Imbuki ya lusumo lunulo yinginile ku likujo lya bhikaji bha Afrika. Uloyi luhoyelile munhu uyo adadilile makoye ayo gayikenagulaga kaya yingi. Amakoye geneyo nose gagashiga na ha kaya yakwe kunguno ya guleka gugadilila aho galikubhangi. Hunagwene abhanhu bhaganhugula bho guyomba giki, “umoto uyo gobhacha nzenganwa gudulile gubhacha numba yingi.”

Ulusumo lunulo lugalenganijiyagwa kuli munhu uyo adadililaga makoye ga bhiye bho gwiganika giki, gadadulile ugunpandika uweyi, umuwikaji bhokwe bhunubho. Umunhu ng’wunuyo, agagabhonaga amakoye gabhiye olema ugwambilija josejose kunguno ya bhujidalonja bhokwe bhunubho, umukikalile kakwe. Aha ngelelo yabho, amakoye genayo gagashikaga nu kubhanhu bha ha kaya yakwe gayubhakoya mpaga oduma uguginja, kunguno ya bhujidalonja bhokwe bhunubho umuwikaji bhokwe.

Umunhu ng’wunuyo, agikolaga nuyo agaleka gugadilila makoye gabhiye mpaga nose kuyipandika ni ikaya yakwe, kunguno nuweyi agalemaga ugugadilila amakoye gabhiye mpaga nose gabhapandika na kubhakoya abhanhu bha ha kaya yakwe yiniyo, umuwikaji bhokwe bhunubho. Hunagwene abhanhu bhaganhugulaga bho guyomba giki, “umoto uyo gobhacha nzenganwa gudulile gubhacha numba yingi.”

Ulusumo lunulo lolanga bhanhu higulya ya gubhiza na witegeleja bho gudilila gwiyambilija gugamala wangu amakoye gabhichabho haho gatali ugukula, kugiki bhadule gwikala bho mholele umukaya jabho jinijo.

Wagalatia 6:2.

1Wakorintho 12:26.

Mithali 26:20.

Yakobo 3:5-6.

Mathayo 5:9.

SWAHILI: MOTO ULIOWASHA JIRANI HUWEZA KUWASHA NYUMBA NYINGINE.

Methali hiyo inatokana na hekima ya jadi za Kiafrika. Inazungumzia mtu aliyepuuza hatari, uovu, migogoro, au matatizo yaliyoathiri familia nyingine. Matatizo hayo yaliifikia pia familia yake kwa urahisi kwa sababu ya kuyapuuza. Kama vile moto unavyohama haraka kutoka nyumba moja hadi nyingine, matatizo katika jamii moja yanaweza kuathiri jamii nzima. Ndiyo maana watu walimwambia mtu huyo kwamba, “moto uliowasha nyumba ya jirani unaweza kuwasha nyumba nyingine.”

Methali hii hulinganishwa kwa mtu yule ambaye hupuuza mateso, migogoro, au makosa yanayowapata wengine, akifikiri kwamba hayatamwathiri kamwe. Mtu huyo huona mgawanyiko, chuki, dhambi, ufisadi, au vurugu zikiongezeka karibu naye lakini hukataa kutenda lolote, kusaidia, kuomba, au kuwaonya wengine kwa sababu ya kutojali kwake. Mwishowe, shida hiyo hiyo iliwafikia wanafamilia wake kiasi cha kushindwa kuitatua katika maisha yake.

Mtu huyo hufanana na yule aliyepuuza matatizo ya wengine hadi kufikia hatua ya kuyaruhusu yawafikie watu wa familia yake, kwa sababu naye pia hupuuza mgawanyiko, mateso, na matatizo ambayo yanawaathiri wengine hadi baadaye, uharibifu huo huo huingia katika familia yake mwenyewe. Ndiyo maana watu humuonya kwa kusema kwamba, “moto uliowasha nyumba ya jirani unaweza kuwasha nyumba nyingine.”

Methali hiyo huwapa watu mawazo kuhusu: kujaliana katika jamii kwa kutatua matatizo kabla hayajaenea, kuwasaidia majirani wakati wa shida, kuelewa kwamba mateso ya mtu mmoja yanaweza kuathiri kila mtu.

Pia inawakumbusha watu kuhusu wajibu wao wa kukuza amani, umoja, na uwajibikaji miongoni mwao.

Wagalatia 6:2. “Chukulianeni mizigo, na kwa njia hii mtatimiza sheria ya Kristo.” Mstari huu unawafundisha Wakristo kusaidiana kwa sababu matatizo yanayomhusu mwamini mmoja yanaweza pia kuathiri jamii nzima.

1Wakorintho 12:26. “Kiungo kimoja kikiteseka, vyote huumia pamoja nacho.” Mtume Paulo anaelezea kwamba waumini ni kama mwili mmoja. Maumivu au shida katika sehemu moja huathiri pia mtu mwingine.

Mithali 26:20. “Pasipo kuni moto huzimika; bila umbea ugomvi hupungua.” Mstari huu unafundisha kwamba migogoro midogo inaweza kukua kama moto ikiwa watu wataendelea kueneza chuki na mgawanyiko.

Yakobo 3:5-6. “Ulimi pia ni moto…” Yakobo analinganisha maneno ya uharibifu na moto ambao unaweza kuharibu maisha ya watu wengi ikiwa hautadhibitiwa.

Mathayo 5:9. “Heri wapatanishi; maana hao wataitwa wana wa Mungu.” Yesu anawafundisha waumini kuacha migogoro na kuleta amani kabla uharibifu haujaenea zaidi.

ENGLISH: A FIRE THAT STARTED IN A NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE CAN SET FIRE TO ANOTHER HOUSE.

This proverb comes from traditional African wisdom. It talks about a person who ignored danger, evil, conflict, or problems which affected another family. Those problems easily reached his family because of ignoring them. Just as fire moves quickly from one house to another, trouble in one community can affect the whole society. That is why people told him, “a fire that started in a neighbor’s house can set fire to another house.”

This proverb is compared to a person who ignores suffering, conflict, or wrongdoing happening to others, thinking that it will never affect him.  This person sees division, hatred, sin, corruption, or violence growing around him but refuses to act, help, pray, or warn others because of his less concern. In the end, the same trouble reached his family members to point of failing to solve it in his life.

This person resembles that person who ignored problems of others to the point of letting them reach his family, because of he ignores division, suffering, and other problems which affect others until later, the same destruction enters his own family. That is why people warn his by saying, “a fire that started in a neighbor’s house can set fire to another house.”

This proverb imparts in people ideas about: caring for one another in communities by solving problems before they spread, helping neighbors during times of trouble, understanding that the suffering of one person can affect everyone.

It also reminds people about their duty of promoting peace, unity, and responsibility among people.

Galatians 6:2. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” This verse teaches Christians to help one another because problems affecting one believer can also affect the whole community.

1Corinthians 12:26. “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it.” The Apostle Paul explains that believers are like one body. Pain or trouble in one part affects everyone else.

Proverbs 26:20. “Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.” This verse teaches that small conflicts can grow like fire if people continue spreading hatred and division.

James 3:5-6. “The tongue also is a fire…” James compares destructive words to fire that can destroy many lives if not controlled.

Matthew 5:9. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” Jesus teaches believers to stop conflict and bring peace before destruction spreads further.