Hlakulela Ukuthobeka Kwangempela
“Abantu abathobekile uyobasindisa.”—2 SAMUWELI 22:28.
1, 2. Ababusi bezwe abaningi baye bafana ngani?
IMIBHOSHONGO yaseGibhithe engonxantathu iyizikhumbuzo zamadoda ake abusa lelo zwe. Abanye abavelela emlandweni nguSaneheribi wase-Asiriya, u-Alexander Omkhulu waseGrisi noJulius Caesar waseRoma. Bonke laba babusi babefana ngento eyodwa. Abazange baziwe ngokuba abantu abathobeke ngempela.—Mathewu 20:25, 26.
2 Ukhona yini kulaba babusi abangenhla ongamcabanga evame ukucinga abantu abaphansi abadinga induduzo embusweni wakhe? Lutho neze! Awukwazi nokubacabanga beya emizini ephansi yezakhamuzi ezidangele beyozikhuthaza. Yeka ukuthi isimo sengqondo ababenaso ngabantu abaphansi sasihluke kanjani kwesoMbusi Ophakeme wendawo yonke, uJehova uNkulunkulu!
Isibonelo Sokuthobeka Esikhulu Kunazo Zonke
3. UMbusi Ophakeme ubaphatha kanjani abantu bakhe?
3 UJehova mkhulu futhi uphakeme ngokungaphenyeki. Noma kunjalo, “amehlo akhe aqalaza kuwo wonke umhlaba ukuze abonise amandla akhe ngenxa yalabo abanhliziyo yabo iphelele kuye.” (2 IziKronike 16:9) Yini uJehova ayenzayo lapho ethola abakhulekeli abaphansi abachotshozwe izinhlupheko ezihlukahlukene? Ngomqondo othile, ‘uhlala’ nabo ngomoya wakhe ongcwele ‘ukuze avuselele umoya wabathobekileyo futhi avuselele inhliziyo yabachotshozwayo.’ (Isaya 57:15) Ngenxa yalokho, abakhulekeli bakhe abavuselelekile babe sebekwazi ukuphinde bamkhonze ngokujabula. Yeka ukuthobeka kukaNkulunkulu!
4, 5. (a) Umhubi wazizwa kanjani ngendlela uNkulunkulu abusa ngayo? (b) Kusho ukuthini ukuthi uNkulunkulu “uyazehlisa” ukuze asize “ophansi”?
4 Akekho omunye emhlabeni nasezulwini oye wazithoba ngezinga iNkosi EnguMbusi ezithobe ngalo ukuze isize abantu abanesono. Umhubi wabhala: “UJehova uphakeme ngaphezu kwazo zonke izizwe; inkazimulo yakhe ingaphezu kwamazulu. Ubani onjengoJehova uNkulunkulu wethu, yena owenza indawo yakhe yokuhlala ibe sendaweni ephakeme? Uyazehlisa ukuze abuke ezulwini nasemhlabeni, aphakamise ophansi othulini, uphakamisa ompofu emgodini womlotha.”—IHubo 113:4-7.
5 UJehova umsulwa futhi ungcwele, ngakho akanakho “ukuzidla.” (Marku 7:22, 23) Elithi “ukuzehlisa” linomqondo wokuzibeka phansi ezingeni lomuntu ophansi emphakathini noma ukuphatha umuntu ophansi ngendlela ebonisa ukuthi wena wehlile esikhundleni sakho. Ngakho, amanye amaBhayibheli ahumusha iHubo 113:6 ngokuthi uNkulunkulu uyazithoba. Yeka ukuthi lokho kumveza kahle kanjani uNkulunkulu wethu othobekile enaka ngothando izidingo zabakhulekeli bakhe abangabantu abangaphelele!—2 Samuweli 22:36.
Okwenza UJesu Wathobeka
6. Isiphi isenzo sokuthobeka esikhulu kunazo zonke esenziwa uJehova?
6 Isenzo sikaNkulunkulu sokuthobeka nothando esikhulu kunazo zonke ukuthumela iNdodana yakhe ethandekayo eyizibulo ukuba izozalwa emhlabeni, ikhule njengomuntu, ukuze kusindiswe isintu. (Johane 3:16) UJesu wasifundisa iqiniso ngoYise wasezulwini wabe esenikela ngokuphila kwakhe njengomuntu ophelele ukuze asuse “isono sezwe.” (Johane 1:29; 18:37) Ebonakalisa izimfanelo zikaYise ngokuphelele kuhlanganise neyokuthobeka, uJesu wayezimisele ukwenza lokho uNkulunkulu ayemcele ukuba akwenze. Asikho esinye isidalwa sikaNkulunkulu esake sabeka isibonelo sokuthobeka nothando esikhulu njengalesi. Akuwona wonke umuntu owakwazisa ukuthobeka kukaJesu; izitha zakhe zambheka ngisho ‘nanjengophansi kunabo bonke besintu.’ (Daniyeli 4:17) Nokho, umphostoli uPawulu waqaphela ukuthi labo akholwa nabo kufanele balingise uJesu, bathobelane.—1 Korinte 11:1; Filipi 2:3, 4.
7, 8. (a) UJesu wakufunda kanjani ukuthobeka? (b) UJesu ubanxusa ukuba benzeni labo abangase babe abafundi bakhe?
7 UPawulu waqokomisa isibonelo sikaJesu esivelele, wathi: “Yibani nalesi simo sengqondo esasikhona nakuKristu Jesu, owathi nakuba ephila ngesimo sikaNkulunkulu, wangakucabangela ukuqhwaga, okungukuthi, ukuba alingane noNkulunkulu. Cha, kodwa wazidela, wathatha isimo senceku wafana nabantu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lapho ezithola esesimweni esinjengesomuntu, wazithoba futhi walalela kwaze kwaba sekufeni, yebo, ekufeni esigxotsheni sokuhlushwa.”—Filipi 2:5-8.
8 Abanye bangase bazibuze, ‘UJesu wakufunda kanjani ukuthobeka?’ Kwaba umvuzo omuhle wokuba seduze noYise wasezulwini izigidigidi zeminyaka, ‘eyisisebenzi sikaNkulunkulu esiyingcweti’ ekudaleni zonke izinto. (IzAga 8:30) Ngemva kokuhlubuka kwase-Edene, iZibulo likaNkulunkulu lakwazi ukubona uYise ephatha izoni ezingabantu ngokuthobeka. Ngakho-ke ngesikhathi elapha emhlabeni, uJesu walingisa ukuthobeka kukaYise futhi wanxusa: “Bekani ijoka lami phezu kwenu nifunde kimi, ngoba nginomoya omnene futhi ngithobekile ngenhliziyo, nizotholela imiphefumulo yenu ukuqabuleka.”—Mathewu 11:29; Johane 14:9.
9. (a) Yini uJesu ayeyithanda ngabantwana? (b) Isiphi isifundo uJesu asifundisa esebenzisa ingane encane?
9 Ngenxa yokuthi uJesu wayethobeke ngempela, izingane ezincane zazingamesabi. Kunalokho, zazimkhonzile. Naye wayebonisa ukuthi uyazithanda izingane, ezinaka. (Marku 10:13-16) Yini lena uJesu ayeyithanda kangaka ngezingane? Lezi zingane zazinezimfanelo ezifiselekayo abanye babafundi bakhe abakhulile ababengazibonisi njalo. Sonke siyazi ukuthi izingane ezincane zibheka abantu abadala njengabangcono kunazo. Lokhu ukubona ngemibuzo eminingi eziyibuzayo. Yebo, uma ziqhathaniswa nabantu abadala abaningi, izingane zifundiseka kalula futhi azivami ukuziqhenya njengabo. Ngesinye isikhathi, uJesu wakhetha ingane encane wayesethi kubalandeli bakhe: “Ngaphandle kokuba niguquke futhi nibe njengabantwana, anisoze nangena embusweni wamazulu.” Waqhubeka: “Noma ubani oyozithoba njengalo mntwana nguye omkhulu kunabo bonke embusweni wamazulu.” (Mathewu 18:3, 4) Wanikeza isimiso: “Wonke umuntu oziphakamisayo uyothotshiswa nalowo ozithobayo uyophakanyiswa.”—Luka 14:11; 18:14; Mathewu 23:12.
10. Imiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo?
10 Lelo qiniso liphakamisa imibuzo ebalulekile. Ngezinga elithile, ithemba lethu lokuthola ukuphila okuphakade lixhomeke ekuhlakuleleni kwethu ukuthobeka kwangempela, kodwa kungani ngezinye izikhathi kuba nzima kumaKristu ukuthobeka? Kungani kuyinselele kithi ukuzehlisa, sibhekane nezinhlupheko ngendlela ebonisa ukuthobeka? Yini eyosisiza ukuba siphumelele ukuhlakulela ukuthobeka kwangempela?—Jakobe 4:6, 10.
Okwenza Kube Nzima Ukuthobeka
11. Kungani kungamangalisi ukuthi kuwumshikashika kithi ukuthobeka?
11 Uma kunzima kuwe ukuthobeka, awuwedwa. Kudala ngo-1920, lo magazini wakhuluma ngeseluleko seBhayibheli mayelana nesidingo sokuthobeka, wathi: “Njengoba sibona ukuthi iNkosi ikwazisa kakhulu kangakanani ukuthobeka, lokhu kufanele kukhuthaze bonke abafundi beqiniso ukuba bayihlakulele nsuku zonke le mfanelo.” Wabe usuvuma ngokuqondile: “Naphezu kwazo zonke lezi zikhuthazo zemiBhalo, ukungapheleli kwabantu kubonakala kubangela ukuba labo ababa ngabantu beNkosi futhi abanquma ukuqhubeka kule nkambo bathole ubunzima obengeziwe, bazabalaze ngokwengeziwe kulesi sici kunakunoma isiphi esinye.” Lokho kuqokomisa esinye isizathu esenza ukuba amaKristu eqiniso kudingeke azabalaze ukuze athobeke—ukungapheleli kwethu kusenza sinxanele udumo olungafanele. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi siyinzalo yabantu ababenesono, u-Adamu no-Eva, abavumela izifiso zobugovu.—Roma 5:12.
12, 13. (a) Izwe liyisithiyo kanjani ekuhlakuleleni kwamaKristu ukuthobeka? (b) Ubani owenza kube nzima ngokwengeziwe kithi ukuhlakulela ukuthobeka?
12 Esinye isizathu esingenza kube nzima kithi ukubonisa ukuthobeka ukuthi sizungezwe izwe elikhuthaza abantu ukuba balwele ukuba ngcono kunabanye. Omunye wemigomo yaleli zwe evamile ukufuna ukwanelisa “isifiso senyama [enesono] nesifiso samehlo nokugabisa ngalokho umuntu aziphilisa ngakho.” (1 Johane 2:16) Kunokuba balawulwe izifiso zezwe ezinjalo, abafundi bakaJesu kufanele bagcine iso labo lilihle, bagxile ekwenzeni intando kaNkulunkulu.—Mathewu 6:22-24, 31-33; 1 Johane 2:17.
13 Isizathu sesithathu esenza kube nzima ukuhlakulela nokubonisa ukuthobeka ukuthi leli zwe libuswa umsunguli wokuzidla, uSathane uDeveli. (2 Korinte 4:4; 1 Thimothewu 3:6) USathane ugqugquzela izimfanelo zakhe ezimbi. Ngokwesibonelo, wafuna ukuba uJesu amkhulekele, yena abese emnika “yonke imibuso yezwe nenkazimulo yayo.” Njengomuntu owayehlale ethobekile, uJesu wenqaba ngokuphelele. (Mathewu 4:8, 10) Ngokufanayo, uSathane ulinga amaKristu ukuba azifunele udumo. Kunalokho, amaKristu athobekile alwela ukulandela isibonelo sikaJesu, ayise udumo kuNkulunkulu.—Marku 10:17, 18.
Ukuhlakulela Nokubonisa Ukuthobeka Kwangempela
14. Kuyini “ukuthobeka-mbumbulu”?
14 Encwadini ayibhalela abaseKolose, umphostoli uPawulu waxwayisa ngokuzishaya othobekile ngenjongo yokuhlaba abanye umxhwele. Wakuchaza ngokuthi “ukuthobeka-mbumbulu.” Labo abamane bezishaya abathobekile ababona abantu abangokomoya. Kunalokho babonisa ukuthi empeleni ‘bakhukhumele.’ (Kolose 2:18, 23) UJesu waveza izibonelo zalokho kuthobeka kokuzenzisa. Walahla abaFarisi ngenxa yemithandazo yabo yokubukisa nangenxa yokuzenza lusizi futhi banyukubale lapho bezile ukudla, ukuze babonwe abantu. Ngokuphambene, ukuze uNkulunkulu ayazise imithandazo yethu yomuntu siqu, kufanele siyenze ngokuthobeka.—Mathewu 6:5, 6, 16.
15. (a) Yini esingayenza ukuze sihlale sinokuthobeka kwengqondo? (b) Iziphi ezinye zezibonelo ezinhle zokuthobeka?
15 Ukugxila ezibonelweni zokuthobeka ezizidlula zonke, uJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu, kuyawasiza amaKristu alondoloze ukuthobeka kwengqondo kwangempela. Ukwenza lokhu kuhilela ukulitadisha njalo iBhayibheli nezincwadi eziwusizo ekuliqondeni ezilungiselelwa ‘ngenceku ethembekileyo neqondayo.’ (Mathewu 24:45) Ukutadisha okunjalo kubaluleke kakhulu kubabonisi abangamaKristu, ‘ukuze inhliziyo yabo ingaziphakamisi ngaphezu kwabafowabo.’ (Duteronomi 17:19, 20; 1 Petru 5:1-3) Zindla ngezibonelo eziningi zalabo ababusiswa ngenxa yesimo sengqondo sabo sokuthobeka, njengoRuthe, uHana, u-Elizabethe nabanye abaningi. (Ruthe 1:16, 17; 1 Samuweli 1:11, 20; Luka 1:41-43) Cabanga nangezibonelo ezinhle eziningi zamadoda avelele ahlala ethobekile enkonzweni kaJehova, njengoDavide, uJosiya, uJohane uMbhapathizi nomphostoli uPawulu. (2 IziKronike 34:1, 2, 19, 26-28; IHubo 131:1; Johane 1:26, 27; 3:26-30; IzEnzo 21:20-26; 1 Korinte 15:9) Kuthiwani ngezibonelo zokuthobeka eziningi zanamuhla ezisebandleni lobuKristu? Ukuzindla ngalezi zibonelo kuyosiza amaKristu eqiniso ukuba abe ‘nesimo sengqondo sokuthobelana.’—1 Petru 5:5.
16. Inkonzo yobuKristu isisiza kanjani ukuba sithobeke?
16 Ukuhlanganyela njalo enkonzweni yobuKristu nakho kungasisiza sithobeke. Ukuthobeka kwengqondo kungasenza siphumelele lapho sixoxa nabantu esingabazi esibathola endlini ngendlu nakwezinye izindawo. Lokhu kunjalo ikakhulukazi lapho umninikhaya eqala ngokungasigqizi qakala isigijimi soMbuso noma ngokwedelela. Sivamile ukuphonswa imibuzo mayelana nezinkolelo zethu, futhi ukuthobeka kungasiza umKristu ukuba alokhu ephendula “ngomoya omnene nangenhlonipho ejulile.” (1 Petru 3:15) Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezithobekile ziye zathuthela emasimini amasha futhi zasiza abantu abanamasiko namazinga okuphila ahlukile. Izikhonzi ezinjalo kungase kudingeke zibonise ukuthobeka lapho zibhekene nomsebenzi onzima wokufunda olunye ulimi ukuze zikwazi kangcono ukusiza labo ezifuna ukuxoxa nabo ngezindaba ezinhle. Yeka indlela okutuseka ngayo lokhu!—Mathewu 28:19, 20.
17. Imiphi imithwalo yemfanelo yobuKristu edinga ukuthobeka?
17 Ngokuthobeka, abaningi baye bafeza imisebenzi yabo yobuKristu, bebeka izithakazelo zabanye ngaphambi kwezabo. Ngokwesibonelo, kudingeka ukuthobeka ngobaba ongumKristu ukuba abekele eceleni esinye sesikhathi sakhe ukuze alungiselele futhi aqhube isifundo seBhayibheli esiphumelelayo nezingane zakhe. Ukuthobeka kusiza nezingane ukuba zihloniphe abazali bazo abangaphelele futhi zibalalele. (Efesu 6:1-4) Amakhosikazi anabayeni abangakholwa avame ukubhekana nezimo ezidinga ukuthobeka njengoba ezama ukuzuza abayeni bawo ‘ngokuziphatha kwawo okumsulwa kanye nenhlonipho ejulile.’ (1 Petru 3:1, 2) Ukuthobeka nothando lokuzidela kuyasiza nalapho sinakekela ngothando abazali abagulayo futhi asebegugile.—1 Thimothewu 5:4.
Ukuthobeka Kuyasiza Ekuxazululeni Izinkinga
18. Ukuthobeka kungasisiza kanjani ekuxazululeni izinkinga?
18 Zonke izikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu ezingabantu aziphelele. (Jakobe 3:2) Ngezinye izikhathi, amaKristu amabili angase angaboni ngaso linye noma angaqondani kahle. Omunye angase abe nesizathu esizwakalayo sokukhononda ngomunye. Ngokuvamile, izimo ezinjalo zingaxazululwa ngokusebenzisa lesi seluleko: “Qhubekani nibekezelelana futhi nithethelelana ngokukhululekile uma umuntu enesizathu sokukhononda ngomunye. Njengoba nje uJehova anithethelela ngokukhululekile, yenzani kanjalo nani.” (Kolose 3:13) Kuyavunywa ukuthi ukusebenzisa lesi seluleko akulula, kodwa ukuthobeka kuyomsiza umuntu asisebenzise.
19. Yini okumelwe siyikhumbule lapho sikhuluma nomuntu osonile?
19 Ngezinye izikhathi umKristu angase abone isizathu sakhe esizwakalayo sokukhononda sisikhulu kakhulu ukuba angayisibekela indaba. Khona-ke, ukuthobeka kuyomsiza ukuba akhulume nalowo muntu athi umonile enomgomo wokuba babuyisane. (Mathewu 18:15) Esinye sezizathu ezenza ukuba izinkinga phakathi kwamaKristu ziqhubeke isikhathi eside ukuthi oyedwa noma bobabili abahilelekile baziqhenya kakhulu ukuba bavume iphutha labo. Noma, lowo othatha isinyathelo sokukhuluma nomunye angase akwenze ngendlela egxekayo, azibone elungile. Ngokuphambene, isimo sengqondo sokuthobeka kwangempela siyosiza kakhulu ekuxazululeni ukungaboni ngaso linye okuningi.
20, 21. Isiphi esinye sezinyathelo eziwusizo kakhulu ekuthobekeni?
20 Isinyathelo esibalulekile ekuhlakuleleni ukuthobeka siwukuthandazela usizo nomoya kaNkulunkulu. Khumbula, ‘abathobekile uNkulunkulu ubapha umusa ongafanelwe,’ kuhlanganise nomoya wakhe ongcwele. (Jakobe 4:6) Ngakho, uma kukhona eningaboni ngaso linye kukho nothile okholwa naye, thandazela ukuba uJehova akusize ulivume ngokuthobeka iphutha lakho, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi lincane noma likhulu. Uma uye wahlukumezeka futhi owonile esho ngobuqotho ukuthi, “Ngiyaxolisa,” mthethelele ngokuthobeka. Uma kunzima ukwenza lokhu, thandaza ucele usizo lukaJehova ukuze ususe ukuzidla okusahlezi enhliziyweni yakho.
21 Ukuqonda izinzuzo eziningi ezilethwa ukuthobeka kufanele kusishukumisele ukuba siyihlakulele futhi siyilondoloze le mfanelo eyigugu. Yeka ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu noJesu Kristu bayizibonelo ezinhle kanjani kithi! Ungalingi usikhohlwe isiqinisekiso sikaNkulunkulu: “Umphumela wokuthobeka nokwesaba uJehova yingcebo nodumo nokuphila.”—IzAga 22:4.
Amaphuzu Okuzindla
• Obani abayizibonelo zokuthobeka ezizidlula zonke?
• Kungani kunzima ukuhlakulela ukuthobeka?
• Yini engasisiza ukuba sithobeke?
• Kungani kubaluleke kangaka ukuhlala sithobekile?
[Isithombe ekhasini 26]
UJesu wayethobeke ngempela
[Isithombe ekhasini 28]
Izwe likhuthaza abantu ukuba balwele ukuba ngcono kunabanye
[Umthombo]
WHO photo by L. Almasi/K. Hemzǒ
[Isithombe ekhasini 29]
Ukuthobeka kusisiza ukuba sikhulume nabantu esingabazi enkonzweni yethu
[Izithombe ekhasini 30]
Ukungaboni ngaso linye ngokuvamile singakuxazulula ngokusibekela indaba ngokuthobeka nangothando
[Izithombe ekhasini 31]
Ziningi izindlela amaKristu abonisa ngazo ukuthobeka