UJehova Uyabakhathalela Abantu Abavamile

INGABE kumelwe sibe ngabantu abangavamile noma abavelele ngandlela thile ukuze siqashelwe nguNkulunkulu? U-Abraham Lincoln, ongowe-16 komongameli base-United States, kuthiwa wathi: “INkosi incamela abantu abavamile. Yingakho nje ibenza babe baningi kangaka.” Abaningi banomuzwa wokuthi bangabantu abavamile abazihluphekelayo. Ukuba umuntu ovamile kungase kusikisele “ukuba mpofu, ukuba sezingeni eliphansi.” Ngokufanayo, igama elithi “vamile” lingase libonise “ukungabi namalungelo noma izikhundla ezikhethekile,” “ukuwela esigabeni esingaphansi kwesivamile,” noma “isigaba esiphansi” imbala. Hlobo luni lwabantu okhetha ukuba phakathi kwabo? Abantu abazidlayo, abazigqajayo, abaqhoshayo? Ubungeke yini ukhethe ukuba phakathi kwabantu abanobungane, abathobekile, abangaqhoshi, ababonisa isithakazelo esiqotho nesifudumele kwabanye?

Njengoba ukuhlukumeza ngokomzwelo nokuhleka abanye usulu kuyizinto ezivamile emhlabeni namuhla, abanye bakuthola kunzima ukukholelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu unesithakazelo kubona. Omunye umfundi walo magazini wabhala: “Ngazalwa emkhayeni owawungalubonisi uthando. Ngangilulazwa, ngigconwa, futhi ngihlekwa usulu. Ngakho, kusukela ngisemncane ngazizwa ngingelutho. Ngisenemizwa yesikhathi esidlule ejulile nengicindezelayo lapho ngibhekana nosizi.” Nokho, zikhona izizathu zokukholelwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu unesithakazelo kumuntu ngamunye ovamile.

Isithakazelo SikaNkulunkulu Kubantu Abavamile

INkosi uDavide yabhala: “UJehova mkhulu futhi kumelwe adunyiswe kakhulu, ubukhulu bakhe abuphenyeki.” (IHubo 145:3) Nokho, lokhu akumvimbeli uJehova ukuba asinakekele ngendlela yothando nenesihawu. (1 Petru 5:7) Ngokwesibonelo, umhubi wathi: “UJehova useduze nalabo abaphukile enhliziyweni; futhi uyabasindisa abanomoya ochobozekile.”—IHubo 34:18.

Izinto ezithatha abantu ezweni, ezinjengobuhle bangaphandle, ukuvelela, noma ingcebo, akuzona izinto uNkulunkulu azibheka njengezibalulekile. UMthetho kaNkulunkulu kuma-Israyeli wawubonisa isithakazelo sakhe sozwela kubantu abampofu, izintandane, abafelokazi, nabantu bezizwe. UNkulunkulu watshela ama-Israyeli, nawo ayephathwe ngonya eGibhithe: “Ungamhlukumezi umfokazi futhi ungamcindezeli . . . Ningamhluphi umfelokazi noma intandane. Uma ungake nje umhluphe, bese ekhala kimi, ngiyokuzwa nakanjani ukukhala kwakhe.” (Eksodusi 22:21-24) Ngaphezu kwalokho, umprofethi u-Isaya waveza ukuthembela kwakhe ekunakekeleni kukaNkulunkulu abantu abaphansi: “Ngoba ube yisiphephelo kophansi, isiphephelo kompofu ekucindezelekeni anakho, isiphephelo esiphephweni esinemvula, umthunzi ekushiseni, lapho ukufutha kwabangomashiqela kunjengesiphepho esinemvula odongeni.”—Isaya 25:4.

Kuyo yonke inkonzo yakhe, uJesu Kristu, “ongumfanekiso okuyiwonawona wobuqu” bukaNkulunkulu, waba isibonelo kubafundi bakhe sokubonisa isithakazelo sangempela kubantu abavamile. (Hebheru 1:3) Lapho ebona izixuku “ziphundlekile futhi zihlakazekile njengezimvu ezingenamalusi,” uJesu “wafikelwa isihawu ngazo.”—Mathewu 9:36.

Phawula futhi ukuthi uJesu wakhetha abantu abanjani njengabaphostoli bakhe—amadoda ayechazwa njengabantu “abangafundile nabavamile.” (IzEnzo 4:13) Ngemva kokufa kukaJesu, abalandeli bakhe baqala ukumema zonke izinhlobo zabantu ukuba zizolalela iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala ukuthi “noma yimuphi ongelona ikholwa noma umuntu ovamile” wayengeza ebandleni lobuKristu futhi abe yikholwa. (1 Korinte 14:24, 25) Kunokukhetha kuphela abavelele ngokwezindinganiso zezwe, uNkulunkulu wakhetha abantu abaningi abaphansi, nabavamile, ukuze benze inkonzo yakhe. “Ukunibiza kwakhe niyakubona, bazalwane,” kusho umphostoli uPawulu, “ukuthi ababaningi abahlakaniphileyo ngendlela yenyama ababizwa, ababaningi abanamandla, ababaningi abazalwa yizicukuthwane; kodwa uNkulunkulu wakhetha izinto eziwubuwula zezwe, ukuze ahlazise abantu abahlakaniphileyo; futhi uNkulunkulu wakhetha izinto ezibuthakathaka zezwe, ukuze ahlazise izinto ezinamandla; uNkulunkulu wakhetha izinto ezingelutho zezwe nezinto ezibukelwa phansi, izinto ezingekho, ukuze enze izinto ezikhona zibe yize, ukuze ingabi khona inyama engaziqhayisa emehlweni kaNkulunkulu.”—1 Korinte 1:26-29.

Ngokufanayo nanamuhla, uNkulunkulu unesithakazelo esiqotho kithi. Intando kaNkulunkulu iwukuba “zonke izinhlobo zabantu zisindiswe futhi zifinyelele olwazini olunembile lweqiniso.” (1 Thimothewu 2:4) Uma uNkulunkulu asithanda isintu kangangokuba waze wathumela iNdodana yakhe emhlabeni ukuba isifele, kusho ukuthi asinasizathu sokuzizwa singathandwa noma singabalulekile. (Johane 3:16) UJesu Kristu wabonisa abalandeli bakhe ukubaluleka kokuphatha ngisho nomncane kunabo bonke kubafowabo bakaJesu abangokomoya ngendlela ababeyophatha ngayo uJesu uqobo. Wathi: “Ngezinga enikwenze ngalo komunye wabancane kunabo bonke walaba bafowethu, nikwenzile nakimi.” (Mathewu 25:40) Kungakhathaliseki ukuthi izwe lingase lisibheke kanjani, uma sithanda iqiniso, sikhethekile emehlweni kaNkulunkulu.

UFrancisco,a umfana oyintandane waseBrazil, wazizwa ngaleyo ndlela ngemva kokwakha ubuhlobo bomuntu siqu noNkulunkulu. Uyachaza: “Ukwazi uJehova nenhlangano yakhe kwangisiza ukuba ngibhekane nemizwa yokungalondeki neyokwesaba. Ngafunda ukuthi uJehova unesithakazelo kumuntu ngamunye.” UJehova waba nguBaba wangempela kuFrancisco.

Ukukhathalela Intsha

UJehova akagcini ngokuba nesithakazelo esiqotho entsheni njengeqembu kodwa nakumuntu ngamunye. Yiqiniso, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi sibasha noma sibadala, asifuni neze ukuzicabangela ngaphezu kwalokho esiyikho. Nokho, singase sibe namakhono nezimfanelo uNkulunkulu angazisebenzisa esikhathini esizayo. UJehova uyazi ukuthi sidinga ukulolongwa nokuqeqeshwa okunjani ukuze sikwazi ukusebenzisa amakhono ethu ngokugcwele. Ngokwesibonelo, bheka ukulandisa okukweyoku-1 Samuweli isahluko 16. Njengoba abanye ababesemathubeni okukhethelwa ubukhosi bakwa-Israyeli babebonakala befaneleka kangcono kumprofethi uSamuweli, uJehova wazichaza izizathu zokukhetha kwaKhe uDavide, indodana kaJese encane, njengenkosi elandelayo yakwa-Israyeli, wathi: “Musa ukubheka ukubonakala kwakhe nokuphakama kwesiqu sakhe, ngoba ngimalile [umfowabo kaDavide omdala]. Ngoba indlela uNkulunkulu abona ngayo akuyona indlela umuntu abona ngayo, ngoba umuntu nje ubona okubonakala emehlweni; kodwa uJehova yena, ubona lokho inhliziyo eyikho.”—1 Samuweli 16:7.

Ingabe intsha namuhla ingaqiniseka ukuthi uJehova unesithakazelo esiqotho kuyo? Cabanga ngo-Ana, owesifazane osemusha waseBrazil. Njengoba kunjalo nakwenye intsha eningi, wayekhungathekiswe inkohlakalo nokungabi nabulungisa ayekubona. Uyise waqala ukuya naye nodadewabo ababili emihlanganweni yobuKristu. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, waqala ukukujabulela lokho ayekufunda ngeZwi likaNkulunkulu. U-Ana waqala ukufunda iBhayibheli nezincwadi zamaKristu nokuthandaza kuJehova uNkulunkulu. Kancane kancane, waba nobuhlobo obuseduze noNkulunkulu. Uyachaza: “Ngangikujabulela ukugibela ibhayisekili lami ngiye entabeni eseduze nasekhaya lapho ngangikwazi khona ukubuka ubuhle bokushona kwelanga. Ngangithandaza kuJehova futhi ngimbonge ngomusa wakhe nokuphana, ngizama ukubonisa ukuthi ngimthanda kangakanani. Ukwazi uJehova uNkulunkulu nezinjongo zakhe kwanginika ukuthula kwengqondo nomuzwa wokulondeka.” Ingabe nawe uyazama ukuthola isikhathi sokuzindla ngokukhathalela kukaJehova kothando?

Kuyavunywa, isizinda sethu singase sikwenze kube nzima ukujabulela ubuhlobo obuseduze noJehova. Ngokwesibonelo cabanga ngoLidia. Lapho ethululela isifuba sakhe kuyise ngalokho okwakumkhathaza, uyise wamane nje wamchiliza, ethi: “Suka lapha.” Nakuba ayeqonda ukuthi uyise wayefuna ukuba ayikhohlwe inkinga, uLidia uthi: “Ukufunda iBhayibheli kwanginika konke engangikufisa ngisho nangaphezulu. Ubuntu bukaJehova obukhangayo bamenza waba umngane wami omkhulu. Manje senginoBaba onothando noqondayo, engikwazi umtshela imizwa yami ngisho nezinkinga zami ezijule kakhulu. Ngikhuluma amahora amaningi noMuntu obaluleke kunabo bonke endaweni yonke, ngiqiniseka ukuthi uzongilalela.” Imibhalo yeBhayibheli efana neyabaseFilipi 4:6, 7 yamsiza u-Ana ukuba akuzwe ukukhathalela kukaJehova kothando. Lowo mbhalo uthi: “Ningakhathazeki ngalutho, kodwa kukho konke izicelo zenu mazaziwe nguNkulunkulu ngomthandazo nangokunxusa kanye nokubonga; ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu okudlula konke ukucabanga kuyolinda izinhliziyo zenu namandla enu engqondo ngoKristu Jesu.”

Usizo Ukuze Ukwazi Ukunakekela Izidingo Zakho

UJehova ubonisa ukukhathalela kwakhe izinceku zakhe ngazinye nanjengebandla lakhe lomhlaba wonke. Nathi singalubonisa uthando lwethu ngoBaba wethu wasezulwini ngokuhlela isikhathi sokukhuluma naye. Akumelwe nakancane sibuthathe kalula ubuhlobo bethu naye. UDavide wayebukhumbula njalo ubuhlobo bakhe noJehova. Wathi: “O Jehova, ngazise izindlela zakho; ngifundise imikhondo yakho. Ngihambise eqinisweni lakho ungifundise, ngoba wena unguNkulunkulu wami wensindiso. Usuku lonke ngithembé wena.”—IHubo 25:4, 5.

Umqondo wokuba nobuhlobo obuseduze noNkulunkulu ungase ube musha kuwe. Noma yiziphi izinkinga okungenzeka ukuthi unazo, ungaqiniseka njalo ukuthi oPhezukonke uyokusiza, ngokuvumelana nentando yakhe. (1 Johane 5:14, 15) Ngakho-ke, funda ukwenza imithandazo yakho iqonde, ucabange ngezimo nezidingo zakho.

Ukubaluleka kokuqaphela izidingo zethu kuvezwe kahle emthandazweni weNkosi uSolomoni lapho kuvulwa ithempeli: “Uma kwenzeka kuba khona indlala ezweni, uma kwenzeka kuba khona isifo esiwumshayabhuqe, uma kwenzeka kuba khona ukuhanguka nesikhunta, izinkumbi namaphela; uma kwenzeka izitha zabo zibavimbezela ezweni lamasango abo—noma yiluphi uhlobo lwenhlupho nanoma yiluphi uhlobo lwesifo—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yimuphi umthandazo, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yisiphi isicelo somusa esingase senziwe yinoma yimuphi umuntu noma yibo bonke abantu bakho u-Israyeli, ngoba yilowo nalowo uyayazi inhlupho yakhe nobuhlungu bakhe. . . . Khona-ke kwangathi ungezwa wena usemazulwini. . . . uthethelele futhi unike ngamunye ngokuvumelana nazo zonke izindlela zakhe.” (2 IziKronike 6:28-30) Yiqiniso, nguwe kuphela ‘owazi inhlupho yakho nobuhlungu bakho.’ Yeka ukuthi kubaluleke kangakanani-ke ukuqaphela izidingo nezifiso zakho zangempela. Uma uziqaphela, “[uJehova] uyokunika izicelo zenhliziyo yakho.”—IHubo 37:4.

Qinisa Ubuhlobo Bakho NoJehova

Kuyamjabulisa uJehova ukuvumela abantu abavamile ukuba bajabulele ubuhlobo obuseduze naye. IZwi lakhe liyasiqinisekisa: “‘Mina ngiyoba uyihlo, nina nibe amadodana namadodakazi kimi,’ kusho uJehova uMninimandla onke.” (2 Korinte 6:18) Ngempela, uJehova neNdodana yakhe bafuna ukuba siphumelele futhi sithole ukuphila okuphakade. Yeka ukuthi kukhuthaza kanjani ukwazi ukuthi uJehova uyosisiza ekuthwaleni imithwalo yethu yemfanelo ekhaya, emsebenzini, nasebandleni lobuKristu!

Nakuba kunjalo, sonke sibhekana nezikhathi ezinzima. Impilo ebuthaka, izinkinga zomkhaya, iholo elincane, noma okunye kungasizwisa ubuhlungu. Singase singazi ukuthi singabhekana kanjani novivinyo noma isilingo. Izingcindezi eziningi, eziqondile noma ezingaqondile, zibangelwa ummangaleli omubi, uSathane uDeveli, olwa impi engokomoya nabantu bakaNkulunkulu. Nokho, kunothile osiqondayo futhi asisize ukuba sigcine ubuhlobo obuhle noJehova. Lowo nguJesu Kristu esesikhundleni sakhe esiphakeme emazulwini. Siyafunda: “Ngakho-ke, masisondele ngenkululeko yokukhuluma esihlalweni sobukhosi somusa ongafanelwe, ukuze sizuze isihe futhi sithole umusa ongafanelwe wokusiza ngesikhathi esifanele.”—Hebheru 4:15, 16.

Yeka ukuthi kuqinisa kanjani ukwazi ukuthi akudingeki ukuba sibe abadumile noma abacebile ukuze sijabulele umusa kaNkulunkulu! Ngisho noma ungaphansi kokucindezeleka, lingisa umhubi owathandaza wathi: “Mina ngihluphekile futhi ngimpofu. UJehova ngokwakhe uyanginaka. Wena ulusizo lwami noMenzi wendlela yami yokuphunyuka.” (IHubo 31:9-14; 40:17) Qiniseka ukuthi uJehova uthanda abantu abathobekile nabavamile. Ngempela, ‘singaphonsa zonke izinkathazo zethu phezu kwakhe, ngoba uyasikhathalela.’—1 Petru 5:7.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

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Iningi labalandeli bakaJesu lalingafundile futhi lingabantu abavamile

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AmaKristu alulwela kanzima ukholo oluqinile

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Akudingeki ukuba sibe ngabavelele ukuze sijabulele umusa kaNkulunkulu