Basha—Niyokwenzani Ngokuphila Kwenu?
“Ukuze abaphilayo bangabe besaziphilela bona, kodwa baphilele yena owabafelayo.—2 KORINTE 5:15.
1. Abantu baye banikeza maphi amazwi okubonga, futhi ngani?
‘NGIYABONGA! Ngikukweleta ukuphila kwami!’ Abantu abasindiswe endlini eshayo noma ekuminzeni baye basho kanjalo kulabo ababasindisa. Futhi intsha engamaKristu enokwazisa iye yasho amazwi anjalo kubazali bayo. Yayingabhekiseli kuphela ekuphileni okungokwenyama abaye bakuthola kubazali babo kodwa ikakhulukazi ekunakekeleni kothando nemfundo okuye kwafaka intsha endleleni eya ekutholeni “isithembiso yena asethembisa sona: ukuphila okuphakade.”—1 Johane 2:25.
2. Kungokukhanyiselwa yikuphi ukwaziswa kumelwe ucabangele umbuzo othi, Yini okwenzayo ngokuphila kwakho?
2 Kwakuwuthando olwashukumisela uJehova uNkulunkulu ukuba enze ukuphila okuphakade, “ukuphila okuyikho,” kutholakale kithi sonke. “Wasithanda thina, wathuma iNdodana yakhe ibe yinhlawulo ngezono zethu.” (1 Thimothewu 6:19; 1 Johane 4:10) Futhi, cabanga ngothando iNdodana yakhe uJesu eyalubonakalisa ngokufa ukufa okubuhlungu ukuze sizuze ukuphila okuphakade! (Johane 15:13) Ngokucabangela lokhu okungenhla, Niyokwenzani ngokuphila kwenu?
3. Yini ngokuvamile enquma lokho abantu abayokwenza ngokuphila kwabo?
3 Abeluleki babafundi esikoleni noma abanye abanesithakazelo ekusaseni labo bavamile ukubuza intsha lombuzo, ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene. Yini eyonquma impendulo yakho? Ingabe iyonqunywa ukuzikhethela nje komuntu siqu? Ingabe isici esiyonquma kuyoba iseluleko salabo abafuna ukuba uzuze isikhundla esihloniphekayo emisebenzini yezwe? Noma ingabe lokho oyokwenza ngokuphila kwakho kuyonqunywa izinto ezibaluleke kakhulu? Isikhumbuzo esiphefumlelwe sithi: “Wafela bonke, ukuze abaphilayo bangabe besaziphilela bona, kodwa baphilele yena owabafelayo, wabuye wavuka.” (2 Korinte 5:15) Yebo, yeka ukuthi kuhle kanjani uma indlela esi sebenzisa ngayo ukuphila kwethu ibonisa ukubonga ngalokho uJesu Kristu noYise wasezulwini abaye basenzela khona!
Izilomo Ezilingiswayo
4. Obani abayizilomo ezilingiswayo namuhla?
4 Nokho, obani abantu abathandwa kakhulu namuhla, labo intsha ngokuvamile ebabheka njengezilomo zokulingiswa? Ingabe akubona abantu abacebile nabadume kakhulu emhlabeni, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ziyini izindinganiso zabo zokuziphatha? Uma ubheka emakamelweni entsha eningi, izithombe zobani ozibona zilenga ezindongeni? Ngokuvamile kuba yilezo zabaculi, abadlali bamabhayisikobho, nabagijimi. Intsha ngokuvamile iphupha ngosuku oluthile eyofinyelela ngalo impumelelo efanayo engokwezwe noma mhlawumbe ngokushada nothile onezimfanelo ezingokomzimba zalabantu. Kuthiwani ngawe? Yini oyifunayo ekuphileni?
5, 6. (a) Kungani kungathiwa impumelelo yezwe iyehluleka ukuletha ukwaneliseka kwangempela? (b) Uyini umthombo wokwaneliseka kwangempela?
5 Uma ungazuza impumelelo yezwe yokuba umuntu owesatshwayo, ingabe ubungajabula ngempela futhi waneliseke? Omunye wabadlali besifazane abaphumelela kakhulu waseHollywood wathi: “Ngizijabulisile ngomcebo nangazo zonke izinto ezibonakalayo. Azisho lutho. Noma kuphi lapho kunedamu lokubhukuda egcekeni kuba nodokotela wengqondo, kungasakhulunywa ngamadivosi nabantwana abazonda abazali babo.”—UmShumayeli 5:10; 1 Thimothewu 6:10.
6 Umgijimi ovelele ongumfundi, ngo-1981 owaphuma phambili emncintiswaneni omkhulu weqembu labesifazane wamakhilomitha ayi-10 eNew York, wasanguluka kakhulu kangangokuba waze wazama nokuzibulala. Kamuva wabhala: “Ngiye ngafunda amaqiniso amaningi ngokuphila ezinyangeni ezimbalwa ezidlule. Elinye liwukuthi ukwaneliseka kwangempela akuzuzwa ngezindlela abantu abaningi abaiwela ngazo ukuphelela nokufeza okuthile. Ngami ukwaneliseka akuzange kuze ngokuba umfundi obedlula bonke, umgijimi ongumpetha wombuso noma ngokuba nesimo esikhangayo esingokomzimba.” Yebo, abantu kudingeka bazi ukuthi ukwaneliseka kwangempela kuza kuphela ngokuba nobuhlobo bomuntu siqu noNkulunkulu, okuwuyena kuphela onganikeza ukuthula koqobo nenjabulo.—IHubo 23:1, 6; 16:11.
7. Ukuze uthole ukwaneliseka kwangempela, ibaluleke kangakanani imfundo yasekholijl nempumelelo yezwe?
7 Khona-ke, kuyakhanya ukuthi akumelwe ufune ukulingisa labo abalwela nje ukuzuza udumo nomcebo. Ngisho nabalobi bezwe bayakuqaphela ukwehluleka kwempumelelo engokwezwe ukuletha ukwaneliseka kwangempela. Umhleli uBill Reel wabhala: “Uthola iziqu zasekholiji unamaphupho ngekusasa. Ngokudabukisayo, izifiso zakho eziningi ziyophenduka umlotha. Angifuni ukunikhubaza, kodwa nani ningazizwela iqiniso: Lapho uthola izinto ozifisayo, uma uzithola, nalapho uzuza impumelelo oyiphishekelayo, uma uyizuza, ngeke kukwanelise. Kunalokho, ngazo kanye izikhathi obulindela ngazo ukuba ujabulele impumelelo yakho, uyoba nomuzwa wokuba yize kunokuba uzizwe wanelisekile, ucindezelekile kunokuba ujabule, ukhathazekile kunokuba ube nokuthula.”—New York Daily News, May 26, 1983.
8. Isiphi isizathu esiqinile esinaso sokungaphishekeli umsebenzi wezwe?
8 Kodwa ngathi esiqaphelayo ukubaluleka kwezenzakalo zezwe ngokukhanyiselwa yisiprofetho seBhayibheli, kunezizathu eziqine ngokwengeziwe zokungenzi umsebenzi wezwe uze kuqala ekuphileni. (Mathewu 24:3-14) Singazifanisa nomuntu obona isakhiwo esinesibonakaliso esithi: “Lenkampane Iyawa.” Ingabe singawufuna umsebenzi lapho? Lutho neze! Uma besisebenzela leyonkampane, ngokuhlakanipha besiyofuna umsebenzi kwenye indawo. Nokho, noma kuphi ezinhlanganweni zalelizwe lesibonakaliso sisobala: “Ziyawa—Ukuphela Kuseduze!” Yebo, iBhayibheli liyasiqinisekisa ukuthi “Izwe liyadlula.” (1 Johane 2:17) Khona-ke, ngokuhlakanipha, ngeke sibabheke njengezilomo zokulingiswa labo abahileleke ngokujulile kulo.
Iseluleko Sokulandelwa
9. Isiphi iseluleko esingokwezwe labo ababonakala bekufunela okungcono kakhulu abangasinikeza?
9 Ukuphila kwakho akulolongwa kuphela yilabo obazisa kakhulu kodwa futhi ngokuvamile nezihlobo nabangane labo, njengoba besho, ‘abakufunela okungcono kakhulu.’ Bangase bathi, ‘Kumelwe uziphilise.’ Ngakho bangase bakweluleke ukuba uthole imfundo yasekholiji noma yaseyunivesithi ukuze uzilungiselele umsebenzi wokuziphilisa oneholo elihle. Bangase baphawule, ‘Umlobi weBhayibheli uLuka wayengudokotela, futhi umphostoli uPawulu wafundiswa iSazimthetho uGamaliyeli.’ (Kolose 4:14; IzEnzo 5:34; 22:3) Nokho, sihlaziye ngokunakekela iseluleko esinjalo.
10. Isiphi iseluleko uLuka noPawulu abasinikeza, futhi yini engashiwo ngomsebenzi wabo wangaphambi kokuba babe ngamaKristu?
10 Udokotela uLuka akazange akhuthaze amaKristu ukuba alandele isibonelo somsebenzi wakhe wangaphambili ngokuba udokotela, kunalokho uLuka wakhuluma ngokulingisa ukuphila kukaJesu nokwabaphostoli bakhe. Ngokusobala uLuka waba ngudokotela ngaphambi kokuba afunde ngoKristu kodwa ngemva kwalokho wabeka inkonzo yobuKristu kuqala ekuphileni. Isimo sasingesifanayo nakuPawulu. Kunokuba akhuthaze abanye ukuba bamlingise njengoba ayelingise uGamaliyeli, uPawulu wabhala: “Yibaningabalingisi bami, njengokuba nami ngilingisa uKristu.” Ngakho uPawulu wayelwazisa kakhulu ulwazi lukaKristu kangangokuthi wathi uma kuqhathaniswa wayebheka iminako yakhe yesikhathi esidlule ‘njengezibi.’—1 Korinte 11:1; Filiphi 3:8.
11. (a) Yini uPetru ayitshela uJesu, futhi ngani? (b) UJesu wasabela kanjani?
11 Khumbula, umzwelo ungabangela ukuba ngisho nalabo abakuthandayo banike ze iseluleko esingaqondile. Ngokwesibonelo, ngesikhathi uJesu ekhuluma ngalokho okwakuzomehlela phakathi nenkonzo yakhe eJerusalema, umphostoli uPetru waphendula: “Musa, Nkosi, lokho akusoze kwenziwa kuwe.” UPetru wayemthanda uJesu futhi wayengafuni ukuba ahlupheke. Nokho uJesu wamkhuza uPetru ngoba waqaphela ukuthi ukufeza intando kaNkulunkulu kwakuyohilela kokubili ukuhlupheka nokubulawa abaphikisi.—Mathewu 16:21-23.
12. Yisiphi iseluleko abantu abanezinhloso ezinhle abangasinikeza intsha, futhi ngani?
12 Ngokufanayo, abanye abazali nabangane bangakudumaza enkambweni yakho yokuzidela. Ngenxa yomzwelo ongenakuhlakanipha, bangase bangabaze ukukukhuthaza ukuba uthathe isabelo senkonzo yamaphayona esikhathi esigcwele, sokukhonza njengesithunywa sevangeli, noma sokwenza umsebenzi wokuzithandela ehhovisi le gatsha loFakazi BakaJehova. Bangase bathi: ‘Kunalokho, kungani ungashadi bese uhlala eduze nathi?’ Noma, ‘Uyazi, unzima umsebenzi waseBethel. Mhlawumbe kungcono ukuba uhlale nathi.’ Ngamanye amazwi, njengoba uPetru asho, “Musa.”
13. (a) Yimuphi umbono olungisiwe uPetru awubonisa? (b) Yini ehilelekile ekubeni umKristu weqiniso?
13 Ngisho nezinceku zikaJehova ngezinye izikhathi kudingeka ziphinde zilungise ukucabanga kwazo. UPetru kwadingeka akwenze, futhi esenombono olungisiwe, wabhala: “Ngokuba nabizelwa khona lokho; ngokuba uKristu wahlushwa ngenxa yenu, enishiyela isibonelo sokuba nilandele ezinyathelweni zakhe.” (1 Petru 2:21) Ukuphila ukuphila kobuKristu beqiniso kuhilela ukuzidela, yebo, ngisho nokuhlupheka. Akuyona inkambo elula, kodwa yileyo esabizelwa kuyo njengamaKristu. Ukuyamukela kuhilela ‘ukungasaziphileli thina, kodwa siphilele yena owasifelayo.’ (2 Korinte 5:15) Ukukhumbula izibonelo ezinhle kuyosisiza ukuba sisebenzise ukuphila kwethu ngalendlela yokuzidela.
Izibonelo Okumelwe Zikhunjulwe
14. Yisiphi isibonelo uJesu asinikeza?
14 Isibonelo okumelwe sisikhumbule ngokukhethekile yileso esanikezwa uJesu. Njengomuntu ophelele, wayengaba umgijimi omkhulu kakhulu, umculi, udokotela, noma ummeli izwe elalingakaze limbone. Kodwa ukunakekela kwakhe kwakugxiliswe ekujabuliseni uYise wasezulwini, ngisho nalapho uJesu ayesemusha. (Luka 2:42-49) Kamuva wathi: “Ngimelwe ukushumayela ivangeli lombuso kaNkulunkulu, ngokuba ngithunyelwe lokho.” (Luka 4:43) Ngehlobo elidlule incwadi eyayikumagazini wesonto iMinistry yachaza: “UMsindisi wethu wayekuthanda ukushiya isixuku, bese eya endlini ngendlu—efuna abantu. Wayejatshuliswa isilaleli esisodwa. Khona-ke wayengathulula iqiniso—uthando lukaNkulunkulu.”—Luka 10:1-16.
15. (a) Kungani ukushumayela endlini ngendlu kuyinselele? (b) Yini ebonisa ukuthi inkonzo yentsha yendlu ngendlu iyaphumelela?
15 Yiqiniso, ukushumayela endlini ngendlu akulula. Kudinga ukutadisha ngenkuthalo ukuqonda izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso nomsebenzi omkhulu ukulungiselela izintshumayelo ezinengqondo. Futhi, lenkonzo idinga isibindi, njengoba abaninikhaya abaningi bengenasithakazelo, futhi abanye banochuku. Nokho, inkonzo yendlu ngendlu yenu bantu abasha iba nomphumela omangalisayo, njengoba kwaphawula umagazini waseItaly wesifunda somfundisi iLa Voce. Umlobi wathi: “Mina ngokwami, ngiyabathanda oFakazi BakaJehova,” labo, wachaza, “abeza bakuvakashele ekhaya.” Wathi: “Labo engibaziyo banemikhuba emihle ngokuphelele, bakhuluma kamnandi; futhi bangabantu abahle abaningi babo bayintsha. Ubuhle nobusha, lapho bubonakaliswa, buba nethonya elikhulu.”
16. (a) Intsha ifanele ukutuswa ngamuphi umsebenzi? (b) Inhlangano yoFakazi BakaJehova iqhathaniseka kanjani namasonto ekwenzeni umsebenzi obaluleke kakhulu emhlabeni?
16 Ngokuqinisekile, nina bantu abasha enamukela uKristu njengesibonelo senu kumelwe nituswe! Abasha abangaphezu kwezi-12 000, abaneminyaka engama-25 nangaphansi, basemsebenzini wamaphayona eUnited States, futhi amashumi ezinkulungwane engeziwe ayaphayona kwezinye izindawo. (IHubo 110:3) Qinisekani ukuthi awukho omunye umsebenzi eningawenza obaluleke kakhulu! Ngisho nomlobi kumagazini wesonto ophawulwe ngenhla wathi: “UNkulunkulu uthi umsebenzi obaluleke kakhulu ukuhambela indlu ngendlu—kufunwe abantu,” futhi waqhubeka, “Uthini ngalokhu? Ukuhambela okungakanani mina nawe esikwenzayo? Angikaze ngibone loluhlobo lomsebenzi kukhulunywa ngalo kakhulu kuyiMINISTRY.” Asinakubonga yini ngokuba amalungu enhlangano egcizelela imfuneko yokulingisa isibonelo sikaJesu sokushumayela?
17. Yini uThimothewu ayifeza lapho cishe ayesengaphansi kwamashumi amabili, futhi yini ebonisa ukuthi kungenzeka wayengako ngalesosikhathi?
17 Njengoba lokho oyokwenza ngokuphila kwakho kuyothonywa kakhulukazi yilabo obazisayo, hlakulela futhi ukwazisa ngesibonelo esanikezwa uThimothewu osemusha. Njengoba azalwa ngaphambi nje kokufa kukaJesu, njengensizwa uThimothewu washiya umkhaya wakubo futhi wahamba noPawulu ohambweni lwakhe lwesibili lwezithunywa zevangeli. Ezinyangeni ezimbalwa kamuva, isixuku saphoqelela uPawulu noSila ukuba babaleke eThesalonika, kodwa base bebatholile abafundi abathile. (IzEnzo 16:1-3; 17:1-10, 13-15) Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho uPawulu wathumela uThimothewu kuleyonsimu eyingozi ukuba ayoduduza labafundi ekulingweni kwabo. (1 Thesalonika 3:1-3) Cishe uThimothewu ngalesosikhathi wayeseyohlanganisa amashumi amabili, ngoba eminyakeni eyi-12 kuya kweyi-14 kamuva uPawulu wayesakhuluma ‘ngobusha’ bakhe. (1 Thimothewu 4:12) Ingabe awumazisi omusha onesibindi, ozidela njengalowo?
18. Kungani uPawulu ayezothumela uThimothewu kwabaseKorinte?
18 Eminyakeni eyisihlanu ngemva kokuba uThimothewu ethole isabelo sokuqinisa abazalwane eThesalonika, uPawulu wabhalela abaseKorinte ese-Efesu: “Yibani abalingisi bami. Ngalokho-ke ngithumela kini uThimothewu . . . oyakunikhumbuza ngokuhamba [“ngezindlela,” NW] kwami okukuKristu, njengokuba ngifundisa ezindaweni zonke.” (1 Korinte 4:16, 17) Njengoba uThimothewu osemusha kakade ayesesebenze iminyaka eyisihlanu noPawulu, wayesejwayelene kahle nezindlela zikaPawulu zokufundisa. Wayeyazi indlela uPawulu ayebeke ngayo isigijimi kwabase-Efesu, kuhlanganise nendlela ayebafundise ngayo “phambi kwabantu nakuzo izindlu ngezindlu.” (IzEnzo 20:20, 21) Njengoba ayeseqeqeshwe kahle ngalezozindlela zokushumayela, yeka usizo oluhle uThimothewu ayengaba yilo emabandleni!
19. Yini uPawulu ayisho ngoThimothewu eminyakeni engaphezu kweyishumi beqalisé ukukhonza ndawonye?
19 Eminye iminyaka eyisihlanu noma eyisithupha iyedlula, futhi uPawulu usejele eRoma. UThimothewu, naye owayesanda kukhululwa ejele, unaye. (Heberu 13:23) Ake ubone lesimo ngamehlo engqondo: Ngokunokwenzeka esebenzisa uThimothewu njengonobhala, uPawulu ubhala incwadi eya kwabaseFilipi. Esho ngamabomu, uPawulu uyaqhubeka: “Ngiyethemba eNkosini uJesu ukuthuma uThimothewu kini masinyane . . . Ngokuba anginamuntu onenhliziyo enjengeyakhe, onganakekela izindaba zenu ngobuqotho . . . Niyakwazi ukuthembeka kwakhe ukuthi ukhonzile kanye nami ngenxa yevangeli njengomntwana kuyise.”—Filipi 1:1; 2:19-22.
20. Yini eyenza uThimothewu abe yisibonelo esihle kangaka kwabasha?
20 Ngempela, uThimothewu osemusha uyisibonelo esincomekayo! Wayengumngane kaPawulu oqotho, othembekile, ongamshiyi nalapho sekunzima, omsekelayo emsebenzini wokushumayela, futhi owayezimisele ukukhonza noma kuphi lapho ayethunywa khona. Wadela lokho okuthiwa ukuphila okuvamile ekhaya, nokho yeka ukugculiseka nokwaneliseka ukuphila kwakhe enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu okwamlethela khona! UThimothewu ngempela ‘wayengaziphileli yena, kodwa wayephilela uKristu owamfelayo.’ (2 Korinte 5:15) Ingabe ushukumiseleka ukuba ulingise isibonelo sakhe?
Philela Izwe Elisha likaNkulunkulu
21. Kungani singathi uThimothewu wayenomqondo ongokomoya?
21 Ngamanye amazwi, uThimothewu wayephilela izwe elisha likaNkulunkulu. Wayengacabangi nje kuphela ngokuphila kwamanje kuphelele lapho kodwa ngokusebenzisa ukuphila kwakhe ukuze aveze izinzuzo ezihlala njalo. (Mathewu 6:19-21) Njengoba ubaba kaThimothewu ayengumGreki futhi ngokusobala engakholwa, kungenzeka wakhuthaza uThimothewu ukuba aphishekele imfundo ephakeme nomsebenzi wezwe. Kodwa ngenxa yemfundo yokwesaba uNkulunkulu ayizuza kunina nakunina-khulu, ukuphila kukaThimothewu kwakugxile ebandleni lobuKristu. Waphishekela izithakazelo ezingokomoya, ngokusobala wahlala okungenani isikhathi esithile engashadile, futhi wafaneleka ukukhonza nomphostoli uPawulu.—2 Thimothewu 1:5.
22. Incwajana Isikole iyiqokomisa kanjani inkambo yokuphila enjengekaThimothewu ngentsha namuhla?
22 Kuthiwani ngawe? Ingabe uyosebenzisa ubusha bakho ngendlela uThimothewu enza ngayo? Incwajana ethi Isikole NoFakazi BakaJehova yayibhekisela enkambweni yokuphila enjalo lapho yayichaza ngokuphathelene nentsha yoFakazi. “Inhloso yayo eyinhloko ekuphileni iwukukhonza ngokuphumelelayo njengezikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu, futhi imfundo iyazisa kakhulu njengosizo lokwenza lokho. Ngakho ngokuvamile ikhetha izifundo eziwusizo ekuzinakekeleni kulelizwe lesimanje. Ngenxa yalokho, eningi ingase ithathe izifundo zomsebenzi noma iye ezikoleni zokufundela umsebenzi. Uma iyeka isikole ifisela ukuthola umsebenzi oyoyivumela ukuba inakekele umsebenzi wayo oyinhloko, inkonzo yobuKristu.”
23. Kungani kungamelwe kube nzima ngentsha engamaKristu ukuphendula umbuzo othi, Yini engiyoyenza ngokuphila kwami?
23 Ngawe okwazisa ngempela lokho uJehova uNkulunkulu kanye neNdodana yakhe abakwenzele khona, akumelwe kube nzima ukuphendula lombuzo, Ngiyokwenzani ngokuphila kwami? Kunokuba uziphilele wena nenjabulo yakho siqu, uyosebenzisa ukuphila kwakho ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu. Uyophila njengomuntu ongokomoya, njengoba kwenza uThimothewu.
Imibuzo Yokubukeza
◻ Kungani amaKristu eqiniso kungamelwe abeke imisebenzi yezwe kuqala ekuphileni?
◻ Isiphi iseluleko esingaqondile abanye abaye basinikeza, nokho yini esingayifunda ekuphenduleni kukaJesu uPetru?
◻ Kungaziphi izindlela uJesu noThimothewu baba yizibonelo kwabasha?
◻ Yini ehilelekile ekubeni nomqondo ongokomoya?
[Isithombe ekhasini 12]
ULuka, nakuba ayengudokotela oqeqeshiwe, wabeka izithakazelo zobuKristu kuqala ekuphileni