1. Abakristaayo basemeriire kukora ki kusobora kuhika ha kumalirra kw’akalitango ak’obwomeezi?

ABAKRISTAAYO baali omu kalitango ak’obwomeezi. Katube tumazire emyaka nyingi tuli omu kalitango kanu rundi nubwo twatandika, itwena tusemeriire kugumizaamu nitwiruka kuhikira kimu ha kumalirra. Obuhabuzi Paulo y’ahaire Abakristaayo omu Firipi nibusobora kutukonyera kwikara nitwiruka kuhika obuturama akalitango kanu. Nambere Abakristaayo omu Firipi batungire ebbaruha y’omukwenda Paulo, abamu baali bamazire emyaka nyingi nibaheereza Yahwe. Nobukiraaba ngu baali bairuki barungi, Paulo akabaijukya kwikara nibagumisiriza. Akaba n’agonza bahondere ekyokurorraho kye eky’okwekamba kuhika ha mpeera.​—Baf. 3:14.

2. Habwaki obuhabuzi Paulo y’ahaire Abafiripi bw’aiziire omu bwire obusemeriire?

² Obuhabuzi Paulo y’ahaire Abafiripi bukaizira omu kasumi akabaali nibabwetaagiramu. Ekitebe kikatunga kuhiganizibwa okw’amaani kuruga obukyatandikire. Omu mwaka gwa 50 C.E. Paulo na Sira bakorobera oburagirizi kuruga hali Yahwe oburukugamba ngu “yambuka oije Makedoni.” Nahabweki bakagenda kutebeza amakuru amarungi omu Firipi. (Eng. 16:9) Obubahikireyo bakatebeza omukazi arukwetwa Ludiya, akahuliiriza kandi Yahwe y’aigura omutima gwe y’aikiriza amakuru amarungi. (Eng. 16:14) Omu kasumi kake omukazi onu akabatizibwa hamu n’ab’omu ka ye boona. Baitu Sitaani akatandikiraho kubatalibaniza. Abamu ha basaija abaikaraga omu rubuga runu bakakwata Paulo hamu na Sira babatwara hali abakuru b’orubuga kandi babahangirra ngu babaire nibaleeta akaimukirro omu rubuga. Ekyarugiremu Paulo na Sira bakabateera, babata omu nkomo kandi hanyuma babasaba kuruga omu rubuga. (Eng. 16:16-40) Ekintu kinu kikabamaramu amaani? Nangwa! Kandi Abakristaayo abakaba bali omu kitebe kinu ekihyaka bakakora ki? Nabo bakagumisiriza. Busaho kugurukyagurukya, ekyokurorraho kya Paulo na Sira kikabakonyera muno.

3. Kiki Paulo eky’akaba amanyire kandi bikaguzo ki ebiturukwija kubazaaho?

 ³ Paulo akaba acweriremu kimu kutajwaha. (2 Kol. 4:16) Baitu akaba akimanyire ngu kusobora kwiruka akalitango ak’obwomeezi kandi akahika hakumalirra, akaba asemeriire kwikaza omutima gwe ha mpeera. Ekyokurorraho kya Paulo nikitwegesa ki? Byokurorraho ki eby’abaheereza ba Yahwe ab’omu kasumi kanu ebirukwoleka ngu nitusobora kugumisiriza n’obuturaaba nituraba omu bizibu biingi? Kandi okunihira kwaitu nikusobora kuta kutukonyera kwikara tutajwahire?

4. Paulo akakora ki kusobora kwikara naheereza Yahwe n’obwaraaba akabaali omu nyikara ey’egumire?

⁴ Tekerezaaho obwekambi Paulo akaba nayoleka omu kasumi nambera yahandiikire ebbaruha ye hali Abafiripi. Akaba ali Roma kandi asibiirwe nk’omunyankomo omu nju. Akaba atakyaine obugabe obw’okugenda kutebeza. Baitu akagumizaamu natebeza abantu ababaga baizire kumubungira kandi yahandiikiraga ebitebe ebiri hara amabbaruha. N’omu kasumi kanu, Abakristaayo baingi abatasobora kuruga omu maka gaabo bakozesa buli kagisa koona kutebeza abo boona abaija omu maka gaabo. Kandi bahandiika amabbaruha nibagasindikira abantu abatutasobora kuhikaho kutebeza.

5. Kusigikirra ha bigambo bya Paulo ebiri omu Abafiripi 3:12-14, kiki ekyamukonyire kwikaza omutima gwe ha mpeera?

⁵ Paulo ataikirize ebibi eby’akaba akozere kara rundi ebirungi eby’akaba akozere kumuhugura akaleka kuheereza Yahwe. Akagamba ngu kwebwa “ebi ebiri enyuma” kikamukonyera kwekamba kutunga “ebi ebiri omu maiso,” kandi kyamusobozesa kuhika ha kumalirra kwa kalitango. (Soma Abafiripi 3:12-14.) Bintu ki ebikaba nisobora kuhugura Paulo? Eky’okubanza ebintu eby’amaani eby’akaba akozere obw’akabali akyali omu diini y’Ekiyudaaya. Baitu ebintu binu akabirora “nkesabu.” (Baf. 3:3-8) Ekyakabiri, n’obwaraaba y’ayehuliire kubi habwokuba akaba ahiganiize Abakristaayo, ataikirize enyehurra enu kumuleetera kuleka kuheereza Yahwe. Ekyakasatu, atatekereze ngu ebirungi eby’akaba akozere omu kuheereza Yahwe byali nibimara rundi ngu takyayetaaga kwekamba. Paulo akaikara nahikiriza kurungi obuheereza bwe n’obukiraaba ngu bakamusiba omu nkomo, bamuteera kibboko, bamuteera amabaale, haroho amaato agayabaga arumu obugacwekaga kandi haroho obuyaburwaga eby’okulya hamu n’engoye. (2 Kol. 11:23-27) N’obwaraaba akaba akozere ebirungi biingi kandi arabire omu bizibu biingi, Paulo akaba akimanyire ngu asemeriire kugumizaamu naheereza Yahwe. Kandi naitwe nikyo tusemeriire kukora.

6. Ebimu ha ‘bintu eby’enyuma’ ebitusemeriire kwebwa nibiha?

⁶ Nitusobora tuta kuhondera ekyokurorraho kya Paulo ‘eky’okwebwa eby’enyuma’? Abamu omuliitwe emitima yaitu n’esobora kuba n’ekyatujunaana habw’ebibi ebitwakozere kara. Obworaaba naiwe nukwo n’oyehurra, nikisobora kukugasira kakuba okora okuseruliriza kandi okesomesa ha kicunguro kya Yesu. Kakuba twesomesaho ekicunguro, tukakyecumitirizaaho, kandi tukasaba, nikiija kutukonyera kuleka kwecwera omusango. Kandi nikiija n’okutukonyera kuleka kwehurra kubi habw’ebibi Yahwe ebiyatuganyire. Ekyokurorraho kye nikitwegesa ekintu ekindi. Nitusobora kuba twalekere emirimo ey’ekaba n’esobora kutuletera kutunga sente nyingi nukwo twayebembeza Obukama. Obukiraaba nukwo kiri, leka kwikara n’otekerezaaho ebintu eby’okaba oine rundi ebiwakubaire oine, nukwo kikukonyere kwebwa eby’enyuma. (Kubar. 11:4-6; Mug. 7:10) Ebintu eby’enyuma nibisobora n’okutwarramu ebintu ebirungi ebitwakozere omu kuheereza Yahwe rundi okulengwa okw’amaani okutwagumisiriize omu busumi obwa kara. Kutekerezaho emigisa Yahwe ei yatuhaire kandi n’omulingo yatusagikiremu kara, nikisobora kutukonyera kwikara haihi nauwe. Baitu titusemeriire kutekereza  ngu ebitwakozere nibimara rundi ngu omulimo gwaitu gukahwa.​—1 Kol. 15:58.

7. Kusigikirra ha 1 Abakolinso 9:24-27, kiki ekitusemeriire kukora kusobora kusinga akalitango ak’obwomeezi? Bazaaho ekyokurorraho.

⁷ Paulo aketegereza kurungi ebigambo bya Yesu ebirukugamba ngu: “Mwekambe [muno].” (Luk. 13:23, 24) Paulo akaba akimanyire ngu asemeriire kwekamba obwomeezi bwe bwona nk’oku Yesu yakozere. Kinu kikamuletera kulegesaniza obwomeezi bwaitu nk’Abakristaayo n’empaka z’okwiruka. (Soma 1 Abakolinso 9:24-27.) Omwiruki obwaba nairuka omu kalitango, omutima gwona agumarra ha kusinga kandi ayetantara ekintu kyona ekisobora kumuhugura. Ekyokurorraho, omu kasumi kanu abairuki haroho obubaraba omu mbuga nambere hali amaduuka rundi ebintu ebindi ebisobora kubahugura. Notekereza haroho omwiruki wena ow’asobora kubanza kwemerra nukwo arole ebintu ebibahanikire omuduuka? Tasobora kukikora kakuba aba nagonza kusinga. Omu kalitango ak’obwomeezi, naitwe tusemeriire kwetantara ebintu ebisobora kutuhugura. Omutima obuturagwikaza ha kigendererwa kyaitu, tukekamba nka Paulo nitwija kusinga kandi tutunge empeera!

8. Bintu ki bisatu ebisobora kutuletera kujwaha ebiturukugenda kubazaaho?

⁸ Leka tubazeeho ebintu bisatu ebisobora kutuleetera kujwaha. Eky’okubanza, ebintu obubirema kuhikirra omu kasumi tubaire nitunihira. Ekyakabiri, obuceke ebuletwa kukura omu myaka, kandi ekyakasatu, kulengwa kumara akasumi akaraihire. Kandi nitwija kurora ebyokurorraho eby’ab’oruganda n’abanyaanya itwe abaasoboire kugumira enyikara ezi.​—Baf. 3:17.

9. Kiki ekisobora kubaho kakuba ebintu bitahikirra omu kasumi tubaire nitunihira?

⁹ Ebintu kakuba birema kuhikirra omu kasumi tubaire nitunihira. Itwena twine ekihika ky’amaani eky’okurora ebintu Yahwe yaraganiize nibihikirra. Nabbi Habakuki obuyayolekere ngu akaba nagonza Yahwe amaleho ebintu ebibi ebikaba nibibaho omu Yuda, Yahwe akamugambira kwikara alindiriire. (Hab. 2:3) Kakuba tutandika kutekereza ngu ebintu ebitwikaire nitunihira tibirukwija kubaho omu kasumi kanu, nikisobora kutuleetera kuleka kwekamba. Nitusobora n’okuhweramu kimu amaani. (Nfu. 13:12) Nk’omu mwaka 1914, ekintu kinu kikabaho Abakristaayo abamu. Omu  mwaka ogu, Abakristaayo baingi abaseserweho amagita baali nibanihira kugenda omu iguru. Baitu ekintu kinu obukyalemere kubaho, Abakristaayo abesigwa bakakora ki?

10. Ow’oruganda omu na mukazi we baketwaza bata ebintu obubyalemere kuhikirra omu kasumi baali nibanihira?

¹⁰ Tekerezaho ebyokurorraho eby’abaheereza ba Yahwe babiri abasigaire bali besigwa n’obubaraaba bahikirweho ekizibu kinu. Ow’oruganda arukwetwa Royal Spatz akabatizibwa omu 1908 obwakaba aine emyaka 20. Akaba nakigumiza kimu ngu akaba alihaihi kugenda omu iguru. Nahabweki omu 1911 akagambira munyaanya itwe oubarukweta Pearl ow’akaba nagonza kuswera ati: “Omanyire ekirukugenda kubaho omu 1914. Obuturaaba nitugenda kutaaha obuswere, tukikole bukyali kara!” Ow’oruganda n’amunyaanya itwe onu bakahwamu amaani obubalemere kugenda omu iguru omu 1914? Nangwa, ekigendererwa kyabo ekikuru kyali ky’okukora Ruhanga eby’agonza hatali kugenda omu iguru. Baali bacweriremu kimu kugumisiriza omu kalitango kanu ak’obwomeezi. Royal na Pearl bakaikara bali bekambi kandi besigwa kuhikya obubafiire hanyuma y’emyaka nyingi kurabaho. Busaho kugurukyagurukya, naiwe olindiriire n’ekihika akasumi Yahwe obwalyeza ibara lye, akooleka ngu nuwe asemeriire kulema kandi akahikiriza byona eby’araganiize. Ikara okimanyire ngu ebintu binu byona nibiija kuhikirra omu kasumi Yahwe akarukugonza. Baitu omu kasumi kanu, leka tugumizeemu nitwekamba omu kuheereza Yahwe, kandi tutahwamu amaani ebintu obubiralema kuhikirra omu kasumi tubaire nitunihira.

11-12. Habwaki nitugamba ngu nikisoboka kwikara nituheereza Yahwe n’obuturaaba tuli baceke? Ha ekyokurorraho.

¹¹ Obuceke obuletwa kukura omu myaka. Abairuki betaaga amaani maingi kusobora kwiruka. Baitu omu kalitango ak’obwomeezi titurukwetaaga amaani ag’omu mubiri kusobora kuguma omu by’omwoyo. Abaheereza ba Yahwe baingi abacekere omu mubiri, nibakora kyona ekibarukusobora kweyongera kuguma omu by’omwoyo. (2 Kol. 4:16) Tekerezaaho ekyokurorraho eky’Ow’oruganda Arthur Secord * ow’akaba aine emyaka 88, akaba amazire emyaka 55 naheereza ha Beseri kandi akaba atakyasobora kurubata. Kiro kimu naasi ow’akaba aizire kumujanjaba obuyahikire ha kitabu kye, akarolerra ow’oruganda onu kandi omu mulingo ogw’embabazi akamugambira ati: “Ow’oruganda Secord, okakora ebintu bingi muno omu kuheereza Yahwe.” Baitu Arthur uwe omutima akaba atagumaliire ha bintu ebiyakozere kara. Akamurora ha maiso, y’aseka kandi yamugarukamu ati: “Ego, ohikire. Baitu ebitwakozere kara tibiri nibyo bikuru baitu ekikuru nukwo kwikara tuli besigwa hali Yahwe.”

¹² Nosobora kuba omazire emyaka nyingi n’oheereza Yahwe baitu hati habw’obuceke bw’omubiri tokyasobora kukora nk’ebiwakoraga kara.  Obukiraaba nukwo kiri, otahwamu amaani. Kigumye ngu Yahwe nasiima habw’ebintu byona ebirungi ebiwakozere. (Baheb. 6:10) Kandi omu kasumi kanu, ikara noijuka ngu ebitukora omu mulimo gwa Yahwe tibiri nibyo byoleka engonzi ezitumwinire. Baitu twoleka ngu nitugonza Yahwe obutwikara twine entekereza ey’ehikire kandi tukakora kyona ekiturukusobora kumuheereza. (Bak. 3:23) Yahwe amanyire obuceke bwaitu kandi tatusaba kukora ebitutarukusobora.​—Mar. 12:43, 44.

13. N’obukiraaba ngu tumazire emyaka nyingi nitugumisiriza okulengwa okw’amaani, ekyokurorraho kya Anatoly na Lidiya nikitwegesa ki?

¹³ Kulengwa kumara akasumi akaraihire. Abamu ha baheereza ba Yahwe bagumisiriize ebizibu biingi hamu n’okuhiganizibwa kumara emyaka nyingi. Ekyokurorraho, Ow’oruganda Anatoly Melnik * akaba aine emyaka 12 nambere ise bamukwatiire bamuta omu nkomo kandi bamutwara omu kicweka kya Siberia, ekikaba kiri mairo ezirukuhingura omu 4,000 (rundi kilomita 7,000) kuruga omu Moldova nambere eka ye ekaba eri. Hakarabaho omwaka gumu, Anatoly, nyina, isenkuru hamu na nyinenkuru nabo babatwara omu Siberia. Hanyuma y’akasumi baali nibasobora kugenda omu nsorrokano ezabaga omu kyaro kindi, baitu bali baine kurubata mairo 20 (rundi kilomita 30) kandi embeho ekaba nyingi habwokuba barabaga omu birika. Kandi hanyuma y’akasumi, Ow’oruganda Melnik bakamusiba kumara emyaka esatu bamwahukaniza hali mukazi we arukweta Lidiya na muhara wabo ow’akaba aine omwaka gumu. N’obukiraaba ngu, Anatoly n’eka ye bakaraba omu bizibu kumara emyaka nyingi, bakaikara nibaheereza Yahwe. Kasumu kanu Anatoly aine emyaka 82 kandi naheereza ha katebe k’itaagi eriri omu Central Asia. Nka Anatoly na Lidiya, naitwe leka twikale nitukora kyona ekiturukusobora kuheereza Yahwe kandi n’okwikara nitugumisiriza.​—Bag. 6:9.

14. Kiki Paulo ekyakaba aine kukora kusobora kutunga empeera?

¹⁴ Paulo akaba nakigumiza kimu ngu akaba nagenda kumalirra akalitango kanu kandi atunge empeera. Nk’oku akaba aseserweho amagita, akaba alindiriire n’ekihika kingi “empera eyokweta kwa Ruhanga okwahaiguru.” Baitu akaba akimanyire ngu kusobora kutunga empeera egi, akaba asemeriire kwikara n’ayekamba muno. (Baf. 3:14) Katubazeeho ekyokurorraho kindi Paulo ekiyakozeseze kukonyera Abafiripi kwikaza omutima ha empeera.

15. Paulo akakozesa ata ekyokurorraho eky’okuba mwikazi kwekambisa Abakristaayo omu Firipi kwikara nibaheereza Yahwe?

¹⁵ Paulo akaijukya Abakristaayo ab’omu Firipi  ngu baali nibagenda kwikara omu iguru. (Baf. 3:20) Habwaki kyali kikuru bamanye ekintu kinu? Omu kasumi ako abantu baingi bagonzaga kufooka baikazi ba Roma habwokuba Abarooma baali baine obugabe bwingi muno. * Baitu Abakristaayo abaali baseserweho amagita baali baikazi ba gavumenti erukukirrayo kimu oburungi kandi ey’ekaba n’egenda kubakorra ebirungi ebirukukiraho. Kuba mwikazi wa gavumenti y’omu iguru kyali nikikirra hara kuba mwikazi wa Roma! Enu niyo ensonga habwaki omukwenda Paulo akekambisa Abafiripi ati: “Okugenda kwanyu kuikale nkokukisemeriire enjiri ya Kristo.” (Baf. 1:27) Ekigambo “okugenda” omu rukarra runu nikimanyisa kwetwaza nk’abaikazi ab’Obukama bwa Ruhanga. N’omu kasumi kanu, Abakristaayo abaseserweho amagita bataireho ekyokurorraho kirungi eky’okwekamba nukwo batunge empeera ey’obwomeezi obutahwaho omu iguru.

16. Tube twine okunihira okw’okutunga obwomeezi obutahwaho omu iguru rundi omu nsi, kiki ekitusemeriire kwikara nitukora kusigikirra ha Abafiripi 4:6, 7?

¹⁶ Katube twine okunihira kw’okutunga obwomeezi obutahwaho omu iguru rundi kwikara omu rugonjo orurungi omu nsi, itwena tusemeriire kwikara nitwekamba kutunga empeera. N’obuturaaba nituraba omu nyikara ya mulingo ki, titusemeriire kwikara nitutekerezaaho ebintu eby’enyuma kandi titusemeriire kwikiriza ekintu kyona kutulemesa kuheereza Yahwe. (Baf. 3:16) Nitusobora kuba tumazire emyaka nyingi tulindiriire emirago ya Yahwe kuhikirra rundi nitweyongera kuceka habw’okukura omu myaka. Nitusobora kuba twagumiire ebizibu biingi hamu n’okuhiganizibwa kumara emyaka nyingi. N’obuharabaho ki, titusemeriire ‘kwetuntura n’akake.’ Baitu leka twikale nitusaba kandi nitwesengereza Yahwe habwokuba naija kutuha obusinge oburukukira okumanya kwona.​—Soma Abafiripi 4:6, 7.

17. Kiki ekiturabazaaho omu kicweka ekirahonderaho?

¹⁷ Nk’oku omwiruki ayekamba obwaba ali haihi kuhika ha kaguha, naitwe omutima gwaitu gwona leka tuguteke ha kutunga empeera ey’obwomeezi. Leka twekambe nk’oku turukusobora kandi tukozese amaani gaitu goona kutunga ebintu ebirungi ebiri omu maiso. Kiki ekiratukonyera kwikara nitugumisiriza? Ekicweka ekirayongeraho nikiija kutukonyera kumanya ebintu ebitusemeriire kwebembeza omu bwomeezi bwaitu.​—Baf. 1:9, 10.