1-2. (a) Pawulu wakali kuli chiindi naakalembela maKkristu baku-Efeso lugwalo? (b) Njiili mibuzyo njitutasandule?

 MWAAPOSTOLI Pawulu naakasungidwe kuRoma, wakali kuyanda kusungwaazya bakombinyina. Taakali kukonzya pe kubaswaya, nkinkaako, wakabalembela magwalo. Wakalemba lumwi lugwalo kalembela maKkristu baku-Efeso kuma60 naakuti 61 C.E.—Ef. 1:1; 4:1.

² Kakuli kwayinda minyaka iisika ku10, Pawulu wakali wakkala kwachiindi chilamfu kali mu-Efeso kakambawuka akuyiisya bantu makani mabotu. (Mil. 19:​1, 8-10; 20:​20, 21) Wakali kubayanda loko bakombinyina alubo wakali kuyanda kuti bakkale kabasyomeka kuli Jehova. Pesi nkamboonzi Pawulu naakalembela maKkristu bananikidwe atala amudima amumuni? Alubo niinzi nzitukonzya kwiiya toonse kuzwa kulugwalo ndwaakalemba? Atubone nsandulo zyamibuzyo eeyi.

BAKALI MUDIMA LINO BABA MUMUNI

3. Ngaali mabala ngaakabelesya Pawulu chiindi naakalembela maKkristu baku-Efeso lugwalo?

³ Pawulu wakalembela maKkristu baku-Efeso kuti: “Mwakali mudima pesi lino mwaba mumuni.” (Ef. 5:8) Muvesi eeyi, Pawulu wakabelesya mabala aakuti mudima amumuni kayanda kukozyanisya kuchincha kupati nkubakachita maponeno aabo. Lino atubone kuti nkamboonzi Pawulu naakamba kuti maKkristu baku-Efeso ‘bakali mumudima.’

4. Munzilaanzi bantu baku-Efeso nibakali mumudima muli zyabukombi?

⁴ Bakali mumudima akaambo kakuti bakali mubukombi bwakubeja. MaKkristu baku-Efeso kabatanayiya kasimpe akuba maKkristu, bakali mubukombi bwakubeja alubo bakali kusyoma  zyamasalamusi. Mudolopo lya-Efeso, mwakali tempele lyaleza wachiGrikki Atemisi. Bantu biingi aachiindi eecho bakali kwaamba kuti tempele eelyo lyakayakidwe munzila iigambya kwiinda aamwi mayake. Bantu bakali kwiinka kutempele eelyo bakalinikide mukukomba zibumbwa. Basikubeza bakali kujana mali nyiingi kwiinda mukuuzya zibumbwa zyamutempele azyaleza ooyo wachanakazi Atemisi. (Mil. 19:​23-27) Alubo bantu biingi bamu-Efeso bakali kuchita zyamasalamusi.—Mil. 19:19.

5. Munzilaanzi bantu baku-Efeso nibakali mumudima munkani yakulijata?

⁵ Bakali mumudima akaambo kakutalijata kabotu. Bantu baku-Efeso bakazibikene aampuwo yakuchita bwaamu bwamisyobo yoonse akuchita michito iitondwa. Zintu nzibakali kuchita kabasaana mumabuwa aamudolopo amuzikombelo, chiindi chiingi, zyakali atala akoonana. (Ef. 5:3) Bantu biingi bamu-Efeso ‘teebakachili kutilimuka pe nibabisya,’ nkukwaamba kuti “teebakachili kumvwa kuchisa pe.” (Ef. 4:​17-19) Bantu baku-Efeso kabatanayiya musiyano uuliwo aakati kachibotu achibi, myoyo yabo teeyakali kubapa mulandu pe alubo teebakalikwe ndaba pe kuti Jehova wakali kumvwa biyeni atala azintu nzibakali kuchita. Akaambo katwaambo ootu, Pawulu wakaamba kuti “mizeezo yabo ili mumudima alubo balaanzaanisidwe kubuumi buzwa kuli Leza.”

6. Nkamboonzi Pawulu naakaamba kuti maKkristu baku-Efeso bakali baba “mumuni”?

⁶ Bamwi bantu baku-Efeso teebakakkala kabali mudima pe. Pawulu wakalemba kuti: “Lino mwaba mumuni akaambo kaMwaami.” (Ef. 5:8) Bakatambula kasimpe kali muJwi lyaLeza. Jwi lyaLeza lyakali mbuli mumuni nkaambo lyakali kubazulwida. (Int. 119:105) MaKkristu baku-Efeso bakasiya bukombi bwakubeja alubo bakaleka kuchita misyobo yoonse yabwaamu. ‘Bakatobelezya Leza’ alubo bakabeleka changuzu kuti bakombe Jehova akuti bachite zintu zimubotezya.—Ef. 5:1.

7. Chiimo chesu chikozyenie biyeni achamaKkristu biingi baku-Efeso?

⁷ Munzila iikozyenie, katutanayiya kasimpe, twakali mumudima akaambo kakuti twakali mubukombi bwakubeja alubo twakali mumudima munkani yakulijata. Bamwi besu twakali  kusekelela mapobwe aakulyookezya aachitwa aazikombelo zyakubeja alubo bamwi besu twakali kupona buumi bwakutalijata. Pesi nitwakayiya milawu yaJehova iili atala achibotu achibi, twakachincha maponeno eesu. Twakasaanguna kupona kweendelana amilawu yaJehova iiluleme. Eezi zyakapa kuti tujane zilongezyo zyiingi. (Is. 48:17) Nikuba oobo, lino tulikuswaana buyumu-yumu. Tatweelede kubweeda lubo pe mumudima mutwakabede pesi tweelede ‘kwiinkilila kunembo kweenda mbuli bana bamumuni.’ Nga tulazichita biyeni?

TANTAMUKA MUDIMA

8. Kweendelana alugwalo lwa Ba-efeso 5:​3-5, maKkristu baku-Efeso bakeelede kutantamukaanzi?

⁸ Bala Ba-efeso 5:​3-5. MaKkristu baku-Efeso bakeelede kwiinkilila kunembo kutantamuka zintu zitabotezyi Jehova kuchitila kuti batabweedi lubo pe mumudima munkani yakulijata. Eezi zyakali kuswaanizya kutachita bwaamu bwamisyobo yoonse akwaambuula zitondwa zili atala akoonana. Pawulu wakayeezya maKkristu baku-Efeso kuti bakeelede kutantamuka zintu zyoonse eezi kuchitila kuti ‘bazoojane lukono muBwaami bwaKkristu abwaLeza.’

9. Nkamboonzi nitweelede kuchenjelela kuti tutachiti zintu zipa kuti tuzoochite bwaamu?

⁹ Andiswe tweelede kwiinkilila kunembo kutaliswaanizya “mumilimu yamudima iitakwe michelo.” (Ef. 5:11) Chiindi chiingi, kuti muntu wasaanguna kulanga zintu zitasalali naakuti zili atala akutalijata, kuziswiilizya naakuti kwaambuula atala anzizyo, nkuuba kuti muntu ooyo azichite. (Matl. 3:6; Jak. 1:​14, 15) Kuli iimwi nyika, bakwesu biingi bakaba “beenzinyina” nibakajula grupu kuchitila kuti kabasendelana mameseji. Nibakasaanguna kusendelana mameseji mugrupu eelyo, bakali kwaambuula atala azintu zyabukombi. Pesi mukuya kwachiindi, nzibakali kwaambuula teezyakachili kumubotezya pe Jehova. Bakali baabwaambuula atala ankani yakoonana kupela. Biingi babo bakazoowamba kuti zintu nzibakali kwaambuula zyakazoopa kuti bachite bwaamu.

10. Saatani weezya biyeni kuti atweene? (Ba-efeso 5:6)

¹⁰ Nyika yaSaatani ilikweezya kutweena kuti tusyome kuti zintu nzyaamba Jehova kuti tazisalali pe zilikabotu. (2 Pet. 2:19) Eezi tazyeelede kutugambya pe. Kuzwa chiindi, Saatani ulikweezya kubelesya nzila yakwe yakupa kuti bantu bakachilwe kusiyanisya chibotu achibi. (Is. 5:20; 2 Kor. 4:4) Mamuvi miingi, mapulogilamu aamuTV amawebbusayiti asumpula mizeezo iikazyania aamilawu yaJehova iiluleme. Saatani ulikweezya kutweena kayanda kuti tubonaanga michito amaponeno aatasalali alatambulika, manono mbuli buchi akuti taatweteli mapenzi pe.—Bala Ba-efeso 5:6.

11. Chikozyano cha-Angela chitugwasya biyeni kuti tubelesye malayilile aajanika muli Ba-efeso 5:7? (Langa chifanikisyo.)

¹¹ Saatani uyanda kuti tuliswaanizye aabantu bapa kuti kutuyumine kupona kweendelana amilawu yaJehova. Eezi nzizyo zyakapa kuti Pawulu asungwaazye maKkristu baku-Efeso kuti: “Mutaliswaanizyi aambabo pe,” nkukwaamba aabo bachita zintu zibi mumeso aaLeza. (Ef. 5:7) Kuliswaanizya aabantu aaba takugoleli aakujana chiindi chakubaamwi kupela katubwenene ambabo. Pesi kuswaanizya kwaambuulaabo katubelesya nzila zyakwaambuuzyania zyamazubaano, alubo tweelede kuchenjelela kapati kunzila eeyi nkaambo mazubaano tuli aa-intanenti njibakatalikwaayo pe maKkristu bachiindi baku-Efeso. Angela, a uukkala ku-Asia wakabona kuti nzila zyakwaambuuzyania zyamazubaano zilakonzya  kutweetela mapenzi. Wakaamba kuti: “Nzila zyakwaambuuzyania zyamazubaano zili mbuli kakole, zilakonzya kuchincha mizeezo yesu mbichaani-mbichaani. Ndakali ndasaanguna kumvwanana aabantu bataalemeki pe malayilile aamuBbayibbili. Mukuya kwachiindi, ndakali ndaabuyeeya kuti takwe chibi pe kuti ndapona munzila iitamubotezyi pe Jehova.” Tulabalumba baalu nkaambo bakagwasya Angela kuti achinche maponeno aakwe. Wakazoowamba kuti: “Lino ndaabubikkila maanu kuzintu zyabukombi kuchitila kuti mizeezo yangu ikkale kayisalala.”

12. Niinzi zikonzya kutugwasya kuti tupone kweendelana amilawu yaJehova iili atala achibotu achibi?

¹² Tweelede kubeleka changuzu kuti tugwisye mizeezo yanyika yakuti kutalijata kulatambulika. Iswe tulizi kuti kuchita oobo takuli kabotu pe. (Ef. 4:​19, 20) Kulayandikana kuti tulibuzye kuti: ‘Ndileezya na kuti nditaliswaanizyi aabantu batali kabotu mbindibelekaabo, mbindiiyaabo kuchikolo naakuti bamwi batalemeki milawu yaJehova iiluleme? Ndilatondeezya na kuti ndili aachibindi kuti ndiswiilile milawu yaJehova nikuba kuti bamwi balakonzya kundifubaazya kuti ndachita oobo?’ Mbuli mbukulembedwe muli 2 Timoti 2:​20-22, kulayandikana kuti tuchenjelele bantu mbitusala kumvwananaabo nimuba mumbungano yachiKkristu. Tweelede kuyeeya kuti teeboonse pe bakonzya kutugwasya kuti tukkale katusyomeka kuli Jehova.

AMWEENDE “MBULI BANA BAMUMUNI”

13. Chaambaanzi kwiinkilila kunembo “kweenda mbuli bana bamumuni”? (Ba-efeso 5:​7-9)

¹³ Pawulu wakasungwaazya maKkristu baku-Efeso kuti bayinkilile kunembo kutantamuka mudima alubo bayinkilile kunembo “kweenda mbuli bana bamumuni.” (Bala Ba-efeso 5:​7-9.) Eezi zyaambaanzi? Zyaamba kuti tweelede kulijata mbuli maKkristu bakasimpe chiindi choonse. Imwi nzila iikonzya kutugwasya kuti tuchite oobo, nkukkala katubala Bbayibbili akuyanduulisisya mumabbuku eesu. Alubo kuyandikana loko kuti tuyeeyesesye atala achikozyano chaJesu azintu nzyaakali kuyiisya nkaambo Jesu Kkristu “mumuni wanyika.”—Joh. 8:12; Tus. 6:23.

14. Muuya uusalala utugwasya biyeni?

¹⁴ Tuyanda kugwasigwa aamuuya uusalala  kuchitila kuti twiinkilile kunembo kulijata mbuli “bana bamumuni.” Nkamboonzi? Nkaambo teekuuba pe kuti tukkale katusalala munyika eeyi iili aabantu batalijati. (1 Tes. 4:​3-5, 7, 8) Muuya uusalala ulakonzya kutugwasya kuti tugwisye mizeezo njibalaayo bantu bali munyika kuswaanizya abusongo amaboneno ngibalaawo aakazyania aamaboneno aaLeza. Muuya uusalala ulakonzya kutugwasya kuti tube ‘aamichelo yamumuni iswaanizya zintu zyoonse zibotu, ziluleme azyakasimpe.’—Ef. 5:9.

15. Njiili imwi nzila iikonzya kutugwasya kuti tujane muuya uusalala? (Ba-efeso 5:​19, 20)

¹⁵ Imwi nzila iikonzya kutugwasya kuti tujane muuya uusalala nkukomba kuli Jehova katumukumbila kuti atupe. Jesu wakaamba kuti Jehova ulabapa “muuya uusalala aabo bamukumbila.” (Lk. 11:13) Alubo chiindi nitutembawula Jehova katulaamwi kumiswaangano yachiKkristu, tulawujana muuya uusalala. (Bala Ba-efeso 5:​19, 20.) Muuya uusalala utugwasya kuti tupone munzila iibotezya Leza.

16. Niinzi zikonzya kutugwasya kuti tusale munzila iilikabotu? (Ba-efeso 5:​10, 17)

¹⁶ Kuti kakuli zimwi zintu ziyandikana nzituyanda kusala, tweelede kumvwisisisya kuti “kuyanda kwaJehova niinzi” mpawo tuchite kweendelana ankuko. (Bala Ba-efeso 5:​10, 17.) Kuti twayanduula malayilile aamuBbayibbili aayendelana aachiimo chesu, ngatuli kuyanda kuziba kuti Jehova utyeni atala ankani eeyo. Nkinkaako, kuti twabelesya malayilile aakwe, tulasala kabotu.

17. Nga tulachibelesya biyeni chiindi chesu munzila iilikabotu? (Ba-efeso 5:​15, 16) (Langa chifanikisyo.)

¹⁷ Pawulu wakasungwaazya maKkristu baku-Efeso kuti bachibelesye kabotu chiindi chabo. (Bala Ba-efeso 5:​15, 16.) ‘Mubi,’ nkukwaamba sinkondoma Saatani, uyanda kuti tukkale katujisikini akuyanduula zintu zili munyika kuchitila kuti tubule chiindi chakubelekela Leza. (1 Joh. 5:19) MuKkristu ulakonzya kusaanguna kumaninsya chiindi chiingi kayanduula zintu zyakumubili, lwiiyo lwaajulu naakuti mulimu mpawo kabula chiindi chakuti abelekele  Jehova. Kuti eezi zyachitika, nyika ngayamucha muKkristu ooyo. Nichoonzyo kuti zintu eezi teezibi pe, pesi tazyeelede kuba mubusena bwakusaanguna pe mubuumi bwesu. Kuti tweende “mbuli bana bamumuni,” tweelede ‘kuchibelesya kabotu chiindi chesu’ katubikkila maanu kuzintu ziyandikana.

18. Niinzi nzyaakachita Donald kuti achibelesye kabotu chiindi chakwe?

¹⁸ Yanduula myeenya yakuti uchite zyiingi mumulimu waJehova. Eezi nzizyo zyakachitwa aaDonald uukkala kuSouth Africa. Wakaamba kuti: “Ndakalanga chiimo changu mpawo ndakakombelezya Jehova kuti andigwasye kuti ndichite zyiingi mumulimu wakukambawuka. Ndakakombela kuti ndijane mulimu uundipa chiindi chiingi chakukambawuka. Jehova wakandigwasya kuti ndijane mulimu ngundakali kuyanda. Kuzwa waawo, ime amwanakazi wangu twakasaanguna kubelekela Jehova katuli mumulimu wachiindi choonse.”

19. Niinzi nzitukonzya kuchita kuti twiinkilile kunembo “kweenda mbuli bana bamumuni”?

¹⁹ Kulakonzeka kuti lugwalo ndwaakalemba Pawulu lwakabagwasya loko maKkristu baku-Efeso kuti bakkale kabasyomeka kuli Jehova. Alubo lugwalo oolo lulakonzya kutugwasya andiswe. Mbuli mbutwabona, lulakonzya kutugwasya kuti tusale kabotu muzintu zyakulikondelezya akuti tusale beenzuma balikabotu. Lulakonzya kutugwasya kuti tubale Bbayibbili akuyanduulisisya kuchitila kuti mumuni wakasimpe utuzulwide muzintu zyoonse nzituchita. Alubo lugwalo oolu lutugwasya kubona mbuuyandikana muuya uusalala nkaambo upa kuti tube aabuntu bulikabotu. Kubelesya zintu nzyaakalemba Pawulu kulakonzya kutugwasya kuti tusale zintu zilikabotu zyeendelana aakuyanda kwaJehova. Kuti twachita zintu eezi, tulakonzya kutantamuka mudima wanyika eeyi mpawo tukkale katuli mumumuni.