1-3. (a) UZaga 13:20 usifundisani? (b) Kungani kumele sikhethe kuhle abangane?

WAKE wananzelela yini indlela usane olukhangela ngayo lokho okwenziwa ngabazali balo? Lanxa luyabe lungakakhulumi, luyabe lubona njalo lusizwa konke. Nxa luqhubeka lukhula, luqalisa ukulingisela lokho okwenziwa ngabazali balo. Akumangalisi-ke ukuthi labantu abadala bangaqalisa ukucabanga lokwenza njengabantu abajayele ukuba labo.

² UZaga 13:20 uthi: “Ohamba lezihlakaniphi uyahlakanipha.” ‘Ukuhamba’ lothile okukhulunywa ngakho evesini le kugoqela ukutshona lomuntu lowo. Kodwa ayisikho lokho kuphela. Esinye isikhwicamfundo seBhayibhili sathi ukuhamba lothile kugoqela ukumthanda lokuba ngumngane wakhe. Sijayele ukwenza njengabantu esitshona labo.

³ Abangane bethu bangasinceda senze okuhle loba okubi. IZaga 13:20 ziqhubeka zisithi: “Othandana leziwula uwela engozini.” NgesiHebheru, ‘ukuthandana’ lothile kungatsho ukuba ngumngane walowo muntu. (IZaga 22:24) Ngakho nxa singakhetha abangane abathanda uNkulunkulu bazasinceda ukuthi  sihlale sithembekile kuye. Kodwa ukuze senelise ukukhetha kuhle abangane, asixoxeni ngokuthi uJehova ukhetha abangane abanjani.

4. Kungani kuyisibusiso ukuba ngumngane kaNkulunkulu? Kungani uJehova wabiza u-Abhrahama ngokuthi “umngane wami”?

⁴ UJehova unguMbusi wendawo yonke kodwa usinika ithuba lokuthi sibe ngabangane bakhe. Lesi yisibusiso esikhulu sibili. Ukhetha labo abamthandayo futhi abakholwa kuye ukuthi babe ngabangane bakhe. Ake ucabange ngo-Abhrahama. Wayezimisele ukwenzela uNkulunkulu loba yini futhi watshengisa kanengi ukuthi uthembekile njalo uyalalela. Wayezimisele lokunikela ngendodana yakhe u-Isaka. Wayekholwa ukuthi ‘uNkulunkulu wayengamvusa kwabafileyo.’ (KumaHebheru 11:17-19; UGenesisi 22:1, 2, 9-13) U-Abhrahama wayethembekile njalo elalela yikho uJehova wambiza ngokuthi “umngane wami.”​—U-Isaya 41:8; UJakhobe 2:21-23.

5. UJehova uqakathekisa abantu abanjani?

⁵ Abantu abangabangane bakaJehova baqakathekisa ukuthembeka kuye ukwedlula loba yini.UJehova kabathontisi abanjalo. (Bala u-2 Samuyeli 22:26.) Okwenza bathembeke futhi bamlalele yikuthi bayamthanda. IBhayibhili lithi uNkulunkulu ‘ubeka oqotho ekhwapheni’ okutsho lowo omlalelayo. (IZaga 3:32) UJehova unxusa abangane bakhe ukuthi baze “endlini” yakhe. Ubanxusa ukuthi bamkhonze futhi bakhuleke kuye loba nini.​—IHubo 15:1-5.

6. Singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyamthanda uJesu?

 ⁶ UJesu wathi: “Nxa ekhona ongithandayo uzalalela imfundiso yami. UBaba uzamthanda.” (UJohane 14:23) Yikho ukuze sibe ngabangane bakaJehova kumele sithande uJesu futhi senze lokho asifundisa khona. Ngokwesibonelo siyawulalela umlayo kaJesu wokuthi sitshumayele izindaba ezinhle futhi senze labafundi. (UMathewu 28:19, 20; UJohane 14:15, 21) ‘Silandela amanyathelo’ kaJesu ngenxa yokuthi siyamthanda. (1 UPhetro 2:21) UJehova uyathokoza nxa esibona sizama ngamandla wonke ukulingisela iNdodana yakhe.

7. Kungani kumele sikhethe abangane abafanana labakaJehova?

⁷ Abangane bakaJehova baqotho, bathembekile, bayalalela njalo bayayithanda iNdodana yakhe. Ukhetha abangane abafanana labakaJehova yini? Nxa abangane bakho belingisela uJesu futhi betshumayela ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, bazakunceda ukuthi ube ngumuntu ongcono njalo uhlale uqotho kuJehova.

8. Kuyini okuthandayo ngobungane bukaRuthe loNawomi?

⁸ Kulabantu abanengi esifunda ngabo eBhayibhilini ababengabangane. Abanye babo nguRuthe loninazala uNawomi. Abesifazana laba babedabuka emazweni atshiyeneyo, bekhule ngendlela etshiyeneyo futhi uNawomi wayemdala kakhulu kuloRuthe. Lanxa kunjalo baba ngabangane ngoba bonke babemthanda uJehova. Ngesikhathi uNawomi esebuyela ko-Israyeli, “uRuthe wanamathela kuye.”  Wathi kuNawomi: “Abantu bakini bazakuba ngabakithi, loNkulunkulu wakho uzakuba nguNkulunkulu wami.” (URuthe 1:14, 16) URuthe wamphatha kuhle uNawomi. Sebefikile ko-Israyeli, uRuthe wasebenza nzima ukuze atholele umngane wakhe ukudla. UNawomi wayemthanda kakhulu uRuthe futhi wamnika amacebo amahle. URuthe wamlalela futhi lokho kwenza bobabili bathola izibusiso ezinengi.​—URuthe 3:6.

9. Kuyini okuthandayo ngobungane bukaDavida loJonathani?

⁹ UDavida loJonathani labo babengabangane futhi babethembekile kuJehova. UJonathani wayemdala kuDavida ngeminyaka engaba ngu-30 futhi nguye okwakumele abe yiNkosi elandelayo yako-Israyeli. (1 USamuyeli 17:33; 31:2; 2 USamuyeli 5:4) Kodwa wathi esizwa ukuthi uJehova ukhethe uDavida ukuthi abe yinkosi, kazange abe lomhawu kumbe abangisane laye. Wenza konke ayengakwenza ukuthi asekele uDavida. Ngokwesibonelo, ngesikhathi uDavida esengozini, uJonathani wamncedisa ukuthi “athole amandla kuNkulunkulu.” Waze wafaka impilo yakhe engozini ngenxa kaDavida. (1 USamuyeli 23:16, 17) UDavida laye wayengumngane othembekileyo. Wathembisa ukuthi wayezanakekela imuli kaJonathani, futhi wakwenza lokho lapho uJonathani esefile.​—1 USamuyeli 18:1; 20:15-17, 30-34; 2 USamuyeli 9:1-7.

10. Ufundani kuShadreki, uMeshaki lo-Abhediniko?

¹⁰ UShadreki, uMeshaki lo-Abhediniko babengabangane futhi bathunjwa besesengabantwana. Bancedisana  ukuthi bahlale bethembekile kuJehova lanxa babekhatshana labangakibo. Sebekhulile, iNkosi uNebhukhadinezari yabalaya ukuthi bakhonze isithombe segolide. UShadreki, uMeshaki lo-Abhediniko bayala ukukhonza isithombe leso futhi bathi enkosini: “Kasisoze sibakhonze onkulunkulu bakho kumbe sisidumise isifanekiso segolide leso osimisileyo.” Abangane laba abathathu bahlala bethembekile kuNkulunkulu ngesikhathi belingwa.​—UDanyeli 1:1-17; 3:12, 16-28.

11. Sazi njani ukuthi uPhawuli loThimothi babengabangane?

¹¹ Ngesikhathi uPhawuli eqalisa ukwazi uThimothi, wananzelela ukuthi uThimothi wayemthanda uJehova futhi elendaba lebandla. Yikho uPhawuli wamqeqetsha ukuze ayencedisa abazalwane ababesezindaweni ezitshiyeneyo. (ImiSebenzi 16:1-8; 17:10-14) UThimothi wasebenza nzima okokuthi uPhawuli waze wathi: “Usesebenze lami emsebenzini wevangeli.” UPhawuli wayekwazi ukuthi uThimothi wayezabancedisa “ngobuqotho” abazalwane. UPhawuli loThimothi baba ngabangane ngesikhathi besebenza ndawonye ekukhonzeni uJehova.​—KwabaseFiliphi 2:20-22; 1 KwabaseKhorinte 4:17.

12, 13. (a) Kungani kumele sinanzelele indlela esikhetha ngayo abangane ebandleni? (b) Kungani umphostoli uPhawuli wanika isixwayiso esiku-1 Khorinte 15:33?

¹² Kunengi esikufunda kubafowethu labodadewethu ebandleni okungasinceda ukuthi sihlale sithembekile. (Bala uRoma 1:11, 12.) Lanxa  kunjalo kumele sinanzelele indlela esikhetha ngayo abangane ebandleni. Emabandleni kulabafowethu labodadewethu abalamasiko atshiyeneyo futhi abakhulela ezindaweni ezitshiyeneyo. Abanye sebeleminyaka bekhonza uJehova ikanti abanye basesebatsha enhlanganisweni. Kuthatha isikhathi ukuthi sibe lobuhlobo obuqinileyo loJehova njengoba nje kuthatha isikhathi ukuthi isithelo sivuthwe. Yikho kumele sibabekezelele futhi sibathande abanye.​—KwabaseRoma 14:1; 15:1; KumaHebheru 5:12–6:3.

 ¹³ Kwezinye izikhathi kungaba lezinhlupho ebandleni ezingadinga ukuthi sinanzelele kakhulu. Kungenzakala ukuthi omunye umfowethu kumbe udadewethu wenza izinto ezingalunganga. Kumbe kungenzakala ukuthi omunye aqalise ukukhonona ngezinto ezenzakala ebandleni futhi lokhu kungalilimaza ibandla. Lokhu akumelanga kusimangalise ngoba kwake kwenzakala kumaKhristu okuqala. Umphostoli uPhawuli wawaxwayisa wathi: “Lingedukiswa: abangane ababi bayasona isimilo esihle.” (1 KwabaseKhorinte 15:12, 33) Waphinda waxwayisa uThimothi ukuthi akhethe abangane ngonanzelelo. Lathi kumele senze okufananayo.​—Bala u-2 Thimothi 2:20-22.

14. Kumele senzeni ukuze sivikele ubuhlobo bethu loJehova?

¹⁴ Kumele sivikele ubuhlobo bethu loJehova ngoba buligugu kakhulu. Lokhu singakwenza ngokuxwaya abangane abangaxegisa ukholo lwethu futhi baphambanise ubuhlobo bethu loNkulunkulu. Abangane ababi abasoze basikhuthaze ukwenza izinto ezinhle njengoba nje singeke silindele ukuthi isipontshi esiphakathi kwamanzi angcolileyo siphume silamanzi ahlanzekileyo. Yikho kumele sikhethe abangane ngonanzelelo.​—1 KwabaseKhorinte 5:6; 2 KwabaseThesalonika 3:6, 7, 14.

15. Ngobani ongabakhetha ukuthi babengabangane bakho ebandleni?

¹⁵ Ebandleni bakhona abantu abamthandayo sibili uJehova. Yibo ongabakhetha ukuthi babengabangane bakho. (IHubo 133:1) Ungakhethi abangane abalingana lawe kuphela kumbe abalamasiko  anjengawakho kuphela. Khumbula ukuthi uJonathani wayemdala khatshana kuloDavida futhi uRuthe wayemncane kakhulu kuloNawomi. Sifuna ukulandela isixwayiso seBhayibhili esithi: “Zivuleni ngokupheleleyo izinhliziyo zenu.” (2 KwabaseKhorinte 6:13; bala u-1 Phetro 2:17.) Nxa ungaqhubeka ulingisela uJehova abantu abanengi bazafisa ukuba ngabangane bakho.

16, 17. Kuyini okungamelanga sikwenze lanxa omunye ebandleni angasidanisa?

¹⁶ Ezimulini abantu balobuntu obutshiyeneyo, imibono etshiyeneyo futhi benza izinto ngendlela ezitshiyeneyo. Kunjalo lasebandleni futhi lokhu kuyanceda ngoba kunengi esingakufunda kwabanye. Kodwa kwezinye izikhathi ukutshiyana lokhu kungenza singabazwisisi abafowethu labodadewethu futhi sizwe besicaphula. Kungenzakala lokuthi basizwise ubuhlungu. (IZaga 12:18) Kumele sikuvumele yini lokhu ukuthi kusidanise size sitshiye ukukhonza?

¹⁷ Hatshi. Lanxa omunye ebandleni angasidanisa asitshiyi ukukhonza. UJehova ayisuye oyabe esizwise ubuhlungu. Wasinika ukuphila yikho kumele simthande njalo sihlale sithembekile kuye. (ISambulo 4:11) UJehova usebenzisa ibandla ukuthi asincede sihlale silokholo oluqinileyo. (KumaHebheru 13:17) Kumele sisamukele isipho lesi lanxa omunye ebandleni engasizwisa ubuhlungu.​—Bala iHubo 119:165.

18. (a) Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sibe lobuhlobo obuhle labafowethu labodadewethu? (b) Kungani kumele sithethelele abanye?

 ¹⁸ Siyabathanda abafowethu labodadewethu futhi siyafisa ukuba lobuhlobo obuhle labo. UJehova uyakwazi ukuthi siyaphambanisa ngoba silesono yikho lathi akumelanga silindele ukuthi abafowethu bangaphambanisi. (IZaga 17:9; 1 UPhetro 4:8) Sonke siyawenza amaphutha kodwa uthando luzasinceda ukuthi ‘sithethelelane.’ (KwabaseKholose 3:13) Nxa sibathanda abafowethu asisoze siphonguzondiswa yizinto ezincane abazenzayo kumbe sikhangelisise wonke amaphutha abawenzayo. Kodwa iqiniso yikuthi nxa omunye angasikhuba kungaba nzima ukukhohlwa lokho ayabe ekwenzile. Kulula ukumzondela lokumbambela isikhwili kodwa lokhu kungenza singathokozi. Nxa singathethelela sizahlaliseka, simanyane futhi sibe lobuhlobo obuhle loJehova.​—UMathewu 6:14, 15; ULukha 17:3, 4; KwabaseRoma 14:19.

19. Kunini lapho okungamelanga sihlanganyele lothile ebandleni?

¹⁹ Nxa amalunga emuli ethandana, enza konke angakwenza ukuze kube lentokozo emulini. Kodwa kwenzakalani nxa omunye angakhetha ukuhlamuka? Abanye emulini bangazama kanengi ukumsiza, kodwa akhethe ukungalaleli abesesuka ngekhaya kumbe axotshwe yinhloko yemuli. Kungenzakala okufananayo lasebandleni. Umuntu angakhetha ukwenza izinto uJehova azizondayo futhi ezilimaza abanye ebandleni. Lanxa abanye bengamkhuza angayala  futhi enze izinto ezitshengisa ukuthi kasafuni kuba nguFakazi kaJehova. Angasuswa kumbe akhethe ukutshiya ibandla. IBhayibhili liyasitshela ukuthi kumele senzeni nxa lokhu kungenzakala. Lithi: “Lingahlanganyeli” laye. (Bala u-1 KwabaseKhorinte 5:11-13; 2 Johane 9-11.) Kungaba nzima kakhulu ukulalela umlayo lo nxa lowomuntu engumngane wethu kumbe elilunga lemuli. Kodwa esimeni esinjalo kumele sithembeke kuJehova hatshi komunye umuntu.​—Khangela Amabala Asekucineni 8.

20, 21. (a) Uhlelo lokususa lutshengisa njani uthando? (b) Kungani kumele sikhethe abangane ngonanzelelo?

²⁰ Uhlelo lokususa lutshengisa uthando lukaJehova futhi luvikela ibandla ebantwini abangelandaba lezimiso zikaJehova. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 5:7; KumaHebheru 12:15, 16) Luyasisiza ukuthi sitshengise ukuthi siyamthanda uJehova lokuthi siyalithanda ibizo lakhe kanye lezimiso zakhe. (1 UPhetro 1:15, 16) Luphinda lutshengise uthando emuntwini oyabe esusiwe. Isijeziso lesi singanceda osusiweyo abone ukuthi akwenzileyo kubi futhi kumenze antshintshe. Abanengi abake basuswa sebantshintsha izindlela zabo futhi baphenduka kuJehova. Ibandla labamukela kuhle kakhulu.​—KumaHebheru 12:11.

²¹ Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi singacina sisenza okuhle loba okubi okwenziwa ngabangane bethu. Yikho kumele sikhethe ngonanzelelo sibili. Nxa singathanda labo abathandwa nguJehova bazasinceda ukuthi sihlale sithembekile kuye futhi simkhonze kuze kube phakade.