November

Ngokutsho kukaSathane, okwenza abantu bakhonze uJehova yikuthi bafuna ukuthola okuthile kuye, kayisikho ukuthi bayamthanda. (Jobe. 2:4, 5) USathane sewantshintsha yini? Hatshi. Phela lapho exotshwa ezulwini wayelokhu ebizwa ngokuthi ‘ngummangaleli wabazalwane bethu, obamangalelayo phambi kukaNkulunkulu wethu emini lebusuku.’ (Isam. 12:10) Lakhathesi ulokhu esithi akulamuntu oqotho kuNkulunkulu. Akufunayo yikusibona sisehlulwa yizinhlupho besesiyekela ukusekela ubukhosi bukaNkulunkulu. Ngakho nxa usuphakathi kobunzima cabanga ngamaqembu la amabili akukhangeleyo. Kwelinye icele kuloSathane lamadimoni akhe bakukhangele ukuthi uzakwenzani, bathi kawusoze ubekezele uzakhalala kuphela. Kwelinye njalo icele kuloJehova leNkosi yethu uJesu Khristu labagcotshiweyo asebevusiwe kanye lezingilosi ezinengi kakhulu. Bayakuqakezela bethokoza ngenxa yokuthi uyabe ubekezela futhi ubusekela ubukhosi bukaJehova. Yikho-ke zimisele ukulalela isicelo esivela kuJehova esisembhalweni walamuhla. w16.04 2:8, 9

Nxa bengakuncedisa ekulungiseni indaba, uyabe “usumzuzile umfowenu.” Indaba ungayibikela abadala kuphela nxa usuzame kanengi ukukhuluma lomfowenu kodwa kwehlula. Izikhathi ezinengi akwandanga ukuthi abazalwane baxabane baze basebenzise yonke imicijo ekuMathewu 18:15-17. Lokhu kuhle kakhulu ngoba kutshengisa ukuthi bayazilungisa masinyane izindaba. Kabadonselani kuze kucine kubangela ukuthi owonileyo asuswe ebandleni. Okujayelekileyo yikuthi ophambanisileyo uhle alibone iphutha lakhe abeselungisisa. Lalowo owonelweyo angakubona ukuthi akusela sizatho sokutshona emthonisisa njalo angakhetha ukuxola indaba iphele. UJesu lapha wayesixwayisa ukuthi singaphongugijimela ukuya ebadaleni. Indaba kumele ihanjiswe ebadaleni kuphela nxa umuntu esethethe inyathelo lokuqala lelesibili futhi nxa kulobufakazi obusegcekeni bokuthi icala lenzakele sibili. w16.05 1:15, 16

Njengoba siyizakhamizi zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu kumele sihlale siqotho kuwo. Phela nxa singazigaxa ezindabeni zombusazwe kungaba nzima ukuthi sitshele abantu ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu yiwo kuphela ozabalamulela ngokuqeda zonke izinhlupho. Izinkolo zamanga zingene zacwila ezindabeni zombusazwe futhi lokhu kwenza abantu abazingenayo bangazwanani. Kodwa thina simanyene labazalwane bethu abasemhlabeni wonke ngenxa yokuthi kasiphatheki ezindabeni lezi. (1 Phet. 2:17) Kodwa kumele silindele ukuthi izinto zingantshintsha loba nini njengoba ukuphela sekuseduze kangaka. Umhlaba lo ugcwele abantu “abangafuni ukwenza isivumelwano” kanye “labalenkani,” ngakho kuzaqhubeka kusiba loqhekeko ebantwini. (2 Tim. 3:3, 4, NW) Kwamanye amazwe ukungasekeli ezombusazwe sekwenze abafowethu bathwala amagabha avuzayo ngenxa yeziphithiphithi esezikhona kwezombusazwe. Lokhu kuveza ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuthi sizimisele khathesi ukungasekeli ezombusazwe ngoba nxa singalinda size sibe phakathi kobunzima singacina sisehluleka ukuhlala siqotho. w16.04 4:3, 4

Abanye bacabanga ukuthi bangazenzela loba yini abayifunayo. Kodwa nxa sifuna ukwenza izinqumo ezithokozisa uJehova, kumele sikhangele okutshiwo yimithetho lezimiso eziseLizwini lakhe besesisebenzisa esiyabe sikutholile. Ngokwesibonelo, nxa sifuna ukuhlala singabangane bakaNkulunkulu kumele silalele umthetho wakhe ophathelane legazi. (Gen. 9:4; ImiSeb. 15:28, 29) Okunye okuzasinceda ukuthi senze izinqumo ezithokozisa uJehova yikuthandaza. Ezinye izinqumo esizenzayo zingaxegisa ukholo lwethu kumbe ziluqinise. Nxa singakhetha kuhle, ubudlelwano bethu loJehova buzahlala bubuhle. Kodwa nxa singakhetha kubi ubungane bethu laye bungaphela. Kanti njalo esikukhethayo kungabaphatha kubi abanye, kuxegise ukholo lwabo kumbe kwenze ukuthi kube lokungazwanani ebandleni. Siyabona-ke ukuthi indlela esikhetha ngayo iqakathekile.​—Rom. 14:19. w16.05 3:4, 5

UJehova uyayibona yonke imizamo yethu ‘yokuwasebenzisa ngokupheleleyo amathuba wonke [esiwatholayo]’ ukuze sitaditshe njalo sibale iBhayibhili. (Efe. 5:15, 16) Iqiniso elikhona yikuthi ngeke sisithole isikhathi sokubala konke esikuphiwayo. Kodwa kumele sinanzelele ingozi ecatshileyo engabakhona. Ngozi bani? Ingozi ngeyokuthi singalahlekelwa lulwazi oluvela kuJehova ngenxa yokuthi siyabe sicabanga ukuthi esikubalayo akusebenzi kithi. Ngokwesibonelo ake sithi kulengxenye yeBhayibhili ekhanya angathi kayisebenzi kuwe loba ibhuku elibhalelwe abantu abathile. Ujayele ukuthi halahala udlule yini kumbe uhle ukubeke eceleni ungasakubali? Nxa usenza njalo, uyabe uzincitsha ulwazi olungakunceda. Kasingakhohlwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu unguMthombo wemfundo yonke esiyitholayo eqinisa ukholo lwethu. w16.05 5:5, 6

UJehova usebenzisa ibandla kanye labadala ukuze abumbe ngamunye wethu. Ngokwesibonelo nxa abadala bangananzelela ukuthi sesidonsa nzima ezindabeni zokukhonza, bayazama ukusisiza. Kodwa kabasebenzisi ukuhlakanipha kwabo. Bayathandaza kuNkulunkulu becela ukuqedisisa lokuhlakanipha. Ngemva kwalokho bayachwayisisa eLizwini likaNkulunkulu lasemabhukwini ethu ukuze babone ukuthi bangasisiza njani. Ukwenza njalo kuyabanceda abadala ukuthi basinike iseluleko esiqondileyo. Ukuzwisisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu usibumba njani kungasisiza ukuthi sibaphathe kuhle abanye esikhonza labo lokuthi singahluleli abantu ekutshumayeleni, okugoqela lalabo esibafundisa iBhayibhili. UNkulunkulu kababambi ngamandla abantu ukuthi bantshintshe, kodwa uyabatshengisa izimiso zakhe ezilungileyo ukuze bakhethe ukuthi bayafuna yini ukuphila ngazo loba hatshi. w16.06 1:13, 14

Umphostoli uJohane waxwayisa ukuthi nxa umuntu ethanda izinto ezisemhlabeni, okutsho “izinkanuko zabantu abalezono​—ukulangazela kwamehlo abo kanye lokuzigqaja ngezimpahla,” “uthando lukaBaba kalukho kuye.” (1 Joh. 2:15, 16) Yikho kungaba kuhle ukuthi sihlale sizihlola ukuze sibone ukuthi singabe sesithanda umhlaba yini. Phela kungaba lula ukuthi siqalise ukuhugwa ngabantu bomhlaba lo, indlela abagqoka ngayo, labazilungisa ngayo kanye lezindlela abazilibazisa ngazo. Kanti njalo ukuthanda umhlaba kungasenza siqalise ‘ukuzifunela izinto ezinkulu,’ ezinjengokugijimisana lemfundo ephezulu. Sekuseduze kakhulu ukuthi singene emhlabeni omutsha. Ngakho kuqakathekile ukuthi sihlale siwakhumbula amazwi kaMosi akuDutheronomi 6:4. Nxa sikuzwisisa futhi sikukholwa ngeqiniso ukuthi “uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu nguJehova munye,” sizazimisela ukumkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke langendlela ayifunayo.​—Heb. 12:28, 29. w16.06 3:14

Zilutshwana izinto abantu abazidingayo ukuze baphile, kodwa izinto abazifunayo zona ngeke sizibale siziqede. Kukhanya abanengi kabawuboni umahluko okhona phakathi kwezinto abazidingayo empilweni lezinto abazifunayo. Vele ukhona yini umahluko? Ye ukhona sibili. Phela izinto “esizidingayo” yilezo esingeke siphile singelazo, njengokudla, izigqoko lendawo yokuhlala. Izinto “esizifunayo” yilezo esingaphila singelazo futhi ezingadingakaliyo ekuphileni kwansuku zonke. Izinto ezifunwa ngabantu ziyatshiyana kusiya ngokuthi bahlala ngaphi. Emazweni asathuthuka abantu bengabe befuna ukuba lemali ukuze bathenge omakhalekhukhwini, okokuhambisa loba indawo yokuhlala ebiza bona. Ikanti emazweni anothileyo umuntu angabe efisa ukuthenga uvava lwemota, izigqoko ezidulayo loba inkalakatha yendlu. Kungelani lokuthi sihlala ngaphi loba ukuthi silemali enganani, kumele sinanzelele singabanjwa ngumjibila wokufuna ukubuthelela izinto ezinengi esingaphila singelazo.​—Heb. 13:5. w16.07 1:1-3

Abantu abanengi lamuhla abalandaba loNkulunkulu kodwa babambekile ngemisebenzi yabo yansuku zonke. (Mat. 5:3) Bagijimisana lezinto ezibathatha umoya ezigcwele emhlabeni lo—“izinkanuko zabantu abalezono lokulangazela kwamehlo abo.” (1 Joh. 2:16) Thina kasifanani labantu bomhlaba lo ngoba siqondiswa ngumoya kaNkulunkulu njalo yiwo awusebenzisayo ukuze asicacisele konke okuzakwenzakala esikhathini esizayo. (1 Khor. 2:12) Kumele siqaphele ngoba kayisizo zinto ezimangalisayo ezingenza umuntu awozele ekukhonzeni. Yizinto ezijayelekileyo nje empilweni, ikakhulu nxa engaqakathekisa zona ukwedlula ukukhonza uJehova. (Luk. 21:34, 35) Ngokwesibonelo abanye bangasichothoza ngokuhlala silindile kodwa lokho akumelanga kusenze siphele amandla. (2 Phet. 3:3-7) Kumele sihlale siyingena imihlangano ukuze siqhubeke siqondiswa ngumoya kaNkulunkulu. w16.07 2:13, 14

Abantu abanengi bayakhuleka ukuze bazwe ngcono kodwa kabakukholwa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyayilalela imithandazo yabo. Kumele bafundiswe ukuthi uJehova ‘uyayizwa imithandazo.’ UJesu watshela abafundi bakhe wathi: ‘Lingacela noma yini ngebizo lami, ngizayenza.’ (Joh. 14:14) Kusegcekeni ukuthi nxa kuthiwa “noma yini” kutshiwo izinto ezihambelana lentando kaJehova. UJohane wathi: “Silesiqiniselo lesi ekusondeleni kuNkulunkulu: ukuthi uma sicela ulutho ngokwentando yakhe, uyasizwa.” (1 Joh. 5:14) Ngakho kuhle ukuthi sifundise abantu ukuthi umthandazo kawusindlela yokuthoba ingqondo nxa umuntu ekhathazekile kodwa yindlela yokusondela “esihlalweni sobukhosi somusa” sikaJehova. (Heb. 4:16) Nxa singabafundisa ukuthi bathandaze ngendlela eqondileyo, bathandaze kuJehova kuphela njalo bathandazele izinto eziyizo, siyabe sibasiza ukuthi basondele kuJehova. Ukwenza njalo kuzabasiza ukuthi bathole induduzo ngesikhathi behlulukelwe.​—Hubo. 4:1; 145:18. w16.07 4:11, 12

Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi sonke esiyizinceku zikaJehova siyavumelana laye umhubi. Kodwa kungenzakala ukuthi ukugula loba ukukhula sekubangela ukuthi sehluleke ukwenza okunengi ekutshumayeleni. Kumele wenzeni nxa ususesimeni esinjalo? Kungelani lokuthi utshumayeza abakunakekelayo kumbe abongikazi, hlala ukhumbula ukuthi konke okwenzayo ukuze utshumayele yinkonzo engcwele edumisa uNkulunkulu wethu omuhle. Nxa ubotshelwe ukholo lwakho ungenelisa ukutshumayeza abantu khonapho okhona nxa kuvuma futhi lokho kwenza inhliziyo kaJehova ithokoze. (Zaga. 27:11) UJehova uyathokoza nxa uqhubeka umkhonza lanxa abanye emulini yakho bengamkhonzi. (1 Phet. 3:1-4) Lanxa izimo zizimbi, ungenelisa ukumdumisa lokuqhubeka uthuthuka ekukhonzeni. UJehova uzakubusisa nxa uzimisela ukutshela abantu ngezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu ezinhle. w16.08 3:19, 20

Ukuzehlisa okukhulunywa ngakho embhalweni walamuhla akwenzi owesifazana abe yisichaka endodeni yakhe. Okukhona yikuthi kuyamnceda ukuthi agcwalise injongo uNkulunkulu ayevele elayo ngesikhathi esithi: ‘Kakukuhle ukuba indoda [u-Adamu] ibe yodwa. Ngizayenzela umsizi oyifaneleyo.’ (Gen. 2:18) UKhristu ‘uyinhloko yebandla’ njalo uyalithanda ibandla lakhe, yikho lendoda engumKhristu kumele imthande umkayo ngenhliziyo yonke njalo ikhokhele kuhle imuli yayo. Ingenza njalo kuzakuba lula ukuthi umkayo ayihloniphe, ayisekele njalo azithobe kuyo. UJesu wayebathanda kakhulu abalandeli bakhe, yikho lathi kumele sithandane. (Joh. 13:34, 35; 15:12, 13; Efe. 5:25) Yikho nxa ungumKhristu otshadileyo kufanele umthande ngenhliziyo yonke omunye wakho njalo uzimisele ngitsho lokumfela. w16.08 2:3, 4

Amazwi akho akhuthazayo angabaqinisa abanye. Angabanceda ukuthi bazimisele ukuqhubekela phambili bekhonza uJehova ngenhliziyo yonke. Kanti njalo ukuphendula emihlanganweni yebandla kungabaqinisa abanye, yikho ungayekeli ukukwenza lokhu. UNehemiya labanye bakhe benelisa ukuwuqeda umsebenzi ngoba uJehova waziqinisa izandla zabo. Ngezinsuku ezingu-52 basebeqedile ukwakha imiduli yeJerusalema. (Neh. 2:18; 6:15, 16) UNehemiya kazange agoqe izandla abukele abantu besebenza. Kodwa wayencedisana labo umsebenzi waze waphela. (Neh. 5:16) Abadala abanengi lamuhla bayamlingisela uNehemiya. Ngokwesibonelo bayancedisa emsebenzini wokwakha owenziwa yinhlanganiso yethu kumbe emsebenzini wokuklina lokunakekela amaWolu oMbuso abangena kuwo. Bayabaqinisa abamemezeli abalezandla ezibuthakathaka labalenhliziyo ezilokwesaba ngokuhamba labo ekutshumayeleni langokubavakatshela emizini yabo besiyabakhuthaza.​—Isaya. 35:3, 4. w16.09 1:15, 16

Lamuhla bonke abasebandleni bazama ngamandla wonke ukulandela iseluleko lesi esithi: “Kubulaleni konke okungokwemvelo yenu yasemhlabeni: ukuxhwala kobufebe, ukungcola, inkanuko, izifiso ezimbi.” (Kol. 3:2, 5) Akumelanga senze kube nzima ukuthi abafowethu labodadewethu balalele iseluleko lesi. Phela abanye babo bayitshiya imikhuba enjalo kodwa bangabe belokhu belwisana lokuyicitsha ezingqondweni lasezinhliziyweni zabo. (1 Khor. 6:9, 10) Yikho kasifuni ukuthi indlela esigqoka ngayo ibathwalise ijogwe elinzima. Indlela esigqoka ngayo nxa silabafowethu labodadewethu kumele yenze kucace ukuthi ibandla liyindawo elabantu abahlanzekileyo endabeni zokuziphatha. Lanxa sizikhethela esifuna ukukugqoka, kufanele sikhumbule ukuthi esikukhethayo kungenza kube nzima ukuthi abanye bahlale behlanzekile endleleni abacabanga ngayo labaziphatha ngayo.​—1 Phet. 1:15, 16. w16.09 3:9, 10

Enye indoda lomkayo abahlala eFrance bathi: “Lanxa thina silokholo kuJehova akutsho ukuthi abantwabethu bazakuba lalo. Phela akulamuntu ozalwa elokholo. Abantwana kumele bancediswe kancane kancane ukuthi babe lalo.” Umfowethu wase-Australia wabhala wathi: “Ukuncedisa umntanakho ukuthi abe lokholo akulula. . . . Kwesinye isikhathi ungacabanga ukuthi umphendule kuhle kodwa ngemva kwesikhathi uzwe esekubuza futhi umbuzo ofananayo. Ngitsho lezimpendulo ongamtshela zona esesemncane angabe engasasuthiseki ngazo nxa esekhulakhulile. Yikho kungadingakala ukuthi uphindaphinde ezinye izinto elake laxoxa ngazo.” Kwezinye izikhathi abazali bangakuthola kunzima ukuqeqetsha lokufundisa abantwababo ukuze babe lokholo. Kuliqiniso sibili ukuthi umsebenzi lo kawulula futhi ngeke siwenze ngokuhlakanipha kwethu. (Jer. 10:23) Kodwa singaphumelela nxa singacela uNkulunkulu asiqondise. w16.09 5:1, 2

Labo abavela kwamanye amazwe bahlangana lobunzima bokufunda amasiko elizwe abayabe sebehlala kulo. Kunengi esingakufunda kuRuthe endabeni le. Okokuqala, watshengisa ukuthi uyawahlonipha amasiko ako-Israyeli ngokucela imvumo yokuthi adobhe okwakusele emasimini. (Ruthe. 2:7) Kazange alisebenzise kubi ilungelo ayeliphiwe kumbe acabange ukuthi abantu sekumele bamenzele loba yini ayifunayo. Okwesibili wayengayekeli ukubonga nxa abantu bemenzela okuhle. (Ruthe. 2:13) Yikho nxa labo abavela kwamanye amazwe bangalingisela indlela uRuthe enza ngayo, bazahlonitshwa ngabazalwane ebandleni kanye labantu emphakathini. Kuyasithokozisa ukuthi uJehova utshengise umusa omkhulu ebantwini njalo wabavumela bonke ukuthi bazwe izindaba ezinhle. Kungenzakala ukuthi elizweni abavela kulo kabazange balithole ithuba lokufundiswa iBhayibhili loba elokukhonza uJehova bekhululekile. Kodwa njengoba khathesi sebelethuba lokukhonza uNkulunkulu ndawonye lathi, kumele senze okusemandleni ethu ukuthi sibancede bakhululeke. w16.10 1:17-19

Lamuhla kulezigidi zabantu bakaJehova abalingisela uJesu ngokungavumi ukuthi izilingo zixegise ukholo lwabo langokuhlala bebambelele ethembeni abalalo. Cabanga ngesibonelo sikaRudolf Graichen owazalelwa eGermany ngo-1925. Indoda le isitshela ngemifanekiso yeBhayibhili okwakuceciswe ngayo endlini yangakibo. Yabhala yathi: “Omunye umfanekiso wawudwetshwe impisi lezinyane lemvu, ingwe lezinyane lembuzi, ithole lesilwane futhi konke kwakuhlezi ngokuthula kukhokhelwa ngumfanyana omncane. . . . Kangizange ngiyikhohlwe imifanekiso le kuze kube lamuhla.” (Isaya. 11:6-9) URudolf wahlukuluzwa kakhulu liqembu lamaNazi amaGestapo njalo ngemva kwesikhathi wadliswa imbuya ngoluthi liqembu le-East Germany okuthiwa yiCommunist Stasi. Lanxa wahlukuluzwa okweminyaka eminengi wahlala ebambelele ethembeni ayelalo lokuphila phakade emhlabeni olipharadayisi. URudolf waphinda wahlangana lobunzima bokufelwa ngunina ebulawa ngumkhuhlane okuthiwa yi-typhus ngesikhathi evalelwe enkambeni yeRavensbrück. Waphinda wabona uyise etshiya ukukhonza futhi esayina lencwadi yokuthi ngeke aphinde abe nguFakazi. w16.10 3:12-14

Sonke esiyizinceku zikaJehova kasilithontisi iLizwi lakhe iBhayibhili. Kodwa njengoba silesono kwezinye izikhathi siyake siphiwe iseluleko esivela eMibhalweni. Sandise ukwenzani nxa singasiphiwa? Ake sibuyele emuva sixoxe ngoYuwodiya loSintikhe odadewethu okukhulunywa ngabo eBhayibhilini. Kukhanya kwaba lokungazwanani phakathi kwabesifazana laba ababegcotshiwe. Ukungazwanani kwabo kungabe kwabangela ukudabukana ebandleni lonke. IBhayibhili kalitsho ukuthi kwaphetha ngani ngabodadewethu laba kodwa kumele ukuthi basamukela iseluleko abasiphiwa nguPhawuli. (Flp. 4:2, 3) Lalamuhla kuyake kube lokungazwanani okufananayo ebantwini bakaJehova. Kodwa ukusebenzisa iseluleko esiseLizwini likaNkulunkulu kungenza izinhlupho ezinjalo zibe nganeno loba zingabikhona. Nxa singakulalela lokho elikutshoyo kuzakhanya ukuthi siyaliqakathekisa.​—Hubo. 27:11. w16.11 3:1-3

Wonke umuntu uyakudinga ukukhuthazwa. Kuqakathekile ukuthi abazali bakhuthaze abantwababo. Umbalisi okuthiwa nguTimothy Evans wathi: “Abantwana . . . bayakudinga ukukhuthazwa njengoba nje lamaluba ekudinga ukuhlala ethelelwa. Ukukhuthaza umntwana kumenza azwe ethandwa futhi engumuntu sibili.” Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi sisensukwini zokucina, siphila labantu abazithandayo, abangelandaba labanye futhi abangakuthandiyo ukukhuthaza abanye. (2 Tim. 3:1-5) USathane ufuna sihlale sidanile ngoba uyakwazi ukuthi ukudana kungasiqeda amandla njalo kusiphambanise ekukhonzeni. USathane wehlisela uJobe izinhlupho ezinengi ukuze amenze adane kodwa icebo lelo kalizange liphumelele. (Jobe. 2:3; 22:3; 27:5) Lathi lamuhla singenelisa ukulwisana lezindlela zikaSathane ngokukhuthaza izimuli zethu kanye lesikhonza labo. Nxa singakwenza lokhu sizahlala sithokoza futhi siseduze loJehova. w16.11 1:4, 6

Ekuqaliseni kwabo-1600 kwaba lamadoda athile aqalisa ukuhumutsha iLizwi likaNkulunkulu ngezindimi ezazikhulunywa ngabantu abanengi. IBhayibhili laqalisa ukutholakala futhi abantu babelibala besebesiba lemibuzo eminengi. Ngokwesibonelo baqalisa ukubuza ukuthi kungaphi lapho iBhayibhili elikhuluma khona ngokuthi umuntu angafa umphefumulo wakhe uqala uhlanjululwe endaweni ethile ungakayi ezulwini? Kungaphi lapho elikhuluma khona ngokuthi umfundisi kumele abhadalwe nxa angaphatha umngcwabo? Loba lapho elikhuluma khona ngezikhundla zabopapa labokhadinali? Abafundisi babephuphuma ngolaka nxa abantu bebabuza imibuzo le njalo bonke ababephikisana lezimfundiso zabo babegwetshelwa ukufa. Inhloso yabakhokheli laba kwakuyikuvimbela abantu ukuthi babale iBhayibhili lokuthi bangaphikisani lalokho ababekufundisa. Icebo leli labasebenzela sibili. Lanxa kunjalo bakhona abanye abangazange bavume ukwethuselwa yiBhabhiloni Enkulu ngenxa yokuthi basebelibale balizwisisa iBhayibhili bazimisela ukulimela iqiniso. w16.11 4:13

Wonke amaKhristu akhangelelwe ukuthi athembeke. (Efe. 4:25) Khumbula ukuthi uSathane ‘nguyise wamanga’ lokuthi u-Ananiya lomkakhe bafa ngenxa yokuqamba amanga. Yikho lathi kumele sikwenyanye ukuqamba amanga, singalingiseli abantu laba. (Joh. 8:44; ImiSeb. 5:1-11) Kodwa phela ukungathembeki akutsho ukuqamba amanga kuphela. Iqiniso yikuthi nxa sithembekile kuzo zonke izinto siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyawuqakathekisa umusa omkhulu kaNkulunkulu. Ukuqamba amanga yikukhuluma into engasiqiniso. Kodwa uJehova kalindelanga ukuthi abantu bakhe benyanye ukukhuluma amanga kuphela. Watshela abako-Israyeli wathi: “Yibani ngcwele ngokuba mina uJehova uNkulunkulu wenu ngingcwele.” Ngemva kwalokho wabatshela izinto okwakungamelanga bazenze ukuze kukhanye ukuthi bangcwele. Wathi kubo: “Lingebi. Lingaqambi amanga. Lingakhohlisani.” (Levi. 19:2, 11) Kuyadanisa ukuthi lanxa umuntu engazimisela ukungaqambi amanga, kwesinye isikhathi angaqalisa ukuqila abanye abantu loba ukubakhohlisa. w16.12 1:17, 18

ELizwini likaNkulunkulu sithola amazwi kaJesu aduduzayo. Indlela ayefundisa ngayo yayibaduduza abantu abanengi njalo lamazwi ayewasebenzisa ayebavuselela. Abanengi babemthanda ngoba wayeqinisa abadabukileyo lababuthakathaka njalo eduduza labadanileyo. (Mat. 11:28-30) Wazimisela ukunceda abalandeli bakhe ukuthi basondele kuJehova, ebasiza nxa bekhathazekile njalo ebaphathisa langezinye izinto ababezidinga empilweni. (Mak. 6:30-32) Lathi lamuhla uJesu uzasisekela ngenxa yokuthi wakwenza lokhu kubaphostoli bakhe. Kodwa akudingi ukuthi abe seceleni kwethu ukuze asisize. Khumbula ukuthi useyiNkosi ezulwini njalo ulokhu elesihawu kubalandeli bakhe. Yikho nxa ukhathazekile, woba leqiniso lokuthi ‘uyenelisa ukukusiza’ ngesikhathi esiyiso. UJesu uzimisele ukukunceda ukuthi ulwisane lokukhathazeka lokukunika ithemba kanye lesibindi.​—Heb. 2:17, 18; 4:16. w16.12 3:4, 6

UNowa wayehlala phakathi kwabantu ababethanda “ubudlwangudlwangu” lokuziphatha okubi. (Gen. 6:4, 9-12) Lanxa wazimisela ukuxwayisa abantu ababi ngalokho uNkulunkulu ayezakwenza, wayengeke ababambe ngamandla ukuthi bakwamukele ayebatshela khona. Kanti njalo wayengeke enze ukuthi uZamcolo uphangise ukufika. Kwakumele athembe ukuthi uJehova wayezasigcwalisa isithembiso sakhe sokubhubhisa bonke labobantu ababexhwalile lokuthi wayezakwenza lokhu ngesikhathi esifaneleyo. (Gen. 6:17) Lathi siphila emhlabeni ogcwele abantu ababi njalo siyakwazi ukuthi uJehova uthembisa ukubabhubhisa. (1 Joh. 2:17) Loba kunjalo ngeke sibabambe ngamandla ukuthi bamukele izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso esizitshumayelayo futhi ngeke senze ukuthi ‘ukuhlupheka okukhulu’ kuphangise ukufika. (Mat. 24:14, 21) Kumele silingisele uNowa, sethembe ukuthi uNkulunkulu uzangenela masinyane. (Hubo. 37:10, 11) Sileqiniso lokuthi uJehova uzayigcwalisa injongo yakhe, kasoze abayekele abantu beqhubeka besenza izinto ezimbi.​—Hab. 2:3. w17.01 1:5-7

Abantu abanengi lamuhla basebenzisa kubi inkululeko yabo ngokukhetha ukwenza izinto ezilimaza abanye. IBhayibhili lavele latsho ukuthi “ezinsukwini zokucina” abantu bazakuba ‘ngabangabongiyo.’ (2 Tim. 3:1, 2) Ngakho kasizimiseleni-ke ukungasisebenzisi kubi isipho lesi esisiphiwe nguJehova. Kodwa singenzani ukuze senelise ukuyisebenzisa kuhle inkululeko yethu yokuzikhethela? Sonke silenkululeko yokuzikhethela abangane, ezokuzilibazisa, kanye lendlela esigqoka futhi sizilungise ngayo. Lanxa kunjalo inkululeko yethu yokuzikhethela ingacina isiba ‘lizaba lokufihla ububi’ nxa singakhetha ukulandela izifiso zethu ezingalunganga kumbe lokho esikubona kusenziwa ngabantu emhlabeni lo. (1 Phet. 2:16) Kulokuthi sisebenzise inkululeko yokuzikhethela ‘ukuthokozisa imvelo yethu yesono’ kasizameni ngamandla wonke ukukhetha ngendlela etshengisa ukuthi siyasilalela iseluleko lesi esithi: “Loba kuyikuphi elikwenzayo, kwenzeleni udumo lukaNkulunkulu.”​—Gal. 5:13; 1 Khor. 10:31. w17.01 2:12-14

Isibonelo sikaNehemiya sitshengisa ukuthi ukuzithoba kungasinceda ukuthi singazithembi nxa siphiwa umsebenzi omutsha. Ngokwesibonelo umdala angaqalisa ukwenza imisebenzi yebandla engaqalanga wathandaza kuJehova. Ikanti abanye bangaqala ngokwenza isinqumo besebecela ukuthi uJehova ababusise. Kambe singathi yikuzithoba yini ukwenza njalo? Umuntu ozithobayo uhlala ekhumbula ukuthi kuqakathekile ukuthemba uNkulunkulu. Kathembi okwakhe ukuhlakanipha loba isiphiwo alaso ngitsho lalapho esenza into ajayele ukuyenza. (Zaga. 3:5, 6) Lamuhla abantu abanengi kabalandaba labanye njalo bayancintisana. Kodwa thina kasenzi njalo. Siyakwazi ukuthi ukuphathiswa imisebenzi ethile enhlanganisweni kakusenzi sibe ngcono kulabanye emulini loba ebandleni. Ngakho siyazimisela ukubambisana labafowethu labodadewethu kukho konke esikwenzayo.​—1 Tim. 3:15. w17.01 4:7, 8

UJehova wathi edala abantu wayehlose ukuthi baphile phakade emhlabeni. (Gen. 1:28; Hubo. 37:29) Wanika abantu bokuqala izipho ezitshiyeneyo ukuze bakholise impilo. (Jak. 1:17) Ngokwesibonelo wabanika inkululeko yokuzikhethela, amandla okucabanga kanye lokwenelisa ukuthanda lokukholisa ubungane. UJehova wayekhuluma lo-Adamu njalo emtshela lokho okwakumele akwenze ukuze atshengise ukuthi uyamhlonipha. Laye u-Adamu wafunda indlela okwakumele azinakekele ngayo, lendlela okwakumele anakekele ngayo izinyamazana kanye lesivande ayekuso. (Gen. 2:15-17, 19, 20) Kanti njalo u-Adamu lo-Eva babesenelisa ukunambitha, ukubamba, ukubona, ukuzwa lokuhogela. Ngakho babezakukholisa ukuphila ekhaya labo elalilihle. Mkhulu umsebenzi ababezakholisa ukuwenza njalo kunengi okutsha ababezaqhubeka bekuvumbulula ukusa kwamalanga kuze kube nini lanini. UJehova wayehlose ukuthi u-Adamu lo-Eva babe labantwana abangelasono. Babezahlala emhlabeni kuze kube nini lanini. w17.02 1:6, 7

ILizwi likaNkulunkulu labanceda njani abakhokheli bako-Israyeli? Akucabange ngeNkosi uJosiya. Kwathi ugwalo loMthetho kaMosi selutholakele, uJosiya wacela unobhala wakhe ukuthi alubale. INkosi le yathi isizwe amazwi kaNkulunkulu yabhidliza izithombe njalo yahlela ukuthi kube lomkhosi wePhasika omkhulu. (2 AmaKho. 22:11; 23:1-23) ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lasiza uJosiya labanye ababusi ababethembekile ukuthi bazimisele ukuntshintsha njalo bacacisele abantu lokho okufunwa nguNkulunkulu. Lokhu kwanceda abako-Israyeli ukuthi benze intando kaJehova. Lanxa kunjalo amanye amakhosi ayebusa ko-Israyeli kawazange awulandele umthetho kaNkulunkulu. Kwezinye izikhathi uJehova wayebakhuza abakhokheli abanjalo kumbe abathathele ubukhosi. (1 Sam. 13:13, 14) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uJehova wakhetha umkhokheli owayengcono kulamadoda la ayekhokhela futhi owayengelasono. w17.02 3:11, 12, 14

Abantu badalwe ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu futhi bayenelisa ukutshengisa ubuntu bakhe. (Gen. 1:27) Ngokwesibonelo bayenelisa ukuba lothando, umusa kanye lesihawu kwabanye. UNkulunkulu wabanika lomzwangedwa obanceda ukuthi behlukanise okuhle lokubi kanye lokuthi bakwazi okulungileyo lokungalunganga. (Rom. 2:14, 15) Okunye yikuthi abantu abanengi mdabuko wabo bathanda inhlanzeko, ukubuka izinto ezinhle lokuhlalisana kuhle labanye. Lokhu kwenza kukhanye ukuthi abantu badalwe ngomfanekiso kaNkulunkulu, okutsho ukuthi bayenelisa ukumlingisela. Ngakho labo kufanele sibahloniphe njalo sibaphathe ngendlela elesithunzi. Lanxa abantu kumele baphathwe kuhle futhi bahlonitshwe, akuqondanga ukwedlulisa amalawulo endabeni le. w17.03 1:5, 6

UJehova kafanani lathi abantu esenza izinqumo sifuqwa lulaka. Wathi ebona ukuthi abantu beNineve babezimisele ukuphenduka, wantshintsha isinqumo sakhe kasazange ababhubhise. Kwakhanya sibili ukuthi ulesihawu, uthobekile futhi uyazwisisa. Yikho zingaba khona izizatho ezingenza umuntu antshintshe isinqumo ayabe esenzile. Ngezinye izikhathi lokhu kungabangelwa yikuntshintsha kwezimo. UJehova laye wayentshintsha izinqumo zakhe nxa izimo zingaguquka. (1 AmaKho. 21:20, 21, 27-29; 2 AmaKho. 20:1-5) Okunye okungabangela lokhu lulwazi ongabe usulutholile. Lokhu kwake kwenzakala kuDavida. Watshelwa amanga ngoMefibhoshethi umzukulu kaSawuli kodwa wathi esezwe iqiniso ngaleyondaba wantshintsha isinqumo ayesenzile.​—2 Sam. 16:3, 4; 19:24-29. w17.03 2:14, 15

Nxa ungaba phakathi kohlupho, hlola izimiso zeBhayibhili eziphathelane laleyondaba ubusuzisebenzisa ngendlela eyiyo. Ngokwesibonelo udadewethu uyakwazi ukuthi kumele atshumayele izindaba ezinhle. (ImiSeb. 4:20) Yikho uhlela ukuya ekutshumayeleni ngelanga elithile. Ngemva kwalokho umkakhe ongakhonziyo abesemcela ukuthi angayindawo mhlalokho ngoba efisa ukuthi bake batshone bendawonye. Nxa sekunjalo udadewethu angakhumbula umlayo ophathelane lokwenza abafundi lowokulalela uNkulunkulu. (Mat. 28:19, 20; ImiSeb. 5:29) Kodwa ngesikhathi esifananayo akumelanga akhohlwe ukuthi kufanele azehlise kumkakhe njalo abe ngumuntu ozwisisayo. (Efe. 5:22-24) Angazibuza lokuthi umkakhe kafuni aye ekutshumayeleni yini kumbe ucela ukuthi bake babendawonye okwamhlalokho kuphela? Yikho-ke kumele sinanzelele indlela esisebenzisa ngayo izimiso zeBhayibhili futhi sibe ngabantu abazwisisayo. w17.03 4:17