A Happy Life Even if You Walk a Narrow Path 1
Bible passage: Matthew 5:13-16
“13. "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. "
Christianity is said to be a religion of paradox. The meaning of paradox is that although something appears contradictory and absurd on the surface, it contains deep truth. In this respect, the Bible is also a book of paradoxes. Many paradoxes are expressed in the Bible.
For example, Matthew 7:13-14 can also be considered a paradox. It says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” In the world, a narrow path is dangerous and can result in loss of life, but spiritually, if you follow a narrow path, you can gain life. Therefore, unlike the people of the world, we can become believers who live a happy life while following a narrow path.
A paradox is also expressed in today’s scripture. For salt to taste salty, it must melt away, and for a lamp to shine, it must burn its own wick. However, paradoxically, when we melt away and burn our own bodies, we can prevent the corruption of the world, brighten the world, and bring glory to God. A true religious life is to let go of the values accepted in the world and instead live armed with the new values presented by God. True prayer is not constantly pestering God for blessings, but rather praying, “God, I want to live with new values. Please help me live the new way of life that God wants.” This is how you ought to ask for it.
Maisha ya Furaha Hata Unapotembea Njia Nyembamba 1
Andiko la Biblia: Mathayo 5:13–16
“13. Ninyi ni chumvi ya dunia; lakini chumvi ikiwa imeharibika ladha yake, itatiwa nini hata ikolee? Haifai tena kabisa, ila kutupwa nje na kukanyagwa na watu. 14. Ninyi ni nuru ya ulimwengu. Mji hauwezi kusitirika ukiwa juu ya mlima. 15. Wala watu hawawashi taa na kuiweka chini ya pishi, bali juu ya kiango; nayo yawaangaza wote waliomo nyumbani. 16. Vivyo hivyo nuru yenu na iangaze mbele ya watu, wapate kuyaona matendo yenu mema, wamtukuze Baba yenu aliye mbinguni.”
Ukristo unasemekana kuwa dini ya mafumbo yanayoonekana kupingana. Maana yake ni kwamba jambo linaweza kuonekana kuwa la kupingana na lisilo na maana kwa nje, lakini likawa na ukweli wa kina ndani yake. Kwa maana hiyo, Biblia pia ina mafumbo mengi ya aina hii.
Mathayo 7:13–14 ni mfano. Yesu alisema: “Ingieni kwa kupitia mlango ulio mwembamba; maana mlango ni mpana, na njia ni pana iendayo upotevuni, nao ni wengi waingiao kwa mlango huo. Bali mlango ni mwembamba, nayo njia imesonga iendayo uzimani, nao waionao ni wachache.” Duniani, njia nyembamba huonekana kuwa hatari na inaweza kusababisha kupoteza maisha; lakini kiroho, ukifuata njia nyembamba unaweza kuupata uzima. Kwa hiyo tunaweza kuwa waumini wanaoishi maisha ya furaha huku wakifuata njia hiyo, tofauti na watu wa ulimwengu.
Andiko la leo pia linaonyesha fumbo hili. Ili chumvi ionje chumvi, lazima iyeyuke; ili taa itoe nuru, utambi wake lazima uungue. Hata hivyo, tunapojitoa na kuuteketeza mwili wetu kwa ajili ya Mungu, tunaweza kuzuia uharibifu wa ulimwengu, kuuangazia ulimwengu na kumletea Mungu utukufu. Maisha ya kweli ya imani ni kuachana na maadili yanayokubaliwa na ulimwengu na kuishi kwa kufuata maadili mapya ambayo Mungu ametufundisha. Maombi ya kweli si kumsihi Mungu bila kukoma atubariki; ni kuomba, “Mungu, nataka kuishi kwa maadili mapya. Tafadhali nisaidie kuishi maisha mapya unayotaka.” Hivyo ndivyo tunavyopaswa kuomba.
