Je, Hawakutakaswa Kumi?

"Yesu akajibu, akasema, Je! hawakutakaswa kumi? Lakini wale tisa wako wapi?
Hakuonekana hata mmoja aliyerudi kumpa Mungu utukufu, isipokuwa huyu mgeni.’”— Luka 17:17, 18

“And Jesus answering said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?

There is not found any that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.’" --Luke 17:17, 18 

Wakoma kumi walikutana na Yesu siku moja karibu miaka 2000 iliyopita alipokuwa akisafiri kuelekea kusini Yerusalemu. Wote walitafuta rehema zake na walipewa maagizo yale yale: “Nenda ukaonyeshe ninyi wenyewe kwa makuhani.” Walipotii neno lake, wote walitakaswa, lakini mmoja tu. Msamaria, alirudi kumshukuru Yesu. Kushindwa kwa wale tisa kufanya hivyo ilileta maneno yaliyo juu yaliyoandikwa na Luka. Vipi wale wengine tisa? Je! kushukuru kwa uponyaji wao? Au furaha yao katika zawadi iliwafanya kusahau haraka mtoaji? Ndiyo, inawezekana hata kwa wale ambao wamepokea mengi kuchukua kibali cha Mungu kwa nafasi.

Ten lepers met Jesus one day nearly 2000 years ago as He journeyed south to Jerusalem. All sought His mercy and were given the same instruction: "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they obeyed His word, all were cleansed. Yet only one, a Samaritan, returned to give thanks to Jesus. The failure of the nine to do so brought the above remarks recorded by Luke. What of the other nine? Were they grateful for their healing? Or did their joy in the gift cause them to quickly forget the giver? Yes, it is possible even for those who have received much to take God's favors for granted.

Shukrani, shukrani ya kweli, inachukuliwa kuwa alama ya ukomavu na upole kati ya watu wote wenye heshima. Lakini hata hivyo, inabakia kuwa ishara tu isipokuwa inatoka moyoni kwa kuthamini kweli wema wa mtoaji. Yule mwenye ukoma mmoja, alipotambua kwamba alikuwa ameponywa, alirudi kimakusudi mahali Yesu alipokuwa.

Thankfulness, genuine gratitude, is considered a mark of maturity and gentility among all honorable people. But even then, it remains only a gesture unless it comes from the heart in real appreciation of the goodness of the giver. The one leper, when he realized that he had been healed, deliberately turned back to where Jesus was.

Bila kujali yote kumhusu, alimsifu Mungu kwa sauti kuu. Akaanguka kifudifudi miguuni pa Yesu, akamshukuru hadharani. Kuna somo la shukrani hapa kwa watu wote. Haishangazi kupata maagizo mengi ya kimaandiko kwa shukrani za Kikristo, kwa mambo yote, nyakati zote, katika hali zote. Hakika, maisha ya Kikristo yanapaswa kuwa ya shukrani, kwani "Una nini usichopokea?" ( 1 Kor. 4:7 ). Maneno katika Zab. 107:21, 22 ni muhimu kwa kila mwamini katika Kristo Yesu: “Laiti watu wamhimidi BWANA kwa wema wake, na kwa ajili ya matendo yake ya ajabu kwa wanadamu; na watoe dhabihu za shukrani, na kuyatangaza matendo yake kufurahi." Mtunga Zaburi anahusisha sifa za sifa, dhabihu na ushuhuda kwa wengine na kutekeleza deni la shukrani.

Heedless of all about him, he praised God with a loud voice. Falling on his face at Jesus' feet, he thanked Him publicly. There is a lesson of thankfulness here for all people. It is not surprising to find numerous scriptural injunctions to Christian thanksgiving, for all things, at all times, in all circumstances. Indeed, the Christian life is to be one of thankfulness, for "What have you that you did not receive?" (1 Cor. 4:7). The words in Psa. 107:21, 22 are relevant to every believer in Christ Jesus: "Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men. Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing." The Psalmist associates the qualities of praise, sacrifice and witness to others with discharging the debt of gratitude.

Sababu za Kushukuru - Maandiko ya mitume yanaonyesha wazi kwamba kutoa shukrani ni uandamani muhimu wa mambo mengine yote ya maisha ya Kikristo. Lakini kwanza kabisa, lazima kuwe na moyo wa shukrani ndani, utambuzi kamili wa neema ya ukarimu ya Baba yetu wa Mbinguni na kuthamini zawadi Zake zote. Tunasoma katika Yakobo 1:17 kwamba “kila kutoa kuliko kwema, na kamilifu, hutoka juu, hushuka kwa Baba wa mianga; Je, basi, “zawadi yake isiyoneneka”? Je, tunawezaje kumshukuru Mungu vya kutosha kwa ajili ya upendo wake mkuu katika zawadi ya Mwanawe mpendwa na wa pekee? Hakika hatuwezi kutoa chochote kidogo kuliko maisha ya shukrani katika kila sehemu.

Causes for Gratitude - The writings of the apostles make it clear that the giving of thanks is an essential accompaniment to all other aspects of Christian living. But first of all, there must be a heart of gratitude within, a full recognition of the bountiful grace of our Heavenly Father and an appreciation of all His gifts. We read in James 1:17 that "every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." What, then, of His "unspeakable gift"? How can we adequately thank God for His so great love in the gift of His dearly beloved and only begotten Son? Surely we can offer nothing less than lives of thankfulness in every part.

Lakini je, inawezekana kudumisha roho ya shukrani kwa Mungu sikuzote na katika kila hali? Ingawa kwa hakika si katika asili yetu ya kibinadamu iliyoanguka na isiyokamilika kufanya hivyo, mtazamo wa Kikristo unapaswa kuwa tofauti na ule wa ulimwengu. Mojawapo ya dhana kuu ya imani yetu imewasilishwa katika Rum. 8:28 : “Tunajua kwamba Mungu hufanya mambo yote pamoja katika kuwapatia mema wale wanaompenda Mungu, wale walioitwa kulingana na kusudi lake.”

But is it possible to maintain a spirit of gratitude to God always and in every situation? While it is certainly not in our fallen and imperfect human nature to do so, the Christian perspective should be a different one from that of the world. One of the great axioms of our faith is presented in Rom. 8:28: "We know that God works all things together for good to them that love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Ujasiri kamili wa Paulo katika utunzaji wa Mungu kwa kila mwamini ulimwezesha kutangaza, “Nimejifunza kuridhika nayo katika hali yo yote niliyo nayo” ( Wafilipi 4:11, 12 ). Yeye anayejua mwisho tangu mwanzo ana moyoni maslahi bora ya kila mtoto anayemwamini. Kuwa na uhakikisho huo wenye baraka husaidia watoto wa Mungu kutii maneno haya ya mtume: “Acheni amani ya Mungu itawale mioyoni mwenu, kwa kuwa kama viungo vya mwili mmoja mliitwa kwenye amani.

Paul's full confidence in God's care for every believer enabled him to declare, "I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11, 12). He who knows the end from the beginning has at heart the best interests of each trusting child. Having this blessed assurance helps God's children heed the apostle's words: "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Col. 3:15, 16).

Kila uzoefu wa maisha unatimiza makusudi ya Mungu ndani yetu. Hata adhabu zinazohitajika ni ishara ya uhusiano wetu wa Baba na mtoto. Kila tukio linapaswa kupokelewa kwa shukrani, kama vile kutoka kwa Baba mwenye hekima na upendo. “Shukuruni kwa kila jambo; maana hayo ni mapenzi ya Mungu kwenu katika Kristo Yesu” (1 Wathesalonike 5:18). Ni mapenzi ya Mungu kwamba tuonyeshe sifa zake katika maisha ya amani ya ndani, tukiwa tayari kwa mapenzi yake yote makamilifu. Hebu na tuwe na shukrani ya kweli kwa yote ambayo ametufanyia katika Kristo -- kwa baraka nyingi ambazo tayari tumepokea, na kwa baraka nyingi zaidi ambazo bado zinakuja.

Every experience of life is working out God's purposes in us. Even the necessary chastisements are a token of our Father-child relationship. Each experience is to be received with thanksgiving, as from a wise and loving Father. "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It is God's will that we show forth His praises in lives of inner peace, ready for all His perfect will. Let us be truly thankful for all that He has done for us in Christ -- for rich blessings already received, and for the even richer blessings still to come.

Mwokozi wetu kielelezo chetu - Fikiria huo mfano kamili wa shukrani katika Mwokozi wetu mwenye upendo. Yeye ambaye kupitia yeye na ambaye kwa ajili yake vitu vyote viliumbwa, na ambaye vitu vyote vinashirikishwa ( Wakolosai 1:16, 17 ), daima alitoa shukrani kwa Baba kwa ajili ya nauli ya kila siku Aliyoshiriki pamoja na wanafunzi. Alitoa shukrani kwa ajili ya wale ambao Baba alikuwa amempa kupokea kutoka kwa Neno la Baba Yake (Mathayo 11:25, Yohana 17:6), na kwa ajili ya maombi yaliyojibiwa (Yohana 11:41, 42).

Our Savior our example - Consider that perfect example of thankfulness in our loving Savior. He through whom and for whom all things were created, and in whom all things consist (Colossians1:16, 17), always gave thanks to the Father for the daily fare He shared with the disciples. He gave thanks for those whom the Father had given Him to receive of His Father’s Word (Matthew 11:25, John 17:6), and for answered prayer (John 11:41, 42).

Kila mmoja wetu ana mengi ya kushukuru. Na ahadi zake zote kuu na za thamani ni “ndio na amina katika Kristo Yesu.” Yana hakika ya kutimizwa kwa sababu ya uaminifu wa Bwana na Mwokozi wetu mpendwa. Je, tunawezaje kuwa watu wengine zaidi ya watu wa kushukuru wakati tunabaki kukumbuka utajiri wa neema yake kwetu. Kila sala inapaswa kuwa kwanza sadaka ya sifa na shukrani: "Ingieni malangoni mwake kwa kushukuru, nyuani mwake kwa kusifu" (Zaburi 100:4). Imependekezwa kwamba vipengele vya msingi vya kila mbinu kwa Baba yetu wa Mbinguni vinapaswa kuwa sifa, sala, na dua, pamoja na sifa, onyesho la shukrani, kuwa na nafasi ya kwanza.

Each one of us has much for which to be thankful. And all His exceeding great and precious promises are “yea and amen in Christ Jesus.” They are certain of fulfillment because of the faithfulness of our dear Lord and Savior. How can we be other than a thankful people when we remain mindful of the riches of His grace to us. Each prayer should be first an offering of praise and thanks: "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise" (Psa. 100:4). It has been suggested that the basic elements of every approach to our Heavenly Father should be praise, prayer, and petition, with praise, the expression of our gratefulness, having first place.

Bila shaka maneno yetu ya shukrani hayapaswi kuelekezwa kwa Baba yetu mwenye upendo tu. Kamwe tusichukulie kirahisi na tuache bila kutambuliwa ukarimu na wema wa wengine; ni vizuri kushukuru kwa msaada huo wote wenye upendo. Na ni muhimu tuwajulishe kuhusu uthamini wetu. Maneno yetu tulivu ya dhati kwa wafadhili yanaweza kuwa toni inayohitajika ya kutia moyo katika njia nyembamba. Na roho yetu ya shukrani itakuwa sababu katika ukuzaji wa tabia ambayo Mungu anatamani ndani yetu. Maisha yetu na yawe maisha ya shukrani na sifa katika kila sehemu: kwanza kwa Baba yetu wa Mbinguni kwa utajiri wote wa neema yake; kwa Mwanae mpenzi, Mwokozi wetu, ambaye alitupenda na kujitoa kwa ajili yetu; na kwa wale wote ambao upendo na wema wao huboresha maisha yetu.

Of course our expressions of thankfulness should not be limited to our loving Father. Let us never take for granted and let pass unnoted the generosity and kindness of others; it is good to be grateful for all such loving assistance. And it is important that we let them know of our appreciation. Our quiet sincere expression to benefactors may be to them a needed tonic of encouragement along the narrow way. And our spirit of gratitude will be a factor in that character development which God desires in us. May our lives be lives of thankfulness and praise in every part: first to our Heavenly Father for all the riches of His grace; to His dear Son, our Savior, who loved us and gave Himself for us; and towards all whose love and kindness enrich our lives.

G. Rice
©CDMI