1, 2. (a) Abantu abanengi bayihlathulula njani ipumelelo? (b) Ungayihlola njani indlela oqala ngayo ipumelelo?

KUTJHO ukuthini ukuphumelela ekuphileni? Buza abantu umbuzo lo, begodu uzokufumana bona iimpendulo zabo zihluke khulu. Ngokwesibonelo, abanengi bahlathulula ipumelelo ngokwezinto ozifikeleleko ngokweemali, umsebenzi namtjhana ifundo. Abanye bathi bona uphumelele kufuze ube nobuhlobo obuhle nomndeni, abangani, namtjhana abantu osebenza nabo. Umuntu okhonza uZimu angacabanga bona umuntu ophumeleleko ngonemithwalo yefanelo ebandleni namtjhana ophumelelako emsebenzini wokutjhumayela.

² Bona ubone indlela oqala ngayo ipumelelo, ungatlola phasi amabizo wabantu abambalwa ocabanga bona baphumelele—labo obathandako nobahlonipha khulu. Ngiziphi izinto eziveleleko abafana ngazo? Baregile namtjhana badumile? Bavelele? Iimpendulo zingembula kuhle bona khuyini okusehliziywenakho, begodu zingaba nomthelela eenquntweni ozenzako neminqopho olwela ukuyifikelela.—Luka 6:45.

3. (a) Khuyini uJoshuwa egade azoyenza bona aphumelele endlelenakhe? (b) Yini esizokucoca ngayo nje?

³ Okuqakatheke khulu kukobana uJehova usiqala njengabaphumeleleko namtjhana awa, ngombana ukuphila kwethu kuyame ekwamukelweni nguye. Nekanikela uJoshuwa isabelo esibudisi sokudosa phambili ama-Israyeli awase eNarheni yesiThembiso, uJehova wamtjela bona afunde umThetho kaMosisi “imini nobusuku” begodu atjheje bona ulalela lokho ebekutloliwe. UZimu wamqinisekisa wathi: “Ngalokho uzokuphumelelisa indlela yakho begodu ngalokho uzokwenza ngokuhlakanipha.” (Josh. 1:7, 8) Uyazi bona uJoshuwa wazibonakalisa aphumelele. Kuthiwani ngathi? Singafumana njani bona umbonwethu ngepumelelo uyafana nombono kaZimu? Bona sifikelele esiphethweni, akhe sicoce ngamaphilo  wamadoda amabili ekukhulunywe ngawo eBhayibhilini.

4. Kubayini kungatjhiwo bona uSolomoni bekaphumelele?

⁴ Ngeendlela ezinengi, uSolomoni gade aphumelele khulu. Kubayini? Ngombana iminyaka eminengi, wasaba begodu walalela uJehova, owambusisa khulu. Khumbula bona uJehova wathi uSolomoni enze isibawo, ikosi yabawa ukuhlakanipha kokunqophisa abantu. Ngemva kwalokho uZimu wambusisa ngakho kokubili ukuhlakanipha noburego. (Funda yoku-1 AmaKhosi 3:10-14.) Ukuhlakanipha kwakhe ‘bekukukhulu kunokuhlakanipha kwabo boke abantu bePumalanga nakho koke ukuhlakanipha kweGibhide.’ Idumo lakaSolomoni laziwa “kizo zoke iintjhaba ezibhodileko.” (1 Kho. 4:30, 31) Njengombana bekaregile, qobe mnyaka bekafumana igolide elimathani ama-25! (2 Mil. 9:13) Bekahlakaniphile ekusebenzelaneni nabanye, ekwakheni, nekurhwebelaneni nabanye. Kuliqiniso, nekabulunga ubujamo bakhe obulungileko noZimu, uSolomoni wazibonakalisa aphumelela.—2 Mil. 9:22-24.

5. USolomoni waphetha ngokuthini ngalabo abaphumeleleko phambi kwakaZimu?

⁵ Lokho uSolomoni akutlola encwadini yomTjhumayeli kutjengisa bona bekangakhohliswa kucabanga kobana ipumelelo nethabo kulinganiselwe kilabo abaregileko namtjhana abaveleleko. Awa akusinjalo. Watlola: “Sengiyazi bona akunalitho elingcono ngabo kunokobana umuntu athabe, enze okuhle hlangana nokuphila kwakhe; nokobana woke umuntu adle begodu eqinisweni asele abone okuhle ngawo woke umsebenzi wakhe obudisi. Kusisipho sakaZimu.” (Mtj. 3:12, 13) Walemuka nokobana ukuzithabisa okunjalo akutjho litho kiloyo ofuna ukwamukelwa nguZimu, anobuhlobo obuhle naYe. USolomoni watjho kufanele wathi: “Isiphetho sendaba, njengombana sekuzwakele koke, ngilesi: Msabe uZimu weqiniso wenze imilaywakhe. Ngombana lokhu kungiso soke isibopho somuntu.”—Mtj. 12:13.

6. Ngiliphi ilwazi isibonelo sakaSolomoni esisinikela lona nekuziwa ekulinganiseni ipumelelo yamambala?

⁶ Iminyaka eminengi, uSolomoni wakhamba ngokusaba uZimu. Sifunda bona “waragela phambili athanda uJehova ngokukhamba emithethweni kaDavidi uyise.” (1 Kho. 3:3) Ngeze waqala lokhu njengepumelelo yeqiniso na? Ngesinqophiso sakaZimu, uSolomoni wakha itempeli elikarisako lokukhulekela kweqiniso watlola neencwadi zeBhayibhili eentathu. Nanyana kungeze kwalindeleka bona senze okufanako, isibonelo sakaSolomoni nekathembekileko kuZimu kufuze sisitjengise indlela yokuhlola lokho ipumelelo yamambala engikho begodu kufuze sisisize siyifumane. Malungana nalokhu, khumbula bona uSolomoni angaphasi kokuphefumulelwa watlola bona uburego, ukuhlakanipha, idumo namandla—lokho abantu abanengi namhlanjesi abangakuqala njengesilinganiso sepumelelo—kulilize. Izinto ezinjalo zililize kwamambala, ‘ukulwela ukubamba umoya.’ Awukatjheji na bona abathandi boburego abanengi balulukela ukuba nokungeziweko? Begodu kanengi batshwenyeka ngalokho abanakho. Ngaphezu kwalokho, uburego babo ngelinye ilanga buzokuya kwabanye.—Funda umTjhumayeli 2:8-11, 17; 5:10-12.

7, 8.  USolomoni wazibonakalisa njani athembekile begodu kwaba namuphi umphumela?

⁷ Godu uyazi bona uSolomoni ngokukhamba kwesikhathi waphambuka ekambweni yokulalela ngokuthembeka. ILizwi lakaZimu lithi: “Kwathi ngesikhathi sokuluphala kwakaSolomoni abafazi bakhe besele bayiphambukisile ihliziywakhe bona ilandele abanye abozimu; begodu ihliziywakhe akhenge iphelele kuJehova uZimakhe njengehliziyo kaDavidi uyise. . . . USolomoni wathoma ukwenza okumbi emehlweni kaJehova.”—1 Kho. 11:4-6.

⁸ Angakathabi, uJehova watjela uSolomoni: “Ngebanga lokobana . . . khenge  ubulunge isivumelwano sami nemithethwami engayibeka njengomyalo kuwe, ngaphandle kokubhalelwa ngizokususa umbuso kuwe, begodu ngokuqinisekileko ngizowunikela inceku yakho.” (1 Kho. 11:11) Qala bona bekuzwisa ubuhlungu kangangani! Nanyana uSolomoni aphumelela ngeendlela ezinengi, ekugcineni wadanisa uJehova. Endaweni eqakatheke khulu ekuphileni—ukuthembeka kuZimu—uSolomoni wabhalelwa. Ngamunye wethu angazibuza, ‘Ngizimisele na ukuqiniseka bona isifundo engisifunde ekuphileni kwakaSolomoni sizongisiza ngiphumelele?’

9. Ngokwemithethokambiso yephasi, uPowula bekaphumelele? Hlathulula.

⁹ Ipilo yompostoli uPowula gade ihluke khulu kweyeKosi uSolomoni. UPowula, bekanganaso isihlalo sobukhosi sezinyo lendlovu namtjhana adle namakhosi. Kunalokho, bekuneenkhathi zokulamba, ukoma, amakhaza nokukhamba hlubule. (2 Kor. 11:24-27) Ngesikhathi amukela uJesu njengoMesiya, uPowula khenge asafumana ukuhlonitjhwa ekolweni yamaJuda. Kunalokho, abadosiphambili beenkolo zamaJuda bamhloya. Wabotjhwa, warithwa, wabethwa ngeentonga, begodu wakghadlhwa ngamatje. UPowula wavuma bona yena namaKrestu akunye naye bahlanjalazwa, batjhutjhiswa, begodu bakhulunywa kumbi. ‘Senziwe iinzibi, ifucufucu yezinto zoke, bekube khathesi.’—1 Kor. 4:11-13.

10. Kubayini bekungabonakala ngasuthi uPowula wale ipumelelo?

¹⁰ Aseselisokana egade libizwa ngokobana nguSawulu, umpostoli uPowula bekubonakala zoke izinto zimkhambela kuhle. Wabelethelwa emndenini oveleleko, wafundiswa nguGamaliyeli, umfundisi ohloniphekileko, begodu kamva watlola: ‘Bengiwaphala amaJuda amanengi aziintanga zami ngekolo yesiJuda.’ (Gal. 1:14) Akghona ukukhuluma isiHebheru nesiGirigi, uSawulu bekasisakhamuzi seRoma, lokho kwamvulela amalungelo amanengi afiselekako. Ngathana wakhetha ukufikelela ipumelelo yephasi enjalo, pheze gade azokuvelela begodu avikeleke ngokweemali. Kunalokho, wakhetha ikambo kwabanye—mhlamunye ngitjho nakezinye iinhlobo—engabonakala ibudlhayela kibo. Kubayini?

11. Ngikuphi ukuqakatheka nomnqopho uPowula egade anawo, begodu kubayini?

¹¹ UPowula bekamthanda uJehova begodu afisa ukwamukelwa nguye ngaphezu koburego nokuvelela hlangana nabantu. Ngokufumana ilwazi elinembileko leqiniso, uPowula wathoma ukusiqala njengesiqakathekileko isihlengo, ikonzo yobuKrestu, ithemba lokuphila ezulwini—izinto iphasi ebelingazinaki khulu. UPowula walemuka bona bekunendaba ekufuze ilungiswe. USathana wathi  angakghona ukwenza abantu balise ukukhonza uZimu. (Job. 1:9-11; 2:3-5) Kungakhathaliseki bona ngiziphi iinlingo aqalana nazo, uPowula wazimisela ukuthembeka kuZimu, bona akghodlhelele ekukhulekeleni kweqiniso. Lo, mnqopho abantu abanengi ephasineli abafuna ipumelelo abanganawo.

12. Kubayini wakhetha ukubeka ithemba lakho kuZimu?

¹² Unomnqopho ofana newakaPowula? Nanyana ukuphila ipilo yokuthembeka kungasi yinto elula ngaso soke isikhathi, siyazi bona iletha isibusiso sakaJehova nokwamukelwa nguye, begodu lokhu ngikho okwenza umuntu aphumelele kwamambala. (IzA. 10:22) Siyazuza nje, begodu ngokuqinisekileko singalindela iimbusiso esikhathini esizako. (Funda uMarkosi 10:29, 30.) Ngalokho, sinawo woke amabanga wokubeka ithemba lethu, ‘ingasi emnothweni ophelako, kodwana kuZimu osipha koke bona sithokoze ngakho.’ ‘Sizibulungela umnotho obekelwe isikhathi esizako, sifumane umvuzo wokuphila okungikho.’ (1 Thi. 6:17-19) Kwamambala, singaqiniseka bona eminyakeni elikhulu ukusuka nje, ngitjho neenkulungwana zeminyaka kusukela nje, sizokuqala emva bese sithi, “Liqiniso, ngakhetha ikambo yepumelelo yamambala!”

13. Ngisiphi isiluleko uJesu asinikelako malungana nokuzibekela umnotho?

¹³ UJesu wathi ngamagugu: ‘Ningazibekeli umnotho ephasinapha, lapha umuhlwa nokukghora kurhayilako namasela angenelako ebe. Endaweni yalokho zibekeleni ilifa ezulwini, lapha umuhlwa nokukghora kungekhe kwalirhayila, nalapho kungangeni amasela ebe khona. Ngombana iinhliziyo zenu zizasolo zilapha kunomnotho wenu khona.’—Mat. 6:19-21.

14. Kubayini kungasi kuhlakanipha ukufuna umnotho wephasi?

¹⁴ Umnotho wephasini womuntu ungaba ngaphezu kokuba nemali kwaphela. Ngomqondo loyo, ungahlanganisa nanyana yini yezinto uSolomoni atlola ngazo ezimalungana nokuphumelela emehlweni wabantu—ukuhlonitjhwa, idumo, namtjhana amandla. UJesu watjho iphuzu elifanako naleli elatjhiwo nguSolomoni encwadini yomTjhumayeli—umnotho wephasi awuhlali unomphela. Njengombana ubonile ephasini elikubhodileko, yoke iminotho ingatjhabalala begodu ilahleke msinyana. UProfesa F. Dale Bruner watlola ngomnotho onjalo: “Kuyaziwa bona ukuba nedumo akuhlali isikhathi eside. Umuntu odumileko namhlanjesi msinyana angalibaleka. Umuntu owenza imali enengi umnyaka lo ingamlahlekela yoke umnyaka ozako. . . . [UJesu] gade abathanda abantu. Ubayelelisa ngendlela iphazimulo engatjhabalala ngayo msinyana begodu ibatjhiye banganathemba. Ayihlali isikhathi eside. UJesu akafuni bona abafundi [bakhe] badane. ‘Qobe langa iphasi liphendukela umuntu ogade ahleli phezu kwalo.’” Nanyana abantu abanengi bangavumelana namezwi la, bangaki abawavumelako bona asebenze ekuphileni kwabo? Uzowavumela wena na?

15. Ngiliphi ihlobo lepumelelo okufuze sililwele?

 ¹⁵ Abanye abadosiphambili beenkolo bayatjhumayela bona akukalungi ukulwela ufumana ipumelelo nokobana woke umzamo wokuphumelela kufuze ujanyiswe. Nokho, tjheja bonyana uJesu bekangatjho bona bangawenzi woke umzamo onjalo. Kunalokho, wakhuthaza abafundi bakhe bona batjhentjhe umzamabo, wabayala bona ‘bazibekele ilifa ezulwini.’ Isifiso sethu esikhulu kufuze kube kulwela ukuphumelela ngendlela uJehova egade azoyiqala ngayo. Liqiniso, amezwi kaJesu asikhumbuza bona sikhethe lokho esizokghona ukukufikelela. Nokho, iqiniso likukuthi sizokuphitjhekela lokho okusehliziywenethu, okuqakathekileko kithi.

16. Khuyini esingaqiniseka ngakho?

¹⁶ Nengabe kusehliziywenethu ukuthabisa uJehova, singathemba bona uzosinikela izinto esizitlhogako. Njengompostoli uPowula, angasivumela bona siqalane nokulamba namtjhana nokoma kwesikhatjhana. (1 Kor. 4:11) Nanyana kunjalo, singathembela esilulekweni sakaJesu esihlakaniphileko: ‘Yeke ningathomi nitshwenyeke, nithi: ‘Alo-ke sizagomani, siseleni, simbatheni na? Lezi zizinto abangakholwako abahlala bazifuna. UYihlo osezulwini uyazi bona niyazitlhoga zoke iintwezi. Kunalokho, funani qangi umbuso kaZimu nalokho yena akufunako kini, yena uzanipha zoke ezinye izinto.’—Mat. 6:31-33.

17, 18. (a) Iyamephi ipumelelo yamambala? (b) Kukuphi lapho ipumelelo yamambala ingakayami khona?

¹⁷ Iphuzu eliyihloko ngileli: Ukuphumelela kwethu kwamambala akukayami kilokho esikufikeleleko namtjhana isikhundla esinaso ephasini. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ipumelelo ayilinganiswa ngokuba nomthwalo wefanelo othileko elungiselelweni lobuKrestu. Nokho, isibusiso esinjalo singahlotjaniswa nalokho okusisekelo sepumelelo yamambala, ukulalela kwethu nokuthembeka kuZimu, osiqinisekisako: “Okufunekako emuntwini ophathisiweko kufanele bona athembeke kiloyo omphetheko.” (1 Kor. 4:2) Begodu kufuze sikghodlhelele ekuthembekeni. UJesu wathi: “Loyo osolo abambelele kufikela emaphelelweni uzaphuluswa.” (Mat. 10:22) Ngeze wavuma na bona ukuphuluswa kubufakazi obungaphikiswako bepumelelo?

¹⁸ Sicabanga ngalokho okungehla, ungabona bona ukuthembeka kuZimu akuhlotjaniswa nokuvelela, ifundo, ubujamo obungokweemali, namtjhana isikhundla emphakathini; begodu ukuthembeka akukahlobani nokuhlakanipha, ithalenta, namtjhana ikghono. Kinanyana ngibuphi ubujamo esingazifumana sikibo, singazibonakalisa sithembekile kuZimu. Hlangana nabantu bakaZimu bangekhulu lokuthoma, abanye bebaregile, abanye bebatlhaga. Kilabo, besiqakathekile isiluleko sakaPowula sokobana ‘benze okuhle, banothe emisebenzini elungileko, baphane begodu bakulungele ukwabela abanye izinto.’ Kokubili labo abaregileko, nabatlhagako ‘bangafumana umvuzo wokuphila okungikho.’ (1 Thi. 6:17-19) Kunjalo nanamhlanjesi. Soke sinethuba elifanako nomthwalo wefanelo ofanako: Kufuze sihlale sithembekile begodu ‘sinothe emisebenzini elungileko.’ Nesenza njalo, sizokuphumelela emehlweni womBumbi wethu begodu sithabele ukwazi bona siyamthabisa.—IzA. 27:11.

19. Endabeni yepumelelo, uzimisele ukwenzani?

¹⁹ Ngeze wakwazi ukulawula ubujamo bakho ngokupheleleko, kodwana ungakghona ukulawula indlela oqalana nabo ngayo. Lwela ukuthembeka kinanyana ngibuphi ubujamo okibo. Kuwufanele umzamo. Qiniseka bona uJehova uzokubusisa ngokunothileko—nje bekube ngokungapheliko. Ungawalibali amezwi kaJesu anqotjhiswe kumaKrestu azesiweko: ‘Thembeka kimi sengitjho namtjhana ubulawa, ngizakupha ukuphila okuyinzuzo yakho yokwahlula.’ (IsAm. 2:10) Leyo yipumelelo yamambala!