Ngelo, Ayiseyiyo

Sele, Hayi

1 Korinthians 4:8-21

NguDavid Strain

Phambi kokuba siqale, makhe ndiphinde ndinqwenela koonina abazongozayo ekhaya iHolidey yoomama abalungileyo. Ngokwexesha apho iintsapho zethu zisezantsi phantsi kwezoxinzelelo zininzi ezivela kwinkcubeko yethu, umsebenzi womama ufuna ukuzola, ukhaliphiso, nokuqhubeka. Sibalungile ukubhiyozela isipho esikhulu osithandayo ekhaya lethu nakwiCawa yethu. Siyabulela kakhulu kuwe. Kungenzeka ukuba usiya eholidayeni nathi namhlanje ukuze ubhiyozelane nosapho lwakho. Kwaye ukuba yinyaniso, sisonke sijonge ukukwamkela. Sifuna ukubamba iindwendwe kakuhle, njengoko ndithe nditshilo ngaphambili, ukuba singakukhonza ngendlela yakho, bafuna ukwazi ukuba singakwenza njani.

Abantu abaninzi namhlanje babhiyozela; kukho abanye kwethu ababuhlungu namhlanje. Abanye babuhlungu ngenxa yokulahlekelwa ngumntwana okanye ngenxa yokulahlekelwa ngumama. Abanye babethu baye bakhala ukuze babe ngabazali kodwa abakwazanga ukuba nabantwana babo. Kwaye abanye namhlanje iHolidey yoomama ibenza ubuhlungu. Makhe nditshilo nje, ukuba oko kukuchaza, siyakuthanda, sizithandazela, yaye sizithandazela ngokukhethekileyo namhlanje ukuba iNkosi izathuthuzele iintliziyo zenu.

Ukuba umtsha eCaweni yokuqala yasePresbyterian, uyaqaphela indlela yethu eqhelekileyo xa isifikile ekushumayeni kukuzama ukusebenza ngokuqhubeka okukhulu kwisicatshulwa seBhayibhile, isahluko ngesahluko, ivesi ngevesi. Siyenza kuba sifuna ukuzama ukuthobela, ukuzibeka phantsi kwegunya leBhayibhile endaweni yokukhetha thina njengoko sifuna. Kwaye oko kuthetha ukuba njengoko besisebenza kule ncwadi kaPaul kwabakwaKhorinthos, kule mvela kusithi siye kwisahluko 4 sevesi 8, kude kube ekupheleni kwesahluko. Makhe uyenze ngoku, ukuba ungathanda, ukuze uthabathe ikopi yeScriptures eziprintiweyo phambi kwenu uze uphendukele apho; iphepha 954 kwiincwadi zeCawa. Isahluko 4 se1 Korinthians kwivesi 8, kude kube ekupheleni kwesahluko.

Ngaphambi kokuba sifunde, ndingathanda ukukukhumbuza kancinane ngendlela esiye khona u mhla kwileta kaPawulos. Ibandla laseKhorintho lithyle zibe neliswe kwifekyuwelity, elagcwaliswa luxwebhu, nokwahlukana, yaye konke oku kuye kwakhuthazwa yaye kwandiswa ngumono wob pride. Ziye zabuqa ngazo. Kwaye uPawulos ubhala kwabaseKhorintho ukuze abanye ezo zinto. Yaye ezo zinto ziye zamthatha njengo ukusukela isiqingatha sesibini sesahluko sokuqala de kube ngoku. Kwaye xa sibhekisisa isiqingatha sokugqibela sesahluko sesine, sibona uPawulos egqiba ukuxoxa kwakhe ngezo zinto – ngomono, nokwahlukana, noxwebhu eKhorintho – ukuya ekupheleni. Siye saqala ukujonga isahluko sesine kwiiveki ezimbini ezedlulileyo. Iivesi 1 ukuya kwezi-5 ziye zasifundisa okanye uPawulos usifundisa apho, indlela yokujamelana nomono noxwebhu xa sihlangabezana nocalucalulo lwabantu abanye xa besigweba. Apho kwiivesi 6 no 7, sibonile kwixesha elidlulileyo, uPawulos uyonsiza indlela yokujamelana nomono noxwebhu, nokwahlukana okubhobhoza xa sifumana loo mono ukhukhumeleyo neqabunga eliphakathi kwentliziyo yethu.

Kwaye ngoku kusasa uPawulos wenza amanqaku amabini okugqibela malunga nomono nokwahlukana eKhorintho. Kwiivesi 8 ukuya kwezi-13 uya kujamelana nezipilongo ezingafanelekanga zabaseKhorintho; Izipilongo zabo ezingafanelekanga. Kwaye kwivesi 14 ukuya kwezi-21, unomxhasi wokugqiba njengosapho. Izipilongo ezingafanelekanga kunye nomxhasi wosapho. Ezo zi ngqung themes zinkulu, amakhadi aphantsi kwazo uza kuqwalasela ukufundisa kukaPawulos apha – Izipilongo ezingafanelekanga kunye nomxhasi wosapho. Ngaphambi kokuba siphethe ingqwalaselo yethu ukuze sikuphulile uLowo kaThixo ofundwayo, nangoma, masivule kancinane, siqecele uThixo asincede njengoko sisincoko. Ngaba ungathanda ukusincoko nathi?

Uyihlo, Tata wethu, sikuthanda wena, yaye silambile yaye sizathazele ubulungisa. Siyakhumbula isithembiso seNkosi yethu, ukuba abo balambileyo yaye bazathazele ubulungisa, baya kuzaliswa. Kwaye njengabantwana bakho, sihla, sikhalela ukuba wena ufeze isithembiso kwanathi ngale ntsasa. Yaye ngomsebenzi weMoya oyiNgcwele, yondla iintliziyo zethu ngeLizwi lakho eliNgcwele, ngenxa yegama likaJesu. Amen.

1 Korinte, isahluko 4, umv. 8. Eli yiLizwi likaThixo uMninimandla:

Kodwa sele unayo yonke into oyifunayo! Sele ube zityebi! Ngaphandle kwethu, ube ngookumkani! Kwaye kungekhala ukuba wena ubuse, ukuze nathi sabelane ulawulo nawe! Kuba ndicinga ukuba uThixo usibonakalise thina abapostile njengabokugqibela, njengabantu abagwetyiweyo ukuba bafe, kuba siye sabadilizwa njengomboniso kwihlabathi, kwimingelakhe, nakubantu. Thina siyobhoyo ngenxa kaKristo, kodwa wena ukrelekrele kuKristo. Thina sibuthakathaka, kodwa wena womelele. Wena ukuhlonitshwa, kodwa thina kuthelwa. Nditsho kude kube ngoku, thina silambile yaye sizathazele, sinxibe kakubi yaye sibhujwa yaye singenamakhaya, yaye sisebenza, sisebenza ngezandla zethu. Xa sihlaziywa, siyalasika; xa sihlekwa, siyalunyamezela; xa sihlaselwa ngomlomo, siyalacenga. Thina sibe, yaye sisakho, njengothuthu lwehlabathi, yaye njengenkunkuma yazo zonke izinto.

Ndingabhaleezi nto ukunigxeka, kodwa ukuniyalwazi njengabantwana bam abathandekayo. Kuba nangona ninabaququzeleli abaninzi eKrestu, ababa ninobani. Kuba mimi ndaye naba yisakho eKrestu Yesu ngabomandi. Ndiyanicelisa, ngoko, ukuba nibe ndingqoloyi. Yiyo loo nto ndathumela uTimoti, umntwana wam othandekayo nothembekileyo eNkosini, ukunikhumbuza ngeendlela zam eKrestu, njengoko mimi ndifundisa yonke indawo kwiBandla ngalinye. Abanye bangab arrogant, ngokungathi mimi ndingayi kuwe. Kodwa ndiya kuwe kungekudala ukuba uNkosi ethanda, yaye ndiya kufumanisa kungezo ntetho zabantu abab arrogant kodwa amandla abo. Kuba umbuso kaThixo awusekho entethweni kodwa kumandla. Ufuna ntoni? Ndiye kuwe ngentonga, okanye ngothando ndisekhona nomoya wobuthongo?

Amen, yaye sibulela uThixo kuba uthethile kuthi ngaLizwi lakhe eliNgcwele.

Iminyango Engalunganga

Njengoko ndanditshilo ngaphambili, into yokuqala endifuna ukuba uyibone apha kukusabela kukaPawulo kukulindela okuyiphutha kwabaseKorinte. Babekulindele into ezingachanekanga malunga nobomi bobuKristu. Xa ndinethuba lokwenza iingcebiso zomtshato, ndiya kuthetha nesibini malunga nemigca emine yempazamo efumaneka phantse kuwo wonke umtshato. Phantse zonke iingxabano oza kuba nazo, ndiya kubaxelela, zinxulumana nenye yezinto ezine ngayeyona ndlela okanye enye. Ngaba ukulungele? Ndiyavuma ukuba ungaziqikelela. Imigca emine yempazamo – imali, inalam, abantu abaziseleyo, nabantwana. Imigca emine yempazamo. Uninzi lwenu luyalwa ngazo zonke ezi zinto, ndiyazi. Sonke si kuthanda. Uninzi lwezinto ezisikhathazayo neengxaki zomtshato zinxulumana nenye yazo. Kwaye isizathu sokuba zihlala zisisithombo sokungavumelani kungenxa yinto eseleyo enye efumaneka kuzo zonke kwaye izenza zibe ngumthombo wokuxinezeleka. Kwaye oko kukulindele okuyiphutha. Silindele kakhulu. Asiyonto ichanekanga malunga nendlela izinto eziza kuba njengo okanye asiyonto ichanekanga malunga neemfuno zeqabane lethu okanye ezakowethu ukwazi. Senze zonke iintlobo zamalungiselelo esingawaxoxi okanye asiwavumelani. Kwaye ukulindele kwethu okuyiphutha kunenza imali, inalam, abantu abaziseleyo, nabantwana bangabi yimithombo yovuyo nezoqinileyo emtshatweni njengoko befanele ukuba ngako, kodwa babe ngamaxesha okujezisana neengxaki. Ukulindele okuyiphutha kunantswa uvuyo phantse kuyo yonke into. Kwaye ukuba asiqapheli, ukulindele okuyiphutha kunokwaphula nobudlelwane.

Ngoku kwakunjalo kanye ebudlelwaneni bezenkolo eKorinte – ukulindela okuyiphutha kwakuzele ukwaphula ubudlelwano nokuqala ukwahlukana. Babeneenkululeko ezingalunganga malunga nendalo yobomi bamaKristu. Khangela imi vethu yesi-8 ukuya kweyesi-13 kunye nami. Ezi zinto yayizinto amaKhorinte ayesithi ngazo. uPawulos ubabonisa abafundi bakhe ngomoya wokugxeka, nkqu ne-sarcasm. Uyabona oko evesini? Khangela kwivesi yesi-8. Uthi, “Sele unayo yonke into oyifunayo! Sele ube ngcebile! Ube ngookumkani!” Ungayiguqulela into yokuthi, “Uqale ukulawula!” Okanye, “Ndinqwenela ukuba uqale ukulawula,” uithi, “ukuba ndibe ndilawula nawe. Ucinga ukuba uzukileyo zisele zifikile kuwe ngobuninzi. Lowo uPawulos ucebisa. Okanye khangela phantsi kule vesi yesi-10. “Uyalumka kuKrestu. Uyalomelela. Uyathandwa.” Yiloo ndlela amaKhorinte ayesibona ngayo. Uyakhumbula ukuba baye bezidla ngokuziphakamisa ngokwe ubuhle babo bokomoya. Baye bezidla ngokuziphakamisa ngezipho zabo ezingaphezu kwendalo, njengoko siza kubona njengoko ileta iqhubeka. Baye bezidla ngokuziphakamisa ngobulumko babo obukhethekileyo nokuqonda. Emva kwayo yonke into, bayesithi, “Akusini Jesu wafela waza wavuka? Isiphelo seminyaka sifikile! IZibhalo zifezekile. Umhlaba omusha sele ufikiwe!”

Sisele Yonke into!

Ingxaki yabo, uyabona, kukuba bajongileyo kuzo zonke izinto ezimangalisayo zikaThixo abazifumeneyo ngomsebenzi kaMoya oyiNgcwele xa bekholwa kuYesu, baze bathi, “Siyifumene yonke! Yonke into ifileyo apha! Akukho nto inyeleyo!” Bakagqiba ukuba abakholwa kuThixo kufanele balindele ukonwaba kwabo okukhulu apha, iintsikelelo zabo eziphezulu apha, amava abo amnandi kuncedo lukaThixo apha. Akufanele kube nokubandezeleka, akukho lusizi, akukho ubuhlupheko, akukho ntlungu apha. “Yiloo nto siyifumeneyo kuKrestu,” babesithi. “Siyifumene yonke into esiyifunayo. Sicebile! Sele siqale ukubusa. Siyakhanya, siyalunga, siyahlonishwa!” Igama eliphambili elikumbhalo endicinga ukuba lifuphisana nombono wabo wentsikelelo yobuKristu kweli lizwe ligama elithi, “sele,” eliphindwe kabini kwivesi 8. “Sele unayo yonke into oyifunayo! Sele ube cele!” Kango ukuba babesithi sele, ngoku, bane into ekufanele ivele ekupheleni. Uyabona, babesithi ukuba uhlala ubomi obuKristu obuthembekileyo, ukuba ngokwenene ungumoya, ukuba unayo ngokwenene inkolo, weloo nto kufanele siyiBona ebomini bakho – izulu emhlabeni sele; indalo entsha sele. Uloyiso phezu kwesono nokubandezeleka nosizi sele. Ubomi bakho obuhle ngoku, sele.

Ingxaki yoM pride

Akumangalisi ukuba babenengxaki yokuzingela. Akumangalisi ukuba bajonga phantsi kwabanye abantu bebandla labo abangazange balingane, abathi iintlungu zabo ziwabonakalise njengabantu abangaphantsi ngokomoya, abathi umzabalazo wabo wokulwa nesono esisalayo ubonakalise ukuba bayabantu abangabalulekanga. Kodwa uPawulos akayimvumeli into leyo kwaphela. Ngaba uyayivuma? Ngelixa amaKhorinthi ecabanga ukuba unokufumana ukuphelela kobuKristu ngokupheleleyo, ukuba unokukholwa ngokwaneleyo okanye ukuba unomoya wokwaneleyo, uapostile uPawulos uyazi ngcono. Jonga njani ukuzifanisa naye kuvesi 9. “Kuba ndicinga ukuba uThixo usibonakalise njengabapostile njengabokugqibela, njengabantu abagwetyiweyo ukuba bafe, kuba sibe yisiboniso kwihlabathi, kwiiNgelosi, nakkubantu. Siyabheka njengabantu ababuyo ngenxa kaKristu. Kodwa nina ningaboyakileyo kuKristu. Siyabuthaka kodwa nina ningabomeleleyo. Nina ningabathandekayo kodwa thina siyabedwa.” Babethetha ukuba uKristu ophileleyo ngokomoya uphila ekuphakameni kwuloyiso, kodwa nanku uapostile uPawulos, isiboniso sikawonke, njengumuntu ogwetyiweyo ukuba afe, ubhekwa njengomntu abuyo ngenxa kaKristu, buthaka kwaye bedwa ngokubanzi.

Phila Ngokweyure Yangoku

Kwaye ukuba ngamazwi apho abaliza okulindela kwabaseKorinte okungeyona kwanokuphosakeleyo ligama elithi “sele”, umhlaba oza kukalwa ngowethu “sele”, uqaphele indlela yokuphikisana kukaPaulosi kwivesi yeshumi elinanye. “Kude kube yisikhathi samanje, silambile sinyathazwe. Sembolwini bekwaye sibethwa njengesingenzi nasengahlali njalo.” UPaulosi akahlali emhlabeni ozakufika; uhlala kwisikhathi samanje. AbaseKorinte bathi le nto ingeyaka yafika kubo sele. Kodwa uPaulosi wenza enye indlela ngokupheleleyo – eyayibonakalisa ukuba ngel’ ukuba inkazimulo ithempiswe kuthi, ihlala ingeyaka. Kwaye uhlala ngoku, kwisikhathi samanje, emhlabeni apho ukulandela uYesu kuya kuthetha kuye ukulamba nokuhlupheka. Wenza umsebenzi weminwe, uthi, ukuze aphile. Uyathukwa, nangona ebusisa ngokubuyisela. Uyaxhatshazwa yena uyahlushwa. Uyabhukiswa yena uyacenga aze abuyisele aboni ngeThumela ukuze bahambisane noThixo. Uye waba, uthi, njengodoti womhlaba, inkunkuma yazo zonke izinto. “Yiyo,” uPaulosi uthi, “ubomi bam bamaKristu obuqhelekileyo. Ngaba awulilungisa okulindela kwako, baseKorinte? Ukuba ujongeza ukuphumelela kwemihla, ukuba ulindela ukukhwela ubude obude aze uphakame ngaphezu kwezono nokuhlupheka, ukuba ucinga kuwe, 'Ukuba ummeleyo ndinafe yane kuya kuba ngcono yonke into,' okulindela kwako ubomi bamaKristu akulunganga.”

Iziphumo zeMpazamo wabaseKorinte

Kwaye enye yezinto ezimbini ziya kwenzeka ukuba uthenge impazamo yabaseKorinte. Okokuqala, uya kuthi uzikhohlise ukuba u, eneneni, uphezulu kuneabanye. Uya kuqalisa ukuzidla, njengoko babenza, ngobukhulu babo bokomoya, uze ujonge phantsi kwabanye. Okanye, uya kugqiba ukuba ukusileleka kwako ukufikelela “kubomi bakho obuhle ngoku” yinto yakho yonke. Yintoni umntu oshwakeleyo onje! Yiyo loo nto ukhathazwa! Yintoni na ukholo lwakho olubuthakathaka! Yiyo loo nto usokola ukupata imiphetho! Yintoni na intsomi etshabalalisa yedemoni yevangeli lempumelelo ngoku. Kodwa kulula kangakanani ukuba iseyingena ekucincezeleni kwanabakristu abakhaliphileyo phakathi kwethu. Ngaba awuzivanga na kwanabakristu abavuthiweyo besithi, “Ngenxa yasoni sini na uThixo andikhathaza ngolokuhlupheka kude kangaka?” Mhlawumbi nawe uyilwile? “Kutheni na oku kwenzeka kum? Mhlawumbi ndiphosile into? Mhlawumbi kukho into ekufuneka ndiyenze, inqanaba elithile ekufuneka ndilifikile ebomini bam bakristu obuya kwenza yonke into ilungile? Oku kwenzeka kuba yinto yakho!” Ngaba uyayibona? Ndiyivanga kaninzi njengomfundisi.

Funda Ukuqonda Amaxesha

Kodwa uPawuli uthi, “Hayi, hayi! Ayiyo loo nto kwenzekayo!” Hayi, kufuneka ufunde ukuqonda amaxesha. Le yindawo esihlala kuyo ngoku. Asihlali kwihlabathi elizayo; ayikafiki, nokuba kwenzeka ntoni na eKorintho. Uzuko oluza kufika emva kokuba isono siphelile, apho iinyembezi ziya kucinywa, apho uvalo luya kuphela luthathaze nina, nokhathazeko luza kuphela. Uzuko oluza kufika luya kufika kungekudala, ngomnye umhla, kodwa ayikafiki. Kude kube yelo xesha, ukulandela uYesu, uPawuli uthi, kunesisa ulonwabo, ngokumangalisayo. Kunjalo ulonwabo, kodwa uya kuba ulonwabo, ngamaxesha amaninzi, phakathi kweenyembezi. Oku kuthetha inkqubela ebulungisweni – mdalise uThixo! Inkqubela ebulungisweni. Namhla ndim nothixo wawulolo, kwaye ngomso, ngenceba kaThixo, ndakuba ngubani namhla. Inkqubela. Kodwa uya kuba yinkqubela ecothayo, ekhawulezwe ngobunzima, nenkqubela engafezekanga de siye kuhlala noYesu ngomnye umhla ekugqibeleni. Kunjalo amandla angaphezu kwendalo athekelela ubomi bethu, asenza sikwazi kuthi, “Ewe, Nkosi,” xa Ebiza ukuba senze izinto ezinzima. Kodwa uya kuba ngamandla abonakaliswa phakathi kobuthakathaka. Uya kuba ngamandla e-cross. Ukulindela okuyiphutha, uyabona, yindawo ekhula kakhulu uk pride. Fumana okulindelayo kobomi bamaKristu obuqhelekileyo, uPawuli uthi kuthi. Phila kwelo xesha likhoyo; hayi kwihlabathi elizayo. Ayikafiki. Ukulindela okuyiphutha.

Isikhumbuzo soSapho

Okwesibini, uPawulu unika umkhuthazo wosapho. Uyakwazi ukubona ulwimi olufudumele losapho kulo lonke inxalenye yokugqibela yesi sahluko. Jonga imisongo yesi-14 nesi-15, umzekelo. “Andikubhaleli ezi zinto ukuze ndikuhlazise kodwa ukuze ndikuyalele njengabantwana bam abathandekayo. Kuba nangona unabaqondisi abaninzi eKristo, awunababa abaninzi. Kuba ndaba ngubaba wakho eKristo Yesu ngabushakuf evangelini.” Uyakukhumbula uPawulu, watyala ibandla eKorinte; wakhokela abaninzi babo ekukholweni kuKristo. Unje ngubaba womoya; ngumzali kubo ngabushakuf evangelini. Kwaye uthathile ithoni ekrakra kwimisongo yesi-8 ukuya kwesi-13. Kodwa ngoku njengomzali kubantwana bakhe, uyathamba. “Andizami ukukulazisa,” uthi. “Ndizama ukukulisa, ukukuyala njengabantwana bam abathandekayo.”

Ngoku yimini yoMama, noomama, uyayifumana le nto – ndini? Uyakusebenzisa zonke izixhobo ezikhoyo kuwe ukuze ufike kubantwana bakho uze ubakhokele, ngakumbi xa ubona beza kukhwela iindlela ezingalunganga baya kudelela. Yiliyo loo nto siyawubhala umama wethu namhlanje, akunjalo? Basikuyalele njengabantwana abathandekayo, kwaye iyabuhlungu ngamanye amaxesha, kodwa nguthando oluqhuba kwaye siyasazuza kulo. Yiliyo loo nto uPawulu adla apha. Abantwana bakhe ekukholweni, abathanda kakhulu, baza kutyofa emgongeni yena uyabakhokelela baphinde bavele phakathi emgwaqweni. Ukub pride kwabo akukulawuli, yaye ngenxa yokuba abathanda nguthando lomzali, uyabayala.

Zilingiseni Ngoku!

Kwaye usebenzisa, ukuba ndingenza ukuba imfano yokuba ngumzali yandelelwe kancinane, ngethemba lokuba ingafiki kwinqanaba lokuphuka, usebenzisa izixhobo ezintathu zabazali, izixhobo ezintathu zokuba ngumzali ukuze azame ukuqhuba isikhokhelo sakhe ekhaya. Ndiyazingca ukuthi yonke imama egumbini, mhlawumbi kwaneenkwenkwe, zisebenzise ezi zixhobo ngamanye amaxesha. Okokuqala, kwivesi 16 uqaphele, ubonisa umzekelo wendlela echanekileyo kubantwana bakhe kwinkolo. “Ndiyanikhuthaza ke, ukuba nibe imitshisi yam!” Siye sathetha ngalo, ukuba ubekhona kwiveki ephelileyo, endaweni yokuphumelela okwamanje kwabaseKhorinthi, ufuna ukubabonisa ukuba yintoni na ukuphila kwencham Christian ngokwenene. Kwaye ke ubiza ukuba “Ndimitshiseni inzonzobila ekulweleni nasekhlupheleni nasekuzimiseleni okuqhubekayo koko kuphila kwencham Christian.” Uthi, “Ndimitshiseni!”

Thumela uMkhulu Mzala!

Emva koko isixhobo sesibini sokuba ngumzali asisebenzisa kwabaseKhorinthi kuku thumela umkhulu mzala. Uyabona oko kwivesi 17? “Yiyo le nto ndinithumele uTimothewus, umntwana wam omthandayo nothembekileyo eNkosini, ukunikhumbuza ngeendlela zam ngoKristu njengoko ndifundisa yonke indawo kwisele ngese yecawa.” Ngamanye amaxesha umkhulu mzala angangena apho mama okanye tata angangeneki. UPawulos bathumela uTimothewus onwabakhumbuza ngoPawulos, zombini ngendlela awayephila ngayo nangeengcazo zakhe.

Musa Ukwenza Ndinyuke Apho!

Kwaye ke isicwangciso sesithathu sokuba umzali sikaPaul asenokushwankathelwa ngale nkulumo. Bona ukuba uyayazi le nkulumo, abazali? Iivesi 18 ukuya ku 21, “Musa ukundenza ukuba ndinyuke apho! Ndiza kunyuka apho!” Yiloo nto ayithethayo! Uyabona ive si 18? “Abanye bangab arrogant ngokungathi andiza kuni, kodwa ndiza kuni madikeni ukuba uThixo ethanda. Kwaye ndiza kufumanisa kungekhulumi kwaba bantu bangab arrogant kodwa amandla abo. Kuba umbuso kaThixo awukho ekhulwini kodwa ngamandla. Yini into oyifunayo? Ndiza kuni nina ngentonga okanye ngamthando nangomoya wobuthathaka?” Uyasiphatha. Usesebenzisa isixhobo sokuba umzali kuyo yonke imfumba yakhe ukuze azame ukubabuyisa kwinzondo yabo ukuya kutsho ekuthobeni nasekuthobeni. Ude alungele ukubazisa ukhohliso phakathi kwabo. Uyabona oko kwise 21. Unamathele kakhulu ukuza kubo ngamthando nangomoya wobuthathaka, kodwa ukuba kuya kufuneka ukuba enze ukhohliso phakathi kwabo xa esiza, ulungele ukwenza njalo. Indlela abaphendula ngayo kwisilumkiso sosapho iya kugqiba umzila awuthathayo. Kodwa i ajenda yakhe kukubabiza ukuba baphenduke; ukubawina, hayi ukubagxotha, hayi ukubahlazisa okanye ukubabacaphukisa.

Kwayo ke wathi, “Xa ndifika, ndiza kubakhanyisela ngeliso lokukhanya kubungqina bokomoya balo ba baholi beCorinth ababangela ukwahlukana nobunzima phakathi kwenu.” Ngamanye amazwi, wathi, “Ndifuna ukubona ukuba bayathetha nje okanye bayazi na into ngobwenyani bamandla angaphezu kwendalo yeyona nto iphawulekayo kumukumkani kaThixo. Akukho thetha,” wathi, “kodwa amandla – ubwenyani, ubwenyani bokomoya. Bayazi na into ngobwenyani bokomoya?” Lo ngumbuzo awufunayo ukuba bazibuze kwangaphambili kokufika kwakhe. Ngumbuzo awufunayo ukuba siwubuze njengoko sifunda amazwi akhe. Ngaba ubomi bam bamaKristu ngumthetho nje wokuthetha okanye ndiyazi na ubwenyani bokomoya? Ngaba ngamazwi nje kunye nokuziqhayisa, okanye ndiyazi na into yamandla awo ekhonzi, amandla agrace, amandla nomsebenzi kaMoya oyiNgcwele entliziyweni yam? Yiloo nto aweyona! Ukubiza ukuba sihlolisise iintliziyo zethu, ukuthida ukuba sibe yinyani ekugqibeleni. Wafuna ukubabiza, abaCorinth ababekhathazwa kukuthetha nokukhulumisana nabo batshabalalisa uPawulos njengesithethi esingaphantsi, ukuqonda ukuba ukuthetha nje kukungabalulekanga kwaye ubomi namandla yinto esiyidingayo.

Ngako ke, makhosi lapho. Msuphume ukuba, njengoko uhlolisisa ubomi bakho bobuKristu, ufumanisa ukuba ibe yinkcazo yintloko kunye nentetho nje kuphela ixesha elide kakhulu. Msuphume ukuba, uqhutywe nguThixo, phantsi komsebenzi weLizwi Lakhe, ukuvuma ukuba, eneneni, yinto yonke nje. Ewe, yintoni ngoku? Yintoni omele uyenze ukuba ufumanisa oku kule ntsasa? Ndicinga ukuba zikhona iimpawu kuthi kwisicatshulwa. Enye yazo iphuma ukuba ujonga kwakhona kwindawo apho sifunda khona ukuba uPawulos uza kubathumela uTimoti. Uyabona oko kwivesi 17? “Yiyo le nto ndikuthumele uTimoti, umntwana wam omthandayo nenze kakuhle eNkosini, ukukhumbuza ngeendlela zam ngoKristo.” Ubabizele ukuba bamlingise. Ufuna ukubabonisa imzekelo kubo ukwenzeka kwezenzi. Ubathumele uTimoti kubo ukukhumbuza ngeendlela zakhe ngoKristo. Ukwenzeka kwezenzi, ubomi obukhoyo ngoKristo. Yintoni omele uyenze ukuba ufumanisa ukuba ubuKristu bakho yinto nje yangaphandle, hayi into yangaphakathi? Yintoni omele uyenze ukuba yintetho nje hayi amandla? Omele uhambe kuYesu Kristo. Omele ungene ngoKristo. Namhlanje, ngoku, hayi tshabalala, hayi kuthintelwa. Musa ulethe isikhundla sakho; musa ubhalele ngqangi zakho zenkolo. Ixesha lokuba ucoceke. Yilento uPawulos afuna phakathi kwabaseKhorinthos. Ixesha lokuba ubuKristu bakho bube yinto yokwenzeka. Ixesha lokuvuma isono sakho kunye nemfuno yakho wize ukhale kuNkosi Yesu Kristo ngenzeka hayi inkqubo yenkolo nje. Hayi into yangaphandle, hayi ifomu yamagama enqaba amandla akhe. Yesu Kristo uya kungena ebomini bakho wize uqalise loo projekthi inkulu, nangona icotha wize ihlupheke kwintliziyo yakho ukuba uzenze nje ukuba uzithobe wize uhle kwakhe. Yilento awabizele baseKhorinthos; yilento awabizele nathi njengoko sihlolisisa iintliziyo zethu. Ngaba ubuKristu bam yintetho nje, yini ekwazi amandla athe phezu kwawo uBukumkani bukaThixo?

Kwayo, kukho umbizo apha wokulungisa okulindelweyo kwethu malunga nendalo yobomi bobuKristu. Le mondo, uYesu uthi, “Kule mondo, nina yoba nobunzima. Mna ndiya kuba nina ukuze ninomeleze kwaye ninondle phakathi kwendlela. Kodwa kuya kuba nzima. Kukho uzuko oliza kuza, kodwa ngoku alikafiki.” Kwaye sibizwa ukuba sihlolisise iintliziyo zethu ekukhanyeni kwesikhuthazo sophawu lukaPaul. Ngaba uyayiyani? Ngaba uyayiyani? Okanye ngaba yinto yonke leyo inkulumo nje? Yiza ukhobeke phambi koKumkani uYesu uze uyiyeke ekugqibeleni. Masithandaze kunye!

Uyaseba wethu, njengoko sigobeka phambi Kwako, sivuma ukuba sinobuchule bokwenza into yokwenziwa, ukuba yinto yokwenziwa, ukuba nefomu yobuthixo kodwa siyaliphika amandla alo. Nceda, ngaba Ungatshala isithethe sethu? Kwaye njengoko sihlanganyela phambi Kwako, sithandaza, sithandaza, O Lawu, ukuba Ungatshala thina, thina bonke, kuKhristu. Sisizise kuKhristu ukuze sigobeke phambi Kwake, phambi Kwake, uze mvume Yena yedwa ukubawuKumkani noKumkani nthemba nejoyane nophumlo nendawo yokusabela. Nceda, O Lawu, namhla ukuze siyenze into yokwenziwa uze sifumane njengoko sisenza loo mhlaseli weNgxilongo ezithweni zethu njengoko Ungena uze uqale ukwakha kwakhona thina ukuze senze isibuko seNdodana Yakwa. Kwaye siyakucela ngoYesu egameni lakhe, amen.