Imithandazo Idinga Imisebenzi
“UJehova ukude nababi, kepha uyezwa imikhuleko yabalungileyo.”—IZAGA 15:29.
1. Yimuphi umbandela owodwa okumelwe kuhlangatshezwane nawo ukuze uNkulunkulu aphendule imithandazo yethu?
ZONKE izimfuneko zikaJehova zihlakaniphile, zilungile, futhi zinothando. Aziwona nakancane umthwalo. (1 Johane 5:3) Lokho kuhlanganisa izimfuneko zakhe ngokuphathelene nomthandazo, enye yazo iwukuthi kumelwe siphile ngokuvumelana nemithandazo yethu. Inkambo yethu kumelwe imthokozise uJehova uNkulunkulu. Ngaphandle kwalokho, singamlindela kanjani ukuba acabangele ngomusa izicelo zethu nokunxusa?
2, 3. Kungani uJehova engazange ayiphendule imithandazo yamaIsrayeli, njengoba kubonakala emazwini kaIsaya, uJeremiya, noMika?
2 Lesi isici somthandazo abeLobukholwa abaningi abangasinaki, njengoba kungazange kunakwe amaIsrayeli ayizihlubuki osukwini lukaIsaya. Kungakho uJehova ayala umprofethi wakhe ukuba ammelele ethi: “Lapho nenza imikhuleko eminingi, angiyikuzwa . . . Gezani, nihlanzeke, nisuse ububi bezenzo zenu phambi kwamehlo ami, niyeke ukwenza okubi. Fundani ukwenza okuhle.” (Isaya 1:15-17) Yebo, uma lawomaIsrayeli ayefuna umusa kaNkulunkulu, kwakumelwe enze ngendlela eyayimthokozisa. Njengoba kuye kwashiwo: “Uma ufuna uNkulunkulu akuzwe lapho uthandaza, kumelwe umuzwe lapho ekhuluma.”
3 Eqinisweni, ngokuphindaphindiwe uJehova uNkulunkulu wakuthola kudingekile ukukhumbuza abantu bakhe uIsrayeli lamaqiniso. Ngakho siyafunda: “Ophendula indlebe yakhe ekuzweni umthetho, nomkhuleko wakhe uyisinengiso” kuNkulunkulu. “UJehova ukude nababi, kepha uyezwa imikhuleko yabalungileyo.” (IzAga 28:9; 15:29) Ngenxa yalesimo, uJeremiya wakhala: “Wazembesa [Jehova] ifu, ukuze imikhuleko yethu ingafinyeleli.” (IsiLilo 3:44) Ngempela, isixwayiso uMika aphefumlelwa ukuba asikhiphe sagcwaliseka: “Bayakukhala kuJehova, kepha akayikubaphendula; uyakusitheza ubuso bakhe kubo ngalesosikhathi ngenxa yokwenza kwabo izenzo zibezimbi.”—Mika 3:4; IzAga 1:28-32.
4. Yini ebonisa ukuthi ngisho naphakathi kwabantu bakaJehova abanye abasiqapheli isidingo semisebenzi evumelana nemithandazo yethu?
4 Ngakho kudingekile ukuphila ngokuvumelana nemithandazo yethu. Ingabe kudingekile ukugcizelela leliphuzu namuhla? Ngempela kunjalo, hhayi nje kuphela ngenxa yesimo kweLobukholwa kodwa futhi nangenxa yesimo sabanye babantu bakaJehova abazinikezele. Kubamemezeli bezindaba ezinhle abangaphezu kwezi-3 000 000 ngonyaka odlule, abafinyelela izi-37 000 basuswa ekuhlanganyeleni ngenxa yokuziphatha okungamfanele umKristu. Lokho kulingana cishe nesilinganiso soyedwa kwabangama-80. Ngokunokwenzeka, okungenani abaningi balabantu babeqabukela bethandaza. Kodwa, ingabe babenza ngokuvumelana nemithandazo yabo? Phinde! Ngisho nabanye abadala abase be namashumi eminyaka besenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele babephakathi kwalabo abasolwa ngandlela-thile. Yeka indlela okudabukisa ngayo! Ngempela, “Osuka ethi umi, akaqaphele ukuba angawi,” ukuba angenzi ngendlela eyenza imithandazo yakhe ingemukeleki kuMenzi wakhe.—1 Korinte 10:12.
Isizathu Esenza Imithandazo Idinge Imisebenzi
5. Ukuze uJehova aphendule imithandazo yethu, kumelwe sibubonakalise kanjani ubuqotho bethu?
5 Ukuze imithandazo yethu izwiwe uJehova uNkulunkulu, akumelwe nje sibe abahlanzekile ngokuziphatha nangokomoya kuphela kodwa futhi kumelwe sibonakalise ubuqotho bemithandazo yethu ngokusebenzela kulokho esikuthandazelayo. Umthandazo uwodwa awusivali isikhala somzamo oqotho, wokuhlakanipha. UJehova ngeke asenzele lokho esingazenzela khona ngokusebenzisa ngobuqotho iseluleko seZwi lakhe futhi silandele isiqondiso somoya wakhe ongcwele. Kumelwe sizimisele ukwenza konke okusemandleni kulokhu ukuze abe nesisekelo sokuphendula imithandazo yethu. Ngakho, ‘akumelwe sicele okungaphezu kwalokho esizimisele ukukusebenzela, ’ njengoba othile akubeka.
6. Kungaziphi izizathu ezimbili kumelwe sithandaze?
6 Nokho, umbuzo ungaphakama: ‘Kungani sithandaza uma kumelwe sisebenzele kulokho esikuthandazelayo?’ Kumelwe sithandaze okungenani ngenxa yezizathu ezimbili ezinhle. Okokuqala, ngemithandazo yethu sivuma ukuthi zonke izinto ezinhle zivela kuNkulunkulu. UnguMuphi wazo zonke Izipho ezinhle neziphelele—ukukhanya kwelanga, imvula, izinkathi ezinezithelo, nokuningi okwengeziwe! (Mathewu 5:45; IzEnzo 14:16, 17; Jakobe 1:17) Okwesibili, ukuthi imizamo yethu iyaphumelela noma cha kuxhomeke esibusisweni sikaJehova. Njengoba sifunda kumaHubo 127:1: “Uma uJehova engayakhi indlu, basebenzela ize abayakhayo; uma uJehova engalondolozi umuzi, umlindi wawo ulindela ize.” Lamazwi omphostoli uPawulu akweyoku-1 Korinte 3:6, 7 aveza iphuzu elifanayo: “Mina ngatshala, uApholo wanisela, kepha uNkulunkulu wakhulisa. Njalo-ke notshalayo kalutho, noniselayo kalutho, kodwa uNkulunkulu okhulisayo.”
Ezinye Izibonelo Zasendulo
7, 8. (a) Isiphi isenzakalo ekuphileni kukaJakobe esibonisa ukuthi waqaphela ukuthi imisebenzi kumelwe ihambisane nemithandazo? (b) Isiphi isibonelo iNkosi uDavide eyasinikeza kulokhu?
7 ImiBhalo ibika izenzakalo eziningi ezibonisa ukuthi izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekile zasebenzela kulokho ezazikuthandazela. Ake sicabangele izibonelo ezimbalwa. Ngenxa yokuthi umzukulu ka-Abrahama uJakobe wazuza isibusiso sokuba yizibulo, umfowabo omdala uEsawu waba nenzondo ebulalayo ngaye. (Genesise 27:41) Eminyakeni engama-20 kamuva, lapho uJakobe evela ePhadani-Aramu ebuyela ezweni lenkaba yakhe enomkhaya omkhulu nemfuyo eningi, wezwa ukuthi uEsawu wayeza ezomhlangabeza. Ekhumbula inzondo kaEsawu, uJakobe wathandaza ngobuqotho kuJehova ukuba amvikele olakeni lomfowabo. Kodwa ingabe wabe eseyeka kanjalo? Lutho neze. Wathumela izipho phambi kwakhe, ethi: “Ngizakumthoba ngalesisipho esihamba phambi kwami.” Futhi kwaba njalo, ngoba lapho izelamani ezimbili zihlangana, uEsawu wamanga uJakobe.—Genesise, izahluko 32, 33.
8 UDavide wanikeza esinye isibonelo sokusebenzela kulokho esikuthandazelayo. Lapho indodana yakhe uAbisalomu iqhwaga isihlalo sakhe sobukhosi, umeluleki kaDavide uAhithofeli wazihlanganisa noAbisalomu. Ngakho uDavide wanxusa ngobuqotho ukuba iseluleko sika-Ahithofeli sibhuntshe. Ingabe uDavide wamane wathandaza nje kuphela ngalokho? Cha, wayala umeluleki wakhe oqotho uHushayi ukuba azihlanganise noAbisalomu ukuze abhuntshise iseluleko sika-Ahithofeli. Futhi izinto zenzeka ngaleyondlela. UAbisalomu wenza ngokweseluleko esibi asinikezwa uHushayi, wenqaba iseluleko sika-Ahithofeli.—2 Samuweli 15:31-37; 17:1-14; 18:6-8.
9. UNehemiya wabonisa kanjani ukuthi wayesiqaphela isimiso sokuthi imithandazo idinga imisebenzi?
9 Esinye isibonelo esingase siphawulwe ngenjongo yokuxwayisa thina yileso sikaNehemiya. Wayenomsebenzi omkhulu okwakumelwe awenze—ukwakha kabusha izindonga zeJerusalema. Nokho, izitha eziningi zazimbophela uzungu. UNehemiya wathandaza futhi wasebenza, njengoba nje sifunda: “Sakhuleka kuNkulunkulu wethu, sabamisela abalindi imini nobusuku.” Kusukela lapho kuqhubeke, ingxenye yezinsizwa zikaNehemiya zama zilungele ukuvikela enye ingxenye, labo ababakha udonga.—Nehemiya 4:9, 16.
Isibonelo SikaJesu
10, 11. Iziphi izibonelo ezanikezwa uJesu ezibonisa ukuthi wayenza ngokuvumelana nemithandazo yakhe?
10 UJesu Kristu wasibekela isibonelo esihle sokusebenzela kulokho esikuthandazelayo. Wasifundisa ukuba sithandaze: “Malingcweliswe igama lakho.” (Mathewu 6:9) Kodwa uJesu naye wenza konke ayengakwenza ukuze izilaleli zakhe zingcwelise igama likaYise. Ngokufanayo, uJesu akagcinanga nje ngokuthandaza: “Baba, khazimulisa igama lakho.” (Johane 12:28) Cha, wenza konke ayengakwenza ukuze akhazimulise igama likaYise futhi enze nabanye benze okufanayo.—Luka 5:23-26; 17:12-15; Johane 17:4.
11 Ebona isidingo esikhulu esingokomoya abantu ababenaso, uJesu wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Ukuvuna kukhulu, kodwa izisebenzi ziyingcosana; ngakho-ke nxusani eNkosini yokuvuna [uJehova uNkulunkulu] ukuba ithume izisebenzi, ziye ekuvuneni kwayo.” (Mathewu 9:37, 38) Ingabe uJesu wabe eseyeka kanjalo? Phinde! Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, wathuma abaphostoli bakhe abayi-12 ngababili ohambweni lokushumayela, noma ‘lokuvuna.’ Kamuva, uJesu wathuma abavangeli abangama-70 ukuba benze umsebenzi ofanayo.—Mathewu 10:1-10; Luka 10:1-9.
Ukusebenzisa Lesimiso
12. Umsebenzi uthintene ngani nemithandazo yethu yokuba uNkulunkulu asiphe isinkwa sethu semihla ngemihla?
12 Ngokusobala, uJehova uNkulunkulu usilindele ukuba senze ngokuvumelana nemithandazo yethu, ngaleyondlela sibonakalise ubuqotho bethu. UJesu wasitshela ukuba sithandaze: “Usiphe namuhla isinkwa sethu semihla ngemihla.” (Mathewu 6:11) Ngakho-ke, bonke abalandeli bakhe bakucela ngokufanelekile lokho kuNkulunkulu. Kodwa ingabe silindele ukuba uBaba wethu wasezulwini aphendule lowomthandazo ngaphandle kokuba thina senze noma yini ngakho? Akunjalo neze. Kungakho sifunda ukuthi: “Umphefumulo wevila uyafisa”—mhlawumbe ngisho nangokuthandaza—“ungatholilutho.” (IzAga 13:4) Umphostoli uPawulu waveza iphuzu elifanayo kweyesi-2 Thesalonika 3:10, ethi: “Uma umuntu engathandi ukusebenza, makangadli.” Ukuthandazela isinkwa sethu sansuku zonke kumelwe kuhambisane nesifiso sokusebenza. Ngokuthakazelisayo, ngokuhlakanipha uPawulu wathi labo ‘ababengathandi ukusebenza’ kumelwe bangadli. Abanye abathanda ukusebenza kungenzeka abawutholi umsebenzi, bayagula, noma sebegugile ukuba bangasebenza. Bayathanda ukusebenza, kodwa lokhu kungaphezu kwezimo zabo. Ngakho-ke, bangathandazela ngokufanelekile isinkwa sabo sansuku zonke futhi bathembe ukuthi bazosithola.
13. Ukuze uJehova aphendule imithandazo yethu yokucela umoya wakhe ongcwele, kumelwe senzeni?
13 UJesu futhi waseluleka ukuba sicele umoya ongcwele kaYise wasezulwini. Njengoba uJesu esiqinisekisa, uNkulunkulu uzimisele ukusinikeza umoya ongcwele ngaphezu kokuba abazali basemhlabeni bezimisele ukunikeza abantwana babo izinto ezinhle. (Luka 11:13) Kodwa ingabe singalindela ukuba uJehova uNkulunkulu asiphe umoya wakhe ongcwele ngokuyisimangaliso, ngaphandle kokuba thina ngokwethu senze umzamo? Phinde! Kumelwe senze konke okusemandleni ethu ukuze sithole umoya ongcwele. Ngaphezu kokuwuthandazela, sidinga ukuzondla ngenkuthalo ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu. Ngani? Ngoba uJehova uNkulunkulu akawunikezi umoya wakhe ongcwele ngaphandle kweZwi lakhe, futhi asinakulindela ukuthola umoya ongcwele uma singawunaki umzila wasemhlabeni uJehova awusebenzisayo namuhla, “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo,” emelelwe yiNdikimba Ebusayo yoFakazi BakaJehova. Ngaphandle kosizo oluvela ‘kulenceku,’ ngeke sikwazi ukukuqonda ngokugcwele lokho esikufundayo futhi sazi indlela yokusebenzisa lokho esikufundayo.—Mathewu 24:45-47.
14, 15. (a) Ukuze uJehova aphendule imithandazo yethu yokucela ukuhlakanipha, kumelwe sibambisane kanjani? (b) Isibonelo seNkosi uSolomoni sikufakazela kanjani lokhu?
14 Isimiso sokuthi imithandazo idinga imisebenzi siyasebenza futhi kulamazwi omfundi uJakobe, umfowabo kaJesu ngamzalimunye: “Uma-ke kukhona kini oswela ukuhlakanipha, makacele kuNkulunkulu obapha bonke ngobuhle engajakadi, khona uyakuphiwa.” (Jakobe 1:5; Mathewu 13:55) Kodwa ingabe uNkulunkulu usipha lokhu kuhlakanipha ngesimangaliso esithile? Cha. Okokuqala nje, kumelwe sibe nesimo sengqondo esihle, njengoba sifunda: “Abathobekileyo ubafundisa indlela yakhe.” (IHubo 25:9) Futhi uNkulunkulu ubafundisa kanjani “abathobekileyo”? NgeZwi lakhe. Futhi, kumelwe senze umzamo wokuliqonda nokulisebenzisa, njengoba kuboniswe kuzAga 2:1-6: “Ndodana yami, uma wamukela amazwi ami, uzibekelele imiyalo yami, ukuze ubeke indlebe yakho ekuhlakanipheni, uthobisele ekuqondeni inhliziyo yakho, yebo, uma ukhala ngengqondo, uzwakalisa izwi lakho ngokuqonda, uma ukufuna njengesiliva, . . . khona uyakuqonda ukumesaba uJehova, ufumane ukumazi uNkulunkulu. Ngokuba uJehova uyanika ukuhlakanipha.”
15 Lapho iNkosi uSolomoni ithandazela ukuhlakanipha futhi uNkulunkulu ephendula umthandazo wayo ngokuyisimangaliso, ingabe isimiso sokuthi imithandazo idinga imisebenzi naso sasebenza? Yebo, sasebenza, ngoba njengenkosi yakwaIsrayeli, uSolomoni kwakudingeka azibhalele eyakhe ikhophi yoMthetho, awufunde nsuku zonke, futhi awusebenzise ekuphileni kwakhe. Kodwa lapho uSolomoni enza ngokuphambene neziyalezo zawo, njengokuba nabafazi abaningi namahhashi, imisebenzi yakhe yayingasavumelani nemithandazo yakhe. Ngenxa yalokho, uSolomoni waba yisihlubuki futhi wafa ‘njengesiwula.’—IHubo 14:1; Duteronomi 17:16-20; 1 AmaKhosi 10:26; 11:3, 4, 11.
16. Yimuphi umfanekiso obonisa ukuthi imithandazo yethu yokunqoba ubuthakathaka obungokwenyama kumelwe ihambisane nemisebenzi?
16 Isimiso sokuthi imisebenzi kumelwe ihambisane nemithandazo siyasebenza futhi lapho sicela usizo lukaNkulunkulu ekunqobeni umkhuba othile ojulile, wobugovu. Kanjalo udade oyiphayona wavuma ukuthi wayeluthwe imidlalo yethelevishini ewuchungechunge, eyibukela kusukela ngo-11 ekuseni kuya ku-3:30 ntambama zonke izinsuku. Lapho ezwa enkulumweni yomhlangano wesigodi indlela lezinhlelo ezinokuziphatha okubi eziyingozi ngayo, wayisa indaba kuNkulunkulu ngomthandazo. Kodwa, kwamthatha isikhathi ukuba anqobe lomkhuba. Ngani? Ngoba, njengoba asho: ‘Ngangithandaza ukuze nginqobe lomkhuba kodwa ngizibuke futhi lezinhlelo. Ngakho nganquma ukuhlala enkonzweni yasensimini usuku lonke ukuze ngingabi naso isilingo. Ekugcineni ngafika ephuzwini lapho ngangiyicisha khona iTV ekuseni futhi ngingayidlali usuku lonke.’ Yebo, ngaphezu kokuthandazela ukunqoba ubuthakathaka bakhe, kwadingeka ukuba asebenzele ukubunqoba.
Umthandazo Nokufakaza Kwethu
17-19. (a) Yimaphi amaqiniso abonisa ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bebenza ngokuvumelana nemithandazo yabo? (b) Yisiphi isibonelo sothile esiveza iphuzu elifanayo?
17 Akukho ndawo lapho isimiso sokuthi imithandazo idinga imisebenzi esisebenza khona ngaphezu kwasemsebenzini wokushumayela ngoMbuso. Ngakho, akukhona nje kuphela, ukuthi bonke oFakazi BakaJehova bathandazela ukwanda ezisebenzini zokuvuna kodwa futhi bayazikhandla kulowomsebenzi. Ngenxa yalokho, baye babona ukwanda okukhulu emazweni ngamazwe. Ukuphawula nje isibonelo esisodwa: Ngo-1930 kwakunofakazi kaJehova oyedwa kuphela owayeshumayela eChile. Namuhla, lowoFakazi akabanga nje kuphela yinkulungwane kodwa cishe izi-30 000. (Isaya 60:22) Ingabe lokhu kwakumane kuwumphumela wemithandazo? Cha, umsebenzi nawo wawuhilelekile. Phela, ngo-1986 kuphela oFakazi BakaJehova eChile banikela ngamahora angaphezu kwezi-6 492 000 emsebenzini wokushumayela!
18 Kungokufanayo futhi lapho umsebenzi wokushumayela uvinjelwe. OFakazi abathandazeli nje kuphela ukwanda kodwa futhi basebenza ngomshoshaphansi futhi baqhubeke beshumayela. Ngakho-ke, naphezu kokuphikiswa okungokomthetho kukhona ukwanda kulamazwe. Ngakho, emazweni angama-33 lapho oFakazi BakaJehova behlangabezana nalokho kuphikiswa okungokomthetho, phakathi nonyaka wenkonzo ka-1986 banikela ngamahora angaphezu kwezi-32 600 000 emsebenzini wabo wokushumayela futhi bajabula ngokwanda kwamaphesenti ayi-4,6!
19 Yebo, isimiso sokuthi imithandazo idinga imisebenzi siyasebenza futhi kubantu ngabanye. Singathandaza kuJehova ukuba sithole isifundo seBhayibheli sasekhaya kodwa singenzi konke okusemandleni ethu ukuze sisithole. Lokho kwakungokuhlangenwe nakho kwelinye iphayona. Njengoba lalinesifundo esisodwa kuphela seBhayibheli, lathandazela ukuba nezengeziwe. Ingabe labe seliyeka kanjalo? Cha, kodwa lahlolisisa inkonzo yalo futhi lathola ukuthi ezimpindelweni lalingayivezi indaba yokuba nesifundo seBhayibheli sasekhaya. Ngokuqhubeka lisebenzela kulokhu, ngokushesha laba nezinye izifundo ezimbili zeBhayibheli.
20. Singabekwa kanjani ngamafuphi isimiso sokuthi imithandazo idinga imisebenzi?
20 Kunganikezwa ezinye izibonelo eziningi ezifakazela ukuthi imithandazo idinga imisebenzi. Ngokwesibonelo, kunalezo eziphathelene nobuhlobo bomuntu siqu emkhayeni noma ebandleni. Kodwa izibonelo ezingenhla kumelwe zikwenze kukhanye ngokugcwele ukuthi imithandazo idinga imisebenzi. Lokhu kunengqondo kakhulu, ngoba asinakulindela ukuba uJehova uNkulunkulu acabangele ngomusa izicelo zethu uma simona ngakho kanye ukuziphatha kwethu. Kusobala futhi ukuthi kumelwe senze konke okusemandleni ethu ngokuvumelana nemithandazo yethu uma sizolindela ukuba uJehova asenzele lokho esingenakukwazi ukuzenzela khona. Ngempela, izimiso zikaJehova zihlakaniphile futhi zilungile. Zinengqondo, futhi kungokwenzuzo yethu ukuba senze ngokuvumelana nazo.
Uyakhumbula?
◻ Iyiphi imfuneko ngokuqondene nomthandazo abaningi kwaisrayeli wasendulo abangayinakanga?
◻ Kungani uNkulunkulu engeyena ongaboneleli ngokufuna ukuba sisebenzele futhi sithandazele lokho esikufisayo?
◻ Iziphi izibonelo zasendulo ezibonisa ukuthi izinceku zikaJehova zasebenzela kulokho ezazikuthandazela?
◻ Ukuze uNkulunkulu aphendule imithandazo yethu yokucela umoya wakhe ongcwele nokuhlakanipha, yini okumelwe siyenze?
◻ Isimiso sokuthi imithandazo idinga imisebenzi sisebenza kanjani enkonzweni yethu yasensimini?
[Isithombe ekhasini 17]
UJesu wanxusa abafundi bakhe ukuba bathandazele izisebenzi zokuvuna ezengeziwe. Kodwa futhi wabathuma emsebenzini wokushumayela, noma ‘wokuvuna’
[Isithombe ekhasini 18]
Ingabe uyaluthandazela usizo lokuba ulawule ukubuka kwakho Ithelevishini? Khona-ke sebenzisa isimiso sokuthi imithandazo idinga imisebenzi ngokucisha iTV yakho