Yini UNkulunkulu Ayifunayo Kithi?
“Yilokhu okushiwo uthando ngoNkulunkulu, ukuba sigcine imiyalo yakhe; futhi imiyalo yakhe ayiwona umthwalo.”—1 JOHANE 5:3.
1, 2. Kungani kungasimangazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu unezimfuneko azibekele labo abafuna ukumkhulekela ngokwamukelekayo?
“INKOLO yami iyanganelisa!” Akukhona yini lokho abantu abavame ukukusho? Nokho, empeleni umbuzo kufanele ube ukuthi, “Ingabe inkolo yami iyamjabulisa uNkulunkulu?” Yebo, uNkulunkulu unezimfuneko azibekele labo abafuna ukumkhulekela ngokwamukelekayo. Ingabe lokho kufanele kusimangaze? Cha. Ake sithi unomuzi omuhle, osanda kuwuvuselela ngemali eshisiwe. Ubungavumela noma ubani ukuba ahlale lapho? Ngokuqinisekile ubungeke! Noma ubani obengawuqasha bekuyodingeka ahlangabezane nezimfuneko zakho.
2 Ngokufanayo, uJehova uNkulunkulu uye wanikeza umkhaya wesintu leli khaya lasemhlabeni. Maduze nje, ngaphansi kokubusa koMbuso wakhe, umhlaba “uzovuselelwa”—ushintshwe ube ipharadesi elihle. UJehova uyokufeza lokhu. Wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa ukuze kwenzeke lokhu, okwasho ukulahlekelwa okukhulu kuye. Ngokuqinisekile, uNkulunkulu kumelwe abe nezimfuneko azibekele labo abayohlala lapho!—IHubo 115:16; Mathewu 6:9, 10; Johane 3:16.
3. USolomoni wakubeka kanjani ngamafuphi lokho uNkulunkulu akulindele kithi?
3 Singathola kanjani ukuthi ziyini izimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu? UJehova waphefumulela iNkosi ehlakaniphile uSolomoni ukuba ibeke ngamafuphi lokho akulindele kithi. Ngemva kokucabanga ngakho konke ayekuphishekele—kuhlanganise nengcebo, imisebenzi yokwakha, isithakazelo emculweni, nothando lokuthatheka ngobulili—uSolomoni waqaphela lokhu: “Nakhu ukuphela kwendaba, lapho sekuzwakele konke: Mesabe uNkulunkulu, ugcine imiyalo yakhe, ngokuba lokho kungokwabantu bonke.” (Omalukeke sizenzele.)—UmShumayeli 12:13.
“Imiyalo Yakhe Ayiwona Umthwalo Osindayo”
4-6. (a) Iyini incazelo yezwi nezwi yegama lesiGreki elihunyushwe ngokuthi “umthwalo”? (b) Kungani singase sithi imiyalo kaNkulunkulu ayiwona umthwalo?
4 “Ugcine imiyalo yakhe.” Ngokuyisisekelo, yilokho uNkulunkulu akulindele kithi. Ingabe ufuna okuningi kakhulu? Lutho neze. Umphostoli uJohane usitshela okuthile okuqinisekisa kakhulu ngemiyalo kaNkulunkulu, noma izimfuneko. Wabhala: “Yilokhu okushiwo uthando ngoNkulunkulu, ukuba sigcine imiyalo yakhe; futhi imiyalo yakhe ayiwona umthwalo osindayo.”—1 Johane 5:3.
5 Igama lesiGreki elihunyushwe ngokuthi “umthwalo” ngokwezwi nezwi lisho “ukusinda.” Libhekisela kokuthile okunzima ukuhlangabezana nakho noma okunzima ukukufeza. KuMathewu 23:4, lisetshenziselwe ukuchaza “imithwalo esindayo,” imithetho namasiko enziwe abantu, leyo ababhali nabaFarisi ababeyibeke phezu kwabantu. Uyawuthola yini umqondo walokho umphostoli uJohane osekhulile akushoyo? Imiyalo kaNkulunkulu ayiwona umthwalo osindayo, futhi ayinzima kakhulu ukuba siyigcine. (Qhathanisa noDuteronomi 30:11.) Ngokuphambene, uma simthanda uNkulunkulu, ukuhlangabezana nezimfuneko zakhe kusenza sijabule. Kusinikeza ithuba elihle kakhulu lokubonisa uthando lwethu ngoJehova.
6 Ukuze sibonise uthando lwethu ngoNkulunkulu, kudingeka sikwazi kahle lokho akulindele kithi. Manje ake sixoxe ngezinhlanu zezimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu. Njengoba senza kanjalo, khumbula lokho uJohane akubhala: ‘Imiyalo kaNkulunkulu ayiwona umthwalo osindayo.’
Ngenisa Ulwazi NgoNkulunkulu
7. Ukusindiswa kwethu kuxhomeke kuphi?
7 Imfuneko yokuqala iwukungenisa ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu. Cabangela amazwi kaJesu alotshwe kuJohane isahluko 17. Kwakuwubusuku bokugcina bokuphila kukaJesu njengomuntu. UJesu wayechithe ingxenye enkulu yobusuku elungiselela abaphostoli bakhe ukuhamba kwakhe. Wayekhathazekile ngekusasa labo, ikusasa labo laphakade. Ephakamisela amehlo akhe ezulwini, wabathandazela. Evesini lesithathu, siyafunda: “Lokhu kusho ukuphila okumi phakade, ukungenisa kwabo ulwazi ngawe, owukuphela kukaNkulunkulu weqiniso, nangalowo owamthuma, uJesu Kristu.” Yebo, ukusindiswa kwabo kwakuxhomeke ‘ekungeniseni kwabo ulwazi,’ ngoNkulunkulu nangoKristu. Lokho kuyasebenza nakithi. Ukuze sithole insindiso, kumelwe singenise ulwazi olunjalo.
8. Kusho ukuthini ‘ukungenisa ulwazi’ ngoNkulunkulu?
8 Kusho ukuthini ‘ukungenisa ulwazi’ ngoNkulunkulu? Igama lesiGreki elihunyushwe lapha ngokuthi ‘ukungenisa ulwazi’ libonisa “ukufinyelela ukwazi, ukuqaphela,” noma “ukuqonda ngokugcwele.” Phawula futhi ukuthi indlela yokuhumusha ethi ‘ukungenisa ulwazi’ isikisela ukuthi lena inqubo eqhubekayo. Ngakho ukungenisa ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu kusho ukufinyelela ukumazi, hhayi ngendlela ekha phezulu, kodwa ngokujulile, ukuhlakulela ubungane obunokuqonda naye. Ubuhlobo obuqhubekayo noNkulunkulu busilethela ulwazi olwanda njalo ngaye. Lenqubo ingaqhubeka phakade, ngoba asisoze safunda konke ngoJehova.—Roma 11:33.
9. Singafundani ngoJehova encwadini yendalo?
9 Silungenisa kanjani ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu? Kunezincwadi ezimbili ezingasisiza. Eyokuqala incwadi yendalo. Izinto uJehova azidalile—kokubili eziphilayo nezingaphili— zisenza siluqonde ngezinga elithile uhlobo lomuntu ayilo. (Roma 1:20) Cabangela izibonelo ezithile. Ukuhaza kwempophoma enkulu, ukugubha kwegagasi uma kunesivunguvungu, ukubona amazulu anezinkanyezi ngobusuku obucwathile—izinto ezinjalo azisifundisi yini ukuthi uJehova unguNkulunkulu ‘onezikhwepha’? (Isaya 40:26) Ingane ehlekayo njengoba ibuka umdlwane ujaha umsila wawo noma umthinyane udlala ngesigaxa sewuli—ingabe lokho akusikiseli ukuthi uJehova, ‘uNkulunkulu ojabulayo,’ uyakwazi ukubona into ehlekisayo? (1 Thimothewu 1:11) Ukunambitheka kokudla okumnandi, iphunga elimnandi lezimbali endle, imibala egqamile yovemvane oluntekenteke, umsindo wezinyoni zicula entwasahlobo, ukwangiwa ngokufudumele umuntu omthandayo—izinto ezinjalo azisinikezi yini umqondo wokuthi uMdali wethu unguNkulunkulu wothando, ofuna sijabulele ukuphila?—1 Johane 4:8.
10, 11. (a) Yiziphi izinto ngoJehova nezinjongo zakhe esingenakuzifunda encwadini yendalo? (b) Izimpendulo zamiphi imibuzo ezitholakala eBhayibhelini kuphela?
10 Nokho, asinakufunda konke ngoJehova encwadini yendalo. Ngokwesibonelo: Ubani igama likaNkulunkulu? Kungani adala umhlaba wabeka abantu kuwo? Kungani uNkulunkulu evumela ububi? Ikusasa lisiphatheleni? Ukuze sithole izimpendulo emibuzweni enjalo, kumelwe siye kwenye incwadi enikeza ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu—iBhayibheli. Emakhasini alo, uJehova wembula izinto ezithile ngaye, kuhlanganise negama lakhe, ubuntu bakhe, nezinjongo zakhe—ukwaziswa esingenakukuthola kunoma yimuphi omunye umthombo.—Eksodusi 34:6, 7; IHubo 83:18; Amose 3:7.
11 EmiBhalweni, uJehova unikeza nolwazi olubalulekile ngokuqondene nabanye abantu okudingeka sazi ngabo. Ngokwesibonelo, ungubani uJesu Kristu, futhi iyiphi indima anayo ekugcwalisekeni kwezinjongo zikaJehova? (IzEnzo 4:12) Ungubani uSathane uDeveli? Ubadukisa ngaziphi izindlela abantu? Singakugwema kanjani ukudukiswa nguye? (1 Petru 5:8) Izimpendulo zalemibuzo ezisindisa ukuphila zitholakala eBhayibhelini kuphela.
12. Ungakuchaza kanjani ukuthi kungani kungewona umthwalo ukungenisa ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu nezinjongo zakhe?
12 Ingabe kuwumthwalo ukungenisa ulwazi olunjalo ngoNkulunkulu nezinjongo zakhe? Phinde! Uyayikhumbula indlela owazizwa ngayo lapho uqala ukuzwa ukuthi igama likaNkulunkulu uJehova, ukuthi uMbuso wakhe uyobuyisela iPharadesi kulomhlaba, ukuthi wanikela ngeNdodana yakhe ethandekayo njengesihlengo sezono zethu, kanye namanye amaqiniso ayigugu? Kwakungafani yini nokususa inkungu yokungazi nokubona izinto ngokucacile ngokokuqala ngqá? Ukungenisa ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu, akuwona umthwalo. Kuyajabulisa!—IHubo 1:1-3; 119:97.
Ukufinyelela Izindinganiso ZikaNkulunkulu
13, 14. (a) Njengoba singenisa ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu, iziphi izinguquko okudingeka sizenze ekuphileni kwethu? (b) Yimiphi imikhuba engahlanzekile uNkulunkulu afuna siyigweme?
13 Njengoba singenisa ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu, siyaqaphela ukuthi kudingeka senze izinguquko ekuphileni kwethu. Lokhu kusiletha emfunekweni yesibili. Kumelwe sifinyelele izindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu zokuziphatha okulungile futhi samukele iqiniso lakhe. Liyini iqiniso? Ingabe uNkulunkulu unendaba ngempela nokuthi yini esiyikholelwayo nesiyenzayo? Abantu abaningi namuhla ngokusobala abacabangi kanjalo. Umbiko owakhishwa iSonto LaseSheshi ngo-1995 wasikisela ukuthi ukuhlala ndawonye kwabantu bengashadile akufanele kubhekwe njengesono. “Inkulumo ethi ‘ukuphila esonweni’ ibangela amahloni futhi ayisizi,” kusho omunye umbhishobhi wesonto.
14 Ngakho, ingabe “ukuphila esonweni” akusesona isono? UJehova usitshela ngendlela ecacile ukuthi uzizwa kanjani ngokuziphatha okunjalo. IZwi lakhe, iBhayibheli, lithi: “Umshado mawudunyiswe phakathi kwabo bonke, nombhede womshado ungabi nakungcola, ngoba uNkulunkulu uyokwahlulela izifebe neziphingi.” (Heberu 13:4) Abefundisi nabantu abasontayo abayekelelayo bangase bangabubheki njengesono ubulili ngaphambi komshado, kodwa buyisono esingathi sína emehlweni kaNkulunkulu! Kungokufanayo nangokuphinga, ukulala nesihlobo, nobungqingili. (Levitikusi 18:6; 1 Korinte 6:9, 10) UNkulunkulu ufuna ukuba siyigweme imikhuba enjalo, ayibheka njengengahlanzekile.
15. Izimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu ziyihilela kanjani indlela esiphatha ngayo abanye nalokho esikukholelwayo?
15 Nokho, akwanele ukugwema imikhuba uNkulunkulu ayibheka njengeyisono. Izimfuneko zikaNkulunkulu zihilela nendlela esiphatha ngayo abanye. Emkhayeni, ulindele ukuba indoda nomkayo babe nothando nenhlonipho ngomunye nomunye. UNkulunkulu ufuna ukuba abazali banakekele izidingo zezinto ezibonakalayo, ezingokomoya, nezingokomzwelo zezingane zabo. Utshela izingane ukuba zilalele abazali bazo. (IzAga 22:6; Kolose 3:18-21) Futhi kuthiwani ngezinkolelo zethu? UJehova uNkulunkulu ufuna sigweme izinkolelo namasiko avela ekukhulekeleni kwamanga noma amelene namaqiniso asobala afundiswa eBhayibhelini.—Duteronomi 18:9-13; 2 Korinte 6:14-17.
16. Chaza ukuthi kungani kungewona umthwalo ukufinyelela izindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu zokuziphatha okulungile nokwamukela iqiniso lakhe.
16 Ingabe kuwumthwalo kithi ukufinyelela izindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu zokuziphatha okulungile nokwamukela iqiniso lakhe? Akunjalo uma sicabangela izinzuzo—imishado lapho indoda nomkayo bethandana futhi bethembana khona, esikhundleni semishado ehlukaniswe ukungathembani; amakhaya lapho izingane zizizwa zithandwa futhi zifunwa abazali bazo, esikhundleni semikhaya lapho izingane zizizwa zingathandwa, zinganakwa, futhi zingafunwa; unembeza ohlanzekile nempilo enhle, esikhundleni semizwa yecala nomzimba okhahlazwe ingculaza noma esinye isifo esidluliselwa ngobulili. Ngokuqinisekile, izimfuneko zikaJehova azisincishi noma yini esiyidingayo ukuze sijabulele ukuphila!—Duteronomi 10:12, 13.
Bonisa Inhlonipho Ngokuphila Negazi
17. UJehova ukubheka kanjani ukuphila negazi?
17 Njengoba uvumelanisa ukuphila kwakho nezindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu, ufinyelela ekuqondeni ukuthi ukuphila kuyigugu kangakanani ngempela. Manje ake sixoxe ngemfuneko yesithathu kaNkulunkulu. Kumelwe sibonise inhlonipho ngokuphila negazi. Ukuphila kungcwele kuJehova. Kufanele, ngoba unguMthombo wokuphila. (IHubo 36:9) Phela, ngisho nokuphila kwengane engakazalwa ngaphakathi kunina kuyigugu kuJehova! (Eksodusi 21:22, 23) Igazi limelela ukuphila. Ngakho-ke, negazi lingcwele emehlweni kaNkulunkulu. (Levitikusi 17:14) Khona-ke, akufanele kusimangaze ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulindele ukuba sibheke ukuphila negazi ngendlela akubheka ngayo.
18. Umbono kaJehova ngokuphila negazi udingani kithi?
18 Ukuhlonipha ukuphila negazi kudingani kithi? NjengamaKristu, asifaki ukuphila kwethu engozini ngokungadingekile ukuze nje sizijabulise. Siyakukhathalela ukuphepha, ngakho siyaqikelela ukuthi izimoto nemizi yethu kuphephile. (Duteronomi 22:8) Asiwubhemi ugwayi, asiyihlafuni i-betel nut, noma sisebenzise izidakamizwa eziluthayo noma ezidunga ingqondo ngenxa yobumnandi. (2 Korinte 7:1) Ngenxa yokuthi silalela uNkulunkulu lapho ethi ‘nidede egazini,’ asivumi ukuba kumpontshelwe igazi emizimbeni yethu. (IzEnzo 15:28, 29) Nakuba sikuthanda ukuphila, ngeke sizame ukulondoloza ukuphila kwethu kwamanje ngokuphula umthetho kaNkulunkulu futhi ngaleyo ndlela silibeke engozini ithemba lethu lokuphila okumi phakade!—Mathewu 16:25.
19. Chaza indlela esizuza ngayo ngokubonisa inhlonipho ngokuphila negazi.
19 Ingabe kuwumthwalo kithi ukuphatha ukuphila negazi njengokungcwele? Lutho neze! Cabanga ngakho. Kuwumthwalo yini ukungabi nomdlavuza wamaphaphu obangelwa ukubhema ugwayi? Kuwumthwalo yini ukubalekela ukuluthwa kwengqondo nomzimba yizidakamizwa ezilimazayo? Kuwumthwalo yini ukugwema ukuba nengculaza, isifo sokusha kwesibindi, noma esinye isifo ngenxa yokumpontshelwa igazi? Ngokucacile, ukugwema kwethu imikhuba elimazayo kuzuzisa thina.—Isaya 48:17.
20. Omunye umkhaya wazuza kanjani ngokuba nombono kaNkulunkulu ngokuphila?
20 Cabangela lesi senzakalo. Eminyakeni ethile edlule, owesifazane onguFakazi owayecishe abe nezinyanga ezintathu nengxenye ekhulelwe, waqala ukopha ngobunye ubusuku, wayesephuthunyiswa esibhedlela. Ngemva kokuba udokotela emhlolile, lona wesifazane wamuzwa etshela omunye wabahlengikazi ukuthi kuzodingeka basikhiphe isisu. Azi ukuthi uJehova ukubheka kanjani ukuphila kongakazalwa, wakwenqaba ngokuqinile ukukhipha isisu, etshela udokotela: “Uma iphila, iyekeni kanjalo!” Waqhubeka opha ngezinye izikhathi, kodwa ezinyangeni ezithile kamuva wabeletha kungakabi yisikhathi ingane yomfana ephile kahle, manje eneminyaka engu-17 ubudala. Wachaza: “Indodana yethu iye yaxoxelwa konke lokhu, futhi iye yathi iyajabula ngokuthi ayizange ifakwe emgqonyeni kadoti. Iyazi ukuthi ukukhonza kwethu uJehova kuwukuphela kwesizathu sokuthi iyaphila.” Ngokuqinisekile, ukuba nombono kaNkulunkulu ngokuphila akuzange kube umthwalo kulomkhaya!
Ukukhonza Nabantu BakaJehova Abahlelekile
21, 22. (a) UJehova ulindele ukuba simkhonze nobani? (b) Abantu bakaNkulunkulu abahlelekile bangabonakala kanjani?
21 Asisodwa ekwenzeni izinguquko ezidingekayo ukuze sivumelanise ukuphila kwethu nezindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu. UJehova unabantu kulomhlaba, futhi ulindele ukuba simkhonze kanye nabo. Lokhu kusiletha emfunekweni yesine. Kumelwe sikhonze uJehova nenhlangano yakhe eqondiswa umoya.
22 Nokho, abantu bakaNkulunkulu abahlelekile bangabonakala kanjani? Ngokwezindinganiso ezibekwe emiBhalweni, banothando lwangempela phakathi kwabo, banenhlonipho ejulile ngeBhayibheli, badumisa igama likaNkulunkulu, bashumayela ngoMbuso wakhe, futhi abayona ingxenye yalelizwe elibi. (Mathewu 6:9; 24:14; Johane 13:34, 35; 17:16, 17) Yinye kuphela inhlangano yenkolo kulomhlaba enazo zonke lezi zimpawu zobuKristu beqiniso—OFakazi BakaJehova!
23, 24. Singakubonisa kanjani ukuthi akuwona umthwalo ukukhonza uJehova kanye nabantu bakhe abahlelekile?
23 Ingabe kuwumthwalo ukukhonza uJehova kanye nabantu bakhe abahlelekile? Akuwona nakancane! Ngokuphambene, kuyilungelo eliyigugu ukuthandwa nokusekelwa umkhaya womhlaba wonke wabafowethu nodadewethu abangamaKristu. (1 Petru 2:17) Ake uzicabange usinda ekufeni komkhumbi futhi uzithola usemanzini, uzabalazela ukungacwili. Lapho uzwa ukuthi usukhathele, ubanjwa isandla esithile esisuka esikebheni sokuhlenga. Yebo, bakhona abanye abasindile! Esikebheni sokuhlenga, wena nabanye niyashintshana ngokugwedla niya ogwini, nihambe nicosha abanye abasindile.
24 Asikho yini esimweni esifanayo? Siye satakulwa “emanzini” ayingozi alelizwe elibi sagitsheliswa “esikebheni sokuhlenga” esiyinhlangano kaJehova yasemhlabeni. Kuyona, sikhonza ndawonye njengoba siqonde “ogwini” oluyizwe elisha lokulunga. Uma izingcindezi zokuphila zisenza sikhathale endleleni, yeka indlela esibonga ngayo ngosizo nangenduduzo yabangane beqiniso abangamaKristu!—IzAga 17:17.
25. (a) Sinasiphi isibopho kulabo ‘abasesemanzini’ alelizwe elibi? (b) Iyiphi imfuneko kaNkulunkulu okuzoxoxwa ngayo esihlokweni esilandelayo?
25 Kuthiwani ngabanye—abantu abaqotho ‘abasesemanzini’? Sinesibopho sokubasiza ukuba bangene enhlanganweni kaJehova, akunjalo? (1 Thimothewu 2:3, 4) Badinga usizo ukuze bafunde ukuthi uNkulunkulu ufunani. Lokhu kusiletha emfunekweni kaNkulunkulu yesihlanu. Kumelwe sibe abamemezeli boMbuso kaNkulunkulu abathembekile. Ukuthi lokhu kuhilelani kuzoxoxwa ngakho esihlokweni esilandelayo.
Uyakhumbula?
◻ Kungani imiyalo kaNkulunkulu ingewona umthwalo?
◻ Singalungenisa kanjani ulwazi ngoNkulunkulu?
◻ Kungani kungewona umthwalo ukufinyelela izindinganiso zikaNkulunkulu zokuziphatha okulungile nokwamukela iqiniso lakhe?
◻ Umbono kaNkulunkulu ngokuphila negazi udingani kithi?
◻ UNkulunkulu ulindele ukuba simkhonze nobani, futhi bangabonakala kanjani?
[Izithombe ekhasini 18]
Sifunda ngoJehova encwadini yendalo naseBhayibhelini
[Imithombo]
Crocodile: By courtesy of Australian International Public Relations; bear: Safari-Zoo of Ramat-Gan, Tel Aviv