Umkhonzi Othembekileyo’ Nequmrhu Lakhe Elilawulayo
“Ngubani na ke loo mkhonzi uthembekileyo, uqondayo, eyathi inkosi yakhe yammisa phezu kwabendlu yayo, ukuze abanike ukudla ngexesha elifanelekileyo?”—MATEYU 24:45.
1. Kutheni uYehova ekulungele ukudlulisela igunya, yaye ngokuyintloko ukwenze kubani oko?
UYEHOVA unguThixo wocwangco. Kwakhona ungumthombo walo lonke igunya elifanelekileyo. Ekubeni enentembelo ekunyanisekeni kwezidalwa zakhe ezithembekileyo, uYehova ukulungele ukunikela igunya. Lowo aye wanikela kuye elona gunya likhulu nguNyana wakhe, uYesu Kristu. Enyanisweni, uThixo ‘wazithobela phantsi kweenyawo zakhe izinto zonke, wammisa ukuba abe yintloko phezu kweento zonke kulo ibandla.’—Efese 1:22.
2. UPawulos ulibiza ngokuthini ibandla lamaKristu, yaye uKristu ulidlulisele kubani igunya?
2 Umpostile uPawulos ulibiza ibandla lamaKristu ngokuthi ‘yindlu kaThixo’ yaye uthi uNyana kaYehova othembekileyo, uYesu Kristu, wabekwa phezu kwale ndlu. (1 Timoti 3:15; Hebhere 3:6) Ngenxa yoko, uKristu udlulisela igunya kumalungu endlu kaThixo. Sinokukubona oku kumazwi kaYesu abhalwe kuMateyu 24:45-47. Wathi: “Ngubani na ke loo mkhonzi uthembekileyo, uqondayo, eyathi inkosi yakhe yammisa phezu kwabendlu yayo, ukuze abanike ukudla ngexesha elifanelekileyo? Unoyolo loo mkhonzi, iya kuthi yakufika inkosi yakhe imfumane esenjenjalo. Inene ndithi kuni, iya kummisa phezu kwayo yonke impahla yayo.”
Umphathi Wendlu Wenkulungwane Yokuqala
3. Ngubani obumba ‘umkhonzi othembekileyo noqondayo,’ yaye liliphi ibinzana elisetyenziswa kuye njengabantu ngabanye?
3 Ngokufundisisa kwethu ngenyameko iZibhalo, siyazi ukuba amalungu athanjiswe ngomoya endlu kaThixo ngokuyintlanganisela abumba “umkhonzi othembekileyo noqondayo,” “igosa,” okanye “umphathi wendlu.” Ngokwabantu ngabanye, la malungu endlu kaYehova abizwa ngokuthi ‘yimpahla’ okanye “iqumrhu labalindi.”—Mateyu 24:45; Luka 12:42; umbhalo osemazantsi weBhayibhile Eneembekiselo.
4. Kanye ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe, nguwuphi umbuzo uYesu awawuphakamisayo, yaye wazifanisa nabani?
4 Kwiinyanga ezithile ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe, uYesu waphakamisa to mbuzo, obhalwe kuLuka 12:42: “Ngubani na ke elo gosa lithembekileyo, liqondileyo, eyothi inkosi ilimise phezu kwabendlu yayo, ukuze libanike umamkelo wabo wokudla ngexesha elifanelekileyo?” Kwathi ke, kwiintsuku ezimbalwa ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe, uYesu wazifanisa nomntu othile owayeza kuhambela kwelinye ilizwe elikude nowathi wabiza abakhonzi bakhe waza wayigcinisa kubo impahla yakhe.—Mateyu 25:14.
5. (a) UYesu wababela nini abanye ukuba banyamekele impahla yakhe? (b) Sisiphi isabelo esandisiweyo uKristu awasinika abo babeya kuba yinxalenye yomphathi wakhe wendlu oyintlanganisela?
5 UYesu wababela nini abanye ukuba banyamekele impahla yakhe? Oko wakwenza emva kokuvuka kwakhe. Kumazwi akhe aqhelekileyo akuMateyu 28:19, 20, okokuqala uKristu wanika abo babeya kuba yinxalenye yomphathi wendlu yakhe oyintlanganisela isabelo esandisiweyo sokufundisa nokwenza abafundi. Ngokunikela ubungqina ngokwabantu ngabanye “kude kuse nasekupheleni komhlaba,” abalindi babeza kuyandisa intsimi yobuvangeli basemazweni awayeqalise ukuyisebenza uYesu ebudeni bobulungiseleli bakhe basemhlabeni. (IZenzo 1:8) Oku kwakuquka ukusebenza kwabo ‘njengezigidimi ezimela uKristu.’ ‘Njengamagosa eemfihlelo zikaThixo,’ babeza kwenza abafundi baze bababele ukudla okungokomoya.—2 Korinte 5:20; 1 Korinte 4:1, 2.
IQumrhu Elilawulayo Lendlu
6. Udidi lwegosa lwenkulungwane yokuqala lwaphefumlelwa nguThixo ukuba lulungiselele ntoni?
6 Ngokuyintlanganisela, amaKristu athanjiswe ngomoya ayeza kuba ligosa lenkosi, okanye umphathi wendlu, owabelwe ukusasaza ukudla kokomoya okufika ngexesha elifanelekileyo kumalungu ngamanye endlu kaThixo. Phakathi konyaka wama-49 nowama-98 C.E., ephefumlelwe nguThixo, amalungu enkulungwane yokuqala odidi lwegosa abhala iingxelo ezintlanu ezingokwembali, iincwadi ezingama-21, nencwadi yeSityhilelo ukuze kungenelwe abazalwana babo. Le mibhalo iphefumlelweyo iqulethe ukudla okulungilelyo kokomoya kwabendlu, oko kukuthi, amalungu athanjisiweyo ngokomntu ngamnye endlu kaThixo.
7. UKristu wakhetha iqaqobana labantu kudidi lomkhonzi ngayiphi injongo?
7 Ngoxa onke amaKristu athanjisiweyo ngokuyintlanganisela ebumba indlu kaThixo, kukho ubungqina obuninzi bokuba uKristu wakhetha ibathwana lamadoda ngokuphuma kolu didi lomkhonzi ukuba likhonze njengequmrhu elilawulayo elibonakalayo. Imbali yangaphambili yebandla ibonisa ukuba abapostile abali-12, kuquka noMatiya, babesisiseko sequmrhu elilawulayo lenkulungwane yokuqala. IZenzo 1:20-26 zisinika into eyalatha koku. Mayela nokuthatyathelwa indawo kukaYuda Sikariyoti, apho kuthethwe malunga “nobuveleli bakhe” ‘nangesabelo solu lungiselelo nobupostile.’
8. Iimbopheleleko zequmrhu elilawulayo lenkulungwane yokuqala zaziquka ntoni?
8 Umsebenzi onjalo wokuvelela wawuquka imbopheleleko yabapostile yokumisela amadoda afanelekileyo kwizikhundla zenkonzo nokuba alungelelanise ubulungiseleli. Kodwa kwakuthetha nokungakumbi. Wawukwabandakanya ukufundisa nokucacisa iingongoma zemfundiso esisiseko. Ukuze kuzaliseke idinga likaKristu elibhalwe kuYohane 16:13, “umoya wenyaniso” wawuza kulikhokelela ngokwamanqanaba kuyo yonke inyaniso ibandla lamaKristu. Zisuka nje, abo balamkelayo ilizwi baza baba ngamaKristu abhaptiziweyo nathanjisiweyo bazingisa ekuzinikeleni “emfundisweni yabapostile.” Enyanisweni, isizathu sokuba amadoda asixhenxe awanconyelwayo amiselwe kumcimbi oyimfuneko wokusasaza ukudla okungokwenyama kwenzelwa ukuba “abalishumi elinababini” bahlale bekhululekile ukuze ‘bazingise ekuthandazeni nasekulungiseleleni ilizwi.’—IZenzo 2:42; 6:1-6.
9. Iqumrhu elilawulayo lokuqala lacuthwa njani ukuze libe namalungu ali-11, kodwa kubonakala ukuba kwakutheni ukuze elo nani lingathi ngokukhawuleza libuyiselwe kwi-12?
9 Kubonakala ukuba ekuqaleni iqumrhu elilawulayo ngokukhethekileyo lalibunjwe ngabapostile bakaYesu. Kodwa ngaba oko kwakuza kuhlala kunjalo? Malunga nonyaka wama-44 C.E., umpostile uYakobi, ongumzalwana kaYohane, wabulawa nguHerode Agrippa I. (IZenzo 12:1, 2) Ngokucacileyo akukho linge lenziwayo lokufaka omnye esikhundleni sakhe njengompostile, njengoko kwenziwayo kwimeko kaYuda. Kwakutheni? Alithandabuzeki elokuba kungenxa yokuba uYakobi wafa ethembekile, umpostile wokuqala kwabali-12 ukufa. Kwelinye icala, uYuda wayengumkreqi ongendawo yaye kwafuneka kufakwe omnye endaweni yakhe ukuze kubuyiselwe kwi-12 inani lamatye esiseko soSirayeli wokomoya.—Efese 2:20; ISityhilelo 21:14.
10. Landiswa nini yaye njani iqumrhu elilawulayo lenkulungwane yokuqala, yaye uKristu walisebenzisa njani ukukhokela indlu kaThixo?
10 Amalungu okuqala equmrhu elilawulayo lenkulungwane yokuqala ayengabapostile, amadoda awayehambe noYesu nawayengamangqina okufa nokuvuka kwakhe. (IZenzo 1:21, 22) Kodwa le meko yayiza kuguquka. Njengoko iminyaka yayiqengqeleka, amanye amadoda angamaKristu azuza ukukhula ngokomoya aza amiselwa njengabadala kwibandla laseYerusalem. Kwathi malunga nonyaka wama-49 C.E. kungekhona emva kwawo, iqumrhu elilawulayo lalandisiwe ukuze liquke kungekuphela nje abapostile ababesele kodwa kwaneqela lamanye amadoda amakhulu aseYerusalem. (IZenzo 15:2) Ngoko ukuyilwa kwequmrhu elilawulayo kwakungamiselwanga nani ngokungqongqo, kodwa kuyabonakala ukuba uThixo wanikela ukhokelo ekwenziweni kwezinto ukuze kwenziwe inguqulelo eyayiza kulungela iimeko zabantu bakhe. UKristu, iNtloko yebandla ekhutheleyo, wasebenzisa eli qumrhu lilawulayo landisiweyo ekuzinziseni umbandela obalulekileyo wemfundiso esisiseko onokuthanani nokwaluka kwamaKristu awayengengomaYuda nokuzithoba kwawo kuMthetho kaMoses. Elo qumrhu lilawulayo labhala incwadi licacisa isigqibo salo laza lakhupha imimiselo eyayimele igcinwe.—IZenzo 15:23-29.
Ixesha Lokuphendula Komphathi Wendlu
11. Ngaba ukhokelo oluqinileyo olwamiselwa liqumrhu elilawulayo lwaxatyiswa ngabazalwana, yaye yintoni ebonisa ukuba uYehova walisikelela eli lungiselelo?
11 Ngokwabantu ngabanye nanjengamabandla, amaKristu okuqala aluxabisa olu khokelo lusebenza ngamandla olwalunikelwa lelo qumrhu lilawulayo. Emva kokuba ibandla lakwa-Antiyokwe yaseSiriya lifunde incwadi eyayivela kwiqumrhu elilawulayo, laluvuyela olo khuthazo. Njengoko amanye amabandla ayefumana inkcazelo aze agcine imimiselo, ‘aqhubeka ezimaseka elukholweni yaye esanda ngenani imihla ngemihla.’ (IZenzo 16:5) Kuyabonakala ukuba uThixo walisikelela eli lungiselelo.—IZenzo 15:30, 31.
12, 13. UYesu waxela ziphi iziganeko ngaphambili kumzekeliso wakhe weemina noweetalente?
12 Kodwa makhe siqwalasele enye inkalo yalo mbandela ubalulekileyo. Kumzekeliso wakhe weemina, uYesu wazifanisa nendoda yasebukhosini eyahamba yaya kwilizwe elikude ukuze izifumanele igunya lobukumkani neyathi emva koko yabuya. (Luka 19:11, 12) Ngemva kokuvuka kwakhe ngowama-33 C.E., uYesu Kristu waphakanyiselwa kwisandla sasekunene sikaThixo, apho wayeza kuhlala de iintshaba zakhe zenziwe isihlalo seenyawo zakhe.—IZenzo 2:33-35.
13 Kumzekeliso ofanayo, umzekeliso weetalente, uYesu wathi emva kwexesha elide, inkosi yabuya ukuze ihlolisise indlela eyayisetyenziswe ngayo imali ngabakhonzi bayo. Kubakhonzi abazingqina bethembekile, inkosi yathi: “Ubuthembekile kwiinto ezimbalwa; ndiya kukumisa phezu kweento ezininzi; ngena eluvuyweni lwenkosi yakho.” Kodwa yathi ngomkhonzi ongathembekanga: “Uya kuhluthwa kwanoko anako. Naye umkhonzi ongancedi lutho, mkhupheleni ebumnyameni obungaphandle.”—Mateyu 25:21-23, 29, 30.
14. UYesu wayelindele ntoni kubakhonzi bakhe abathanjiswe ngomoya?
14 Emva kwexesha elide—phantse iinkulungwane ezili-19—uKristu wathiwa jize ngegunya lobukumkani ngowe-1914, ekupheleni kwamaxesha eentlanga.’ (Luka 21:24) Kungekudala emva koko, weza kuhlolisisa indlela abayisebenzise ngayo imali ‘abakhonzi bakhe,’ amaKristu athanjiswe ngomoya. (Mateyu 25:19) UYesu wayelindele ntoni kubo ngokwabantu ngabanye nanjengeqela? Isabelo segosa saqhubeka iseso yayisiso ukususela ngenkulungwane yokuqala. UKristu wayenikele ngeetalente kubantu ngabanye-“walowo wanikwa ngokwawakhe amandla.” Ngenxa yoko, uYesu wayelindele imiphumo ngokulingana namandla akhe ngamnye. (Mateyu 25:15) Apha kusebenza umgaqo okweyoku-1 yabaseKorinte 4:2, othi: “Kufuneka kuwo amagosa, ukuba elowo kuwo afumaneke ethembekile.” Ukusebenzisa iitalente kwathetha ukusebenza ngokuthembekileyo njengezigidimi zikaThixo, kusenziwa abafundi yaye kusasazwa iinyaniso zokomoya kubo.—2 Korinte 5:20.
‘Umkhonzi’ Nequmrhu Lakhe Elilawulayo Njengoko Ixesha Lesiphelo Lalisondela
15. (a) UKristu wayelindele ntoni kumphathi wendlu yakhe oyintlanganisela? (b) Yintoni ebonisa ukuba uKristu wayelindele ukuba udidi lomkhonzi lwenze oku ngaphambi kokuba afike ukuze ahlole indlu yakhe?
15 UYesu wayelindele ukuba amaKristu athanjisiweyo ngokuyintlanganisela asebenze njengegosa elithembekileyo, enika iqumrhu labalindi “umamkelo wabo wokudla ngexesha elifanelekileyo.” (Luka 12:42) Ngokutsho kukaLuka 12:43, uKristu wathi: “Unoyolo loo mkhonzi eyothi, yakufika inkosi yakhe, imfumane esenjenjalo.” Oku kubonisa ukuba kangangexesha elithile ngaphambi kokuba uKristu afike ukuza kuhlola indlela abayisebenzise ngayo imali abakhonzi bakhe abathanjiswe ngomoya, babeza kube besasaza ukutya kokomoya kumalungu ebandla lamaKristu, indlu kaThixo. Ngoobani uKristu awabafumana besenjenjalo xa wafikayo ekwigunya lobukumkani ngowe-1914 waza waqhubeka ehlola indlu kaThixo ngowe-1918?—Malaki 3:1-4; Luka 19:12; 1 Petros 4:17.
16. Xa uKristu wafikayo ukuze ahlole indlu kaThixo ngowe-1918, kwakutheni ukuze angazifumani iicawa zeNgqobhoko zinikela ukudla kokomoya ngexesha elifanelekileyo?
16 Njengoko ixesha elide lokulinda kukaYesu kwisandla sokunene sikaYehova lalisondela ekupheleni, ngokuthe ngcembe kwaye kwacaca ukuba babengoobani abo babenikela ukudla kokomoya kwimpahla kaKristu kwanakwixesha langaphambi kowe-1914. Ngaba ucinga ukuba yayiziicawa zeNgqobhoko? Ngokuqinisekileyo yayingezizo, kuba zazibandakanyeke ngokupheleleyo kwezobupolitika. Zazizizixhobo ezivumayo zokusetyenziswa ekwandiseni ulawulo lwamathanga ibe zazilinge ukugqwesana ukuze zingqine umoya wazo wokuthandizwe, ngaloo ndlela zikhuthaza umoya wobuhlanga. Kungekudala oku kwazibangela zanetyala legazi elikhulu, okuthetha ukuba, xa zabaxhasa ngokukhutheleyo oorhulumente bezobupolitika ababebandakanyeke kwimfazwe yehlabathi yokuqala. Ngokomoya, ukholo lwazo lwaluvikivwe ngumoya Wokuhambisana Namaxesha. Kwangenelela ixesha lamanqam ngokomoya kuba uninzi lwabefundisi lwazo lwaba ngamaxhoba abambiseka lula ohlalutyo oluqatha nendaleko. Akukho kutya kokomoya kwakunokulindelwa kubefundisi beNgqobhoko!
17. Kwakutheni ukuze uKristu awacekise amanye amaKristu athanjisiweyo, yaye oko kwaba nawuphi umphumo kuwo?
17 Ngokufanayo, akukho kutya kokomoya okunesondlo okwafumanekayo kuloo maKristu athanjisiweyo awayexhalabele ngakumbi ukusindiswa kwawo kunokuba asebenzise italente yeNkosi. Aba ‘ngamavila,’ angakufanelekelanga ukunyamekela impahla yeNkosi. Ngenxa yoku, aphoselwa “ebumnyameni obungaphandle,” apho zisekhoyo iicawa zeNgqobhoko nanamhlanje.—Mateyu 25:24-30.
18. Ngoobani iNkosi eyabafumana benika abendlu yayo ukudla kokomoya ngexesha elifanelekileyo, yaye yintoni engqina oko?
18 Ngoko ke, ekufikeni kwayo ukuze ihlole abakhonzi bayo ngowe-1918, ngoobani iNkosi, uYesu Kristu, eyabafumana benika abendlu yayo umamkelo wabo wokudla ngexesha elifanelekileyo? Kaloku, ngelo xesha, ngoobani ababenike abafuni benyaniso abanyanisekileyo ukuqonda okuchanileyo mayela nedini lentlawulelo, negama likaThixo, nobukho bukaKristu obungabonakaliyo nokubaluleka kowe-1914? Ngoobani ababebhence ubuxoki bukaBathathu Emnye, ukungafi komphefumlo, nesihogo somlilo? The ngoobani ababelumkise ngeengozi zendaleko nezokusebenzelana nemimoya? Izibakala zibonisa ukuba yayiliqela lamaKristu athanjisiweyo awayenxulumene nabapapashi bephephancwadi iZion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence, ngoku elibizwa ngokuba yiMboniselo Evakalisa UBukumkani BukaYehova.
19. Udidi lomkhonzi othembekileyo lwaluzibonakalise njani ngaphambi kowe-1918, yintoni obeluyisebenzisa ekusasazeni umamkelo wokudla kokomoya, yaye ukususela nini?
19 Kwinkupho yayo kaNovemba 1, 1944, IMboniselo (yesiNgesi) yathi: “Ngowe-1878, kwiminyaka engamashumi amane ngaphambi kokuba iNkosi ize etempileni ngowe-1918, kwakukho udidi lwamaKristu anyanisekileyo nazahluleleyo awayeluqhawule unxibelelwano neentlangano zoobhishophu nabefundisi yaye wona ayefuna ukuqhelisela ubuKristu . . . Kunyaka olandelayo, oko kukuthi, ngoJulayi, 1879, kwaqaliswa ukupapashwa kweli phephancwadi IMboniselo ukuze kusasazwe rhoqo iinyaniso uThixo awazilungiselela ngoKristu ‘njengokutya ngexesha elifanelekileyo,’ kuyo yonke indlu yakhe yabantwana abazahluleleyo.”
20. (a) Labakho njani iQumrhu Elilawulayo lanamhlanje? (b) Amalungu eQumrhu Elilawulayo ayesenza ntoni, yaye ngaphantsi kokhokelo lukabani?
20 Inikela inkcazelo ngendlela elabakho ngayo iQumrhu Elilawulayo lanamhla, inkupho yeMboniselo kaMeyi 15, 1972, yacacisa isithi: “Iminyaka emihlanu kamva [ngowe-1884] kwabunjwa iZion’s Watch Tower Tract Society yaye yasebenza ‘njengeziko’ lokulungiselela ukudla kokomoya amawaka abantu abanyanisekileyo abafuna ukumazi uThixo nokuqonda iLizwi lakhe . . . AmaKristu azahluleleyo, abhaptiziweyo nathanjisiweyo aye anxulumana nalo Mbutho kwikomkhulu elisePennsylvania. Enoba ebekwiQumrhu Labalathisi okanye ebengenjalo, azenza afumanekela umsebenzi okhethekileyo wodidi “lomkhonzi othembekileyo, oqondayo” ancedisa ekondleni nakulwalathiso lodidi lomkhonzi, ngaloo ndlela kwabakho iqumrhu elilawulayo. Ngokucacileyo oku kwaba ngokhokelo lwamandla asebenzayo angabonakaliyo kaYehova okanye umoya oyingcwele. Kwakhona, kwaba ngokolwalathiso lweNtloko yebandla lamaKristu, uYesu Kristu.”
21. (a) Ngoobani uKristu awabafumana besasaza ukudla kokomoya, yaye wabavuza njani? (b) Yintoni eyayilindelwe ngumkhonzi othembekileyo neQumrhu lakhe Elilawulayo?
21 Ngowe-1918, xa uYesu Kristu wahlola abo babesithi bangabakhonzi bakhe, wafumana iqela lamaKristu ezizwe ngezizwe epapasha iinyaniso zeBhayibhile ukuze zisetyenziswe ngaphakathi ebandleni nangaphandle kumsebenzi wokushumayela. Ngokwenyaniso, ngowe-1919 kwenzeka kanye njengokuba uKristu wayexele ngenxa engaphambili esithi: “Unoyolo loo mkhonzi, iya kuthi yakufika inkosi yakhe imfumane esenjenjalo. Inene ndithi kuni, iya kummisa phezu kwayo yonke impahla yayo.” (Mateyu 24:46, 47) La maKristu okwenyaniso angena eluvuyweni lweNkosi yawo. Ekubeni ayezibonakalise ‘ethembekile kwizinto ezimbalwa,’ amiselwa yiNkosi ukuba abe “phezu kweento ezininzi.” (Mateyu 25:21) Umkhonzi othembekileyo neQumrhu lakhe Elilawulayo babezinzile, belungele isabelo esongezelelekileyo. Hayi indlela ekumele kusivuyise ngayo ukuba oko kwabanjalo, kuba amaKristu anyanisekileyo afumana iingenelo ezininzi kumsebenzi wokuzinikela walo mkhonzi uthembekileyo neQumrhu lakhe Elilawulayo!
Iingongoma Eziziintloko Ezimele Zikhunjulwe
◻ Ngubani oyiNtloko yendlu kaThixo, yaye Lo ulinikele kubani igunya?
◻ Sisiphi isabelo seqela labantu uKristu awasinikela kudidi lomkhonzi?
◻ Liliphi elinye iqumrhu eliyintlanganisela elalikho kwakolu didi lomkhonzi, yaye yayiyintoni imisebenzi yalo ngokukhethekileyo?
◻ Xa uKristu wafika eze kuhlola indlu kaThixo, ngubani owayelungiselela ukudla kokomoya kumalungu ayo?
◻ Labakho njani iQumrhu Elilawulayo lanamhlanje lavela njani?
[Umfanekiso okwiphepha 10]
‘Umkhonzi’ wenkulungwane yokuqala wayenequmrhu elilawulayo elalibunjwe ngabapostile nabadala bebandla laseYerusalem