1-2. Ngokwalokho okutshiwo kuMathewu 5:11, kumele senzeni nxa sisehlelwa zinhlupho?

UJESU wathembisa abalandeli bakhe ukuthi babezathola intokozo yeqiniso. Kodwa waphinda wathi babezakwehlelwa zinhlupho. (Mat. 10:22, 23; Luk. 6:20-23) Kuyasithokozisa ukuba ngabafundi bakaKhristu. Kodwa sizwa njani nxa abangakithi bezama ukusivimba ukuthi sikhonze uJehova, nxa uhulumende esihlukuluza kumbe nxa esifunda labo lesisebenza labo besilinga ukuthi senze okubi? Lokhu kungenza sikhathazeke.

² Abantu abanengi kababoni ukuhlukuluzwa kuyinto ethokozisayo. Kodwa lokho yikho kanye iLizwi likaNkulunkulu elithi sikwenze. Ngokwesibonelo, uJakhobe wabhala wathi kakumelanga sithwale imikhono ekhanda nxa sisehlelwa zinhlupho, kodwa kumele sithokoze. (Jak. 1:2, 12) UJesu laye wathi kumele sithokoze lanxa sihlukuluzwa. (Bala uMathewu 5:11.) Singenzani ukuze sihlale sithokoza lanxa sisebunzimeni? Ukuhlola amanye amacebo uJakhobe awabhalela amaKhristu akuqala kuzasinceda. Kodwa kasiqaleni ngokuxoxa ngobunzima amaKhristu lawo ahlangana labo.

3. Kwenzakalani uJakhobe esanda kuba ngumfundi kaJesu?

³ Umfowabo kaJesu uJakhobe wathi esanda kuba ngumfundi, amaKhristu eJerusalema ahlukuluzwa. (ImiSeb. 1:14; 5:17, 18) Langesikhathi umfundi uStefane esebulewe, amaKhristu amanengi abaleka ‘asabalala kuzo zonke izabelo zeJudiya  leSamariya’ aze ayafika eKhuphro le-Antiyokhi. (ImiSeb. 7:58–8:1; 11:19) Lanxa amaKhristu la ehlelwa zinhlupho ezinengi, aqhubeka etshumayela izindaba ezinhle loba ngaphi lapho ayesiya khona futhi kwabunjwa amabandla amanengi endaweni ezinengi. (1 Phet. 1:1) Kodwa kukhulu okwakusiza.

4. Yibuphi obunye ubunzima obehlela amaKhristu akuqala?

⁴ Bunengi ubunzima obehlela amaKhristu akuqala. Ngokwesibonelo, phose ngomnyaka ka-50 C.E., umbusi weRoma uKlawudiyu wakhipha umlayo wokuthi amaJuda wonke aphume aphele eRoma. Yikho amaKhristu angamaJuda kwasekungaselanto ayengayenza ngaphandle kokuthi atshiye imizi yawo ayehlala kwezinye indawo. (ImiSeb. 18:1-3) Ngabo-61 C.E., umphostoli uPhawuli wabhala wathi amaKhristu la ayephathwe kubi phambi kwabantu, afakwa emajele futhi aphundlwa impahla yawo. (Heb. 10:32-34) Kanti njalo amanye ayengabayanga futhi ayeke agule njengabo bonke abantu.—Rom. 15:26; Flp. 2:25-27.

5. Yiphi imibuzo esizayiphendula?

⁵ Ngesikhathi uJakhobe ebhala incwadi yakhe kungakafiki umnyaka ka-62 C.E., wayebazi mhlophe ubunzima obabusehlela abafowabo labodadewabo. UJehova wamphefumulela ukuthi abhale amacebo ayezabanceda ukuthi bahlale bethokoza lanxa besehlelwa yibunzima. Kasihloleni incwadi kaJakhobe besesiphendula imibuzo le: Ngenjani intokozo uJakhobe abhala ngayo? Kuyini okungaqeda intokozo leyo? Ukuhlakanipha, ukholo lesibindi kungasinceda njani ukuthi sihlale sithokoza kungelani lobunzima esiphakathi kwabo?

6. Ngokwalokho okutshiwo kuLukha 6:22, 23, kungani kumele umKhristu athokoze nxa esehlelwa yibunzima?

⁶ Abantu abanengi bacabanga ukuthi okungenza bathokoze yikuba lempilakahle, ukukhomba ngophakathi kumbe ukuba lemuli ethokozayo. Kodwa intokozo uJakhobe abhala ngayo iyisithelo somoya kaNkulunkulu futhi kayiyi ngokuthi umuntu uphakathi kwezimo ezinjani. (Gal. 5:22) Okwenza umKhristu athole intokozo yeqiniso yikwazi ukuthi uthokozisa uJehova lokuthi ulingisela uJesu. (Bala uLukha 6:22, 23; Kol. 1:10, 11) Intokozo yethu singayifanisa lelangabi eliphakathi kwesibane. Ilangabi leli livikelwa liglasi ukuze izulu kumbe umoya kungalicitshi. Lathi singenelisa ukuqhubeka sithokoza kungelani lokuthi kuyini okwenzakala empilweni zethu. Intokozo yethu izaqhubeka ibhebha kungelani lokuthi siyagula kumbe kasilamali. Kayisoze icitshe kungelani lokuthi abantu basenza inhlekisa kumbe abangakithi loba abanye abantu bayasiphikisa. Lanxa abantu bangaze bakwenze lokhu, kayisoze icitshe kodwa izaqhubeka ikhanya bha. Inhlupho ezisehlelayo ngenxa yalokho esikukholwayo zitshengisa ukuthi singabafundi bakaKhristu beqiniso. (Mat. 10:22; 24:9; Joh. 15:20) Yikho uJakhobe wabhala wathi: “Bafowethu, thokozani kakhulu nxa lisehlelwa yizilingo ezitshiyeneyo.”—Jak. 1:2.

7-8. Ukholo lwethu luba njani nxa sisehlelwa zinhlupho?

⁷ UJakhobe usitshela isizatho esenza amaKhristu azimisele ukuqinisela nxa esehlelwa yibunzima obukhulu. Uthi: “Ukholo lwenu oluhlolwe ngendlela le lwenza liqinisele.” (Jak. 1:3) Inhlupho zingafaniswa lendlela inkemba eqiniswa ngayo. Nxa inkemba ingatshiswa ibe isifakwa emanzini iyaqina kakhulu. Lathi singaqinisela ebunzimeni, ukholo lwethu luzaqina kakhulu. Yikho uJakhobe wabhala wathi: “Vumelani ukuqinisela kuqede umsebenzi wakho ukuze liphelele, lingabi lesici kukho konke.” (Jak. 1:4) Nxa singananzelela ukuthi inhlupho ziyaluqinisa ukholo lwethu, sizaqinisela sithokoza.

⁸ UJakhobe uphinda aqambe ezinye izinto ezingaqeda intokozo yethu. Yiziphi futhi singalwisana njani lazo?

9. Kungani sidinga ukuhlakanipha?

⁹ Okungaqeda intokozo: Ukungazi okumele sikwenze. Nxa siphakathi kwenhlupho, kumele senze izinqumo ezizathokozisa uJehova,  zisize abafowethu labodadewethu futhi zisincede ukuthi sihlale sithembekile. (Jer. 10:23) Kuyabe kumele sibe lokuhlakanipha ukuze sikwazi okumele sikwenze lokumele sikutsho kulabo abasiphikisayo. Nxa singakwazi okumele sikwenze singaphela amandla njalo lokho kungaqeda intokozo yethu.

10. UJakhobe 1:5 uthi kumele senzeni ukuze sihlakaniphe?

¹⁰ Ongakwenza: Cela uJehova akunike ukuhlakanipha. Nxa sifuna ukuqinisela sithokoza, kufanele siqale sikhuleke kuJehova simcela ukuthi asinike ukuhlakanipha ukuze senze izinqumo ezinhle. (Bala uJakhobe 1:5.) Kumele senzeni nxa sibona angani uJehova uyaphuza ukuphendula imithandazo yethu? UJakhobe uthi kumele ‘siqhubeke sicela’ ukuhlakanipha. UJehova kadakeki nxa sisenza njalo. Kasoze asizondele. UBaba wethu osezulwini ‘uzasipha ngesihle’ ukuhlakanipha esikudingayo ukuze siqinisele ebunzimeni. (Hubo. 25:12, 13) Uyabubona ubunzima esiphakathi kwabo futhi uyasizwela njalo uzimisele ukusincedisa. Lokhu kuyasithokozisa sibili. Kodwa uJehova usinika njani ukuhlakanipha?

11. Kuyini okunye okumele sikwenze ukuze sihlakaniphe?

¹¹ UJehova usinika ukuhlakanipha esebenzisa iLizwi lakhe. (Zaga. 2:6) Yikho kumele sitaditshe iBhayibhili lamabhuku ethu. Kodwa ukuba lolwazi kuphela kakwanelanga, kumele sikusebenzise esikubalayo. UJakhobe wathi: “Kumele libe ngabantu abenza okutshiwo lilizwi, hatshi abalizwayo kuphela.” (Jak. 1:22) Nxa singakwenza lokho okutshiwo liLizwi likaNkulunkulu sizakuba lokuthula, sibe ngabantu abazwisisayo njalo abalesihawu. (Jak. 3:17) Ubuntu lobu buzasinceda ukuthi siqinisele sithokoza.

12. Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi silazi kuhle iBhayibhili?

¹² ILizwi likaNkulunkulu linjengesibuko, lisinceda sibone lapho okumele silungisise khona lokuthi singenzani ukuze silungisise.  (Jak. 1:23-25) Ngokwesibonelo, singathi sesilibalile, sibe sesinanzelela ukuthi kumele sithibe ulaka lwethu. UJehova uzasincedisa ukuthi sibe mnene nxa abantu besicaphula kumbe nxa sisehlelwa zinhlupho. Nxa simnene kasisoze sivuke ngolaka futhi kasisoze senze izinqumo singazange sicabange. (Jak. 3:13) Kuqakathekile sibili ukuthi silazi kuhle iBhayibhili!

13. Kungani kumele sifunde ngabantu okukhulunywa ngabo eBhayibhilini?

¹³ Ngezinye izikhathi sifunda ukuthi ulutho oluthile luyingozi sesike salwenza. Kodwa kakumelanga sifunde ngendlela ebuhlungu kangaka. Indlela engcono yokuthola ukuhlakanipha yikufunda kokuhle okwenziwa ngabanye lasemaphutheni abo. Yikho uJakhobe esikhuthaza ukuthi sifunde ngabantu okukhulunywa ngabo eBhayibhilini abagoqela u-Abrahama, uRahabi, uJobe lo-Elija. (Jak. 2:21-26; 5:10, 11, 17, 18) Izinceku zikaJehova lezo zenelisa ukuqinisela lanxa zazihlangana lenhlupho ezazingaqeda intokozo yazo. Ukuqinisela kwazo kutshengisa ukuthi lathi uJehova angasincedisa ukuthi senze njalo.

14-15. Kungani kungamelanga sigoqe izandla nxa sithandabuza?

¹⁴ Okungaqeda intokozo: Ukuthandabuza esikukholwayo. Ngezinye izikhathi singathwala nzima ukuzwisisa okuthile okuseLizwini likaNkulunkulu, kumbe uJehova angangaphenduli imithandazo yethu ngendlela ebesiyikhangelele. Lokhu kungenza siqalise ukuthandabuza. Nxa singagoqa izandla singenzi lutho ngokuthandabuza lokho, ukholo lwethu luzaxega futhi ubungane bethu loJehova buzaphambaniseka. (Jak. 1:7, 8) Kanti njalo kasisoze sithole umvuzo uJehova asithembise wona.

¹⁵ Umphostoli uPhawuli wafanisa ithemba lesikhonkwane kumbe ingwegwe yomkhumbi. (Heb. 6:19) Nxa kulesiphepho, ingwegwe yomkhumbi iyawunceda ukuthi ungabe ulokhu usiyale lale lokuthi ungakhukhuleki utshayeke emadwaleni. Kodwa ingwegwe leyo kayincedi nxa iketane ebotshelwe kuyo iqamukile. Njengoba nje irusi isidla iketane yengwegwe leyo, ukuthandabuza kuyaluxegisa ukholo lwethu. Nxa umuntu othandabuzayo angaphikiswa, angacina engasakholwa ukuthi uJehova uzagcwalisa izithembiso zakhe. Nxa ungaselakholo uyabe ungaselathemba. UJakhobe uthi umuntu othandabuzayo “unjengegagasi lolwandle eliphetshulwa ngumoya lisiya le lale.” (Jak. 1:6) Umuntu onjalo ngeke athokoze.

16. Kumele senzeni nxa sithandabuza?

¹⁶ Ongakwenza: Qinisa ukholo lwakho ukuze uqede ukuthandabuza. Qiniseka ngalokho okukholwayo. Ngensuku zomphrofethi u-Elija, abantu bakaJehova basebethandabuza. U-Elija wathi kubo: “Lizathandabuza kuze kube nini ngeminakano emibili le na? Nxa uJehova enguNkulunkulu mlandeleni kodwa nxa uBhali engunkulunkulu, mlandeleni.” (1 AmaKho. 18:21) Lokhu kungenzakala lakithi. Kumele sichwayisise ukuze singathandabuzi ukuthi uJehova nguNkulunkulu weqiniso, ukuthi iBhayibhili liLizwi lakhe lokuthi oFakazi bakaJehova ngabantu bakhe. (1 Thes. 5:21) Ukwenza lokhu kuzaqeda ukuthandabuza esilakho kuqinise ukholo lwethu. Singacela labadala bebandla ukuthi basincedise siqiniseke ngalokho esikukholwayo. Kumele siphangise ukukwenza konke lokhu ukuze sihlale sithokoza ekukhonzeni uJehova.

17. Kuzakwenzakalani nxa ungaphelelwa yisibindi?

¹⁷ Okungaqeda intokozo: Ukudana. ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lithi: “Nxa ungadana ngezikhathi zokuhlupheka, amandla akho aba mancane.” (Zaga. 24:10, NWT) Ibala lesiHebheru elihunyutshwe  ngokuthi “ungadana” lingatsho “ukuphelelwa yisibindi.” Nxa ungaselasibindi, intokozo layo iyaphela.

18. Kutshoni ukuqinisela?

¹⁸ Ongakwenza: Cela uJehova akunike isibindi sokuthi uqinisele. Kumele sibe lesibindi ukuze senelise ukuqinisela nxa sisebunzimeni. (Jak. 5:11) Ibala elithi “ukuqinisela” elasetshenziswa nguJakhobe lisenza sicabange ngomuntu oqhubeka ethe mpo endaweni akuyo, engethuswa yilutho. Singacabanga ngesotsha elilesibindi eliqhubeka limile lingabaleki nxa lihlaselwa yisitha.

19. Sifundani kumphostoli uPhawuli?

¹⁹ Umphostoli uPhawuli wayelesibindi futhi eqinisela. Ngezinye izikhathi wayephela amandla, kodwa wayesenelisa ukuqinisela ngoba wayethembela kuJehova ukuthi amnike amandla awadingayo. (2 Khor. 12:8-10; Flp. 4:13) Lathi singaba lamandla esiwadingayo kanye lesibindi nxa singathembela kuJehova ukuthi asincedise.—Jak. 4:10.

20-21. Kuyini esingakuthandabuziyo?

²⁰ Ukwehlelwa zinhlupho akutsho ukuthi uJehova uyabe esijezisa. UJakhobe wathi: “Nxa umuntu elingwa kangatsho ukuthi: ‘Ngilingwa nguNkulunkulu,’ ngoba uNkulunkulu ngeke alingwe ngezinto ezimbi njalo yena kalingi muntu.” (Jak. 1:13) Nxa singakuthandabuzi lokho okwatshiwo nguJakhobe, sizasondela kuBaba wethu osithandayo.—Jak. 4:8.

²¹ UJehova nguNkulunkulu “ongantshintshiyo futhi ongaphenduphendukiyo.” (Jak. 1:17) Wasekela amaKhristu akuqala esebunzimeni futhi uzasisekela lathi. Thandaza ngenhliziyo yonke umcele ukuthi akunike ukuhlakanipha, ukholo lesibindi. Uzayiphendula imithandazo yakho. Nxa angayiphendula, kawusoze uthandabuze ukuthi uzakuncedisa ukuthi uqhubeke uthokoza lanxa usebunzimeni!