1, 2. Kuyini okwenzakala kuTony okutshengisa ukuthi umuntu angenelisa ukuntshintsha indlela aphila ngayo?

UTONY wakhula engelababa njalo wayengasithandi isikolo. Lanxa wayesezaqeda wayesebona kungcono ukuthi atshiye ukufunda azihlalele ngekhaya. Ngempelaviki wayetshona ebukele amafilimu kumbe ezikwejisela labangane bakhe, kodwa wayengasebenzisi izidakamizwa futhi wayengayisiso sigebenga. Okwakumhlupha nje yikuthi wayengazi ukuthi uphilelani njalo wayethandabuza ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona. Ngelinye ilanga waxoxa laboFakazi ababili ababesekutshumayeleni. Wababuza imibuzo eyayimkhathaza, basebemnika amabhukwana amabili akhuluma ngendalo. Elinye lalilesihloko esithi The Origin of Life​—Five Questions Worth Asking, elinye lisithi Ingabe Izinto Eziphilayo Zadalwa?

² UTony kazange awabeke phansi amabhukwana la kodwa wawabala aze atshwabhana. OFakazi laba bathi sebephindela kuye bamthola esentshintshile indlela ayecabanga ngayo. UTony wathi kubo: “Sengibonile ukuthi uNkulunkulu ukhona.” Baqalisa ukufunda laye iBhayibhili njalo kancane kancane wantshintsha indlela ayephila ngayo. Lasesikolo wayesepasa kakhulu. Lokhu kwamangalisa umphathisikolo waze wathi kuye, “Uyazi usuntshintshile mfana, lasezifundweni zakho  ususenza kuhle. Kambe lokhu kwenziwa yikuthi usukhonza laboFakazi bakaJehova?” Yena waphendula wathi kunjalo sibili njalo wamxoxela lokho ayekufunda. UTony kasatshiyanga isikolo kodwa waqhubeka ngemfundo yakhe waze waqeda. Khathesi useliphayona lesikhathi sonke futhi uyinceku ekhonzayo. Okunye okumthokozisayo yikuthi useloBaba olothando, uJehova uNkulunkulu.—Hubo. 68:5.

3. UJehova uthini kwabasakhulayo?

³ Indaba kaTony itshengisa ukuthi uNkulunkulu uyalithanda lina abasakhulayo. Ufuna lithokoze futhi liphumelele empilweni. Yikho elicebisa esithi: “Khumbula uMdali wakho ngezinsuku zobutsha bakho.” (UmTshu. 12:1) Lanxa lokhu kungakhanya kunzima lingenelisa ukukwenza. UNkulunkulu uzimisele ukulisiza ukuthi liphumelele khathesi lisesebatsha lalapho selikhulile. Ukuze likuzwisise lokhu sizaxoxa ngalokho okwenzakala ngesikhathi ama-Israyeli ethatha iLizwe Lesithembiso njalo sizabona ukuthi sifundani endabeni kaDavida loGoliyathi.

4, 5. Sifundani endabeni yabako-Israyeli lasendabeni kaDavida loGoliyathi? (Khangela imifanekiso esekuqaliseni.)

⁴ Abako-Israyeli bathi sebezangena eLizweni Lesithembiso, uNkulunkulu kazange abalaye ukuthi baqeqetshe amabutho loba bafundele ukulwa impi. (Dute. 28:1, 2) Wabatshela ukuthi balalele imilayo yakhe futhi bamthembe. (Josh. 1:7-9) Kwakumele babe lokholo ngoba kwakungakhanya angathi ayebalaya khona kwakungeke kubancede ngalutho nxa sebehlaselwa. Kodwa ekucineni kwakhanya ukuthi kwakuqondile ngoba uJehova wabancedisa ukuthi banqobe zonke izizwe ababesilwa lazo. (Josh. 24:11-13) Lathi kumele sibe lokholo ukuze senelise ukulalela uNkulunkulu ngoba yilo oluzakwenza siphumelele kukho konke esikwenzayo.

⁵ UDavida laye wakubona lokho ngesikhathi esilwa loGoliyathi iqhawe lamaFilisti. Indoda le yayisesabeka. Yayiphose ibe ngamamitha amathathu ubude njalo yayihlome yaphelela. (1 Sam. 17:4-7) UDavida yena wayelezinto ezimbili, isavutha kanye lokholo lokuthi uJehova uzamsindisa. Kumele ukuthi abantu ababengelakholo babezibuza ukuthi yisithutha sangaphi lesi esilanda ukufa sikukhangele. Kodwa babengazi ukuthi isithutha nguGoliyathi.—1 Sam. 17:48-51.

6. Kuyini esizakuhlolisisa esihlokweni lesi?

⁶ Esihlokweni esidlulileyo sixoxe ngezinto ezine ezingasinceda ukuthi sithokoze futhi siphumelele empilweni. Sibonile ukuthi kufanele siyiqakathekise imfundo esiyiphiwa nguJehova, sibe labangane abahle, sithuthuke ekukhonzeni futhi siyisebenzise kuhle inkululeko yethu. Khathesi kasiphindeni umphehlo, sizihlolisise izinto lezi sisebenzisa izimiso ezitholakala kuHubo 16.

7. (a) Kukhanya ngani ukuthi umuntu ungumngane kaNkulunkulu? (b) Yisiphi “isabelo” uDavida ayelaso njalo samsiza ngani?

⁷ Umuntu ongumngane kaNkulunkulu ukhanya ngokuba lokholo futhi uyamlingisela zikhathi zonke. Uqondiswa nguNkulunkulu kukho konke akwenzayo futhi uzimisele ukumlalela. (1 Khor. 2:12, 13) Wayenjalo uDavida. Wahlabela wathi: “Jehova, usungahlukanisele isabelo sami kanye lenkezo yami.” (Hubo. 16:5) “Isabelo” ayekhuluma ngaso kwakuyibungane bakhe loNkulunkulu. UDavida wayemethemba uNkulunkulu futhi ephephela kuye. (Hubo. 16:1) Kwamsiza ngani lokhu? Wabhala wathi: “Inhliziyo yami iyathokoza lolimi lwami luyajabula.” Amazwi la atshengisa ukuthi into eyayimthokozisa kakhulu yikuba ngumngane kaJehova.—Bala iHubo 16:9, 11.

8. Kuyini okungenza uhlale uthokoza?

⁸ Abantu abaphilela ukusuthisa izifiso zabo loba ukudinga imali ngeke bayithole intokozo eyatholwa nguDavida. (1 Tim. 6:9, 10) Omunye umzalwane waseCanada wathi: “Izinto esilazo  kayisizo ezingenza sithokoze empilweni, kodwa okungenza sithokoze yilokho esikwenzela uJehova uNkulunkulu ngoba nguye osinika zonke izipho ezinhle.” (Jak. 1:17) Ngakho ukuba lokholo kuJehova kanye lokumkhonza yikho okuzakwenza ujabule futhi uphumelele empilweni. Manje ungaluqinisa njani ukholo lwakho? Kufanele uzinike isikhathi sokubala iLizwi lakhe lesokubuka izinto azidalileyo njalo ucabangisise ngobuntu bakhe kanye lokuthi utshengisa njani ukuthi uyakuthanda.—Rom. 1:20; 5:8.

9. Ungenzani ukuze ubunjwe liLizwi likaNkulunkulu?

⁹ Kwezinye izikhathi uJehova utshengisa ukuthi uyasithanda ngokusilaya njengobaba elaya umntanakhe amthandayo. UDavida wavuma ukulaywa nguJehova, yikho wathi: “Ngizamdumisa uJehova, onguye ongelulekayo; lasebusuku inhliziyo yami iyangiqondisa.” (Hubo. 16:7) Wayenakana ngemicabango kaJehova futhi eyivumela ukuthi iqondise indlela ayecabanga ngayo. Nxa lawe ungenza njalo, uzamthanda kakhulu uNkulunkulu futhi uzazimisela ukuhlala umlalela. Uzasondela eduze kwakhe njalo ube lokholo oluqinileyo. Omunye udadewethu okuthiwa nguChristin wathi: “Nxa ngingachwayisisa futhi ngicabangisise ngalokho engikubalayo, ngisala ngisizwa angathi bekubhalelwe mina sibili!”

10. U-Isaya 26:3 usitshela ukuthi imfundo esiyiphiwa nguJehova isinceda ngani?

¹⁰ UNkulunkulu ufuna uhlakaniphe futhi ube lokuqedisisa. Yikho ekupha imfundo ejulileyo ezakusiza ukuthi uzwisise okwenzakala emhlabeni khathesi lokuthi kuyini okuzakwenzakala ngesikhathi esizayo. Kungani ekunika yonke imfundo le? Ufuna ukwazi ukuthi kuyini okuqakathekileyo empilweni, uhlakaniphe nxa usenza izinqumo njalo ungakhathazeki kakhulu ngekusasa lakho. (Bala u-Isaya 26:3.) Omunye umfowethu weMelika okuthiwa nguJoshua uthi: “Ukuba seduze loJehova kwenza ngihlale ngisazi ukuthi kuyini okuqakatheke kakhulu empilweni.” Limqotho lelo ngoba ukukhonza uJehova yikho kuphela okungasenza sithokoze.

11. UDavida wayekhetha abangane abanjani?

¹¹ Bala iHubo 16:3. UDavida wayekwazi ukukhetha abangane. ‘Kwakumthokozisa’ ukuba lobudlelwano labantu ababethanda uJehova. Wabiza abangane bakhe ngokuthi ‘ngabangcwele’ ngenxa yokuthi babeziphatha kuhle. UDavida kayisuye yedwa owakubonayo ukuthi kuqakathekile ukukhetha kuhle abangane. Omunye umhubi laye wathi: “Ngingumngane kubo bonke abakwesabayo, kubo bonke abalandela imithetho yakho.” (Hubo. 119:63) Thina singabathola ngaphi abangane abanjalo? Esihlokweni esidlulileyo sifunde ukuthi singabathola enhlanganisweni kaJehova elabantu abamlalelayo futhi abamesabayo. Kodwa kumele sikhethe abangane abalingana lathi kuphela yini?

12. Kuyini okwenza uDavida loJonathani baba ngabangane?

¹² UDavida kazange akhethe abangane abalingana laye kuphela. Uyakhumbula yini ukuthi kwakungubani umngane wakhe omkhulu ambiza ngokuthi ‘ngokhazimulayo’? Ibizo lakhe kwakuthiwa nguJonathani. IBhayibhili liveza ukuthi uDavida loJonathani babengamathe lolimi. Kodwa ubukwazi yini ukuthi uJonathani wayemdala kuloDavida ngeminyaka engaba ngu-30? Manje kuyini okwenza baba ngabangane? Bobabili babelokholo oluqinileyo, behloniphana kakhulu futhi belesibindi sokulwisana lezitha zikaNkulunkulu.—1 Sam. 13:3; 14:13; 17:48-50; 18:1.

13. Ungenzani ukuze uthole abangane? Nika isibonelo.

¹³ Lathi ‘kuyasithokozisa’ ukuba labangane abathanda uJehova njalo abalokholo oluqinileyo. Omunye udadewethu okuthiwa nguKiera oseleminyaka eminengi ekhonza uNkulunkulu uthi, “Ngilabangane emhlabeni wonke, balamasiko atshiyeneyo futhi bakhuliswe ngezindlela ezitshiyeneyo.” Nxa lawe ungayivula  ngokupheleleyo inhliziyo yakho njengoKiera, uzabona ukuthi iLizwi likaNkulunkulu lomoya wakhe kwenza sibe yimuli emanyeneyo.

14. (a) Kuyini okumele ukuqakathekise nxa ukhetha ozakwenza empilweni? (b) Abanye abasakhulayo bathini ngalokho abahlela ukukwenza?

¹⁴ Bala iHubo 16:8. UDavida wayekuqakathekisa ukukhonza uNkulunkulu. Lawe kufanele ukuqakathekise ukukhonza uNkulunkulu njalo ucabangisise ngokuthi ufuna wenzeni empilweni. Lokhu kuzakwenza uthokoze futhi usuthiseke. Umzalwane okuthiwa nguSteven uthi: “Ukwenza lokho engikuhlelileyo kanye lokubona indlela esengithuthuke ngayo kuyangithokozisa.” Omunye umzalwane osesemutsha odabuka eGermany futhi oncedisa kwelinye ilizwe uthi: “Angifuni ukuthi nxa sengikhulile ngizwe ubuhlungu senginanzelela ukuthi ngangiqakathekisa okufunwa yimi kuphela.” Sithemba yikho lawe okufisayo. Nxa kunjalo, sebenzisa iziphiwo zakho ukudumisa uNkulunkulu lokuncedisa abanye. (Gal. 6:10) Hlela ofuna ukukwenza ekukhonzeni futhi ucele uJehova akuncedise ukuthi ukufeze. UJehova uzawuphendula umthandazo wakho!—1 Joh. 3:22; 5:14, 15.

15. Yiziphi ezinye izinto ongahlela ukuzenza ekukhonzeni? (Khangela ibhokisi elithi “ Okunye Ongahlela Ukukwenza.”)

¹⁵ Kunengi ongahlela ukukwenza ekukhonzeni. Ngokwesibonelo ungaba liphayona, uyekhonza eBhetheli loba ufunde olunye ulimi ukuze uyencedisa ebandleni elisebenzisa lololimi. Kanti njalo ungazimisela ukuphendula ngamazwi akho nxa usemihlanganweni yebandla. Omunye umfowethu osakhulayo osenkonzweni yesikhathi sonke okuthiwa nguBarak uthi: “Ukwazi ukuthi nsuku zonke ngisebenzela uJehova ngamandla ami wonke kwenza ngithokoze kakhulu.”

16. UDavida wathini okutshengisa ukuthi wayezithanda izimiso zikaNkulunkulu njalo kungani wayezithanda?

¹⁶ Bala iHubo 16:2, 4. Esihlokweni esidlulileyo sifunde ukuthi nxa singalalela imithetho kaNkulunkulu lezimiso zakhe sizakhululeka njalo senelise ukuthanda okuhle lokuzonda okubi. (Amos. 5:15) Umhubi uDavida wathi kuJehova: “Ngaphandle kwakho angilakho okuhle.” Ibala elasetshenziswa nguDavida evesini le elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “okuhle” lingatsho ukwenza okuqondileyo loba okulungileyo.  Konke uJehova akwenzayo kuhle njalo zonke izinto ezinhle esilazo zivela kuye. Yikho uDavida wenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuze alingisele uNkulunkulu. Wayekuthanda lokho uNkulunkulu akuthandayo futhi ezonda lokho akuzondayo. Ngokwesibonelo, wayekuzonda ukukhonza izithombe ngoba kubangela ukuthi abantu benze izinto ezenyanyekayo njalo banganiki uJehova udumo olumfaneleyo.—Isaya. 2:8, 9; Isam. 4:11.

17, 18. (a) UDavida wathi kuyini okwenzakala ebantwini abakhonza onkulunkulu bamanga? (b) Abantu bazandisa njani inhlupho zabo?

¹⁷ Ngezikhathi zeBhayibhili abantu babejayele ukuziphatha kubi kwezemacansini nxa bekhonza onkulunkulu bamanga. (Hos. 4:13, 14) Yikho abanengi babekuthanda ukukhonza okunjalo ngenxa yokuthi babefuna ukusuthisa izinkanuko zabo. Lanxa kunjalo, kabazange bayithole intokozo yeqiniso. UDavida wayeqinisile sibili lapho esithi ‘izinhlupho zalabo abagijimela abanye onkulunkulu zizakwanda.’ Phela babeze batshise abantwababo besenza imihlatshelo kubonkulunkulu babo. (Isaya. 57:5) UJehova wayesizonda isihluku esinjalo! (Jer. 7:31) Aluba wawukhona ngalesosikhathi wawungasoze umbonge yini ngokuthi ukuphe abazali abalokholo futhi abamlalelayo?

¹⁸ Lalamuhla amasonto amanengi ayakwamukela ukuziphatha kubi kwezemacansini, aze avumele lobutabane. Abantu abenza izinto lezi bayabe bebona angathi bakhululekile kanti bayaziqila. (1 Khor. 6:18, 19) Mhlawumbe lawe uyakunanzelela ukuthi ‘inhlupho zabo ziyanda.’ Ngakho lina abasakhulayo mlaleleni ngenhliziyo yonke uYihlo osezulwini ngoba lokho yikho kuphela okuzakwenza liphumelele. Hlalani likhumbula ukuthi ukukholisa okwesikhatshana akuncedi ngalutho kodwa kudala inhlupho ezibuhlungu kakhulu. (Gal. 6:8) UJoshua esike sakhuluma ngaye uthi: “Silenkululeko yokuzikhethela esikufunayo kodwa nxa singayisebenzisa kubi ngeke sithokoze.”

19, 20. Yiziphi izibusiso ezizatholwa ngabasakhulayo abalokholo kuJehova futhi abamlalelayo?

¹⁹ UJesu watshela abalandeli bakhe wathi: “Uma libambelela emfundisweni yami lingabafundi bami ngempela. Ngakho lizalazi iqiniso, njalo iqiniso lizalikhulula.” (Joh. 8:31, 32) Iqiniso lisivule amehlo njalo lasikhulula ezimfundisweni zenkolo yamanga lasekwesabeni amadimoni. Esikhathini esizayo sizathola ‘inkululeko elenkazimulo yabantwana bakaNkulunkulu.’ (Rom. 8:21) Kodwa lakhathesi inkululeko le ungayinambitha ‘ngokubambelela emfundisweni kaKhristu.’ Nxa ungenza njalo, ‘uzalazi iqiniso’ hatshi ngokulifunda kuphela kodwa ngokulisebenzisa empilweni yakho.

²⁰ Nxa ungosakhulayo iqakathekise inkululeko oyiphiwe nguNkulunkulu. Yisebenzise kuhle ngoba lokhu kuzakunceda ukuthi wenze izinqumo ezinhle nxa usukhulile. Omunye umfowethu osakhulayo wathi: “Nxa usesemutsha kumele uyisebenzise kuhle inkululeko yakho ngoba lokhu kuzakunceda nxa sekumele wenze izinqumo ezinkulu, ezinjengokukhetha umsebenzi loba ukukhetha ukuthi uzatshada yini kumbe uzahlala ungatshadanga okwesikhathi esithile.”

21. Ungenzani ukuze uqhubeke uhamba endleleni eya ‘ekuphileni okuqotho’?

²¹ Ukugijimisa impilo entofontofo akusizi ngalutho ngoba kasingeke siyithole impilo engelazinhlupho emhlabeni lo futhi izinto zingantshintsha singalindelanga. (Jak. 4:13, 14) Yikho into engcono ongayenza yikuqhubeka uhamba eqinisweni ukuze uthole ‘ukuphila okuqotho,’ okutsho ukuphila okungapheliyo. (1 Tim. 6:19) Kodwa khumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu kasibambi ngamandla ukuthi sihambe endleleni yeqiniso. Thina yithi okumele sizikhethele. Ngakho yenza uJehova abe ‘yisabelo’ sakho futhi uqakathekise zonke ‘izinto ezinhle’ akunike zona. (Hubo. 103:5) Nxa ungenza njalo, uJehova ‘uzakugcwalisa ngokuthaba kanye lenjabulo engapheliyo.’—Hubo. 16:11.