1, 2. (a) Kungani abantu ngesikhathi somphostoli uPawulu babekhathazeke ngobugqila nenkululeko? (b) UPawulu wabaqondisa kubani abantu ukuze bathole inkululeko yangempela?

NGAPHANSI kombuso waseRoma, amaKristu okuqala ayephila phakathi kwabantu ababeziqhenya ngokuba abagqugquzeli bomthetho, ubulungisa nenkululeko. Nokho, amandla nodumo lombuso waseRoma lwalube khona kusetshenziswa izigqila. Ngesinye isikhathi amaphesenti angu-30 ezakhamuzi zakhona kwakuyizigqila. Ngokungangabazeki, ubugqila nenkululeko kwakuyizinto ezisezingqondweni zabantu abavamile, kuhlanganise namaKristu.

² Kuningi okushiwo yizincwadi zomphostoli uPawulu ngenkululeko. Nokho, injongo yenkonzo yakhe yayingekhona ukushintsha ezombusazwe noma isimo somphakathi, okwakuyizinto ezazidingwa abantu. Kunokuba bathembele kubabusi abangabantu noma kuhulumeni othile, uPawulu namanye amaKristu bazikhandla ukuze basize abanye bafunde izindaba ezinhle ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu nangenani lomhlatshelo wesihlengo sikaJesu Kristu ongenakuqhathaniswa nalutho. UPawulu waqondisa amakholwa eMthonjeni wenkululeko yangempela. Ngokwesibonelo,  encwadini yakhe yesibili ayibhalela amaKristu aseKorinte, washo lokhu: “UJehova unguMoya; futhi lapho kunomoya kaJehova khona, kukhona inkululeko.”​—2 Kor. 3:17.

3, 4. (a) Yini eyabangela ukuba uPawulu asho amazwi akweyesi-2 Korinte 3:17? (b) Yini okumelwe siyenze ukuze sijabulele inkululeko evela kuJehova?

³ Ekuqaleni, encwadini yakhe eya kwabaseKorinte, uPawulu wakhuluma ngokukhazimula kukaMose ngesikhathi ehla eNtabeni iSinayi ngemva kokukhuluma nengelosi kaJehova. Lapho abantu bebona uMose, besaba, uMose wabe esemboza ubuso bakhe ngesigubuzelo. (Eks. 34:29, 30, 33; 2 Kor. 3:7, 13) UPawulu wabe esechaza, “kodwa lapho kuba khona ukuphendukela kuJehova, umgubuzelo uyasuswa.” (2 Kor. 3:16) Asho ukuthini amazwi kaPawulu?

⁴ Njengoba sifundile esihlokweni esidlule, uJehova, uMdali wazo zonke izinto, uwukuphela koMuntu onenkululeko ephelele engenamingcele. Yingakho singathi, endaweni okukhona kuyo uJehova, “lapho kunomoya kaJehova khona, kukhona inkululeko.” Nokho, ukuze sizuze futhi siyijabulele leyo nkululeko kumelwe sibe nobuhlobo obuhle noJehova. Ama-Israyeli ehlane ayebheka izinto ngombono womuntu hhayi ngombono kaJehova. Kwakungazathi izinhliziyo nezingqondo zawo zazivalekile futhi ziqinile, zigxile kuphela ezinzuzweni ezingokwenyama njengoba ayesanda kukhululwa eGibhithe.​—Heb. 3:8-10.

5. (a) Hlobo luni lwenkululeko esiyinikwa umoya kaJehova? (b) Sazi kanjani ukuthi ukuboshwa akuyiqedi inkululeko uJehova asinika yona? (c) Yimiphi imibuzo okudingeka siyiphendule?

⁵ Inkululeko ehlobene nomoya kaJehova iyinkululeko engaphezu kokukhululeka ebugqilini. Ngokungafani nalokho okungafezwa abantu, umoya kaJehova usikhulula ekugqilazweni yisono nokufa uphinde usikhulule ekukhulekeleni kwamanga nasemikhubeni yako. (Roma 6:23; 8:2) Yinkululeko enhle ngempela leyo! Umuntu angajabulela izinzuzo zale nkululeko ngisho noma eboshiwe noma eyisigqila. (Gen. 39:20-23) Yilokho okwenzeka kuDade Nancy Yuen nakuMfoweth’ uHarold King ababoshwa iminyaka eminingi ngenxa yokholo lwabo. Ungababona, ubezwe belandisa izindaba zabo ku-JW Broadcasting. (Bheka ngaphansi kwesithi IZINGXOXO NOKULANDISA KWABATHILE > UKUKHUTHAZELELA UVIVINYO.) Nokho, singabonisa kanjani ukuthi siyayazisa inkululeko yethu? Singayisebenzisa kanjani ngokuhlakanipha inkululeko yethu?

6. Ama-Israyeli abonisa kanjani ukungayazisi inkululeko uJehova ayewanike yona?

⁶ Lapho siqaphela ukubaluleka kwalesi sipho esiyigugu, sishukumiseleka ukuba sibonge umuphi waso. Ama-Israyeli awazange ayazise inkululeko uJehova awanika yona lapho ewakhulula ebugqilini eGibhithe. Ngemva kwezinyanga ezimbalwa ekhululiwe, aqala ukufisa ukudla neziphuzo ayezithola eGibhithe abe esekhononda ngalokho uJehova ayewanika kona, aze ngisho afuna ukuphindela eGibhithe. Cabanga nje, ayebheka ‘inhlanzi, amakhukhamba, amakhabe, amalikhi, u-anyanisi nesweli’ njengokungcono kunenkululeko ayeyinikwe uNkulunkulu yokukhonza uNkulunkulu weqiniso uJehova. Akumangazi ukuthi uJehova wabathukuthelela abantu bakhe. (Num 11:5, 6, 10; 14:3, 4) Lokhu kuyisifundo nakithi.

7. UPawulu wenza kanjani ngokuvumelana neseluleko esikweyesi-2 Korinte 6:1, futhi singamlingisa kanjani?

⁷ Umphostoli uPawulu wakhuthaza wonke amaKristu ukuba ayibheke njengento  ebalulekile inkululeko uJehova asinike yona ngeNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu. (Funda eyesi-2 Korinte 6:1.) Khumbula usizi nokuhlupheka uPawulu abhekana nakho ngenxa yokuba yisigqila sesono nokufa. Noma kunjalo nakhu akusho: “Makabongwe uNkulunkulu ngoJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu!” Kungani? Wachazela amaKristu ayekanye nawo: “Ngoba umthetho walowo moya onikeza ukuphila kanye noKristu Jesu ukukhululile emthethweni wesono nokufa.” (Roma 7:24, 25; 8:2) Silandela isibonelo sikaPawulu, nathi kufanele sikubheke njengento ebaluleke kakhulu ukukhululwa uJehova ekugqilazweni yisono nokufa. Ngesihlengo, singakwazi ukukhonza uNkulunkulu ngonembeza ohlanzekile futhi sikujabulele ngempela ukwenza lokho.​—IHu. 40:8.

8, 9. (a) Yisiphi isixwayiso umphostoli uPetru asinika mayelana nokusebenzisa inkululeko yethu? (b) Yiziphi izingozi esibhekene nazo namuhla?

⁸ Asigcini nje ngokubonisa ukwazisa, kufanele singalokothi siyisebenzise kabi inkululeko yethu eyigugu. Umphostoli uPetru wasixwayisa ngokusebenzisa inkululeko yethu njengezaba zokwanelisa izifiso zethu zenyama. (Funda eyoku-1 Petru 2:16.) Lesi sixwayiso asikukhumbuzi yini ngalokho okwehlela ama-Israyeli ehlane? Ingozi isekhona, mhlawumbe isinkulu nakakhulu. USathane nezwe lakhe bakhiqiza izinhlobonhlobo ezikhangayo zezimpahla nezindlela zokuzilungisa, ukudla neziphuzo, ezokungcebeleka nezokuzijabulisa, nokunye okuningi. Abakhangisi bemikhiqizo abahlakaniphile basebenzisa abantu abakhangayo ukuze bakhangise ngezinto zamuva, bazenze zibonakale kuyizinto okumelwe sibe nazo nakanjani, nakuba empeleni kusuke kuyizinto esingazidingi. Yeka indlela okulula ngayo ukubanjwa yilolu gibe bese siyisebenzisa kabi inkululeko yethu!

⁹ Iseluleko sikaPetru sisebenza nasezintweni ezibalulekile ekuphileni, njengesinqumo somuntu salokho azokufundela kanye nomsebenzi azowenza. Ngokwesibonelo, ezikoleni namuhla intsha ingaphansi kwengcindezi enkulu yokuba ifanelekele ukungena emayunivesithi aphezulu. Yenziwa ikholelwe ukuthi imfundo ephakeme ivula amathuba okuthola imisebenzi engcono ekhokhela kahle futhi imibiko ivame ukubonisa umehluko okhona phakathi kwabantu abafunde emayunivesithi nabangafundanga kuwo. Njengoba kudingeka enze isinqumo esizothinta ukuphila kwakhe konke, osemusha angase akuthole lokhu kufiseleka. Yini okufanele osemusha nabazali bakhe bayikhumbule?

10. Yini okudingeka siyikhumbule lapho sisebenzisa inkululeko yethu ukuze senze izinqumo ezithinta thina?

¹⁰ Abanye abantu bangase babe nomuzwa wokuthi njengoba izinqumo zithinta umuntu ngamunye, kufanele babe nenkululeko yokukhetha lokho abakuthandayo uma nje unembeza wabo ubavumela. Mhlawumbe bacabanga ngamazwi uPawulu awabhalela amaKristu aseKorinte ngokuphathelene nokudla: “Kungani kufanele inkululeko yami yahlulelwe unembeza womunye umuntu?” (1 Kor. 10:29) Nakuba kuyiqiniso ukuthi sinenkululeko yokuzenzela izinqumo endabeni yemfundo nomsebenzi, kudingeka sikhumbule ukuthi inkululeko yethu inemingcele nokuthi zonke izinqumo esizenzayo zinemiphumela. Ngenxa yalokho, uPawulu waqala ngokuthi: “Zonke izinto zingokomthetho; kodwa akuzona zonke izinto ezinosizo. Zonke izinto zingokomthetho; kodwa akuzona zonke izinto ezakhayo.” (1 Kor. 10:23) Lokhu kuyasisiza sibone ukuthi kunezinto ezibaluleke kakhulu okumelwe sizicabangele lapho sisebenzisa inkululeko yethu kuzo zonke izingxenye zokuphila kwethu.

11. Kungani siye sakhululwa?

¹¹ UPetru wayiveza injongo yakhe yokuxwayisa mayelana nokusebenzisa kabi inkululeko. Wasikhuthaza ukuba sisebenzise inkululeko yethu “njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu.” Ngakho injongo yangempela yokuba uJehova, esebenzisa uJesu, asikhulule esonweni nasekufeni ukuba sizinikezele “njengezinceku zikaNkulunkulu.”

12. Yisiphi isibonelo uNowa nomndeni wakhe abasibekela sona?

¹² Indlela engcono yokuzivikela ekusebenziseni kabi inkululeko yethu, okungasenza sibe yizigqila zezifiso zaleli zwe, ukugxila ngokuphelele emigomweni engokomoya. (Gal. 5:16) Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngenzalamizi uNowa nomndeni wakhe. Babephila ezweni elinabantu abanodlame nabaziphethe kabi. Noma kunjalo bakugwema ukubanjwa yizinto abantu ngaleso sikhathi ababezifisa nababezigijimisa. Bakwenza kanjani lokho? Bakhetha ukuba matasa benza umsebenzi abawunikwe uJehova—ukwakha umkhumbi, ukuqongelela ukudla kwabo nokwezilwane nokuxwayisa abantu. “UNowa wenza njengakho konke uNkulunkulu ayemyale ngakho. Wenza kanjalo nje.” (Gen. 6:22) Waba yini umphumela? UNowa nomndeni wakhe basinda kuleyo mbubhiso.​—Heb. 11:7.

13. Yimuphi umsebenzi uJesu awunikwa futhi wawudlulisela kubalandeli bakhe?

¹³ Yini uJehova asiyale ukuba siyenze namuhla? Njengabafundi bakaJesu, siwazi kahle umsebenzi uNkulunkulu asinike wona. (Funda uLuka 4:18, 19.) Namuhla, abantu abaningi basaphuphuthekiswe unkulunkulu walesi simiso sezinto futhi bayizigqila—ngokwenkolo, ngokomnotho nangendlela yokuphila. (2 Kor. 4:4) Kuyilungelo ukulandela isibonelo sikaJesu sokusiza abantu bazi futhi bakhonze uJehova, uNkulunkulu wenkululeko. (Math. 28:19, 20) Akulula ukwenza lo msebenzi futhi kunezinselele eziningi. Kwamanye amazwe abantu abafuni ukushunyayezwa, abanye baze balwe. Nawu  umbuzo okumelwe ngamunye azibuze wona, ‘Ngingayisebenzisa yini inkululeko yami ukuze ngisekele umsebenzi woMbuso?’

14, 15. Abantu bakaJehova abaningi baye basabela kanjani emsebenzini wokushumayela? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

¹⁴ Kuyakhuthaza ukubona ukuthi abaningi baye babona ukuthi siphila esikhathini esibucayi kangakanani futhi baye benza ukuphila kwabo kwaba lula ukuze bangenele inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele. (1 Kor. 9:19, 23) Abanye basebenza endaweni abahlala kuyo; abanye bathuthela endaweni enesidingo esikhulu sabamemezeli. Izibalo zibonisa ukuthi eminyakeni emihlanu edlule, ngokwesilinganiso inani lamaphayona avamile liye landa laba ngaphezu kuka-1 100 000 ngenxa yamaphayona amasha angaphezu kuka-250 000 aye angenela le nkonzo. Lena imiphumela emihle kakhulu yokusebenzisa ngokuhlakanipha inkululeko ukuze sikhonze uJehova!​—IHu. 110:3.

¹⁵ Yini eye yasiza laba bazalwane nodade ukuba basebenzise inkululeko yabo ngokuhlakanipha? Cabanga ngoJohn noJudith, okwaphela iminyaka engu-30 bekhonza emazweni ahlukahlukene. Bakhumbula ukuthi ngesikhathi iSikole Senkonzo Samaphayona siqala ngo-1977, kwakugxilwe kakhulu ekuzimiseleni ukuthuthela endaweni enesidingo esikhulu sabamemezeli. Ukuze bagxile emgomweni wabo, uJohn uthi washintsha umsebenzi kaningi ukuze bagcine ukuphila kwabo kulula. Ekugcineni lapho befika kwelinye izwe, bathola ukuthi ukuthandaza kuJehova nokuncika kuye kwabasiza banqoba izinselele ezifana nokufunda ulimi olusha, ukujwayela isiko elisha nokukhuthazelela isimo sezulu esingajwayelekile. Kwabathinta kanjani ukuba senkonzweni yonke leyo minyaka? UJohn uthi: “Ngangigxile emsebenzini ongcono kakhulu kunanoma yimuphi omunye engiwaziyo noma engake ngawenza. UJehova waba ngokoqobo kimi, njengobaba onothando. Manje ngikuqonda kangcono okushiwo uJakobe 4:8: ‘Sondela kuNkulunklu, naye uyosondela kuwe.’ Ngangazi ukuthi ngikutholile engangikufuna, ukuphila okwanelisayo.”

16. Izinkulungwane ezinezimo ezingavumi ziye zayisebenzisa kanjani inkululeko yazo ngokuhlakanipha?

¹⁶ Ngokungafani noJohn noJudith, izimo zabanye zibavumela ukuba babe senkonzweni yesikhathi esingcwele isikhathi esifushane. Noma kunjalo, abaningi balibamba ngokugcwele ithuba lokuvolontiya lapho kwakhiwa izakhiwo zenhlangano emhlabeni wonke. Ngokwesibonelo, lapho kwakhiwa indlunkulu yomhlaba wonke eWarwick, eNew York, abazalwane nodade abangaba ngu-27 000 bavolontiya—basebenza amasonto amabili kuya eminyakeni emibili nangaphezulu. Abaningi kubo bashiya konke ukuze bayokhonza lapho. Leso yisibonelo esihle ngempela sokusebenzisa inkululeko esiyiphiwe uNkulunkulu ukuze sidumise futhi sikhazimulise uJehova, uNkulunkulu wenkululeko!

17. Yini eyotholwa yilabo abasebenzisa inkululeko abayinikwe uNkulunkulu ngokuhlakanipha?

¹⁷ Kuyasijabulisa ukwazi uJehova futhi siyakwazi ukujabulela inkululeko elethwa ukukhulekela kweqiniso. Kwangathi singabonisa ngezinqumo zethu ukuthi siyayazisa le nkululeko. Kunokuba siyisebenzise kabi, masisebenzise inkululeko yethu namathuba ewalethayo ukuze sikhonze uJehova ngokusemandleni ethu. Uma senza kanjalo, singalindela ukujabulela izibusiso zikaJehova lapho kugcwaliseka amazwi alesi siprofetho: “Indalo ngokwayo nayo iyokhululwa ekugqilazweni ukonakala ibe nenkululeko ekhazimulayo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.”​—Roma 8:21.