Luqine Kangakanani Ukholo Lwakho?
“Nimi ngokholo lwenu.”—2 KORINTE 1:24.
1, 2. Kungani kumelwe sibe nokholo, futhi lungaqina kanjani?
IZINCEKU zikaJehova ziyazi ukuthi kumelwe zibe nokholo. Eqinisweni, ‘ngaphandle kokholo akwenzeki ukumjabulisa uNkulunkulu.’ (Hebheru 11:6) Ngakho, ngokuhlakanipha sithandazela umoya ongcwele nokholo, olungesinye sezithelo zawo ezibusisekile. (Luka 11:13; Galathiya 5:22, 23) Ukulingisa ukholo lwesikholwa nabo nakho kungayiqinisa le mfanelo kithi.—2 Thimothewu 1:5; Hebheru 13:7.
2 Ukholo lwethu luyoqina nakakhulu uma siphikelela enkambweni iZwi likaNkulunkulu eliyibekela wonke amaKristu. Ukholo olwengeziwe singaluthola nangokufunda iBhayibheli nsuku zonke nokutadisha imiBhalo ngenkuthalo sisizwa izincwadi ezivela ‘kumphathi othembekile.’ (Luka 12:42-44; Joshuwa 1:7, 8) Ukholo lomunye nomunye luyasikhuthaza ngokuba khona kwethu njalo emihlanganweni yobuKristu yebandla, yesifunda neyesigodi. (Roma 1:11, 12; Hebheru 10:24, 25) Futhi ukholo lwethu luyaqina lapho sikhuluma nabanye enkonzweni.—IHubo 145:10-13; Roma 10:11-15.
3. Mayelana nokholo, iluphi usizo esiluthola kubadala abanothando abangamaKristu?
3 Ngokunikeza iseluleko nesikhuthazo esingokomBhalo, abadala abanothando abangamaKristu basisiza sakhe ukholo lwethu. Banomoya onjengowomphostoli uPawulu, owathi kwabaseKorinte: “Siyizisebenzi ezikanye nani ukuze nijabule, ngoba nimi ngokholo lwenu.” (2 Korinte 1:23, 24) Enye inguqulo ithi: “Sisebenza nani ukuze sinenze nijabule, ngoba ukholo lwenu luqinile.” (Contemporary English Version) Abalungileyo baphila ngenxa yokholo. Yiqiniso, ukuba nokholo nokuba abagcini bobuqotho abathembekile yinto esingenakuyenzelwa omunye umuntu. Kulokhu, ‘kumelwe sizithwalele umthwalo wethu.’—Galathiya 3:11; 6:5.
4. Ukulandisa okusemiBhalweni ngezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithembekile kungasisiza kanjani ukuba siqinise ukholo lwethu?
4 ImiBhalo igcwele ukulandisa okuphathelene nalabo ababenokholo. Kungenzeka sijwayelene neziningi zezenzo zabo ezivelele, kodwa kuthiwani ngokholo ababelubonisa nsuku zonke, mhlawumbe ekuphileni kwabo konke okude? Ukuzindla ngendlela abayibonisa ngayo le mfanelo ezimweni ezifuze ezethu kungasisiza siqinise ukholo lwethu.
Ukholo Lusinika Isibindi
5. Ibuphi ubufakazi obusemiBhalweni bokuthi ukholo luyasiqinisa ukuze simemezele izwi likaNkulunkulu ngesibindi?
5 Ukholo lusiqinisa ukuba simemezele izwi likaNkulunkulu ngesibindi. Ngesibindi u-Enoke wabikezela ukukhishwa kwesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu. Wathi: “Bheka! UJehova wafika namashumi akhe ezinkulungwane ezingcwele, ezokhipha isahlulelo kubo bonke, futhi ezobalahla ngecala bonke abangamhloniphi uNkulunkulu ngenxa yazo zonke izenzo zabo zokungamhloniphi uNkulunkulu abazenza ngendlela yokungamhloniphi uNkulunkulu, nangenxa yezinto ezishaqisayo izoni ezingamhloniphi uNkulunkulu ezazikhuluma ngaye.” (Jude 14, 15) Lapho zizwa lawo mazwi, kumelwe ukuba izitha zika-Enoke ezazingamesabi uNkulunkulu zafuna ukumbulala. Nokho, wakhuluma ngesibindi enokholo, futhi uNkulunkulu “wamthatha” ngokumlalisa ekufeni, ngokusobala wangamvumela ukuba ezwe ubuhlungu bako. (Genesise 5:24; Hebheru 11:5) Thina asibi nezimangaliso ezinjalo, kodwa uJehova uyayiphendula imithandazo yethu ukuze simemezele izwi lakhe ngokholo nangesibindi.—IzEnzo 4:24-31.
6. Ukholo nesibindi okuvela kuNkulunkulu kwamsiza kanjani uNowa?
6 Ngokholo uNowa “wakha umkhumbi wokusindisa indlu yakhe.” (Hebheru 11:7; Genesise 6:13-22) UNowa futhi ‘wayengumshumayeli wokulunga’ owamemezela ngesibindi isixwayiso sikaNkulunkulu kubantu besikhathi sakhe. (2 Petru 2:5) Kumelwe ukuba babewuhleka umyalezo wakhe kaZamcolo owawuza, njengoba nabathile behleka lapho sinikeza ubufakazi obusemiBhalweni bokuthi isimiso samanje sezinto sizobhujiswa maduze. (2 Petru 3:3-12) Nokho, njengo-Enoke noNowa, singawuhambisa lowo myalezo ngenxa yokholo nesibindi esikunikwe uNkulunkulu.
Ukholo Lusenza Sibekezele
7. U-Abrahama nabanye balubonisa kanjani ukholo nokubekezela?
7 Sidinga ukholo nokubekezela, ikakhulu njengoba silinde ukuphela kwalesi simiso esibi. Omunye walabo ‘okuyothi ngokholo nangokubekezela bazuze izithembiso’ yinzalamizi eyayesaba uNkulunkulu, u-Abrahama. (Hebheru 6:11, 12) Ngokholo, washiya umuzi wase-Uri, nazo zonke izinto zawo ezingcono, waba umfokazi ezweni angalazi ayelithenjiswe uNkulunkulu. U-Isaka noJakobe babeyizindlalifa zesithembiso esifanayo. Nokho, “bonke laba bafa benokholo, nakuba bengakutholanga ukugcwaliseka kwezithembiso.” Ngokholo, “bazama ukufinyelela indawo engcono, okungukuthi, eyasezulwini.” Ngakho, uNkulunkulu “ubalungiselele umuzi.” (Hebheru 11:8-16) Yebo, u-Abrahama, u-Isaka noJakobe—nomkabo abesaba uNkulunkulu—ngesineke balinda uMbuso kaNkulunkulu wasezulwini, okwakuyothi ngaphansi kwawo bavuselwe ekuphileni kwasemhlabeni.
8. U-Abrahama, u-Isaka noJakobe babonisa ukubekezela nokholo naphezu kwani?
8 U-Abrahama, u-Isaka noJakobe abalahlekelwanga ukholo. Abalitholanga iZwe Lesithembiso, futhi abazange bazibone zonke izizwe zibusiswa ngenzalo ka-Abrahama. (Genesise 15:5-7; 22:15-18) Nakuba ‘umuzi owakhiwe uNkulunkulu’ wawungeke ube khona ngokoqobo kuze kudlule amakhulu eminyaka, la madoda aqhubeka ebonisa ukholo nokubekezela ukuphila kwawo konke. Ngokuqinisekile, nathi kufanele senze okufanayo manje njengoba uMbuso kaMesiya ungokoqobo ezulwini.—IHubo 42:5, 11; 43:5.
Ukholo Lusenza Sibe Nemigomo Ephakeme
9. Ukholo lunaliphi ithonya emigomweni?
9 Izinzalamizi ezithembekile azizange zamukele indlela yokuphila eyonakele yaseKhanani, ngoba zazinemigomo ephakeme kakhulu. Ngokufanayo ukholo lusenza sibe nemigomo engokomoya ezosisiza simelane nokwenziwa ingxenye yezwe elisemandleni omubi, uSathane uDeveli.—1 Johane 2:15-17; 5:19.
10. Sazi kanjani ukuthi uJosefa waphishekela umgomo ophakeme kakhulu kunokuvelela ezweni?
10 Ngokuqondisa kukaNkulunkulu, indodana kaJakobe uJosefa yakhonza njengomqondisi wokudla eGibhithe, kodwa kwakungewona umgomo wayo ukuba umuntu omkhulu kulelo zwe. Enokholo ekugcwalisekeni kwezithembiso zikaJehova, uJosefa owayeseneminyaka engu-110 wathi kubafowabo: “Sengiyafa; kodwa ngokuqinisekile uNkulunkulu uyoninaka, futhi nakanjani uyonikhuphula anikhiphe kuleli zwe aniyise ezweni afunga ngalo ku-Abrahama, ku-Isaka nakuJakobe.” UJosefa wacela ukuba angcwatshwe eZweni Lesithembiso. Lapho esefile, wagqunyiswa wafakwa ebhokisini lokungcwaba eGibhithe. Kodwa lapho ama-Israyeli ekhululwa ebugqilini baseGibhithe, umprofethi uMose wayala ukuba kuthathwe amathambo kaJosefa ayongcwatshwa eZweni Lesithembiso. (Genesise 50:22-26; Eksodusi 13:19) Ukholo olunjengolukaJosefa kufanele lusishukumisele ukuba siphishekele imigomo ephakeme kakhulu kunokuvelela ezweni.—1 Korinte 7:29-31.
11. UMose wabunikeza kanjani ubufakazi bokuthi wayenemigomo engokomoya?
11 UMose ‘wakhetha ukuphathwa kabi nabantu bakaNkulunkulu kunokujabula isikhashana esonweni’ eyilungu elifundile lomkhaya wasebukhosini eGibhithe. (Hebheru 11:23-26; IzEnzo 7:20-22) Lokhu kwamlahlekisela udumo lwezwe mhlawumbe nomngcwabo omkhulu ebhokisini eliwubukhazikhazi endaweni eyaziwayo eGibhithe. Kodwa kwakuyoba nanzuzoni lokho uma kuqhathaniswa nelungelo lokuba “umuntu kaNkulunkulu weqiniso,” umlamuleli wesivumelwano soMthetho, umprofethi kaJehova nomlobi weBhayibheli? (Ezra 3:2) Ingabe wena ufisa ukuthuthuka okuhambisana nodumo lwezwe, noma ingabe ukholo lukwenze waba nemigomo engokomoya ephakeme kakhulu kunalokho?
Ukholo Luphumela Ekuphileni Okwanelisayo
12. Ukholo lwaba naliphi ithonya ekuphileni kukaRahabi?
12 Ukholo alugcini ngokwenza abantu babe nemigomo ephakeme kakhulu, kodwa futhi lubanika ukuphila okwanelisayo. Kumelwe ukuba uRahabi waseJerikho wayekuzwa kungenanjongo etheni ukuphila kwakhe njengesifebe. Nokho, lokho kwashintsha kakhulu lapho ebonisa ukholo! ‘Kwathiwa ulungile ngemisebenzi [yokholo], ngemva kokuba amukele izithunywa [ezingama-Israyeli] ngokufudumele futhi wazikhipha ngenye indlela,’ zangabanjwa izitha zazo zaseKhanani. (Jakobe 2:24-26) Eqaphela uJehova njengoNkulunkulu weqiniso, uRahabi wabonisa ukholo nangokushiya ukuphila kokuba isifebe. (Joshuwa 2:9-11; Hebheru 11:30, 31) Washada nenceku kaJehova, hhayi umKhanani ongakholwa. (Duteronomi 7:3, 4; 1 Korinte 7:39) URahabi waba nelungelo elikhulu lokuba ukhokhokazi kaMesiya. (1 IziKronike 2:3-15; Ruthe 4:20-22; Mathewu 1:5, 6) Njengabanye, okukhona phakathi kwabo labo abaye bashiya ukuphila kokuziphatha okubi, uyothola omunye futhi umvuzo—ukuvuselwa ekuphileni emhlabeni oyipharadesi.
13. Ngokuqondene noBhati-sheba, uDavide wona kanjani kodwa wabonisa siphi isimo sengqondo?
13 Ngemva kokushiya ukuphila kwakhe okunesono, kusobala ukuthi uRahabi walondoloza inkambo yobuqotho. Nokho, abanye asebenesikhathi eside bezinikezele kuNkulunkulu baye bona kakhulu. INkosi uDavide yaphinga noBhati-sheba, yenza ukuba umyeni wakhe abulawe empini, yabe isimthatha imenza umkayo. (2 Samuweli 11:1-27) Ephenduka ngokuzisola okukhulu, uDavide wanxusa uJehova: “O, umoya wakho ongcwele ungawususi kimi.” UDavide akazange alahlekelwe umoya kaNkulunkulu. Wayenokholo lokuthi, ngesihe sakhe, uJehova wayengeke ayidelele “inhliziyo ephukile nechobozekile” ngenxa yesono. (IHubo 51:11, 17; 103:10-14) Ngenxa yokholo lwabo, uDavide noBhati-sheba bajabulela ilungelo lokuba sohlwini lozalo lukaMesiya.—1 IziKronike 3:5; Mathewu 1:6, 16; Luka 3:23, 31.
Ukholo Olwaqiniswa Isiqinisekiso
14. Iziphi iziqinisekiso uGideyoni azithola, futhi le ndaba ingaluthonya kanjani ukholo lwethu?
14 Nakuba sihamba ngokholo, ngezinye izikhathi singase sidinge ukuqinisekiswa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzosisiza. Kwaba njalo ngoMahluleli uGideyoni, omunye walabo okwathi “ngokholo balwa nemibuso bayinqoba.” (Hebheru 11:32, 33) Lapho abakwaMidiyani nababesizana nabo behlasela u-Israyeli, umoya kaNkulunkulu wasibekela uGideyoni. Efuna ukuqinisekiswa ukuthi uJehova wayenaye, wasikisela izivivinyo ezazihilela uboya obuchaywe esibuyeni ubusuku bonke. Ovivinyweni lokuqala, amazolo aba soboyeni kuphela, umhlabathi wasala womile. Kolwesibili, kwenzeka okuphambene. Ekhuthazwe yilezi ziqinisekiso, uGideyoni owayeqaphile wabonisa ukholo, wazinqoba izitha zika-Israyeli. (AbaHluleli 6:33-40; 7:19-25) Uma sifuna ukuqinisekiswa lapho sibhekene nesinqumo, akusho ukuthi sintula ukholo. Empeleni sibonisa ukholo ngokuya eBhayibhelini nasezincwadini zobuKristu nangokuthandazela isiqondiso somoya ongcwele lapho senza izinqumo.—Roma 8:26, 27.
15. Ukuzindla ngokholo lukaBharaki kungasisiza kanjani?
15 Ukholo lukaMahluleli uBharaki lwaqiniswa isiqinisekiso esasiyisikhuthazo. Umprofethikazi uDebora wamkhuthaza ukuba athathe isinyathelo sokukhulula ama-Israyeli ekucindezelweni iNkosi uJabini engumKhanani. Enokholo futhi eqinisekisiwe ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyamsekela, uBharaki wahola amadoda angu-10 000 ayengenazikhali ezitheni empini, anqoba amabutho kaJabini ayemaningi kakhulu ayeholwa uSisera. Lokho kunqoba kwahalaliselwa ngengoma kaDebora noBharaki eyayivusa amadlingozi. (AbaHluleli 4:1–5:31) UDebora wakhuthaza uBharaki ukuba abe njengomholi ka-Israyeli omiswe uNkulunkulu, futhi wayengenye yezinceku zikaJehova okwathi ngokholo ‘zangquzula amabutho ezinye izizwe.’ (Hebheru 11:34) Ukuzindla ngendlela uNkulunkulu ambusisa ngayo uBharaki ngokubonisa ukholo kungasishukumisela ukuba sithathe isinyathelo uma sinqikaza ukufeza isabelo esiyinselele enkonzweni kaJehova.
Ukholo Ludala Ukuthula
16. Isiphi isibonelo esihle u-Abrahama asibeka ekuphishekeleni ukuthula noLoti?
16 Njengoba nje ukholo lusisiza ukuba sifeze izabelo ezinzima enkonzweni kaNkulunkulu, lukhuthaza nokuthula. U-Abrahama owayesekhulile wavumela indodana encane yomfowabo uLoti ukuba ikhethe amadlelo angcono kakhulu lapho abelusi babo bexabana futhi kudingeka bahlukane. (Genesise 13:7-12) Kumelwe ukuba u-Abrahama wathandaza ngokholo ecela usizo lukaNkulunkulu ekuxazululeni le nkinga. Kunokuba abeke izithakazelo zakhe kuqala, waxazulula inkinga ngokuthula. Uma sizithola siphikisana nomfowethu ongumKristu, masithandaze ngokholo ‘siphishekele ukuthula,’ sikhumbula isibonelo sika-Abrahama sokucabangela ngothando.—1 Petru 3:10-12.
17. Kungani singase sithi ukungaboni ngaso linye phakathi kukaPawulu, uBarnaba noMarku kwalungiswa ngokuthula?
17 Bheka indlela ukusebenzisa izimiso zobuKristu okungasisiza ngayo ekudaleni ukuthula. Lapho uPawulu esezothatha uhambo lwakhe lwesibili lwezithunywa zevangeli, uBarnaba wavuma lapho esikisela ukuba bavakashele amabandla aseKhupro nase-Asia Minor. Nokho, uBarnaba wayefuna bahambe nomzala wakhe uMarku. UPawulu wenqaba ngoba uMarku wayebashiyile ePhamfiliya. “Kwaqhuma intukuthelo enkulu,” futhi le ngxabano yabangela ukwahlukana. UBarnaba wathatha uMarku baya eKhupro, uPawulu yena wakhetha uSila ukuba ahambe naye ‘badabula iSiriya neKhilikhiya, beqinisa amabandla.’ (IzEnzo 15:36-41) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, ukungaboni ngaso linye kwalungiswa, ngoba uMarku wayenoPawulu eRoma, futhi lo mphostoli wakhuluma kahle ngaye. (Kolose 4:10; Filemoni 23, 24) Lapho uPawulu eboshiwe eRoma cishe ngo-65 C.E., wathi kuThimothewu: “Thatha uMarku uze naye, ngoba ulusizo kimi ekukhonzeni.” (2 Thimothewu 4:11) Ngokusobala uPawulu wathandaza ngokholo ngokuphathelene nobuhlobo bakhe noBarnaba noMarku, futhi lokhu kwaphumela ekuthuleni okuhlobene ‘nokuthula kukaNkulunkulu.’—Filipi 4:6, 7.
18. Yini okungenzeka yenzeka endabeni ka-Evodiya noSintike?
18 Yebo, njengoba singaphelele, “sonke siyakhubeka izikhathi eziningi.” (Jakobe 3:2) Kwaphakama izinkinga kwabesifazane ababili abangamaKristu, uPawulu abhala wathi ngabo: “U-Evodiya noSintike ngiyabakhuthaza ukuba babe nomqondo ofanayo eNkosini. . . . Qhubeka usiza laba besifazane abaye bazabalaza kanye nami ezindabeni ezinhle.” (Filipi 4:1-3) Kungenzeka kakhulu ukuthi laba besifazane ababili abesaba uNkulunkulu bayixazulula ngokuthula inkinga yabo besebenzisa iseluleko esinjengaleso esikuMathewu 5:23, 24. Ukusebenzisa izimiso zemiBhalo ngokholo kuyokwenza lukhulu ekudaleni ukuthula namuhla.
Ukholo Lusenza Sikwazi Ukukhuthazela
19. Isiphi isimo esivivinyayo esingazange silonakalise ukholo luka-Isaka noRebheka?
19 Ngokholo singakhuthazelela nosizi. Kungenzeka sicindezelekile ngoba ilungu lomkhaya wethu elibhapathiziwe lingamlalelanga uNkulunkulu lashada nongakholwa. (1 Korinte 7:39) U-Isaka noRebheka bahlupheka ngenxa yokuthi indodana yabo u-Esawu yayishade nabesifazane abangakholwa. Amakhosikazi akhe angamaHeti ‘ayeyimbangela yomoya omunyu’ kubo—kangangokuthi uRebheka wathi: “Ngiyakwenyanya lokhu kuphila kwami ngenxa yamadodakazi kaHeti. Uma uJakobe engathatha umfazi emadodakazini kaHeti njengalawa avela emadodakazini ezwe, kunanzuzoni ukuphila kimi?” (Genesise 26:34, 35; 27:46) Nokho, lesi simo esivivinyayo asizange silonakalise ukholo luka-Isaka noRebheka. Kwangathi nathi singalondoloza ukholo oluqinile uma izimo ezinzima ziba inselele kithi.
20. UNawomi noRuthe basibekela ziphi izibonelo zokholo?
20 Umfelokazi osekhulile uNawomi wayengowaseJudiya futhi wayazi ukuthi kunabesifazane abangamaJuda ababengase bazale amadodana ayengase abe ngokhokho bakaMesiya. Nokho, njengoba amadodana akhe ayefe engenazingane futhi yena ayengasenakubathola abantwana, ayemancane kakhulu amathuba okuba umkhaya wakhe ube ingxenye yohlu lozalo lukaMesiya. Noma kunjalo, uRuthe umalokazana wakhe owayengumfelokazi washada noBhowazi owayesekhulile, wamzalela indodana, futhi waba ukhokhokazi kaJesu, uMesiya! (Genesise 49:10, 33; Ruthe 1:3-5; 4:13-22; Mathewu 1:1, 5) Ukholo lukaNawomi noRuthe lwamelana nosizi futhi lwabalethela injabulo. Nathi siyothola injabulo enkulu uma silondoloza ukholo naphezu kosizi.
21. Ukholo lusenzelani, futhi yini okufanele sizimisele ukuyenza?
21 Nakuba singenakusho ukuthi ikusasa lisiphatheleni njengabantu ngabanye, ngokholo singabhekana nanoma iyiphi inselele. Ukholo lusenza sibe nesibindi futhi sibekezele. Lusenza sibe nemigomo ephakeme kakhulu nokuphila okwanelisayo. Ukholo lunethonya elihle ebuhlotsheni bethu nabanye futhi luyamelana nosizi. Kwangathi-ke singaba “uhlobo olunokholo kube ukulondwa komphefumulo.” (Hebheru 10:39) Ngamandla kaNkulunkulu wethu onothando, uJehova, masiqhubeke sinokholo oluqinile, kube udumo kuye.
Ungaphendula Kanjani?
• Kunabuphi ubufakazi emiBhalweni bokuthi ukholo lungasenza sibe nesibindi?
• Kungani singase sithi ukholo lusinika ukuphila okwanelisayo?
• Ukholo lukudala kanjani ukuthula?
• Kunabuphi ubufakazi bokuthi ukholo lusenza sikwazi ukukhuthazelela usizi?
[Izithombe ekhasini 16]
Ukholo lwenza uNowa no-Enoke baba nesibindi sokumemezela imiyalezo kaJehova
[Izithombe ekhasini 17]
Ukholo olunjengolukaMose lusishukumisela ukuba siphishekele imigomo engokomoya
[Izithombe ekhasini 18]
Ukuqinisekiswa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzobasiza kwaqinisa ukholo lukaBharaki, uDebora noGideyoni