1-3. Ukulingisela uJehova ekutshengiseni uthando kuba layiphi impumela?

 “UKUPHA kuyathokozisa kakhulu ukwedlula ukwamukela.” (ImiSebenzi 20:35) Amazwi la akhulunywa nguJesu futhi agcizelela iqiniso eliqakathekileyo elokuthi ukuthanda abanye ngenhliziyo yonke kunceda thina ngoba kwenza sithokoze. Njengoba nje ukuthandwa kuthokozisa, ukupha kanye lokuthanda abanye kuthokozisa kakhulu.

² UBaba wethu osezulwini ukwazi kuhle lokhu ukwedlula loba ngubani. Njengoba sibonile ezahlukweni ezidlulileyo, uJehova uyisibonelo esihle kakhulu ekutshengiseni uthando. Utshengise uthando ngezindlela ezimangalisayo futhi uselesikhathi eside ukwedlula wonke umuntu. Ngakho akumangalisi ukuthi uJehova ubizwa ngokuthi ‘nguNkulunkulu othokozayo.’—1 KuThimothi 1:11.

³ UNkulunkulu wethu olothando ufuna sizame ukuba njengaye, ikakhulu endabeni yokutshengisa uthando. Incwadi yabase-Efesu 5:1, 2 ithi: “Lingiselani uNkulunkulu njengoba lingabantwabakhe abathandayo. Qhubekani liphila impilo yothando.” Nxa singalingisela uJehova ekutshengiseni uthando, sizaba ngabantu abaphanayo okuzasenza sithokoze. Kanti njalo sizathokoziswa yikwazi ukuthi sithokozisa uJehova osikhuthaza ukuthi ‘sithandane.’ (KwabaseRoma 13:8) Kodwa kulezinye futhi izizatho zokuthi ‘siqhubeke siphila impilo yothando.’

4, 5. Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi sitshengise esikhonza labo uthando?

⁴ Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi sithande esikhonza labo?  Ngamazwi alula nje, uthando yilo olutshengisa ukuthi singamaKhristu eqiniso. Nxa singelathando ngeke sizwanane lamaKhristu esikhonza lawo futhi loJehova uyabe engasayamukeli inkonzo yethu. Nanzelela ukuthi iLizwi likaNkulunkulu likutshengisa njani lokhu.

⁵ Ngobusuku bokucina esemhlabeni, uJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe wathi: “Ngilinika umlayo omutsha wokuthi lithandane. Thandanani ngendlela lami engilithande ngayo. Nxa lithandana, abantu bonke bazakwazi ukuthi lingabafundi bami.” (UJohane 13:34, 35) Amazwi athi ‘ngendlela engilithande ngayo’ atshengisa ukuthi sikhangelelwe ukuthanda abanye ngendlela uJesu abathanda ngayo. ESahlukweni 29 sibonile ukuthi uJesu uyisibonelo esikhulu ekutshengiseni uthando olulokuzinikela ngoba wayengagijimisi okufunwa nguye kodwa wayekhangela okufunwa ngabanye. Lathi kumele sitshengise uthando olungazifuneli okwalo, futhi kumele silutshengise ngokucacileyo luze lukhanye lakulabo abangayisibo oFakazi. Iqiniso yikuthi uthando olunjalo luphawu olutshengisa ukuthi singabalandeli bakaKhristu beqiniso.

6, 7. (a) Kungani iBhayibhili lisithi ukuthanda abanye kuqakathekile? (b) Amazwi kaPhawuli aku-1 Khorinte 13:4-8 akhuluma ngani?

⁶ Ingaphi ingozi yokungabi lothando? Umphostoli uPhawuli wathi: ‘Nxa ngingelathando, ngiyinsimbi elomsindo loba ekhencezayo.’ (1 KwabaseKhorinte 13:1) Insimbi ekhencezayo ilomsindo odakayo. Amanye amaBhayibhili athi “insimbi ekhalayo” kumbe “izenge elikhalela phezulu.” Le yimizekeliso efaneleyo sibili! Umuntu ongelathando unjengensimbi ekhalela phezulu elomsindo odakayo kulokuthi ikwenze ukholise. Kunzima ukuthi umuntu onjalo azwanane labanye. UPhawuli waphinda wathi: ‘Nxa ngilalo lonke ukholo olungasusa izintaba kodwa ngingelathando, angisilutho.’ (1 KwabaseKhorinte 13:2) Lokhu kutsho ukuthi umuntu ongelathando “kalancedo” lanxa angaze enzeni! (The Amplified Bible) IBhayibhili litshengisa ukuthi into uNkulunkulu ayiqakathekisayo yikuthi sibe lothando.

 ⁷ Kodwa singalutshengisa njani uphawu lolu endleleni esiphatha ngayo abanye? Ukuze siphendule umbuzo lo, kasihloleni amazwi kaPhawuli aku-1 Khorinte 13:4-8. Emavesini la uPhawuli kakhulumi ngendlela uNkulunkulu asithanda ngayo kumbe indlela thina esimthanda ngayo. Kodwa ukhuluma ngendlela okumele sibathande ngayo abanye echasisa lokho uthando oluyikho lalokho olungakwenziyo.

8. Ukubekezela kungasinceda njani endleleni esiphatha ngayo abafowethu?

⁸ “Uthando luyabekezela.” Ukubekezela kutsho ukuba lesineke lanxa abanye abantu bekuphambanisela. (KwabaseKholose 3:13) Siyasidinga isineke esinjalo. Kulengqondo ukulindela ukuthi lapha lalaphaya abafowethu labodadewethu basicaphule kumbe ukuthi lathi sibacaphule ngoba sonke silesono. Kodwa isineke lokuzibamba kungasinceda ukuthi sibekezele nxa  abafowethu besiphambanisele njalo singaphambanisi ukuthula kwebandla.

9. Singatshengisa njani umusa kwabanye?

⁹ ‘Uthando lulomusa.’ Umusa ukhanya ngokunceda abanye kanye lokubatshela amazwi aduduzayo. Uthando lusenza sidinge izindlela zokutshengisa umusa, ikakhulu kulabo abakudinga kakhulu ukuncediswa. Ngokwesibonelo, kungabe kulothile esikhonza laye osekhulile ongabe elesizungu futhi edinga ukuvakatshelwa ukuze akhuthazwe. Owesifazana owondla yedwa abantwana kumbe udadewethu ohlala labantu abangakhonziyo angadinga ukuncediswa. Umuntu ogulayo kumbe olenhlupho angafuna ukuzwa amazwi aduduzayo akhulunywa ngumngane othembekileyo. (IZaga 12:25; 17:17) Nxa thina singaqalisa ukutshengisa umusa ngezindlela ezinjalo, kuhle kukhanye ukuthi uthando lwethu luqotho.—2 KwabaseKhorinte 8:8.

10. Uthando lusinceda njani ukuthi sisekele iqiniso lanxa kunzima ukwenza njalo?

¹⁰ ‘Uthando luthokoziswa liqiniso.’ Elinye iBhayibhili lihumutsha umutsho lo ngokuthi: ‘Uthando lujabulela ukusekela iqiniso.’ Uthando lwenza sisekele iqiniso futhi ‘sikhulume iqiniso komunye lomunye.’ (UZakhariya 8:16) Ngokwesibonelo, nxa umuntu esimthandayo angenza isono esikhulu sizalandela izimiso zikaJehova kulokuthi sizame ukufihla isono leso kumbe ukuqamba amanga loba ukwenza angani akulalutho olukhulu olwenzakeleyo. Okwenza senze njalo yikuthi siyamthanda uJehova kanye lalowo owenze isono. Kuliqiniso ukuthi kungaba nzima ukukwamukela ukuthi kwenzakele lokhu. Kodwa nxa sifuna ukuthi lowo esimthandayo asizakale sizazama ngamandla wonke ukuthi athole iseluleko esilothando esivela kuNkulunkulu futhi asisebenzise. (IZaga 3:11, 12) NjengamaKhristu alothando, sifisa “ukuthembeka kukho konke.”—KumaHebheru 13:18.

11. Ngenxa yokuthi ‘uthando lubekezelela zonke izinto,’ kuyini okumele sizame ukukwenza nxa esikhonza labo besiphambanisele?

¹¹ ‘Uthando lubekezelela zonke izinto.’ Umutsho lo utsho ukuthi “lusibekela zonke izinto.” (Kingdom Interlinear) U-1 Phetro  4:8 uthi: “Uthando lusibekela izono ezinengi.” Ngakho nxa sibathanda abafowethu labodadewethu asisoze sihambe sitshela abanye ngamaphutha abawenzayo. Izikhathi ezinengi, ukuphambanisa kwesikhonza labo kuncane kakhulu futhi kungasibekelwa luthando.—IZaga 10:12; 17:9.

12. Umphostoli uPhawuli watshengisa njani ukuthi wayekholwa ukuthi uFilimoni uzakwenza okuqondileyo futhi thina singafundani esibonelweni sikaPhawuli?

¹² ‘Uthando lukholwa zonke izinto.’ IBhayibhili elahunyutshwa nguMoffatt lithi uthando “luhlala luzimisele ukukholwa okuhle kakhulu.” Nxa silothando kasiphongusola esikhonza labo, sisenza angani balenhloso ezimbi kukho konke abakwenzayo. Uthando lwenza sibathembe abazalwane bethu njalo sikholwe ukuthi bazakwenza “okuhle kakhulu.” a Nanzelela isibonelo salokho encwadini uPhawuli ayibhalela uFilimoni. Wakhuthaza uFilimoni owayebalekelwe yisigqili sakhe okwakuthiwa ngu-Onesimu, esasesingumKhristu ukuthi asamukele ngomusa. Kulokuthi uPhawuli abambe uFilimoni ngamandla, wamncenga ngendlela elothando. Watshengisa ukuthi wayemthemba uFilimoni ukuthi uzakwenza okuqondileyo yikho wathi: “Ngikwazi mhlophe ukuthi uzangilalela, yikho ngikubhalela nje ngisazi ukuthi uzakwenza okwedlula engikutshoyo.” (Ivesi 21) Nxa sibathemba abafowethu labodadewethu sizahlala sibakhuthaza futhi ukwenza njalo kuzatshengisa ukuthi siyabathanda sibili.

13. Singatshengisa njani ukuthi silethemba lokuthi abafowethu bazakwenza okuqondileyo?

¹³ ‘Uthando luthemba zonke izinto.’ Uthando luyakholwa luphinde luthembe. Uthando lusenza sithembe ukuthi abafowethu bazakwenza okuqondileyo. Ngokwesibonelo, nxa umfowethu “esephambuka engananzeleli,” siyathemba ukuthi uzayamukela imizamo yokumqondisa. (KwabaseGalathiya 6:1) Kasilahli ithemba ngalabo abangasaqinanga ekukhonzeni. Siba lesineke  ebantwini abanjalo, sizame ngamandla wonke ukubancedisa baqine ekukhonzeni. (KwabaseRoma 15:1; 1 KwabaseThesalonika 5:14) Lanxa umuntu esimthandayo engatshiya uJehova, kasilahli themba lokuthi ngelinye ilanga uzaphenduka njengendodana yolahleko esemzekelisweni kaJesu.—ULukha 15:17, 18.

14. Kuyini okumele sikubekezele ngezinye izikhathi futhi uthando lungasinceda ukuthi senzeni?

¹⁴ ‘Uthando luqinisela ezintweni zonke.’ Ukubekezela kusenza senelise ukuhlala siqinile nxa silenhlupho kumbe nxa othile angasidanisa. Izilingo okumele sizibekezelele aziveli ebantwini abangakhonzi uJehova kuphela. Ngezinye izikhathi, zingavela lasebandleni ngokwalo. Esikhonza labo bangasidanisa ngenxa yokuthi balesono. Omunye umuntu ongakhethanga kuhle amazwi akhe angasiphoxa sisale sisizwa ubuhlungu. (IZaga 12:18) Mhlawumbe indaba ethile ebandleni kayixazululwanga ngendlela ebesiyikhangelele. Indlela umfowethu othile aziphatha ngayo ingasidanisa, isenze sizibuze ukuthi, ‘UmKhristu angenza njani into enje?’ Nxa sisehlelwa yizinto ezinjalo, sizalitshiya yini ibandla sime ukukhonza uJehova? Ngeke sikwenze lokhu nxa silothando! Uthando lwenza singaphandlwa yikuphambanisa komfowethu sicine singasaboni okuhle akwenzayo kumbe okusebandleni. Uthando lwenza sihlale sithembekile kuNkulunkulu futhi sisekela ibandla kungelani lokuthi abantu abalesono benzani kumbe bathini.—IHubo 119:165.

15. Kuyini umhawu futhi uthando lungasinceda njani ukuthi singabi lawo?

¹⁵ “Uthando alulamhawu.” Umhawu yikuba lomona ngalokho abanye abalakho, kungaba yimpahla yabo, izibusiso abazitholileyo kumbe iziphiwo abalazo. Ukuba lomhawu kuyingozi ngoba kuyasilimaza njalo kuphambanisa lokuthula okusebandleni. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi singabi lomoya wokuba lomona? (UJakhobe 4:5) Ngebala elilodwa nje, luthando. Uphawu lolu lungasenza senelise ukuthokoza lalabo  okukhanya angathi impilo yabo ibahambela ngcono kuleyethu. (KwabaseRoma 12:15) Uthando lusinceda ukuthi singacaphuki nxa omunye umuntu enconywa ngenxa yeziphiwo alazo kumbe okuhle akufezileyo.

16. Nxa sibathanda sibili abafowethu, kungani kungamelanga sizitshaye isifuba ngalokho esikufezayo enkonzweni kaJehova?

¹⁶ ‘Uthando aluzitshayi isifuba, aluzikhukhumezi.’ Uthando lusinceda ukuthi singabukisi ngeziphiwo esilazo kumbe esikufezileyo. Nxa sibathanda sibili abafowethu, ngeke sitshone sizigqaja ngesiyabe sikufezile enkonzweni kumbe ngemisebenzi esilayo ebandleni. Ukuzitshaya isifuba okunjalo kungenza abanye bazikhangelele phansi futhi bazibone bengasilutho nxa beziqathanisa lathi. Uthando alusivumeli ukuthi sizitshaye isifuba ngenxa yezibusiso uNkulunkulu asinike zona ekumkhonzeni. (1 KwabaseKhorinte 3:5-9) Ngoba vele uthando “aluzikhukhumezi.” Elinye iBhayibhili lihumutsha umutsho lo ngokuthi, “kalugcini imicabango yokuziqakathekisa.” Uthando lusenza singaziboni singcono kakhulu kulabanye.—KwabaseRoma 12:3.

17. Uthando lwenza sibaphathe njani abanye futhi kuyini esingasoze sikwenze?

¹⁷ ‘Uthando aluziphathi ngendlela engafanelanga.’ Umuntu oziphatha ngendlela engafanelanga wenza izinto ezicaphula abanye. Ukwenza njalo kutshengisa ukuthi kabathandi abanye futhi kazihluphi ngokuthi bazizwa njani. Kodwa umuntu olothando kenzi izinto ezingathokozisi abanye. Phela uthando lwenza umuntu abe lobuntu, aziphathe ngendlela ethokozisa uNkulunkulu futhi ahloniphe abanye. Uthando alusivumeli ukuthi ‘siziphathe ngendlela elihlazo’ okutsho ukwenza loba yini engethusa kumbe izwise abafowethu ubuhlungu.—Kwabase-Efesu 5:3, 4.

18. Kungani umuntu olothando engawomeleli ekuthini izinto zenziwe ngendlela yakhe?

¹⁸ ‘Uthando aluzifuneli okwalo.’ Elinye iBhayibhili liyibeka kanje ivesi le: “Uthando kaluwomeli ekuthini izinto zenziwe ngendlela yalo.” Umuntu olothando kawomeleli ekuthini izinto zenziwe ngendlela yakhe, angani imibono yakhe ihlala iqondile.  Kasebenzisi ikhono lakhe lokuba ligabazi ekukhulumeni ukuthi enze labo abalemibono etshiyene leyakhe bakholwe ukuthi owakhe umbono yiwo oqondileyo. Ukwenza njalo kungatshengisa ukuthi umuntu uyazigqaja futhi iBhayibhili lithi: “Nxa umuntu eziphakamisa okulandelayo yikuphahlazeka.” (IZaga 16:18) Nxa sibathanda sibili abafowethu labodadewethu sizayihlonipha imibono yabo, futhi nxa kuvuma sitshintshe umbono wethu. Ukuvuma ukutshintsha kuvumelana lamazwi kaPhawuli athi: “Umuntu ngamunye kangazifuneli okunceda yena kodwa kaqhubeke esenza okunceda abanye.”—1 KwabaseKhorinte 10:24.

19. Uthando lusinceda ukuthi senzeni nxa abanye bangasicaphula?

¹⁹ ‘Uthando alucaphuki, alugcini izikhwili.’ Uthando kaluphangisi ukuthukuthela ngezinto ezikhulunywa kumbe zenziwe ngabanye. Kuliqiniso ukuthi kujayelekile ukuthi sicaphuke nxa abanye bengakhuluma okusicaphulayo. Lanxa silesizatho esihle sokuzonda, uthando kalusivumeli ukuthi sihlale sizondile. (Kwabase-Efesu 4:26, 27) Kasifuni kuwagcina enhliziyweni amazwi asizwise ubuhlungu, kumbe isenzo esisicaphulileyo, senze angathi sikubhale ebhukwini lezikwelede ukuze singakukhohlwa. Kodwa uthando lusenza silingisele uNkulunkulu wethu olothando. Njengoba sibonile eSahlukweni 26, uJehova uyaxolela nxa kulesizatho esihle sokwenza njalo. Nxa engasixolela uyakhohlwa, okutsho ukuthi kasoze aphinde asijezisele izono lezo. Siyambonga uJehova ngokuthi kasibambeli izikhwili.

20. Kumele senzeni nxa esikhonza laye angawona futhi abesehlupheka ngenxa yalokho?

²⁰ ‘Uthando aluthokoziswa ngokungalunganga.’ Elinye iBhayibhili lihumutsha ivesi le ngokuthi: ‘Uthando kaluthokozi nxa abanye abantu benze izono.’ IBhayibhili elahunyutshwa nguMoffat lithi: “Uthando kaluthokozi nxa abanye bengaphambanisa.” Uthando kaluthokozeli okubi, ngakho asikuthathi lula loba yikuphi ukuziphatha okubi. Kumele senzeni nxa esikhonza laye angawona futhi abesehlupheka ngenxa yokona kwakhe? Uthando kalungeke lusivumele ukuthi sithokoze, angathi sithi, ‘Ukhawulile! Vele kufanele ahlupheke!’ (IZaga 17:5)  Kodwa siyathokoza nxa umzalwane owonileyo ethatha amanyathelo okulungisisa indaba yakhe ukuze aphinde akhonze kuhle.

21-23. (a) UPhawuli wayesitshoni lapho esithi “uthando alupheli”? (b) Kuyini esizaxoxa ngakho esahlukweni sokucina?

²¹ “Uthando alupheli.” UPhawuli wayesitshoni lapha? Emavesini la wayekhuluma ngezipho zomoya amaKhristu akuqala ayelazo. Izipho lezo zazitshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayelisekela ibandla lelo elalisanda kubunjwa. Kodwa kwakungayisiwo wonke amaKhristu ayesenelisa ukusilisa, ukuphrofetha, kumbe ukukhuluma ngezindimi. Lanxa kunjalo kwakungelandaba ngoba izipho lezo zazizaphela ngokuhamba kwesikhathi.  Kodwa kulokuthile okwakungasoze kuphele futhi wonke amaKhristu kwakumele abe lakho. Kwakungafanani laloba yisiphi isipho esiyisimangaliso. UPhawuli wakubiza ngokuthi ‘yindlela engcono kulazo zonke.’ (1 KwabaseKhorinte 12:31) Yiphi indlela leyo? Yindlela yothando.

²² Uthando lobuKhristu uPhawuli ayeluchasisa “alupheli,” okutsho ukuthi alusoze lufike komlindi uyacina. Kuze kube lamuhla, uthando lobuzalwane yilo uphawu olwenza sibone abalandeli bakaJesu beqiniso. Siyalubona uthando olunjalo emabandleni aboFakazi bakaJehova emhlabeni wonke. Uthando lolo luzahlala kuze kube nini lanini ngoba uJehova uthembisa ukuthi uzanika izinceku zakhe ukuphila okungapheliyo. (IHubo 37:9-11, 29) Sengathi singaqhubeka sizama ngazo zonke izindlela ‘ukuphila impilo yothando.’ Singenza njalo sizathola intokozo enkulu evela ekupheni. Kanti njalo nxa singaqhubeka sithanda abanye kuze kube nini lanini, siyabe silingisela uJehova uNkulunkulu wethu olothando.

²³ Kunengi esesikufundile ebhukwini leli ngempawu ezinhle uJehova alazo. Sifunde okunengi ngamandla akhe, ukwahlulela kwakhe okuhle, inhlakanipho yakhe lothando lwakhe. Ngemva kokuxoxa ngendlela okumele sitshengise ngayo ukuthi siyathandana kungaba kuhle ukuthi sizibuze umbuzo lo: ‘Ngingatshengisa njani ukuthi ngiyamthanda sibili uJehova?’ Sizaxoxa ngombuzo lo esahlukweni sokucina.