Abasebenzi kanye Nabaphathi

Abasebenzi kanye Nabalimi

1 Korinte 4:1-5

NgumDavid Strain

Ngiyanikela ukuthi nivule imibhalo yelizwi likaNkulunkulu, nivule nezelekeleleni ekufundeni kombhalo kaPaul wokuqala kubantu baseKorinte, 1 Korinte isahluko 4; ikhasi 953 emibhalweni yebandla. 1 Korinte isahluko 4. Sizofunda ndawonye imigqa yokuqala eyisihlanu. Ngaphambi kokwenza lokho, uma nina bafundile imibhalo yenu, ngiyanikela ukuthi nivule ikhanda lenu nami sibhincike njengoba sithandaza. Masithandaze!

O Nkosi, sivuma indlela esihlupheka ngayo ukuzwa wena ukhuluma nokuthi sikuthanda ukuzwa yini kuphela noma ukuhlanza amaqiniso amakhulu ayiletha kithi izwi lakho noma ukucisha izwi lakho ngokulalela amazwi amanye ancintisana ngourhakathazo. Futhi njengoba sihlangana lapha phambi kwenu, siyakucela ukuthi uthelele umoya wakho oncwele ukuze izwi lakho likhulume ngokucacile kithi, ukuze ukhiphe ukukhanya ekulimeni kwethu, uphile izinhliziyo zethu ngokusiqondisa ekhuleni Jesu. Ngoba siyacela lokho egameni lakhe, amen.

1 Korinte isahluko 4 evesini 1. Yililizwi likaNkulunkulu omnazi:

Kufanele sikubone njengabasebenzi bakaKristu nabalimi bemfihlakalo zikaNkulunkulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kubalimi kudingeka ukuthi batholakale bethembekile. Kodwa kwimi kancane ukuthi ngahlulelwe yinu noma yinoma yimuphi umkhandlu wabantu. Eqinisweni, angitathatheli nokwahlulela kwimi. Ngoba angazi nakancane ngami, kodwa angibandlululwa ngalokho. Yiyo iNkosi ephatha ukwahlulela kwami. Ngakho musa kuhlulela ngaphambi kwesikhathi, ngaphambi kokufika kwaNkosi, oyokhipha ekulimeni ubukhulu bezinto ezifihliwe, oyokhanda izinhloso zenhliziyo. Kuyaphuma ukuthi yedwa ngamunye uyokwamukela ukudumisa kwakhe kuNkulunkulu.

Amen, siyamdumisa uNkulunkulu ngokuthi ukhulume ngelizwi lakhe elyingcwele nelingaphephakanga.

Ngingazibuza ukuthi uyakhumbula yini lezi zikhathi ngoMsombuluko, Agasti 29, 2005, lapho i-Hurricane Katrina yaqala ukulimala ogwini oluseGulf of Mexico. Ngalolo suku, brigadier general, uMatthew Broderick wayesebenza e-Homeland Security Operations Center eyenzelwe ukuhlola noma yiluphi uhlobo lokusongela ekuphepheni kwesizwe, noma kungukuphishekela kwabantu noma inhlekelele yezemvelo, bese iyadlulisela eNdlu Eyingi ekupheleni kosuku. Futhi njengoba imibiko yokukhukhula eNew Orleans yaqala ukufika eofisini yakhe usuku lonke, uBroderick naqembu lakhe, njengoba ungangethemba, babekuqapha kakhulu isimo. Kodwa imibiko yayiphikisanana. Ngakho kamuva ngalolo suku, umbiko ovela eFEMA wathi 75% yomuzi yayisele ngaphansi kwamanzi. Kodwa ngabayi-thathu ekuseni, njengoba bebethele i-TV, umsakazo owodwa wabonisa abantu behlela iqembu lebhadi eFrench Quarter. Imibiko yayiphikisanana. Futhi ngalelo phuzu, uBroderick wathatha isinqumo esibi. Waya ekhaya. Wabuka imibiko ephikisanana yafanisa ukuthi akunawo umbiko ocacile wokuwadlulisela eNdlu Eyingi futhi babonakala besajabula kakhulu kuze wathatha isinqumo sokuya ekhaya. Ukwahlulela kwakhe kwonakala kakhulu, njengoba sonke siyazi namhlanje, nokuqhathaniswa okubi.

Ikhono lokwahlulela liyisisekelo ekuphileni kwethu. Liyabalulekile, ngempela, khona? Asakwazi ukuphila ngaphandle kwikhono lokuhlola nokuphetha nokwenza izinhlolo nokwahlulela izikhathi elikhulu kunalo usuku ngalolunye ngezinto ezinkulu nezincane. Kodwa njengo-brigadier general, isindiso sikaMatthew Broderick sisikhumbuza ukuthi, kwesinye isikhathi ikhono lethu lokwahlulela liyabozwa kakhulu nokuqhathaniswa okubi. Abapostoli uPawuli noApolos noKefa baye baba ngaphansi kweminye imigwebo evela kwabaseKhorinthi. UPawuli ubhala ephasishini lakhe hhayi nje kuphela ukulungisa umbiko ngendaba yakhe kodwa nokusiza abaseKhorinthi bathole indlela engcono.

Masiphambuke ndawonye ukubuka ndima – 1 Corinthians 4:1-5. Ngifuna thina siqaphele izinto ezintathu lapha. Okokuqala, emavesini 1 no-2, phambi kokwahlulela kwabo, uPawulu ufundisa abaKhorinthia ukuthi ibandla kufanele libuke kanjani abasebenzi beZwi; emavesini 1 no-2. Kuthi emavesini 3 no-4, ufundisa thina ukuthi abasebenzi beZwi, nakwazi bonke abakristu, kufanele bazibuke kanjani. Futhi ekugcineni, emavesini 5, ufuna thina siqonde ukuthi umbono ongathethekela ngumono wokuthi uThixo usibuka kanjani sonke; ukuthi uThixo usibuka kanjani sonke.

Kufanele iBandla Libuke Kanjani Abasebenzi beZwi

Masibuke emavesini 1 no-2 nami. Nakhu kufanele ibandla libuke kanjani abasebenzi beZwi. Emavesini 1, “Yilokhu kufanele sikubuke,” uPawulu uthi. “Njengabasebenzi bakaKristu nabaphathi bemimangaliso yakaThixo.” Abaningi babaseKhorinthia abakazithandi kakhulu i-apostle uPawulu, khona? Eqinisweni, ku-2 Corinthians isahluko 10 kanye nemavesini 10, sinayo isampula yezinto ezazikhulunywa ngazo uPawulu. UPawulu uzwile ukuthi bayakhuluma yena wabika ku-2 Corinthians 10:10. Yilokhu bendikhuluma: “Izincwadi zakhe zinzima futhi ziqinile, kodwa ubuthi bakhe bomzimba buthweak futhi inkulumo yakhe ayibalulekile.” Ngamanye amazwi, “Ukhuluma umdlalo omuhle ezincwadini zakhe, kodwa lapho ebonakala yena, ekugcineni, uthweak kangaka! Yini elula! Ubani oyake alalele i-apostle uPawulu?” Yisampula yejaji yabo nokulahla kwabo uPawulu.

Njengokwengeziwe nje, ngaphambi kokuba siqaphele ukuthi uPawuli ulungisa kanjani ukucabanga kwabo, ingabe awutholi ukusiza ukubona ngisho nekereke elisha njengaleli elikwimeko elithile lokudideka? Ngingathola ukusiza okukhulu kakhulu ngoba kungase kube nabanye bethu lapha ekuseni nje, sithukuthele kakhulu ngokwehluleka kwekereke ukuphila ngokuyilandelayo imayili yayo. Ungase ube nokulwa kakhulu nokungahambisani nezinto, nokungakwethembi, nokwahlulela okubonile ekerekweni. Futhi ufanele ukudabuka kakhulu yikho. UPawuli, umpostoli, wadabuka yikho lapho ahlangabezana nakho eKorinte. Kodwa lapho iBhayibheli lisibonisa ubuthakathaka bekereke, njengoba lisenza lapha e-1 Korinte ngokucacile, aliyekeleli kuphela ukulungisa loo buthakathaka kodwa lisifundisa nokuzijwayeza ukubekezela ekerekweni njengoba sibona loo buthakathaka. Lihlose ukusikhumbuza ukuthi imizabalazo yerekeke namuhla ifana nemizabalazo yerekeke ngamuhla.

Ikerkeke Igcwele Aboni Nabangenakwethemba

Naye-ke njalo, asifanele isimangali kakhulu ukuthi ibandla ligcwele abahipokhithiweyo, njengesizathu? Kanye njenga mina, mhlawumbe njengawe – abagwegwesi, abantu abonakele. Ngemuva kwakho konke, ingabe ibandla liyindawo efanelekile kithi, kwabahipokhithiweyo nabagwegwesi nabahlulekileyo? Yikuphi enye indawo abafanele bakhona? Ingabe ibandla liyindawo efanelekile kubantu njengawe njenga mina? Ngakho-ke, ngicabanga uPawulu wayeza kusithi, “Ngakho-ke, masikritishe ibandla ngenxa yokuhluleka kwalo ekubeni yinto yonke okufanele ibe yona, kodwa kalula ukumangala kwethu lapho izinkinga ezifanayo ezazikhathaza ibandla ngesikhathi sikaPawulu ziqhubeka zikikhathaza njalo nathi.” Esikhundleni salo, masifunde ukuzijwayeza ukubekezela komunye nomunye, sibone ukuthi ngenkathi singenza ukucasuka kakhulu ngenxa yobuthakathaka esibubona ngomunye, kungenzeka ukuthi singaboni isithombe esifanayo sobuthakathaka obufanayo kithi thina ngokwethu. Naye-ke, masijwayeze ukubekezela. Ibandla lisolwa njalo ngoba ibandla ligcwele aboni nabahipokhithiweyo nabahlulekileyo njenga mina njengawe. Kwakusikhathi sikaPawulu; kunjalo nathi.

Abakhonzi Bawo Yonke

Kakhokho eKhorinthu ngokwehlukana, bebemgweba uPawuli ngendlela enzima kakhulu futhi ngokungafaneli. Yaye njalo ulungisa ukucabanga kwabo ngokucopheleleyo. Bhekani lokho ayekusho emavesini 1 no 2. Siyafanele ukumbona yena nabanye abaholi abeze bakhelana eKhorinthu, kufanele sibone njengabantu abasebenzela uKristu, kwase kuthi, “abaphathi bemfihlo kaNkulunkulu.” Cabanga ngalowo mgomo, “abasebenzela.” Ngempela yigama elingavamile; hhayi igama elijwayelekile lokuthi, “umsebenzi.” Ligama lesiGriki, “ypiretis.” Ekuqaleni lalisho, “umuntu owenza umsebenzi emgqeni”; isigqila segalaji esisebenza ekhadini eliphansi kakhulu lesikebhe sasendulo. Bebesikhothamiwe emigqeni yabo, babe bepaka imigqeni yabo ngokuvumelana nesigubhu somqondisi. Njalo ngesikhathi uPawuli ebhala i-1 Khorinthu, “ypiretis” yabe isho umsebenzi nje kodwa isadlulisela lolu thando lomsebenzi ophansi, oluthobekile. Yilokho umminisi ayekusho uPawuli – isigqila segalaji, sipaka umgqeni waso ngokuvumelana nesigubhu soMkhosi. Umsebenzi wabo bonke.

Abaphathi Bemfihlo KaNkulunkulu

Kwaye uPawuli uthi ungumphathi. Yisithombe esinye sokuchaza, kulokhu ngumkhululo wasendlini owabeleke ukuphatha izinsiza zendlu yamaGreko namaRoma asendulo noma ingcebo. Bebefanele bazichithe lezo zinsiza ngokuhlakanipha nangokucopheleleyo. Abafundisi, uPawuli uthi, “baphathi bemfihlakalo kaNkulunkulu.” Manje lapho uPawuli ekhuluma, futhi iTestamente Entsha ikhuluma, “imfihlakalo,” akusho okuthile okufana nencwadi kaAgatha Christie, uyazi, lapho kufanele udlale umdetective uzame ukuyixazulula. Akusho lokho imfihlakalo eyikho kuTestamente Entsha. Akusho imfihlo efihliwe ekuboneni kwethu, kodwa kunalokho iyinkomba yePhakethe likaJesu Kristo elaliyimfihlo kodwa manje seliveziwe kubapostoli futhi silotshiwe phansi kwethu ezwini elingcwele. Upostoli uPawuli ngokwakhe ukhulume ngayo ekhanda lesibili eveseni lesi-7. “Siyanidlulisela,” uthi, “isifiso nokuhlakanipha okufihliwe kukaNkulunkulu, okwaNkulunkulu waqala ngaphambi kweminyaka yethu yokuzidla.” Kwaye uthi eveseni lesi-10, “Lezi zinto uNkulunkulu wavumbula kithi ngomoya Wake.” Lokho imfihlakalo eyikho! Inokwenza nePhakethe likaJesu Kristo.

Njengoba-ke uPawuli ebiza abashumayeli, “abaphathi bemimangaliso kaNkulunkulu,” uyabasinika umsebenzi. Uthi umsebenzi oyisisekelo wabashumayeli, njengabaphathi endlini yasendulo, ukwabantela imimangaliso kaNkulunkulu. Okusho ukuthi, ukushumayela iVangeli, ukondla amalungu endlini, ukubapha izinsiza zeLizwi likaNkulunkulu ukuze badle futhi bapile. Kungaba khona imisebenzi eyinkulungwane ifuna ukunaka kwabashumayeli, kodwa uma bevunyelwa ukuphazamisa lokhu uma bephazamisa ikhono labo lokwenza lokhu, abayigcwalisi umsebenzi wabo wokuphatha imimangaliso kaNkulunkulu njengoba bekufanele. Yena kumele avule iBhayibheli, achaze iZikripthi, ashumele uKristu kusukela eLizwini likaNkulunkulu. Ngakho-ke ungumgwedla ongezansi, umkhoboi wegalley, edonsa isikebhe sakhe ngesigqi sikaKumkani uJesu, isigqi somphathi wakhe. Futhi ungumphathi, ekhathalela umndeni wokholo, esebenzisa iVangeli lakhe ngendlela ehlakaniphile kubantu bakaNkulunkulu.

Ngiwacabanga u-Alistair Begg, ngiwacabanga akhuluma kahle kakhulu lapha uthi “Abashumayeli beVangeli bayizinceku zechweba kodwa ibandla nieyona inkosi yabo.” Abashumayeli beVangeli bayizinceku zechweba, kodwa ibandla nieyona inkosi yabo. Sisebenzela uJesu edonsa isikebhe sakhe ngesigqi sakhe, sicwiliswa ibandla nelizwi lakhe, ngokusho kwendlela yakhe. Sisebenzela ibandla, kodwa uJesu Kristu, hhayi ibandla, ungumpathi wethu. Ngokuqinisekile, umBhalo wesibili, abaphathi, abashumayeli njengabaphathi, badinga ukuthembeka, ukwethembeka, ukusebenza ngokucopheleleyo emsebenzini wabo. Kodwa yileyo isilinganiso sekhwalithi yomphathi. Ingabe uthembekile? Ingabe uyathembeka? Akunakho okwenzeka ngamandla okuguquguquka kobuqu bakhe noma ukucwaziswa kwendlela yakhe yokukhuluma. Ingabe uthembekile? Lowo ngumbuzo oyisisekelo.

Nokwazi ungacabanga inselele yale doktrini kubantu baseKorinte ababebahlulela abafundisi ngokusekelwe ekuboniseni kwabo nasebubini bezinkulumo zabo zomphakathi. Babefuna izinkanyezi zomculo nabadumile, hhayi abagwedli bamafutha nabasebenzi bezindlu. Kodwa abafundisi uPawuli afundisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyababusisa, abafundisi ababekwa yisonto, bathembekile ekuphatheni izimfihlakalo zikaNkulunkulu, iLizwi likaKristu, iVangeli lomusa, ngokucopheleleyo ukuze kube nokudla kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu nsuku zonke. Yile yindlela isonto okufanele libone ngayo abafundisi. Sifana nabagwedli bamafutha, abasebenzi bezindlu. Siyisonto ngokomyalo kaJesu Kristu oyinhloko yethu.

Indlela Abahambisa iNkosi Nabo Bonke Abakholwayo Odinga Ukuzibona Ngayo Kodwa okwesibili, uPawuli uyatshela indlela abahambisa iNkosi, futhi ngokuqhubeka indlela bonke abakholwayo, kufanele bazibone ngayo. Indlela ibandla okufanele libone ngayo abahambisa iNkosi, kodwa manje indlela abahambisa iNkosi okufanele bazibone ngayo. Bhekani nami emavesini 3 no 4. Emavesini 3 no 4. Empeleni kunamakhothi amathathu kulezi zindinyana ezinhlanu. Ngifuna sicabange ngokuqala kulezimane bese sifika kweyesithathu ngomzuzu. Ezokuqala zikhona emavesini 3 no 4. Ikhoti lokuqala elikhankanywa nguPawuli, uyabona yini emtshweni, yikhothi lokwahlulela koluntu. “Kodwa kimi,” ivesi 3, “Kodwa kimi, into encane kakhulu ukuthi ngahlulelwe yinu noma yikhothi lomuntu.” UPawuli wahlulelwa ekhotini lokwahlulela koluntu eKorinte. Njalo isonto uPawuli wayeseKorinte, emndenini ngomndenini uzungeze ibandla, ungaqiniseka ukuthi isidlo esikhulu esasetshenziswa ngoLwesibili emva kwesonto. Uyazi ukuthi isidlo sasiyini, awu? Kwakubonakala ukuthi kwakuyinto ethandwayo eKorinte. Sasiyini isidlo abasidla njalo ngoLwesibili emva kwesonto uPawuli wayo? Basidla inyama eyosiwe yomshumayeli, khona! Naphezu kokuthi uyakuthandile yini. Musani ukuphendula. Angifuni ukwazi! Kodwa bahamba imishumayelo yakhe ngokwahlulela okubalulekile, okubukhuni, nokwahlulela – ikhoti lokwahlulela koluntu.

Ikhothi Lokuzazi

Kwaye kukhona enye inkundla. Uyibona yena emtshweni? UPawuli uyikhuluma. Hhayi nje inkundla yombono wabantu kodwa emavesini 3 no 4, inkundla yokuqaphela kwangasese. “Angitathengi ukuzigweja,” usho, “ngoba ngingazi nakancane nginto engikhathazayo kodwa hhayi ngalokho ngikhululwa.” Enkundleni yokuqaphela kwangasese, ngenkathi engazi nginto ethile engenza ukuthi agwazwe, uyazi ukuthi isigwebo sakhe sangasese, ukulinganisa kwakhe ngaye, sisincane kakhulu ukuthembeka kunokwahlulela okubiliwe kwabaseKhorinthi. Futhi ngifuna siqaphele ngokucopheleleyo indlela uPawuli ayiphatha ngayo izigwebo zezinkundla zombili. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, usho, “Into encane kakhulu ukwahlulelwa nguwe enkundleni yombono wabantu. Kwaye ngakolunye uhlangothi,” usho, “Angithembisi nokwahlulela kwami ngaye enkundleni yokuqaphela kwangasese.” Ngokusobala, akabeki khulu ukubala ezigwebweni zezinkundla zombili, akunjalo?

Ukukhululwa Ekutheni Ukwahlulelwa Kwabanye

Kwaye ngoko, lo ngumbuzo wami! Njengoba ngithatha konke lokho, njengoba ngibona uPawuli aziphathe kanjani ekwahlulelweni kwumbono wabantu ngisho nokwahlulelwa kwakhe; lo ngumbuzo wami! Lokhu ngifuna kakhulu ukwazi! Ngifuna ukwazi, “Uyakwenza kanjani, Pawuli? Uyenza kanjani?” Awungefuni ukukhululwa ekutheni ukwahlulelwa kwabantu abanye? Ukunganaki ukwahlulela kwabo ngaye? Kwaye ukhululwa kanjani ekubusweni kokuzigweja noma ukungaboni kwukuzikhukhumeza? Zombili lezi uPawuli azigwemayo emavesini ethu ngokumangalisa. Uyenza kanjani? “Angikhathazwa uma ungigweja, futhi angithembisi nokwahlulela kwami ngaye.” Lokhu ndlela abafundisi abafanele bazibone ngayo – hhayi baqhudelwa yisaba sabantu noma babuyiwe ngemfuneko yego. Kwaye lokhu ngumzekelo osola ukuthi thina sonke singathanda ukuzibona ngayo – sunganaki lokho abantu abakusho ngaye futhi singakholelwa nokuzikhangisa kwethu.

Nokha masikhulume iqiniso – ingabe akunzima ukufeza lokho? Ingabe asivami ukuzithola sesaba phambi kohwehluko lwabantu abanye noma silimele kakhulu lapho siwuzwa? Sichukwe kakhulu y lokho esikhathazeka ngakho abantu abasizosho ngathi? Noma siphila phansi kwetiraneni ye-neurosis yethu? Ingabe akunzima ukwenza lokho, lokho uPawuli abonakala ekwenza kalula lapha kulezi zinkondlo? Ngithanda ukutshela abafundi base-seminari ukuthi abafundisi bebandla kudingeka bakhule isikhumba esiqinile kanye nenhliziyo ethambile. Isikhumba esiqinile kanye nenhliziyo ethambile. Kodwa kaningi, sina isikhumba esincane nenhliziyo eqinile. Abafundisi abana isikhumba esincane, njalo uma kukhona oziphathayo, njalo uma kukhona okhuluma ngabo, lokho kupenetela futhi kulimaza. Kodwa uma inhliziyo yethu iqinile, asifundi izifundo, asifundiki, nezilimele esizitholayo azivelisi izithelo ezinhle emisebenzini yebandla. Lokho esikudingayo yisikhumba esiqinile kanye nenhliziyo ethambile. UPawuli abonakala ekhombisa lokho lapha, akunjalo? Unesikhumba esiqinile. “Into encane ukuthi ngahlulelwe nguwe.” Unenhliziyo ethambile. “Angitathatheli ngami. Angithembi isinqumo sami. Angilaleli ubuncoma bami. Ngifundiki.” Loko yinhlonipho. Kodwa ukulima isikhumba esiqinile kanye nenhliziyo ethambile akunzima. Kuthiwa uPawuli ukwenza kanjani? Sibazwe kanjani?

Kuthiwa uNkulunkulu Usibona Kanjani Sonke

Lokhu kuletha ekugcineni! Ungabingeleli nami evesini 5? Uyasitshela indlela ibandla okufanele libuke ngayo abasebenzi bePhalamende, uyasitshela indlela abasebenzi kanye nawo wonke umKristu okufanele bazibuke ngayo; manje uyasitshela ukuthi yini eybalulekayo kubantu abaningi kithi indlela uNkulunkulu asibuka ngayo. Nansi inkantolo yesithathu esigabeni sethu. Lokhu empeleni yiyona eyodwa ebalulekile. Uyabona evesini 5? “Ngakho-ke, musa kuhlule phambi kwesikhathi, phambi kokufika kukaNkosi, oyokwenza ukukhanya kwezinto ezifihliwe ebumnyameni, oyokwembula izinhloso zenhliziyo. Khona-ke, ngayinye iyokwamkelwa ukudunyiswa kwakhe kuNkulunkulu.” Musa kuhlule phambi kwesikhathi, kusho uPawuli. Uyaphindaphinda amazwi ajwayelekile kaJesu, “Musa kuhlule, ngonjwayelwa ukwahlulelwa.” Amazwi athandwayo emkhakheni wamasiko wamanje esiphila kuwo. Imvamisa, athathwa njengokushiwo ukuthi asifanele senze izahlulelo zokuziphatha; izahlulelo zokuziphatha, kusho ukuthi, azivumelekile. “Musa kuhlule. Ukubiza into eyodwa njengokulungile nenye njengokungalungile kuyahluleka futhi kungathandeki,” kusho ukuthi.

Kuyacaca ukuthi akusiyo lento uPawuli ayiyilungele ngokuqinisekile lapha ngoba, uma nibheka isahluko esilandelayo, sibona ukuthi wenza izahluko zokuziphatha ezingamandla kakhulu, ekhuthaza ibandla ukuba lisebenzise isiyalezo sebandla kwicala lokungcola ngeshani. Futhi empeleni, eveseni lesi-3 sesahluko sesi-5, lalelani ulimi lukaPawuli. Uthi, “Ngiwebe ubahlulelo kulowo owenzile into enjalo.” Ngakho uPawuli akasithi lapha etshela abaseKorinte ukuthi bangahluleli ngaphambi kwesikhathi, akasithi musani ukwahlulela ngokuziphatha; na uhlangothi akasithi musani ukwahlulela ngezinto zenkolo. Esahlukweni sesi-14 se-1 AbaseKorinte lapha ekhuluma ngokwenza umsebenzi wabaprofethi ebandleni laseKhorinte, uthi ababili noma abathathu kuphela mabakhulume abanye “bahlele lokho okushiwoyo.” Igama elihunyushwa “bahlele,” lapha lingumshini wokuthi, “bahulele.” Hulele lokho okushiwoyo. Kumele usebenzise ukwahlulela ukuze uhlulele ukuqiniseka kwalokho okufundiswa kusukela emBhalweni. Ngakho uPawuli akasithi musani ukwahlulela ngokuziphatha kwabantu lokho okufanele nokungalungile; na uhlangothi akasithi musani ukwahlulela ngezinto zenkolo lokho okuyiqiniso nokungeyona. IBhayibheli empeleni likuyala ukuba wenze zombili. Futhi ingxenye encane y ukuvuthwa kwamaKristu ilele ekhonweni lakithi lokwenza lokho ngokwehlisa isifuba nangobuchule ngokomlinganyo weLizwi likaNkulunkulu.

Ungahluleli Ngaphambi Kwesikhathi

Nokho uPawuli uyabaxeka abaseKhorintho ngokuthuthukisa umthetho wabo; hhayi umthetho weBhayibheli, kodwa umthetho osuselwe ekuthandeni kwakho kanye nokukhetha kwakho bese wenza njengomgwebi uJudy nojexe kubo bonke abangalingani nalezo zinga. “Musa ukwahlulela njengalokho ngaphambi kwesikhathi,” uthi. Lokho ngaphambi kokuba iNkosi ibuye. INkosi uJesu lapho ibuya futhi igumbi lokugcina lomgwebi likholiwa ekuseshoni, Uyahlulela ngamazinga aphelele eLizwi likaNkulunkulu futhi iNhlukano yakhe iyakuchitha eyenu njalo. Eqinisweni ngalolo suku, uPawuli uthi, uyakuthola ukuthi awusahlali ebhentshini njengomgwebi ozibekile, kodwa wena ngokwakho ekhothameni ukuze unikeze i-akhawunti. Ngalolo suku, uPawuli uthi, izinto ezifihliwe ebumnyameni zyakavezwa futhi uKristu uyakwembula izinhloso zenhliziyo.

Akusiyona yini leyo ndlela yokugcina ukuthi ukwahlulela kwethu kunobuwula kakhulu ekugcineni? Ngoba asikwazi ukufunda imihlobo; yedwa uJesu ukwazi. Sifanele sikulumke kangakanani mayelana nokusola izinhloso zabanye lapho yedwa ukuqapha kukaJesu Kristu okwazi ukungena kulezo zinzulu. uJesu yedwa akekho omunye angenza futhi anyakazise izinhloso eziyimfihlo zenhliziyo nezinto ezifihliwe ebumnyameni. Futhi ngolunye usuku Uyakwenza, uPawuli uthi. Akusiyona yini leyo indlela ekhathazayo? Ngolunye usuku Uyakwenza. uPawuli ufuna abaseKhorintho futhi afune thina ukuba siqaphele ngalolo suku olukhulu lokugcina, negumbi lokugcina lomgwebi, isigwebo sakhe yedwa esibalulekile. Futhi uma thina besiqaphelekile futhi saqala ukuphila njengoba uPawuli ekwazi ukwenza lapha, saqala ukuphila ekukhanyeni kwe-abadala, ingabe lokho akuyakuthinta njengoba siphila usuku nosuku phakathi komphakathi wabantu bakaNkulunkulu?

Zama ukumthokozisa uNkulunkulu Yedwa

Ngeke uma ubheka ekupheleni kwesigaba 5, uzobona ukuthi uPawuli wakwazi kanjani ukuphila ekhululekile ekwesabeni ukwahlulela kwabanye abantu enkundleni yoluntu futhi waze wakwazi ukuzilinganisa yena ngokulula. Khumbula, akakwazanga ukukhathalela uma amaKhorinthi amdemoni noma amfakazele. Khumbula ukuthi wenqaba ukubeka isitoko esiningi ekuhlaziyeni kwakhe ngaye. Nokho, yilapho aphatha khona. Ubheke ekudumiseni kukaNkulunkulu uMninimandla. UNkulunkulu uMninimandla – Uwahlulelo lwakhe ndio lona kuphela elibalulekile ekugcineni. Kuyathi yena, “yena ngamunye, uyakwamkelwa udumo lukaNkulunkulu.” Usesebenza ukuze athole, “Wenze kahle, inceku enhle nethembekile,” evela kUMninimandla wakhe. Ubheke ukuphila ngakho ukuze amukele uNkulunkulu wakhe. Akekho omunye umuntu owahlulela kwakhe, hakuze nokwahlulela kwakhe, okubalulekile kuye. Umbuzo wakhe awusi, “Abanye bazothini ngami?” Akeso, “Ngithini ngami?” Umbuzo wakhe, kodwa, uthi, “Ingabe ukuziphatha kwami namuhla kuzothola ‘Wenze kahle’ kURedemptor wami?”

Kuyini ukhiye wokuzilibala ukuze ungabikho phansi kwezincomo zabanye noma ngokuziphunga kwego? Yikwazi ukuthi kuphela ukwahlulela okunye okubalulekile ekugcineni. Yini uNkulunkulu athi ngomsebenzi wenyak, inhloko, nezandla zakho? Yini uJesu ayothi ekuhlangenwe kwakhe ngomsebenzi wabalawuli bakhe okufanele babe bethembekile endlini kaNkulunkulu? Yini ayothi ngomsebenzi wabaphansi abaye bapha amandla abo ukuze bahambe ngobuttempo bemphande yakhe? Uma ukudumisa kukaNkulunkulu kubalulekile, khona-ke ngeke kubaleke uma abantu bekudemonisa noma bekufakazela futhi isahluko sakho ekugcineni asinakubalwa.

IZwi Lokudumisa

Nokhu ukuze kucace, ngaphambi kokuba sivale, ekwahlulelweni lokugcina ngeke uzwe, uma ungumKristu namuhla, ngeke uzwe nhlobo yegama lokudamisa, kodwa uzwe igama lokudumisa. uRom 8 verse 1, “Ngenxa yoko, akukho dambo lwanamhlanje kwabakho kuKristo Jesu.” Ungakwazi ukudamiswa, umumkeli kaJesu, lapho inkantolo yokugcina ibizwa ekuseshoni. Ingabe lokho akusiyindaba enhle? Ngenxa yokulunga kukaKristo, uyaxolelwa futhi ungakwazi ukudamiswa. Kodwa ungakwazi ukuphila nokufanela ukudumiswa nguKristo uKumkani ngalolo lolo. Kukhona igama lokudumisa elizoshulwa phezu kwako. Akukho gama lokudamisa kodwa igama lokudumisa. Futhi ngisola ukuthi lapho sonke sihlangana phambi kwesihlalo sobukhosi futhi sikuzwa ukudumiswa kwakhe, sizamangala ukuthi ukudumiswa kwakhe kuvumelana kangakanani nokudumisa kwabantu noma ukuhalaliswa kwimithi yethu. Zombili zihlala zishaya umshazo ngokupheleleyo. Lokho kuphela uPawuli ayekusho, ingabe akunjalo? Zombili zihlala zishaya umshazo ngokupheleleyo. Futhi ngokuqinisekile siqinisekisile isiqiniseko sokuthi “akukho dambo” ngokholo kuJesu Kristo, sibizwa ukuba sihlanganyele igama lokudumisa ngokuthobela okuthembekile kuJesu Kristo, ukuphila ngokumomotheka kukaBaba Abba nokulandela ngokuqinile emva kokuthi “Wenze kahle, inceku enhle nethembekile” yoMkhululi wethu.

Anginkosi asisize, anginkosi asisize, siphumle siqinisekile akukho dambo, ukuphila ngoyalo ngombono omuhle weNkosi edumileyo yedwa nokudumiswa kwakhe kokugcina ngalolo lolo. Futhi angasikhulula ngalokho ngokupheleleyo etyranny yombono wabantu na tyranny yimizwazo yethu enonakele yethu. Masithandaze kunye.

Ubaba wethu, sivuma Kuwe ukuthi imvamisa imibono yabanye kanye nokuzilinganisa kwethu sibe nomuthi, nomuthi ovame ukuletha imiphumela edabukisayo. Ngiyacela, usifundise ukuze sibone ngeso elihle ngaphezu kweminye imibono, ukuthanda kwakho, nokuphila kwethu kube yindumiso yakho nokuzingatia kwakho. Sicele lokhu egameni likaJesu, amen.