1. Ngokuvamile, imuphi umbono izwe elinawo ngokuzibusa?

EMINYAKENI engaba ngu-2 500 edlule, umbhali ongumGreki wemidlalo yaseshashalazini wabhala: “Akekho othwala ijoka lobugqila ngokuzithandela.” Abaningi namuhla bangavumelana ngokushesha naleyo nkulumo. Uma kukhulunywa ngobugqila, ezingqondweni zabantu kufika imifanekiso yabantu abacindezelwayo nabagqilazwayo, abamsebenzi nokuzidela kwabo kungazuzisi bona kodwa abanikazi babo nalabo abababusayo.

2, 3. (a) Isiphi isikhundla izigqila noma izinceku zikaKristu ezisijabulelayo? (b) Imiphi imibuzo ephathelene nobuphathi esizoyicabangela?

² Noma kunjalo, uJesu wabonisa ukuthi abafundi bakhe babeyoba izinceku ezithobekile noma izigqila. Nokho, lobu bugqila obuhilela amaKristu eqiniso akubona obucindezelayo noma obenza umuntu azizwe ephansi. Lezi zigqila zijabulela isikhundla esiphakeme, ukwethenjwa nokuhlonishwa. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngamazwi uJesu awasho ngesigqila noma “inceku” enjalo ngaphambi nje kokufa kwakhe. UKristu wabikezela ukuthi wayeyonika “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo” imisebenzi okumelwe iyenze.—Math. 24:45-47.

³ Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi kokunye ukulandisa okufanayo, leyo nceku ibizwa ngokuthi “umphathi.” (Funda uLuka 12:42-44.) AmaKristu amaningi athembekile aphila manje awawona amalungu aleso sigaba somphathi othembekile. Nokho, imiBhalo ibonisa ukuthi bonke abakhonza uNkulunkulu banikezwe ilungelo lokuba abaphathi. Imiphi imithwalo yemfanelo ehilelekile? Kufanele ibhekwe kanjani? Ukuze sithole impendulo, ake sihlole indima yabaphathi ezikhathini zasendulo.

4, 5. Imiphi imithwalo yemfanelo abaphathi basendulo ababenayo? Nikeza izibonelo.

⁴ Ezikhathini zasendulo, umphathi kwakuvame ukuba  kube inceku ethenjwayo eyabelwa ukuqondisa imisebenzi yasendlini noma izindaba zezimali zenkosi yayo. Ngokuvamile, abaphathi babenegunya elikhulu futhi bephathiswa ukusingatha izinto zasendlini, imali nezinye izinceku. Singakubona lokhu endabeni ka-Eliyezeri, owayephathiswe ukuba anakekele impahla eningi ka-Abrahama. Kungenzeka ukuthi uyena u-Eliyezeri u-Abrahama amthuma ukuba aye eMesophothamiya ayofunela indodana yakhe u-Isaka umfazi. Yeka ukuthi lesi kwakuyisabelo esibaluleke nesasiyoba nemiphumela yesikhathi eside kangakanani!—Gen. 13:2; 15:2; 24:2-4.

⁵ Indodana yomzukulu ka-Abrahama uJosefa yaphathiswa indlu kaPotifari. (Gen. 39:1, 2) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uJosefa naye waba nowakhe umphathi, ‘owengamela indlu kaJosefa.’ Lowo mphathi wahlela ukunakekelwa kwabafowabo bakaJosefa abayishumi. Eyalwe uJosefa, wahlela nendaba ‘yokwebiwa’ kwendebe yesiliva. Kusobala ukuthi izikhundla zabaphathi zazihlanganisa nokwethenjwa okukhulu.—Gen. 43:19-25; 44:1-12.

6. Ibuphi ubuphathi obuphathiswe ababonisi abangamaKristu abahlukahlukene?

⁶ Emakhulwini eminyaka kamuva, umphostoli uPawulu wabhala ukuthi ababonisi abangamaKristu kwakumelwe babe ‘abaphathi bakaNkulunkulu.’ (Thithu 1:7) Njengoba bemiswe ukuba beluse “umhlambi kaNkulunkulu,” ababonisi bayaqondisa futhi bahole emabandleni. (1 Pet. 5:1, 2) Yebo, imithwalo yabo iyehlukahluka. Ngokwesibonelo, ababonisi abaningi namuhla bakhonza ibandla elilodwa. Ababonisi abajikelezayo bakhonza amabandla amaningi. Amalungu eKomiti Yegatsha anakekela amabandla ezwe lonke. Noma kunjalo, bonke kulindeleke ukuba bafeze imisebenzi yabo ngokwethembeka; bonke kumelwe ‘balandise’ kuNkulunkulu.—Heb. 13:17.

7. Sazi kanjani ukuthi ngomqondo othile wonke amaKristu angabaphathi?

⁷ Nokho, kuthiwani ngamaKristu amaningi aqotho angebona ababonisi? Umphostoli uPetru wabhalela wonke amaKristu incwadi ethi: “Ngokwesilinganiso ngamunye amukele ngaso isipho, sisebenziseni ekukhonzaneni njengabaphathi abahle bomusa ongafanelwe kaNkulunkulu obonakaliswe ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene.” (1 Pet. 1:1; 4:10) UNkulunkulu ngomusa wakhe ongafanelwe uye wasinika sonke izipho, izinto eziphathekayo, amakhono noma amathalente esingawasebenzisa ngenjongo yokuzuzisa esikholwa nabo. Ngenxa yalokho, bonke abakhonza uNkulunkulu bangabaphathi, futhi lobo buphathi babo buhambisana nodumo, ukwethenjwa nomthwalo wemfanelo.

8. Isiphi isimiso esibalulekile okudingeka sisikhumbule?

⁸ Manje sizogxila ezimisweni ezintathu thina njengabaphathi okudingeka sizicabangele. Esokuqala: Sonke singabakaNkulunkulu futhi siyolandisa kuye. UPawulu wabhala: “Anibona abenu, ngoba nathengwa ngentengo,” igazi lomhlatshelo kaKristu. (1 Kor. 6:19, 20) Njengoba singabakaJehova, sibophekile ukuba silalele imiyalo yakhe, engewona nokho umthwalo. (Roma 14:8; 1 Joh. 5:3) Siphinde sibe izigqila zikaKristu. Njengabaphathi basendulo, sinikezwe inkululeko eningi—kodwa inkululeko yethu ilinganiselwe. Kumelwe sisingathe imithwalo yethu yemfanelo ngendlela esiyalwe ngayo. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sijabulela maphi amalungelo enkonzo, siseyizinceku zikaNkulunkulu noKristu.

9. UJesu wabucacisa kanjani ubuhlobo obuphakathi kwenceku nenkosi yayo?

⁹ UJesu usisiza ukuba siqonde ubuhlobo obuphakathi kwenkosi nenceku yayo. Wake wakhuluma nabafundi bakhe ngenceku ebuya ekhaya ngemva kokusebenza usuku lonke. Iyasho yini inkosi yayo ukuthi:  “Woza lapha khona manje uhlale etafuleni”? Cha. Ithi: “Lungisa okuthile ukuze ngidle isidlo sami sakusihlwa, ufake iphinifa ungikhonze ngize ngiqede ukudla nokuphuza, kamuva nawe ungadla uphuze.” UJesu wathi lo mfanekiso usebenza kanjani? Wathi: “Kanjalo nani, lapho nenze zonke izinto enabelwe zona, anothi, ‘Siyizinceku ezingelusizo lwalutho. Lokho esikwenzile yilokho obekufanele sikwenze.’”—Luka 17:7-10.

10. Yini ebonisa ukuthi uJehova uyayazisa imizamo yethu yokumkhonza?

¹⁰ Nokho-ke uJehova uyayazisa imizamo yethu yokumkhonza. IBhayibheli liyasiqinisekisa: “UNkulunkulu akayena ongalungile ukuba akhohlwe umsebenzi wenu nothando enalubonisa kulo igama lakhe.” (Heb. 6:10) UJehova akalokothi afune kithi izinto esingenakuzifinyelela. Ngaphezu kwalokho, noma yini ayifuna kithi izuzisa thina futhi ayikaze ibe umthwalo ongenasidingo osindayo. Noma kunjalo, ngokuvumelana nomfanekiso kaJesu, inceku ayizithokozisi yona, ibeke izithakazelo zayo kuqala. Iphuzu liwukuthi, lapho sizinikezela kuNkulunkulu, sikhetha ukubeka izithakazelo zakhe kuqala ekuphileni kwethu, akunjalo?

11, 12. Njengabaphathi, iyiphi imfanelo okumelwe siyibonakalise, futhi yini okumelwe siyigweme?

¹¹ Isimiso sesibili yilesi: Njengabaphathi, sonke sinamathela ezindinganisweni ezifanayo eziyinhloko. Yiqiniso, eminye imithwalo yemfanelo iphathiswe abambalwa ebandleni lobuKristu. Nokho, eminingi iyefana kithi sonke. Ngokwesibonelo, njengabafundi bakaKristu nanjengoFakazi BakaJehova, siyalwa ukuba sithandane. UJesu wathi uthando luwuphawu olubonakalisa amaKristu eqiniso. (Joh. 13:35) Nokho, asilubonisi kubafowethu abangokomoya kuphela. Silwela nokulubonisa nakulabo abangahlobene nathi okholweni. Lokhu kuyinto sonke esingayenza futhi okufanele siyenze.

¹² Kulindeleke nokuba siziphathe kahle. Sifuna ukugwema ukuziphatha nemikhuba elahlwa iZwi likaNkulunkulu. UPawulu wabhala: “Izifebe, noma abakhonza izithombe, iziphingi, amadoda agcinelwe izinjongo ezingezona ezemvelo, amadoda alala namadoda, amasela, abantu abahahayo, izidakwa, izithuki, noma abaphangi ngeke balizuze ifa lombuso kaNkulunkulu.” (1 Kor. 6:9, 10) Kuyavunywa ukuthi kudinga umzamo ukuphila ngokuvumelana nezindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu zokulunga. Nokho, asizisoli ngokwenza umzamo onjalo, osilethela izinzuzo eziningi, ezihlanganisa nendlela yokuphila esenza sibe nempilo engcono, ubuhlobo obuhle nabanye futhi samukelwe uNkulunkulu.—Funda u-Isaya 48:17, 18.

13, 14. Imuphi umthwalo wemfanelo onikezwe wonke amaKristu, futhi kufanele siwubheke kanjani?

¹³ Khumbula nokuthi umphathi unomsebenzi okufanele awenze. Nathi sinawo. Sinikezwe isipho esiyigugu—ulwazi lweqiniso. UNkulunkulu ulindele ukuba siludlulisele nakwabanye lolu lwazi. (Math. 28:19, 20) UPawulu wabhala: “Umuntu makasahlulele njengabangaphansi kukaKristu nabaphathi bezimfihlo ezingcwele zikaNkulunkulu.” (1 Kor. 4:1) UPawulu waqaphela ukuthi lobu buphathi babudinga ukuba anakekele ngokucophelela ‘izimfihlo ezingcwele’ futhi azidlulisele ngokwethembeka kwabanye njengoba kwayala iNkosi, uJesu Kristu.—1 Kor. 9:16.

¹⁴ Empeleni ukuxoxa nabanye ngeqiniso kuyisenzo sothando. Yebo, izimo zomKristu ngamunye ziyehluka. Ngeke wonke enze okulinganayo enkonzweni. UJehova uyakuqonda lokho. Okubalulekile ukuba umuntu ngamunye enze konke angakwenza. Ngaleyo ndlela siyobe sibonisa uthando olungenabugovu ngoNkulunkulu nangomakhelwane.

15-17. (a) Kungani kubalulekile ukuba umphathi abe othembekile? (b) UJesu wayifanekisa kanjani imiphumela yokungathembeki?

¹⁵ Isimiso sesithathu esihlobene kakhulu nalezi ezimbili esikhulume ngazo, yilesi: Kumelwe sethembeke, sibe abantu abanokwethenjelwa. Umphathi angase abe nezimfanelo eziningi ezinhle namakhono, kodwa ngeke kusho lutho konke lokhu uma engayifezi kahle imithwalo yakhe noma engathembekile enkosini yakhe. Ukwethembeka kubalulekile ukuze sibe abaphathi abawusizo nabaphumelelayo. Khumbula ukuthi uPawulu wabhala: “Okufunekayo kubaphathi ukuba umuntu atholakale ethembekile.”—1 Kor. 4:2.

¹⁶ Uma sethembekile, siyovuzwa; akukho kungabaza ngalokho. Uma singathembekile, siyolahlekelwa. Lesi simiso sisibona emfanekisweni kaJesu wamathalenta. Izinceku ‘ezahweba’ ngemali yenkosi yazo zanconywa futhi zabusiswa kakhulu. Inceku engazange yenze okwakufanele ikwenze ngalokho inkosi yayo eyayiyiphathise kona yahlulelwa ‘njengembi, evilaphayo nengenalusizo lwalutho.’ Yaphucwa ithalenta eyayiliphathisiwe, yabe isiphonswa ngaphandle.—Funda uMathewu 25:14-18, 23, 26, 28-30.

¹⁷ Ngesinye isikhathi, uJesu wachaza imiphumela yokungathembeki. Wathi: “Umuntu othile wayecebile futhi enomphathi, lo wamangalelwa kuye ngokusaphaza impahla yakhe. Ngakho wambiza wathi kuye, ‘Yini le engiyizwayo ngawe? Buyisa izincwadi zobuphathi bakho, ngoba awusenakuqhubeka uphatha indlu.’” (Luka 16:1, 2) Ngenxa yokuthi lo mphathi wayesaphaze impahla yenkosi yakhe, inkosi yakhe yamxosha. Yeka isifundo esinamandla! Ngokuqinisekile, asifuni neze ukuba abangathembekile kulokho esicelwe ukuba sikwenze.

18. Kungani kungafanele siziqhathanise nabanye?

¹⁸ Ngamunye kithi angazibuza, ‘Ngikubheka kanjani ukuba kwami umphathi? Izinkinga zingase ziphakame lapho siziqhathanisa nabanye. IBhayibheli liyaseluleka: “Yilowo nalowo makahlole umsebenzi wakhe siqu, khona-ke uyoba nesizathu sokwethaba ngokuqondene naye yedwa, hhayi ngokuziqhathanisa nomunye umuntu.” (Gal. 6:4) Kunokuqhathanisa lokho esikwenzayo nalokho okwenziwa abanye, kufanele sigxile kulokho thina ngabanye esikwazi ukukwenza. Lokhu kuyosivikela ekuzikhukhumezeni ngokuqhosha nasekudumazekeni. Lapho sihlola inkonzo yethu, kufanele siqaphele ukuthi izimo ziyashintsha. Mhlawumbe ngenxa yempilo engenhle, ubudala noma imithwalo yemfanelo ehlukahlukene, asisakwazi ukwenza konke esasikwenza. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, singase sikwazi ukwenza okungaphezu kwalokho esikwenzayo njengamanje. Uma kunjalo, kungani singazami ukwandisa inkonzo yethu?

19. Uma singalitholi ilungelo elithile, kungani kungafanele sidumale?

¹⁹ Esinye isici okufanele sisicabangele ukuthi imiphi imithwalo yemfanelo esinayo noma esifisa ukuba nayo. Ngokwesibonelo, umzalwane angase afise ukukhonza njengomdala ebandleni noma ukunikezwa izinkulumo emhlanganweni wesifunda noma wesigodi. Kuhle ukuzikhandla ukuze ufanelekele lawo malungelo, noma kunjalo, akufanele sidumale uma singawatholi ngesikhathi ebesilindele ukuwathola ngaso. Ngenxa yezizathu esingase singaziqondi ngokushesha, amanye amalungelo singase siwathole ngemva kwesikhathi eside kakhulu kunaleso ebesisilindele. Khumbula ukuthi uMose wayebonakala ekulungele ukuhola ama-Israyeli awakhiphe eGibhithe, kodwa kwadingeka alinde iminyaka engu-40 ngaphambi kokwenza kanjalo. Lokhu kwamnikeza isikhathi esanele sokuhlakulela izimfanelo ayezidinga ukuze ahole isizwe esasilukhuni nesasivukela.—IzE. 7:22-25, 30-34.

20. Isiphi isifundo esingasithola kulokho okwenzeka kuJonathani?

²⁰ Ngezinye izikhathi singase singalitholi nhlobo ilungelo elithile. Kwaba njalo ngoJonathani. Wayeyindodana kaSawule futhi ngenxa yalokho esohlwini lokuba inkosi phezu kuka-Israyeli. Nokho, uNkulunkulu wakhetha uDavide, insizwa eyayisencane kakhulu kunaye, ukuba abe inkosi. Wasabela kanjani uJonathani lapho kwenzeka lokho? Wakwamukela futhi wasekela uDavide ngisho noma lokho kwakufaka ukuphila kwakhe engozini. Wathi kuDavide: “Wena ngokwakho uzoba yinkosi phezu kuka-Israyeli, mina ngokwami ngibe ngowesibili ukusuka kuwe.” (1 Sam. 23:17) Uyalithola iphuzu? UJonathani wasamukela isimo sakhe, futhi ngokungafani noyise, akazange abe nomhawu ngoDavide. Kunokuba nomona ngezabelo mhlawumbe ezinikwe abanye, sonke singagxila ekunakekeleni imithwalo yemfanelo esinayo. Singaqiniseka ukuthi ezweni elisha, uJehova uyoqinisekisa ukuthi izifiso ezifanele zazo zonke izinceku zakhe ziyaneliswa.

21. Kufanele sikubheke kanjani ukuba kwethu abaphathi?

²¹ Masikhumbule ukuthi njengabaphathi abathenjwayo, asibhekene nobugqila obubuhlungu obuhambisana nokucindezelwa nezinyembezi. Izimo zethu zihluke kakhulu kunalezo. Sinesikhundla esiphakeme kakhulu, njengoba siphathiswe umsebenzi ongasoze waphindwa wokumemezela izindaba ezinhle kulezi zinsuku zokugcina zalesi simiso sezinto. Njengoba senza lo msebenzi, sinikezwe inkululeko enkulu mayelana nokuthi sizowusingatha kanjani lo mthwalo esiwuphathisiwe. Ngakho-ke, masibe abaphathi abathembekile. Kwangathi futhi singalazisa ilungelo esinalo lokukhonza Lowo omkhulu kunabo bonke endaweni yonke.