Ukuzithiba Kubalulekile KumaKristu

NGESIKHATHI amaphoyisa edolobheni elincane laseNew Mexico, eU.S.A., efika ngenxa yombiko wokudubula, afumana ikhishi lombhangqwana osemusha ligcwele igazi nobhontshisi. Owesifazane walelokhaya wayenenxeba enyameni. Kungani? Ocatshangelwa njengomhlaseli, indoda ayehlala nayo watshela amaphoyisa ukuthi: “Ubungeke yini uhlanye uma ubungahlala udla ubhontshisi njalo?”

Kunzima yini ukukukholelwa? Mhlawumbe. Nokho, ngobala nje olunjalo abantu baye babulawa ngisho nokubulawa. Izenzakalo ezinjalo ziba ngezivamile. Ngokwezinga elikhulu, lokhu kungenxa yokuntula ukuzithiba. Behluleka ukuthiba imizwelo yabo, abantu bayaqhuma ngentukuthelo—okuchazwe umphostoli uPawulu njengokunye ‘okuyimisebenzi yenyama.’—Galathiya 5:19-21.

Lokhu kwanda kokuntula ukuzithiba kuyingxenye yobufakazi bokuthi siphila ‘ezikhathini ezinzima,’ ‘izinsuku zokugcina’ zalesimiso esidala, sobusathane. Echaza lezinsuku, uPawulu wabhala ukuthi amadoda nabesifazane babeyoba “abangafuni ukuvumelana nalutho, . . . abangazithibi, abanokulwa.” (2 Thimothewu 3:1, 3 NW) Ngokusobala, ‘izinsuku zokugcina’ ziphezu kwethu, futhi ziyaqhubeka ziba nobudlova.

Yini amaKristu angayenza ngalokhu? UPawulu wawanxusa ukuba alwe ‘nemisebenzi yenyama’ ngokuhlakulela izithelo zomoya kaNkulunkulu, kuhlanganise “nokuzithiba.” (Galathiya 5:19, 22, 23) Yini ukuzithiba? Kungani uPawulu ekutusa? Yiziphi ezinye zezinzuzo okuzilethayo?

Ukuzithiba kuye kwachazwa “njengokulawula komuntu imizwa, imizwelo, noma izifiso zakhe.” UPawulu wabonisa ukuthi ukulawula okunjalo kusiza ekubonakaliseni umKristu weqiniso. Eqinisweni, ukubonisa ukuzithiba kusiza ekuhlakuleleni ezinye izithelo zomoya kaNkulunkulu, njengokuthula, ukubekezela, ububele, ubuvi, nobumnene. Kwenza umKristu akwazi ukubekezela ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu nasekumelaneni nokucindezela kukaSathane kwezwe, kanye nokwenyama engaphelele. Ngakho, uPawulu wabhalela abaseGalathiya: “Hambani ngoMoya, khona aniyikufeza izinkanuko zenyama.”—Galathiya 5:16.

Lokhu kudingeke kakhulu manje njengoba izinsuku zethu ziphawuleka ngokuntuleka okwandayo kokuzithiba. Ngokwesibonelo, amaphoyisa emazweni amaningi athola ukuthi abashayeli abaningi abayinaki imithetho yomgwaqo. Ukwephulwa okunjalo komthetho ngokuvamile kubangela ukuthethisana okungaholela ekulweni. Phela, omunye umgwaqo omkhulu eHouston, eTexas, unendawo eqondile ebizwa ngokuthi i“Altercation Avenue” (umgwaqo wokulwela) ngenxa yezimpi eziningi ezigqashuka lapho. Njengesinye isibonelo, cabangela lokho okuye kwenzeke ngezinye izikhathi lapho abashayeli bemi ulayini belindele ukuthenga upethiloli. Ukuntuleka kokuzithiba kuye kwaphumela ekuqhumeni kwentukuthelo ngisho nasekubulaleni lapho abanye abashayeli ngobugovu befuna ukungenela kulayini ukuze baqiniseke ngokuthola upethiloli abawufunayo.

Kulezizimo ezicindezelayo nakwezinye ezifanayo, umKristu kumelwe aqiniseke ukuba angathonywa yilabo ababonakalisa intukuthelo yabo kwabanye. Kumelwe njalo abonakale ngokuzithiba nangobumnene.

Izinzuzo Zokuzithiba

Ukuzithiba kuletha izinzuzo eziningi, ezinye zazo zisobala. Ngokwesibonelo, iZwi likaNkulunkulu liyakulahla ukuminza nokudakwa. (IzAga 23:20, 21) Umphostoli uPawulu uyeluleka: “Noma nidla, noma niphuza, noma nenzani, konke kwenzeleni udumo lukaNkulunkulu.” (1 Korinte 10:31) Ukuzithiba kusisiza ukuba silalele, futhi lokhu kuletha izinzuzo ezingokoqobo zempilo. Nokho, ukuphuza ngokweqile nokuminza akukhona nje kuphela okungenampilo. Kodwa kungase kuphumele ngisho nasekukhishweni komKristu ebandleni lobuKristu. Ngakho-ke, ukuzithiba kulezizici kusiza umKristu ukuba ahlale eseduze noJehova.

Ukuzithiba kusisiza futhi ukuba simelane nomoya wokuyekelela walelizwe. (1 Korinte 2:12) Namuhla, ubufebe, ubungqingili, Ukuphinga, nazo zonke izinhlobo zenkanuko yobulili zithathwa kabanzi njengezivumelekile, ezivamile. Nokho, amadoda nabesifazane abangamaKristu bayamelana namanga anjalo futhi bayalwa ukuze bazigcine behlanzekile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. Bayazi ukuthi “nazifebe, nabakhonza isithombe, naziphingi, nazihlobongi, nabesilisa abalalanayo, . . . abayikulidla ifa lombuso kaNkulunkulu.” (1 Korinte 6:9, 10) Ukuzithiba kubenza bakwazi ukumelana nokonakaliswa imicabango emibi engase isikisele ukuthi izinto ezinjalo zivumelekile.

Ukucabanga okungalungile kwanda ngezindlela ezihlukahlukene namuhla kodwa ikakhulukazi ngokuzijabulisa, kungaba ngethelevishini, amabhayisikobho, umculo, imidlalo yasesiteji, izincwadi, noma ezinye izinto. UmKristu kumelwe abonise ukuzithiba ngesikhathi asisebenzisela ukuzijabulisa, eqaphela ukuthi umuntu udinga kuphela ukuzijabulisa okulinganiselwe ukuze aziqabule, futhi uma lelozinga seliye ladlulwa, ukuzijabulisa kuphenduka kube ukuzitika nokuchitha isikhathi. Kumelwe futhi asebenzise ukuzithiba ngohlobo lokuzijabulisa aluphishekelayo, eqaphela ukuthi ukuzijabulisa okuningi okudumile namuhla kuqokomisa imibono engalungile, imikhuba enobudlova, noma ukuthonyana ngemilingo. Lezizinto aziwafanele amaKristu.—Efesu 2:1-3.

Ukuzithiba Kuveza Intuthuko

Ukuzithiba akusona nje kuphela isivikelo. Futhi kusiza umKristu ukuba athuthuke ngokomoya nasenkonzweni yakhe. Umphostoli uPetru wakugcizelela lokhu lapho ebhala: “Nengezela inkuthalo yonke nelekele ubuhle ekukholweni, nasebuhleni ukwazi, nasekwazini ukuzithiba.” Wathi, lezimfanelo, kuhlanganise nokukhuthazela, ukwesaba uNkulunkulu, uthando lobuzalwane, nothando, “ziyanenza ningabi-ngabavilaphayo nabangenazithelo ekwazini iNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu.” (2 Petru 1:5-8) Ukuzithiba kusisiza kanjani ukuba sithuthuke njengezikhonzi ezingamaKristu?

UmKristu ngokuvamile usebenzisa isikhathi esiningi inyanga ngayinye etshela abanye ngezindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. (Mathewu 24:14; 28:19, 20) Nokho, amanye amaKristu angase angahlanganyeli njalo kulomsebenzi ngenxa yezinye izidingo ezifuna isikhathi sawo noma ngenxa yokudumazeka okubangelwa ukuhlangabezana nokuntuleka kwesithakazelo. Abanjalo bangase babe nolwazi oluhle lweZwi likaNkulunkulu. Nokho, esikhundleni sokuthuthuka, ahlehlela emuva, mhlawumbe kuze kube sezingeni ‘lokungatheli’ ngokuphelele. Yini okumelwe ayenze?

‘Nelekele ekwazini ukuzithiba,’ kweluleka uPetru. Lokhu kungaba ukuzithiba ngokuqondene nesikhathi esinikelwa ekuzijabuliseni, imibuthano yokuzijabulisa, noma ngisho nasemsebenzini wokuziphilisa. Noma ukuzithiba kungahilela ukuziqinisa komuntu njalo ukuba abekezele naphezu kokuhlangabezana nokudumazeka. Lokhu umuntu angakuhlakulela ngesifundo seBhayibheli somuntu siqu sasikhathi sonke, kanye nokuya emihlanganweni yobuKristu.

Ukuzithiba futhi kusiza umKristu ukuba athuthuke ebuhlotsheni bakhe nabanye. Ngokuhlakulela ukuzithiba, uyojabulela impumelelo eyengeziwe ekusebenzelaneni nabanye ebandleni, futhi umoya wenjabulo nokuthula uyovama. (Efesu 4:3) Ngamunye, ngokuzithiba, ngeke afune ukuba yisikhubekiso kwabanye ebandleni.—Filipi 1:9, 10.

Ukuzithiba kuhilela ikakhulukazi ukulawula ulimi. Lokhu kubalulekile uma sifuna ukugwema ukukhuba abanye. Kodwa lokhu akulula. Umfundi uJakobe wabhala: “Uma umuntu engakhubeki ngazwi, lowo uyindoda epheleleyo.” (Jakobe 3:2) Nokho, uJakobe wawakhuthaza wonke amaKristu ukuba asebenzele ukuthiba ulimi lwawo, ukuze alusebenzise ekubusiseni abanye. (Jakobe 3:5-12) Ngakho-ke, wabhala: “Isithelo sokulunga sihlwanyelwa ngokuthula kubo abakwenzayo ukuthula.”—Jakobe 3:18.

Ukuzithiba Lapho Ushumayela

Ngesinye isikhathi, umKristu emsebenzini wokushumayela angase ahlangabezane nomuntu ongalawuleki nhlobo. Ezimweni ezinjalo umKristu kumelwe abonise ukuzithiba okukhulu, azothe angaphindiseli ngezwi noma ngesenzo. Omunye wesifazane ongumKristu wabeka isibonelo esimangalisayo ngokuqondene nalokhu. Endlini yesithathu angena kuyo ngomunye uMgqibelo ekuseni, umninikhaya wavula umnyango futhi waqala ukumdubula. Nokho, isikhonzi sazithulela nje. Sathi, “ungidubulile.” “Yebo,” kuphendula umninikhaya, “ngikudubulile,” futhi waqhubeka emdubula. UFakazi uyabika: “Ngaba nezimbobo ezimbili zezinhlamvu ejazini lami, ezimbili esikhwameni sami neyodwa onyaweni lwami. Enye inhlamvu yaphuma phakathi kwezinyawo zami. Ngezwa ubuhlungu obukhulu emilenzeni yami njengoba ngangizama ukuphuma esitubhini sakhe.”

Owesifazane ongumKristu walondoloza ukuzithiba okungajwayelekile kulesisimo esivivinyayo. Wathandaza kuJehova ukuba amsize afinyelele endlini elandelayo nokuba angawi endleleni. Waphumelela, ezama ukukhuphuka izitebhisi esizwa izandla zakhe. Umninikhaya waphendula ekungqongqozeni kwakhe futhi, ebona ukuthi wayedutshuliwe, ngomusa wamngenisa ngaphakathi. Lowesifazane nendodakazi yakhe endala, engumhlengikazi, bamnikeza usizo lokuqala lapho enye indodakazi ibiza amaphoyisa nabosizo lokuqala. Ukuzithiba kwalesikhonzi esingumKristu kwahlaba umxhwele okokuqala amaphoyisa, kwase kuba abosizo lokuqala, isixuku esasibuthene, futhi ekugcineni izisebenzi zasesibhedlela.

Iqiniso, izikhonzi eziningi ezingamaKristu azidutshulwa. Kodwa ngokuvamile kumelwe zisebenzelane nabantu abacasuke kakhulu nabathukuthele. Kumelwe zikhumbule ukuthi “impendulo ethambileyo iyabuyisa ukufutheka.” (IzAga 15:1) UJesu uyisibonelo sabo. Ngaye, uPetru wabhala: “Owathi ethukwa, akaphindisanga athuke; ehlushwa akasongelanga kepha wakunikela kuye owahlulela ngokulunga.” (1 Petru 2:23) Yebo, ukuzithiba kungokutuseka kakhulu esikhonzini esingumKristu.

Indlela Yokuhlakulela Ukuzithiba

Njengoba ukuzithiba kuyisithelo somoya kaNkulunkulu, sidinga lowomoya ukuze sikuhlakulele. Njengoba uPawulu abhala, “Hambani ngomoya.” (Galathiya 5:16, 22, 23) Wonke amaKristu kumelwe abe ngabafundi abakhuthele beZwi likaNkulunkulu, khona ngokwakho kuwumkhiqizo womoya ongcwele. Ukutadisha njalo leloZwi, nokusebenzisa lokho esikufundayo ekuphileni kwethu, kuzosisiza ukuba silawule imicabango yethu, ukuze ‘amacebo onke siwathumbele ukumlalela uKristu.’ (2 Korinte 10:5; Roma 12:2) Yebo, kubalulekile ngomKristu ukuba afunde ukucabanga njengoba uJesu ecabanga futhi nanjengoba uJehova uNkulunkulu ecabanga.

Inhliziyo, lapho kuvela khona izisusa, nayo kumelwe ithonywe njalo umoya kaNkulunkulu njengoba ukuzithiba kusho ukuthiba, noma ukulawula, imizwelo yomuntu noma izifiso, ezivela enhliziyweni. (Mathewu 15:19) Khona-ke, khumbula lesiyalo esihle: “Phezu kwakho konke okugcinayo, gcina inhliziyo yakho, ngokuba kuyilapho kuvela khona ukuphila.” (IzAga 4:23) Vumela umoya kaNkulunkulu uthinte inhliziyo yakho njengoba ufunda izimiso zeBhayibheli. Zama ukusho ngekhanda, uma kunokwenzeka, izeluleko ezingokomBhalo ongazisebenzisa lapho ubhekene nezimo ezivivinyayo.

Ubudlelwane obuhle namaKristu okanye nawo nakho kuyasiza ekuhlakuleleni ukuzithiba. (Heberu 10:23-25) Imihlangano ehlukahlukene yebandla lobuKristu iklanyelwe ukusiza wonke amaKristu ukuba akhule elwazini lweBhayibheli nasekhonweni lokuveza izithelo zomoya kaNkulunkulu. Ngokwengeziwe, funa abangane abayisibonelo ngokuqondene nokuzithiba. Kanjalo nawe, futhi, uyokhuthazeka ukuba uhlakulele lemfanelo.—IzAga 13:20; 27:17.

Enye into okungamelwe neze ikhohlakale ukuxhumana njalo noJehova ngomkhuleko. UmKristu kumelwe acele njalo usizo lwakhe ekuhlakuleleni ukuzithiba. Cela umoya wakhe ukuba ukusize. Futhi uma uthola ukuthi uye wehluleka ukuzithiba entweni ethile, cela ngokuzithoba nangobuqotho intethelelo kuJehova. UJesu wasifundisa ukuba sikhuleke sithi: “Ungasingenisi ekulingweni.” UPawulu wakhuthaza amaKristu ukuba ‘aqinisele njalo ekukhulekeni.’ Ngakho-ke, iya kuJehova ‘ngokungaphezi,’ ucele usizo lwakhe njengoba ulwela ukuhlakulela ukuzithiba ekuphileni kwakho.—Mathewu 6:13; Roma 12:12; 1 Thesalonika 5:17.

Yeka ukuthi ukuzithiba kuyimfanelo enhle kanjani yobuKristu! Qhubeka ukuhlakulela. Labo abenza kanjalo bazihlonipha kakhulu. Bajabulela ukuthula okukhulu nenjabulo emkhayeni wabo nasebuhlotsheni bebandla, kanye nobuhlobo obuhle nabanye ekuphileni kwabo kwansuku zonke. Okubaluleke kakhulu, ukuzithiba kusiza ukuqinisekisa ubuhlobo obuhle noMdali futhi kusiza ekubabonakaliseni njengezikhonzi ezingamaKristu eqiniso kaNkulunkulu wabo, uJehova.