Inkonzo Engcwele Njengomkhaya
“Ngiyanincenga . . . ukuba ninikela imizimba yenu ibe-ngumnikelo ophilayo, ongcwele, othandeka kuNkulunkulu, kube ngukukhonza kwenu kokuqonda.”—Roma 12:1.
1, 2. (a) Ukuze uqhube “inkonzo engcwele” eyamukelekayo, yiziphi izimfuneko okumelwe umkhaya wamaKristu uhlangabezane nazo? (b) Yisho ezinye zezinkinga ezingase ziphazamise “inkonzo engcwele” yomkhaya wamaKristu.
EBANDLENI lobuKristu umkhaya uqashelwa njengeqembu elibalulekile. Uma kukhona uthando, ukuthula nobunye eqenjini lomkhaya nokuqaphela ukubaluleka kokwenza “inkonzo engcwele” kuJehova, khona-ke umkhaya ungaba usizo olukhulu ebandleni lobuKristu. (Roma 12:1) Inselele iwukwakha nokugcina obunjalo ubunye bomkhaya.
2 Ziningi izinto ezimelene nokuphumelela kwemikhaya yamaKristu osukwini lwethu. Ngokwesibonelo, indoda nomfazi ngokuvamile baba nomuzwa wokuthi kudingeka basebenze bobabili ukuze bathole imali eyanele yokondla umkhaya. Kulesisimo, imikhaya ingase ithambekele ekwahlukaneni. Ngezinye izikhathi, ngenxa yokucindezela okunamandla kwalesisimiso sezinto, umkhaya ungase uhlukaniswe isifiso sokuphila ngezikweletu, kunokulalela iseluleko seBhayibheli sokwaneliswa ‘ukudla nokokwembatha.’ (1 Thimothewu 6:8) Umoya wokuzinqumela nesifiso sokuba umuntu enze lokho akuthandayo, kunokubambisana, nakho kuyizici ezihlukanisa imikhaya esikhundleni sokuyihlanganisa ngobunye. Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi ithonya lingase libe yini, kukhona inkambo, leyo, uma ilandelwa, engaba usizo olukhulu emkhayeni wamaKristu.
3. Iyiphi inkambo esikiselwayo?
3 Lenkambo ibekwe emazwini eNtshumayelo yaseNtabeni. INkosi uJesu yathi: “Funani kuqala umbuso kaNkulunkulu nokulunga kwakhe, khona konke lokhu kuyakwenezelwa nina.” (Mathewu 6:33) Lengxoxo izokhuluma ngaleyonkambo. Ayizukukhuluma ngezici zokuphila komkhaya kodwa ngezinqubo ezifanelekile umkhaya ongazilandela ekufuneni kuqala umbuso nasekwenzeni izinto eziphumela enjabulweni, emkhayeni wamaKristu onothando, lowo onganikezela ngokuphumelelayo “inkonzo engcwele” kuNkulunkulu.
‘UKUFUNA KUQALA UMBUSO’
4. Kungenxa yasiphi isimo esizuzwe ngefa kudingeka siziqeqeshe ngendlela yokuthokozisa uJehova? (Jer. 10:23)
4 Uma okuthile kuza kuqala ekuphileni komuntu, khona-ke kungokuyinhloko, kungokubaluleke kakhulu. UJesu wathi: “Uma umuntu ethanda ukuza emva kwami, makazidele, athabathe isigxobo sakhe sokuhlushwa imihla ngemihla, angilandele.” (Luka 9:23, NW) Ukuba umlandeli ongokoqobo kaJesu nokuzidela kudinga ukuba umuntu ngempela ‘afune kuqala umbuso.’ Ngenxa yokuthambekela kwethu kokungapheleli kwengqondo nenhliziyo kusukela ekuzalweni kuqhubeke ngenxa yesono esizuzwe njengefa, kumelwe sonke sifundiswe noma siqeqeshwe ngokuthi yini elindeleke kithi ukuze sithokozise uNkulunkulu. (Genesise 8:21: Roma 5:12) Kumelwe sifundiswe ‘ukufuna kuqala umbuso,’ ngoba uma kushiyelwe kithi, ngokungenakuguquka siyofuna kuqala izifiso zethu siqu nesikufunayo. Ngakho-ke uJehova uye wasilungiselela isiyalo esiza kithi ngeZwi lakhe futhi esinikeza ukuqondisa okufanelekile.
5. KuDuteronomi 6:6-9, sasandiswe kangakanani isimiso sokuqeqesha uJehova asibekela uIsrayeli wasendulo?
5 UJehova wayala abantu bakhe abakhethiwe, uIsrayeli wasendulo, ukuba afundise abantwana bakhe imithetho yakhe nezimiso. Kwakumelwe aphindaphinde izimfundiso ekhaya, lapho engekho ekhaya, lapho behleli nalapho besebenza. (Duteronomi 6:6-9) Lesosiyalo esifanayo sifanelekile emikhayeni namuhla ekunikezeni kwayo “inkonzo engcwele” kuNkulunkulu. Lapho sifundiswa ‘ukufuna kuqala umbuso,’ sifunda ukwamukela imithwalo yemfanelo. Omunye walemithwalo yemfanelo uwukuphana.
UKUPHANA
6. (a) Ikuphi ukuphana esikukhathalela kakhulu lapha? (b) Mkhulu kangakanani umthwalo wemfanelo wabazali endabeni yokuphana? (c) Isiphi isithiyo umphostoli uPawulu asibeka kweyesi-2 kwabaseKorinte 2:14-16, futhi lokhu kungabangela siphi isimo kwabanye?
6 Lapha asifuni ukugxila encazelweni yokuphana ngezinto ezibonakalayo yebo, nakho okubalulekile futhi ukuze sithole injabulo yoqobo. (IzEnzo 20:35) Ukukhathalela kwethu kuwukupha abanye ithuba lokuba nethemba amaKristu analo embusweni kaNkulunkulu. Enye yezimfanelo ezinhle kakhulu umzali angayigxilisa kumntanakhe iyisifiso sokutshela abanye “izindaba ezinhle” zombuso. Kusukela bebancane abantwana bangafundiswa ukuphana ngokuhlanganyela nabanye “izindaba ezinhle zombuso.” (Mathewu 24:14, NW) Lokhu kufuna umzamo omkhulu kubazali ngoba isigijimi sombuso asamukelwa kalula noma sifiselwe yiningi esiyiswa kulo. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi uSathane, “unkulunkulu walesisimiso sezinto” uye waphuphuthekisa izingqondo zabantu “ezindabeni ezinhle ngoKristu.” (2 Korinte 4:4, NW) Umphostoli uPawulu wakhuluma ngokugcwalisa kwethu lomthwalo wemfanelo nomphumela wakho. Wathi: “UNkulunkulu usisebenzisa ukuba sisakaze ulwazi ngoKristu yonke indawo njengephunga elimnandi. Ngokuba siyiphunga elimnandi elinikelwa uKristu kuNkulunkulu, elisakazwa phakathi kwalabo abasindiswayo nabalahlekayo. Ngokuba kulabo abalahlekayo liyiphunga lokufa kube ngukufa; kodwa kulabo abasindiswayo, liyiphunga eliletha ukuphila.” (2 Korinte 2:14-16, Today’s English Version) Inkinga iwukuthi iningi lesintu libheka lesigijimi esibaluleke kakhulu njengokuthile okubulalayo, okungamukeleki kulo. Ukuhlanganyela ekusakazeni lesisigijimi kubantu abanjalo kungaba nzima futhi kudumaze.
7. Isiphi isikhuthazo abantwana abasidingayo ukuze baqhubeke nalokho abakufundayo?
7 Lokhu kwenza indima yabazali abangamaKristu ibe ebaluleke kakhulu ekuqeqesheni abantwana babo ukuba abahlanganyeli ‘kulenkonzo engcwele.’ Inkonzo enjalo isakaza “ulwazi ngoKristu,” olubangela injabulo enkulu kwabambalwa, kodwa olwenqatshwa ngokuphelele abaningi. Abazali banethuba nesibopho sokuqala ukuqeqesha abantwana babo besebancane ukuze balungele futhi bahlomele ukuphana kule“nkonzo engcwele,” besakaza isigijimi ngoKristu noMbuso kwabanye. Abantwana badinga usizo olukhulu lokwazisa ukuthi, ngisho nakuba abaningi bebheka isigijimi esikhazimulayo esivela kuNkulunkulu njengesibulalayo, abamemezeli abasha be“zindaba ezinhle” akumelwe balahlekelwe yinjabulo nentshiseko. Futhi akumelwe bayekethise futhi bayeke ukuba nengxenye ekunikezeni “inkonzo engcwele” kuJehova.—1 Korinte 9:16, 17.
8. (a) Sibaluleke kangakanani isibonelo sobuzali ekwenzeni “inkonzo engcwele”? (b) Kungani kukuhle ngabazali ukuba nengxenye eqondile ekuqeqesheni okunjalo?
8 Khona-ke kusobala ukuthi abazali banomthwalo wemfanelo ojulile nongapheliyo wokubonisa ekuphileni kwabo siqu intshiseko nokuzinikezela abanakho ngokuhlanganyela njalo emsebenzini wokumemezela ngoMbuso. Kumelwe bakwenze ingxenye yomsebenzi wokuphila kwabo ukuba nabantwana babo enkonzweni yoMbuso, bangabathumeli abasha babo ukuba bayonakekelwa ngabanye ngaso sonke isikhathi. Akekho omunye ongabathwalela lomthwalo wemfanelo. Ukubeka isibonelo esihle kuyindlela enhle kakhulu yokugxilisa imigomo efanelekile nezisusa kubantwana. Khumbula iseluleko esingokomBhalo: “Khulisa umntwana ngendlela eyakuba-ngeyakhe: kuyakuthi lapho esekhulile, angasuki kuyo.” (IzAga 22:6) Ukuze banikeze ukuqeqesha okufanelekile, ubaba noma umama, noma bobabili lapho kunokwenzeka, kumelwe babe nabantwana babo. Kumelwe bahlanganyele ‘enkonzweni engcwele’ njengomkhaya.
9. Hlela imiphumela emibili ezuzisayo yokuhlanganyela enkonzweni engcwele yoMbuso.
9 Lokhu kuhlanganyela “izindaba ezinhle” nabanye kunemiphumela emihle, ngaphandle kokunikeza umuntu ukwaneliseka kokwazi ukuthi wenza lokho uJehova amyale ngakho. Kunikeza abantwana imigomo efanelekile yokuyisebenzela ekuphileni. Ukusekela imigomo eyize okwenziwa yiningi lentsha akulethi injabulo yoqobo nehlala njalo kuyo. Ukusukela umgomo othokozisa uJehova kuletha ukwesaba uNkulunkulu nokwaneliseka, imigomo emihle kakhulu. Lapho izwe ngokuvamile lifuna ukwaneliseka, imikhaya eyesaba uNkulunkulu ebandleni lobuKristu ikuthola kunokufinyelelwa, uma nje kuphela iyokubamba. Kunezindlela eziningi zokuthola ukwaneliseka.—Efesu 5:15, 16.
INKONZO YOBUPHAYONA
10. Inkonzo yobuphayona ingakhuthazwa kanjani emkhayeni wamaKristu, futhi namuphi umphumela?
10 Ezweni lonke phakathi nonyaka wenkonzo ka-1980 kwakukhona oFakazi BakaJehova abayizi-137 000 abahlanganyela ohlotsheni oluthile lwenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele, inkonzo yobuphayona. Labantu bathola ukwaneliseka okukhulu ngokuhlanganyela ngokugcwele ekumemezeleni ngombuso. Loluhlobo ‘lwenkonzo engcwele’ lwabalethela izibusiso eziningi ezivela kuJehova. Ngezinye izikhathi, amalungu emikhaya angalungiselela ukuba omunye wabo angenele inkonzo yobuphayona besikhathi esigcwele. Kungase kudingeke ukuba ngamunye anikele ngesilinganiso esithile kodwa imivuzo ikufanele lokho. Wake wakucabangela yini ukuba elinye ilungu lomkhaya wenu lihlanganyele kulengxenye ye“nkonzo engcwele”? Abantu abangashadile abaningi nemibhangqwana eshadile abaqalisa inkonzo yobuphayona, okokuqala njengamaphayona asizayo, kamuva njengavamile namaphayona akhethekile, bathola ukuthi basesimweni sokwandisa inkonzo yabo kwezinye izingxenye ze“nkonzo engcwele.”
INKONZO YEZITHUNYWA ZEVANGELI
11. (a) Abaningi baye bangenela yiphi ingxenye ye“nkonzo engcwele”? (b) Lokhu kuye kwaba okubaluleke kanjani ekuqhubeni “inkonzo engcwele”?
11 Iminyaka engaphezu kwama-38 iWatchtower Bible School of Gilead ibisebenza, iqeqesha futhi ihlomisela abantu ukuya kwamanye amasimu lapho beye bakwazi khona ‘ukufuna kuqala umbuso.’ Obaba abaningi nomama abangamaKristu baye bazimisela ukudela injabulo yokuba nabantwana babo eduze, kodwa baye babakhuthaza ukuba bandise inkonzo yabo kanjalo basize abanye kwamanye amazwe. Izinkulungwane zabazalwane nodade abangashadile, kanye nemibhangqwana eshadile, baye babusiswa ngelungelo lokungenela inkonzo yezithunywa zevangeli kwamanye amazwe. Baye bacetshiswa ngezibusiso eziningi kulolohlobo lwe“nkonzo engcwele” futhi baye baba amathuluzi ekusakazeni “izindaba ezinhle” ezingxenyeni ezikude zomhlaba. Kuze kube namuhla kukhona abathola iziqu beklasi lokuqala lesikole saseGilead abakhonza kwamanye amazwe, futhi ezimweni eziningi benza isisekelo esiqinile somsebenzi owaqaliswa eminyakeni engamashumi edlule. Ekuqhubeni kwenu “inkonzo engcwele” njengomkhaya, ingabe nisesimweni sokukhuthaza noma imuphi wabantwana benu ukuba acabangele lengxenye yenkonzo?—Malaki 3:10.
INKONZO YASEBETHEL
12. Iyiphi ingxenye iBethel engayifeza “enkonzweni engcwele” yemikhaya ethile?
12 Kuwo wonke umhlaba emahhovisi egatsha kukhona amakhaya aseBethel lapho izinsizwa nezintombi ezizinikezele ngokugcwele zingakhonza khona uMdali wazo ezinsukwini zobunsizwa nobuntombi bazo. (UmShumayeli 12:1) Loluhlobo lwe“nkonzo engcwele” futhi luletha izinjabulo eziningi kulabo abayifanelekelayo, njengoba bayakwazi ukunikela inkonzo ngenxa yabafowabo nodadewabo abasenkonzweni yokushumayela nokufundisa. Imikhaya eminingi ibusiswa ngelungelo lokuba nabantwana noma izihlobo ezikhonza emkhayeni waseBethel. Nakuba lengxenye yenkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele ingamvumeli umuntu ukuba ahlanganyele enkonzweni yasobala ngokwezinga elilingana nelamaphayona noma umsebenzi wezithunywa zevangeli, nokho labo abakhonza eBethel bahlanganyela ekushumayeleni endlini ngendlu nasekusakazeni isigijimi soMbuso. (IzAga 20:20) Ngokungaphezulu, benza izinkonzo ezidingekayo ezisiza ekugcineni inkonzo yezwe lonke iqhubeka.
UYOKWENZANI?
13. Iliphi ithuba elihlala livulekele imikhaya yamaKristu?
13 UPawulu, encwadini yakhe eya ebandleni laseKorinte, waloba ukuthi wayehlala e-Efesu isikhashana ngoba ‘umnyango omkhulu wethuba lokusebenza wawumvulekele.’ (1 Korinte 16:9) Phambi kwabantu bakaJehova namuhla kusekhona umnyango omkhulu wokusebenza, “inkonzo engcwele,” osavulekile. Siphila ezinsukwini zokugcwaliseka kokugcina kweziprofetho eziningi zeBhayibheli ezimaqondana ‘nesikhathi sesiphelo’ lapho izindaba ezinhle zombuso kumelwe zishunyayelwe kuwo wonke umhlaba kube ubufakazi. (Daniyeli 12:4; Mathewu 24:14) Imikhaya yamaKristu yoFakazi BakaJehova iyokwenzani? Kuyaphuthuma, ngoba isikhathi silinganiselwe. Amalungiselelo akhona ngoba uJehova uye walungiselela iZwi lakhe iBhayibheli nezincwadi ezikhishwa “inceku ethembekileyo neqondayo” ukuze kuzuze abantu abesaba uNkulunkulu. (Mathewu 24:45-47) Imikhaya ikhona, futhi uJehova uyaqhubeka enezela izinkulungwane ekuhlanganyeleni ekumemezeleni umbuso.—Qhathanisa noIsaya 60:22.
14. (a) Imiphi imibuzo efanelekile imikhaya engazibuza yona? (b) Kukanjani ukuthi singacatshangelwa sifanelekele ukuhlanganyela “inkonzo engcwele”?
14 Ngakho-ke imibuzo iwukuthi: Wenzani? Ingabe ubamba ithuba onalo manje, kokubili njengomkhaya nanjengomuntu ngamunye, lokunikezela “inkonzo engcwele” kuMdali? Ingabe ukhuthaza abanye ukuba benze njalo? Ingabe umkhaya wakini ungomunye waleyo enikeza ubufakazi bokusekelwa esisekelweni esiqinile, efisa ukuveza izithelo zoMbuso? Lapho ekhuluma ngokuba iphunga elimnandi elisakazwa phakathi kwalabo abasindiswayo nalabo abalahlwayo, uPawulu uqhubeka athi: “Ubani-ke, okwazi ukwenza umsebenzi onjalo? Ngokuba asinjengabaningi abaphatha isigijimi sikaNkulunkulu njengento engelutho; kodwa ngoba uNkulunkulu esithumile, sikhuluma ngobuqotho phambi kwakhe, njengezinceku zikaKristu.”—2 Korinte 2:16, 17, TEV.
15, 16. (a) Abanye bangakwazi kanjani ukwandisa ukuhlanganyela kwabo ekuthuthukiseni izithakazelo zombuso? (b) Ziyini izibusiso ze“nkonzo engcwele” eyandisiwe?
15 Ngokubonisa uthando, ukuthula nobunye eqenjini lomkhaya, ngokunikeza ukubaluleka okuyinhloko ‘ekufuneni kuqala umbuso,’ ngokuhlala phansi ibale izindleko, imikhaya yamaKristu ingathola ukuthi ngempela iyokwazi ukwandisa ingxenye enayo ekwandiseni isigijimi esibaluleke kakhulu kwesake samenyezelwa kulomhlaba, “izindaba ezinhle” zombuso kaNkulunkulu osumisiwe. Ngenxa yobuqotho babo, nemizamo ebumbene bayothola isibusiso sikaJehova, futhi akenezeli ubuhlungu ezibusisweni azilethayo.—IzAga 10:22.
16 Kungani ningahlali phansi njengomkhaya futhi nicabangele ukuthi nenzani futhi yini eningayenza? Ukwethembeka ngokungangabazeki kuyoshukumisela iningi lethu ukuvuma ukuthi ngomzamo omncane owengeziwe singayandisa ingxenye umkhaya wethu onayo ekuhlanganyeleni kwekaJehova “inkonzo engcwele.” Khumbulani ukuthi uJehova akasiceli ukuba senze okungaphezu kwesilinganiso. Uthando lwethu ngaye, ngomkhaya wethu nangesintu sisonke kumelwe lusishukumisele ekuzihloleni nokunquma ukuthi singenzani. Cabangela izici ezihlukahlukene zeyakho “inkonzo engcwele,” inkonzo yakho ekhazimulayo njengomfundi kaKristu. (2 Korinte 4:7) Yisa indaba kuJehova ngomthandazo, ucele ukuqondisa kwakhe nosizo maqondana nemizamo oyenzayo. Izibusiso ziningi manje nokwaneliseka kokwesaba uNkulunkulu, futhi ikusasa liphethe izithembiso zokuphila okungokoqobo, ohlelweni olusha lwezinto lukaNkulunkulu.—Mathewu 25:34; 1 Thimothewu 6:6, 17-19.
“Makungabikho-muntu odelela ubusha bakho, kepha yiba-yisibonelo kwabakholwayo ngezwi, nangenkambo, nangothando, nangokukholwa, nangokuhlanzeka.”—1 Thimothewu 4:12.
AMAPHUZU OKUBA KUXOXWE NGAWO NJENGOMKHAYA
• Ngaphezu kokusebenzisa komuntu siqu amazwi kaJesu akuMathewu 6:33, kungani kumelwe imikhaya ikhathalele ukusebenzisa lawomazwi ngobunye?
• Ungaba kanjani nengxenye enkulu esimisweni somkhaya sokufundisa abantwana ukuba babelane nabanye isigijimi sombuso?
• Ikuphi ukuhlela okuwusizo okungenziwa emkhayeni wakho ukuze abantwana bahlanganyele ngokugcwele kulomsebenzi?
• Iziphi izici ezikhethekile ze“nkonzo engcwele” ezingaba imigomo enengqondo kuwe noma elungwini lomkhaya wakho?
• Umkhaya wakho ungasebenza kanjani ndawonye ukuze okungenani oyedwa wenu afinyelele umgomo onjalo?
[Isithombe ekhasini 22]
Intsha ingafunda izifundo eziningi ezibalulekile ngokuphana lapho iphelekezela umzali ophana ngesigijimi sobuKristu
[Isithombe ekhasini 23]
Intsha eningi ejabulelé “inkonzo engcwele” nemikhaya yayo iye yathola injabulo ekukhonzeni njengezikhonzi zesikhathi esigcwele ezingamaphayona
[Isithombe ekhasini 24]
Ukukhonza ekhaya laseBethel kungaba umthombo wokwaneliseka okujulile. Kuwumnikelo obalulekile ‘enkonzweni ngcwele’ yomhlaba wonke