July

UShebhina wayelesikhundla esikhulu ‘sokuphatha isigodlo’ seNkosi uHezekhiya. (Isaya. 22:15) Kodwa okudanisayo yikuthi waqalisa ukuzigqaja lokufuna udumo. (Isaya. 22:16-18) UNkulunkulu wakubona ukuthi uShebhina ugijimisa udumo ‘wasemxotsha emsebenzini ayewenza’ wafaka u-Eliyakhimi. (Isaya. 22:19-21) Lokhu kwenzakala ngesikhathi inkosi yase-Asiriya uSenakheribi ifuna ukususela iJerusalema amanqe. Ngelinye ilanga inkosi le yathumela izikhulu zayo eJerusalema ziphelekezelwa libutho elikhulu okumangalisayo. Yayifuna ukwethusela uHezekhiya lokwenza amaJuda abe lomhedehede. (2 AmaKho. 18:17-25) INkosi uHezekhiya yathumela u-Eliyakhimi ukuthi ayekhuluma lezikhulu ze-Asiriya kodwa kazange ahambe yedwa. Wahamba lamadoda amabili futhi omunye wakhona kwakunguShebhina. Ngalesosikhathi uShebhina wayesengumabhalani. Lokhu kuveza ukuthi uShebhina kazange azonde loba akhalale ukukhonza ngesikhathi ethathelwa isikhundla ayelaso kodwa wazithoba wemukela umsebenzi ophansi awuphiwayo. w18.03 25 ¶7-8, 10

Kwezinye izikhathi singafikelwa ngumcabango wokufuna ukuba lenotho loba ukuthanda injabulo. Nxa kungaba njalo akumelanga siphele amandla kodwa kumele siqhubeke sicela uJehova ukuthi asinike umoya ongcwele ozasisiza ukuthi sigxilise izingqondo zethu ezintweni ezilungileyo. (Luk. 11:13) Khumbula ukuthi uPhetro wake wenza amaphutha amanengi. (Mat. 16:22, 23; Luk. 22:34, 54-62; Gal. 2:11-14) Kodwa kazange avumele ukuthi lokho kumqede amandla futhi uJehova wamsiza ukuthi alungisise ubuntu bakhe. Lathi uJehova angasisiza ukuthi senze okufanayo. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uPhetro waloba izinto ezingasisiza ukuthi sibe lobuhlobo obuhle loNkulunkulu. (2 Phet. 1:5-8) Kumele ‘senze imizamo yonke’ ukuze sibe lokuzithiba, ukubekezela kanye lomusa wobuzalwane. Ukuba lezimpawu lezi kuzasisiza ukuthi sibe ngabantu abaqinileyo ekukhonzeni. Yikho kungaba kuhle ukuthi nsuku zonke uzibuze ukuthi, ‘Kuyini engingakwenza lamuhla ukuze ngiqinise ubuhlobo bami loJehova?’ w18.02 25-26 ¶12-13

UJobe wayemazi uJehova futhi eyizwisisa imithetho yakhe. Lokhu kwamfuqa ukuthi ayisebenzise empilweni yakhe. Wakubona ukuthi wayengeke athi uyamthanda uNkulunkulu ngapha ephatha kubi abanye. (Jobe. 6:14) UJobe wayebakhathalela abantu njalo kazange azibone engcono kulabo. Ngokwesibonelo wathi, “Yena lowo owangenzayo esizalweni kabenzanga labo na?” (Jobe. 31:13-22) Kazange avumele ukuthi inotho lodumo kumenze azikhukhumeze loba akhangelele abanye phansi. Wayetshiyene kakhulu labantu abanothileyo abagcwele emhlabeni lamuhla. Lanxa wayeyindoda eyayikhomba ngophakathi kazange avumele loba yini ukuthi iphambanise ubungane bakhe loJehova. Wayekwazi ukuthi lokho kwakungabangela ukuthi amphike ‘uNkulunkulu ophezulu.’ (Jobe. 31:24-28) UJobe wayekwazi lokuthi umuntu othetheyo kumele awuhloniphe umtshado. Yikho wenza isivumelwano lamehlo akhe ukuze angahawukeli abanye abafazi ngaphandle komkakhe.—Jobe. 31:1. w18.02 11-12 ¶16, 18-19

UNowa kazange abe ngumuntu olungileyo nje kwaphelela khonapho kodwa wazimisela lokuba ‘ngumtshumayeli wokulunga.’ Lokhu kwatshengisa ukuthi wayelokholo oluqinileyo sibili. (2 Phet. 2:5) Umphostoli uPhawuli wabhala wathi: “Ngokukholwa kwakhe wawulahla umhlaba.” (Heb. 11:7) Kumele ukuthi umsebenzi lo wenza abantu bamphikisa, bamchothoza futhi bafuna ukumhlasela. Loba kunjalo uNowa kazange ‘esabe abantu.’ (Zaga. 29:25) UJehova wamnika isibindi njengalokho akwenza ezincekwini zakhe lamuhla. Kwathi uNowa esephile iminyaka edlula 500 uJehova wamnika umsebenzi wokwakha umkhumbi ukuze kuhlengwe abantu lezinyamazana. (Gen. 5:32; 6:14) Lo kwakungumsebenzi omkhulu okumangalisayo. UNowa wayekwazi lokuthi izinto zazingeke zitshelele ngesikhathi esenza umsebenzi lo ngoba wayezathwala nzima ngenxa yokuphikiswa lokuchothozwa ngabantu. Loba kunjalo waba lokholo wenza lokho uJehova ayemtshele khona.—Gen. 6:22. w18.02 4 ¶4, 6-7

Okuqakathekileyo ongakwenza ukuze ugcine ukumanyana yikuba lothando njengoJehova uNkulunkulu. (1 Joh. 4:8) Kasifisi ukuthi senze angathi siyabathanda abazalwane bethu thina sibavala amehlo nje. UPhawuli wasixwayisa ukuthi ‘sibekezelelane ethandweni.’ (Efe. 4:2) Unanzelele yini ukuthi uPhawuli kazange aphonguthi sibabekezelele abanye kodwa wathi sikwenze ngothando? Kuqakathekile ukuthi sihlale sikukhumbula lokhu ngoba amabandla esikuwo abunjwa ngabantu bemihlobo etshiyeneyo abadonswe nguJehova. (Joh. 6:44) UJehova wabona okuhle kubo yikho wabasondeza kuye. Ngakho nxa yena ebathanda abafowethu labodadewethu lathi kumele senze okufananayo. Akumelanga loba nini sigodle uthando okufanele sibatshengise lona.—1 Joh. 4:20, 21. w18.01 16 ¶14

Abanye abazali batshela abantwababo ukuthi ukubhabhathizwa bazakubona nxa sebeqale bafunda baze bathola imisebenzi. Lokhu kungakhanya kulicebo elihle kodwa kuyingozi. Umzali kumele azibuze imibuzo elandelayo: ‘Lokhu kuzamnceda yini umntanami? Kuyavumelana yini lalokho iBhayibhili elisifundisa khona?’ Bazali khumbulani ukuthi izinto ezifunwa nguJehova zitshiyene kakhulu lezinto eziqakathekiswa ngabantu emhlabeni lo. (Jak. 4:7, 8; 1 Joh. 2:15-17; 5:19) Ukuba lobuhlobo obuhle loJehova yikho kuphela okungavikela abantwabenu ngoba uSathane ubakhangele ngelihlo elibi. Nxa umzali eqakathekisa imfundo ephezulu lemisebenzi elemali kungaba lula ukuthi umntanakhe acabange ukuthi izinto lezi ziqakathekile ukwedlula ukukhonza uJehova. Bazali ukhona yini phakathi kwenu ofuna ukuthi abantwabakhe bathande ezomhlaba ukwedlula uJehova? Lingakhohlwa ukuthi ukukhonza uJehova yikho kuphela okungenza umuntu aphumelele njalo ahlale ethokoza.—Hubo. 1:2, 3. w18.03 10-11 ¶10-11

Abanengi sebekunanzelele ukuthi ukungabi lezinto ezinengi empilweni kwenza bathokoze njalo kubanika isikhathi sokwenza okunengi emsebenzini kaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo umfowethu okuthiwa nguJack wathengisa indlu kanye lebhizimusi yakhe ukuze aphayone lomkakhe. Uthi: “Kwangisiza ngoba izikhathi ezinengi ngangihlala ngikhathazekile. Umkami wayeliphayona ngalesosikhathi futhi wayehlala ethokoza. Wayejayele ukungitshela ukuthi yena uyathokoza ngoba usebenzela umqhatshi omuhle kakhulu. Khathesi lami sengiliphayona njalo kuyangithokozisa ukuthi sesisebenzela uJehova sobabili.” Singabona njani ukuthi sesiyithanda kakhulu imali? Ukuzibuza imibuzo elandelayo kungasinceda: ‘Indlela engiphila ngayo iyatshengisa yini ukuthi ngiyakulalela lokho okutshiwo liBhayibhili mayelana lokuthanda imali? Ukudinga imali yikho engikuqakathekisa kakhulu yini empilweni yami? Indlela engithanda ngayo izinto ezisemhlabeni lo isibuphambanisa yini ubuhlobo bami loJehova? Isingenza ngehluleke yini ukunceda abanye ebandleni? Ngiyakholwa yini ukuthi uJehova uzanginakekela ngakho konke engikudingayo?’ UJehova kabadanisi loba sekutheni labo abethembela kuye. w18.01 25 ¶12-13

Kuqakatheke kakhulu ukuthi ngamunye wethu asebenzele ukusindiswa kwakhe. Lokhu ungakwenza ngokubala iBhayibhili, ukucabangisisa ngalokho okubalayo, ukuthandaza lokucabanga ngokuhle uJehova akwenzele khona. Nxa ungakukhuthalela lokhu uzahlala ulobuhlobo obuhle loJehova. Kanti njalo uzakuba lesifiso esikhulu sokutshela abanye lokho okukholwayo. (Hubo. 73:28) UJesu wathi: ‘Nxa ekhona ofuna ukungilandela, kazidele athathe [“isigodo sakhe sokuhlutshwa”, NW] angilandele.’ (Mat. 16:24) Amazwi la atshengisa ukuthi nxa ufuna ukuba ngumlandeli kaKhristu kumele uzinikele kuJehova njalo ubhabhathizwe. Nxa ungakwenza lokhu uzathola izibusiso khathesi kanye lokuphila okungapheliyo ngesikhathi esizayo. Ngakho bantwana qhubekani lisebenzela ukusindiswa kwenu! w17.12 27 ¶18-19

Nxa abazali bangaba lesineke ekufundiseni, kuzakuba lula ukuthi abantwababo bazwisise “ububanzi lobude lokudepha kanye lokutshona” kokholo. (Efe. 3:18) Kodwa kumele bazame ukusebenzisa izinto ezihambelana leminyaka yabantwababo njalo babazwisise ngoba indlela abantwana ababamba ngayo izinto iyatshiyana. Nxa abantwana sebekholwa ukuthi abakufundiswayo kuliqiniso kuzakuba lula ukuthi benelise ukuchazela abanye lokho abakukholwayo. (1 Phet. 3:15) Ngakho nxa ungumzali zibuze: ‘Umntanami uyenelisa yini ukuchazela abanye ukuthi kwenzakalani nxa umuntu angafa? Uyakuvuma yini okutshiwo liBhayibhili ngendaba le?’ Akulula ukunceda umntwana ukuthi azwisise iLizwi likaNkulunkulu kodwa imizamo yenu bazali ingaba lempumela emihle ekucineni. (Dute. 6:6, 7) Isibonelo senu bazali laso singasiza abantwabenu ukuthi babe lokholo. Udadewethu okuthiwa nguStephanie olamantombazane amathathu uthi: “Kusukela abantwabami besesebancane bengihlala ngizibuza ukuthi, ‘Ngiyabatshela yini ukuthi kungani ngikholwa ukuthi uJehova ukhona lokuthi uyasithanda? Ngiyabachazela yini ukuthi ukulalela imithetho yakhe kunceda ngani? Bayakubona yini ukuthi ngiyamthanda uJehova?’ Phela angisoze ngikhangelele ukuthi abantwabami babe lokholo kuJehova mina ngingelalo.” w17.12 20 ¶8-10

Kuyini okwenza uMatha wakholwa ukuthi umnewabo uzavuswa? Wayekwazi ukuthi kulabathile abake bavuswa endulo. Kungenzakala ukuthi wafunda ngabo esinagogeni kumbe ngakibo. Kulezindaba ezintathu okukhulunywa ngazo eBhayibhilini okungenzeka uMatha wayecabanga ngazo. Endabeni yokuqala sifunda ngalokho okwenziwa ngu-Elija. Indoda le yayingumphrofethi futhi uNkulunkulu wayinika amandla okwenza izimangaliso. Ngesinye isikhathi umfelokazi ongumyanga owayehlala eZarefathi wamukela umphrofethi lo emzini wakhe. UNkulunkulu wambusisa owesifazane lo ngokwenza ukuthi ifulawa kanye lamafutha akhe kungapheli ukuze yena lendodana yakhe bangabulawa yindlala. (1 AmaKho. 17:8-16) Kodwa ngokuya kwesikhathi indodana yomfelokazi lo yagula yaze yafa. U-Elija weza wafika wabamba isidumbu somfana wasekhuleka wathi: “Nkulunkulu wami, ake ubuyisele impilo yalumntwana!” UNkulunkulu wakuzwa ukukhala kuka-Elija, lakanye umfana wavuka waphila. Lesi yisimangaliso sokuqala esitholakala eBhayibhilini esiphathelane lokuvuswa komuntu ofileyo. (1 AmaKho. 17:17-24) Kumele ukuthi uMatha wayeyazi indaba le. w17.12 3-4 ¶1, 3, 5-6

Abantu abanengi basikhuthaza ukuthi sixotshane lemisebenzi elemali, izikhundla, udumo lenotho. Bacabanga ukuthi izinto lezi yizo ezenza umuntu athokoze. Ukuba seduze labantu abalomcabango onjalo kuyingozi kakhulu ngoba kungenza lathi sicine sesicabanga njengabo. Ukufuna isikhundla lodumo kungasenza sithokoze yini? Ngitsho lakancane. Khumbula ukuthi uSathane wayefuna ukuba lesikhundla esikhulu lodumo kodwa kazange ayithole intokozo ngoba iBhayibhili lithi uthukuthele. (Mat. 4:8, 9; Isam. 12:12) Kodwa cabanga ngentokozo esiyitholayo nxa sifundisa abanye ngoNkulunkulu langethemba elihle esililindeleyo. Lo ngumsebenzi othokozisayo sibili! Okunye njalo yikuthi abantu abathanda izikhundla, imali lodumo bajayele ukuba lomoya wokuncintisana kanye lomhawu. Isimanga yikuthi abathokozi, ngoba abakwenzayo “yikuxotshana lomoya.”—UmTshu. 4:4. w17.11 23 ¶11-13

Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zazilokhu zikuqakathekisa ukuhlabela langesikhathi sikaJesu. Ngokwesibonelo cabanga ngalokho uJesu akwenzayo ngesikhathi esezabulawa. Yena labafundi bakhe bahlabela izingoma ngemva kokunanza iSidlo SeNkosi Sakusihlwa. AmaKhristu lawo ayekuqakathekisa ukuhlabela ukuze adumise uNkulunkulu. Lanxa ayehlangana ezindlini zabazalwane, ayekukhuthalele ukudumisa uJehova ngokuhlabela. Umphostoli uPhawuli wawakhuthaza ukuthi aqhubeke ‘efundisana njalo eselulekana ngokuhlakanipha konke, lalapho ehlabela amahubo, lamaculo kanye lezingoma zokomoya ngokubonga uNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zawo.’ (Kol. 3:16) Lathi kumele sizihlabele ngokubonga izingoma zethu ngoba lazo ziyikudla esikunikwa ngesikhathi esifaneleyo ‘yinceku ethembekileyo lehlakaniphileyo.’—Mat. 24:45. w17.11 4 ¶7-8

UJehova watshela abako-Israyeli ukuthi bakhethe amadolobho okuphephela ngapha langapha kweJodani. Amadolobho la ayeseduze labantu, ngakho kwakulula ukuthi umuntu obulele omunye ngengozi aphangise ukufika khona ukuze avikeleke. (Nani. 35:12-14) Kanti njalo imigwaqo eyayiqonda emadolobheni la yayilungiswa ukuze ihlale imihle. (Dute. 19:3) Ezinye ingcitshi zembali yamaJuda zibika ukuthi emigwaqweni le kwakulamabhakane ayeqondisa umuntu obalekela edolobheni lokuphephela. Ngakho njengoba amadolobho la ayeseduze, sasingekho isizatho sokuthi umuntu obulele omunye ngengozi abalekele kwezinye izizwe ezazikhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. UJehova nguye owafaka umthetho wokuthi umuntu obulala omunye abulawe. Lanxa kunjalo wenza uhlelo lokuthi umuntu owayebulele omunye ngengozi atshengiswe isihawu futhi avikelwe. Omunye umlobi wathi: “Yonke into yayenziwe yaba lula.” Siyabona-ke ukuthi uJehova nguNkulunkulu “olesihawu esikhulu” futhi kahlali elandelela abantu bakhe efuna ukubajezisa.—Efe. 2:4. w17.11 14 ¶4-5

Ibhuku likaZekhariya lisitshela ngemibono emangalisayo eyabonwa ngumphrofethi lo. Wabona umqulu wencwadi ondizayo, owesifazana ovalelwe phakathi kwesilulu loba ibhasikiti kanye labesifazana ababili abalempiko ezifana lezengabuzane. (Zek. 5:1, 7-9) Kungani uJehova watshengisa umphrofethi wakhe imibono le? Umbono wesithupha lowesikhombisa owabonwa nguZekhariya utshengisa ukuthi uJehova uyabuzonda ububi. Ngakho lokhu kuyisixwayiso kuloba ngubani oqhubeka esenza okubi phakathi kwabantu bakhe. Kumele sibuzonde ububi nxa sifuna ukuhlala simsulwa phambi kwakhe. Imibono le isifundisa lokuthi nxa singazimisela ukwenza izinto ezithokozisa uNkulunkulu kasisoze sibhujiswe kodwa sizathola izibusiso. UJehova kasoze akukhohlwe konke esikwenzayo ukuze sihlale sihlanzekile ekukhonzeni futhi uzasincedisa ukuthi siphumelele. w17.10 21, 25 ¶1, 19

Odadewethu abangakatshadi sebelamathuba amanengi okutshengisa ukuthi balesibindi lokuthi bazimisele ukusebenzela uJehova. Balakho ukuba ngamaphayona esikhathi sonke, ukuyancedisa lapho okulabamemezeli abalutshwana, ukuyancedisa enhlelweni zokwakha lokuya eSikolo Sabavangeli BoMbuso loba eSikolo SeGiliyadi. Lanxa abesifazana asebekhulile bengasenelisi ukwenza konke lokhu, kuyisibusiso ukuba labo ebandleni. Kanti njalo siyabathanda kakhulu odadewethu laba. Lanxa abanye babo bengasenelisi ukwenza okunengi njengakudala, kukhona abangakwenza ukuze batshengise ukuthi balesibindi. Ngokwesibonelo abadala bangacela udadewethu osekhulile ukuthi ayenceda udade othile ngendaba yokugqoka. Kumele abe lesibindi udadewethu lo njalo axoxe laye ngomusa ukuze amncede abone ukuthi indlela agqoka ngayo ibaphatha njani abanye. (1 Tim. 2:9, 10) Nxa odadewethu abakhulileyo bengakwenza lokhu, ibandla liyaqina. w17.09 31-32 ¶17-18

Ngezinye izikhathi kwakusiba labantu ababengafuni ukuthi iBhayibhili libe sezandleni zabantu abanengi. Lanxa kunjalo bakhona abanye ababemthanda uNkulunkulu abangazange bakuvume lokhu. Omunye wabo nguJohn Wycliffe owayehlala eNgilandi ngeminyaka yabo 1330 kusiya ku-1384. Indoda le yayikholwa ukuthi wonke umuntu kumele athole iLizwi likaNkulunkulu ukuze limsize. Loba kunjalo abantu abanengi eNgilandi ngalesosikhathi babengelawo amaBhayibhili futhi kwakungalula ukuwathola. Ngo-1382 uJohn Wycliffe labanye bakhe bahumutsha iBhayibhili ngolimi lwesiNgisi. IBhayibhili leli laqalisa ukusetshenziswa liqembu labantu ababebizwa ngokuthi ngamaLollards ababekuthanda ukufunda iBhayibhili. Abantu laba babehamba bebhoda ezindaweni ezitshiyeneyo eNgilandi betshumayela. Babesithi bangafika emizini yabantu babafundele iBhayibhili leli futhi babatshiyele ezinye izingxenye zalo ezazibhalwe ngesandla. Ngeminyaka eyalandelayo abantu be-Europe lakwezinye izindawo emhlabeni baqalisa ukuhumutsha iBhayibhili njalo balidinda ngezindimi ezazikhulunywa ngabantu. w17.09 20-21 ¶10-12

Ukuswela inzalo ngolunye ‘uhlupho’ abatshadileyo abangahlangana lalo. (Zaga. 13:12) Lasendulo lokhu kwakubazwisa ubuhlungu kakhulu omama. Yikho uRakheli umkaJakhobe waveza ubuhlungu ayebuzwa lapho ebona udadewabo esiba labantwana yena engelabo. (Gen. 30:1, 2) Ukufelwa ngotshade laye ngolunye uhlupho olunzima kakhulu olwehlela abatshadileyo. Lanxa uyabe ungakhangelelanga ukuthi lokhu kungakwehlela, kuyenzakala ngezinye izikhathi njalo kuyabe sekumele ubekezele. Sonke silethemba lokuthi abafileyo bazavuswa. (Joh. 5:28, 29) Ithemba leli liyaduduza ikakhulu nxa wafelwa ngomunye wakho. Kanti njalo litshengisa indlela uBaba wethu olothando asebenzisa ngayo iLizwi lakhe ukuze asisekele futhi asiduduze kuzo zonke izinhlupheko zethu. w17.06 4-6 ¶1, 6, 9

Ngelinye ilanga uNkulunkulu wakhuluma loMosi wamtshela ibizo lakhe kanye lezimpawu zakhe. Waqala ngokumtshela ukuthi unguNkulunkulu olesihawu lomusa. (Eks. 34:5-7) UJehova wayelakho ukuthi aqale amtshele ngamandla akhe loba ngenhlakanipho yakhe. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi uMosi wayefuna ukwazi ukuthi uzamsekela yini, uJehova waqala ngezimpawu ezazizamenza abone ukuthi ulesifiso esikhulu sokunceda izinceku zakhe. (Eks. 33:13) Sonke sadalwa sisenelisa ukuba lesihawu kodwa ngenxa yesono esilaso siyehluleka ukulutshengisa uphawu lolu. Ngezinye izikhathi sijayele ukugijimisa okufunwa yithi sikhohlwe ngabanye abantu. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sibe lesihawu kwabanye? Okokuqala, yikuzipha isikhathi sokuhlola ukuthi uJehova labanye abantu batshengise njani ukuthi balesihawu. Okwesibili, yikucabanga ngokuthi singamlingisela njani uNkulunkulu lokuthi ukuba lesihawu kusinceda njani. w17.09 8-9 ¶1, 3

Okumele kusifuqe ukuthi sintshintshe ubuntu bethu yikufuna ukudumisa uJehova hatshi ukubukwa ngabantu. Khumbula ukuthi ingilosi ethile eyayiphelele yacina yenze isono ngenxa yokuzigqaja. (Khangela loHezekheli 28:17.) Ngakho lathi kulula ukuthi siqalise ukuzikhukhumeza loba ukuzigqaja ngenxa yokuthi silesono. Kodwa lokhu akutsho ukuthi ngeke senelise ukuba ngabantu abazithobayo. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sibe ngabantu abathobekileyo? Yikubala iLizwi likaNkulunkulu nsuku zonke lokuzinika isikhathi sokucabangisisa ngalokho esiyabe sikubala. (Dute. 17:18-20) Kumele sicabangisise kakhulu ngalokho okwakhulunywa nguJesu ngesikhathi esemhlabeni kanye lesibonelo sakhe esihle sokuthobeka. (Mat. 20:28) Wayethobekile sibili ngoba ngelinye ilanga wagezisa abafundi bakhe izinyawo. (Joh. 13:12-17) Okunye okumele sikwenze yikuthandaza kokuphela kuNkulunkulu sicela umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze senelise ukunqoba umkhuba wokuzibona siqakathekile kulabanye.—Gal. 6:3, 4. w17.08 25 ¶11-12

Kungenzeka sake sacela ukuthi uJehova asiqondise ngomoya wakhe ongcwele ngesikhathi sisenza isinqumo esithile futhi ngemva kwalokho sabona ukuthi uwuphendulile sibili umthandazo wethu. Kodwa ngokuya kwesikhathi izinto zaphonguntshintsha singalindelanga njalo saqalisa ukuhlaselwa zinhlupho. (UmTshu. 9:11) Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi singakhathazeki ngalutho njalo sibe ‘lokuthula kukaNkulunkulu’? UPhawuli wathi yikuthandaza. Yikho nxa sikhathazekile kufanele sithandaze kuNkulunkulu ngenhliziyo yonke ngoba yena uyasikhathalela. (1 Phet. 5:6, 7) Okunye esingakwenza ‘yikumbonga’ ngokuhle asenzele khona. Ukuhlala sikhumbula ukuthi uJehova ‘angenza okukhulu kakhulu kulalokho esikucelayo kumbe esikucabangayo’ kuzasiqinisa okwamagama.—Efe. 3:20. w17.08 9-10 ¶4, 6, 10

Abanye abafowethu labodadewethu asebekhulile bake baba ngamaphayona ngesikhathi besakhula futhi lokhu kwabenza bathokoza kakhulu. Ngakho kungaba kuhle nxa ungosakhulayo ukuthi uxoxe labo. Nxa ungaxoxa labo uzabona ukuthi ukuba senkonzweni yesikhathi sonke kuzakufundisa izinto ezinengi empilweni. UJesu wafunda okunengi kuYise ngesikhathi esezulwini. Langesikhathi esemhlabeni waqhubeka ezimisele ukufunda. Ngokwesibonelo wafunda ukuthinta izinhliziyo zabantu lapho etshumayela izindaba ezinhle kanye lokuhlala eqotho nxa esebunzimeni. (Isaya. 50:4; Heb. 5:8; 12:2) UJesu wathi: “Hambani lenze abafundi . . . libafundise.” (Mat. 28:19, 20) Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi uzathokoza empilweni nxa ungakhetha ukwenza umsebenzi lo odumisa uNkulunkulu, okwesikhathi sonke. Kodwa-ke njengayo yonke imisebenzi, kuzathatha isikhathi ukuthi ube yingcitshi emsebenzini lo wokwenza abafundi. w17.07 23 ¶6-7

Asithandabuzi ukuthi uJehova uNkulunkulu nguye kuphela ongasinika induduzo esiyidingayo. (2 Khor. 1:3, 4) UnguBaba olesihawu esikhulu kakhulu. Okunye okunganceda abafelweyo yikududuzwa ngabanye ebandleni. (1 Thes. 5:11) Singabaduduza njani ‘abephukileyo emoyeni?’ (Zaga. 17:22) Kufanele sikhumbule ukuthi ‘kulesikhathi sokuthula lesikhathi sokukhuluma.’ (UmTshu. 3:7) Omunye umfelokazi okuthiwa nguDalene uthi: “Abantu abafelweyo bayakuthanda ukuveza imizwa lemicabango yabo. Ngakho into eqakathekileyo ongayenza yikumlalela umuntu ofelweyo aze aqede akutshoyo.” Udade okuthiwa nguJunia olomnewabo owazibulalayo uthi: “Lanxa ungabe ungabuzwisisi ubuhlungu abuzwayo lowomuntu, okuqakathekileyo yikutshengisa ukuthi ulesifiso sokuzwisisa ubuhlungu akubo.” Okunye okumele sikukhumbule ngabantu abafelweyo yikuthi indlela abaveza ngayo ubuhlungu ababuzwayo iyatshiyana. w17.07 13-14 ¶3, 11-13

Abantu abanengi lamuhla baqakathekisa imali ukwedlula loba yini. Bahlala becabanga ngayo futhi basebenza ubusuku lemini bezama ukuyibuthelela. Abanye njalo baqakathekisa izimuli zabo, impilakahle loba izinto abafuna ukuzenza empilweni. Kodwa ikhona indaba eqakatheke kulazo zonke okumele ngamunye wethu ahlale ecabange ngayo. Indaba le iphathelane lokulwela ubukhosi bukaJehova. Kufanele sizimisele ukungayikhohlwa indaba le eqakatheke kangaka. Kodwa kungenzakala yini ukuthi siyikhohlwe? Ye, kungenzakala ngoba zinengi izinto ezingasiphambanisa sicine sikhohlwa ngokuqakatheka kobukhosi bukaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo ukuchitha isikhathi esinengi sisenza imisebenzi yethu yansuku zonke kumbe sicabange kakhulu ngenhlupho zethu size sikhohlwe ngendaba yobukhosi bukaJehova. Ukusekela ubukhosi bukaJehova kuzasinceda ukuthi silwisane lenhlupho esihlangana lazo nsuku zonke futhi sisondele kuJehova. w17.06 22 ¶1-2

UJehova unguMbusi olothando. Ngakho abadala bebandla kanye lalabo abakhokhelayo ezimulini bangamlingisela ngokuphatha kuhle abanye abangaphansi kwabo. Akumelanga babe lokhahlo kumbe benze angathi sebengamakhosi phezu kwabo kodwa kufanele benze njengoPhawuli owalingisela uNkulunkulu leNdodana yakhe uJesu. UPhawuli kazange abahalade abanye kumbe ababambe ngamandla ukuthi benze okuthile kodwa wayebancenga sonke isikhathi. (Rom. 12:1; Efe. 4:1; Filim. 8-10) Le yiyo indlela uJehova aphatha ngayo abantu. Nxa lathi singakwenza lokhu siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyabusekela ubukhosi bakhe. Enye indlela esingasekela ngayo ubukhosi bukaJehova yikulalela abazalwane abakhokhelayo enhlanganisweni. Lanxa ezinye izinqumo ezenziwayo singabe singazizwisisi kangako kumbe singavumelani lazo siyaqhubeka silalela futhi sizithoba. Abantu emhlabeni lo abakuthandi ukulalela kodwa thina siyalalela ngoba siyakwazi ukuthi kuyamthokozisa uJehova.—Efe. 5:22, 23; 6:1-3; Heb. 13:17. w17.06 30 ¶14-15

Kungelani lokuthi bancane loba badala, abanye abafowethu labodadewethu abasebandleni bahlaselwa yikudana loba ezinye inhlupho eziphezu kwamandla abo. Yikho kungadingeka ukuthi siye kubo sixoxe labo, sibakhuthaze njalo sibaduduze. (Zaga. 12:25; Kol. 4:11) Singenza njalo siyabe sitshengisa ngamazwi langezenzo ukuthi siyabathanda “abangabemuli yabakholwayo.” (Gal. 6:10) IBhayibhili lavele latsho ukuthi “ezinsukwini zokucina” kuzagcwala abantu abazithandayo labathanda imali. (2 Tim. 3:1, 2) Ngakho thina kufanele sisebenze nzima ukuze sihlale simthanda uNkulunkulu, sithande iLizwi lakhe kanye labafowethu labodadewethu. Kuliqiniso sibili ukuthi kwezinye izikhathi kungaba lokungazwanani phakathi kwethu labanye esikhonza labo. Kodwa nxa sibathanda sizazimisela ukulungisisa loba yikuphi ukungazwanani okungabakhona. (Efe. 4:32; Kol. 3:14) Ngakho kasiqhubekeni simthanda kakhulu uJehova, sithande iLizwi lakhe kanye labazalwane bethu. w17.05 21 ¶17-18

Kasimangali nxa abantu bomhlaba lo besiphatha kubi loba besenza izinto ezisizwisa ubuhlungu. Kodwa ukholo lwethu lunganyikinywa nxa singabona lokhu sekusenziwa ngabafowethu labodadewethu. Manje ungenzani nxa kulokuthile okungakuphathanga kuhle ebandleni kumbe nxa ukhutshwe ngomunye umKhristu? Uzakhalala yini utshiye ukukhonza uJehova? Njengoba sonke silesono, kungenzakala ukuthi senze izinto ezingaphatha kubi abanye ebandleni loba sibazwise ubuhlungu. Lanxa lokhu kungandanga akumelanga kusimangalise nxa kungenzakala. Okuhle yikuthi uJehova usinike iLizwi lakhe iBhayibhili elisinceda ukuthi sihlale siqotho kuye ngitsho lanxa singabe siphathwe kubi ngabanye ebandleni.—Hubo. 55:12-14. w17.04 19 ¶4-5

Inhlupho lezi zingaba zinengi ikakhulu nxa umkakho engakhonzi. Kodwa akumelanga wehlukane lomunye wakho loba ukuthi udivose ngenxa nje yokuthi kafuni ukwamukela iqiniso. (1 Khor. 7:12-16) Ngokwesibonelo lanxa indoda engamkhonziyo uJehova ingeke ikhokhele ezindabeni zokukhonza, umkayo kumele ayihloniphe ngoba iyinhloko emulini. Kunjalo langomzalwane olomkakhe ongakhonziyo kumele amthande futhi amphathe kuhle. (Efe. 5:22, 23, 28, 29) Kwezinye izikhathi omunye wakho angakufakela imingcele ekukhonzeni. Lokhu kwake kwenzakala komunye udadewethu, umkakhe wamtshela ukuthi yiwaphi amalanga okumele ahambe ngawo ekutshumayeleni. Nxa lawe uphakathi kwesimo esinjalo kungaba kuhle ukuthi uzibuze imibuzo elandelayo, ‘Umkami uhlose ukungivimbela ukuthi ngikhonze uJehova yini? Nxa kungenjalo, ngingalandela lokho akutshoyo yini?’ Ukuba ngumuntu ozwisisayo kungakusiza ukuthi wenelise ukubalekela izingxabano ezingelancedo.—Flp. 4:5. w17.10 13 ¶7-8

Lamuhla abantu bazo “zonke izindimi lezizwe” babuya ngobunengi enhlanganisweni kaJehova. (Zek. 8:23) Kodwa nxa abantwabakho bengaluzwisisi ulimi olukhulumayo kungaba nzima ukuthi ubafundise iqiniso. Phela yibo okumele uqale ngabo ukubafundisa ukuze ‘bamazi’ uJehova njalo bathole ukuphila okungapheliyo. (Joh. 17:3) Ngakho ukuze uphumelele ukufundisa abantwabakho imilayo kaJehova kumele ‘ukhulume ngayo’ ngazo zonke izikhathi. (Dute. 6:6, 7) Nxa uhlala kwelinye ilizwe abantwabakho bangafunda ulimi lwakuleyondawo kwabanye emphakathini loba esikolo. Kodwa ukuze balwazi ulimi lwakho lomdabuko kuqakathekile ukuthi uhlale uxoxa labo ngalo. Nxa sebelwazi kuzakuba lula ukuthi bakhulume lawe futhi bakutshele lokho okubahluphayo. Kanti njalo ukwazi indimi ezinengi kuyamnceda umntwana ukuthi akhaliphe futhi enelise ukukhuluma labantu abatshiyeneyo. w17.05 9 ¶5-6

Abako-Israyeli babengelazikhali zokulwa lezokuzivikela ikanti uJabhini yena wayelenqola zempi ezingu-900. Yikho kwakukhanya kunzima ukuthi bangamnqoba. (Abahlu. 4:1-3, 13; 5:6-8) Lanxa kunjalo, uJehova watshela uBharakhi amazwi asembhalweni walamuhla. UBharakhi wafika watshela abantu okwakukhulunywe nguJehova bahle basilanda isitha eThahanakhi. (Abahlu. 4:14-16) Yathi isitshisa impi kwana izulu lesiqhotho futhi kwakungasahambeki indawana yonke. Bathi bekubona lokhu uSisera lebutho lakhe bathi nyawo ngibeletha. UBharakhi wabaxotshanisa okomango ongamakhilomitha angu-24 waze wayafika eHoreshi. USisera wathi ebona sekukubi weqa watshiya inqola wathathela ngejubane waqonda eZahanani. Kungenzakala ukuthi indawo le yayiseduze leKhedeshi. Wafika wacela ukucatsha etendeni likaJayeli umkaHebheri umKheni, lakanye uJayeli wavuma. Khonokho nje uSisera bamthatha ubuthongo ngoba wayedinwe efile. Uthe esabuthuza ubuthongo uJayeli wathatha isikhonkwane setende lakhe wasithela enhlafunweni kaSisera wahle wafa. (Abahlu. 4:17-21) Bayinqoba kanjalo-ke impi abako-Israyeli. w17.04 29-30 ¶6-8

Ngemva kwe-Amagedoni, kuzabe kulenhlanganiso yini emhlabeni? IBhayibhili lithi: “Silindele izulu elitsha lomhlaba omutsha, ikhaya lokulunga.” (2 Phet. 3:13) UJehova uzasusa izulu elidala okutsho ohulumende abakhona lamuhla kanye lomhlaba omdala okutsho abantu abasekela ohulumende laba. Ngemva kwalokho uzaletha “izulu elitsha lomhlaba omutsha.” Amazwi la atshengisa ukuthi kuzakuba lohulumende omutsha kanye labantu abalungileyo abazabuswa ngulowo hulumende. Ngalesosikhathi kuzakuba lokuhleleka okumangalisayo emhlabeni omutsha ngoba uJesu uKhristu iNkosi yalowoMbuso uzabe elingisela uYise ngokugcweleyo. (1 Khor. 14:33) Kanti njalo kuzakhethwa amadoda azabe ekhokhela abantu bakaNkulunkulu eqondiswa nguKhristu labangu-144 000. (Hubo. 45:16) Siyabona-ke ukuthi zonke inhlanganiso ezikhona lamuhla zizasuswa kungene inhlanganiso eyodwa elokumanyana futhi engeke iqile abantu. w17.04 11 ¶8-9

Umtshado ungcwele kuNkulunkulu. Abatshadayo benza isifungo lesi phambi kukaNkulunkulu labantu. Ngokwesibonelo bayathembisa ukuthi bazathandana, baphathane kuhle njalo bahloniphane ingqe nje “[bobabili] besaphila emhlabeni ngokuvumelana lohlelo lukaNkulunkulu lomtshado.” Lanxa abanye bengabe bengawatshongo enjengoba enjalo amazwi la, bayabe besenzile isifungo kuNkulunkulu. Ngemva kwalokho obatshadisayo uyabika ukuthi sebeyindoda lomfazi futhi kuyabe sekumele bahlale ndawonye okwempilo yabo yonke. (1 Khor. 7:39) UJesu wathi: “Lokho uNkulunkulu asekuhlanganisile akungehlukaniswa muntu.” Kusegcekeni ukuthi abatshadayo akumelanga bacabange ukuthi ukudivosa yindlela yokulungisa inhlupho emtshadweni wabo. (Mak. 10:9) Akumelanga sikhangelele ukuthi izinto zizahlala zitshelela emtshadweni ngoba umtshado ubunjwa ngabantu ababili abalesono. Yikho iBhayibhili lisithi abatshadileyo bazahlangana ‘lezinhlupho’ kwezinye izikhathi.—1 Khor. 7:28. w17.04 7 ¶14-15