Isahluko 16
Indlela Ongasondela Ngayo KuNkulunkulu
1. Yikuphi ukufana okubonakala ezinkolweni eziningi?
ISIVAKASHI esibuka amazwe esasivakashele ezweni elithile laseMpumalanga samangazwa imikhuba engokwenkolo esayibona ethempelini lamaBuddha. Nakuba izithombe kwakungezona ezikaMariya noma uKristu, eminingi yemikhuba yayifana neyesonto laso ezweni lakubo. Ngokwesibonelo, saphawula ukusetshenziswa kwamarosali nokuculwa kwemithandazo. Nabanye baye benza ukuqhathanisa okunjalo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kuseMpumalanga noma eNtshonalanga, zifana ngokuphawulekayo izindlela amakholwa ashisekayo azama ngazo ukusondela kuNkulunkulu noma ezintweni azikhulekelayo.
2. Umthandazo uye wachazwa kanjani, futhi kungani abantu abaningi bethandaza?
2 Abaningi bazama ukusondela kuNkulunkulu ikakhulukazi ngokuthandaza kuye. Umthandazo uye wachazwa ngokuthi “isenzo sokuxhumana komuntu nokungcwele—uNkulunkulu, onkulunkulu, indawo engenakufinyeleleka, noma amandla angaphezu kwavamile.” (The New Encyclopædia Britannica) Nokho, lapho abanye besondela kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo bacabanga kuphela ngalokho abangakuzuza. Ngokwesibonelo, indoda ethile yake yabuza omunye woFakazi BakaJehova: “Uma ungithandazela, ingabe izinkinga enginazo emkhayeni wami, emsebenzini, nasempilweni yami zizoxazululeka?” Ngokusobala lendoda yayicabanga kanjalo, kodwa abaningi bayathandaza, bathole ukuthi izinkinga zabo ziyaqhubeka. Ngakho singase sibuze, ‘Kungani ngempela kufanele sisondele kuNkulunkulu?’
ISIZATHU SOKUSONDELA KUNKULUNKULU
3. Imithandazo yethu kufanele iqondiswe kubani, futhi ngani?
3 Umthandazo awuwona umkhuba ongasho lutho, noma indlela yokuzuza okuthile. Isizathu esiyinhloko sokusondela kuNkulunkulu siwukuba nobuhlobo obuseduze naye. Ngenxa yalokho imithandazo yethu kufanele iqondiswe kuJehova uNkulunkulu. “UJehova useduze nabo bonke abambizayo,” kusho umhubi uDavide. (IHubo 145:18) UJehova usimema ukuba sibe nobuhlobo obunokuthula naye. (Isaya 1:18) Labo abamukela lesi simemo bavumelana nomhubi owathi: “Kepha mina kungilungele ukusondela kuNkulunkulu.” Ngani? Ngoba labo abasondela kuJehova uNkulunkulu bayoba nenjabulo yangempela nokuthula kwengqondo.—IHubo 73:28.
4, 5. (a) Kungani kubalulekile ukuthandaza kuNkulunkulu? (b Ubuhlobo obunjani esingaba nabo noNkulunkulu ngomthandazo?
4 Kungani kufanele sithandaze kuNkulunkulu sicele usizo uma ‘azi ukuthi sidingani ngaphambi kokuba simcele’? (Mathewu 6:8; IHubo 139:4) Umthandazo ubonisa ukuthi sinokholo kuNkulunkulu nokuthi simbheka njengoMthombo wazo “zonke izipho ezinhle nazo zonke izipho eziphelele.” (Jakobe 1:17; Heberu 11:6) UJehova uyayijabulela imithandazo yethu. (IzAga 15:8) Uyakujabulela ukuzwa amazwi ethu anengqondo okwazisa nokudumisa, njengoba nje ubaba ethokoza lapho ezwa umntanakhe omncane esho amazwi aqotho okubonga. (IHubo 119:108) Lapho kunobuhlobo obuhle phakathi kukababa nomntwana, kuba nokukhulumisana kobungane. Umntwana othandwayo ufuna ukukhuluma noyise. Lokho kuyasebenza nalapho kuziwa ebuhlotsheni bethu noNkulunkulu. Uma sikwazisa ngempela lokho esikufunda ngoJehova kanye nothando aye walubonisa ngenxa yethu, siyoba nesifiso esinamandla sokumtshela indlela esizizwa ngayo emthandazweni.—1 Johane 4:16-18.
5 Lapho sisondela kuNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, kufanele sibe nenhlonipho, nakuba kungenasidingo sokukhathazeka ngokweqile ngamazwi aqondile esiwasebenzisayo. (Heberu 4:16) Indlela yokuya kuJehova ihlale ivulekile. Futhi yeka ukuthi kuyilungelo kangakanani ukuthi singakwazi ‘ukuthululela inhliziyo yethu’ kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo! (IHubo 62:8) Ukwazisa ngoJehova kuholela ekubeni nobuhlobo obufudumele naye, obunjengalobo indoda ethembekile u-Abrahama eyayibujabulela njengomngane kaNkulunkulu. (Jakobe 2:23) Kodwa lapho sithandaza eNkosini enguMbusi wendawo yonke, kumelwe sihlangabezane nezimfuneko zakhe zokusondela kuye.
IZIMFUNEKO ZOKUSONDELA KUNKULUNKULU
6, 7. Nakuba uNkulunkulu engafuni mali ukuze ezwe imithandazo yethu, yini ayifunayo kithi lapho sithandaza?
6 Ingabe kudingeka imali ukuze sisondele kuNkulunkulu? Abantu abaningi bakhokhela abefundisi ukuze babathandazele. Abanye bakholelwa nawukuthi ukuzwiwa kwemithandazo yabo kuya ngobungako beminikelo abayinikelayo. Nokho, iZwi likaNkulunkulu alisho ukuthi kudingeka iminikelo yemali ukuze sisondele kuJehova ngomthandazo. Amalungiselelo akhe angokomoya nezibusiso zokuba nobuhlobo naye ngomthandazo kutholakala ngesihle.—Isaya 55:1, 2.
7 Khona-ke, yini efunekayo? Isimo esifanele senhliziyo singenye yezimfuneko. (2 IziKronike 6:29, 30; IzAga 15:11) Ezinhliziyweni zethu kumelwe sibonise ukholo kuJehova uNkulunkulu ‘njengoMuzwi wemithandazo’ ‘nomvuzi walabo abamfuna ngobuqotho.’ (IHubo 65:2; Heberu 11:6) Futhi kumelwe sibe nenhliziyo ethobekile. (2 AmaKhosi 22:19; IHubo 51:17) Komunye wemifanekiso yakhe, uJesu Kristu wabonisa ukuthi lapho umthelisi othobekile esondela kuNkulunkulu ngesimo senhliziyo ethobekile wabonakala elunge ngaphezu komFarisi owayeqhosha. (Luka 18:10-14) Lapho sisondela kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo, masikhumbule ukuthi “bonke abazidlayo ngenhliziyo bayisinengiso kuJehova.”—IzAga 16:5.
8. Uma sifisa ukuba uNkulunkulu aphendule imithandazo yethu, kumelwe sizihlanze kukuphi?
8 Uma sifisa ukuba uNkulunkulu aphendule imithandazo yethu, kumelwe sizihlanze ekuziphatheni okunesono. Lapho umfundi uJakobe ekhuthaza abanye ukuba basondele kuNkulunkulu, wanezela: “Hlanzani izandla zenu, nina zoni, futhi nihlanze izinhliziyo zenu, nina enimanqikanqika.” (Jakobe 4:8) Ngisho nabenzi bobubi bangaba nobuhlobo obunokuthula noJehova uma bephenduka futhi beshiya indlela yabo yokuphila yangaphambili. (IzAga 28:13) UJehova ngeke asizwe uma sizishaya abayihlanzile indlela yabo. “Amehlo kaJehova aphezu kwabalungileyo, futhi izindlebe zakhe zisekunxuseni kwabo; kodwa ubuso bukaJehova bumelene nalabo abenza izinto ezimbi,” kusho iZwi likaNkulunkulu.—1 Petru 3:12.
9. Ubani okufanele sisondele ngaye kuJehova, futhi ngani?
9 IBhayibheli lithi: “Akukho-muntu emhlabeni olungileyo kangaka ukuba enze okuhle, angoni.” (UmShumayeli 7:20) Ngakho-ke ungase ubuze: ‘Singasondela kanjani-ke kuJehova uNkulunkulu?’ IBhayibheli liyaphendula: “Uma-ke noma ubani esenza isono, sinomsizi kuBaba, uJesu Kristu, olungileyo.” (1 Johane 2:1) Nakuba siyizoni, ngoJesu Kristu owafa waba isihlengo ngenxa yethu, singasondela kuNkulunkulu sinenkululeko yokukhuluma. (Mathewu 20:28) Uwukuphela komzila esingasondela ngawo kuJehova uNkulunkulu. (Johane 14:6) Akumelwe silithathe kalula inani lomhlatshelo wesihlengo kaJesu ngokusenza umkhuba ngamabomu isono. (Heberu 10:26) Nokho, uma senza konke esingakwenza ukuze siyeke okubi kodwa sizithole sesonile ngezinye izikhathi, singaphenduka futhi sicele intethelelo kuNkulunkulu. Lapho sisondela kuye ngenhliziyo ethobekile, uyosizwa.—Luka 11:4.
AMATHUBA OKUKHULUMA NONKULUNKULU
10. Uma kuziwa emthandazweni, singamlingisa kanjani uJesu, futhi yimaphi amathuba akhona okuthandaza ngasese?
10 UJesu Kristu wayebazisa kakhulu ubuhlobo bakhe noJehova. Ngenxa yalokho, uJesu wayesenza isikhathi sokukhuluma noNkulunkulu ngomthandazo wangasese. (Marku 1:35; Luka 22:40-46) Siyobe senza kahle uma silingisa isibonelo sikaJesu futhi sithandaza njalo kuNkulunkulu. (Roma 12:12) Kuyafaneleka ukuqala usuku ngamazwi omthandazo, futhi ngaphambi kokuyolala, singambonga uJehova ngokufanelekile ngomsebenzi wosuku. Phakathi nosuku, qikelela ukuba usondele kuNkulunkulu “ngezikhathi zonke.” (Efesu 6:18) Singathandaza nangenhliziyo, sazi ukuthi uJehova angasizwa. Ukukhuluma noNkulunkulu ngasese kusisiza ukuba siqinise ubuhlobo bethu naye, futhi ukuthandaza kuJehova nsuku zonke kusenza siqhubeke sisondela kuye.
11. (a) Kungani imikhaya kufanele ithandaze ndawonye? (b) Kusho ukuthini ukuthi “Amen” ekupheleni komthandazo?
11 UJehova ulalela nemithandazo yokumelela amaqembu abantu. (1 AmaKhosi 8:22-53) Singasondela kuNkulunkulu njengomkhaya, kuhole inhloko yomkhaya. Lokhu kuqinisa isibopho somkhaya, futhi uJehova uba ngokoqobo kubantwana njengoba bezwa abazali babo bethandaza kuNkulunkulu ngokuzithoba. Kuthiwani uma umuntu emelela iqembu ngomthandazo, mhlawumbe emhlanganweni woFakazi BakaJehova? Uma siyizilaleli, masilalelisise ukuze kuthi ekupheleni komthandazo, sisho ngokusuka enhliziyweni sithi “Ameñ,” okusho ukuthi “Makube njalo.”—1 Korinte 14:16.
IMITHANDAZO UJEHOVA AYIZWAYO
12. (a) Kungani uNkulunkulu engayiphenduli eminye imithandazo? (b) Kungani kungafanele sigxile ezidingweni zethu kuphela lapho sithandaza?
12 Abanye bangase babe nomuzwa wokuthi uNkulunkulu akayiphenduli imithandazo yabo ngisho noma bethandaza kuye ngoKristu. Nokho, umphostoli uJohane wathi: “Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yini esiyicelayo ngokwentando [kaNkulunkulu], uyasizwa.” (1 Johane 5:14) Khona-ke, kudingeka sicele ngokwentando kaNkulunkulu. Njengoba enesithakazelo enhlalakahleni yethu engokomoya, noma yini ethinta ingokomoya lethu iyindaba efanelekele ukufakwa emthandazweni. Kumelwe simelane nesilingo sokugxila kuphela ezidingweni ezingokwenyama. Ngokwesibonelo, nakuba kufaneleka ukuthandazela ukuqonda namandla okubhekana nokugula, ukukhathazeka ngempilo akufanele kuminyanise izithakazelo ezingokomoya. (IHubo 41:1-3) Ngemva kokuba owesifazane othile ongumKristu eqaphele ukuthi wayekhathazeke ngokweqile ngempilo yakhe, wacela usizo kuJehova ukuze abe nombono ofanele ngokugula kwakhe. Ngenxa yalokho, izinkinga zakhe zempilo azibange zisaba zinkulu, futhi waba nomuzwa wokuthi wayenikezwe “amandla angaphezu kwavamile.” (2 Korinte 4:7) Isifiso sakhe sokuba usizo ngokomoya kwabanye sakhula, futhi waba ummemezeli woMbuso wesikhathi esigcwele.
13. Njengoba kuboniswe kuMathewu 6:9-13, yiziphi ezinye izindaba ezifanelekayo esingazifaka emithandazweni yethu?
13 Yini esingase siyifake emithandazweni yethu ukuze uJehova akujabulele ukuyizwa? UJesu Kristu wafundisa abafundi bakhe indlela yokuthandaza. Emthandazweni oyisibonelo olotshwe kuMathewu 6:9-13, wabeka isibonelo sezindaba okungafaneleka ukuba sizithandazele. Yini okufanele siyikhathalele ngokuyinhloko emithandazweni yethu? Igama likaJehova uNkulunkulu noMbuso wakhe kumelwe kuze kuqala. Ukucela izinto esizidingayo kufanelekile. Futhi kubalulekile ukucela intethelelo ngezono zethu nokukhululwa ezilingweni nakomubi, uSathane uDeveli. UJesu wayengafuni ukuba siwucule lomthandazo noma siwuphindaphinde, siwusho ngekhanda singacabangi ngalokho okushoyo. (Mathewu 6:7) Bebungaba njani ubuhlobo lapho umntwana esebenzisa amazwi afanayo ngaso sonke isikhathi lapho ekhuluma noyise?
14. Ngaphandle kwezicelo, imiphi imithandazo okufanele siyenze?
14 Ngaphandle kwezicelo nokunxusa okusuka enhliziyweni, kufanele senze imithandazo yokudumisa nokubonga. (IHubo 34:1; 92:1; 1 Thesalonika 5:18) Futhi singathandazela nabanye. Imithandazo ephathelene nabafowethu nodadewethu abangokomoya abahluphekayo noma abashushiswayo ibonisa ukuthi sinesithakazelo kubo, futhi uJehova uyakujabulela ukusizwa sizwakalisa ukukhathalela okunjalo. (Luka 22:32; Johane 17:20; 1 Thesalonika 5:25) Eqinisweni, umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Ningakhathazeki ngalutho, kodwa kukho konke izicelo zenu mazaziwe uNkulunkulu ngomthandazo nangokunxusa kanye nokubonga; futhi ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu okudlula konke ukucabanga kuyoqapha izinhliziyo zenu namandla enu engqondo ngoKristu Jesu.”—Filipi 4:6, 7.
PHIKELELA EMTHANDAZWENI
15. Yini okufanele siyikhumbule lapho imithandazo yethu kubonakala ingaphendulwa?
15 Nakuba uzuza ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu, ungase ube nomuzwa wokuthi ngezinye izikhathi imithandazo yakho ayiphendulwa. Lokhu kungabangelwa ukuthi kungenzeka akukabi isikhathi sikaNkulunkulu sokuphendula umthandazo othile. (UmShumayeli 3:1-9) UJehova angase avumele isimo ukuba siqhubeke okwesikhashana, kodwa uyayiphendula imithandazo futhi uyasazi isikhathi esingcono sokwenza kanjalo.—2 Korinte 12:7-9.
16. Kungani kufanele siphikelele emthandazweni, futhi ukwenza lokhu kungabuthinta kanjani ubuhlobo bethu noNkulunkulu?
16 Ukuphikelela kwethu emthandazweni kwembula isithakazelo sethu esiqotho kulokho esikusho kuNkulunkulu. (Luka 18:1-8) Ngokwesibonelo, singase sicele uJehova ukuba asisize sinqobe ubuthakathaka obuthile. Ngokuphikelela emthandazweni nokwenza ngokuvumelana nezicelo zethu, sibonisa ukuba qotho kwethu. Kufanele singagwegwesi futhi sibe qotho ezicelweni zethu. Kubaluleke ngokukhethekile ukuthandaza kakhulu lapho sibhekene nesilingo. (Mathewu 6:13) Njengoba siqhubeka sithandaza kuyilapho sizama ukulawula izifiso zethu ezibangelwa isono, siyobona indlela uJehova asisiza ngayo. Lokhu kuyokwakha ukholo lwethu futhi kuqinise ubuhlobo bethu naye.—1 Korinte 10:13; Filipi 4:13.
17. Siyozuza kanjani ngokuba nesimo sengqondo sokuthandaza lapho sikhonza uNkulunkulu?
17 Ngokuhlakulela isimo sengqondo sokuthandaza lapho senza inkonzo engcwele eya kuJehova uNkulunkulu, siyoqaphela ukuthi asimkhonzi ngamandla ethu siqu. UJehova ophumelelisa izinto. (1 Korinte 4:7) Ukwamukela lokhu kuyosisiza sithobeke futhi kuyothuthukisa ubuhlobo bethu naye. (1 Petru 5:5, 6) Yebo, sinezizathu eziqinile zokuphikelela emthandazweni. Imithandazo yethu eqotho nolwazi oluyigugu lokuthi singasondela kanjani kuBaba wethu wasezulwini onothando kuyokwenza ukuphila kwethu kujabulise ngempela.
UKUKHULUMA NOJEHOVA AKUXHOMEKILE OHLANGOTHINI OLULODWA
18. Singamlalela kanjani uNkulunkulu?
18 Uma sifuna ukuba uNkulunkulu ezwe imithandazo yethu, kumelwe silalele lokho akushoyo. (Zakariya 7:13) Akasathumeli izigijimi zakhe ngabaprofethi abaphefumulelwe ngokwaphezulu futhi ngokuqinisekile akasebenzisi izindlela zokusebenzelana nemimoya. (Duteronomi 18:10-12) Kodwa singalalela uNkulunkulu ngokufunda iZwi lakhe, iBhayibheli. (Roma 15:4; 2 Thimothewu 3:16, 17) Njengoba nje kungase kudingeke sihlakulele uthando lokudla okunomsoco, sinxuswa ukuba ‘sakhe ukulangazelela ubisi olungonakalisiwe olungolwezwi.’ Hlakulela uthando lokudla okungokomoya ngokufunda iZwi likaNkulunkulu nsuku zonke.—1 Petru 2:2, 3; IzEnzo 17:11.
19. Kuzuzisa ngani ukuzindla ngalokho okufunda eBhayibhelini?
19 Zindla ngalokho okufunda eBhayibhelini. (IHubo 1:1-3; 77:11, 12) Lokho kusho ukucabangisisa ngokwaziswa. Ungase ufanise lokhu nokwetshisa ukudla. Ungetshisa ukudla okungokomoya ngokuhlobanisa lokho okufundayo nezinto osuzazi kakade. Cabanga ngendlela ukwaziswa okuthinta ngayo ukuphila kwakho, noma ucabange ngalokho okukwembulayo ngezimfanelo zikaJehova nendlela asebenzelana ngayo nabantu. Ngakho ngesifundo somuntu siqu, ungadla ukudla okungokomoya okulungiselelwa uJehova. Lokhu kuyokusondeza kakhudlwana kuNkulunkulu futhi kuyokusiza ukuba uhlangabezane nezinkinga zansuku zonke.
20. Ukuba khona emihlanganweni yobuKristu kusisiza kanjani ukuba sisondele kuNkulunkulu?
20 Futhi ungasondela kuNkulunkulu ngokulalela iZwi lakhe okukhulunywa ngalo emihlanganweni yobuKristu, njengoba nje nama-Israyeli ayelalelisisa lapho ebuthene ukuze ezwe ukufundwa kwasobala koMthetho kaNkulunkulu. Abafundisi bangaleso sikhathi babecacisa ukwaziswa okwakufundiwe eMthethweni, kanjalo besiza izilaleli zabo ukuba ziqonde futhi zishukunyiselwe ukuba zisebenzise ezazikuzwa. Lokhu kwaholela enjabulweni enkulu. (Nehemiya 8:8, 12) Ngakho kwenze umkhuba ukuba khona emihlanganweni yoFakazi BakaJehova. (Heberu 10:24, 25) Lokhu kuyokusiza ukuba uqonde bese usebenzisa ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu ekuphileni kwakho futhi kuyokulethela injabulo. Ukuba ingxenye yobuzalwane bamaKristu bomhlaba wonke kuyokusiza ukuba uhlale useduze noJehova. Futhi njengoba sizobona, ungakuthola ukulondeka kwangempela phakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu.
HLOLA ULWAZI LWAKHO
Kungani kufanele usondele kuJehova?
Yiziphi ezinye izimfuneko zokusondela kuNkulunkulu?
Yini ongase uyifake emithandazweni yakho?
Kungani kufanele uphikelele emthandazweni?
Ungamlalela kanjani uJehova namuhla?
[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 157]