Ugijima Kanjani Emncintiswaneni Wokuphila?
“Anazi yini ukuthi abagijima ngokuncintisana bagijima bonke, kepha munye owamukela umklomelo. Gijimani kanjalo, ukuze niwuthole.”—1 KORINTE 9:24.
1. IBhayibheli liyifanisa nani inkambo yethu yobuKristu?
IBHAYIBHELI lifanisa ukufuna kwethu ukuphila okuphakade nomncintiswano wokugijima. Ngasekupheleni kokuphila kwakhe, umphostoli uPawulu wathi ngaye ngokwakhe: “Ngikulwile ukulwa okuhle, ngiqedile ibanga, ngigcinile ukukholwa.” Wanxusa amaKristu ayekanye nawo ukuba enze okufanayo lapho ethi: “Masilahle konke okusindayo nesono esithandela kangaka kithi, sigijime ngokubekezela kulokhukuncintisana esikumiselweyo.”—2 Thimothewu 4:7; Heberu 12:1.
2. Isiphi isiqalo esikhuthazayo esisibonayo emncintiswaneni wokuphila?
2 Lokhu kuqhathanisa kuyafaneleka ngoba umncintiswano wokugijima uba nendawo okusukelwa kuyo, ibanga elimisiwe, kanye nentambo yokuwina, noma umgomo. Ngakho kunjalo nangenqubo yentuthuko yethu engokomoya ebheke ekuphileni. Njengoba sesibonile, minyaka yonke amakhulu ezinkulungwane zabantu aqalisa kahle emncintiswaneni wokuphila. Ngokwesibonelo, eminyakeni emihlanu edlule abantu abangu-1 336 429 baye baqalisa kahle emncintiswaneni ngokuzinikezela nangokubhapathizwa emanzini. Isiqalo esinjalo sentshiseko sikhuthaza kakhulu. Nokho, okubalulekile kuwukuhlala usemncintiswaneni kuze kufikwe entanjeni yokuwina. Ingabe uyakwenza lokhu?
Umncintiswano Wokuphila
3, 4. (a) UPawulu wakuveza kanjani ukubaluleka kokulondoloza ijubane emncintiswaneni? (b) Abanye baye behluleka kanjani ukulalela iseluleko sikaPawulu?
3 Ukuze agcizelele ukubaluleka kokuhlala usemncintiswaneni, uPawulu weluleka: “Anazi yini ukuthi abagijima ngokuncintisana bagijima bonke, kepha munye owamukela umklomelo. Gijimani kanjalo, ukuze niwuthole.”—1 Korinte 9:24.
4 Yiqiniso, emidlalweni yasendulo, munye kuphela owayengathola umklomelo. Nokho, emncintiswaneni wokuphila, wonke umuntu angawuthola umklomelo. Kuphela nje okudingekile ukuhlala usemncintiswaneni kuze kube sekugcineni! Ngokujabulisayo, abaningi baye bagijima ngokwethembeka kulomjaho kwaze kwaba sekupheleni kokuphila kwabo, njengoba kwenza umphostoli uPawulu. Futhi izigidi ziyaqhubeka zigijima. Nokho, abanye baye bahluleka ukubheka phambili noma ukuthuthukela entanjeni yokuwina. Kunalokho, baye bavumela ezinye izinto ukuba zibaphazamise kangangokuba baye baphuma emncintiswaneni noma bayekiswa ngandlela-thile. (Galathiya 5:7) Lokhu kufanele sonke kusinike isizathu sokuhlola indlela esigijima ngayo emncintiswaneni wokuphila.
5. Ingabe uPawulu wayefanisa umncintiswano wokuphila nomdlalo wokuncintisana? Chaza.
5 Umbuzo ungase ubuzwe: Yini uPawulu ayeyicabanga lapho ethi “munye owamukela umklomelo”? Njengoba siphawulile ngaphambili, wayengasho ukuthi phakathi kwabo bonke labo abaqale emncintiswaneni wokuphila, munye kuphela oyokwamukela umvuzo wokuphila okuphakade. Ngokusobala kwakungeke kube kanjalo, ngoba ngokuphindaphindiwe, wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi kuyintando kaNkulunkulu ukuba abantu balo lonke uhlobo basindiswe. (Roma 5:18; 1 Thimothewu 2:3, 4; 4:10; Thithu 2:11) Cha, wayengasho ukuthi umncintiswano wokuphila uwumncintiswano lapho umuntu ngamunye ohlanganyela kuwo ezama khona ukwehlula bonke abanye. AbaseKorinte babazi kahle kakhulu ukuthi lolohlobo lomoya wokuncintisana lwalukhona phakathi kwababencintisana eMidlalweni yabo yaseIsthmus, eyayivelele kakhulu ngisho nangokwengeziwe ngalesosikhathi kuneMidlalo YamaOlympic. Khona-ke, yini uPawulu ayeyicabanga?
6. Umongo wembulani ngokuxoxa kukaPawulu ngomgijimi nomncintiswano?
6 Ekubhekiseleni emfanekisweni womgijimi, uPawulu ngokuyinhloko wayekhuluma ngamathemba akhe siqu ensindiso. Emavesini andulelayo, wachaza indlela asebenza ngayo kanzima futhi wazikhandla ngezindlela eziningi. (1 Korinte 9:19-22) Khona-ke, evesini 23, wathi: “Ngikwenza konke ngenxa yevangeli, ukuze nami ngibe-ngumhlanganyeli kulona.” Waqaphela ukuthi ukusindiswa kwakhe kwakungaqinisekisiwe ngenxa nje yokuthi wayekhethiwe ukuba abe umphostoli noma ngenxa yokuthi wayesebenze iminyaka eminingi eshumayeza abanye. Ukuze ahlanganyele ezibusisweni zezindaba ezinhle, kwakumelwe aqhubeke enza konke okusemandleni akhe ngenxa yezindaba ezinhle. Kwakumelwe agijime ngenhloso ephelele yokuwina, ezikhandla ngamandla njengokungathi ugijima emjahweni wezinyawo eMidlalweni YaseIsthmus, lapho ‘emunye kuphela owamukela umklomelo.’—1 Korinte 9:24a.
7. Yini edingekayo ukuze ‘ugijime kanjalo, ukuze uwuthole’?
7 Kuningi esingakufunda kulokhu. Nakuba wonke umuntu ongenela umncintiswano efuna ukuwina, yilabo kuphela abazimisele ngokuphelele ukuwina abanethemba lokuwina. Ngakho-ke, akufanele sizizwe sanelisekile ngenxa nje yokuthi siye sangena emncintiswaneni. Akufanele sibe nomuzwa wokuthi yonke into izohamba kahle ngoba ‘siseqinisweni.’ Singase sibizwe ngegama elithi umKristu, kodwa ingabe sinabo yini ubufakazi obubonisa ukuthi singamaKristu? Ngokwesibonelo, ingabe siyazenza izinto esaziyo ukuthi umKristu kufanele azenze—ukuba khona emihlanganweni yobuKristu, ukuhlanganyela enkonzweni yasensimini, njalonjalo? Uma kunjalo, lokho kuyancomeka, futhi kufanele silwele ukuphikelela emikhubeni enjalo emihle. Nokho, ingabe kungenzeka ukuba sizuze ngokwengeziwe kulokho esikwenzayo? Ngokwesibonelo, ingabe sihlala sikulungele ukuhlanganyela ngokuthile emihlanganweni? Ingabe siyazama ukusebenzisa lokho esikufundayo ekuphileni kwethu siqu? Ingabe siyakunaka ukuthuthukisa amakhono ethu ukuze sikwazi ukunikeza ubufakazi obugcwele naphezu kwezithiyo esihlangabezana nazo ensimini? Ingabe sizimisele ukwamukela inselele yokuphindela kubantu abathakazelayo futhi siqhube izifundo zeBhayibheli zasekhaya? “Gijimani kanjalo, ukuze niwuthole,” kunxusa uPawulu.—1 Korinte 9:24b.
Bonisa Ukuzithiba Ezintweni Zonke
8. Yini okungenzeka yabangela uPawulu ukuba anxuse amaKristu ayekanye nawo ukuba ‘abonise ukuzithiba ezintweni zonke’?
8 Esikhathini sokuphila kwakhe, uPawulu wayebone abaningi ababeye behlisa ijubane, baphambuka, noma bayeka emncintiswaneni wokuphila. (1 Thimothewu 1:19, 20; Heberu 2:1) Yingakho ngokuphindaphindiwe akhumbuza amaKristu ayekanye naye ukuthi asemncintiswaneni okhandlayo noqhubekayo. (Efesu 6:12; 1 Thimothewu 6:12) Waqhubeka nomfanekiso womgijimi futhi wathi: “Bonke abancintisanayo bayazithiba ezintweni zonke.” (1 Korinte 9:25a) Ngokusho lokhu, uPawulu wayebhekisela kokuthile amaKristu aseKorinte ayekujwayele kakhulu, okungukuthi, ukuzivivinya okuqinile okwakwenziwa yilabo ababencintisana eMidlalweni YaseIsthmus.
9, 10. (a) Omunye umthombo ubachaza kanjani labo ababencintisana eMidlalweni YaseIsthmus? (b) Yini ngokukhethekile okufanele iphawulwe ngalencazelo?
9 Nansi incazelo ecacile yomuntu owayezongenela umncintiswano lapho ezivivinya:
“Anelisiwe futhi engakhonondi uyazithoba emithethweni nasemingceleni yokuqeqeshwa kwakhe okuthatha izinyanga eziyishumi, okungathi ngaphandle kwakho angakwazi ukungenela umncintiswano. . . . Uyaziqhenya ngobunzima obuncane abutholayo, nokukhathala, nokuntula izinto ezithile abhekana nakho, futhi ukubheka njengodumo ukugwema ngokucophelela noma yini leyo ngezinga elincane kakhulu engase inciphise ithuba lakhe lokuphumelela. Ubona amanye amadoda ehlulwa isifiso sokudla, ephumulile kuyilapho yena ekhefuzela ngenxa yokuzikhandla, ezitamasela kobhavu, ejabulela ukuphila ngokwaneliseka; kodwa akuvamile ukuba abe nomcabango wokuba nomhawu, ngoba inhliziyo yakhe uyibeke emklomelweni, futhi ukuzivivinya kokuzikhandla kubalulekile. Uyazi ukuthi amathuba akhe ayobe aphelile uma noma nini noma nganoma isiphi isikhathi eyekethisa ekuziqeqesheni.”—The Expositor’s Bible, uMqulu V, ikhasi 674.
10 Okuthakazelisa ngokukhethekile iphuzu lokuthi umuntu ozivivinyayo “ukubheka njengodumo” ukulandela isimiso esiqine kanjalo sokuzincisha izinto. Eqinisweni, “akuvamile ukuba abe nomcabango wokuba nomhawu” ngokutamasa nokunethezeka abona abanye bekujabulela. Ingabe singafunda okuthile kulokhu? Yebo, ngokuqinisekile.
11. Yimuphi umbono ongafanele okumelwe siwuqaphele lapho sihileleke emncintiswaneni wokuphila?
11 Khumbula amazwi kaJesu athi “isango libanzi nendlela inkulu eyisa ekubhujisweni; baningi abangena khona. Kepha isango lincane nendlela iyingcingo eyisa ekuphileni; bayingcosana abayifumanayo.” (Mathewu 7:13, 14) Njengoba uzama ukuhamba ‘endleleni eyingcingo,’ ingabe unomhawu ngenkululeko nokutamasa okubonakala kujatshulelwa yilabo abakwenye indlela? Ingabe unomuzwa wokuthi kukhona izinto ezithile ezikuphuthelayo ezenziwa abanye, ezingase zibonakale zingezimbi zona ngokwazo? Kulula ngathi ukuba sizizwe ngalendlela uma sihluleka ukukhumbula isizathu esisenza sithathe lenkambo. “Labo benza ukuze bathole umqhele ophelayo, kepha thina ukuze sithole ongapheliyo,” kusho uPawulu.—1 Korinte 9:25b.
12. Kungani kungase kushiwo ukuthi udumo nedumela eliye lafunwa abantu lufana nomqhele ophelayo owawunikezwa njengomklomelo eMidlalweni YaseIsthmus?
12 Owinile eMidlalweni YaseIsthmus wayethola umgexo womuthi weshoba laseIsthmus noma omunye wemithi enjalo, cishe owawubuna ngezinsuku ezimbalwa nje noma amasonto. Yebo, abasubathi babengancintisaneli umgexo owonakalayo kodwa kwakungenxa yodumo, inhlonipho, nedumela okwakuhambisana nawo. Omunye umthombo ulandisa ukuthi lapho onqobile ephindela ekhaya, wayamukelwa njengeqhawe elinqobile. Ngokuvamile izindonga zomuzi zaziwiswa ukuze udwendwe lwakhe ludlule, futhi kwakwakhiwa izithombe zokumhlonipha. Nokho, naphezu kwakho konke lokhu, udumo lwakhe lwalusalokhu lungoluphelayo. Namuhla, bambalwa abantu abasakhumbula ukuthi ayengobani lawomaqhawe ayenqobile, futhi empeleni abaningi abanandaba nakho. Labo abadela isikhathi sabo, amandla, impilo, futhi ngisho nenjabulo yomkhaya ukuze bazuze amandla, idumela, nengcebo ezweni, kodwa abangacebile kuNkulunkulu, bayothola ukuthi “umqhele” wabo wezinto ezibonakalayo, njengokuphila kwabo, umane nje uyadlula.—Mathewu 6:19, 20; Luka 12:16-21.
13. Inkambo yomuntu osemncintiswaneni wokuphila ihluke kanjani kweyomsubathi?
13 Abancintisanayo emdlalweni wejubane bangase bazimisele ukwamukela izimfuneko eziqinile zokuzivivinya, njengalezo ezichazwe ngenhla, kodwa okwesikhathi esinqunyiwe kuphela. Lapho nje imidlalo isidlulile, babuyela endleleni yokuphila evamile. Bangase baqhubeke bezivivinya ngezikhathi ezithile ukuze balondoloze amakhono abo, kodwa abasalandeli inqubo efanayo yokuzincisha izinto okuqinile, okungenani kuze kube yilapho kufika umncintiswano olandelayo. Akunjalo ngalabo abasemncintiswaneni wokuphila. Kubona, ukuziqeqesha nokuzincisha kumelwe kube indlela yokuphila.—1 Thimothewu 6:6-8.
14, 15. Kungani lowo osemncintiswaneni wokuphila kumelwe abonise ukuzithiba ngokuqhubekayo?
14 “Uma umuntu efuna ukuza emva kwami,” kusho uJesu Kristu ehlangene nabafundi kanye nabanye, “makazidele [noma, “kumelwe athi, ‘Cha’ kuye uqobo,” ngokukaCharles B. Williams] futhi athathe isigxobo sakhe sokuhlushwa bese engilandela ngokuqhubekayo.” (Marku 8:34, NW) Lapho samukela lesimemo, kumelwe sikulungele ukwenza lokho “ngokuqhubekayo,” hhayi ngoba kukhona inzuzo ethile ekhethekile ekuzincisheni izinto, kodwa ngenxa yokuthi ukungacopheleli okukodwa, iphutha elincane nje ekwahluleleni okuhle, lingase libhidlize konke okwakhiwe, libeke ngisho nenhlala-kahle yethu yaphakade engozini. Ngokuvamile intuthuko engokomoya ayenzeki ngokushesha, kodwa yeka indlela engonakaliswa ngayo ngokushesha uma singahlali siqaphile!
15 Ngaphezu kwalokho, uPawulu wanxusa ukuthi kumelwe sibonise ukuzithiba “ezintweni zonke,” okusho ukuthi, lokho kumelwe sikwenze njalo kuzo zonke izici zokuphila. Lokhu kunengqondo ngoba uma umqeqeshi ezitika ngokweqile noma ephila ukuphila kokungazibambi, iyoba yini inzuzo yazo zonke izinhlungu ezingokomzimba azizwayo nokukhandleka akukhuthazelelayo? Kungokufanayo nasemncintiswaneni wethu wokuphila, kumelwe sibonise ukuzithiba ezintweni zonke. Umuntu angase azithibe ezintweni ezinjengokudakwa nobufebe, kodwa ukubaluleka kwalokhu kuyaphela uma engoqhoshayo nobangela ukuxabana. Noma kuthiwani uma engobhekakade nonomusa kwabanye, kodwa efukamele isono esithile esiyimfihlo ekuphileni kwakhe kwangasese? Ukuze ukuzithiba kuzuzise ngokugcwele, kumelwe kuboniswe “ezintweni zonke.”—Qhathanisa noJakobe 2:10, 11.
Gijima ‘Kungengokungathi Awuqondi’
16. Kusho ukuthini ukugijima ‘kungengokungathi awuqondi’?
16 Ebona imizamo yokuzikhandla edingekayo ukuze umuntu aphumelele emncintiswaneni wokuphila, uPawulu waqhubeka wathi: “Ngakho-ke mina ngiyagijima kungengokungathi kangiqondi; ngiyagadla kungengokungathi ngishaya umoya.” (1 Korinte 9:26) Igama elithi ‘angiqondi’ ngokwezwi nezwi lisho ukuthi “ngokungacaci” (Kingdom Interlinear), “ngokungabonakali, ngokungaphawuleki” (Lange’s Commentary). Ngakho, ukugijima “kungengokungathi kangiqondi” kusho ukuthi kuzo zonke izibukeli kufanele kucace kahle ukuthi umgijimi uphokophelephi. IAnchor Bible ilihumusha ngokuthi “hhayi endleleni emazombezombe.” Uma ungabona izinyathelo ezibonakala zehla zenyuka esihlabathini solwandle, ezilokhu zijikajika njalo, futhi zibuyele ngisho nasemuva ngezinye izikhathi, ubungeke ucabange ukuthi lowomuntu ubegijima, ingasaphathwa eyokuthi ubekwazi yini lapho eya khona. Kodwa uma ungabona izinyathelo zenze umugqa omude, oqondile, inyathelo ngalinye lingaphambi kwelilandulelayo futhi zonke zishiyana ngokulinganayo, ubuyophetha ngokuthi lezozinyathelo zingezomuntu okwazi kahle lapho eya khona.
17. (a) UPawulu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayegijima ‘kungengokungathi akaqondi’? (b) Singamlingisa kanjani uPawulu kulokhu?
17 Ukuphila kukaPawulu kubonisa ngokucacile ukuthi wayegijima ‘kungengokungathi akaqondi.’ Wayenobufakazi obuningi bokubonisa ukuthi wayeyisikhonzi esingumKristu futhi engumphostoli. Wayenomgomo owodwa kuphela, futhi wazikhandla ngentshiseko kukho konke ukuphila kwakhe ukuze awuzuze. Akazange alokothe aphambukiswe ukufuna udumo, amandla, ingcebo, noma ukunethezeka, ngisho nakuba kungenzeka ukuthi mhlawumbe wayengathola noma iyiphi yalezinto. (IzEnzo 20:24; 1 Korinte 9:2; 2 Korinte 3:2, 3; Filipi 3:8, 13, 14) Lapho ubheka emuva enkambweni yakho yokuphila, luhlobo luni lomzila olubonayo? Umugqa oqondile obonakala ngokucacile ukuthi uya ngaphi noma umugqa ozulazula ngokungenanjongo? Ingabe bukhona ubufakazi bokuthi usemncintiswaneni wokuphila? Khumbula, sikulomncintiswano, hhayi ngenjongo yokugcina icala, kodwa ukuze sifinyelele entanjeni yokuwina.
18. (a) Yini kithina ebingafana ‘nokushaya umoya’? (b) Kungani leyo kuyinkambo eyingozi ukuba siyilandele?
18 Eveza ukufana okukhona kulokhu nesinye isenzakalo somjaho, uPawulu waqhubeka wathi: “Ngiyagadla kungengokungathi ngishaya umoya.” (1 Korinte 9:26b) Emncintiswaneni wethu wokuphila, sinezitha eziningi, kuhlanganise noSathane, izwe, kanye nokungapheleli kwethu siqu. Njengomdlali wesibhakela wasendulo, kumelwe sikwazi ukuzehlula ngokugadla okunamandla. Ngokujabulisayo, uJehova uNkulunkulu uyasiqeqesha futhi uyasisiza kulempi. Unikeza iziyalezo eZwini lakhe, ezincwadini ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini, nasemihlanganweni yobuKristu. Nokho, uma silifunda iBhayibheli kanye nezincwadi futhi siya emihlanganweni kodwa singakusebenzisi lokho esikufundayo, ingabe asidlali yini ngemizamo yethu, ‘sishaya umoya’? Ukwenza kanjalo kusibeka esimweni esiyingozi kakhulu. Sicabanga ukuthi siyalwa futhi kanjalo sibe nomuzwa oyiphutha wokuthi silondekile, kodwa asizinqobi izitha zethu. Yingakho umfundi uJakobe ayala: “Yibani-ngabalenza izwi, ningabi-ngabalizwayo kuphela, nizikhohlisa.” Njengoba nje ‘ukushaya umoya’ kungeke kuzikhubaze izitha zethu, nokuba ‘ngabezwayo kuphela’ ngeke kuqinisekise ukuthi siyayenza intando kaNkulunkulu.—Jakobe 1:22; 1 Samuweli 15:22; Mathewu 7:24, 25.
19. Singaqikelela kanjani ukuba singaliwa?
19 Okokugcina, uPawulu wasitshela imfihlo yakhe eyamenza waphumelela: “Ngiyawutuba umzimba wami, ngiwenza isigqila, ukuba mina engishumayeza abanye ngingaliwa mina uqobo.” (1 Korinte 9:27) NjengoPawulu, nathi kumelwe siyibuse inyama yethu engaphelele kunokuba siyivumele ukuba isibuse. Kudingeka sisiphule ukuthambekela kwethu okungokwenyama, ukulangazelela, nezinkanuko. (Roma 8:5-8; Jakobe 1:14, 15) Ukwenza lokho kungase kube buhlungu, njengoba igama elihunyushwe ngokuthi “tuba” ngokwezwi nezwi lisho ukuthi ‘shaya ngaphansi kweso’ (Kingdom Interlinear). Nokho, ingabe akungcono yini ukushaywa iso livuvukale, ngomqondo ongokomfanekiso, kodwa uphile kunokuvumela ukunqotshwa izinkanuko zenyama enesono futhi ufe?—Qhathanisa noMathewu 5:28, 29; 18:9; 1 Johane 2:15-17.
20. Kungani kuphuthuma ngokukhethekile manje ukuba sihlole indlela esigijima ngayo emncintiswaneni wokuphila?
20 Namuhla, sesisondela entanjeni yokuwina yalomncintiswano. Isikhathi sokuba kukhishwe imiklomelo siseduze. Ngokuqondene namaKristu agcotshiwe, ‘umklomelo wokubizwa okukhulu kwaphezulu nguNkulunkulu kuJesu Kristu.’ (Filipi 3:14) Ngokuqondene nalabo besixuku esikhulu, uwukuphila okuphakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi. Njengoba kunokuningi kangaka okuhilelekile, masizimisele, njengoPawulu, ukuba ‘singaliwa.’ Kwangathi ngamunye wethu angasithatha ngokungathi sína leseluleko: “Gijimani kanjalo, ukuze niwuthole.”—1 Korinte 9:24, 27.
Ingabe Uyakhumbula?
◻ Kungani kufanelekile ukufanisa ukuphila komKristu nomncintiswano?
◻ Uhluke kanjani umncinciswano wokuphila emncintiswaneni wezinyawo?
◻ Kungani kumelwe sibonise ukuzithiba ngokuqhubekayo ‘nasezintweni zonke’?
◻ Umuntu ugijima kanjani ‘kungengokungathi akaqondi’?
◻ Kungani kuyingozi ukumane nje ‘ushaye umoya’?
[Isithombe ekhasini 16]
Umgexo weqhawe, kanye nodumo nenhlonipho, kuyinto ephelayo