Ukuthola Isihluthulelo Sothando Lomzwelo Lobuzalwane
“Nengezela . . . nasekumesabeni uNkulunkulu [uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane, NW].”—2 PETRU 1:5-7.
1. Yisiphi esinye sezizathu eziyinhloko esenza ukuba imibuthano yabantu bakaJehova ibe yizikhathi ezijabulisa kangaka?
ESIKHATHINI esithile esidlule udokotela owayengeyena omunye woFakazi BakaJehova waba khona ekuthwesweni kwendodakazi yakhe iziqu e-Watch Tower Bible School of Gilead, lapho yayithole khona ukuqeqeshelwa ukuba yisithunywa sevangeli. Wahlatshwa umxhwele kakhulu isixuku esijabulayo kangangokuba wacabanga ukuthi kumelwe ukuba labantu abaguli. Yini eyayenza ukuba lesosixuku sijabule kangaka? Eqinisweni, yini eyenza ukuba yonke imibuthano yabantu bakaJehova, emabandleni, emihlanganweni yesifunda, nasemihlanganweni yesigodi, ibe izikhathi ezijabulisayo? Ingabe akulona uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane abalubonisa komunye nomunye? Ngokungangabazeki, uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane lungesinye isizathu esenza ukuba kuthiwe alikho elinye iqembu lenkolo elithola injabulo nokwaneliseka enkolweni njengoFakazi BakaJehova.
2, 3. Yimaphi amagama amabili esiGreki akhuluma ngemizwelo okufanele sibe nayo ngomunye nomunye, futhi anaziphi izici eziwahlukanisayo?
2 Kufanele silindele ukubona uthando olunjalo ngokwamazwi kamphostoli uPetru akweyoku-1 Petru 1:22: “Senihlambululile imiphefumulo yenu ngokulalela iqiniso, nize [nibe nothando lomzwelo lobuzalwane olungenabuzenzisi], thandanani ngokupheleleyo omunye nomunye ngenhliziyo.” Esinye sezici eziyinhloko zegama lesiGreki lapha elihunyushwe ngokuthi “uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane” yigama elithi phi·liʹa (uthando lomzwelo). Incazelo yalo ihlobene ngokuseduze nencazelo yelithi a·gaʹpe, igama ngokuvamile elihunyushwa ngokuthi “uthando.” (1 Johane 4:8) Nakuba ngokuvamile elithi uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane nelithi uthando lobuzalwane esetshenziswa ngokwenaniselana, anezici ezikhethekile. Akufanele siwadidanise, njengoba abahumushi abaningi beBhayibheli benza. (Kulesisihloko nakwesilandelayo sizochaza ngalinye lalamagama.)
3 Ngokuphathelene nomehluko phakathi kwalamagama amabili esiGreki, esinye isazi saphawula ukuthi elithi phi·liʹa “ngokuqinisekile yigama elisho imfudumalo nokusondelana nothando lomzwelo.” Ngakolunye uhlangothi, elithi a·gaʹpe lihlobene kakhulu nengqondo. Ngakho nakuba sitshelwa ukuba sithande (a·gaʹpe) izitha zethu, asinalo uthando lomzwelo ngazo. Ngani? Ngoba “ukujwayelana nababi konakalisa ukuziphatha okuhle.” (1 Korinte 15:33) Okubonisa ngokwengeziwe ukuthi kunomehluko amazwi kamphostoli uPetru: “Nengezela . . . [othandweni lomzwelo lobuzalwane] uthando.”—2 Petru 1:5-7; qhathanisa noJohane 21:15-17.a
Izibonelo Zothando Lomzwelo Lobuzalwane Olukhetheke Kakhulu
4. Kungani uJesu noJohane babenothando lomzwelo olukhethekile ngomunye nomunye?
4 IZwi likaNkulunkulu lisinikeza izibonelo ezinhle eziningana zothando lomzwelo lobuzalwane olukhetheke kakhulu. Loluthando lomzwelo olukhethekile alubangelwa umcabango odlulayo kodwa lusekelwe ekwaziseni izimfanelo ezivelele. Akungabazeki ukuthi isibonelo esaziwa kakhulu esothando lomzwelo uJesu Kristu ayenalo ngomphostoli uJohane. Ngokuqinisekile, uJesu wayenothando lomzwelo lobuzalwane ngabo bonke abaphostoli bakhe abathembekile, futhi wayenesizathu esihle sokwenza kanjalo. (Luka 22:28) Enye indlela akubonisa ngayo lokhu yayingokugeza izinyawo zabo, ngaleyondlela ebanikeza isifundo ngokuthobeka. (Johane 13:3-16) Kodwa uJesu wayenothando lomzwelo olukhethekile ngoJohane, okuyinto uJohane ayisho ngokuphindaphindiwe. (Johane 13:23; 19:26; 20:2) Ngisho nakuba uJesu ayenesizathu sokubonisa uthando lomzwelo ngabafundi nangabaphostoli bakhe, kungenzeka ukuthi uJohane wanikeza uJesu isizathu sokuba nothando lomzwelo olukhethekile ngaye ngenxa yokwazisa kwakhe okujulile ngoJesu. Lokhu singakubona emibhalweni kaJohane, kokubili eVangelini nasezincwadini zakhe eziphefumlelwe. Yeka indlela akhuluma kaningi ngayo ngothando kuleyomibhalo! Ukwazisa kukaJohane okukhulu ngezimfanelo zikaJesu ezingokomoya kubonakala kulokho akubhala kuJohane izahluko 1 no-13 kuya ku-17, kanye nangokubhekisela kwakhe ngokuphindaphindiwe ekubeni khona kukaJesu kwangaphambi kobuntu.—Johane 1:1-3; 3:13; 6:38, 42, 58; 17:5; 18:37.
5. Yini engashiwo ngothando lomzwelo olukhethekile uPawulu noThimothewu ababenalo ngomunye nomunye?
5 Ngokufanayo, asinakulushaya indiva uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane olukhetheke kakhulu umphostoli uPawulu nomngane wakhe ongumKristu uThimothewu ababenalo ngomunye nomunye, ngokuqinisekile olwalusekelwe ekwaziseni izimfanelo zomunye nomunye. Izincwadi zikaPawulu ziqukethe ukukhulumela okuhle ngoThimothewu, okunjengokuthi: “Anginamuntu onenhliziyo enjengeyakhe, onganakekela izindaba zenu ngobuqotho; . . . Niyakwazi ukuthembeka kwakhe ukuthi ukhonzile kanye nami ngenxa yevangeli njengomntwana kuyise.” (Filipi 2:20-22) Ezincwadini zakhe ezaziya kuThimothewu kunokubhekisela okuningi komuntu siqu okwembula uthando lukaPawulu lomzwelo olufudumele ngoThimothewu. Ngokwesibonelo, phawula kweyoku-1 Thimothewu 6:20: “O Thimothewu, londa kahle okubekiweyo kuwe.” (Bheka futhi kweyoku-1 Thimothewu 4:12-16; 5:23; 2 Thimothewu 1:5; 3:14, 15.) Ukuqhathanisa izincwadi zikaPawulu ezaziya kuThimothewu nencwadi yakhe eyayiya kuThithu kulugcizelela ngokukhethekile uthando lomzwelo olukhethekile lukaPawulu ngalensizwa. Kumelwe ukuba uThimothewu wayezizwa ngendlela efanayo ngobungane babo, njengoba kungase kuphawulwe emazwini kaPawulu akweyesi-2 Thimothewu 1:3, 4: “Ngikukhumbula ngokungaphezi emikhulekweni yami . . . ngilangazelela ukukubona, ngikhumbula izinyembezi zakho, ukuze ngigcwaliswe ngentokozo.”
6, 7. Yimuphi umizwa uDavide noJonathani ababenayo ngomunye nomunye, futhi ngani?
6 ImiBhalo yesiHeberu nayo inikeza futhi izibonelo ezinhle, njengesikaDavide noJonathani. Sifunda ukuthi ngemva kokuba uDavide ebulale uGoliyati, “inhliziyo kaJonathani yanamathela enhliziyweni kaDavide, uJonathani wamthanda njengenhliziyo yakhe.” (1 Samuweli 18:1) Akungabazeki ukuthi ukwazisa ngesibonelo sikaDavide sokushisekela igama likaJehova nokungesabi kwakhe ukuyobhekana nomdondoshiya onguGoliyati kwabangela uJonathani ukuba abe nothando lomzwelo olukhethekile ngoDavide.
7 UJonathani wayenothando olunjalo ngoDavide kangangokuba wafaka ukuphila kwakhe engozini evikela uDavide eNkosini uSawule. Asikho isikhathi lapho uJonathani abonisa khona inzondo ngokukhethwa kukaDavide uJehova ukuba abe yinkosi elandelayo yakwa-Israyeli. (1 Samuweli 23:17) UDavide wayenothando lomzwelo olujule ngokufanayo ngoJonathani, olubonakala kulokho akusho lapho elilela ukufa kukaJonathani: “Ngidabukile ngawe-mfowethu Jonathani; wawumnandi kakhulu kimi; lwaluyisimangaliso kimi uthando lwakho, ludlula uthando lwabesifazane.” Ngempela, ukwazisa okujulile kwaphawula ubuhlobo babo.—2 Samuweli 1:26.
8. Yibaphi abesifazane ababili ababonisana uthando lomzwelo olukhethekile, futhi ngani?
8 Sinesibonelo esihle futhi emiBhalweni yesiHeberu sothando lomzwelo olukhethekile phakathi kwabesifazane ababili, uNawomi nomalokazana wakhe ongumfelokazi uRuthe. Khumbula amazwi kaRuthe kuNawomi: “Ungangincengi ukuba ngikushiye, ngibuye, ngingakulandeli, ngokuba lapho uyakhona, ngiyakuya khona nami, nalapho uhlala khona, ngiyakuhlala khona nami; abantu bakho bayakuba-ngabantu bami, uNkulunkulu wakho abe-nguNkulunkulu wami.” (Ruthe 1:16) Akumelwe yini siphethe ngokuthi uNawomi, ngokuziphatha kwakhe nangokukhuluma kwakhe ngoJehova, wasiza ekwenzeni uRuthe asabele ngokwazisa?—Qhathanisa noLuka 6:40.
Isibonelo Sikamphostoli UPawulu
9. Yini ebonisa ukuthi uPawulu wayeyisibonelo ekuboniseni uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane?
9 Njengoba sesibonile, umphostoli uPawulu wayenothando lomzwelo lobuzalwane olukhetheke kakhulu ngoThimothewu. Kodwa futhi wabeka isibonelo esimangalisayo sokubonisa uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane ngabo bonke abazalwane bakhe. Watshela abadala base-Efesu ukuthi ‘ngeminyaka emithathu ubusuku nemini akayekanga ukubaluleka bonke ngabanye ngezinyembezi.’ Ingabe kwakuwuthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane? Ngokuqinisekile! Futhi bazizwa ngendlela efanayo ngoPawulu. Lapho bezwa ukuthi babengasenakumbona, “bakhala kakhulu bonke, bamgona uPawulu ngentamo, bamanga.” (IzEnzo 20:31, 37) Ingabe kwakuwuthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane olusekelwe ekwaziseni? Yebo! Uthando lwakhe lomzwelo lobuzalwane luyabonakala futhi emazwini akhe akweyesi-2 Korinte 6:11-13: “Umlomo wethu uvulekele ngakini nina-baseKorinte, inhliziyo yethu yanulekile; aninyinyekile kithi, kodwa ninyinyekile [othandweni lwenu lomzwelo olunesisa]; kepha ukuze kube-khona ukwenanana, ngikhuluma njengakubantwana, yanulekani nani.”
10. Yikuphi ukuntuleka kothando lomzwelo lobuzalwane okwaholela uPawulu ukuba alandise ngokuvivinywa kakhe okukweyesi-2 Korinte isahluko 11?
10 Ngokusobala, abaseKorinte babentula uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane olunokwazisa ngomphostoli uPawulu. Ngakho, abanye babo bakhononda: “Izincwadi-ke bathi zinzima, zibukhali, kepha nxa ekhona ngomzimba, ubuthakathaka, ukukhuluma kwakhe kudelelekile.” (2 Korinte 10:10) Yingakho uPawulu abhekisela “kubaphostoli abaqhamileyo” babo futhi washukunyiselwa ukuba akhulume ngokuvivinywa ayekukhuthazelele, njengoba kulotshwe kweyesi-2 Korinte 11:5, 22-33.
11. Yibuphi ubufakazi obukhona ngokuphathelene nothando lomzwelo uPawulu ayenalo ngamaKristu aseThesalonika?
11 Uthando lomzwelo olufudumele lukaPawulu ngalabo ayebakhonza lusobala ngokukhethekile emazwini akhe akweyoku-1 Thesalonika 2:8: “Lokhu [sinothando lomzwelo olunesisa ngani] besinilangazelele‚ sasifuna ukuninika kungesilo ivangeli likaNkulunkulu kuphela kepha nokuphila kwethu uqobo‚ ngokuba nase ningabathandekayo kithina.” Eqinisweni, wayenothando lomzwelo olunjalo ngalabazalwane abasha kangangokuba lapho ayengasenakulinda—ekulangazelela ngempela ukwazi ukuthi babelukhuthazelela kanjani ushushiso—wathumela uThimothewu, owanikeza umbiko omuhle owamqabula kakhulu uPawulu. (1 Thesalonika 3:1, 2, 6, 7) I-Insight on the Scriptures iyaphawula: “Kwakukhona isibopho esiseduze sothando lomzwelo lobuzalwane phakathi kukaPawulu nalabo ayebakhonza.”
Ukwazisa—Isihluthulelo Sothando Lomzwelo Lobuzalwane
12. Yiziphi izizathu esinazo zokubonisa uthando lomzwelo olufudumele kubazalwane bethu?
12 Ngokusobala, isihluthulelo sothando lomzwelo lobuzalwane siwukwazisa. Ingabe zonke izinceku zikaJehova ezizinikezele azinazo yini izimfanelo esizazisayo, ezivusa uthando lwethu lomzwelo, ezisenza ukuba sizithande? Sonke sifuna uMbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe kuqala. Sonke silwisana ngokuzimisela nezitha zethu ezintathu ezivamile: USathane namademoni akhe, izwe elibi elingaphansi kokulawula kukaSathane, nokuthambekela kobugovu okuzuzwe njengefa kwenyama enesono. Akufanele yini ngaso sonke isikhathi sibheke abafowethu njengabenza kahle kakhulu uma sicabangela lezimo? Wonke umuntu emhlabeni ungasohlangothini lukaJehova noma lukaSathane. Abafowethu nodadewethu abazinikezele bangasohlangothini lukaJehova, yebo, ohlangothini lwethu, futhi ngaleyondlela lubafanele uthando lwethu lomzwelo lobuzalwane.
13. Kungani kufanele sibe nothando lomzwelo olufudumele ngabadala?
13 Kuthiwani ngokwazisa abadala bethu? Akufanele yini sibathande ngokukhethekile uma sicabangela indlela abazikhandla ngayo ngenxa yezithakazelo zebandla? Njengathi sonke, kufanele bazinakekele bona nemikhaya yabo. Futhi banezibopho ezifana nezethu sonke zokwenza isifundo somuntu siqu, ukuba khona emihlanganweni yebandla, nokuhlanganyela enkonzweni yasensimini. Ngaphandle kwalokho, banesibopho sokulungiselela izingxenye zesimiso semihlangano, ukunikeza izinkulumo zeningi, nokunakekela izinkinga eziphakamayo ebandleni, ngezinye izikhathi ezihlanganisa amahora amaningi amacala okwahlulela. Ngempela, sifuna ‘ukuphatha amadoda anjalo ngokuwatusa.’—Filipi 2:29.
Ukubonisa Uthando Lomzwelo Lobuzalwane
14. Yimiphi imibhalo esiyala ukuba sibonise uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane?
14 Ukuze sijabulise uJehova, kumelwe sibonise umuzwa ofudumele wothando lomzwelo lobuzalwane kwesikholwa kanye nabo, ngisho nanjengoba kwenza uJesu Kristu noPawulu. Siyafunda: “[Othandweni lomzwelo lobuzalwane] yibani nothando lomzwelo olunesisa ngomunye nomunye.” (Roma 12:10, Kingdom Interlinear) “Maqondana [nothando lomzwelo lobuzalwane], anidingi ukuba sinilobele, ngokuba nina uqobo nifundiswa nguNkulunkulu ukuba nithandane.” (1 Thesalonika 4:9, Int) “Malume njalo uthando lwenu [lomzwelo] lobuzalwane.” (Heberu 13:1, Int) Ngokuqinisekile uBaba wethu wasezulwini uyajabula lapho sibonisa uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane ezinganeni zakhe zasemhlabeni!
15. Yiziphi ezinye izindlela zokubonisa uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane?
15 Ezikhathini zabaphostoli kwakuwumkhuba wamaKristu ukubingelelana “ngokwanga okungcwele” noma “ngokwanga kothando.” (Roma 16:16; 1 Petru 5:14) Ukubonakaliswa kwangempela kothando lomzwelo lobuzalwane! Namuhla, ezingxenyeni eziningi zomhlaba, ukubonakaliswa okufaneleke kakhulu kungaba ukumomotheka kobungane okuqotho nokuxhawulana ngokufudumele. Emazweni akhuluma isiLatin, njengeMexico, kubingelelwana ngendlela yokusingathana, okuwukubonakaliswa kwangempela kothando lomzwelo. Loluthando lomzwelo olufudumele oluboniswa yilabazalwane kungenzeka lungenye yezimbangela zokwanda okukhulu emazweni akubo.
16. Yimaphi amathuba esinawo okubonisa uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane emaHholo ethu oMbuso?
16 Lapho singena eHholo LoMbuso, ingabe siyawenza umzamo okhethekile wokubonisa uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane? Luyosenza ukuba sisho amazwi akhuthazayo, ikakhulukazi kulabo ababonakala becindezelekile. Sitshelwa ukuba ‘sithokozise abadanileyo.’ (1 Thesalonika 5:14) Ngokuqinisekile lena enye indlela esingahlanganyela ngayo imfudumalo yothando lomzwelo lobuzalwane. Enye indlela enhle iwukubonisa ukwazisa ngenkulumo yeningi enhle, ingxenye yesimiso esingathwe kahle, umzamo omuhle owenziwe isikhulumi esiwumfundi eSikoleni SeNkonzo EsingokwaseZulwini, nokunye.
17. Omunye umdala waluzuza kanjani uthando lomzwelo lwebandla?
17 Kuthiwani ngokumemela abantu abahlukahlukene isidlo noma mhlawumbe ukudla okulula emakhaya ethu ngemva komhlangano uma kungakephuzi kakhulu? Akufanele yini sivumele iseluleko sikaJesu kuLuka 14:12-14 ukuba sibuse? Esikhathini esidlule umuntu othile owayeyisithunywa sevangeli wamiswa njengombonisi owengamele ebandleni lapho bonke abanye babengabohlanga oluhlukile. Waqaphela ukuntuleka kothando lomzwelo lobuzalwane, ngakho waqalisa isu lokulungisa lesimo. Kanjani? Njalo ngamaSonto, wamemela imikhaya ehlukahlukene esidlweni. Ngasekupheleni konyaka, yonke yayimbonisa uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane.
18. Singalubonisa kanjani uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane kubafowethu nodadewethu abagulayo?
18 Lapho umzalwane noma udade egula, esekhaya noma esibhedlela, uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane luyosenza ukuba sazise lowomuntu ukuthi siyamkhathalela. Noma kuthiwani ngalabo abahlala ezikhungweni zokunakekelwa kwasebekhulile noma abakhubazekile? Kungani ungabavakasheli ngokomuntu siqu, ubashayele ucingo, noma uthumele ikhadi elibonisa imizwa efudumele?
19, 20. Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi uthando lwethu lomzwelo lobuzalwane lwanulekile?
19 Lapho sibonisa imizwa enjalo yothando lomzwelo lobuzalwane, singazibuza, ‘Ingabe uthando lwami lomzwelo lobuzalwane luyakhetha? Ingabe izici ezinjengebala lesikhumba, imfundo, noma izinto ezibonakalayo ziyakuthonya ukubonakalisa kwami uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane? Ingabe kudingeka nganuleke othandweni lwami lomzwelo lobuzalwane, njengoba umphostoli uPawulu anxusa amaKristu eKorinte ukuba enze kanjalo?’ Uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane luyosenza ukuba sibheke abafowethu ngombono oqondile, sibazise ngenxa yezimfanelo zabo ezinhle. Uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane luyosisiza futhi ukuba sijabulele intuthuko yabazalwane bethu kunokuba sibe nomona ngayo.
20 Uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane kufanele futhi lusenze siphaphamele ukusiza abazalwane bethu enkonzweni. Kufanele kube njengoba enye yezingoma zethu (iNgoma 92) ikubeka:
“Sizani bonke abab’thaka,
Babe nes’bindi sok’khuluma.
Nabancane singabakhohlwa;
Basizwe basuse ukwesaba.”
21. Yikuphi ukusabela esingakulindela lapho sibonisa uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane?
21 Ngakho masingakhohlwa ukuthi ekuboniseni uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane, isimiso uJesu asisho eNtshumayelweni yakhe yaseNtabeni siyasebenza: “Yiphani, khona niyakuphiwa; bayakunipha esifubeni senu isilinganiso esihle, esigxushiweyo, esigqishiweyo, esichichimayo; ngokuba ngesilinganiso enilinganisa ngaso nani niyakulinganiselwa ngaso.” (Luka 6:38) Sizizuzisa ngokwethu lapho sibonisa uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane, sibonisa ukwazisa kulabo abayizinceku zikaJehova njengoba nathi ngokwethu siyizo. Bayajabula ngempela labo abathokoziswa ukubonisa uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane!
[Umbhalo waphansi]
a Bheka isihloko esilandelayo esithi: “Uthando (Agape)—Lokho Olungeyikho Nalokho Oluyikho.”
Ubungaphendula Kanjani?
◻ Yimaphi amagama amabili esiGreki akhuluma ngemizwelo yethu, futhi ahluke kanjani?
◻ Siyini isihluthulelo sothando lomzwelo lobuzalwane?
◻ Yiziphi izibonelo ezingokomBhalo esinazo zothando lomzwelo lobuzalwane olukhethekile?
◻ Kungani kufanele sibe nothando lomzwelo olufudumele ngabafowethu nangabadala?
[Isithombe ekhasini 15]
Umphostoli uPetru wanxusa abafowabo ukuba bengezele uthando lomzwelo lobuzalwane okholweni nakwezinye izimfanelo zabo zobuKristu