April

Silomlandu wokutshela abantu ukuthi bangenelisa ukusondela kuMdali wabo babe ngabangane bakhe. Phela uNkulunkulu ubabona beyizitha zakhe bonke abantu abangakabi lokholo emhlatshelweni kaJesu. Umphostoli uJohane wathi: “Loba ngubani obeke ithemba lakhe eNdodaneni ulokuphila okungapheliyo, kodwa loba ngubani oyilahlayo iNdodana kazukuyibona leyompilo ngokuba ulaka lukaNkulunkulu seluphezu kwakhe.” (Joh. 3:36) Kodwa okuthokozisayo yikuthi umhlatshelo kaKhristu wenza abantu benelise ukubuyisana loNkulunkulu. (2 Khor. 5:18-20) Siyaphatheka emsebenzini wokufundisa abantu iqiniso njalo siyabanceda babe lobuhlobo obuhle loJehova. Le ngenye indlela eqakathekileyo yokwenza umsebenzi wokutshumayela. w16.07 4:8-10

Into yokuqala uJesu akhuluma ngayo emthandazweni weNkosi yikuthi ibizo likaNkulunkulu lingcweliswe. UJehova ungcwele futhi lokhu kwenza izimiso kanye lemithetho yakhe kube ngcwele. Loba kunjalo uSathane wasola ilungelo likaNkulunkulu lokunika abantu imithetho okumele bayilandele. Ngokwenza njalo wanyundela uJehova futhi wangcolisa lebizo lakhe elingcwele. (Gen. 3:1-5) Kodwa uJesu wayelithanda kakhulu ibizo likaJehova. (Joh. 17:25, 26) Watshengisa ukuthi ulesifiso esikhulu sokungcwelisa ibizo likaYise. (Hubo. 40:8-10) Lokhu kwakhanya endleleni ayephila ngayo lasezintweni ayezifundisa. Wasiza abantu ukuba babone ukuthi kulungile futhi kulengqondo ukuthi uJehova abeke imithetho okumele ilandelwe. UJesu walalela uYise osezulwini kwaze kwaba sekufeni, lokhu kwatshengisa ukuthi umuntu ongelasono angenelisa ukuhlala ethembekile kuNkulunkulu njalo elalela imithetho yakhe. w17.02 2:2-4

IWundlu okukhulunywa ngalo lapha nguJesu Khristu “iMvana kaNkulunkulu esusa isono somhlaba.” (Joh. 1:29) IBhayibhili litshengisa ukuthi ulesikhundla esikhulu kakhulu. Lithi: ‘UyiNkosi yamakhosi loMbusi wababusi, onguye kuphela ongafiyo lohlala ekukhanyeni okungafinyelelekiyo, okungekho owake wambona loba ongambona.’ (1 Tim. 6:14-16) Phela akula enye inkosi esiyaziyo eyake yazimisela ukufela abantu ukuze ibakhulule esonweni ngaphandle kwakhe uJesu. Ukwazi lokhu kuyakufuqa ukuthi uhlabele ngelizwi eliphezulu kanye lezingilosi ezisezulwini usithi: “Lifanele iWundlu, elabulawayo, ukwamukela amandla lenotho lenhlakanipho lokuqina lodumo lenkazimulo kanye lokudunyiswa.” (Isam. 5:12) Ukunika uJehova loJesu udumo kuqakathekile ngoba yikho okungenza sithole ukuphila okungapheliyo.​—Hubo. 2:11, 12; Joh. 5:23. w17.03 1:3, 4

Ulwazi uJefitha ayelalo ngembali yako-Israyeli lwamsiza ukuthi akwazi okuqondileyo lokungaqondanga phambi kukaJehova. (Abahlu. 11:12-27) Izimiso zikaNkulunkulu ezaziseMthethweni kaMosi zangena zahlala engqondweni lasenhliziyweni kaJefitha. Wayekwazi ukuthi uJehova wayefuna abantu bakhe bathandane hatshi ukuthi babambelane izikhwili. UMthetho wawusithi kwakumele bancedane, baze bancede lalabo ‘ababazondayo.’ (Eks. 23:5; Levi. 19:17, 18) UJosefa waba lomusa kubafowabo lanxa ‘babemzonda.’ Kungenzakala ukuthi isibonelo sakhe sakhuthaza uJefitha ukuthi laye aphathe kuhle abafowabo. (Gen. 37:4; 45:4,5) Ukucabangisisa ngesibonelo lesi kungabe kwamnceda ukuthi aphile impilo ethokozisa uJehova. Kuliqiniso ukuthi indlela abafowabo abamphatha ngayo yayibuhlungu kodwa kayizange imenze ayekele ukukhonza uJehova lokuncedisa isizwe sakibo.​—Abahlu. 11:1-3. w16.04 1:8, 9

Kusukela kudala abantu bakaJehova bebekuqakathekisa ukungena imihlangano. Kusanda nje kusungulwa ibandla lobuKhristu abalandeli bakaJesu baqalisa ‘ukukhuthalela ukuhlangana.’ Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi lawe lamuhla ukukhuthalele ukuya emihlanganweni njengabo. Lanxa kunjalo zikhona izinto ezisiphambanisayo. Ngokwesibonelo umsebenzi, ukubambeka ngezinye izinto loba ukudinwa kungenza kube nzima ukuthi siye emihlanganweni. Ukucabangisisa ngokuqakatheka kwemihlangano kungasinceda sinqobe izinto lezi ukuze sihlale siyingena zikhathi zonke imihlangano. Kuliqiniso ukuthi abanye abafowethu labodadewethu abenelisi ukuyingena zikhathi zonke imihlangano ngenxa yokugula loba ezinye izimo eziphezu kwamandla abo. Abadala bangabasiza abazalwane abagulayo kumbe abagugileyo ukuthi labo bayizwe imihlangano mhlawumbe ngokubarekhodela kumbe ukuthi bayilalele ngefoni. w16.04 3:3

Ukulingisela izinceku zikaJehova ezithembekileyo ezahlala ziqotho kuzakunceda ukuthi uhlakaniphe njalo uthole amandla okubekezela. UShadreki, uMesheki lo-Abhediniko bala ukukhothamela isithombe esasiluphawu lwesizwe seBhabhiloni. (Dan. 3:16-18) Ukubala ngokuzimisela kwamadoda la kuncede oFakazi abanengi lamuhla ukuthi babe lesibindi, ikakhulu endabeni yokuhlonipha ifulegi emazweni abahlala kuwo. UJesu laye kazange angenele kwezombusazwe loba kwezinye nje izinhlelo ezazidala ubandlululo ebantwini. Wananzelela ukuthi isibonelo sakhe esihle sasizabasiza abalandeli bakhe, yikho wabakhuthaza wathi: “yimani isibindi.” Abafowenu labodadewenu abasebandleni okulo labo bangakuqinisa. Labanye njalo ebandleni bangakukhuthaza nxa belwazi uhlupho lwakho. Bacele ukuthi bakuthandazele kuJehova. Kodwa khumbula ukuthi nxa ufuna abanye bakuthandazele futhi bakusekele lawe benzele okufananayo.​—Mat. 7:12. w16.04 4:16, 18

OFakazi bakaJehova bayithatha ngaphi imali? Banikela lokho abakunqumileyo ezinhliziyweni zabo. (2 Khor. 9:7) EmaWolu oMbuso lasemihlanganweni yabo emikhulu akubhodi miganu yenkongozelo. Ngomnyaka ka-2015 kuphela, oFakazi bakaJehova batshumayela amahola angu-1.93 bhiliyoni njalo bafunda iBhayibhili labantu abedlula 9 miliyoni inyanga ngayinye. Konke lokhu bakwenza mahala. Okumangalisayo yikuthi kabaholiswa futhi basebenzisa ezabo izimali ukuze umsebenzi lo uphumelele. Omunye owenza umsebenzi wokuchwayisisa wakhuluma ngaboFakazi bakaJehova wathi: “Abakuqakathekisa kakhulu yikutshumayela lokufundisa. . . . Abalabafundisi, okutsho ukuthi akulamali ephumayo iholiswa abantu.” Manje kuyini okwenza basebenze gadalala kangaka betshumayela? Isiqokoqela yikuthi bayamthanda uJehova njalo bayabathanda omakhelwana babo. Ukuzinikela kwabo kugcwalisa isiphrofetho esisembhalweni walamuhla. w16.05 2:9

Umbhalo lo uyasisiza ukuthi siyekele ukuzilibazisa ngezinto ezingabasela imicabango lezinkanuko ezingcolileyo. AmaKhristu aqedisisayo ayakwazi ukuthi kubi ukuzilibazisa ngamabhuku, amafilimu kanye lemidlalo elezinto ezingamthokozisiyo uJehova. Awadingi lokubuza omunye umuntu ngoba ayabe eyazi mhlophe imicabango kaNkulunkulu. Zinengi izindlela zokwenza izinto ngendlela eqondileyo njalo zonke ziyamjabulisa uJehova. Kodwa nxa sekumele senze isinqumo esikhulu, kuqakathekile ukuthi kwezinye izikhathi siyecela usizo ebadaleni kumbe komunye umKhristu oqinileyo ekukhonzeni. (Tit. 2:3-5; Jak. 5:13-15) Lanxa kunjalo, akuqondanga ukuthi sicele abanye basenzele izinqumo. UmKhristu ngamunye kumele afunde ukwahlukanisa okuhle lokubi. (Heb. 5:14) Sonke kumele sikhumbule amazwi kaPhawuli athi: “Lowo lalowo kumele athwale umthwalo wakhe.”​—Gal. 6:5. w16.05 3:15, 16

Nxa uJehova ehlola abantu kakhangeli isimo sabo kodwa ukhangela izinhliziyo zabo, okutsho lokho abayikho ngaphakathi. (1 Sam. 16:7b) Lokhu kwakhanya ngesikhathi uNkulunkulu esungula ibandla lobuKhristu. Wakhetha abantu ababekhanya bengasilutho ngokubona kwabantu wabadonsela kuye laseNdodaneni yakhe. (Joh. 6:44) Omunye wabo wayengumFarisi okwakuthiwa nguSawuli. UJehova kazange abone uSawuli elibumba elingelancedo. (Zaga. 17:3) Wabona ukuthi wayengabumbeka abe yisitsha esihle kakhulu, ‘isiphathelo esikhethiweyo’ sokutshumayela “kwabezizwe lamakhosi abo laphambi kwabantu bako-Israyeli.” (ImiSeb. 9:15) Kanti njalo uJehova wakhetha labanye ababengabunjwa babe yizitsha zokwenza ‘umsebenzi omuhle.’ Abanye babo babeyizidakwa, amasela ikanti abanye babengaziphathanga. (Rom. 9:21; 1 Khor. 6:9-11) Ngesikhathi befunda iqiniso baba lokholo njalo bavuma ukuthi uJehova ababumbe. w16.06 1:4

UNkulunkulu usebenzisa iLizwi lakhe, ibandla lobuKhristu kanye lomsebenzi wokutshumayela ukuthi asincede sihlale silibumba elibumbekayo. Amanzi ayalithambisa ibumba, yikho ukubala iBhayibhili nsuku zonke lokunakana ngalo kuyasinceda ukuthi sibe libumba elibumbekayo ezandleni zikaJehova. UJehova wayekhangelele ukuthi wonke amakhosi ako-Israyeli abhale phansi uMthetho futhi awubale nsuku zonke. (Dute. 17:18, 19) Abaphostoli labo bakubona ukuthi ukubala iMibhalo lokucabangisisa ngayo kwakuqakathekile ukuze baphumelele enkonzweni. Babecupha kanengi eMibhalweni yesiHebheru lapho beloba futhi bakhuthaza labantu ababebatshumayeza ukuthi labo bayisebenzise iMibhalo leyo. (ImiSeb. 17:11) Lathi lamuhla siyakubona ukuqakatheka kokulibala nsuku zonke iBhayibhili kanye lokunakana ngalo. (1 Tim. 4:15) Ukwenza lokhu kuyasinceda ukuthi sihlale sithobekile futhi kwenza kube lula ukuthi uJehova asibumbe. w16.06 2:10

Ngesikhathi sempi abantu bakaNkulunkulu bakwenza kwacaca ukuthi balothando. Ngokwesibonelo, ngesikhathi seMpi Yomhlaba Yesibili kwabulawa abantu abangaba yi-55 miliyoni. Kodwa oFakazi bakaJehova bona kabazange bangenele empini le eyabulala abantu abanengi kangaka. (Mik. 4:1, 3) Lokhu kubancedile ukuthi bangabi ‘lecala ngegazi labantu bonke.’ (ImiSeb. 20:26) Iyamangalisa indlela abantu bakaNkulunkulu abathuthuka ngayo lanxa behlala emhlabeni lo obuswa nguSathane, “unkulunkulu walesisikhathi.” (2 Khor. 4:4) USathane nguye ophethe intambo kwezombusazwe ezikhona emhlabeni njalo nguye oqondisa lokukhitshwa kwezindaba ngemithombo etshiyeneyo. Kodwa kenelisi ukumisa umsebenzi wokutshumayela izindaba ezinhle. Uyakwazi ukuthi usesalelwe yisikhathi esifitshane yikho uzama ngamandla wonke ukudukisa abantu abanengi esebenzisa izindlela ezitshiyeneyo.​—Isam. 12:12. w16.06 4:3, 4

UJesu usikhumbuza ngendlela uJehova anakekela ngayo izinto azidalileyo. Kunengi esingakufunda ngokukhangela ‘amaluba eganga.’ Kungenzakala ukuthi uJesu wayekhuluma ngamaluba amanengi amahle ayetholakala kuleyondawo. Amaluba la kawazithungeli izigqoko. Lanxa kunjalo indlela abukeka ngayo itshiya umuntu ebambe owangaphansi. Ngitsho “laye uSolomoni ebunkanyankanyeni bakhe wayengaceciswanga njengawo”! UJesu waqhubeka wathi: “Nxa kuyiyo indlela uNkulunkulu agqokisa ngayo utshani beganga . . . , pho lina kazukuligqokisa ngcono yini, hawu lina bokukholwa okuncinyane?” (Mat. 6:29, 30) Asikuthandabuzi ukuthi uzakwenza lokhu! Abafundi bakaJesu bona babengelalo ukholo oluqinileyo. (Mat. 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; 17:20) Kwakumele babe lokholo oluqinileyo futhi bamthembe uJehova. Thina ke? Siyakukholwa yini ukuthi uJehova ulamandla okusinakekela lokuthi ulaso isifiso sokwenza njalo? w16.07 1:15, 16

Lanxa singahlangana labuphi ubunzima empilweni, uJehova angasipha amandla okubekezela. (1 Phet. 1:6) UNkulunkulu uzahlala ezimisele ukusinika konke esikudingayo ukuze sinqobe loba yisiphi isilingo esihlangana laso. Zinengi izibusiso esizitholayo ngenxa yezindlela ezitshiyeneyo uJehova atshengisa ngazo umusa wakhe omkhulu. Esinye sakhona yikuthethelelwa kwezono zethu. Umusa omkhulu esiwutshengiswe nguJehova wenza sithethelelwe izono ikakhulu nxa singaphenduka ngeqiniso futhi sizimisele ukulahla imikhuba emibi. (1 Joh. 1:8, 9) Kumele simbonge uJehova futhi simdumise ngenxa yesihawu sakhe. UPhawuli wabhalela amaKhristu agcotshiweyo wathi: “[UJehova] wasihlenga embusweni wobumnyama wasiletha embusweni weNdodana yakhe ayithandayo, okukuyo ukuhlengwa kwethu, ukuthethelelwa kwezono.” (Kol. 1:13, 14) Ukuthethelelwa kwezono kusinika ithuba lokuthola ezinye izibusiso ezimangalisayo. w16.07 3:7-9

Lanxa uSathane wavoxa izinto e-Edeni, uJehova wenza abantu baba lethemba ngokutsho isiphrofetho sokuqala esitholakala eBhayibhilini. UJehova wayezathuma othile ukuthi ‘azohlifiza’ uSathane njalo enze ukuthi abantu abalalelayo baphinde bathole ithemba lokuphila okungapheliyo emhlabeni, ithemba elalahlwa ngu-Adamu lo-Eva. (Joh. 3:16) Ukuhlamuka kuka-Adamu lo-Eva kwaba lempumela ebuhlungu emtshadweni wabo lakweminye imitshado eyayizakuba khona. Ngokwesibonelo u-Eva watshelwa ukuthi wayezakuzwa ubuhlungu ngesikhathi ezithwele langesikhathi ebeletha. Lokhu kwakuzakwenzakala lakwabanye abesifazana abayizizukulwane zakhe. Kanti njalo abesifazana babezaphilela ukukhanuka omkabo, babuswe ngamadoda abo futhi abanye bathwaliswe nzima njengoba sikubona emitshadweni eminengi lamuhla. (Gen. 3:16) Kodwa iBhayibhili lithi amadoda kumele aphathe kuhle omkawo njalo likhuthaza abesifazana ukuthi bazehlise kubomkabo. (Efe. 5:33) Ngakho ukubambisana kwabantu ababili abamthandayo uNkulunkulu kungenza izinto ezibangela ukungazwanani zibe nganeno emtshadweni wabo kumbe zingabi khona. w16.08 1:6, 7

Amanye amaKhristu atshade labantu abangayisibo boFakazi. IBhayibhili linika abanjalo izizatho zokuthi kungani kungamelanga behlukane labomkabo. (1 Khor. 7:12-14) Indoda engakholwayo ‘ingcwelisiwe’ ngenxa yokuthi itshade lomuntu okhonza uNkulunkulu. Ngitsho labantwababo abasesebancane “bangcwele” njalo balethuba lokuvikelwa nguNkulunkulu. Phose kuwo wonke amabandla aboFakazi bakaJehova bakhona abatshadileyo abancede omkabo ukuthi babe yizinceku zikaJehova. Umphostoli uPhetro watshela abesifazana abatshadileyo ukuthi bazehlise kubomkabo ‘ukuze kuthi uma abanye bengalikholwa ilizwi, bahugeke ngokuziphatha kwabomkabo kungekho kukhuluma, lapho bebona ukuhlanzeka lenhlonipho yokuphila kwabo.’​—1 Phet. 3:1-4. w16.08 2:14, 15

IBhayibhili litshengisa ukuthi kufanele sibe ‘lothando oluqotho kubazalwane bethu’ futhi sibenzele okuhle. (Luk. 22:24-27) Lilezibonelo ezinengi zabantu abakwenzayo lokhu. Ngokwesibonelo iNdodana kaNkulunkulu yenza okunengi ukuze incede abantu, yaze yanikela ngokuphila kwayo ukuze ibahlawulele. (Mat. 20:28) UDokhasi ‘wayehlala esenza okuhle esiza abaswelayo.’ (ImiSeb. 9:36, 39) Omunye njalo owesifazana okwakuthiwa nguMariya ‘wayesebenza kanzima’ ukuze asize abanye ebandleni. (Rom. 16:6) Pho singabasiza njani abasanda kuba ngabamemezeli ukuthi bakubone ukuqakatheka kokunceda abafowethu labodadewethu? Singabacela ukuthi basiphelekezele nxa sisiyavakatshela abagulayo loba abakhulileyo. Nxa kuvuma abazali bangahamba labantwababo nxa bevakatshela abazalwane laba. Kanti njalo abadala bebandla bangabacela ukuthi babancedise ekuphathiseni asebekhulile ngemisebenzi yangekhaya loba ukubanika ukudla. Ukwenza lokhu kuyabanceda abasakhulayo lalabo abasanda kuba ngabamemezeli ukuthi bafunde ukwenzela abanye okuhle kanye lokuthi kuqakathekile ukuthanda bonke abazalwane ebandleni.​—Rom. 12:10. w16.08 4:13, 14

Omunye udadewethu waseFrance wathi: “Ababalisi esikolo sami bayamangala nxa besizwa ukuthi kulabantwana abalokhu bekukholwa okutshiwo liBhayibhili.” Kungenzakala ukuthi lani bantwana elikhonza uJehova kumbe elisafunda ngaye liyake lilingeke ukuthi lilandele imfundiso ekholwa ngabantu abanengi yokuthi izinto zazenzakalela kazidalwanga. Manje lingenzani ukuze liqinise ukholo lwenu? Okuqakatheke kakhulu elingakwenza yikusebenzisa isipho sokucabanga uNkulunkulu alinike sona futhi lingasisebenzisa kuhle ‘sizalilinda.’ Isipho lesi sizalivikela lasekukhohlisweni zimfundiso zomhlaba lo ezingabhidliza ukholo lwenu. (Zaga. 2:10-12) Ukuze ube lokholo oluqinileyo kumele ubemazi uNkulunkulu. (1 Tim. 2:4) Ngakho julisa ingqondo yakho nxa ubala iLizwi likaNkulunkulu loba amabhuku adindwa yinhlanganiso yethu. Cabangisisa ngalokho okubalayo ukuze ‘ukubambisise.’ w16.09 4:1-3

Kungenzakala ukuthi wakhuliswa ngendlela ebuhlungu kumbe izinto azikuhambeli kuhle khathesi. Nxa kunjalo qhubeka ulwisa njalo ungakhalali. Ungenza njalo uJehova uzakubusisa. (Gen. 39:21-23) Mhlawumbe kulezilingo ohlangana lazo. Kungaba yikuhlukuluzwa, ukuzondwa, ukukhangelelwa phansi loba ukugconwa ngabantu abalomhawu wena ungenzanga lutho. Kulokuthi ukhalale, hlala ukhumbula lokho okwenziwa nguJakhobe, uRakheli loJosefa ukuze baqhubeke bethokoza ekukhonzeni uJehova. UNkulunkulu wabaqinisa futhi wababusisa ngenxa yokuthi babeqakathekisa ubuhlobo babo laye. Baqhubeka besebenza gadalala njalo besenza izinto ezazihambelana lalokho ababekuthandazela. Kuqakathekile ukuthi lathi siligagadlele ithemba elibekwe phambi kwethu ngoba ukuphela komhlaba lo sekusondele. Uzimisele yini ukusebenza gadalala ukuze uthole isibusiso sikaJehova? w16.09 2:8, 9

Into eqakathekileyo bazali yikuthi libe yisibonelo esihle endabeni yokuba lokholo. Kumele lihlale liluqinisa ukholo lwenu. Lingenza njalo abantwabenu bazalingisela isibonelo senu. Bazabona lokuthi kalimthontisi uJehova. Ngokwesibonelo enye indoda lomkayo abadabuka eBermuda bathi nxa belohlupho oluthile bayakhuleka bendawonye labantwababo bacele ukuthi uJehova abaqondise. Bakhuthaza labantwababo ukuthi labo bakhuleke bebodwa. Bathi: “Sijayele ukutshela indodakazi yethu endala ukuthi, ‘Ungazikhathazi ngezinto ezinengi, themba uJehova ngenhliziyo yonke futhi ukhuthale ekutshumayeleni ngoMbuso.’ Impumela ebakhona yenza akubone sibili ukuthi uJehova uyasincedisa. Lokhu kuluqinisile kakhulu ukholo lwakhe kuNkulunkulu laseBhayibhilini.” Bazali khumbulani ukuthi kalingeke libabambe ngamandla abantwabenu ukuthi babe lokholo. Elingakwenza yikuhlanyela lokuthelela, uNkulunkulu nguye ozakhulisa. (1 Khor. 3:6) Ngakho-ke celani ukuthi uJehova alinike umoya wakhe ongcwele futhi lisebenze gadalala libafundise abantwabenu. Lingenza njalo uJehova uzalibusisa.​—Efe. 6:4. w16.09 5:16-18

Ngemva kweminyaka emithathu bekhonza ebandleni elikhuluma olunye ulimi uSerge lomkakhe uMuriel bananzelela ukuthi indodana yabo eyayileminyaka engu-17 yayingasakuthandi njengakuqala ukwenza imisebenzi ephathelane lokukhonza. USerge uthi: “Sakubona kungcono ukuthi sibuyele ebandleni esasikulo kuqala ngoba wayengasathuthuki ekukhonzeni.” Yiziphi izizatho ezingabangela ukuthi abazali babuyele ebandleni ababekulo? Esokuqala, nxa bengabona ukuthi kubathwalisa nzima ukuqinisa ukholo lwabantwababo ngapha bebafundisa olunye ulimi. Esesibili, bengabona ukuthi abantwababo kabasakukhwabithi ukwenza imisebenzi ephathelane lokukhonza loba ukuba sebandleni elisebenzisa olunye ulimi. Izizatho ezinjengalezi yizo ezingabangela ukuthi abazali bakhethe ukubuyela ebandleni elisebenzisa ulimi abantwababo abaluzwisisa kuhle. Bangakhetha ukubuyela ebandleni elikhuluma olunye ulimi nxa sebebona ukuthi abantwababo sebelibambisisile iqiniso.​—Dute. 6:5-7. w16.10 2:14, 15

Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi omakhelwane bakaNowa babembuza ukuthi wakhelani isizemazema sento enkulu kangaka. Wazithulela yini kumbe wabatshela ukuthi batshiyane laye? Hatshi. Ukuba lokholo kwamenza waba lesibindi sokubatshumayeza, ebalimukisa ngesahlulelo sikaNkulunkulu esasisondela. Kungenzakala ukuthi wayephindaphinda amazwi uJehova ayemtshele wona, athi: “Ngizabatshabalalisa bonke abantu, ngoba umhlaba ugcwele ubudlwangudlwangu ngenxa yabo . . . Ngizathumela uzamcolo wamanzi emhlabeni ukubhubhisa konke okuphilayo ngaphansi kwezulu, zonke izidalwa eziphefumulayo. Yonke into emhlabeni izabhubha.” Kanti njalo kungenzakala ukuthi uNowa wayebatshela lalokho okwakumele bakwenze ukuze basinde ngoba uNkulunkulu wayethe: “Uzangena emkhunjini.” Ngalokho uNowa waphinda watshengisa ukuthi ulokholo ngokuba ‘ngumtshumayeli wokulunga.’​—Gen. 6:13, 17, 18; 2 Phet. 2:5. w16.10 4:7

Abazali abangamaKhristu batshengisa ukuthi baqotho kuJehova ngokuqeqetsha abantwababo belandela okutshiwo liLizwi lakhe. Akumelanga baphongulandela konke okutshiwo ngamasiko abo mayelana lokukhulisa abantwana. Umoya okhona emhlabeni lo akumelanga utholakale emizini yamaKhristu. (Efe. 2:2) Ubaba ongumKhristu akufanelanga alandele okwenziwa elizweni lakibo ukuthi omama yibo abafundisa abantwana. IBhayibhili kaligudli guma endabeni le. Lithi: “Boyise, . . . bondleni [abantwabenu] ngokufundisa langokulaya kweNkosi [uJehova].” (Efe. 6:4) Obaba labomama abathanda uNkulunkulu bayafisa ukuthi abantwababo babe njengoSamuyeli owaqhubeka ehamba loJehova ekukhuleni kwakhe. (1 Sam. 3:19) Pho kuqondile yini ukuthi umuntu akhethe afuna ukukwenza ngemuli yakhe langempilo yakhe engazange ahlole ukuthi iBhayibhili lithini? Hatshi. Phela siyamdinga uBaba wethu osezulwini ukuthi asincedise ngoba thina kasenelisi ukuqondisa izinyathelo zethu. w16.11 3:14, 15

Izinto ezidaliweyo zitshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uhlelekile okwamagama. IBhayibhili lithi: “Ngokuhlakanipha uJehova wabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, ngokuqedisisa wamisa izulu endaweni yalo.” (Zaga. 3:19) Kodwa-ke thina esikwaziyo “kungamaphethelo nje ezindlela zakhe; kuyilizwi lokunyenyeza nje elizwakalayo ngaye.” (Jobe. 26:14, The Holy Bible in Ndebele) Lanxa kunjalo, okuncane esikwaziyo ngamaplanethi, izinkanyezi lemithala kwenza sibabaze indlela izinto lezi ezihleleke ngayo. Ngokwesibonelo imithala igcwele izinkanyezi ezingamamiliyoni futhi zonke zihamba ngendlela ehlelekileyo. Kanti njalo lamaplanethi ahamba ezungeze ilanga, kodwa kawathuzani, ngayinye ihamba endleleni yayo. Eqinisweni ubufakazi lobu busitshiya sibambe owangaphansi! Benza sibone lokuthi uJehova “owathi ngokuzwisisa kwakhe wenza amazulu” ukufanele ukudunyiswa lokukhonzwa.​—Hubo. 136:1, 5-9. w16.11 2:3

UMalaki 3:1-3 ukhuluma ngesikhathi sokuhlanjululwa ‘kwabaLevi’ okwakuzakwenzakala kusukela ngo-1914 kusiya ekuqaliseni kuka-1919. Ngalesosikhathi uJehova uNkulunkulu loJesu Khristu ‘oyisigijimi sesivumelwano’ babuya ukuzohlola “abaLevi” okutsho amaKhristu agcotshiweyo. Ngemva kokuba uJehova eseqondise abantu bakhe futhi wabahlambulula, basebekulungele ukwamukela omunye umsebenzi omutsha. Ngo-1919 kwabekwa ‘inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo’ ukuthi inike zonke izisebenzi zalapha ekhaya ukudla ngesikhathi esifaneleyo. (Mat. 24:45) Ngalowomnyaka abantu bakaNkulunkulu bahle baphuma baphela eBhabhiloni Enkulu. Kusukela ngalesosikhathi uJehova ubelokhu ebancedisa ukuthi bazwisise intando yakhe futhi lokhu kwenze ukuthi basondele kuye. Siyambonga uJehova ngesibusiso lesi! w16.11 5:14

Siyamthanda uJehova ngoba “yena wasithanda kuqala.” (1 Joh. 4:19) Enye indlela atshengisa ngayo ukuthi uyabathanda abantu bakhe abaqotho yikubabusisa. Nxa singaqhubeka simthanda uNkulunkulu ukholo lwethu luzaqina futhi kasisoze sithandabuze ukuthi uyenelisa ukusinika umvuzo. (Heb. 11:6) UJehova uyakuqakathekisa ukunika abantu bakhe umvuzo. Lokhu kusitshengisa indlela ayiyo lendlela enza ngayo izinto. Ukholo lwethu luyabe lusilela nxa sithandabuza ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyabanika umvuzo bonke abamdinga ngobuqotho. Phela “ukukholwa yikuba leqiniso lalokhu esikulindeleyo.” (Heb. 11:1) Yikho ukukholwa yikuqiniseka ukuthi uNkulunkulu ngeke ehluleke ukubanika umvuzo bonke abaqotho kuye. Amazwi ombhalo walamuhla asitshengisa ukuthi uJehova ufuna senze konke okusemandleni ukuze sithole isibusiso sakhe. Nxa singalandela lokho akutshoyo siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyamthanda lokuthi siyamthemba. w16.12 4:1-3

Lanxa umKhristu eseleminyaka eminengi ekhonza uNkulunkulu, angaqalisa ukugxilisa ingqondo yakhe kulokho okufiswa yimvelo yesono. Kodwa isixwayiso lesi kasitsho ukuthi sekukubi ukuthi umKhristu acabange ngokudla, umsebenzi, ukuzilibazisa kumbe izindaba zothando ngoba lezi yizinto ezijayelekileyo empilweni. UJesu laye wayekujabulela ukudla njalo ekwabela labanye futhi wayesiba lesikhathi sokuzilibazisa. Kanti njalo uPhawuli wabhala ukuthi ezemacansini ziqakathekile ebantwini abatshadileyo. Ibala lesiGrikhi alisebenzisayo elisembhalweni walamuhla litsho “ukufaka ingqondo kumbe inhliziyo entweni ethile lokucabangisisa ngayo kanenginengi.” Labo abaphila ngemvelo yesono babuswa yizifiso zemizimba yabo elesono. Esinye isifundiswa sakhuluma ngebala elasetshenziswa kuRoma 8:5 sathi: “Bagxilisa izingqondo zabo ezintweni zemvelo yesono okutsho ukuthi bayazithakazelela, bahlala bekhuluma ngazo njalonje futhi baqakathekisa zona ukwedlula loba yini.” w16.12 2:5, 9, 10

Ukuvumela izifiso ezingalunganga lakho kungenza umuntu ehluleke ukuzithoba. Ngokwesibonelo ukufuna ukubukwa ngabantu, umhawu kanye lokuba lentukuthelo kubangele ukuthi abantu abanengi baqalise ukuziphakamisa loba ukuzigqaja. Lokhu yikho kanye okwenziwa ngu-Abhsalomu, u-Uziya kanye loNebhukhadinezari. Amadoda la avumela ukubuswa ‘yizenzo zemvelo yesono’ njalo uJehova wawabhubhisa ngenxa yokuziphakamisa kwawo. (2 Sam. 15:1-6; 18:9-17; 2 ImiLan. 26:16-21; Dan. 5:18-21) Zikhona ezinye izizatho ezingabangela ukuthi umuntu ehluleke ukuzithoba. Cabanga ngo-Abhimeleki loPhetro. (Gen. 20:2-7; Mat. 26:31-35) Kambe izifiso ezingalunganga yizo ezabangela ukuthi amadoda la ehluleke ukuzithoba yini? Kwabangelwa yikungazi yini kumbe benza nje bengacabanganga? Kasingeke sitsho ukuthi babefuqwa yini ngoba thina kasenelisi ukubona okusenhliziyweni yomuntu. Ngakho kungaba kuhle ukuthi singabahluleli. w17.01 3:9, 10

Abafowethu labodadewethu lamuhla benza njengomfelokazi ongumyanga, baqakathekisa uMbuso ukwedlula zonke izinto belethemba lokuthi uJehova uzabanika abakuswelayo. (Mat. 6:33) Lokhu yikho okwenziwa ngumfowethu uMalcom. Okweminyaka eminengi yena lomkakhe bekhonza uJehova babesiba lezikhathi ezimnandi lezibuhlungu. Wathi: “Impilo inzima njalo kwezinye izikhathi ngeke ukwazi ukuthi ikusasa liphetheni. Kodwa uJehova uyababusisa labo abamthembayo.” Waphinda wathi: “Khuleka kuJehova ucele ukuthi akunike amandla ukuze wenelise ukuqhubeka usenza okunengi enkonzweni. Qina ngalokho owenelisa ukukwenza, ungazikhathazi ngezinto eziphezu kwamandla akho.” Sikhangelele ukuthi singahlangana lobunzima obukhulu njengoba umumo lo wezinto ususiya komlindi uyacina. (2 Tim. 3:1, 13) Kuqakathekile ukuthi sibophe ziqine, singavumi izinhlupho lezi zisiphambanise ekukhonzeni. Kumele simthembe uJehova njalo senze okusemandleni ethu ukuze silwisane lalezonhlupho. w17.01 1:17-19

UDavida kwakumhlupha ukuthi uJehova wayengelayo “indlu” loba ithempeli elibiza yena. Yikho wayefuna ukumakhela indlu. Kodwa uJehova wathuma uNathani ukuba ayemtshela amazwi asembhalweni walamuhla. UJehova waveza ukuthi uSolomoni nguye owayezakwakha ithempeli wasethembisa lokuthi uzaqhubeka embusisa uDavida. Wenzani uDavida esizwa lokhu? (1 ImiLan. 17:1-4, 8, 11, 12; 29:1) UDavida esezwe ukuthi uSolomoni nguye owayezakwakha ithempeli, kazange abe lomhawu. Akuzange kumkhathaze ukuthi indodana yakhe yiyo eyayizathola lonke udumo lokwakha lelothempeli. Kungenzakala ukuthi wadana sibili esizwa umbiko ovela kuJehova. Kodwa kazange akhalale, wayincedisa ngenhliziyo yonke indodana yakhe. Waqoqa amaqembu abantu ababezakwenza imisebenzi etshiyeneyo, wabuthelela insimbi, ithusi, igolide kanye lezigodo zomsedari. Ngemva kwalokho wakhuthaza uSolomoni wathi: “Ndodana yami, uJehova kabe lawe ukuze uphumelele ukwakha indlu kaJehova.”​—1 ImiLan. 22:11, 14-16. w17.01 5:6, 7

Ngitsho lanxa sihlukuluzwa kufanele sizimisele ukuqhubeka silalela imithetho kaNkulunkulu kanye lezimiso zakhe ezilungileyo. Nxa singenza njalo sizanceda labanye ukuthi badumise ibizo likaJehova. (Mat. 5:14-16) Kanti njalo bazabona lokuthi uJehova ufanele ukusinika imithetho lokuthi lokho okwatshiwo nguSathane ngamanga aluhlaza. Singenza amaphutha kumele siphenduke ngeqiniso njalo siyilahlele khatshana imikhuba engalunganga engabangela ukuthi abantu bagcone uJehova. UJehova uyabathethelela bonke abalokholo emhlatshelweni kaKhristu. Uyabamukela ngazo zombili nxa bezinikela kuye ukuze babe yizikhonzi zakhe. Abagcotshiweyo ubabiza ngokuthi ngamadodana akhe njalo ‘abezinye izimvu’ ubanika isibusiso sokuba ngabangane bakhe. (Joh. 10:16; Rom. 5:1, 2; Jak. 2:21-25) Yikho kungelani lokuthi silaliphi ithemba, inhlawulo isivulele ithuba lokuba lobuhlobo obuhle loNkulunkulu lelokungcwelisa ibizo lakhe. w17.02 2:5, 6