February

UNowa wayengakaze akhe umkhumbi. Yikho kwakumele athembele kuJehova futhi enze konke ayemtshela khona. Ukulalela kwamsiza uNowa ukuthi aphumelele emsebenzini ayewuphathisiwe njalo ukuthemba uJehova kwamenza waba yinhloko yemuli enhle kakhulu. Wabafundisa kuhle abantwabakhe futhi waba yisibonelo esihle kubo lanxa wayephila ngesikhathi esasigcwele ubudlwangudlwangu. (Gen. 6:5) Bazali, lingasilingisela njani isibonelo sikaNowa? Khumbulani ukuthi indlela ibuzwa kwabaphambili. Ngakho lani zimiseleni ukulalela lokho okutshiwo nguJehova esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe lenhlanganiso yakhe. Kwezinye izikhathi umntwana angakhetha ukwenza akutshelwa likhanda lakhe lanxa abazali bemfundise kuhle. Abazali abalabantwana abanjalo akumelanga bahlale bezithonisisa ngoba umlandu wabo wokufundisa umntwana bawufeza. Kodwa kumele bakhumbule ukuthi akulahlwa mbeleko ngokufelwa ngoba umntwana lowo angacina ephenduka kuJehova. w18.03 30 ¶10-11

Abanye bakubona kunzima ukunxusa abantu emizini yabo ngenxa yokuzikhangelela phansi. Ngokwesibonelo abanye balenhloni njalo babona angani bazaphelelwa zingxoxo okokuthi izivakatshi abazinxusileyo kazisoze zikholise. Ikanti abanye bayaswela futhi bacabanga ukuthi abasoze benelise ukuphatha izivakatshi njengabanye ebandleni. Kodwa okuqakathekileyo yikuba lomusa lokugcina umuzi wakho uhlanzekile ukuze abantu bakholise nxa bekuvakatshele. Uthando yilo okumele lukufuqe ukuthi unxuse abanye emzini wakho njalo ungakhathazeki ngokunengi. Khumbula ukuthi kuqakathekile ukutshengisa abantu obanxusileyo ukuthi ulendaba labo. (Flp. 2:4) Abantu abanengi bayakuthanda ukuxoxa, ngakho ukunxusa abanye emizini yethu kusinika ithuba lokuxoxa labo ngezinto esihlangana lazo empilweni. Omunye umdala webandla uthi: “Ukunxusa abafowethu labodadewethu emzini wami kuyanginceda ukuthi ngibazi ngcono, ngibazwisise futhi kunginika ithuba lokuzwa ukuthi balithola njani iqiniso.” Ukuthanda abanye kwenza sithokoze kakhulu nxa silabo. w18.03 17 ¶15-17

Abazali abanengi bayafisa ukuncedisa abantwababo ukuthi bathuthuke baze babhabhathizwe. Ukubalisa nxa umntwana esithi ufuna ukubhabhathizwa kungaphambanisa ubuhlobo bakhe loJehova. (Jak. 4:17) Abazali abahlakaniphileyo baqala baxoxe laye umntwana ukuze babone ukuthi usekulungele yini ukubhabhathizwa lokuba ngumlandeli kaKhristu. Abanye abahambeli babika ukuthi kwamanye amabandla bathola kulabantwana asebeleminyaka edlula 15 kusiya ku-20 abalokhu bengakabhabhathizwa lanxa bekhuliswe ngabazali abangoFakazi. Abantwana laba bayayingena imihlangano, bayatshumayela njalo sebeze bezibona angani bangoFakazi bakaJehova. Kodwa bakhanya bengazihluphi ngokuzinikela kuJehova kanye lokubhabhathizwa. Kubangelwa yini lokhu? Abanye batshelwa ngabazali babo ukuthi baqale bame ukubhabhathizwa. Abanye abazali bacatsha ngomunwe nxa bebuzwa ukuthi kungani abantwababo bengakabhabhathizwa. w18.03 8 ¶1-2

Ukuze sibe njengoKhristu kumele sizwisise ubuntu bakhe lendlela ayecabanga ngayo futhi silandele ezinyathelweni zakhe. UJesu wayebuqakathekisa ubuhlobo bakhe loNkulunkulu, ngakho ukumlingisela kusenza sisondele eduze kukaBaba wethu osezulwini. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi ukuba lengqondo kaKhristu kuqakathekile. Abafundi bakaJesu bambona esenza izimangaliso, bamuzwa efundisa njalo babona indlela ayephatha ngayo abantu abatshiyeneyo lendlela ayesebenzisa ngayo izimiso eziseBhayibhilini. (ImiSeb. 10:39) Pho thina singamlingisela njani uJesu njengoba singambonanga? UJehova wafaka amaVangeli amane eLizwini lakhe ukuze asisize ukuthi sifunde okunengi ngobuntu beNdodana yakhe. Ukuwabala lokucabangisisa ngawo kuzakunceda ukuthi ube lengqondo kaKhristu. Kanti njalo kuzakwenza wenelise ‘ukulandela amanyathelo’ kaKhristu futhi ‘uhlome ngesimo esifanana’ lesakhe.—1 Phet. 2:21; 4:1. w18.02 22 ¶15-16

Kusukela kudala amadoda labesifazane ababethembekile babefunda ngoNkulunkulu ngezindlela ezintathu: Ngokuhlola izinto ezidaliweyo, ngokuxoxelwa ngabanye ababelokholo langokubona indlela uNkulunkulu ayebabusisa ngayo nxa belandela izimiso zakhe. (Isaya. 48:18) Ukuhlola izinto ezidaliweyo kwenza uNowa wabona ubufakazi bokuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona lokuthi ulempawu ezinhle kakhulu ezigoqela “amandla akhe angapheliyo kanye lobuNkulunkulu bakhe.” (Rom. 1:20) Lokhu kwamenza waba lokholo oluqinileyo. Kumele ukuthi uNowa wathola ulwazi olunengi ezihlotsheni zakhe. Phela uyise uLameki, wayeyindoda elokholo oluqinileyo futhi wambona u-Adamu. Kungenzakala ukuthi abanye abamsizayo ngukhulu wakhe uMethusela lokhokho wakhe uJaredi owaphila iminyaka engu-366 uNowa esezelwe. (Luk. 3:36, 37) Konke akufundayo kwamthinta inhliziyo njalo kwamenza wazimisela ukukhonza uNkulunkulu.—Gen. 6:9. w18.02 9 ¶4-5

Ukuphathwa kubi ngomunye ebandleni loba emulini kubuhlungu kakhulu. Pho ungenzani nxa kusehlula ukuthi ukhohlwe ngaleyondaba? Uzayekela kudlule iminyaka yini ulokhu ufuthelene loba uzalandela lokho okutshiwo yiMibhalo? Ukuhlala isikhathi eside ungalungisanga kungenza kube nzima ukuthi lihlalisane ngokuthula. Ungenzani ukuze uyilungise? Okokuqala, thandaza kuJehova. Mcele akuncedise ukuthi wenelise ukuxoxisana kuhle lalowomuntu. Hlala ukhumbula ukuthi laye ungumngane kaJehova. (Hubo. 25:14) UJehova ubaphatha ngomusa abangane bakhe yikho ukhangelele ukuthi lathi sibe lomusa kwabanye. (Zaga. 15:23; Mat. 7:12; Kol. 4:6) Ngemva kwalokho cabanga ngozafika ukutsho futhi ungazitsheli ukuthi ubekuqophile. Mhlawumbe lawe kukhona okwenzileyo ukuze kube njalo. w18.01 10 ¶15-16

Abantu bakaJehova balothando lweqiniso abafanani labantu abangelathando abagcwele emhlabeni lamuhla. UJesu wathi ukuthanda uNkulunkulu yiwo umthetho omkhulu kulayo yonke eMthethweni kaMosi, wasesithi owesibili yikuthanda umakhelwana. (Mat. 22:38, 39) Waphinda wathi ukuthanda abanye yikho okwakuzatshengisa ukuthi singamaKhristu eqiniso. (Joh. 13:35) Uthando esilalo alupheleli kulabo esikhonza labo kuphela kodwa sithanda lalabo abayizitha zethu. (Mat. 5:43, 44) UJesu watshengisa ukuthi uyabathanda abanye. Ngokwesibonelo wabhoda emadolobheni atshiyeneyo efundisa abantu izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Kanti njalo welapha abangaboniyo, abagogekileyo, ababelobulephero labangezwayo endlebeni njalo wavusa abafileyo. (Luk. 7:22) UJesu wavuma ukunikela ngokuphila kwakhe ukuze akhulule abantu. Konke lokhu ayekwenza kwatshengisa ukuthi uYise ulothando. Lalamuhla oFakazi bakaJehova emhlabeni wonke bazama ngazo zonke izindlela ukutshengisa ukuthi bayabathanda abanye. w18.01 29-30 ¶11-12

Kungenzakala ukuthi wabhabhathizwa usesemncane. Lanxa kunjalo ngeke ubazi ubunzima ozahlangana labo. Ukukhumbula ukuthi awungeke usintshintshe isifungo owasenza kuJehova kuzakunceda ukuthi uhlale uthembekile lanxa uhlangana lezimo ezinzima. Phela wamthembisa ukuthi uzamkhonza kumnyama kubomvu. Ngakho kumele usigcine isithembiso lesi lanxa abazali bakho loba abangane bakho bengakhetha ukutshiya ukukhonza. (Hubo. 27:10) Kubo bonke ubunzima ohlangana labo, cela ukuthi uJehova akusize wenelise ukugcina isifungo owasenza ngesikhathi uzinikela kuye. (Flp. 4:11, 12) UJehova ufuna ube ngumngane wakhe. Kodwa kumele ukusebenzele ukuba ngumngane wakhe kanye lokusindiswa. UFiliphi 2:12 uthi: “Qhubekani lisebenzela ukusindiswa kwenu ngokwesaba langokuthuthumela.” Ngakho kumele sihlale sihlola ukuthi bunjani ubuhlobo bethu loJehova lokuthi silokhu sithembekile kuye yini. Akumelanga uzitshele ukuthi uzahlala usenza kuhle endabeni le ngoba bakhona abanye abamtshiyayo uJehova lanxa sebemkhonze okweminyaka eminengi. w17.12 24 ¶4, 6-7

UJehova utshengise ukuthi uyasiqakathekisa ngokusivumela ukuthi siphathise ngeminikelo emsebenzini wakhe owenziwayo lamuhla. Uthembisa ukuthi uzasinika izibusiso ezinengi nxa singakwenza lokhu. (Mal. 3:10) ILizwi lakhe lithi umuntu ophanayo uzaphumelela. (Zaga. 11:24, 25) Kanti njalo ukuba ngabantu abaphanayo kuzasenza sihlale sithokoza ngoba “ukupha kubusisekile okudlula ukwamukela.” (ImiSeb. 20:35) Ngakho kasizameni ukuba yisibonelo esihle kubantwabethu lakulabo abasanda kufunda iqiniso njalo sibafundise ukuthi baqakathekise isibusiso sokunikela ngoba lokhu kuzabenza bathole izibusiso ezivela kuJehova. Yonke into esilayo ivela kuJehova. Ngakho ukunikela kuye kutshengisa ukuthi siyamthanda lokuthi siyakuqakathekisa konke asenzele khona. Ngesikhathi abako-Israyeli benikela ukuze basekele ukwakhiwa kwethempeli, iBhayibhili lithi “baba lokujabula okukhulu . . . . ngoba banikela . . . . ngokukhululeka.” (1 ImiLan. 29:9) Kasizimiseleni-ke ukunikela kuJehova ngokukhululeka langenhliziyo yonke lanxa konke esilakho kuvela esandleni sakhe. w18.01 21 ¶18-19

Ukuvuswa kwalabo abazaphila ezulwini kwaqala ngemva kwesikhathi esithile uKhristu eqalise ukubusa. Kodwa iBhayibhili litshengisa ukuthi abagcotshiweyo abazabe bephila ngesikhathi sokuhlupheka okukhulu ‘bazahlwithwa emayezini.’ (1 Thes. 4:13-17; Mat. 24:31) IBhayibhili lithi, ‘bazaguqulwa ngesikhatshana, ngokucwayiza kwelihlo, ngecilongo lokucina.’ (1 Khor. 15:51, 52) Ithemba lokuyaphila ezulwini ngelabalutshwana ababizelwe ukuyabusa loKhristu. Inengi lethu silindele ukuphela komumo lo wezinto okuzakwenzakala ngosuku lukaJehova. Loba kunjalo kasikwazi ukuthi lolosuku luzafika nini kodwa iMibhalo itshengisa ukuthi seluseduze kakhulu. (1 Thes. 5:1-3) Emhlabeni omutsha kuzakuba lokuvuswa kwabafileyo okutshiyene lokwalabo abazaphila ezulwini. Abazavuswa ngalesosikhathi kabasoze baphinde bafe ngoba isono sizasuswa kancane kancane ebantwini besebethola impilo epheleleyo. w17.12 11-12 ¶15, 18-19

Ukuba lomusa lothando kuzasinceda ukuthi singabi lomhawu. IBhayibhili lithi: “Uthando luyabekezela, uthando lulomusa. Kalulamona.” (1 Khor. 13:4) Ukulingisela indlela uJehova abona ngayo izinto kungasinceda ukuthi singabi lomhawu kodwa sibone abafowethu labodadewethu njengamalunga omzimba munye. Lokhu kuzasinceda ukuthi sibathande njalo silandele okwatshiwo nguPhawuli lapho esithi: “Uma esinye isitho sibongwa, izitho zonke zithokoza laso.” (1 Khor. 12:16-18, 26) Nxa singenza njalo kasisoze sibe lomhawu lapho abanye bephathiswa imisebenzi ethile enhlanganisweni. Lokhu yikho kanye okwenziwa nguJonathani indodana kaSawuli. Kazange abe lomhawu lapho uDavida ekhethwa ukuthi abe yinkosi kodwa wamqinisa futhi wamkhuthaza. (1 Sam. 23:16-18) Ukulingisela isibonelo sikaJonathani kungasinceda kakhulu. w17.11 27 ¶10-11

UJehova wafaka isivumelwano soMthetho eLizwini lakhe iBhayibhili. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi ufuna sizwisise futhi sisebenzise ‘izinto eziyisiqokoqela zoMthetho’ okutsho izimiso eziqakathekileyo ezikuwo. (Mat. 23:23) UMthetho kaMosi wawuhlanganisa “ulwazi leqiniso” ngoJehova langezimiso zakhe ezilungileyo. (Rom. 2:20) Ngokwesibonelo amadolobho okuphephela afundisa abadala ukuthi ‘bahlulele ngobuqotho’ njalo asiza sonke ukuthi ‘sitshengise isihawu lozwelo komunye lomunye.’ (Zek. 7:9) Lanxa singekho ngaphansi koMthetho kaMosi, esikunanzelelayo yikuthi uJehova kakantshintshi futhi ulokhu ekuqakathekisa ukwahlulela kuhle lokuba lesihawu. Kuyasithokozisa sibili ukukhonza uNkulunkulu onjalo. Ngakho kasizimiseleni ukumlingisela lokuphephela kuye sonke isikhathi. w17.11 13-14, 17 ¶2-3, 18-19

Nxa ungumzalwane olesibusiso sokufundisa emihlanganweni kumele wenze imibhalo ibe ngumgogodla walokho okukhulumayo. (Joh. 7:16) Kutshoni lokhu? Kutsho ukuthi abantu abakulaleleyo kumele basale bebambe izifundo ezisemavesini hatshi kuphela imizekeliso loba okwenzakale empilweni zabanye oyabe ukulandisa. Okunye okumele ukukhumbule yikuthi ukubala amavesi amanengi akutsho ukuthi ufundisa kuhle. Kuvele khona ukubala amavesi amanengi kungabangela ukuthi abantu basale bengabambanga lutho. Ngakho khetha kuhle amavesi ozawasebenzisa, uwabale kuhle, uwachasise, usebenzise umzekeliso njalo utshengise ukuthi asebenza njani. (Neh. 8:8) Zama ukuzwisisa ukuthi imitsho esenkulumeni yakho ingenelana njani lamavesi afakiweyo. Phezu kwakho konke lokhu thandaza kuJehova ucele ukuthi akuncedise ukuze ulisebenzise ngobunono iLizwi lakhe nxa ufundisa phambi kwabantu bakhe.—Ezra. 7:10. w17.09 26 ¶11-12

Kwakungumnyaka ka-537 B.C.E. futhi abako-Israyeli babethokoza ngoba basebekhululiwe elizweni leBhabhiloni abasebehlale kulo iminyaka engu-70 beyizigqili. Bathi befika eJerusalema bahle baqalisa umsebenzi wokwakha ithempeli ukuze bavuselele ukukhonza kweqiniso. Ngakho ngo-536 B.C.E., basebeqedile ukumisa isisekelo sethempeli. Yafuqana iminyaka yaze yaba ngu-16 umsebenzi ulokhu umile. Abako-Israyeli babekudinga sibili ukukhuthazwa ukuze babuyele kuJehova njalo baqakathekise ukumkhonza ukwedlula ezinye izinto. Yikho ngo-520 B.C.E., uNkulunkulu wathuma umphrofethi uZekhariya ukuthi ayebakhumbuza isizatho sokukhululwa kwabo eBhabhiloni. Ibizo lomphrofethi lo litsho ukuthi “UJehova Usekhumbulile.” Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uJehova wayelokhu ebakhumbula lanxa bona basebemkhohliwe. (Zek. 1:3, 4) UJehova wabathembisa ukuthi wayezabancedisa ukuthi babuyisele ukukhonza kweqiniso futhi wabaxwayisa ukuthi wayengeke abamukele nxa bembaxambili ekukhonzeni. w17.10 21-22 ¶2-3

Ingcitshi zempilakahle zibika ukuthi ukuba lesihawu kuyayithuthukisa impilakahle yomuntu njalo kumenze ahlale ezwanana labanye. Nxa uhlala usiza abantu abaphakathi kwenhlupho uzakuba ngumuntu othokozayo, olethemba eliqinileyo futhi ngeke ube lesizungu loba uzikhangelele phansi. Kuyakhanya sibili ukuthi ukuba lesihawu kuyanceda kakhulu. Kanti njalo ukuba lesihawu kwabanye kuzakwenza sibe lomzwangedwa omuhle ngoba siyabe sisenza lokho iMibhalo ekukhuthazayo. Kuzasinceda lokuthi sibe ngabazali abalothando, siphathane kuhle emtshadweni futhi sibe ngabangane abahle kwabanye. Khumbula ukuthi izandla ziyagezana, ngakho nxa ungaba lesihawu kwabanye labo ngeke bakutshiye nxa ususebunzimeni. (Mat. 5:7; Luk. 6:38) Kuyakhanya ukuthi ukuba lesihawu kuyasinceda kakhulu. Okumele kusifuqe ukuthi sibe lesihawu yikufuna ukudumisa uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu olesihawu.—Zaga. 14:31. w17.09 12 ¶16-17

UJesu uyiNkosi njalo unguMphristi Omkhulu. Omunye umsebenzi awuphiweyo ‘ngowokwakha ithempeli likaJehova.’ Umsebenzi lo wokwakha ithempeli waqalisa ngo-1919 lapho uJesu ekhulula abantu bakaNkulunkulu eBhabhiloni Enkulu futhi ebaqoqa ukuthi babe libandla elihlelekileyo. Ngemva kwalokho wabeka ‘inceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo’ ukuze ikhokhele emsebenzini wokuthuthukisa ukukhonza kweqiniso lapha emhlabeni. (Mat. 24:45) Kanti njalo ubelokhu ehlambulula abantu bakaNkulunkulu njalo ebancedisa ukuthi bakhonze ngendlela emsulwa. (Mal. 3:1-3) Ngesikhathi esizayo uJesu uzabusa okweminyaka eyinkulungwane ekanye labangu-144 000 abazakuba ngamakhosi labaphristi. Bazasusa isono ebantwini abathembekileyo njalo nxa sebewuqedile umsebenzi lo, umhlaba uzabe usugcwele abantu abapheleleyo. Ngalesosikhathi intando kaNkulunkulu iyabe isisenziwa ngokugcweleyo emhlabeni ngoba kuyabe sekusele abantu abakhonza uNkulunkulu kuphela. w17.10 29 ¶15-16

Umuntu obulele omunye ngengozi kwakumele enze okuthile ukuze athethelelwe nguJehova. Kwakumele abalekele kwelinye lamadolobho okuphephela eliseduze njalo ahlale khona kuze kufe umphristi omkhulu. (Josh. 20:4) Lokhu kwakusitsho ukuzidela ngoba phela lowomuntu wayetshiya umsebenzi ayewenza lomuzi wakhe futhi wayengaselayo inkululeko yokuvakatshela kwezinye izindawo kuze kufe umphristi omkhulu. Kodwa konke lokhu kwakungelandaba ngoba okwakuqakathekile kuye yikuthi uphephile. Lalamuhla umuntu owenze isono esikhulu kumele enze okuthile nxa efuna ukuthethelelwa nguNkulunkulu. Kumele atshiye isono leso njalo abalekele loba yini engabangela ukuthi awele esonweni. Ukuzimisela ukungasiphindi lesosono kutshengisa ukuthi asidlali ngomusa kaJehova asitshengise wona lokuthi siyazisola ngalokho esikwenzileyo.—2 Khor. 7:10, 11. w17.11 10-11 ¶10-11

UJehova usilaya ukuthi sibe lomusa kubafowethu labodadewethu. (1 Joh. 3:17) Lokhu akufanelanga sikwenze ngenjongo yokufuna ukubukwa loba ukuthola inzuzo. Ngakho kungaba kuhle ukuzibuza imibuzo elandelayo, ‘Ngijayele ukuba lomusa kubangane bami kuphela loba kulabo engibabona beqakathekile ebandleni yini? Umusa ngiwenzela abantu engikhangelele ukuthi labo bangenzele okufananayo yini? Ngiyazama yini ukuba lomusa kubafowethu labodadewethu engingabajayelanga loba abangelalutho abangangibuyisela ngalo?’ (Luk. 14:12-14) Ake sithi omunye ebandleni usephakathi kohlupho ngenxa yesinqumo asenzileyo loba mhlawumbe uncede othile kodwa wayekela ukukubonga. Uzakwenzani? Ezimeni ezinjalo kumele sisebenzise iseluleko esisembhalweni walamuhla. Nxa singasilalela iseluleko lesi sizathola intokozo ngoba ukupha okunjalo kubusisekile.—ImiSeb. 20:35. w17.10 9 ¶12

UmkaPhothifa waqalisa ukuhawukela uJosefa ngoba ‘wayebukeka’ futhi wayesemhuga ukuthi alale laye. Kodwa uJosefa kazange avume ukuyengwa ngumama lo lanxa wayelokhu ephikelela. Lalapho umkaPhothifa ezama ukumbamba ngenkani wala, wathi nyawo mbeletha. Sifundani kulokho okwenziwa nguJosefa? Sifunda ukuthi kumele sibalekele loba yisiphi isilingo esingabangela ukuthi sephule umthetho kaNkulunkulu. (Zaga. 1:10) Abanye abafowethu labodadewethu batshiya imikhuba engalunganga egoqela ukudakwa, ukubhema, ukusebenzisa izidakamizwa, ubuhwaba kanye lokungaziphathi. Kungenzakala ukuthi ngezinye izikhathi bayake balingeke ukuphinda bayibuyelele imikhuba enjalo. Nxa kungenzakala kuwe lokhu, zama ukucabangisisa ngempumela engabakhona uma ungehluleka ukuzithiba ulandele izifiso zakho. Okunye ongakwenza yikunanzelela izimo ezikwenza ucine ulingeka ukwephula umthetho kaJehova njalo uzibalekele. (Hubo. 26:4, 5; Zaga. 22:3) Nxa ungahlangana lesilingo thandaza kuJehova ucele ukuthi akunike amandla ukuze wenelise ukuzithiba. w17.09 4-5 ¶8-9

Okunye okungasinceda ukuthi sihlale silobuhlobo obuhle loJehova yikukhuthalela ukudinga inotho “yeqiniso” kulokuchitha isikhathi esinengi sidinga inotho yomhlaba ephelayo. Lokhu yikho kanye okwenziwa ngu-Abhrahama indoda yasendulo eyayilokholo. Lanxa wayekhomba ngophakathi edolobheni lase-Uri wakhetha ukusuka kulo wayahlala ematendeni njalo wazimisela ukuqinisa ubuhlobo bakhe loJehova. (Heb. 11:8-10) Kazange atshone egijimisa inotho yomhlaba lo kodwa wahlala ethembele kuNkulunkulu, ongumthombo wenotho yeqiniso. (Gen. 14:22, 23) UJesu watshela enye indoda eyayinothile wathi: “Aluba ufuna ukuthi uphelele, thengisa yonke inotho yakho uphe abayanga, lapho-ke uzakuba lenotho ezulwini. Usungeza ungilandele.” (Mat. 19:21) Indoda le kayizange ilingisele isibonelo sika-Abhrahama ngoba yayingelalo ukholo. Lanxa kunjalo bakhona abanye abatshengisa ukuthi bathembele kuNkulunkulu. w17.07 10 ¶12

Kwadlula iminyaka engu-430 ukuthi izizukulwane zakhe ziqoqwe zibe yisizwe esasizathatha ilizwe laseKhenani. (Eks. 12:40-42; Gal. 3:17) U-Abhrahama wazimisela ukubekezela ngoba wayelokholo kuJehova. (Heb. 11:8-12) Wabekezela lanxa engazange abone konke ayekuthenjisiwe kugcwaliseka. Kodwa akucabange intokozo azakuba layo ngesikhathi evuswa. Uzamangala mhla ebona izinto ezinengi ezalotshwa ngaye kanye lezizukulwane zakhe eBhayibhilini. Kuzamthokozisa lokwazi ukuthi uJehova wamsebenzisa ukuze afeze injongo yakhe mayelana lenzalo ethenjisiweyo. Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi kasoze azisole lakancane ngokulinda akwenzayo. w17.08 5-6 ¶10-11

Ibala lesiGrikhi elahunyutshwa ngokuthi “ukungcola” litsho izinto ezinengi. Lingatsho umkhuba wokubhema loba ukuthanda ukuhlekisa abantu ngamazwi abolileyo. (2 Khor. 7:1; Efe. 5:3, 4) Ibala leli lingatsho leminye imikhuba umuntu angayenza eyedwa njengokubala amabhuku avusa inkanuko kumbe ukubuka imifanekiso loba amavidiyo abantu abasemacansini. Umuntu owenza lokhu ucina eselomkhuba omubi wokutshaya ibhonyaponya. Ukubukela amavidiyo abantu abasemacansini kwenza umuntu ehluleke ukulawula imizwa yakhe lokuthi ahlale efuna ukuya emacansini njalonje. Ezinye ingcitshi zibika ukuthi umkhuba lo uyamngena umuntu uze ube segazini okokuthi uyabe esefana lezidakwa loba abantu ababhema izidakamizwa. Kanti njalo ukubukela izinto ezinjalo kuba lempumela ebuhlungu egoqela ukuhlala uzisola, ukuba livila emsebenzini, izingxabano emulini, ukudivosa lokufuna ukuzibulala. w17.08 19 ¶8-9

Umhubi wabhala amazwi la ecabanga ngendlela uJehova ayezabancedisa ngayo abako-Israyeli ngesikhathi bebuyela eJerusalema. Ukwazi ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayezaqinisa imigoqo yamasango abo ukuze abavikele kwamqinisa kakhulu umhubi. Lokhu kwenza lathi singathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uzasincedisa nxa siphakathi kwenhlupho. Kwezinye izikhathi ungaba phakathi kobunzima obungabangela ukuthi ukhathazeke kakhulu. Okuhle yikuthi uJehova uzakunika ukuhlakanipha ukuze wenelise ukubekezela. Umhubi wathi uJehova “uthumela umlayo wakhe emhlabeni; ilizwi lakhe ligijima masinyane. Wendlala ungqoqwane njengoboya bezimvu ahaze iliqhwa njengomlotha. Uphosela phansi isiqhotho sakhe njengamatshe. Ngubani ongamelana lomfutho wakhe olomqando na? Uthumela ilizwi lakhe konke kuncibilike.” (Hubo. 147:15-18) UNkulunkulu wethu ulamandla amangalisayo ngoba uyenelisa ukuqondisa isiqhotho longqoqwane! Ngakho kusegcekeni ukuthi angasincedisa lathi ukuthi simelane laloba yibuphi ubunzima esihlangana labo. w17.07 20 ¶14-15

UJehova nguMbusi omuhle kakhulu futhi kufanele sisekele ubukhosi bakhe ngenhliziyo yonke ngoba nguye owadala izinto zonke. Nguye yedwa okufaneleyo sibili ukubusa abantu lezingilosi. USathane kalalo ilungelo lokubusa ezulwini loba lapha emhlabeni ngoba akulalutho aludalileyo. Yikho ngesikhathi yena lo-Adamu lo-Eva behlamukela uJehova babesenza into embi kakhulu. (Jer. 10:23) Lanxa babe lenkululeko yokuzikhethela akutsho ukuthi leyonkululeko yayibanika ilungelo lokuhlamukela uNkulunkulu. Phela inkululeko yokuzikhethela inika umuntu ilungelo lokwenza izinqumo ezithile nsuku zonke hatshi elokuhlamukela uMdali wakhe onguye omnika ukuphila. Ngakho nxa umuntu ehlamukela uNkulunkulu uyabe eyisebenzisa kubi inkululeko yokuzikhethela. Iqiniso elikhona yikuthi siyakudinga ukubuswa nguJehova lokuqondiswa nguye. w17.06 27-28 ¶2-4

Nxa siwuqakathekisa umsebenzi wokutshumayela sizazimisela ukwenza njengomphostoli uPhawuli owaqhubeka etshumayela lanxa wayehlukuluzwa. (ImiSeb. 14:19-22) Ngokwesibonelo ngabo-1930 kusiya ku-1944 abafowethu labodadewethu e-United States babehlukuluzwa kakhulu. Lanxa kunjalo kabazange bakhalale kodwa baqhubeka betshumayela. Iziphathamandla zazingafuni ukuthi batshumayele ngakho abafowethu babedlulisela lawomacala emithethwandaba futhi banqoba. Ngo-1943 uMfowethu uKnorr wakhuluma ngelinye icala ababenqobe kulo emthethwandaba omkhulu wase-United States wathi: “Okwenza sinqobe amacala la yikuthi lisebenza nzima. . . . Ukubekezela kwenu bafowethu labodadewethu yikho okwenza sinqobe njalo sithole inkululeko yokutshumayela.” Ngakho lanxa singaze sihlukuluzwe ngeke siwutshiye umsebenzi wokutshumayela ngoba siyawuthanda. Nxa siwuthanda kakhulu umsebenzi wokutshumayela sizazama ngamandla wonke ‘ukufakaza ivangeli lomusa kaNkulunkulu’ hatshi ukuthi sidinge amahola esizawabika ekupheleni kwenyanga.—2 Tim. 4:5. w17.06 11-12 ¶11-12

Ukuthanda uNkulunkulu ngalindlela kwenza silalele imithetho yakhe, sibekezele njalo sizonde okubi. (Hubo. 97:10) Lanxa kunjalo akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi uSathane uzama ngazo zonke izindlela ukusenza singamthandi uJehova. Abantu esiphila labo lamuhla kabakuboni ukuqakatheka kokuthanda uNkulunkulu. IBhayibhili lakhuluma kudala ukuthi abantu bazakuba “ngabazithandayo” kulokuthi bathande uMdali wabo. (2 Tim. 3:2) Kanti njalo umhlaba lo obuswa nguSathane ukhuthaza abantu ukuthi baqakathekise ‘izinkanuko zabo—ukulangazela kwamehlo abo kanye lokuzigqaja ngezimpahla.’ (1 Joh. 2:16) Umphostoli uPhawuli waxwayisa amaKhristu ngengozi yokuthokozisa izinkanuko zawo. Wabhala wathi: “Ukuzindla kwenyama kuyikufa . . . ngoba ukuzindla kwenyama kuyibutha kuNkulunkulu.” (Rom. 8:6, 7, TBS.) Amazwi la aliqiniso ngoba abantu abagijimisa inotho kanye lokusuthisa izinkanuko zabo zemacansini bacina bewele emanyaleni.—1 Khor. 6:18; 1 Tim. 6:9, 10. w17.05 18 ¶5-6

Abazalwane abayiziphepheli kufanele babonge konke abakwenzelwayo, bangahlali becela njalonje. Lokhu kwenza abanye abazalwane bakhululeke ukubancedisa. Kuqakathekile lokuthi abafowethu labodadewethu abayiziphepheli bakhumbule ukuthi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kuzamele bazame ukuziphandela. Nxa bangenza njalo abanye bazabahlonipha futhi babathande. (2 Thes. 3:7-9) Lanxa kunjalo abazalwane abayiziphepheli bayaludinga usizo lwethu. Kakudingi ukuthi ube lemali enengi ukuze wenelise ukubanceda. Okudingakalayo yikuthi uzinike isikhathi sokubasiza njalo utshengise ukuthi uyabakhathalela. Ngokwesibonelo ungabatshengisa ukuthi izimota zigadelwa ngaphi, ukuthi bangathenga ngaphi ukudla okuhlanzekileyo futhi okungaduliyo kanye lokuthi bangenza yiphi imisebenzi yezandla ukuze bathole okokuziphilisa. Bakhuthaze ukuthi benze imisebenzi etshiyeneyo ebandleni. Nxa usenelisa ungabasiza langenyawo ezilula lapho besiya emihlanganweni. Okunye ongakwenza yikuhamba labo ekutshumayeleni njalo ubafundise izindlela zokuxoxa labantu. w17.05 5 ¶11-12

Abantu abanengi lamuhla baqakathekisa injabulo kanye lezifiso zabo njalo kabayiboni ingozi yokugijimisa izinto lezi. (1 Khor. 2:14) Ukulandela izifiso zabo kwenza kube nzima ukuthi behlukanise okuhle lokubi. (Heb. 5:11-14) Lokhu kubangela ukuthi bahlale befuna ukuba lezinto ezinengi empilweni futhi bangasuthiseki ngalokho abakutholayo. (UmTshu. 5:10) Ukuze umkhuba lo ungasihlaseli kufanele sibale iBhayibhili nsuku zonke. Kumele sisebenzise lezimiso esizitholayo ngoba zingasinceda sinqobe umkhuba wokuthanda inotho njengoba ukucabangisisa ngazo kwasiza loJesu ukuthi anqobe isilingo ayephakathi kwaso. (Mat. 4:8-10) Singenza njalo siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyamthanda uJesu. w17.05 26 ¶17