‘Lingisela UNkulunkulu’ Ngokusebenzisa Kuhle Amandla

1. Kujayele ukwenzakalani nxa umuntu elamandla?

ENYE imbongi eyaphila eminyakeni yabo-1800 yathi: “Nxa umuntu elamandla, uba sengozini.” Imbongi le yayisithi nxa umuntu angaphiwa amandla ucina ewasebenzisa kubi. Okudanisayo yikuthi izikhathi ezinengi abantu bawasebenzisa kubi amandla abo. Sekuleminyaka eminengi ababusi behlukuluza abantu. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi “nxa umuntu ebuswa ngomunye umuntu uyalimala.” (UmTshumayeli 8:9) Banengi abantu abathwele nzima ngenxa yokuthi babuswa ngabantu abangelathando.

2, 3. (a) Indlela uJehova asebenzisa ngayo amandla itshiyene njani lendlela abantu abasebenzisa ngayo amandla abo? (b) Yiwaphi amandla esilawo futhi kumele siwasebenzise njani?

² UJehova uNkulunkulu kafanani labantu. Ulamandla amakhulu kodwa kakaze awasebenzise kubi. Njengoba sibonile ezahlukweni ezidlulileyo uJehova uhlala esebenzisa amandla akhe ukwenza izinto ezinhle, kungaba yikudala, ukubhubhisa abenza okubi, ukuvikela kumbe ukulungisa okonakeleyo. Indlela asebenzisa ngayo amandla akhe yenza sifune ukusondela kuye. Yenza sifuna ‘lokulingisela uNkulunkulu’ endleleni esisebenzisa ngayo amandla. (Kwabase-Efesu 5:1) Kodwa thina yiwaphi amandla esilawo njengoba sibancane kakhulu nxa siqathaniswa loNkulunkulu?

³ Khumbula ukuthi umuntu wadalwa “ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu.” (UGenesisi 1:26, 27) Ngakho lathi silawo amandla. Ngokwesibonelo singaba lamandla okwenza imisebenzi ethile kumbe awokukhokhela abanye loba awokubaphambanisa. Umuntu oqinileyo emzimbeni loba onothileyo laye kungathiwa ulamandla. Umhubi wathi uJehova “nguye osinika ukuphila.” (IHubo 36:9) Ngakho-ke wonke amandla esingaba lawo siwaphiwa nguJehova. Yikho sifuna ukuwasebenzisa ngendlela emthokozisayo. Singakwenza njani lokhu?

Kumele Sibe Lothando

4, 5. (a) Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sisebenzise kuhle amandla ethu futhi uNkulunkulu yena uwasebenzisa njani awakhe? (b) Uthando lungasinceda njani ukuthi sisebenzise kuhle amandla ethu?

⁴ Nxa sifuna ukusebenzisa kuhle amandla kumele sibe lothando. UNkulunkulu uyisibonelo esihle salokho. Khumbula ubuntu bukaNkulunkulu esixoxe ngabo eSahlukweni 1. Sifunde ngokuthi ulamandla, wahlulela kuhle, ulenhlakanipho futhi ulothando. Kodwa yibuphi ubuntu bukaNkulunkulu obuqakatheke kakhulu? Luthando. U-1 Johane 4:8 uthi: “UNkulunkulu uluthando.” Lokho kutsho ukuthi konke akwenzayo ukwenza ngenxa yokuthi ulothando. Yikho lamandla akhe uwasebenzisa kuhle ngenxa yokuthi ulothando futhi ufuna ukusinceda.

⁵ Lathi uthando lungasinceda ukuthi sisebenzise kuhle amandla ethu. IBhayibhili lisitshela ukuthi uthando “lulomusa” futhi “aluzifuneli okwalo.” (1 KwabaseKhorinte 13:4, 5) Ngakho nxa silothando kasisoze sibaphathe kubi labo esibakhokhelayo. Kulokuthi senze njalo sizabahlonipha abanye futhi siqakathekise lokho abakufunayo.—KwabaseFiliphi 2:3, 4.

6, 7. (a) Kutshoni ukwesaba uNkulunkulu futhi kungasinceda njani ukuthi singasebenzisi kubi amandla? (b) Yiwuphi umzekeliso otshengisa ukuthi ukuthanda uJehova kungenza simhloniphe?

⁶ Kulenye indlela uthando olungasinceda ngayo ukuthi sisebenzise kuhle amandla ethu. Uthando lwenza simesabe uJehova. Manje ukwesaba uJehova khona kusinceda njani? UZaga 16:6 uthi: “Ukwesaba uJehova kwenza umuntu abalekele okubi.” Yikho nxa simesaba uJehova asisoze sisebenzise kubi amandla ethu. Asisoze sibaphathe kubi labo esilamandla phezu kwabo ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyayibona indlela esibaphatha ngayo njalo sizalandisa kuye. (UNehemiya 5:1-7, 15) Kodwa kulesizatho esiqakatheke kakhulu esenza sibaphathe kuhle abanye. Emavesini amanengi eBhayibhilini ibala elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “ukwesaba” litsho ukuhlonipha uNkulunkulu ngendlela ejulileyo. Ngakho ukuthanda uJehova kungasinceda ukuthi simhloniphe kakhulu. (UDutheronomi 10:12, 13) Nxa simhlonipha uNkulunkulu sizazama ukuthi singenzi loba yini ezamdanisa. Okwenza simhloniphe yikuthi siyamthanda hatshi ukuthi sesaba ukujeziswa.

⁷ Nanku umzekeliso ongasisiza sikuzwisise lokhu: Okwenza umntwana athande uyise yikuthi uyabe ebona ukuthi laye uyamthanda. Kodwa uyabe ekwazi lalokho uyise afuna akwenze lokuthi uzamjezisa nxa engaphambanisa. Kodwa lokhu akwenzi umntwana ahlale etshotshobele ngokwesaba. Uzazimisela ukwenza izinto ezizakwenza uyise ahlale ethokoza ngoba uyamthanda. Kunjalo lokwesaba uNkulunkulu. Okwenza simlalele uBaba wethu osezulwini yikuthi siyamthanda futhi kasifuni ukwenza loba yini engenza ‘inhliziyo yakhe ibe buhlungu.’ (UGenesisi 6:6) Sifuna ukuhlala simthokozisa. (IZaga 27:11) Yikho kumele sisebenzise kuhle amandla ethu. Kasihloleni ukuthi singakwenza njani lokhu.

Singawasebenzisa Njani Amandla Emulini?

8. (a) Amadoda alawaphi amandla emulini futhi kumele awasebenzise njani? (b) Indoda ingatshengisa njani ukuthi iyamhlonipha umkayo?

⁸ Ku-Efesu 5:23 iBhayibhili lithi: “Indoda iyinhloko yomkayo.” Manje indoda kumele iwasebenzise njani amandla la ewaphiwe nguNkulunkulu? IBhayibhili litshela amadoda ukuthi ahlale labomkawo “ngokwazi” njalo ‘abaqakathekise njengezitsha ezibuthakathaka.’ (1 UPhetro 3:7) Ibala lesiGrikhi elihunyutshwe ngokuthi ‘abaqakathekise’ litsho ‘ukuhlonipha.’ Lihambelana lamanye ahunyutshwa ngokuthi “izipho” loba ‘igugu.’ (ImiSebenzi 28:10; 1 UPhetro 2:7) Indoda ehlonipha umkayo ngeke imtshaye loba imehlise isithunzi kumbe imeyise asale ezizwa engasimuntu walutho. Iyananzelela ukuthi umkayo uqakathekile futhi imphatha ngenhlonipho. Itshengisa ngamazwi langezenzo ukuthi umkayo uligugu kuyo, kungelani lokuthi baphakathi kwabantu kumbe babodwa. (IZaga 31:28) Nxa indoda ingenza njalo umkayo uzayithanda futhi ayihloniphe. Kodwa okuqakatheke kakhulu yikuthi izathandwa nguNkulunkulu.

9. (a) UJehova unika abesifazana amandla okwenzani? (b) Kuyini okunganceda owesifazana ukuthi asekele umkakhe futhi lokhu kumnceda ngani?

⁹ Abesifazana labo balamandla abawaphiwe nguJehova. IBhayibhili lisitshela ngabesifazana ababekhonza uNkulunkulu abacebisa omkabo babanceda ukuthi benze okuqondileyo. Kodwa lokhu bakwenza ngokuthobeka. (UGenesisi 21:9-12; 27:46–28:2) Owesifazana angabe ekhaliphile ukwedlula umkakhe kumbe esenelisa ukwenza ezinye izinto umkakhe angenelisi ukuzenza. Lanxa kunjalo kumele ‘amhloniphe kakhulu’ umkakhe futhi ‘azehlise’ kuye “ngendlela azehlisa ngayo eNkosini.” (Kwabase-Efesu 5:22, 33) Nxa owesifazana emthanda uJehova futhi efuna ukumthokozisa, uzamsekela umkakhe kulokuthi ameyise kumbe azame ukumbusa. Owesifazana onjalo ‘uhlakaniphile’ ngoba uyabambisana lomkakhe ukuze imuli yabo ihlale ithokoza. Lokhu kumenza ahlale elokuthula loNkulunkulu.—IZaga 14:1.

10. (a) UJehova unike abazali amandla okwenzani? (b) Litshoni ibala elithi ‘ukulaya’ futhi kumele kwenziwe njani? (Khangela lamabala angaphansi.)

¹⁰ Labazali balamandla abawaphiwe nguNkulunkulu. IBhayibhili liyaxwayisa: “Bobaba lingabazondisi abantwabenu kodwa qhubekani libakhulisa ngokulaya langokuxwayisa okuvela kuJehova.” (Kwabase-Efesu 6:4) EBhayibhilini ibala elithi ‘ukulaya’ lingatsho “ukuqondisa, ukuqeqetsha, lokufundisa.” Abantwana kumele balaywe ngoba bakhula kuhle nxa befundiswa ukuthi kuyini okumele bakwenze lokungamelanga bakwenze. IBhayibhili lithi kufanele balaywe ngendlela elothando. (IZaga 13:24) Nxa abazali belaya abantwababo akumelanga babahlukuluze.a (IZaga 22:15; 29:15) Bayabe bewasebenzisa kubi amandla abo nxa bekhahlameza abantwana futhi bebalaya ngendlela engelamusa. Lokhu kungenza umntwana adane kakhulu. (KwabaseKholose 3:21) Kodwa nxa bangabalaya ngendlela efaneleyo abantwana bazabona ukuthi abazali babo bayabathanda lokuthi bafisa ukuthi baphumelele empilweni.

11. Abantwana bangawasebenzisa njani amandla abo?

¹¹ Abantwana bona-ke? Bangawasebenzisa njani amandla abo? UZaga 20:29 uthi: “Udumo lwabasakhulayo ngamandla abo.” Indlela engcono kakhulu abasakhulayo abangasebenzisa ngayo amandla abo yikukhonza ‘uMdali wethu omkhulu.’ (UmTshumayeli 12:1) Kuqakathekile ukuthi abasakhulayo bakhumbule ukuthi abakwenzayo kungabathokozisa abazali babo kumbe kubadanise. (IZaga 23:24, 25) Nxa abantwana belalela abazali babo futhi besenza okuqondileyo, abazali bazathokoza. (Kwabase-Efesu 6:1) Lokhu “kuyayithokozisa iNkosi.”—KwabaseKholose 3:20.

Singawasebenzisa Njani Amandla Ebandleni?

12, 13. (a) Abadala kumele bawasebenzise njani amandla abawaphiwe nguNkulunkulu? (b) Abadala kumele bawuphathe njani umhlambi? Nika umzekeliso.

¹² UJehova ubeke abadala ukuthi bakhokhele ebandleni. (KumaHebheru 13:17) Amadoda la kumele asebenzise amandla awo awaphiwe nguNkulunkulu ukuthi ancede futhi anakekele umhlambi. Kodwa balelungelo lokubusa abakhonza labo yini? Hatshi! Abadala kumele bathobeke futhi benze umsebenzi wabo ngendlela uJehova afuna bawenze ngayo. (1 UPhetro 5:2, 3) IBhayibhili litshela ababonisi ukuthi ‘beluse ibandla likaNkulunkulu alithenga ngegazi leNdodana yakhe.’ (ImiSebenzi 20:28) Yikho kumele baphathe wonke umuntu ebandleni ngomusa langothando.

¹³ Nanku umzekeliso ongenza umcijo lo ucace. Ake sithi umngane wakho ukucela ukuthi umkhangelele impahla yakhe eqakathekileyo. Ubuzayiphatha kuhle ngenxa yokuthi uyakwazi ukuthi uyithenge ngemali enengi. UNkulunkulu laye unike abadala umsebenzi wokunakekela impahla yakhe eqakatheke kakhulu. Impahla leyo libandla. IBhayibhili lifanisa abantu abasebandleni lezimvu. (UJohane 21:16, 17) UJehova uzithanda kakhulu izimvu zakhe, yikho wazithenga ngegazi eliligugu leNdodana yakhe ezelwe yodwa. UJehova wathenga izimvu zakhe ngentengo ephezulu kakhulu. Nxa abadala bangahlala bekukhumbula lokho bazaziphatha kuhle izimvu zikaJehova.

Ulimi Lulamandla

14. Ulimi lulamandla okwenzani?

¹⁴ IBhayibhili lithi: “Ukufa lokuphila kusemandleni olimi.” (IZaga 18:21) Kuliqiniso sibili ukuthi esikukhulumayo kungabalimaza abanye. Ngubani kithi ongakaze azwe ubuhlungu bamazwi aphongukhulunywa ngumuntu engacabanganga kumbe amazwi okweyisa? Kodwa ulimi luphinda lube lamandla okwelapha. UZaga 12:18 uthi: “Ulimi lwabahlakaniphileyo luyelapha.” Amazwi akhayo futhi amahle angafanana lomuthi othoba ubuhlungu. Yiwaphi amanye amavesi esingacabanga ngawo?

15, 16. Singabakhuthaza njani abanye?

¹⁵ U-1 Thesalonika 5:14 usikhuthaza ukuthi ‘siduduze abahlulukelweyo.’ Izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekileyo lazo zingahlulukelwa kwezinye izikhathi. Pho singabanceda njani? Bancome ukuze babone ukuthi baqakathekile kuJehova. Batshele ngamavesi atshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyabathanda kakhulu “abalenhliziyo ezidabukileyo” futhi “abadanileyo.” (IHubo 34:18) Nxa siduduza abanye siyabe silingisela uNkulunkulu wethu olesihawu, “oduduza abalenhliziyo ezidabukileyo.”—2 KwabaseKhorinte 7:6.

¹⁶ Okunye okuqakathekileyo okumele sikwenze yikukhuthaza abanye. Ngobani esingabakhuthaza? Ukhona yini okhonza laye ofelweyo? Ungamduduza ngamazwi atshengisa ukuthi uyamthanda futhi uyamzwela. Kulodadewethu loba umfowethu osegugile ozibona angathi kaselancedo yini? Mtshele amazwi azamnceda abone ukuthi uqakathekile futhi uyathandwa. Ukhona yini olomkhuhlane ongelaphekiyo? Ungamfonela, umbhalele imeseji kumbe umvakatshele uxoxe laye ngendlela elomusa ezamnceda azwe ngcono. UMdali wethu uyathokoza kakhulu nxa singakhetha amazwi amahle futhi akhayo!—Kwabase-Efesu 4:29.

17. Yiphi indlela eqakatheke ukwedlula zonke esingasebenzisa ngayo ulimi lwethu futhi kungani kumele senze njalo?

¹⁷ Indlela eqakatheke ukwedlula zonke esingasebenzisa ngayo ulimi lwethu yikutshela abanye izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. KuZaga 3:27 iBhayibhili lithi: “Ungayekeli ukubenzela okuhle labo okumele ubancede, nxa kusemandleni akho ukuthi ubancede.” Silomlandu wokutshela abanye izindaba ezinhle zensindiso. Kungaba yinto embi ukuthi singabatsheli umlayezo uJehova asinike wona. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 9:16, 22) Kodwa uJehova ufuna siwenze njani umsebenzi lo?

Khonza UJehova ‘Ngamandla Wonke’

18. UJehova ukhangeleleni kithi?

¹⁸ Sifuna ukwenza konke esingakwenza enkonzweni ngenxa yokuthi siyamthanda uJehova. UJehova yena ukhangeleleni kithi? Ukhangelele ukuthi senze konke esingenelisa ukukwenza kungelani lokuthi sikusiphi isimo. IBhayibhili lithi: “Loba kuyini elikwenzayo kwenzeni ngomphefumulo wonke, angathi lisebenzela uJehova hatshi abantu.” (KwabaseKholose 3:23) UJesu laye wathi umlayo omkhulu ukwedlula yonke ‘yikuthanda uJehova uNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo yonke, langomphefumulo wonke, langengqondo yonke, langamandla wonke.’ (UMakho 12:30) UJehova ukhangelele ukuthi ngamunye wethu amthande futhi amkhonze ngomphefumulo wonke.

19, 20. (a) Kungani kuMakho 12:30 uJesu waqamba inhliziyo lengqondo lamandla kulokuthi akhulume ngomphefumulo kuphela? (b) Kutshoni ukukhonza uJehova ngomphefumulo wonke?

¹⁹ Kutshoni ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngomphefumulo wonke? Umphefumulo utsho konke umuntu ayikho, okugoqela inhliziyo lengqondo lamandla. Manje yindaba kuMakho 12:30 uJesu eqamba inhliziyo lengqondo lamandla kulokuthi akhulume ngomphefumulo kuphela? Cabanga ngomzekeliso olandelayo. Kudala umuntu wayengazithengisa abe yisigqili. Ngamanye amazwi uyabe ethengise umphefumulo wakhe. Kodwa kungenzakala ukuthi isigqili singasebenzeli inkosi yaso ngenhliziyo yonke langamandla wonke langengqondo yonke. (KwabaseKholose 3:22) Yikho-ke uJesu waqamba konke lokhu ukuze agcizelele ukuthi kumele sikhonze uNkulunkulu ngakho konke esiyikho.

²⁰ Kodwa ukukhonza ngomphefumulo wonke kutsho yini ukuthi kumele sonke senze okufananayo enkonzweni? Lokho ngeke kwenzakale ngenxa yokuthi izimo zabantu lalokho abenelisa ukukwenza kuyatshiyana. Ngokwesibonelo, osakhulayo angenelisa ukutshumayela isikhathi esinengi ukwedlula umuntu osekhulile ongaselamandla kangako. Umuntu ongatshadanga futhi ongelamuli ayinakekelayo angenelisa ukuba lesikhathi esinengi ekutshumayeleni kulomuntu otshadileyo futhi olemuli. Kumele simbonge uJehova nxa siseselamandla njalo izimo zethu zisivumela ukwenza okunengi enkonzweni. Kodwa akumelanga seyise abanye kumbe siziqathanise labo. (KwabaseRoma 14:10-12) Kumele senze konke okusemandleni ethu ukuthi sikhuthaze abanye.

21. Yiphi indlela engcono futhi eqakatheke kakhulu ongasebenzisa ngayo amandla akho?

²¹ UJehova uwasebenzisa kuhle amandla akhe. Sifuna ukumlingisela lanxa singabantu abalesono. Singasebenzisa kuhle amandla ethu ngokuphatha kuhle abanye. Kanti njalo kufanele siwenze ngenhliziyo yonke umsebenzi wokutshumayela esiwunikwe nguJehova. (KwabaseRoma 10:13, 14) Khumbula ukuthi uJehova uyathokoza kakhulu nxa umkhonza ngomphefumulo wonke. Sileqiniso lokuthi uyafuna ukwenza konke ongakwenza ukuze umthokozise uNkulunkulu wethu ozwisisayo futhi olothando! Le yindlela engcono kakhulu ongasebenzisa ngayo amandla akho.