1, 2. Luluphi ukhetho ekufuneka silwenze kumba wokuzonwabisa?

MASITHI ubuza kutya isiqhamo esimnandi nesivuzis’ izinkcwe, kodwa uphawula ukuba kukho indawana ebolileyo kuso. Yintoni obuya kuyenza? Ubuya kukhetha phakathi kokushwabadela yonke loo nto, kuquka naloo ndawo ibolileyo; okanye unokusifaka emgqomeni sonke eso siqhamo, kuquka naloo ndawo ibolileyo; okanye ke, ususe le ndawo ibolileyo uze utye engabolanga. Ukhetha yiphi wena?

² Ukuzonwabisa kuyafana neso siqhamo. Maxa wambi, uye uthi usabawela ukuzihlaziya, ufumanise ukuba iindlela ezininzi zokuzonwabisa ezikhoyo namhlanje zikhuthaza imilinganiselo engemihle, zibolile. Uza kuthini ke xa kunjalo? Abanye abantu baye bangaboni gxeke kwinto embi baze babimbilize kwanto nje ekukuzonwabisa eziswa leli hlabathi. Abanye bona babukula kwanto ekukuzonwabisa ukuze baqiniseke ukuba abazichanabi kuyo nayiphi na into enokuba yingozi. Ukanti, bakho nabanye abaye bazityhalele bucala iindlela zokuzonwabisa eziyingozi, kodwa bazisebenzise ngamaxesh’ athile ezo zingumdlung’ odlekayo. Luluphi ukhetho ofanele ulwenze ukuze uzigcine useluthandweni lukaThixo?

3. Yintoni esiza kuyixubusha ngoku?

³ Uninzi lwethu beluya kukhetha le ndlela yesithathu. Siyazi ukuba kuyafuneka kona ukuzihlaziya, kodwa ke sifuna ukuzonwabisa ngendlela efanelekileyo. Ngenxa yoko, kufuneka sicinge ngendlela yokukhetha phakathi kweendlela zokuzonwabisa  ezifanelekileyo nezingafanelekanga. Kodwa siza kuqala sithethe ngendlela ukhetho esilwenzayo kumba wokuzonwabisa olunokuluphembelela ngayo unqulo esilunikela kuYehova.

4. Ukuzahlulela kwethu kufanele kuluchaphazele njani ukhetho esilwenzayo ekuzonwabiseni?

⁴ Omnye umakad’ enetha oliNgqina, owabhaptizwa ngowe-1946, wathi: “Bendiye ndiqiniseke ukuba ndibakho qho xa kunikelwa intetho yobhaptizo, kwaye ndiphulaphula kakuhle, ngokungathi ndim obhaptizwayo.” Wayeyenzela ntoni loo nto? Uthi, “Undoqo ekuhlaleni kwam ndithembekile ibikukuyigcina ithe thaa engqondweni yam into yokuba ndizahlulele.” Ngokuqinisekileyo nawe uyavumelana naye. Ukuzikhumbuza ukuba uthembise uYehova ukuba uza kumkhonza kukunceda unyamezele. (Funda iNtshumayeli 5:4.) Phofu, ukucamngca ngokuzahlulela kwakho akuyi kuchaphazela ubulungiseleli bakho kuphela, kodwa kuya kungena nakuzo zonke ezinye iinkalo zobomi—kuquka ukuzonwabisa. Umpostile uPawulos wayibethelela le ngongoma xa wabhalela amaKristu omhla wakhe, esithi: “Enoba niyatya okanye niyasela okanye nenza nantoni na eyenye, zonke izinto zenzeleni uzuko lukaThixo.”—1 Korinte 10:31.

5. ILevitikus 22:18-20 isinceda njani ukuba sibone isilumkiso esifihlakeleyo esikhutshwa yeyabaseRoma 12:1?

 ⁵ Yonke into oyenzayo ebomini inento yokwenza nokunqula uYehova. Kwincwadi awayeyibhalela abaseRoma, uPawulos wasebenzisa amagama aqatha ukuze abethelele le ngongoma kwamanye amakholwa. Wawabongoza esithi: “Niyinikele imizimba yenu ibe yimibingelelo ephilayo, engcwele, eyamkelekileyo kuThixo, inkonzo ke leyo engcwele ngokwamandla enu engqiqo.” (Roma 12:1) Umzimba wakho uquka ingqondo, intliziyo namandla akho. Zonke ezi zinto uyazisebenzisa xa ukhonza uThixo. (Marko 12:30) UPawulos uthi inkonzo enikelwa ngomphefumlo uphela ingumbingelelo. Eli gama linesilumkiso esifihlakeleyo. Phantsi koMthetho kaMoses, umnikelo owawunesiphako wawungamkelwa nguThixo. (Levitikus 22:18-20) Ngendlel’ efanayo ke, xa umKristu enikela umbingelelo wokomoya ongcolileyo ngandlel’ ithile, awamkeleki kuThixo. Kodwa ke inokwenzeka njani loo nto?

6, 7. UmKristu unokuwungcolisa njani umzimba wakhe, yaye unokuba yintoni umphumo?

⁶ UPawulos wabongoza amaKristu aseRoma esithi: “Ningaqhubeki ninikela amalungu enu [“amalungu omzimba wenu,” New International Version] esonweni.” UPawulos waphinda wawaxelela ukuba ‘alubulale uqheliselo lomzimba olusa ekufeni.’ (Roma 6:12-14; 8:13) Ngaphambidlana kule ncwadi yakhe, wayeye wachaza imizekelo yolo “qheliselo lomzimba.” Ngokuphathelele abantu abanesono, sifunda oku: “Umlomo wabo uzele kukuqalekisa.” “[Ngeenyawo zabo] bahamba ngezantya ukuya kuphalaza igazi.” “Akukho koyika Thixo phambi kwamehlo abo.” (Roma 3:13-18) UmKristu ebeya kuwungcolisa umzimba wakhe ukuba ebenokusebenzisa “amalungu” awo ukuze enze izono. Ngokomzekelo, ukuba umKristu wanamhlanje ebenokuthi, ngabom, abukele izinto ezilizothe njengamanyala, okanye abukele ugonyamelo olukhatshwa yinkohlakalo, ‘unikela amehlo akhe esonweni’ ibe ngenxa yoko ungcolisa umzimba wakhe uphela. Nayiphi na into  ayenzayo ngelithi uyanqula, ayingcwele kwaye ayamkeleki kuThixo. (Duteronomi 15:21; 1 Petros 1:14-16; 2 Petros 3:11) Ibiya kuba mbi ngokwenene into yokuba side sibe kuloo meko ngenxa nje yokuzonwabisa ngeendlela ezingafanelekanga!

⁷ Kuyacaca ukuba ukhetho olwenziwa ngumKristu kumba wokuzonwabisa lunokuba nemiphumo ebuhlungu. Ngoko ke, sifuna ukuzonwabisa ngendlela eya kuwuhombisa umbingelelo esiwunikela kuThixo, kunokuba siwungcolise. Ngoku makhe singene kwindlela esinokugqiba ngayo enoba into ifanelekile okanye ayifanelekanga.

8, 9. (a) Ukuzonwabisa kunokwahlulwa kube ziziphi iindidi ezimbini? (b) Luluphi udidi lokuzonwabisa esiluphephayo, yaye ngoba?

⁸ Iindlela zokuzonwabisa zinokwahlulwa zibe ziindidi ezimbini. Zikho iindlela amaKristu aziphepha ngandlela zonke; kwelinye icala kukho iindlela amaKristu asenokuzijonga njengezamkelekileyo okanye angazijongi njengezamkelekileyo. Masiqale ngolu didi lokuqala—iindlela zokuzonwabisa eziphetshwayo ngamaKristu.

⁹ Njengoko sinokubona kwiSahluko soku-1, ezinye iindlela zokuzonwabisa zibalaselisa imikhwa egxekwa ngokuphandle yiBhayibhile. Umzekelo ziiWeb sites nemifanekiso eshukumayo, iinkqubo zikamabonwakude, nomculo okhuthaza inkohlakalo okanye onento yokwenza needemon okanye onamanyala okanye okhuthaza ukuziphatha okubi. Ekubeni ezi ndlela zokuzonwabisa zilihlazo zizenza zithandeke emehlweni izinto eziphikisana nemigaqo yeBhayibhile okanye ezaphula imithetho yeBhayibhile, amaKristu enene afanele aziphephe. (IZenzo 15:28, 29; 1 Korinte 6:9, 10; ISityhilelo 21:8) Xa uziphepha ezo ndlela zokuzonwabisa zingafanelekanga, uyambonisa uYehova ukuba ‘uyakwenyanya okungendawo’ kwaye ngalo lonke ixesha ‘uyasuka kokubi.’ Ngenxa yoko, ‘unokholo olungenaluhanahaniso.’—Roma 12:9; INdumiso 34:14; 1 Timoti 1:5.

10. Yiyiphi indlela yokucinga ngokuzonwabisa eyingozi, yaye ngoba?

 ¹⁰ Kodwa ke abanye basenokuvakalelwa kukuba akuyongozi ukuzonwabisa ngendlela ebonisa ngokuphandle ukuziphatha okubi. Baye bathi, ‘Ndingazibukela ezi zinto kwimifanekiso eshukumayo okanye kumabonwakude, kodwa ke soze ndide ndizenze.’ Ukucinga ngolo hlobo kukuziqab’ intshongo emehlweni kwaye kusibeka engozini. (Funda uYeremiya 17:9.) Xa sisonwatyiswa kukubukela izinto azichasileyo uYehova, ngaba sukube sinyanisile ke xa sisithi ‘siyakwenyanya oko kungendawo’? Ukubabukela kaninzi abantu abenza ububi kuya kuzenza buthuntu iingqondo zethu. (INdumiso 119:70; 1 Timoti 4:1, 2) Loo nto ke iya kuphumela nakwizinto esizenzayo okanye kwindlela esizijonga ngayo izono zabanye abantu.

11. EyabaseGalati 6:7 ingqineke iyinyaniso njani kumba wokuzonwabisa?

¹¹ Ikhe yenzeka le nto. Amanye amaKristu aye aziphatha kakubi kuba eye aphenjelelwa zizinto azibukelayo. Aye ayifunda kabuhlungu into yokuba “loo nto ayihlwayelayo umntu, uya kuvuna kwayona.” (Galati 6:7) Kodwa ke unako ukuyiphepha loo ngozi. Ukuba ukunyamekele ukuhlwayela engqondweni yakho izinto ezicocekileyo, uya kuvuyiswa kukuvuna izinto ezifanelekileyo ebomini bakho.—Bona ibhokisi ethi “ Yiyiphi Indlela Yokuzonwabisa Endifanele Ndiyikhethe?”

12. EyabaseGalati 6:5 ingena njani kumba wokuzonwabisa, yaye luluphi ukhokelo esinokulusebenzisa xa sisenza izigqibo?

¹² Ngoku masingene kudidi lwesibini—ukuzonwabisa okungakhatywa ngokungqalileyo, ngoxa kwangaxeshanye kungavunywa ngokucacileyo liLizwi likaThixo. Xa umKristu ngamnye ekhetha kwiindlela ezinjalo zokuzonwabisa, kufuneka azenzele isigqibo ngento ayibona ifanelekile. (Funda amaGalati 6:5.) Noko ke, lukho ukhokelo esinokulusebenzisa xa kufuneka senze olo khetho. IBhayibhile inemigaqo, okanye  iinyaniso ezisisiseko, ezisenza sikwazi ukuqonda indlela uYehova acinga ngayo. Xa sicinga ngayo le migaqo, sitsho sikwazi ukuqonda “into okuyiyo ukuthanda kukaYehova” kwizinto zonke, kuquka nokhetho esilwenzayo kumba wokuzonwabisa.—Efese 5:17.

13. Yintoni eya kusenza siphephe iindlela zokuzonwabisa ezingamkholisiyo uYehova?

¹³ Iyaqondakala into yokuba amaKristu awaboni ngasonye kwimiba ephathelele ukuziphatha okanye ukuqonda. (Filipi  1:9) Ukongezelela koko, amaKristu ayaqonda ukuba kumba wokuzonwabisa, abantu abathandi izinto ezifanayo. Ngoko ke, asimele silindele ukuba onke amaKristu aza kwenza izigqibo ezifana twatse. Sekunjalo, okukhona sivumela imigaqo kaThixo ukuba iphembelele iingqondo neentliziyo zethu, kokukhona siya kufuna ukuphepha naluphi na uhlobo lokuzonwabisa olungamkholisiyo uYehova.—INdumiso 119:11, 129; 1 Petros 2:16.

14. (a) Yintoni esifanele sicinge ngayo xa sikhetha iindlela zokuzonwabisa? (b) Sinokwenza njani ukuze sibeke izinto zokomoya kwindawo yokuqala ebomini bethu?

¹⁴ Ikho nenye into ebalulekileyo esifanele sicinge ngayo xa sikhetha iindlela zokuzonwabisa: ixesha. Ngoxa izinto ozonwabisa ngazo zityhila oko ukugqala njengokwamkelekileyo, ixesha olichitha uzonwabisa lityhila oko ukujonga njengokubalulekileyo. Eyona nto ibalulekileyo kumaKristu zizinto zokomoya. (Funda uMateyu 6:33.) Yintoni onokuyenza ukuze uqiniseke ukuba izinto zokomoya zihlala ziyeyona nto ibalulekileyo kubomi bakho? Umpostile uPawulos wathi: “Hlalani nikuphaphele ngokungqongqo ukuba indlela enihamba ngayo ingabi njengeyabantu abangezozilumko kodwa ibe njengeyezilumko, nizongele ixesha.” (Efese 5:15, 16) Ngokwenene ukulisikela imida ixesha olichitha ekuzonwabiseni kuya kukunceda ube nexesha ‘lezinto ezibaluleke ngakumbi’—izinto ezikwenza womelele ngokomoya.—Filipi 1:10.

15. Kutheni kububulumko nje ukuzibandeza kunokuba uzifake engozini xa ukhetha indlela yokuzonwabisa?

¹⁵ Kumba wokukhetha iindlela zokuzonwabisa, kubhetele kwaukuzibandeza kunokuba ungene engozini. Sithetha ukuthini xa sisitsho? Makhe siphinde sibuyele kulaa mzekelo wesiqhamo. Ukuze ungaziboni sele uluma nendawo ebolileyo kweso siqhamo, akwaneli kusika nje indawo ebolileyo uze uyilahle, kodwa usika ngaphaya kwayo. Ngendlel’ efanayo ke, xa ukhetha indlela yokuzonwabisa, kubhetele kwaukuzibandeza kunokuba uzibone sele uzonwabisa ngendlela eyingozi. UmKristu olumkileyo akaneli kuphepha nje iindlela zokuzonwabisa  ezingqubana ngokucacileyo nemigaqo yeBhayibhile, kodwa ukwaphepha neendledlana ezingaqondakaliyo okanye ezibonakala ziquka izinto ezinokumenzakalisa ngokomoya. (IMizekeliso 4:25-27) Xa ulilandela ngokunyaniseka icebiso leLizwi likaThixo, uya kukwazi ukuyenza le nto.

16. (a) Sinokubonakala njani ukuba imilinganiselo yokuziphatha siyijonga ngendlela uYehova ayijonga ngayo? (b) Unokwenza njani ukuze ukusebenzisa imigaqo yeBhayibhile kube yindlela ophila ngayo?

¹⁶ Xa amaKristu enyaniso ekhetha iindlela zokuzonwabisa, aqala ngokucinga ngendlela uYehova azijonga ngayo. IBhayibhile iyasichazela indlela uYehova avakalelwa ngayo ngezinto nemilinganiselo ayibekileyo. Ngokomzekelo, uKumkani uSolomon ubala izinto eziliqela azithiyileyo uYehova, izinto ezifana ‘nolwimi oluxokayo, nezandla eziphalaza igazi elimsulwa, intliziyo eyila amacebo enkohlakalo, iinyawo ezikhawulezayo ukubalekela ebubini.’ (IMizekeliso 6:16-19) Indlela uYehova azijonga ngayo izinto ifanele ibe nayiphi impembelelo kwindlela wena ozijonga ngayo? Umdumisi uyasibongoza esithi: “Nina nithanda uYehova, kuthiyeni okubi.” (INdumiso 97:10) Izinto okhetha ukuzonwabisa ngazo kufuneka zibonise ukuba ngokwenene ukuthiyile oko uYehova akuthiyileyo. (Galati 5:19-21) Ukhumbule ke kwakhona ukuba, eyona nto ikupelayo ukuba ungumntu onjani yile uyenza emfihlekweni, hayi izinto ozenza xa ubonwa ngabantu. (INdumiso 11:4; 16:8) Ngenxa yoko, ukuba ukunqwenela  ngentliziyo yakho ukuphila ngemilinganiselo yokuziphatha kaYehova ebomini bakho, uya kusoloko usenza ukhetho oluhambisana nemigaqo yeBhayibhile. Loo nto iya kuba yindlela ophila ngayo.—2 Korinte 3:18.

17. Ngaphambi kokuba sikhethe indlela yokuzonwabisa, yiyiphi imibuzo esifanele sizibuze yona?

¹⁷ Yiyiphi enye into onokuyenza ukuze uqiniseke ukuba wenza ngokuvisisana nendlela uYehova acinga ngayo xa ukhetha indlela yokuzonwabisa? Zibuze lo mbuzo, ‘Le ndlela iza kundichaphazela njani mna, nendlela uThixo andijonga ngayo?’ Ngokomzekelo, ngaphambi kokuba wenze isigqibo ngomfanekiso oshukumayo oza kuwubukela, zibuze, ‘Le nto ndiza kuyibukela kulo mfanekiso ushukumayo iza kusiphatha njani isazela sam?’ Makhe sicinge ngemigaqo esebenzayo kulo mba.

18, 19. (a) Umgaqo ofumaneka kweyabaseFilipi 4:8 unokusinceda njani sibone enoba indlela esizonwabisa ngayo ifanelekile? (b) Yiyiphi eminye imigaqo enokukunceda ukhethe indlela efanelekileyo yokuzonwabisa? (Bona umbhalo osemazantsi.)

¹⁸ Umgaqo obalulekileyo ufumaneka kweyabaseFilipi 4:8, ethi: “Hlalani nicinga ngezinto eziyinyaniso, nezizezenkxalabo enzulu, nezibubulungisa, nezinyulu, nezithandekayo, nekuthethwa kakuhle ngazo, nezinesidima, nezincomekayo.” Ewe uPawulos apha wayengathethi ngokuzonwabisa, wayethetha ngeengcamango zentliziyo, ezifanele zihlale kwizinto ezimkholisayo uThixo. (INdumiso 19:14) Kodwa ke umgaqo okula mazwi kaPawulos unokusetyenziswa kumba wokuzonwabisa. Njani?

¹⁹ Khawuzibuze lo mbuzo, ‘Ngaba ukhetho endilwenzayo kwimifanekiso eshukumayo, kwimidlalo yevidiyo, emculweni okanye kwezinye iintlobo zokuzonwabisa lwenza ingqondo yam izaliswe “zizinto ezinyulu”?’ Ngokomzekelo, emva kokuba ubukele umfanekiso oshukumayo, yiyiphi imifanekiso esala ilawula ingqondo yakho? Ukuba yimifanekiso emihle, enyulu, nehlaziyayo, yazi ukuba indlela obuzonwabisa ngayo ifanelekile. Kodwa ukuba umfanekiso oshukumayo  obuwubukele ukwenza ucinge izinto ezimdaka, loo nto ithetha ukuba ubuzonwabisa ngendlela engafanelekanga neyingozi. (Mateyu 12:33; Marko 7:20-23) Ngoba? Kaloku xa ucinga ngezinto ezingcolileyo luyemka uxolo lwangaphakathi, isazela sakho esiqeqeshwe yiBhayibhile sishiyeka sineziva, kwaye nolwalamano lwakho noThixo lunokonakala. (Efese 5:5; 1 Timoti 1:5, 19) Ekubeni ukuzonwabisa ngaloo ndlela kuya kwenzakalisa wena, zimisele ukukuphepha. * (Roma 12:2) Yenza njengomdumisi owathandaza kuYehova esithi: “Dlulisa amehlo am angaboni oko kungento yanto.”—INdumiso 119:37.

20, 21. Eyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte 10:23, 24 ingena njani kumba wokukhetha indlela yokuzonwabisa?

²⁰ UPawulos wathetha ngomgaqo obalulekileyo weBhayibhile ekufuneka sicinge ngawo xa sisenza izigqibo kwimicimbi yobuqu. Wathi: “Zonke izinto zisemthethweni; kodwa asizizo zonke izinto ezakhayo. Ngamnye makafune, kungekhona ingenelo yakhe, kodwa eyomnye umntu.” (1 Korinte 10:23, 24) Lo mgaqo usebenza njani kumba wokukhetha indlela yokuzonwabisa efanelekileyo? Zibuze lo mbuzo, ‘Baza kuthini abanye abantu xa ndizonwabisa ngale ndlela?’

²¹ Isazela sakho sinako ukukuvumela ukuba uzonwabise ngendlela wena oyijonga ‘njengesemthethweni,’ okanye eyamkelekileyo. Kodwa ke, ukuba uphawula ukuba amanye amakholwa anezazela ezingqongqo ayifumanisa ingafanelekanga, usenokugqiba kwelokuba uyiyeke. Ngoba? Ngenxa yokuba akufuni ‘kona abazalwana bakho’—okanye, ngabula-Pawulos, ‘ukona uKristu’—ngokwenza amanye amakholwa akufumanise kunzima ukuhlala ethembekile kuThixo. Usijonga njengesibalulekileyo esi sibongozo: “Kuphepheni ukuba  zizikhubekiso kumaYuda nakumaGrike nakwibandla likaThixo.” (1 Korinte 8:12; 10:32) AmaKristu enene anamhlanje ayalithobela icebiso elinolwazelelo nelihluzekileyo likaPawulos elithi makakuphephe ukuzonwabisa ngeendlela ezisenokuba zona ‘zisemthethweni’ kodwa ‘ezingakhiyo.’—Roma 14:1; 15:1.

22. Kutheni amaKristu enganyanzeli bonke abantu ukuba babe nembono efana neyawo kwimicimbi yobuqu?

²² Kodwa ke ikho nenye inkalo emele ivelelwe xa kucingelwa abanye abantu. UmKristu onesazela esingqongqo akafanele anyanzelise ukuba wonk’ ubani ebandleni alandele imbono yakhe engqongqo kumba wokuzonwabisa. Ukuba ebenokwenza njalo, ebeya kufana nomqhubi oqhuba imoto kuhola wendlela, onyanzela bonke abanye abaqhubi abakuloo ndlela ukuba baqhube ngesantya esithandwa nguye. Ukunyanzela abantu ngaloo nto bekuya kuntama ukungabi nangqiqo. Uthando analo umKristu onesazela esingqongqo lufanele lumqhubele ekubeni awahlonele amaKristu angaboni ngasonye naye kumba wokuzonwabisa, logama nje engaphuli imigaqo yobuKristu. Xa esenjenjalo, ‘ukuba nengqiqo kwakhe kuyazeka ebantwini bonke.’—Filipi 4:5; INtshumayeli 7:16.

23. Unokuqiniseka njani ukuba ukhetha indlela efanelekileyo yokuzonwabisa?

²³ Ngamafutshane, unokwenza njani ukuze uqiniseke ukuba ukhetha iindlela zokuzonwabisa ezifanelekileyo? Chasa lonke uhlobo lokuzonwabisa olubonisa amanyala agxekwa ngokuphandle liLizwi likaThixo. Xa indlela yokuzonwabisa ingakhankanywa ngokungqalileyo eBhayibhileni, landela umgaqo weBhayibhile. Kuphephe ukuzonwabisa ngendlela eyenzakalisa isazela sakho, kwaye kulungele ukuziyeka iindlela zokuzonwabisa ezinokubakhubekisa abanye abantu, ngokukodwa abazalwana noodade wethu. Ngamana isigqibo osenza ngokuzimisela sokulandela la macebiso singamzukisa uThixo kwaye sigcine wena nentsapho yakho niseluthandweni lwakhe.