Uthembele Kakhulu Kangakanani KuNkulunkulu?
“Ngakho, qhubekani nifuna kuqala umbuso.”—MATHEWU 6:33.
1, 2. Isiphi isinyathelo mayelana nomsebenzi insizwa ethile eyasithatha, futhi ngani?
INSIZWA ethile yayifuna ukusiza ngokwengeziwe ebandleni. Kodwa kwakungenzeki ngoba umsebenzi wayo wokuziphilisa wawenza ingabi khona njalo emihlanganweni yebandla. Yayixazulula kanjani le nkinga? Yenza ukuphila kwayo kwaba lula, yawuyeka lo msebenzi, futhi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi yathola umsebenzi owawungayiphazamisi imisebenzi yayo yobuKristu. Manje ihola imali encane kakhulu kunangaphambili, kodwa isazinakekela izidingo zomkhaya wayo futhi ikwazi kangcono kakhulu ukusekela ibandla.
2 Uyaqonda yini ukuthi kungani le nsizwa yathatha leso sinyathelo? Ucabanga ukuthi wawuyothatha isinyathelo esifanayo ukube wawubhekene nesimo eyayikuso? Kuyatuseka ukuthi amaKristu amaningi aye enza kanjalo, futhi izenzo zawo zibonisa ukuthi ayaqiniseka ngesithembiso sikaJesu: “Ngakho, qhubekani nifuna kuqala umbuso nokulunga kwakhe, khona-ke zonke lezi ezinye izinto niyozenezelelwa.” (Mathewu 6:33) Athembele kuJehova ukuba awalonde kunasezweni esiphila kulo.—IzAga 3:23, 26.
3. Kungani abanye bengase bazibuze ukuthi siyasebenza yini namuhla iseluleko sokubeka uMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuqala?
3 Becabanga ngezikhathi ezinzima esiphila kuzo, abanye bangase bazibuze ukuthi le nsizwa yenza isinqumo esihlakaniphile yini. Namuhla, enye ingxenye yesintu icwile ebuphofwini obukhulu kuyilapho enye inothe ngaphezu kwanoma yinini emlandweni. Abaningi emazweni ampofu bangasebenzisa noma iliphi ithuba elivelayo ukuze bathuthukise ukuphila kwabo. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, abaningi emazweni athe ukuceba babhekene nezingcindezi zokulondoloza izinga labo lokuphila njengoba umnotho untengantenga, izimboni zemisebenzi zishintsha, ngapha kube kunabaqashi abafuna ukuba bazikhandle kakhudlwana. Ngenxa yezingcindezi ezihilelekile ekuziphiliseni, abanye bangase bazibuze, ‘Sisasebenza yini iseluleko sokufuna uMbuso kuqala?’ Ukusiza ekuphenduleni lowo mbuzo, cabangela izilaleli uJesu ayekhuluma nazo.
“Yekani Ukukhathazeka”
4, 5. UJesu wenza muphi umfanekiso ukubonisa ukuthi kunengqondo ngabantu bakaNkulunkulu ukuba bangakhathazeki ngokweqile ngezinkathazo zansuku zonke?
4 UJesu wayeseGalile, ekhuluma nesixuku esikhulu sabantu abavela ezindaweni eziningi. (Mathewu 4:25) Uma babekhona abacebile kuso, babembalwa. Cishe iningi lalimpofu. Noma kunjalo uJesu wabakhuthaza ukuba bangabeki ukuzuza ingcebo yezinto ezibonakalayo kuqala ekuphileni kwabo, kodwa baziqongelelele okuthile okuyinzuzo nakakhulu—ingcebo engokomoya. (Mathewu 6:19-21, 24) Wathi: “Yekani ukukhathazeka ngemiphefumulo yenu ngokuqondene nokuthi niyodlani noma niyophuzani, noma ngemizimba yenu ngokuqondene nokuthi niyogqokani. Umphefumulo awubalulekile yini ngaphezu kokudla, nomzimba ngaphezu kwezembatho?”—Mathewu 6:25.
5 Kwabaningi ababelalele, amazwi kaJesu ayengase ezwakale engeke asebenze. Babazi ukuthi uma bengasebenzi kanzima, imikhaya yabo yayizolamba. Nokho, uJesu wabakhumbuza ngezinyoni. Azibekeleli olwakusasa, nokho usuku nosuku uJehova uyazinakekela. UJesu wabhekisela nasendleleni uJehova anakekela ngayo izimbali zasendle, ubuhle bazo obudlula nobukaSolomoni kuyo yonke inkazimulo yakhe. Uma uJehova enakekela izinyoni nezimbali, uyosinakekela kakhulu kangakanani-ke thina? (Mathewu 6:26-30) Njengoba uJesu asho, ukuphila noma imiphefumulo yethu nemizimba yethu ibaluleke kakhulu ngaphezu kokudla esikuthengayo ukuze siqhubeke siphila nangaphezu kwezembatho esizitholayo ukuze sigqoke. Uma sisebenzisa wonke amandla ekuzondleni nasekuzembathiseni kuphela, kungabi nalutho olutheni esilushiyela ukukhonza uJehova, siphuthelwa yilokho ngempela okuyinjongo yokuphila.—UmShumayeli 12:13.
Umbono Onokulinganisela
6. (a) AmaKristu anamuphi umthwalo wemfanelo? (b) AmaKristu athembelephi ngokuphelele?
6 Yebo, uJesu akazange akhuthaze izilaleli zakhe ukuba ziyeke ukusebenza bese zilindela ukuba uNkulunkulu ngandlela-thile ondle imikhaya yazo. Ngisho nezinyoni kudingeka zikuhlwaye ukudla kwazo nokwamaphuphu azo. Ngakho, amaKristu kwakudingeka asebenze uma efuna ukudla. Kwakudingeka anakekele imithwalo yemfanelo yomkhaya. Izinceku nezigqila ezingamaKristu kwakudingeka zisebenzele amakhosi azo ngenkuthalo. (2 Thesalonika 3:10-12; 1 Thimothewu 5:8; 1 Petru 2:18) Umphostoli uPawulu wayevame ukwenza amatende ukuze aziphilise. (IzEnzo 18:1-4; 1 Thesalonika 2:9) Noma kunjalo, lawo maKristu awazange abheke umsebenzi wokuziphilisa njengomthombo wokulondeka. Ayethembele kuJehova. Ngenxa yalokho, aba nokuthula kwangaphakathi abangakutholi abanye. Umhubi wathi: “Labo abathembela kuJehova banjengeNtaba iZiyoni, engenakuntengantengiswa, kodwa ehlala kuze kube nini nanini.”—IHubo 125:1.
7. Umuntu ongathembele kuJehova ngokuqinile angase abe namuphi umbono?
7 Umuntu ongathembele kuJehova ngokuqinile angase acabange ngokuhlukile. Iningi labantu libheka ingcebo yezinto ezibonakalayo njengesihluthulelo esiyinhloko sokulondeka. Ngakho, abazali baye bakhuthaza izingane zabo ukuba zisebenzise ingxenye enkulu yobusha bazo emfundweni ephakeme, ngethemba lokuthi izozenza zithole imisebenzi eholela kahle. Ngokudabukisayo, ukwenza kanjalo kuye kwayilahlekisela kakhulu eminye imikhaya yamaKristu, njengoba izingane ziye zalahlekelwa umbono wazo ongokomoya zaphendukela ekuphishekeleni imigomo yezinto ezibonakalayo.
8. AmaKristu alondoloza kuphi ukulinganisela?
8 Ngakho, amaKristu ahlakaniphile ayaqaphela ukuthi iseluleko sikaJesu sisasebenza nanamuhla njengoba nje kwakunjalo ekhulwini lokuqala, futhi azama ukulondoloza umbono onokulinganisela. Ngisho nalapho kudingeka asebenze amahora amaningi emsebenzini wokuziphilisa ukuze anakekele imithwalo yawo yemfanelo engokomBhalo, awalokothi avumele ukuthola imali kuwaphuphuthekise angazinaki izinto ezibaluleke kakhulu ezingokomoya.—UmShumayeli 7:12.
“Ningalokothi Nikhathazeke”
9. UJesu wabaqinisekisa kanjani labo abathembela kuJehova ngokugcwele?
9 ENtshumayelweni yakhe yaseNtabeni, uJesu wanxusa izilaleli zakhe: “Ningalokothi nikhathazeke nithi, ‘Sizodlani?’ noma, ‘Sizophuzani?’ noma, ‘Sizogqokani?’ Ngoba konke lokhu kuyizinto izizwe eziziphishekela ngokulangazela. UYihlo wasezulwini uyazi ukuthi niyazidinga zonke lezi zinto.” (Mathewu 6:31, 32) Yeka amazwi akhuthazayo! Uma sithembela ngokugcwele kuJehova, uyohlale esisekela njalo. Nokho, amazwi kaJesu afuna ukuba sicabangisise. Asikhumbuza ukuthi uma siphishekela izinto ezibonakalayo “ngokulangazela,” siyobe sicabanga ngendlela efanayo ‘neyezizwe,’ abantu abangewona amaKristu eqiniso.
10. Lapho insizwa ethile iya kuJesu iyocela iseluleko, wakwembula kanjani ukuthi le nsizwa yayithandani kakhulu?
10 Insizwa ethile ecebe kakhulu yake yabuza uJesu ukuthi kufanele yenzeni ukuze izuze ukuphila okuphakade. UJesu wayikhumbuza ngokwakufunwa uMthetho, owawusasebenza ngaleso sikhathi. Le nsizwa yamqinisekisa: “Ngiyigcinile yonke le; yini engisayintula?” Impendulo kaJesu kungenzeka kwabaningi yezwakala ingeke isebenze. Wathi: “Uma ufuna ukuphelela, hamba uthengise okungokwakho uphe abampofu, khona-ke uyoba nomcebo ezulwini, bese uza ube ngumlandeli wami.” (Mathewu 19:16-21) Le nsizwa yahamba idabukile, kunzima kuyo ukucabanga ngokulahlekelwa umcebo wayo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yayimthanda kangakanani uJehova, yayithanda impahla yayo kakhulu.
11, 12. (a) Imaphi amazwi asangulukisayo uJesu awasho ngokuqondene nomcebo? (b) Izinto umuntu anazo zingaba kanjani umgoqo ekukhonzeni uJehova?
11 Leso senzakalo saholela uJesu ukuba asho okuthile okungalindelekile: “Kuyoba yinto enzima ngesicebi ukungena embusweni wamazulu. . . . Kulula ukuba ikamela lichushe embotsheni yenaliti kunokuba isicebi singene embusweni kaNkulunkulu.” (Mathewu 19:23, 24) Ingabe uJesu wayesho ukuthi akekho umuntu ocebile oyozuza ifa loMbuso? Akunjalo, ngoba waqhubeka wathi: “KuNkulunkulu zonke izinto zingenzeka.” (Mathewu 19:25, 26) Ngempela, ngosizo lukaJehova abanye abantu ababecebile ngaleso sikhathi baba amaKristu agcotshiwe. (1 Thimothewu 6:17) Noma kunjalo, uJesu washo lawo mazwi amangazayo ngesizathu esifanele. Wayenikeza isixwayiso.
12 Uma umuntu enamathela ezintweni zakhe njengoba kwenza leya nsizwa ecebile, zingaba umgoqo omvimbela ukuba akhonze uJehova ngenhliziyo ephelele. Lokhu kungenzeka kumuntu osecebile kakade nakulowo ‘ozimisele ukuceba.’ (1 Thimothewu 6:9, 10) Ukuthembela kakhulu ezintweni ezibonakalayo kungenza umuntu ‘angasiqapheli kangako isidingo sakhe esingokomoya.’ (Mathewu 5:3) Ngenxa yalokho, angase angakuzwa njengabanye ukuthi uyakudinga ukusekelwa uJehova. (Duteronomi 6:10-12) Angase alindele ukuba ibandla limphathe ngendlela ekhethekile. (Jakobe 2:1-4) Futhi angase achithe isikhathi sakhe esiningi ejabulela umcebo wakhe kunokukhonza uJehova.
Hlakulela Umbono Ofanele
13. Imuphi umbono ongafanele abaseLawodikeya ababenawo?
13 Elinye iqembu elalinombono ongafanele ngezinto zalo ezibonakalayo kwakuyibandla lekhulu lokuqala laseLawodikeya. UJesu wathi kulo: “Uthi: ‘Ngicebile, ngiye ngazuza ingcebo futhi akukho engikudingayo,’ kodwa awazi ukuthi ungowosizi, nowokudatshukelwa nokuthi umpofu, uyimpumputhe futhi uhamba-ze.” Akuwona umcebo wabo abaseLawodikeya owabenza baba kuleso simo esidabukisayo ngokomoya. Kunalokho ukwethembela kwabo kuwo kunokuthembela kuJehova. Ngenxa yalokho, babesivivi ngokomoya, sekusondele ukuba ‘bahlanzwe baphume’ emlonyeni kaJesu.—IsAmbulo 3:14-17.
14. Kungani kwakufaneleka ukuba uPawulu awancome amaKristu angamaHebheru?
14 Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uPawulu wawancoma amaKristu angamaHebheru ngesimo asibonisa ngaphambili lapho eshushiswa. Wathi: “Nabonisa uzwela kulabo abasetilongweni futhi nakwamukela ngenjabulo ukuphangwa kwezinto zenu, nazi ukuthi nina ninempahla engcono nehlalayo.” (Hebheru 10:34) Ukulahlekelwa impahla yawo akuzange kuwaqede amandla lawo maKristu. Alondoloza injabulo yawo ngoba ayesenayo impahla yawo eyigugu kakhulu, ‘impahla yawo engcono nehlalayo.’ Njengomthengisi womzekeliso kaJesu owadela konke ukuze azuze iparele elilodwa lenani eliphakeme, ayezimisele ukuba angayekethisi ekubambeleleni kwawo ethembeni loMbuso, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwenzekani. (Mathewu 13:45, 46) Yeka isimo sengqondo esihle!
15. Owesifazane othile ongumKristu eLiberia wazibeka kanjani izithakazelo zoMbuso kuqala?
15 Abaningi namuhla baye bahlakulela isimo sengqondo esihle esifanayo. Ngokwesibonelo, eLiberia, intokazi engumKristu yanikezwa ithuba lokuyofunda eyunivesithi. Abaningi kulelo zwe babheka ithuba elinjalo njengendlela yokuzakhela ikusasa elilondekile. Nokho, yayiyiphayona, umshumayeli wesikhathi esigcwele, futhi yayithole isimemo sokuyokhonza njengephayona elikhethekile lesikhashana. Yakhetha ukufuna uMbuso kuqala yangayiyeka inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. Yaya esabelweni sayo futhi yaqala izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-21 ngezinyanga ezintathu. Lo dade osemncane nabanye abayizinkulungwane abanjengaye bafuna kuqala uMbuso, ngisho noma lokho kusho ukulahlekelwa amathuba okuceba ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo. Basilondoloza kanjani isimo sengqondo esinjalo kuleli zwe elithanda izinto ezibonakalayo? Baye bahlakulela izimfanelo ezinhle eziningana. Ake sixoxe ngezinye zazo.
16, 17. (a) Kungani kubalulekile ukuba nesizotha ukuze sithembele kuJehova? (b) Kungani kufanele sakhe ukuqiniseka ngezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu?
16 Isizotha: IBhayibheli lithi: “Thembela kuJehova ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho, ungenciki kokwakho ukuqonda. Mqaphele kuzo zonke izindlela zakho, yena uyokwenza izindlela zakho ziqonde. Ungabi ohlakaniphile emehlweni akho.” (IzAga 3:5-7) Ngezinye izikhathi, kungase kubonakale kunengqondo ukulandela inkambo ethile ngokombono wezwe. (Jeremiya 17:9) Noma kunjalo, umKristu oqotho ubheka kuJehova ukuze amqondise. (IHubo 48:14) ‘Kuzo zonke izindlela zakhe’—ezindabeni zebandla, imfundo noma umsebenzi wokuziphilisa, ukuzijabulisa, noma kuziphi ezinye—ngesizotha ufuna iseluleko sikaJehova.—IHubo 73:24.
17 Ukuqiniseka ngezithembiso zikaJehova: UPawulu wathi: “Lowo oza kuNkulunkulu kumelwe akholelwe ukuthi ukhona nokuthi uba umvuzi walabo abamfuna ngobuqotho.” (Hebheru 11:6) Uma sikungabaza ukuthi uJehova uyozigcwalisa izithembiso zakhe, kungase kubonakale kunengqondo kithi ‘ukusebenzisa leli zwe ngokugcwele.’ (1 Korinte 7:31) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, uma ukholo lwethu luqinile, siyozimisela ukufuna uMbuso kuqala. Lungahlakulelwa kanjani ukholo oluqinile? Ngokusondela njalo kuJehova ngomthandazo osuka enhliziyweni nangesifundo somuntu siqu sasikhathi sonke. (IHubo 1:1-3; Filipi 4:6, 7; Jakobe 4:8) NjengeNkosi uDavide, singathandaza: “Ngibeké ithemba lami kuwe, Jehova. Ngithé: ‘Wena unguNkulunkulu wami.’ Yeka ukuthi buchichima kangakanani ubuhle bakho!”—IHubo 31:14, 19.
18, 19. (a) Inkuthalo ikuqinisa kanjani ukuthembela kwethu kuJehova? (b) Kungani umKristu kufanele azimisele ukuzidela?
18 Inkuthalo enkonzweni kaJehova: UPawulu wahlanganisa ukuqiniseka ngezithembiso zikaJehova nenkuthalo lapho ebhala: “Sifisa ukuba yilowo nalowo kini abonise inkuthalo efanayo ukuze abe nesiqinisekiso esigcwele sethemba kuze kube sekupheleni.” (Hebheru 6:11) Uma simatasa enkonzweni kaJehova, uyosisekela. Isikhathi ngasinye lapho sithola lokho kusekelwa, ukuthembela kwethu kuye kuyaqina, sibe “ngabagxilile, abangenakunyakaziswa.” (1 Korinte 15:58) Ukholo lwethu luyavuselelwa, nethemba lethu liqinisekiswe.—Efesu 3:16-19.
19 Ukuzimisela ukuzidela: UPawulu wadela umsebenzi wokuziphilisa owawunamathuba amahle ukuze alandele uJesu. Ngokusobala wakhetha kahle, nakuba ngezinye izikhathi kwakungamhambeli kahle ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo. (1 Korinte 4:11-13) UJehova akathembisi ukuphila okuntofontofo, futhi ngezinye izikhathi izikhonzi zakhe zikhuthazelela ubunzima. Ukuzimisela ukwenza ukuphila kwethu kube lula futhi sizidele kubonisa ukuqina kokuzimisela kwethu ukukhonza uJehova.—1 Thimothewu 6:6-8.
20. Kungani ukubekezela kubalulekile kumuntu obeka izithakazelo zoMbuso kuqala?
20 Ukubekezela: Umfundi uJakobe wanxusa amaKristu ayekanye nawo: “Ngakho-ke, bazalwane, bekezelani kuze kube ukuba khona kweNkosi.” (Jakobe 5:7) Kuleli zwe elisheshayo, kunzima ukubekezela. Sifuna izinto zenzeke masinyane. Kodwa uPawulu usinxusa ukuba silingise labo okuthi “ngokholo nangokubekezela bazuze izithembiso njengefa.” (Hebheru 6:12) Zimisele ukulindela uJehova. Ukuphila okuphakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi—ngempela kuyinto ekufanelekele ukulindelwa!
21. (a) Yini esiyibonisayo lapho sibeka izithakazelo zoMbuso kuqala? (b) Kuzoxoxwa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?
21 Yebo, iseluleko sikaJesu sokufuna uMbuso kuqala siyasebenza. Uma siwufuna kuqala, sibonisa ukuthi sithembele ngempela kuJehova futhi sikhetha okuwukuphela kwendlela ephephile umKristu angaphila ngayo. Nokho, uJesu wabuye waseluleka ukuba siqhubeke ‘sifuna kuqala nokulunga kukaNkulunkulu.’ Esihlokweni esilandelayo, sizobona ukuthi kungani leso sikhuthazo sidingeka ngokukhethekile namuhla.
Ungachaza?
• Ngokuphathelene nezinto ezibonakalayo, uJesu wasikhuthaza ukuba sibe nakuphi ukulinganisela?
• Sifundani emfanekisweni kaJesu wekamela nembobo yenaliti?
• Iziphi izimfanelo zobuKristu ezisisiza ukuba sifune uMbuso kaNkulunkulu kuqala?
[Isithombe ekhasini 21]
Abaningi abezwa amazwi kaJesu babempofu
[Isithombe ekhasini 23]
Insizwa ecebile yayithanda kakhulu izinto zayo kunokuthanda uNkulunkulu
[Isithombe ekhasini 23]
Umthengisi womzekeliso kaJesu wadela konke ukuze athole iparele elilodwa lenani eliphakeme
[Isithombe ekhasini 24]
Uma simatasa enkonzweni kaJehova, uyosisekela