Nezelani Ukuzinikela Kokuhlonipha UNkulunkulu Ekukhuthazeleni Kwenu

“Nezelani okholweni lwenu . . . ukukhuthazela, ekukhuthazeleni kwenu ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu.”—2 PETRU 1:5, 6.

1, 2. (a) Luhlobo luni lokukhula olulindeleke enganeni? (b) Kubaluleke kangakanani ukukhula ngokomoya?

UKUKHULA kubalulekile enganeni, kodwa kuyafiseleka ukuba ingagcini nje ngokukhula ngomzimba. Kulindeleke ukuba ikhule ngengqondo nangokomzwelo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, le ngane iyobuyeka ubuntwana, ikhule ibe yindoda noma owesifazane okhule ngokugcwele. Umphostoli uPawulu wakhuluma ngalokhu lapho ebhala: “Ngesikhathi ngiseyingane, ngangikhuluma njengengane, ngicabanga njengengane, ngisebenzisa ingqondo njengengane; kodwa njengoba sengiyindoda, sengiziyekile izici zengane.”—1 Korinte 13:11.

² Amazwi kaPawulu aveza iphuzu elibalulekile ngokukhula okungokomoya. AmaKristu kudingeka akhule, ayeke ukuba izingane ngokomoya abe “akhule ngokugcwele emandleni okuqonda.” (1 Korinte 14:20) Kufanele azikhandle azame ukufinyelela “esilinganisweni sobukhulu esingesokugcwala kukaKristu.” Uma esenjalo ngeke abe ‘izingane ejikijeleka ngapha nangapha sengathi ajikijelwa amagagasi futhi eyiswa lé nalé yiyo yonke imimoya yemfundiso.’—Efesu 4:13, 14.

3, 4. (a) Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze sibe abakhule ngokugcwele ngokomoya? (b) Yiziphi izimfanelo zokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu okufanele sizibonakalise, futhi zibaluleke kangakanani?

³ Singaba kanjani abakhule ngokugcwele ngokomoya? Nakuba ukukhula ngokomzimba kuzenzakalela ezimweni ezivamile, ukukhula ngokomoya kudinga umzamo oqondile. Kuqala ngokungenisa ulwazi olunembile lweZwi likaNkulunkulu bese senza ngokuvumelana nalokho esikufundayo. (Heberu 5:14; 2 Petru 1:3) Lokhu kube sekusenza sikwazi ukubonisa izimfanelo zokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. Njengoba kunjalo ngokukhula okungokomzimba nezici ezihlobene nakho, ukukhula ezimfanelweni ezihlukahlukene zokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kwenzeka kanyekanye. Umphostoli uPetru wabhala: “Ngokusabela kwenu ngokunikela ngawo wonke umzamo wenkuthalo, nezelani okholweni lwenu ubuhle, ebuhleni benu ulwazi, olwazini lwenu ukuzithiba, ekuzithibeni kwenu ukukhuthazela, ekukhuthazeleni kwenu ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, ekuzinikeleni kwenu kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu ukusondelana kobuzalwane, ekusondelaneni kwenu kobuzalwane uthando.”—2 Petru 1:5-7.

⁴ Imfanelo ngayinye uPetru ayibalayo ibalulekile, futhi ayikho engashiywa. Uyanezela: “Uma lezizinto zikhona kini futhi zichichima, ziyonivimbela ningabi abangasebenzi noma abangatheli ngokuqondene nolwazi olunembile ngeNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.” (2 Petru 1:8) Ake sixoxe ngesidingo sokwenezela ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu ekukhuthazeleni kwethu.

Isidingo Sokukhuthazela

5. Kungani sidinga ukukhuthazela?

⁵ Bobabili uPetru noPawulu bahlobanisa ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu nokukhuthazela. (1 Thimothewu 6:11) Ukukhuthazela kusho okungaphezu kokuqinisela ebunzimeni nokuhlala sizimisele. Kuhilela ukubekezela, isibindi nokugxila, singaphelelwa yithemba lapho sibhekene novivinyo, izingqinamba, izilingo noma ushushiso. Njengoba siphila “ngokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu ebuhlotsheni noKristu Jesu,” sikulindele ukuba sishushiswe. (2 Thimothewu 3:12) Kumelwe sikhuthazele ukuze sibonise ukuthi siyamthanda uJehova futhi sihlakulele izimfanelo ezidingekayo ukuze sisindiswe. (Roma 5:3-5; 2 Thimothewu 4:7, 8; Jakobe 1:3, 4, 12) Ngaphandle  kokukhuthazela, ngeke sikuthole ukuphila okuphakade.—Roma 2:6, 7; Heberu 10:36.

6. Ukukhuthazela kuze kube sekupheleni kusho ukwenzani?

⁶ Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi siqala kahle kanjani, okubaluleke kakhulu ukuba sikhuthazele. UJesu wathi: “Lowo oye wakhuthazela kwaze kwaba sekupheleni nguye oyosindiswa.” (Mathewu 24:13) Yebo, kumelwe sikhuthazele kuze kube sekupheleni, kungaba ukuphela kokuphila kwethu kwamanje noma ukuphela kwalesi simiso esibi sezinto. Kunoma yikuphi, kumelwe silondoloze ubuqotho bethu kuNkulunkulu. Nokho, uma singanezeli ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu ekukhuthazeleni kwethu, asinakumjabulisa uJehova futhi ngeke sikuthole ukuphila okuphakade. Kodwa kuyini ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu?

Lokho Okushiwo Ukuzinikela Kokuhlonipha UNkulunkulu

7. Kuyini ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, futhi kusishukumisela ukuba senzeni?

⁷ Ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kuwukuhlonipha, ukukhulekela nokukhonza uJehova uNkulunkulu ngenxa yokwethembeka ebukhosini bakhe bendawo yonke. Ukuze sikubonise ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, kudingeka simazi ngokunembile yena nezindlela zakhe. Kufanele sifune ukumazi kahle uNkulunkulu, ngokuseduze. Lokhu kuyosishukumisela ukuba sisondelane naye ngokusuka enhliziyweni, kubonakale ngezenzo zethu nangendlela esiphila ngayo. Kufanele sifise ukuba njengoJehova ngangokunokwenzeka—ukulingisa izindlela zakhe nokubonisa izimfanelo nobuntu bakhe. (Efesu 5:1) Yebo, ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kusishukumisela ukuba sifune ukujabulisa uNkulunkulu kukho konke esikwenzayo.—1 Korinte 10:31.

8. Ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kuhambisana kanjani nokuzinikela kuNkulunkulu yedwa?

⁸ Ukuze sibonise ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, kumelwe sikhulekele uJehova yedwa, singavumeli lutho olunye ukuba luthathe indawo yakhe ezinhliziyweni zethu. NjengoMdali wethu, unelungelo lokuba sizinikele kuye yedwa. (Duteronomi 4:24; Isaya 42:8) Nokho, uJehova akasiphoqi ukuba simkhulekele. Ufisa ukuba sizinikele kuye ngokuzithandela. Uthando lwethu ngoNkulunkulu, olusekelwe olwazini olunembile ngaye, lusishukumisela ukuba sihlanze izindlela zethu futhi sizinikezele kuye ngokungazigodli bese siphila ngokuvumelana nalokho kuzinikezela.

Yakha Ubuhlobo NoNkulunkulu

9, 10. Singabakha futhi sibulondoloze kanjani ubuhlobo obuseduze noNkulunkulu?

⁹ Ngemva kokubonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwethu kuNkulunkulu ngokubhapathizwa, kusadingeka sakhe ubuhlobo bomuntu siqu obuseduze nakakhulu naye. Ngakho-ke, isifiso sethu sokwenza lokhu nokukhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka sisishukumisela ukuba siqhubeke sitadisha iZwi lakhe futhi sizindla ngalo. Njengoba sivumela umoya kaNkulunkulu ukuba uthonye izingqondo nezinhliziyo zethu, uthando lwethu ngoJehova lujula nakakhulu. Ubuhlobo bethu naye buyaqhubeka buyinto ebaluleke kunazo zonke ekuphileni kwethu. UJehova simbheka njengoMngane wethu omkhulu futhi sifuna ukumjabulisa ngazo zonke izikhathi. (1 Johane 5:3) Ubuhlobo bethu obuhle noNkulunkulu sibujabulela nakakhulu, futhi siyabonga ngokuthi usifundisa ngothando asilungise lapho kudingeka khona.—Duteronomi 8:5.

¹⁰ Ngaphandle kokuba siqhubeke sithatha izinyathelo zokubuqinisa, ubuhlobo bethu obuyigugu noJehova bungaba buthaka. Uma lokho kungase kwenzeke, kuyobe kungelona iphutha likaNkulunkulu, ngoba ‘akakude kulowo nalowo kithi.’ (IzEnzo 17:27) Asive sijabula ngokuthi uJehova akakwenzi kube nzima ukusondela kuye! (1 Johane 5:14, 15) Yiqiniso, kumelwe sizikhandle ukuze silondoloze ubuhlobo obuseduze noJehova. Kodwa uyasisiza ukuba sisondele kuye ngokusenzela amalungiselelo esiwadingayo ukuze sihlakulele futhi silondoloze ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. (Jakobe 4:8) Singawasebenzisa kanjani ngokugcwele wonke la malungiselelo othando?

Hlala Uqinile Ngokomoya

11. Yiziphi ezinye zezindlela zokubonisa ukuzinikela kwethu kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu?

¹¹ Uthando lwethu olujulile ngoNkulunkulu luyosishukumisela ukuba sibonakalise ukujula kokuzinikela kwethu kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu ngokuvumelana neseluleko sikaPawulu: “Yenza  konke okusemandleni akho ukuba uzethule wamukeleka kuNkulunkulu, isisebenzi okungekho lutho esingaba namahloni ngakho, esiphatha izwi leqiniso ngokufanele.” (2 Thimothewu 2:15) Ukwenza lokhu kudinga ukuba sinamathele esimisweni esihle sokutadisha iBhayibheli njalo, ukuba khona emihlanganweni nokuhlanganyela enkonzweni yasensimini. Futhi singasondela kuJehova ‘ngokuthandaza singaphezi.’ (1 Thesalonika 5:17) Lezi yizindlela ezinengqondo zokubonisa ukuzinikela kwethu kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. Ukudebeselela noma iyiphi kuzo kungasenza sigule ngokomoya futhi sichayeke emacebweni kaSathane.—1 Petru 5:8.

12. Singabhekana kanjani ngokuphumelelayo nezilingo?

¹² Ukuzigcina siqinile ngokomoya futhi simatasa kusisiza nokuba sibhekane nokulingwa okuningi esihlangabezana nakho. Ukulingwa kungasivivinya kakhulu. Ukunganakwa, ukuphikiswa nokushushiswa kungaba nzima ukukubekezelela lapho kuvela emalungwini omkhaya, izihlobo noma omakhelwane. Izingcindezi ezinyenyayo ezifuna siyekethise ezimisweni zobuKristu zingaqhamuka emsebenzini wokuziphilisa noma esikoleni. Ukudumazeka, ukugula nokucindezeleka kungasenza buthaka ngokomzimba, kukwenze kube nzima nakakhulu ukubhekana novivinyo lokholo. Kodwa singabhekana ngokuphumelelayo nazo zonke izilingo uma siphikelela ‘ezenzweni zokuziphatha ezingcwele nasezenzweni zokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, silindele futhi sikugcine kuseduze engqondweni ukuba khona kosuku lukaJehova.’ (2 Petru 3:11, 12) Futhi lapho senza kanjalo singayilondoloza injabulo yethu, siqiniseka ngesibusiso sikaNkulunkulu.—IzAga 10:22.

13. Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze siqhubeke sibonisa ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu?

¹³ Nakuba uSathane ehlasela labo ababonisa ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, akudingeki sesabe. Ngani? Ngenxa yokuthi “uJehova uyayazi indlela yokukhulula ekulingweni abantu abanokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu.” (2 Petru 2:9) Ukuze sikhuthazelele ukulingwa futhi sithole lokho kukhululwa, kumelwe “silahle ukungamhloniphi uNkulunkulu nezifiso zezwe . . . siphile ngokuhluzeka kwengqondo nokulunga nangokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu phakathi nalesisimiso samanje sezinto.” (Thithu 2:12) NjengamaKristu, kumelwe siqaphe ukuze noma yibuphi ubuthakathaka bezifiso nemisebenzi yenyama bungaphazamisi ukuzinikela kwethu kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu futhi bukucekele phansi. Manje ake sixoxe ngezinye zalezi zinsongo.

Qaphela Izinsongo Ekuzinikeleni Kokuhlonipha UNkulunkulu

14. Yini okufanele siyikhumbule uma siyengwa ugibe lwezinto ezibonakalayo?

¹⁴ Ukuthanda izinto ezibonakalayo kuwugibe kwabaningi. Singase sizikhohlise kwathina, ‘sicabange ukuthi ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kuyindlela yokuthola inzuzo’ yezinto ezibonakalayo. Ngakho, singase sibe nesibindi sokusizakala ngokusethemba kwalabo esikholwa nabo. (1 Thimothewu 6:5) Singenza nephutha lokuphetha ngokuthi kulungile ukucindezela umKristu omi kahle ukuba asiboleke imali esaziyo ukuthi singase singakwazi ukuyibuyisa. (IHubo 37:21) Kodwa akukhona ukuthola izinto ezibonakalayo ‘okunesithembiso sokuphila kwamanje nalokho okuzayo,’ kunalokho ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. (1 Thimothewu 4:8) Njengoba ‘singalethanga lutho ezweni, futhi singenakuhamba nalutho,’ masigxile ngokwengeziwe ekuphishekeleni ‘ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kanye nokwaneliswa’ futhi ‘saneliswe okokuzisekela  nokokuzimboza.’—1 Thimothewu 6:6-11.

15. Yini esingayenza uma ukuphishekela injabulo kufuna ukuminyanisa ukuzinikela kwethu kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu?

¹⁵ Ukuphishekela injabulo kungaminyanisa ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. Kungenzeka yini ukuthi kudingeka silungise izinto ngokushesha kulesi sici? Kuyavunywa, zikhona izinzuzo zokuqeqesha umzimba nokuzilibazisa. Kodwa leyo mivuzo mincane uma iqhathaniswa nokuphila okuphakade. (1 Johane 2:25) Namuhla, abaningi ‘bangabathandi bezinjabulo kunokuba abathandi bakaNkulunkulu, benesimo sokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kodwa bezibonakalisa bengathembekile emandleni ako,’ futhi abantu abanjalo kudingeka sibagweme. (2 Thimothewu 3:4, 5) Labo abenza ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kube yiyona nto ebalulekile ‘bazibekelela ngokulondekile isisekelo esihle sesikhathi esizayo, ukuze babambisise ukuphila kwangempela.’—1 Thimothewu 6:19.

16. Yiziphi izifiso zesono ezenza abanye bangaphili ngokuvumelana nezimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu zokulunga, futhi singazinqoba kanjani lezi zifiso?

¹⁶ Ukusebenzisa kabi utshwala nezidakamizwa, ukuziphatha okubi nezifiso zesono kungakucekela phansi ukuzinikela kwethu kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. Ukuvumela ukunqotshwa yilezi zinto kungasenza singaphili ngokuvumelana nezimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu zokulunga. (1 Korinte 6:9, 10; 2 Korinte 7:1) Ngisho noPawulu kwadingeka akhuthazele ngokuqhubeka elwa nenyama enesono. (Roma 7:21-25) Kudingeka izinyathelo ezinqala ukuze sizisuse ngokuphelele izifiso ezingalungile. Enye yezinto okumelwe sizenze, ukuzimisela ukuhlala sihlanzekile ngokuziphatha. UPawulu uthi kithi: “Bulalani amalungu emizimba yenu asemhlabeni ngokuqondene nobufebe, ukungahlanzeki, isifiso sobulili, isifiso esilimazayo, nokukhanuka, okuwukukhonza izithombe.” (Kolose 3:5) Ukubulala amalungu emizimba yethu ngokuqondene nalezi zinto eziyisono kudinga ukuzimisela ukuze sizisuse ngokuphelele. Ukuthandazela usizo lukaNkulunkulu ngobuqotho kuyosenza sikwazi ukulahla izifiso ezingalungile futhi siphishekele ukulunga nokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kulesi simiso sezinto esibi.

17. Kufanele sisibheke kanjani isiyalo?

¹⁷ Ukudumazeka kungenza ukukhuthazela kwethu kube buthaka futhi kungaba yingozi ekuzinikeleni kwethu kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. Izinceku eziningi zikaJehova ziye zabhekana nokudumazeka. (Numeri 11:11-15; Ezra 4:4; Jona 4:3) Ukudumazeka kungaba nethonya elilimaza kakhulu kithi uma kuhambisana nentukuthelo ngoba sizizwa soniwe noma sisoliwe noma siyalwe kanzima. Kodwa ukusolwa nokuyalwa kuwubufakazi bokuthi uNkulunkulu uyasithanda futhi usikhathalela ngothando. (Heberu 12:5-7, 10, 11) Isiyalo akufanele sibhekwe njengesimane siyisijeziso kodwa njengesiyindlela yokusiqeqesha ekulungeni. Uma sithobekile, siyosazisa futhi sisamukele iseluleko, siqaphela ukuthi ‘ukusola ngokulaya kuyindlela yokuphila.’ (IzAga 6:23) Lokhu kungasisiza sithuthuke kahle ngokomoya ekuphishekeleni ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu.

18. Sinamuphi umthwalo wemfanelo ngokuqondene nokucunulana?

 ¹⁸ Ukungaboni ngaso linye nokucunulana kungaba yinselele ekuzinikeleni kwethu kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. Kungabangela ukukhathazeka noma kwenze abathile bathathe isinyathelo esingahlakaniphile sokuzihlukanisa nabafowabo nodadewabo abangokomoya. (IzAga 18:1) Kodwa kuhle ukukhumbula ukuthi ukubamba amagqubu noma ukuqhubeka sithukuthelele abanye kungalimaza ubuhlobo bethu noJehova. (Levitikusi 19:18) Empeleni, “ongamthandi umfowabo, ambonileyo, akunakwenzeka ukuthi uyamthanda uNkulunkulu, angambonanga.” (1 Johane 4:20) ENtshumayelweni yakhe Yasentabeni, uJesu wagcizelela isidingo sokuthatha izinyathelo ngokushesha ukuze sixazulule ukungaboni ngaso linye. Watshela izilaleli zakhe: “Uma uletha isipho sakho e-altare bese ukhumbula lapho ukuthi umfowenu unokuthile ngawe, shiya isipho sakho lapho phambi kwe-altare, uhambe; okokuqala yenza ukuthula nomfowenu, khona-ke, lapho usubuyile, unikele ngesipho sakho.” (Mathewu 5:23, 24) Ukuxolisa kungasiza ekupholiseni inxeba elibangelwe amazwi noma izenzo ezinokhahlo. Ukungezwani kungalungiswa futhi kubuyiswane uma sicela ukuthethelelwa futhi sivuma ukuthi siye sazisingatha ngokungafanele izinto. UJesu wanikeza nesinye iseluleko sokusingatha izinkinga. (Mathewu 18:15-17) Yeka indlela esijabula ngayo lapho imizamo yokuxazulula izinkinga iphumelela!—Roma 12:18; Efesu 4:26, 27.

Landela Isibonelo SikaJesu

19. Kungani kubalulekile ukulingisa isibonelo sikaJesu?

¹⁹ Ukulingwa kuyosifikela nakanjani, kodwa akudingeki ukuba kusichezukise emncintiswaneni wokuphila okuphakade. Khumbula ukuthi uJehova angasikhipha ekulingweni. Njengoba ‘silahla konke okusindayo futhi siwugijima ngokukhuthazela umncintiswano obekwe phambi kwethu, masigxilise amehlo ethu kuMmeli Oyinhloko noMphelelisi wokholo lwethu, uJesu.’ (Heberu 12:1-3) Ukuhlolisisa isibonelo sikaJesu nokuzama ukumlingisa ngamazwi nangezenzo kuyosisiza sihlakulele ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu futhi sikubonakalise ngezinga elithé xaxa.

20. Yimiphi imivuzo etholakala ngokukhuthazela nokuphishekela ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu?

²⁰ Ukukhuthazela nokuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kuyahambisana ekwenzeni insindiso yethu iqiniseke. Ngokubonisa lezi zimfanelo eziyigugu, singaqhubeka ngokwethembeka enkonzweni yethu engcwele kuNkulunkulu. Ngisho nalapho sibhekene nokulingwa, siyothola injabulo njengoba sizwa uthando nesibusiso sikaJehova ngoba siye sakhuthazela futhi sibonisa ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu. (Jakobe 5:11) Ngaphezu kwalokho, uJesu ngokwakhe uyasiqinisekisa: “Ngokukhuthazela kwenu niyozuza imiphefumulo yenu.”—Luka 21:19.

Ungaphendula Kanjani?

• Kungani ukukhuthazela kubalulekile?

• Kuyini ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, futhi kubonakaliswa kanjani?

• Singabakha futhi sibulondoloze kanjani ubuhlobo obuseduze noNkulunkulu?

• Yiziphi ezinye zezinsongo ekuzinikeleni kwethu kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu, futhi singazigwema kanjani?

[Imibuzo Yesifundo]

[Izithombe ekhasini 12, 13]

Ukuzinikela kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu kubonakaliswa ngezindlela eziningi

[Izithombe ekhasini 14]

Qaphela izinsongo ekuzinikeleni kwakho kokuhlonipha uNkulunkulu