Thanda UNkulunkulu Okuthandayo
Thanda UNkulunkulu Okuthandayo
“Kumelwe uthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho nangawo wonke umphefumulo wakho nangayo yonke ingqondo yakho.”—MATHEWU 22:37.
1, 2. Yini okungenzeka ukuthi yabangela ukuba kuphakame umbuzo mayelana nomyalo omkhulu kunayo yonke?
KUNOMBUZO okubonakala wawuyimpikiswano enkulu phakathi kwabaFarisi bosuku lukaJesu. Emithethweni engaphezu kuka-600 eyakha uMthetho KaMose, imuphi owawubaluleke kunayo yonke? Ingabe kwakuwumthetho ophathelene nomhlatshelo? Ingani vele imihlatshelo yayenzelwa ukuthola intethelelo yezono nokubonga uNkulunkulu. Noma kungenzeka umthetho omkhulu kwakuyilowo wokusoka? Wawubalulekile nawo ngoba ukusoka kwakuwuphawu lwesivumelwano uJehova ayesenze no-Abrahama.—Genesise 17:9-13.
2 Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ababenamathela emthethweni kungenzeka babecabanga ukuthi njengoba yonke imithetho enikezwa nguNkulunkulu yayibalulekile—nakuba eminye yayingase ibonakale ingabalulekile kakhulu—kungaba iphutha ukuphakamisa omunye umyalo ngaphezu komunye. AbaFarisi banquma ukuwubuza uJesu lo mbuzo oyimpikiswano ngethemba lokuthi mhlawumbe angase asho okuthile okungonakalisa idumela lakhe. Omunye kubo waya kuJesu wambuza: “Yimuphi umyalo omkhulu kunayo yonke eMthethweni?”—Mathewu 22:34-36.
3. Yimuphi umyalo uJesu athi wawumkhulu kunayo yonke?
3 Impendulo uJesu ayinikeza ibaluleke kakhulu kithi namuhla. Lapho ephendula, wafingqa lokho okwabe kuyingqikithi yokukhulekela kweqiniso futhi okuyohlale kuyiyo. Ecaphuna uDuteronomi 6:5, uJesu wathi: “‘Kumelwe uthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho nangawo wonke umphefumulo wakho nangayo yonke ingqondo yakho.’ Lona ngumyalo omkhulu kunayo yonke futhi ungowokuqala.” Nakuba umFarisi ayebuze umyalo owodwa kuphela, uJesu wamnika nomunye. Ecaphuna uLevitikusi 19:18, wathi: “Owesibili, onjengawo, yilo, ‘Kumelwe uthande umakhelwane wakho njengoba uzithanda wena.’” UJesu wabe esebonisa ukuthi le mithetho emibili yayiqukethe yonke ingqikithi yokukhulekela okuhlanzekile. Evimbela noma imuphi umzamo wokumenza ukuba alandelanise eminye imithetho ngokubaluleka kwayo, waphetha: “Kule miyalo emibili kusekelwe wonke uMthetho, nabaProfethi.” (Mathewu 22:37-40) Kulesi sihloko, sizocabangela umyalo omkhulu kule emibili. Kungani kumelwe sithande uNkulunkulu? Sibonisa kanjani ukuthi siyamthanda? Singaluhlakulela kanjani lolo thando? Kubalulekile ukwazi izimpendulo zale mibuzo ngoba ukuze sithokozise uJehova, kumelwe simthande ngayo yonke inhliziyo yethu, umphefumulo nengqondo.
Ukubaluleka Kothando
4, 5. (a) Kungani lokho uJesu akusho kungazange kummangaze umFarisi? (b) Yini ebaluleke kakhulu kuNkulunkulu ngaphezu kwemihlatshelo neminikelo?
4 Kubonakala sengathi impendulo kaJesu ayizange imshaqise noma immangaze lo mFarisi. Wayazi ukuthi kwakubalulekile ukuba nothando ngoNkulunkulu ukuze simkhulekele ngeqiniso, nakuba abaningi babehluleka ukulubonisa. Emasinagogeni, kwakuwumkhuba ukusho ngekhanda iShema, noma isivumo sokholo, futhi yayihlanganisa nendinyana uJesu ayicaphuna etholakala kuDuteronomi 6:4-9. Ukulandisa okufanayo okukuMarku kuthi umFarisi wabe esethi kuJesu: “Mfundisi, ushó kahle ngokuvumelana neqiniso ukuthi, ‘Munye, futhi akekho omunye ngaphandle kwaKhe’; futhi lokhu kumthanda komuntu ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakhe nangakho konke ukuqonda kwakhe nangawo onke amandla akhe nalokhu kuthanda komuntu umakhelwane wakhe njengoba ezithanda yena kubaluleke ngaphezu kwayo yonke iminikelo yokushiswa ephelele nemihlatshelo.”—Marku 12:32, 33.
5 Ngempela, nakuba iminikelo yokushiswa nemihlatshelo yayidingeka eMthethweni, okubaluleke kakhulu kuNkulunkulu ukuba izinceku zakhe zimthande ngokusuka enhliziyweni. Umnikelo kandlunkulu oshukunyiswa uthando nenhlonipho wawunenani elikhulu kuNkulunkulu ngaphezu kowezinqama eziyizinkulungwane ezazinikelwa ngesisusa esibi. (Mika 6:6-8) Khumbula indaba yomfelokazi oswele uJesu amqaphela ethempelini eJerusalema. Izinhlamvana ezimbili zemali azifaka ebhokisini leminikelo zazingasoze zathenga ngisho nondlunkulu owodwa. Nokho, lowo mnikelo owenziwa ngenhliziyo eshukunyiswa uthando ngoJehova, washo okukhulu kakhulu kuye kuneminikelo emikhulu eyayinikelwa abacebile evela enaleni yabo. (Marku 12:41-44) Yeka ukuthi kukhuthaza kanjani ukwazi ukuthi lokho uJehova akwazisa kakhulu yinto sonke esingayibonisa, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi izimo zethu ziyini—uthando lwethu ngaye!
6. Yini uPawulu ayibhala ngokubaluleka kothando?
6 Egcizelela ukubaluleka kothando ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso, umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Uma ngikhuluma ngezilimi zabantu nezezingelosi kodwa ngingenalo uthando, ngiyobe ngilucezu lwethusi olunomsindo noma insimbi ekhencezayo. Uma nginesiphiwo sokuprofetha futhi ngijwayelene nazo zonke izimfihlo ezingcwele nalo lonke ulwazi, futhi uma nginalo lonke ukholo ukuze ngigudluze izintaba, kodwa ngingenalo uthando, angilutho. Uma nginikela ngakho konke enginakho ukuze kondliwe abanye, futhi uma nginikela ngomzimba wami, ukuze ngiziqhayise, kodwa ngingenalo uthando, angizuzi lutho nhlobo.” (1 Korinte 13:1-3) Kuyacaca ukuthi uthando lubalulekile ukuze ukukhulekela kwethu kujabulise uNkulunkulu. Nokho, sibonisa kanjani ukuthi siyamthanda uJehova?
Indlela Esibonisa Ngayo Ukuthi Siyamthanda UJehova
7, 8. Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi siyamthanda uJehova?
7 Abaningi bakholelwa ukuthi uthando luwumzwelo esingenamandla kangako okuwulawula; benza isibonelo ngokuthandana nomuntu othile. Nokho uthando lwangempela aluyona nje into oyizwayo. Lubonakala futhi luchazwe ngezenzo, hhayi ngomzwelo. Likhuluma ngothando, iBhayibheli lithi ‘luyindlela ezidlula zonke,’ luphinde luthi luyinto ‘esiyiphishekelayo.’ (1 Korinte 12:31; 14:1) AmaKristu akhuthazwa ukuba angathandi “ngezwi noma ngomlomo” kuphela, “kodwa ngesenzo nangeqiniso.”—1 Johane 3:18.
8 Ukuthanda uNkulunkulu kusishukumisela ukuba senze okumthokozisayo sibuye sivikele futhi siphakamise ubukhosi bakhe, kokubili ngamazwi nangezenzo. Kusishukumisela ukuba sigweme ukuthanda izwe nezindlela zalo zokungamesabi uNkulunkulu. (1 Johane 2:15, 16) Abathanda uNkulunkulu bayakuzonda okubi. (IHubo 97:10) Ukuthanda uNkulunkulu kuhilela nokuthanda umakhelwane, iphuzu esizoxoxa ngalo esihlokweni esilandelayo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuthanda uNkulunkulu kuhilela ukuba simlalele. IBhayibheli lithi: “Yilokhu okushiwo uthando ngoNkulunkulu, ukuba sigcine imiyalo yakhe.”—1 Johane 5:3.
9. UJesu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi uyamthanda uNkulunkulu?
9 UJesu wakubonisa ngezinga eliphelele ukuthi kusho ukuthini ukuthanda uNkulunkulu. Uthando lwamshukumisela ukuba ashiye ikhaya lakhe lasezulwini azohlala emhlabeni njengomuntu. Lwamshukumisela ukuba akhazimulise uYise ngezinto azenza futhi wazifundisa. Uthando lwamshukumisela ukuba ‘alalele kuze kube sekufeni.’ (Filipi 2:8) Lokho kulalela—okwakuyisibonakaliso sothando lwakhe—kwavulela abantu abathembekile ithuba lokuba babhekwe njengabalungile phambi kukaNkulunkulu. UPawulu wabhala: “Ngokungalaleli komuntu oyedwa [u-Adamu] abaningi baba yizoni, ngokufanayo futhi ngokulalela komuntu oyedwa [uKristu Jesu] abaningi bayoba ngabalungileyo.”—Roma 5:19.
10. Kungani ukuthanda uNkulunkulu kuhilela ukulalela?
10 NjengoJesu, sibonisa ukuthi siyamthanda uNkulunkulu ngokumlalela. Umphostoli uJohane, owayethandwa uJesu, wabhala: “Yilokhu okushiwo uthando, ukuba siqhubeke sihamba ngokwemiyalo yakhe.” (2 Johane 6) Labo abamthanda ngempela uJehova balangazelela isiqondiso sakhe. Beqaphela ukuthi abakwazi ukuziqondisa ngokuphumelelayo izinyathelo zabo siqu, bathembela ekuhlakanipheni kukaNkulunkulu futhi bazithoba esiqondisweni sakhe sothando. (Jeremiya 10:23) Banjengabantu baseBhereya lasendulo ababenengqondo enhle abamukela isigijimi sikaNkulunkulu “ngengqondo enokulangazela,” benesifiso esijulile sokwenza intando kaNkulunkulu. (IzEnzo 17:11) Bahlolisisa imiBhalo ukuze bayiqonde ngokugcwele intando kaNkulunkulu, eyabasiza ukuba babonise uthando lwabo ngezinye izenzo zokulalela.
11. Kusho ukuthini ukuthanda uNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo yethu yonke, ingqondo, umphefumulo namandla?
11 Njengoba uJesu asho, uthando ngoNkulunkulu luhilela inhliziyo yethu yonke, ingqondo, umphefumulo namandla. (Marku 12:30) Uthando olunjalo luphuma enhliziyweni, luhilela imizwa yethu, izifiso nemicabango ejulile, futhi sinesifiso esiqotho sokuthokozisa uJehova. Simthanda nangengqondo yethu. Ukuzinikela kwethu akuqhutshwa imizwelo nje; siye samazi uJehova—izimfanelo, izindinganiso nezinjongo zakhe. Sisebenzisa umphefumulo wethu, okungukuthi ubuqu bethu bonke nokuphila esinakho ukuba simkhonze futhi simdumise. Namandla ethu siwasebenzisela leyo njongo.
Isizathu Sokuba Sithande UJehova
12. Kungani uNkulunkulu efuna ukuba simthande?
12 Esinye sezizathu zokuba sithande uJehova ukuthi ufuna ukuba sibonakalise izimfanelo zakhe. UNkulunkulu ungumthombo wothando aphinde abe isibonelo sothando esivelele kunazo zonke. Ephefumulelwe, umphostoli uJohane wabhala: “UNkulunkulu uluthando.” (1 Johane 4:8) Abantu badalwa ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu, ngakho saklanyelwa ukuba sithande. Empeleni, ubukhosi bukaJehova busekelwe othandweni. Ufuna ukuba izikhonzi zakhe kube abantu abamkhonza ngoba bethanda futhi befisa ukubusa kwakhe okulungile. Ngempela, uthando lubalulekile ukuze kube nokuthula nokuzwana kuyo yonke indalo.
13. (a) Kungani ama-Israyeli anikwa lo myalo: “Uthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho”? (b) Kungani kunengqondo ukuba uJehova alindele ukuba simthande?
13 Esinye isizathu esisenza sithande uJehova ukuthi siyakwazisa lokho asenzele khona. Khumbula ukuthi uJesu wathi kumaJuda: “Kumelwe uthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho.” Kwakungalindelekile ukuba athande umuntu waphezulu owayekude nawo futhi ayengamazi. Kwakumelwe athande uMuntu owayewembulele uthando lwakhe. UJehova wayenguNkulunkulu wawo. NguYe owawakhipha eGibhithe wawangenisa eZweni Lesithembiso, nguYe owawavikela, wawondla, wawazisa nowayewayala ngothando. Namuhla, uJehova nguNkulunkulu wethu, owanikela ngeNdodana yakhe yaba isihlengo ukuze sizuze ukuphila okuphakade. Yeka ukuthi kunengqondo kangakanani ukuba uJehova alindele ukuba nathi simthande! Uthando lwethu luyenanela; sicelwa ukuba sithande uNkulunkulu osithandayo. Sithanda Lowo ‘owasithanda kuqala.’—1 Johane 4:19.
14. Uthando lukaJehova lufana kanjani nolomzali onothando?
14 Uthando lukaJehova ngesintu lufana nolomzali othanda izingane zakhe. Nakuba bengaphelele, abazali abanothando bazikhandla iminyaka eminingi benakekela izingane zabo, bezidela kakhulu ngokwezinto ezibonakalayo nangezinye izindlela. Abazali bafundisa, bakhuthaze, bondle futhi bayale izingane zabo ngoba bafuna ukuba zijabule futhi zichume. Yini abazali abafisa ukuyibona ezinganeni zabo? Bafisa ukuzibona zibathanda futhi zikwazisa lokho abazifundise khona ukuze kuzizuzise. Kusobala ukuthi noBaba wethu ophelele osezulwini ulindele ukuba sibonise ukwazisa kothando ngakho konke asenzele khona.
Ukuhlakulela Ukuthanda UNkulunkulu
15. Isiphi isinyathelo sokuqala sokuhlakulela uthando ngoNkulunkulu?
15 Asikaze simbone uNkulunkulu futhi asikaze silizwe izwi lakhe. (Johane 1:18) Nokho, usimema ukuba simthande. (Jakobe 4:8) Singakwenza kanjani lokho? Isinyathelo sokuqala sokuthanda noma ubani siwukumazi; kunzima ukuba nothando olujulile ngomuntu esingamazi. UJehova usilungiselele iZwi lakhe, iBhayibheli, ukuze sifunde ngaye. Yingakho esikhuthaza ngenhlangano yakhe ukuba sifunde iBhayibheli njalo. YiBhayibheli elisifundisa ngoNkulunkulu, izimfanelo zakhe, ubuntu bakhe, kanye nokusebenzelana kwakhe nabantu ezinkulungwaneni zeminyaka. Njengoba sizindla ngezindaba zalolu hlobo, ukumazisa kwethu nothando lwethu ngaye luyokhula.—Roma 15:4.
16. Ukuzindla ngenkonzo kaJesu kulukhulisa kanjani uthando lwethu ngoNkulunkulu?
16 Indlela eyinhloko uthando lwethu ngoJehova olungakhula ngayo ukuba sizindle ngokuphila nenkonzo kaJesu. Kakade, uJesu walingisa uYise ngokuphelele kangangokuthi wayengathi: “Ongibonile mina umbonile noBaba futhi.” (Johane 14:9) Awuthinteki yini lapho ufunda ngobubele uJesu abubonisa ngokuvusa indodana yomfelokazi okwakuwukuphela kwayo? (Luka 7:11-15) Awuzizwa yini uyithanda iNdodana kaNkulunkulu—engumuntu omkhulu kunabo bonke owake waphila—lapho uzwa ukuthi yazithoba yageza izinyawo zabafundi bayo? (Johane 13:3-5) Akukushukumisi yini ukwazi ukuthi nakuba uJesu ayemkhulu futhi ehlakaniphe kunabo bonke abanye abantu, wenza ukuba bonke abantu bazizwe bekhululekile ukusondela kuye, kuhlanganise nabantwana? (Marku 10:13, 14) Njengoba sizindla ngalezi zinto, siba njengamaKristu uPetru aloba lokhu ngawo: “Nakuba ningakaze nimbone [uJesu], niyamthanda.” (1 Petru 1:8) Njengoba uthando lwethu ngoJesu lukhula, nothando lwethu ngoJehova luyakhula.
17, 18. Ukuzindla ngamaphi amalungiselelo othando kaJehova okungakhulisa uthando lwethu ngaye?
17 Enye indlela esingakhula ngayo othandweni lwethu ngoNkulunkulu ukuzindla ngensada yamalungiselelo othando awenzile ukuze sijabulele ukuphila—ubuhle bendalo, izinhlobonhlobo ezingeqedwe zokudla okumnandi, ubudlelwane obufudumele nabangane abahle, kanye nentilibathwa yezinye izinto ezinhle ezisijabulisayo nezisanelisayo. (IzEnzo 14:17) Lapho sifunda okwengeziwe ngoNkulunkulu, yilapho sithola khona izizathu ezengeziwe zokwazisa ubuhle nokuphana kwakhe okungenamkhawulo. Cabanga ngazo zonke izinto uJehova akwenzele zona wena siqu. Awuvumi yini ukuthi kufanele umthande?
18 Phakathi kwezipho eziningi ezivela kuNkulunkulu yithuba esinalo lokusondela kuye ngomthandazo noma nini, sazi ukuthi ‘uMuzwi womthandazo’ uyasilalela. (IHubo 65:2) UJehova uye waphathisa iNdodana yakhe ethandekayo igunya lokubusa nokwahlulela. Nokho, ilungelo lokuzwa umthandazo akalinikezi abanye, kuhlanganise neNdodana yakhe. Uyilalela ngokwakhe imithandazo yethu. Lokho kusikhathalela kukaJehova nokusithanda kwakhe kusisondeza kuye.
19. Iziphi izithembiso zikaJehova ezisisondeza kuye?
19 Ukucabanga ngalokho uJehova azokwenzela isintu esikhathini esizayo nakho kusisondeza kuye. Wethembise ukuqeda ukugula, ukudabuka nokufa. (IsAmbulo 21:3, 4) Lapho isintu sesenziwe saphelela, akekho oyobuye ahlushwe ukucindezeleka, ukudangala noma usizi. Indlala, ubuphofu nezimpi ngeke kuphinde kube khona. (IHubo 46:9; 72:16) Umhlaba uyoguqulwa ube ipharadesi. (Luka 23:43) UJehova uyoletha lezi zibusiso, hhayi ngoba ephoqelekile ukuba enze kanjalo, kodwa ngoba esithanda.
20. Yini uMose ayisho ngezinzuzo zokuthanda uJehova?
20 Ngakho-ke, kunezizathu ezinamandla zokuthanda uNkulunkulu wethu futhi sivumele lolo thando ukuba lukhule. Ingabe uyoqhubeka uqinisa uthando lwakho ngoNkulunkulu, umvumela ukuba aqondise izindlela zakho? Ingcabha isala nawe. UMose waqaphela izinzuzo zokuhlakulela uthando ngoJehova nokululondoloza. Kuma-Israyeli asendulo wathi: “Kumelwe ukhethe ukuphila ukuze uqhubeke uphila, wena nenzalo yakho, ngokuthanda uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho, ngokulalela izwi lakhe nangokunamathela kuye; ngoba ungukuphila kwakho nobude bezinsuku zakho.”—Duteronomi 30:19, 20.
Ingabe Uyakhumbula?
• Kungani kubalulekile ukuba sithande uJehova?
• Singabonisa kanjani ukuthi siyamthanda uNkulunkulu?
• Iziphi izizathu esinazo zokuthanda uJehova?
• Singaluhlakulela kanjani uthando ngoNkulunkulu?
[Imibuzo Yesifundo]
[Isithombe ekhasini 20]
Lokho uJehova akwazisa ngempela yinto sonke esingayibonisa—uthando lwethu ngaye
[Izithombe ekhasini 23]
“Ongibonile mina umbonile noBaba futhi.”—Johane 14:9