“Nina Ningusawoti Womhlaba”
“Nina ningusawoti womhlaba, kepha uma usawoti edumele, ubusawoti bovuswa ngani na?”—MATHEWU 5:13.
1. Uyini usawoti ovamile?
USAWOTI uyinto emangalisayo. Wakhiwe ngesodium, okuthile okusansimbi okungavamile, nechlorine, ugesi owushevu. Iqiniso lokuthi lezizakhi ezimbili eziyingozi zingahlangana ukuze zakhe inhlanganisela eyinzuzo kuyilungiselelo elimangalisayo loMdali elisiza isintu.—IHubo 104:24.
2. Kungaboniswa kanjani ukuthi usawoti uvimbela ukubola futhi ungagcina izinto zingonakali?
2 Ngokwesibonelo, usawoti uwusizo kakhulu ekuvimbeleni ukubola. Isibonelo salokhu: Indoda ethile yafaka izikhumba zezimvu ezimbili ebhuthini yemoto yayo futhi yahamba uhambo olude elangeni elishisayo eAfrika. Lapho ekugcineni ivula ibhuthi, kwakunephunga elibi futhi izikhumba zazinezimpethu! Noma kunjalo, izimpethu zasuswa futhi, kwakhuhlwa ngosawoti. Waba yini umphumela? Zaba omata baphansi abathambile abasetshenziswa iminyaka eminingi.
3. Yini engashiwo ngobugugu nokutholakala kukasawoti?
3 Khona-ke, ngokukhanyayo, usawoti uwusizo kakhulu ekugcineni izinto zingaboli. Unolunye usizo futhi. Eqinisweni, eShayina yasendulo wawuyigugu njengegolide. Igama elithi “usawoti” ngesiLatini usal, futhi ezikhathini zombuso waseRoma, amabutho ayethola ingxenye yomholo wawo iwusawoti (salarium). Kuleligama kuvela elithi “salary.” Yebo, ezindaweni eziningi namuhla, usawoti uvamile futhi awuduli. Izilwandle zinosawoti oyizigidi eziyi-19 cu km—owanele ukuba ungacwilisa yonke iUnited States ngokujula okungu-1,6 khilomitha! Ngisho nalapho uJesu Kristu esemhlabeni, usawoti wawumningi kakhulu. Ngokwesibonelo, amanzi asoLwandle Olufile ayenomningi, futhi kwakunezintaba eziveza usawoti eduze nendawo lapho umkaLoti aphenduka “insika kasawoti.”—Genesise 19:26.
4. Kungani singathi usawoti ubalulekile ngokuqondene nokuphila?
4 Usawoti unosizo futhi olungokwempilo. Imizimba yethu inosawoti ongamagremu angama-230, futhi singafa ngaphandle kwawo. Ngakho usawoti udingekile ukuze siphile. Kodwa njengoba usetshenziswa eBhayibhelini, usawoti futhi unokubaluleka okungokomfanekiso okuthintana nokuphila nemisebenzi yobuKristu.
“Kuyolisiwe Ngosawoti”
5. Ngokuqondene nokudla, iyiphi injongo efezwa usawoti?
5 Lapho umpheki ekhohlwa ukuthela usawoti ekudleni okuthile, ukudla kungaba duma kangangokuba abantu benqabe ukukudla. Njengoba uJobe asho: ‘Okuduma kungadliwa ngaphandle kukasawoti na?’ (Jobe 6:1, 6) Usawoti wandisa ubumnandi bokudla. Kokubili lemfanelo kasawoti nokuba usizo kwayo ekugcineni izinto zingaboli kuyasetshenziswa ngokomfanekiso emiBhalweni. Usawoti usetshenziswa ngokukhethekile ekuchazeni uhlobo lwenkulumo oluqondile.
6. EyabaseKolose 4:6 isebenza kanjani enkonzweni yoFakazi BakaJehova?
6 Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Ukukhuluma kwenu makube-nomusa njalo, kuyolisiwe ngosawoti, ukuze nazi enifanele ukubaphendula ngakho bonke abantu.” Enye inguqulo ifundeka kanje: “Ingxoxo yenu mayibe nomusa, futhi ingabi duma.” (Kolose 4:6; The New English Bible) AmaKristu eqiniso asebenzisa amahora amaningi ekhuluma nabantu ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Kuyiqiniso, akubona bonke oFakazi BakaJehova abayizikhulumi eziqephuzayo ngokwemvelo. Nokho, uma besazisa ngokujulile isigijimi futhi bekhuluma ngokwanelisayo nangemfudumalo, bangase baphendulele izinhliziyo zabantu abaningi eqinisweni leZwi likaNkulunkulu. Khona-ke, yeka ukuthi kubaluleke kanjani ngenkulumo yezikhonzi zikaJehova ukuba ibe nomusa futhi ikhange!
7. Amazwi omKristu “ayolisiwe” angaba namuphi umphumela omuhle?
7 Amazwi omKristu ‘ayolisiwe’ awenzi kuphela ukuba isilaleli sithole ubumnandi besigijimi seBhayibheli kodwa futhi athambekele ekusindiseni ukuphila kwalabo abawalalelayo. Ngakho-ke, njengoba nje usawoti udingekile ekuphileni, inkulumo yezikhonzi zikaJehova ingasho ukuphila kulabo abalalela ngokwazisa lokho ezikushoyo ngenjongo nangoMbuso kaNkulunkulu.—Qhathanisa noJohane 6:63, 68.
8. Kungani umusa kumelwe ube yisici senkulumo yezikhonzi ezingamaKristu?
8 Ngokufanelekile, umusa kumelwe ube yisici senkulumo yamaKristu lapho ekhuluma nabangakholwa. Ngezinye izikhathi izilaleli zesigijimi soMbuso ziphendula ngendlela enokhahlo noma enonya. Kodwa izikhonzi zikaJehova akumelwe ziphendule ngaleyondlela. Kunalokho, ngaso sonke isikhathi kufanele zibe nomusa. Kusho ukuthini ukuba nomusa? Kusho ukuba mnene, ukuba ojabulisayo, onenhlonipho, nonobubele. Indlela yomKristu emnene, enesineke yokusingatha imibuzo, izimpikiswano, ukugxekwa, noma imikhuba emibi ngokuvamile yenza umehluko obalulekile. Njengoba isaga sisho, “Impendulo ethambileyo iyabuyisa ukufutheka.” (IzAga 15:1) Umusa, inhlonipho nezimpendulo eziqondile enkonzweni yobuKristu zingathambisa abantu okuthi nakuba benomkhuba ongathandeki, kodwa babe benezinhliziyo ezinhle.—IzAga 25:15.
9. AmaKristu kumelwe axoxe kanjani nakholwa nabo, futhi ngani?
9 Khona-ke, amaKristu kumelwe axoxe kanjani nakholwa nabo? Ingabe ngokungenamusa? Lutho neze! Ngani? Ngoba lezikhonzi ezizinikezele zikaJehova nazo ziyingxenye ‘yomhlambi kaNkulunkulu,’ okumelwe uphathwe ngomusa.—Qhathanisa neyoku-1 Petru 5:2-4; IzEnzo 20:29.
10. Yikuphi ukuxhumana eyabase-Efesu 4:29-32 okumelwe ibe nakho enkulumweni esetshenziswa izikhonzi zikaJehova?
10 Ingabe inceku kaJehova kumelwe isebenzise ulimi olubi lapho ikhuluma nesebenza nabo okungenzeka baye bayicasula? Ingabe kuyoba ngokufanelekile ngenduna engumKristu ukuba isebenzise inkulumo engcolile uma izisebenzi ziyidumaza? Lapho amadoda noma abesifazane abangamaKristu ngandlela-thile becasukile, ingabe kumelwe baklabalase ngamagama amabi komunye noma kubantwana babo? Lutho neze! UPawulu wabhala: “Makungaphumi emlonyeni wenu nalinye izwi elibolileyo, . . . Konke okubabayo, nentukuthelo, nolaka, nomsindo, nokuhlambalaza makususwe kini kanye nakho konke okubi. Maniphathane ngobumnene, nihawukelane, nithethelelane, njengalokho noNkulunkulu wanithethelela ngoKristu.”—Efesu 4:29-32.
“Yibani-Nosawoti Phakathi Kwenu”
11, 12. UJesu wayebhekisela ‘kusawoti’ waluhlobo luni kuMarku 9:50, futhi lawomazwi ayodinga luhlobo luni lwenkulumo nesenzo?
11 Njengoba singaphelele, sonke kunezikhathi lapho sikhuluma ngendlela engamfanele umKristu. Njengoba umfundi uJakobe avuma ngobuqotho: “Sonke siyakhubeka ngokuningi; uma umuntu engakhubeki ngazwi, lowo uyindoda epheleleyo enamandla okubamba nomzimba wonke kungathi ngetomu.” (Jakobe 3:2, 8-10) Abafundi bakaJesu bakuqala babengahlukile kulokhu, futhi kwakumelwe basolwe ngenxa yokwehluleka ukukhuluma ngomusa komunye nomunye. Ngokwesibonelo, ngesinye isikhathi abafundi baphikisana kanzima ngokuthi ubani omkhulu phakathi kwabo. UJesu wanika lonke iqembu iseluleko esihle maqondana nokukhuba abanye ngaleyondlela ‘ligqunyiswe ngomlilo,’ noma libhujiswe eGehena. Khona-ke waphetha ngamazwi athi: “Yibani-nosawoti phakathi kwenu, nihlalisane ngokuthula.”—Marku 9:33-50.
12 Ngokusobala, lapho uJesu wayengabhekiseli esilinganisweni esincane sikasawoti woqobo otholakala emizimbeni yenyama yabafundi bakhe. Kunalokho, wayebhekisela ekucabangelaneni kwabo, ekuhlakanipheni, ekuhlanzekeni, nasekubeni nokuthula ekukhulumeni nasekuziphatheni—benze ngendlela enhle ngakwabanye. Lokhu kubalulekile ukuze amaKristu eqiniso ahlalisane ngokuthula.
“Usawoti Womhlaba”
13. UJesu wayesho ukuthini lapho etshela abalandeli bakhe, “Nina ningusawoti womhlaba”?
13 Ngokuqondene nabalandeli bakhe, uJesu futhi wathi: “Ningusawoti womhlaba.” (Mathewu 5:13) Ngokusho lokhu, uJesu wayengasho akuthi abafundi bakhe babengusawoti woqobo. Kunalokho, usawoti ulondoloza izinto zingaboli, futhi isigijimi abalandeli bakaJesu ababesiyisa kubantu sasilondoloza ukuphila kwabaningi. Ngempela, abafundi bakhe babenethonya elisindisayo kulabo abalalela isigijimi sabo, bevimbela ukubola ngokomoya nangokuziphatha kubantu abanjalo. Kwakungekho kungabaza ngeqiniso lokuthi izindaba ezinhle ezamenyezelwa abalandeli bakaJesu zaziyosindisa ukuphila.—IzEnzo 5:20; 13:46-48.
Usawoti Uvikela Ekonakaleni
14. Ukuze kumelwane nokonakala kwezwe, yini edingekayo?
14 Ngokombono kaJehova uNkulunkulu ophakeme nomsulwa sonke lesimiso sezinto esibi kufanele sibonakale njengezikhumba zezimvu okukhulunywe ngazo ngaphambili. Ngaphambi kokuba zikhuhlwe futhi kusetshenziswe usawoti, zazinephunga elibi futhi zinezimpethu. Nokho, ngezinga elithile, wonke umuntu uthintwa yizimo zalelizwe, futhi ukuze amelane nokonakala okufinyelela kuzo zonke izici zokuphila, umuntu udinga isibindi futhi kumelwe agcine ubuqotho bakhe kuNkulunkulu. Kungalendlela kuphela umuntu angayilondoloza ngayo ekonakaleni kokuziphatha. Akadingi nje kuphela umusa ekukhulumeni kodwa futhi nemfanelo evikelayo emenza athi cha kuzo zonke izinhlobo zokonakala. Endabeni yakhe, kunesidingo esiphuthumayo ‘sikasawoti.’—1 Petru 4:1-3.
15. Yiziphi izibonelo ezinhle ezabekwa uJesu noDaniyeli?
15 Inceku kaJehova ethembekile kufanele ikwazi ukuthi cha emikhubeni emibi nezilingo. Khumbula ukuthi uJesu wathi cha izikhathi ezintathu lapho elingwa uSathane ehlane. (Mathewu 4:1-10) Futhi cabangela isibonelo esanikezwa umprofethi uDaniyeli. Wafunda ukuthi cha esemncane ngeminyaka. Lapho uDaniyeli eseyinsizwa ethunjiwe eBabiloni, yena nabangane bakhe banikezwa “isabelo semihla ngemihla sokudla kwenkosi.” Kodwa uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe basenqaba. Lokhu kwakungekhona ukunqaba ukuphathwa kahle. Kunalokho, lezinsizwa zamaHeberu ezine zanamathela ekudleni imifino namanzi kuphela ngoba zazikhathalela ukugwema ukudla okunqatshelwe uMthetho kaJehova noma okungcoliswe imikhuba yobuhedeni. Kwakudingeka isibindi sangempela ukuthatha leyonkambo. Umphumela wawunomvuzo, ngoba ekupheleni kwesikhathi sokuhlolwa esasibekiwe, ukubonakala kwabo komzimba kwakungcono kunalabo ababedla ukudla kwasebukhosini. Futhi ngokomoya lawomaHeberu ajabulela isibusiso nokuvunyelwa uJehova.—Daniyeli 1:5-17.
16. Kungani kungashiwo ukuthi uDaniyeli wayeyinceku kaJehova ‘esiyoliswe kahle ngosawoti’?
16 UJehova uNkulunkulu wenza ukuba uDaniyeli nabangane bakhe balondolozeke ngenxa yokuthi ‘babenosawoti kubo.’ Kodwa singafunda okwengeziwe kuDaniyeli. Wamiswa esikhundleni esiphakeme embusweni waseBabiloni. Ngaphansi kwalezizimo kumelwe ukuba wayethi cha izikhathi eziningi, ngoba wayezungezwe abantu abangabahedeni, futhi ngokungangabazeki umuzi wasebukhosini wawugcwele ukuziphatha okubi, ukuqamba amanga, ukufumbathisa, amacebo ezombangazwe, neminye imikhuba eyonakele. UDaniyeli wayengaphansi kokucindezeleka okukhulu ezikhathini eziningi. Kodwa nakuba ayephakathi ‘kwezwe’ lalesosikhathi, ‘wayengeyena owezwe.’ (Johane 17:16) UDaniyeli wayeyisikhonzi sikaJehova esithembekile, “esiyoliswe kahle.” Phela, izitha zikaDaniyeli, mhlawumbe zicasukile ngoba ubuqotho nokwethembeka kwakhe kwakuzibonakalisa kabi, zazama ngisho nokumbulala! Noma kunjalo, kwakumelwe zivume ukuthi “wayethembekile; akutholwanga-siphosiso nacala kuye.” (Daniyeli 6:4, 5) Yeka isibonelo esihle!
17. Yiluphi uvivinyo olunzima amaKristu amasha abhekana nalo namuhla?
17 NjengoDaniyeli osemusha nabangane bakhe, amaKristu amasha namuhla abhekene novivinyo olunzima. Ikakhulu esikoleni, kumelwe alwisane nemilaliso, ugwayi, uphuzo oludakayo, izinkulumo ezingcolile, ukuziphatha okubi, ukukhohlisa, umoya wokuhlubuka, ukukhulekela kwamanga, ubuzwe, abangane ababi, izimfundiso ezingamanga njengezokuziphendukela kwemvelo, namanye amathonya anamandla. Kudingeka umKristu omusha ‘oyoliswe kahle ngosawoti’ ukuze ahlale engumgcini-buqotho ohlanzekile kuzo zonke lezozilingo.
18. (a) Abazali abangamaKristu bangenza kahle uma becabangela miphi imibuzo? (b) Yini etuswayo ngabazali abakuthola kunzima ukusiza abantwana babo?
18 Ngakho-ke, bazali abangamaKristu, cabangelani ngokucophelela isimo somkhaya wenu. Ingabe wonke amalungu omkhaya ayathuthuka ngokomoya? Ingabe uye wawuvimbela umonakalo wezwe ukuba ungangcolisi abantwana bakho? Ingabe uyakwazi abakwenzayo nalokho ngempela abakucabangayo nendlela abazizwa ngayo ngokukhulekela kweqiniso? Ingabe bayazenyanya izinto ezingcolile zalelizwe noma ingabe basengozini yokuhlanganyela kuzo? (Amose 5:14, 15) Uma, njengabazali, ningasondelene ngokwanele nabantwana benu ukuze nibasize, noma nikuthola kunzima lokhu, kungani ningakwenzi indaba yomthandazo oqotho kuJehova? Ngokuqinisekile, uyonisiza ukuba ninqobe lesihibe.—1 Johane 5:14.
19. Yiziphi ezinye zezinto abazali abangamaKristu okumelwe bathi cha kuzo?
19 Njengabazali abangamaKristu, nibeka luhlobo luni lwesibonelo? Ingabe nithi cha ngokuqinile ekudleni ngokweqile okuyingozi nasekuphuzeni kakhulu nakwezinye izindlela eziningi zokuziphatha okubi nasemikhubeni engahlanzekile enizungezile? Ingabe nithi cha ekufumbathiseni, ekwebeni okuncane, nasemahlayeni angcolile nasezinkulumweni zabantu bezwe? Emsebenzini noma endaweni yakini, ingabe naziwa njengabantu abahlanzekile, abathembekile, nabaqotho? Ukuthi cha ngesikhathi esifanele kubalulekile ukuze ‘nibe usawoti womhlaba.’
Ukungaguquki Nobuqotho
20. Usawoti wawusetshenziswa kanjani maqondana nokukhulekela uJehova kuIsrayeli wasendulo?
20 Ngokungangabazeki ngenxa yokuthi usawoti wawumelele ukukhululeka ekonakaleni, wawusetshenziswa amaIsrayeli ekukhulekeleni uJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, yonke iminikelo ealtare kwakumelwe ithelwe usawoti. EMthethweni owanikezwa ngoMose kwathiwa: “Ungavumeli ukuba usawoti wesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu wakho asilale emnikelweni wakho wempuphu; wonikela ngayo yonke iminikelo yakho inosawoti.” Futhi “isivumelwano sikasawoti” sasiqashelwa njengesibophayo.—Levitikusi 2:13; Numeri 18:19; 2 IziKronike 13:4, 5.
21. ‘Njengosawoti womhlaba,’ yini edingekayo ngezinceku zikaJehova namuhla?
21 Njengofakazi bakaJehova, izinceku zakhe namuhla ‘zingusawoti womhlaba.’ Lokhu kufuna ukuba zibe ezingonakalisiwe, ezithembekile, neziqotho. Kumelwe zikhuthalele ukubonakalisa izithelo zomoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu—uthando, nokujabula, nokuthula, nokubekezela, nobubele, nobuvi, nokukholeka, nobumnene, nokuzithiba. (Galathiya 5:22, 23) Izithelo zomoya ziwumthombo wezimfanelo ezingokomoya, ezifana nosawoti. Kodwa iqiniso lokuthi abanye baye bakhonza uJehova iminyaka, aliqinisekisi ukuthi ngeke bawe. (1 Korinte 10:12) UJesu ngokwakhe wasixwayisa ngalokhu.
22. Ibaluleke ngani ingxenye yokugcina kaMathewu 5:13?
22 Khumbula ukuthi ngemva nje kokuba uJesu ethé, “Nina ningusawoti womhlaba,” wanezela: “Kepha uma usawoti edumele, ubusawoti bovuswa ngani na? Akasasizi-lutho, kuphela ukulahlwa ngaphandle, anyathelwe ngabantu.” (Mathewu 5:13) Omunye usawoti owawusetshenziswa lapho uJesu esemhlabeni wawuhlangene nezinye izinto. Ngakho uma usawoti ohlanzekile unethwa imvula, ngandlela-thile okwakusele kwakufanele kulahlwe ngaphandle mhlawumbe kuchithwe endleleni, futhi kunyathelwa abadlulayo. Ngaphandle kokuba usawoti ugcinwe esimweni esihle kalula wawungaba ongasizi ngalutho.
23. NjengoFakazi BakaJehova, kumelwe ube yini umbono wethu ngamazwi kaJesu, “Nina ningusawoti womhlaba”?
23 Khona-ke, njengezikhonzi ezithembekile zikaJehova neNdodana yakhe uJesu Kristu, masiqaphele ukuba ‘singalahlekelwa amandla ethu,’ noma izimfanelo ezifana nezikasawoti. Kunalokho, asenze wonke umzamo wokuhlakulela izithelo zomoya kaNkulunkulu. Sengathi ngaso sonke isikhathi singaba nomusa ekukhulumeni, simemezele ngentshiseko isigijimi soMbuso futhi ngaleyondlela sisize ekusindiseni ukuphila kwabanye. Sengathi singehlulwe yilelizwe elonakele, kodwa ngaso sonke isikhathi sikhumbule ukujula kwencazelo nelungelo elikhulu elihlobene namazwi kaJesu: “Nina ningusawoti womhlaba.”
Hlola Inkumbulo Yakho
◻ Singenza kanjani ukuba ‘ukukhuluma kwethu kuyoliswe ngosawoti’?
◻ Kungani kubalulekile ngamaKristu ukuba ‘abe nosawoti’?
◻ Abalandeli bakaJesu ‘bangusawoti womhlaba’ kanjani?
◻ Yiziphi ezinye izinto ezigwenywa amaKristu ‘ayoliswe kahle ngosawoti’?
◻ NgokukaMathewu 5:13, umbono wezikhonzi zikaJehova umelwe ube yini namuhla?
[Isithombe ekhasini 25]
Lapho esemncane uDaniyeli wafunda ukuthi cha