1-2. (a) Incwadi yebe-Efesu yatlolwa ngaphasi kwabuphi ubujamo? (b) Sizokucoca ngamiphi imibuzo?

 NAKASIBOTJHWA eRoma, umpostoli uPowula bekafuna ukukhuthaza abantu akholwa nabo. Bekangakghoni ukuya kibo, yeke wabatlolela iincwadi. Watlola enye yazo pheze ngo-60 namkha ngo-61 C.E. ayitlolela be-Efesu.—Efe. 1:1; 4:1.

² Pheze iminyaka elitjhumi ngaphambilini, uPowula bekahlezi isikhatjhana e-Efesu, atjhumayela begodu afundisa iindaba ezimnandi. (IzE. 19:​1, 8-10; 20:​20, 21) Bekabathanda khulu abafowabo begodu afuna bahlale bathembekile kuJehova. Kodwana kubayini atlolela amaKrestu azesiweko ngobumnyama nokukhanya? Ngiziphi iimfundo woke amaKrestu angazifumana kilokho akutlolako? Sizokucoca ngeempendulo zemibuzo le esihlokwenesi.

UKUSUKA EBUMNYAMENI, UKUYA EKUKHANYENI

3. Ngisiphi isifaniso uPowula asisebenzisa encwadini ayitlolela abantu be-Efesu?

³ UPowula watlolela amaKrestu we-Efesu wathi: “Benibumnyama kodwana nje nikukhanya.” (Efe. 5:8) Kilokhu uPowula usebenzisa isifaniso sobumnyama nokukhanya ukuhlathulula ukuhluka amaKrestu we-Efesu ebekangikho. Akhesicoce ngokuthi kubayini uPowula athi abantu be-Efesu ‘bebasebumnyameni.’

4. Abantu be-Efesu bebasebumnyameni ngayiphi indlela?

⁴ Ikolo yamala. Ngaphambi kobana bafunde iqiniso bebabe maKrestu, abantu be-Efesu uPowula abatlolelako bebanekolo yamala begodu bakholelwa emlingweni. Edorobheni le-Efesu  bekunethempeli lakazimukazi wamaGirigi u-Artemisi, abantu bebaqala ithempelelo njengomakhiwo ophuma phambili begodu belibalwa hlangana nezinto ezilikhomba ezihle khulu umuntu ekhewazenza. Abantu bebaya ethempelinelo ukuyokulotjha iinthombe. Iinkghwari bezenza imali enengi ngokwenza nokuthengisa iinthombe zethempeli nabozimu bazo. (IzE. 19:​23-27) Ukungezelela kilokho, idorobheli belaziwa ngokwenza imilingo.—IzE. 19:19.

5. Abantu be-Efesu bebaziphatha kumbi ngayiphi indlela?

⁵ Ukuziphatha kumbi. I-Efesu beyaziwa ngokungabi nemikghwa, abantu bakhona bebaziphatha kumbi khulu begodu bangananhloni ngalokho. Izinto ebezidlala ema-theater namkha eendaweni zekolo kanengi beziveza zomseme. (Efe. 5:3) Abanengi ebebahlala khona bebangasanawo nakancani amazizo ‘wokuziphatha okuhle,’ okutjho ukungasezwa ubuhlungu. (Efe. 4:​17-19) Ngaphambi kokufunda ngeemthethokambiso kaJehova yokulungileko nokungakalungi, unembezabo bewungabatshwenyi nabenza okungakalungi, bebanganandaba nokuthi uJehova uzizwa njani ngezenzo zabo. Kungebangelo uPowula athi ‘basebumnyameni ngokwengqondo begodu bahlukanisiwe nokuphila okuvela kuZimu.’

6. Kubayini uPowula bekathi abantu be-Efesu nje ‘bakukhanya’?

⁶ Abanye abantu be-Efesu akhenge bahlale ebumnyameni. UPowula watlola wathi ‘nje bakukhanya malungana nekosi.’ (Efe. 5:8) Besele baphila ngeliZwi lakaJehova ebelinjengokukhanya okubanqophisako. (Rhu. 119:105) Abantu be-Efeswaba besele balisile ukwenza izinto ezisekelwe ekolweni yamala begodu bebangasaziphathi kumbi. Besele ‘balingisa uZimu,’ benza koke okusemandlenabo bona balotjhe uJehova bebamthabise.—Efe. 5:1.

7. Ubujamo bethu bufana njani nebamaKrestu amanengi we-Efesu?

⁷ Ngendlela efanako, ngaphambi kobana sifunde iqiniso, besisebumnyameni begodu siziphatha kumbi. Abanye bethu besithabela  amaholideyi asekelwe ekolweni yamala, abanye besiziphatha kumbi. Kwathi ngemva kokufunda ngeemthethokambiso kaJehova yokulungileko nokungakalungi, senza amatjhuguluko. Sathoma ukuphila ngokuvumelana neemfuneko zakaJehova zokulunga. Lokho kusenze sazuza khulu. (Isa. 48:17) Sisaragela phambili siqalana neentjhijilo. Kufuze sikhambele kude nobumnyama esibutjhiyileko begodu ‘siragele phambili sikhamba njengabantwana bokukhanya.’ Singakwenza njani lokho?

BALEKELA UBUMNYAMA

8. Ngokomtlolo webe-Efesu 5:​3-5, khuyini abantu be-Efesu ebekufuze bayibalekele?

⁸ Funda kwebe-Efesu 5:​3-5. AmaKrestu we-Efesu nakazakuragela phambili athabisa uJehova bekufuze abalekele ukuziphatha kumbi. Lokho bekungahlanganisi kwaphela ukuziphatha kumbi ngokomseme kodwana nekulumo ebudlhadlha. UPowula wakhuthaza amaKrestu we-Efesu ukuthi kufuze abalekele izintwezi ‘nakazakuzuza ilifa emBusweni kaKrestu noZimu.’

9. Kubayini kufuze sibalekele nanyana yini ehlanganisa ukuziphatha kumbi?

⁹ Nathi kufuze siragele phambili sitjheja bona singazifumani sele senza ‘imisebenzi engatheliko engeyobumnyama.’ (Efe. 5:11) Kuliqiniso ukuthi umuntu nakabukela, alalela namkha akhuluma ngezinto ezingakahlwengeki namkha ukuziphatha kumbi, kungaba lula ukuthi aziphathe kumbi. (Gen. 3:6; Jak. 1:​14, 15) Kwenye inarha abafowethu bebajayele ukuthumelelana imilayezo eenkundleni zokuthintana. Ekuthomeni abanengi babo bebakhuluma ngoJehova nangeqiniso. Kancanikancani, bathoma ukukhuluma ngezinto ezingamthabisiko uJehova. Izinto ebebacoca ngazo khulu bekungezomseme. Abanengi babafowethwaba bathi ikulumo esilapheleko le, ngiyo eyabalingela ekuziphatheni kumbi ngokomseme.

10. USathana ulinga njani ukusikhohlisa? (Efesu 5:6)

¹⁰ Iphasi lakaSathana lilinga ukusikhohlisa ngokuthi lithi lokho uJehova athi kuziphatha kumbi begodu akukahlwengeki sikubone ngasuthi akusikumbi. (2 Pit. 2:19) Akusirari lokho! USathana bekasolo alinga ukuhlangahlanganisa abantu bakaZimu ukuthi bangakghoni ukubona okulungileko nokungakalungi. (Isa. 5:20; 2 Kor. 4:4) Akurari ukubona amamuvi amanengi, imidlalo ye-TV namawebhusayithi akhuthaza izinto ezingakhambisani neemthethokambiso kaJehova! USathana ulinga ukusikhohlisa bona sicabange ukuthi izinto ezimbi nokuziphatha okungakahlwengeki kulungile begodu kuyathabisa.—Funda kwebe-Efesu 5:6.

11. Okwenzeka ku-Angela kuveza njani ukuqakatheka kokulalela iseluleko esifumaneka kwebe-Efesu 5:7? (Qala nesithombe.)

¹¹ USathana ufuna sibe bangani nabantu abakwenza kube budisi ukulalela imithethokambiso kaJehova. Kungebangelo uPowula akhuthaza amaKrestu we-Efesu ukuthi: ‘Angabi bahlanganyeli nalabo,’ abenza okumbi emehlweni kaZimu. (Efe. 5:7) Kufuze sikhumbule nokuthi abangani bethu akusibabantu esiba nesikhathi nabo kwaphela. Bahlanganisa nalabo esibafumana kwezokuthintana namkha ku-inthanethi, okuyingozi abantu be-Efesu yekadeni ebebangakaqalani nayo. U-Angela a ohlala e-Asia, wafumana ukuthi kungaba yingozi kangangani ukusebenzisa iinkundla zokuthintana. Uthi: “Indlela engicabanga ngayo yatjhuguluka kancanikancani. Besele ngingasanandaba ukuthi abangani bami abahloniphi iinkambisolawulo  zeBhayibheli. Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, ngathoma ukucabanga ukuthi kulungile ukuphila ngendlela engathabisi uJehova.” Okuthokozisako kukuthi abadala abanethando bakghona ukusiza u-Angela wenza amatjhuguluko. Uthi: “Nje ngidzimelele khulu endleleni uJehova acabanga ngayo.”

12. Khuyini ezosisiza sinamathele emithethwenikambiso kaJehova yokulungileko nokungakalungi?

¹² Kufuze sibalekele indlela iphasi elicabanga ngayo, ukuthi ukuziphatha kumbi kuyamukeleka. Siyazi ukuthi akukalungi. (Efe. 4:​19, 20) Senza kuhle ngokuzibuza: ‘Kghani ngenza koke okusemandlenami ukuthi ngingazihlanganisi nabantu engifunda nabo esikolweni namkha abanye abangahloniphi imithethokambiso kaJehova elungileko? Inga-kghani ngiba nesibindi, ngibambelele emithethwenikambiso kaJehova ngitjho nanyana abanye bangathi ngiyakhethulula?’ Njengombana kuvezwe emtlolweni wesi-2 kaThimothi 2:20-22, sitlhoga nokuthi sitjheje nasikhetha abantu esitjhidelene nabo ebandleni lobuKrestu. Siyatjheja ukuthi abanye angekhe basisize sihlale sithembekile njengombana silotjha uJehova.

KHAMBANI “NJENGABANTWANA BOKUKHANYA”

13. Kutjho ukuthini ukuragela phambili “sikhamba njengabantwana bokukhanya”? (Efesu 5:​7-9)

¹³ UPowula akhenge akhuthaze amaKrestu we-Efesu ukuthi aragele phambili abalekela ubumnyama kwaphela kodwana wawakhuthaza nokuthi ‘akhambe njengabantwana bokukhanya.’ (Funda kwebe-Efesu 5:​7-9.) Kutjho ukuthini lokho? Ngamezwi alula, kutjho ukuthi kufuze siziphathe njengamaKrestu weqiniso ngaso soke isikhathi. Enye indlela yokwenza lokhu kukhuthalela ukufunda iBhayibheli neencwadi zethu ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini. Kuqakatheke khulu nokutjheja isibonelo nendlela uJesu ebekafundisa ngayo njengombana ‘akukhanya kwephasi.’—Jwa. 8:12; IzA. 6:23.

14. Umoya ocwengileko ungasisiza njani?

¹⁴ Sitlhoga umoya ocwengileko kaZimu ukuthi siragele phambili ‘siziphatha njengabantwana bokukhanya.’ Kubayini? Kungebanga  lokuthi akusilula ukuhlala sihlwengile ephasini eliziphatha kumbeli. (1 Thes. 4:​3-5, 7, 8) Umoya ocwengileko ungakghona ukusisiza sihlule ukucabanga kwephasi kuhlanganise neembonwalo ephikisana nendlela uZimu acabanga ngayo. Umoya ocwengileko ungabuya usisize sikghone ukuveza “yoke imihlobo yobuhle.”—Efe. 5:9.

15. Singawufumana njani umoya ocwengileko? (Efesu 5:​19, 20)

¹⁵ Enye indlela yokufumana umoya ocwengileko kukuthi siwuthandazele. UJesu wathi uJehova ‘uzokunikela umoyakhe ocwengileko labo abambawako.’ (Luk. 11:13) Nasidumisa uJehova ndawonye ebandleni lobuKrestu sifumana umoya ocwengileko. (Funda kwebe-Efesu 5:​19, 20.) Umoya kaZimu ocwengileko uzosisiza siphile ngendlela ethabisa uZimu.

16. Yini engasisiza senze iinqunto ezihlakaniphileko? (Efesu 5:​10, 17)

¹⁶ Nakufuze senze isiqunto esiqakathekileko kufuze sizwisise ukuthi ‘iyini intando kaJehova’ begodu senze ngokuvumelana nayo. (Funda kwebe-Efesu 5:​10, 17.) Nasifumana iinkambisolawulo zeBhayibheli ezikhambisana nobujamo esiqalene nabo, sisuke sifuna indlela uZimu acabanga ngayo ebujamweni esiqalene nabo. Ngemva kwalokho, nasenza ngokuvumelana neenkambisolawulwezo, kungenzeka sithathe isiqunto esihlakaniphileko.

17. Singasisebenzisa njani isikhathi sethu kuhle? (Efesu 5:​15, 16) (Qala nesithombe.)

¹⁷ UPowula wabuye wayelelisa amaKrestu we-Efesu ngokuthi kufuze asebenzise isikhathi sawo kuhle. (Funda kwebe-Efesu 5:​15, 16.) “USathana,” inaba lethu ufuna ukusenza sibe majadu khulu ngezinto zephaseli kangangokuthi singasaba nesikhathi sokulotjha uZimu. (1 Jwa. 5:19) Kuzokuba lula khulu ngomKrestu ukubeka qangi izinto zakanokutjho, ifundo, umsebenzi, kunokusebenzela uJehova. Nange umKrestu enza njalo uzabe atjengisa ukuthi sele athome ukucabanga  njengephaseli. Kuliqiniso ukuthi izintwezi azisizimbi ngokwazo kodwana akukafuzi zize qangi ekuphileni kwethu. Nasizakhamba “njengabantwana bokukhanya,” kufuze ‘sisebenzise kuhle isikhathi,’ sidzimelele ezintweni eziqakatheke khulu.

18. Ngimaphi amagadango u-Donald awathathako ukusebenzisa kuhle isikhathi sakhe?

¹⁸ Funa iindlela ongasebenzela ngazo uJehova khudlwana. Ngilokho u-Donald ohlala eSewula Afrika akwenzileko. Uthi, “Ngaqala ubujamo bami, ngathandaza kuJehova ngambawa bona angisize ngimsebenzele khudlwana. Ngambawa bona angisize ngifumane umsebenzi ozongenza ngikghone ukuba nesikhathi esinengi sokutjhumayela. UJehova wangisiza bona ngikghone ukufumana umsebenzi ongilungeleko. Sinomkami sathoma ukulotjha uJehova isikhathi esizeleko.”

19. Singaragela njani phambili sikhamba “njengabantwana bokukhanya”?

¹⁹ Kufuze bona incwadi uPowula ayitlolela be-Efesu yabasiza ekulotjheni kwabo uJehova. Iseluleko esiphefumulelwekwesi singasisiza nathi. Njengombana sibonile, singasisiza nasikhetha zokuzithabisa namkha abangani. Singasisiza siragele phambili sihlale ekukhanyeni kweqiniso ngokuba nehlelo lokufunda iBhayibheli qobe. Sigandelela ukuqakatheka komoya ocwengileko ongasisiza siveze iimfanelo ezihle. Ukusebenzisa iseluleko salokho uPowula akutlolako kungasisiza senze iinqunto ezihlakaniphileko, ezikhambisana nendlela uJehova acabanga ngayo. Ngokwenza njalo, sizokukghona ukubalekela ubumnyama bephaseli sihlale ekukhanyeni!