abaningi.”—Mathewu 20:25-28, An American Translation.

 6. (a) Ngokuqondene nabadala, yiziphi izici eziyisisekelo ezivelelayo? (b) Yini ibandla elinesizathu sokuyilindela kubadala, futhi lamadoda kufanele azibheke kanjani?

⁶ Indoda engumKristu ‘efisa isikhundla sombonisi, inxanela umsebenzi omuhle.’ (1 Thimothewu 3:1) Uma sicabangela lokhu nomyalo kaJesu osanda kucashunwa, lamaphuzu ayisisekelo ayavelela: (1) abadala abangamaKristu akumelwe babe izidlova phezu kwabanye; (2) labo abathwele imithwalo yemfanelo phakathi kwabalandeli bakaJesu kumelwe babe izinceku zabo, hhayi amakhosi abo; futhi (3) amadoda afisa isikhundla sobubonisi kufanele asibheke ‘njengomsebenzi omuhle,’ hhayi njengesikhundla esiphakeme. (IzAga 25:27; 1 Korinte 1:31) Igama elithi “umdala” aliphakamisi muntu ngaphezu kwabanye abakhulekeli bakaJehova. Kunalokho, ibandla linesizathu sokulindela ukuba bonke abadala babe ngamadoda avuthiwe ngokomoya, anokuhlangenwe nakho, nathobekile aholayo enkonzweni engcwele. Ngempela, abadala kufanele bazibheke njengezinceku ezithobekile zikaJehova uNkulunkulu, uJesu Kristu, namaKristu abakanye nawo.—Roma 12:11; Galathiya 5:13; Kolose 3:24.

 7. (a) Abadala kufanele bayisebenzise kanjani eyesi-2 Korinte 1:24 ekusebenzelaneni nabanye? (b) Yini abadala okufanele bayenze ngeziyalo ezamukelwa zivela eNdikimbeni Ebusayo?

⁷ Ngokuzenzakalelayo ukukhonza abanye ngokuthobeka kuvimbela umdala ekuzameni ‘ukubabusa.’ Futhi yeka ukuthi kuhle kanjani ukuthi ababonisi bethu babonisa isimo sengqondo esifanayo nesikaPawulu! Watshela amaKristu aseKorinte: ‘Asibusi phezu kokholo lwenu, kodwa siyizisebenzi zokuthokoza kwethu kanye nani.’ (2 Korinte 1:24) Ngokuvumelana nalokhu, labo abengamela ngothando ababathwesi umthwalo wezimiso zabantu ezingadingekile labo abakholwa nabo. Esikhundleni salokho, ababonisi phakathi koFakazi BakaJehova babuswa izimiso zobuKristu futhi benza inkonzo yomusa, newusizo. Futhi babonisa ukuwucangela okujulile umhlambi kaNkulunkulu ngokuzisebenzisa ngokushesha iziyalo ezamukelwa zivela eNdikimbeni Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova.—IzEnzo, isahluko 15.

 8. Yisiphi isimo sengqondo uPawulu ayenaso ngayekholwa nabo, futhi lokhu kufanele kubathinte kanjani abadala bekhulu lama-20 leminyaka?

⁸ Ngenxa yokuthi uPawulu wayewucabangela ngothando umhlambi kaNkulunkulu, wayengatshela amaKristu eThesalonika: “Saba-mnene phakathi kwenu njengokuba umdlezane ondla abantwana bakhe. Ngokunjalo lokhu besinilangazelele, sasifuna ukuninika kungesilo ivangeli likaNkulunkulu kuphela kepha nokuphila kwethu uqobo, ngokuba nase ningabathandekayo kithina.” (1 Thesalonika 2:7, 8) UPawulu wenza njengoba kwenza umdlezane, othanda abantwana bakhe ngokujule kangangokuba ubeka izithakazelo zabo ngaphambi kwezakhe futhi ubacabangela ngothando. Yeka indlela lokhu okufanele kubashukumise ngayo abadala bekhulu lama-20 leminyaka ukuba baphathe umhlambi kaNkulunkulu ngothando!

Imithombo Yempumuzo Nokuqabuleka

 9. Iziphi izimo zabantu bakaJehova bosuku lwanamuhla ezabikezelwa kuIsaya 32:1, 2?

⁹ Ekhomba kulolusuku lokubusa koMbuso ngoJesu Kristu, umprofethi uIsaya wabikezela ukuthi inkosi ‘yayiyobusa ngokulunga’ ‘nezikhulu’ ‘zaziyobusa ngokwahlulela.’ Ngakho, abadala enhlanganweni engokwasezulwini yosuku lwanamuhla basingethe izithakazelo zoMbuso wasezulwini omisiwe—inkonzo yezikhulu ngempela! Kulamadoda anomthwalo wemfanelo amazwi kaIsaya angokwesiprofetho aqhubekayo ayasebenza: “Umuntu uyakuba-yindawo yokucashela umoya nesivikelo esivunguvungwini njengemifula yamanzi endaweni eyomileyo, njengomthunzi wedwala ezweni eliyethileyo.”—Isaya 32:1, 2.

10. Umdala ngamunye phakathi koFakazi BakaJehova kufanele abe umthombo wani?

¹⁰ Ngokungafani nabaholi benkolo beLobukholwa abacindezelayo, abadala phakathi koFakazi BakaJehova bayimithombo yempumuzo nokuqabuleka. Njengezindikimba zamadoda amadala, bathuthukisa ukuthula, nokulondeka phakathi kwabantu bakaJehova. Umdala ngamunye anganikela kulesimo esihle ngokuphatha umhlambi kaNkulunkulu ngothando.

Ngokwahlulela Ngokulunga Nangokulunga

11. (a) Isiphi isimo esivamile esasikhona phakathi kwamaKristu ekhulu lokuqala leminyaka esikhona emabandleni amaningi oFakazi BakaJehova namuhla? (b) Ababonisi banamuphi umthwalo wemfanelo ebandleni, futhi ngani?

¹¹ Nakuba izinkinga zaziphakama kwamanye amabandla obuKristu ekhulu lokuqala, isimo sawo esivamile sasingesokuthula, ubunye nenjabulo. (1 Korinte 1:10-12; 3:5-9; Efesu 1:2; Jakobe 2:1-9; 3:2-12; 4:11, 12; 1 Johane 1:3, 4) Isimo esihle ngokomoya sikhona futhi emabandleni amaningi oFakazi BakaJehova namuhla ngenxa yesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu, ukuhola kukaKristu, nomsebenzi wokwethembeka wababonisi abamisiwe. Ukuze aqinisekise ukuthula, ubunye, nenjabulo yebandla, lamadoda afuna usizo lwaphezulu futhi akulwele ngenkuthalo ukugcina inhlangano kaNkulunkulu ihlanzekile, ngokokuziphatha nangokomoya. (Isaya 52:11) Inhlangano engahlanzekile ayinakuba nokuthula futhi ijabule, futhi ngokuqinisekile ayinakwamukelwa uNkulunkulu futhi ibe nesibusiso sakhe. ‘Amehlo akhe ahlambulukile ukuba angaboni okubi,’ ukuba abekezelele ukungalungi. (Habakuki 1:13) Khona-ke, phakathi kwezinye izinto abadala kulindeleke ukuba banakekele izindaba zokwahlulela ngendlela eqondile, engokomBhalo. Kodwa imaphi amaphuzu adinga ukukhunjulwa lapho kusingathwa izindaba ezinjalo?

12. Nakuba abadala kungadingekile ukuba bahlole izindaba ezingezomuntu siqu ezingayephuli imithetho noma izimiso zeBhayibheli, ngokweyabaseGalathiya 6:1 yini okufanele yenziwe?

¹² Ngokwesibonelo, ezindabeni ezihilela ukungezwani kwabantu siqu, kungenzeka ngalabobantu ukuba bazilungise ngasese izindaba. (Mathewu 18:15-17) Njengoba abadala bengesibo ‘ababusi phezu kokholo lwethu,’ akulindelekile ukuba bahlole izindaba ezingezomuntu siqu ngokuphelele ezingahileli ukwephulwa okungathi sína kwemithetho noma izimiso zeBhayibheli. Ngokufanelekile, uma kunobufakazi bokuthi umuntu ‘wehlelwe isiphambeko,’ labo abanezimfanelo ezingokomoya kufanele ‘bambuyise onjalo ngomoya wobumnene.’—Galathiya 6:1.

13. ImiBhalo ibonisa kanjani ukuthi abadala kufanele bathathe isinyathelo kuphela ngobufakazi bokwenziwa kobubi, hhayi ngenzwa bethi?

¹³ Abadala kumelwe bakhonze “ngokwahlulela [ngokulunga, NW],” ngaso sonke isikhathi bengakhethi. Ngakho kufanele bathathe isinyathelo ngobufakazi bokwenziwa kobubi, hhayi ngenzwa bethi. UPawulu weluleka: “Icala eliqondene nelunga ungalamukeli, kungengawofakazi ababili noma abathathu.” (1 Thimothewu 5:19) Ngokwendinganiso kaJehova, kwaIsrayeli wasendulo umuntu obekwe icala lesono esifanelwe ukufa kwakumelwe abulawe “ngomlomo wawofakazi ababili noma ngowawofakazi abathathu.” Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngokusobala omangalelwe wayenethuba lokubhekana nabamangali bakhe, futhi uma ubufakazi babanele, “isandla sawofakazi siyakuba-ngesokuqala kuye ukumbulala.”—Duteronomi 17:6, 7.

14. (a) Yini engalungile uDiyotrefe azama ukuyenza? (b) Yini uNkulunkulu ayilindele kubadala lapho besingethe izindaba zokwahlulela?

¹⁴ Kumelwe kube nesizathu esingokomBhalo esizwakalayo sesinyathelo sokwahlulela. Yeka ukuthi sijabula kanjani ngokuthi ababonisi bamabandla abafani noDiyotrefe oqhoshayo wekhulu lokuqala leminyaka C.E.! Wenza umzamo ongalungile ‘wokukhipha ebandleni’ labo ababefisa ukubamukela ngezandla ezifudumele abazalwane abahambela amabandla. Umphostoli uJohane akazange ayibheke kalula lendaba kanye nezinye izenzo ezimbi kodwa waxwayisa: “Uma ngiza, ngiyakumkhumbuza imisebenzi yakhe.” (3 Johane 9, 10) Kanjalo, ikomiti yokwahlulela yosuku lwanamuhla kumelwe iqiniseke ukuthi kukhona isisekelo esingokweBhayibheli sanoma isiphi isinyathelo sokususa ekuhlanganyeleni esithathayo.a Yiqiniso, uNkulunkulu ulindele ukuba abadala abangamaKristu babe ngabalungile ekusebenzelaneni nabanye. Ngempela, labo abaqondisa izindaba zenhlangano kaJehova yasemhlabeni kumelwe kube “amadoda anamandla amesabayo uNkulunkulu, amadoda athembekileyo.”—Eksodusi 18:21.

15. Umthandazo kufanele ube nayiphi indima ekuqulweni kwamacala okwahlulela?

¹⁵ Noma iyiphi ikomiti yokwahlulela yamaKristu kufanele ifune usizo lukaJehova ngomthandazo oqotho. Umhlangano nomzalwane noma udade omangalelwe ngokwenza ububi obungathi sína kufanele uvulwe ngomthandazo. Eqinisweni, kungaba okufanelekile ukuthandaza nganoma isiphi isikhathi esingaphakamisa isidingo sosizo lukaNkulunkulu phakathi nengxoxo.—Jakobe 5:13-18.

16. Abadala kufanele bawaqule ngayiphi indlela amacala okwahlulela, futhi ngani?

¹⁶ Abadala bayazi ukuthi abakholwa naye omangalelwe ngokwenza okubi ‘uyimvu’ emhlanjini kaNkulunkulu futhi kufanele aphathwe ngothando. (Qhathanisa noHezekeli 34:7-14.) Izimvu ezingokoqobo zidinga ukunakekelwa ngothando, ngoba ziyizidalwa ezinobugwala ezithembele kumalusi wazo ukuze zithole isivikelo. Ngakho, kuthiwani ngezimvu ezingokomfanekiso ezisebandleni? Ngokungangabazeki zizizwa zilondekile ekunakekeleni kukaMalusi Omkhulu, uJehova uNkulunkulu, noMalusi Omuhle, uJesu Kristu. Kodwa abelusi bomhlambi abangaphansi kumelwe benze ngezindlela ezinikela ekuthuleni kwangaphakathi nasemuzweni wokulondeka wezinceku zikaJehova ezinjengezimvu. Khona-ke, uma ungumalusi ongaphansi ongumKristu ingabe abafowenu nodadewenu bazizwa belondekile futhi benokuthula ekunakekeleni kwakho? Yiqiniso, abadala kumelwe bayisekele ngokuqinile imithetho nezimiso zeBhayibheli. Kodwa kuyimfuneko engokomBhalo ukuba basebenzelane nezimvu ngendlela yothando nokuba basingathe amacala okwahlulela ngendlela enokuthula, ehlelekile, yomusa, neyokucabangela.

17. Imaphi amaphuzu angokomBhalo abadala okufanele bawakhumbule, ikakhulukazi ekuqulweni kwamacala okwahlulela?

¹⁷ Njengoba singaphelele, “siyakhubeka ngokuningi” kulokho esikushoyo. (Jakobe 3:2) Ngamunye wethu udinga umusa kaNkulunkulu ‘nenhlawulo’ kaKristu. (1 Johane 1:8–2:2; IHubo 130:3) Ngakho umalusi ongaphansi ongumKristu kumelwe azibheke ngokuthobeka futhi akhumbule amazwi kaJesu: “Njengalokhu nithanda ukuba abantu benze kini, yenzani njalo kubo.” (Luka 6:31) Leseluleko kufanele sisetshenziswe ikakhulukazi phakathi nokuqulwa kwamacala okwahlulela. Amadoda afanelekayo ngokomoya kufanele azame ukulungisa umKristu owonayo ‘ngomoya wobumnene; ezibheka wona, funa ayengwe nawo.’—Galathiya 6:1; 1 Korinte 10:12.

18. (a) Yini engaba umphumela uma abadala bephathé abanye ngendluzula ekuqulweni kwamacala okwahlulela? (b) NgokukaMarku 9:42, yini okufanele iqashelwe abadala kanye namanye amaKristu?

¹⁸ Uma abadala bengaphatha abanye ngendluzula phakathi nokuqulwa kwamacala okwahlulela, lokhu kungabalimaza labobantu. Kodwa ngisho noma bengalimali ngokomzwelo noma ngokomzimba, kungaba khona ukulimala okukhulu ngokomoya, futhi ukufaneleka kwalabobabonisi kungangabazeka. (Qhathanisa noJakobe 2:13.) Khona-ke, phakathi nokuqulwa kwamacala okwahlulela nangazo zonke ezinye izikhathi, abadala kufanele babe nomusa futhi kumelwe baqaphe ukuba bangabakhubi abanye. Yiqiniso, wonke amaKristu adinga ukunakekela ngokuqondene nalokhu, ngoba uJesu wathi: “Nalowo okhubekisa abe-munye kulaba abancinyane abakholwayo kungangcono kuye ukuba itshe lokusila ligaxwe entanyeni yakhe, aphonswe elwandle.” (Marku 9:42) Itshe lokugaya langaphezulu lalingaba likhulu kangangokuba kwakungadingeka amandla esilwane ngokuvamile ukuba aliphendule, futhi akukho muntu ophonswe olwandle nesisindo esingako esilengiswe entanyeni yakhe ongasinda. Khona-ke, ngokuqinisekile umdala kufanele anakekele ukuba angabangeli ukukhubeka okungaphumela emonakalweni ongokomoya ohlala njalo kuye ngokwakhe nakunoma imuphi umuntu okhutshekiswe kanjalo.—Filipi 1:9-11.

Qhubekani Nibonisa Ukucabangela Kothando

19. Isiphi iseluleko uPetru asinikeza abadala akanye nabo, futhi ukusabela kwabo kuso ngokufanele kuhlangene ngani namathemba abo esikhathini esizayo?

¹⁹ Umphostoli uPetru wabonisa indlela ababonisi ababekanye naye okwakumelwe beluse ngayo umhlambi lapho ebhala: “Yalusani umhlambi kaNkulunkulu ophakathi kwenu, kungabi-ngokucindezelwa kodwa ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu, kungabi-ngenxa yenzuzo eyihlazo kodwa ngenhliziyo evumayo, kungabi-njengabazenza amakhosi phezu kwamabandla enabelwa wona, kodwa nibe-yizibonelo zomhlambi; kuyakuthi, nxa esebonakaliswa uMalusi omkhulu, niyakuzuza umqhele wenkazimulo ongabuniyo.” (1 Petru 5:2-4) Kungokusebenzisa iseluleko esinjalo kuphela nangokubonisa ukuwucabangela kothando umhlambi kaNkulunkulu lapho ababonisi abagcotshiwe bengathola khona umvuzo wabo wasezulwini njengezidalwa zomoya ezingenakufa nalapho abadala abanamathemba asemhlabeni bengamukela khona ukuphila okuphakade ePharadesi elizayo lembulunga yonke.

20. (a) Abadala abangaphansi abangamaKristu kumelwe basebenzelane kanjani nabakholwa kanye nabo? (b) Uzizwa kanjani ngenkonzo eyisibonelo nokunakekela kothando kwabadala abanothando?

²⁰ Bobabili uJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu, bangaBelusi abanothando, abanesihawu. Ngakho nakuba abelusi abangaphansi abangamaKristu bezisekela ngokuqinile izindinganiso zaphezulu, kumelwe babonise uthando nesihawu ekusebenzelaneni kwabo nabakholwa nabo abanjengezimvu. Ngokuqinisekile, bonke oFakazi BakaJehova abathembekile bayazisa ngokujulile inkonzo eyisibonelo yabadala abanjalo abazidelayo abavikela abakuphathisiwe futhi baphathe umhlambi kaNkulunkulu ngothando. Lokho kwazisa, okuhambisana nenhlonipho efanele, kungaboniswa ngokuthobela labo abaholayo phakathi kwethu.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

Ukhumbulani?

◻ UJesu Kristu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi ubushiqela abunandawo phakathi kwabalandeli bakhe?

◻ Yini abadala okufanele bayenze lapho kwamukelwa iziyalo ezivela eNdikimbeni Ebusayo?

◻ NgokukaIsaya 32:1, 2, abadala kufanele babe imithombo yani?

◻ ImiBhalo ibonisa kanjani ukuthi abadala akufanele bathathe isinyathelo ngenzwa bethi?

◻ Abelusi abangaphansi abangamaKristu kufanele bawuphathe kanjani umhlambi?

[Isithombe ekhasini 18]

Umthandazo oqotho ubalulekile lapho ikomiti yokwahlulela ihlangana nekholwa nabo