1. Kungani okwenzakala esikhathini esiphila kuso kumangalisa?

OKWENZAKALA kulesisikhathi esiphila kuso akukaze kwenzakale loba nini embalini. Ngokwesibonelo kulezinsuku uJehova uqoqa ‘ixuku elikhulukazi elivela ezizweni zonke, lasezizwaneni, lasebantwini kanye lasezindimini zonke.’ Ixuku leli libumba ‘isizwe esilamandla’ esilabantu abedlula 8 miliyoni ‘abakhonza [uNkulunkulu] emini lebusuku.’ (Isam. 7:9, 15; Isaya. 60:22) Akukaze kube labantu abanengi kangaka abathanda uNkulunkulu futhi abathandanayo.

2. Banjani abantu abangelandaba loNkulunkulu? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

² IMibhalo yaphinda yaphrofetha langalokho okuzakwenziwa ngabantu abangelandaba loNkulunkulu kulezinsuku zokucina. Umphostoli uPhawuli wabhala wathi: “Ezinsukwini zokucina . . . , abantu bazakuba ngabazithandayo, labathanda imali, . . . labathanda injabulo kulokuthanda uNkulunkulu.” (2 Tim. 3:1-4) Abantu laba batshiyene kakhulu labantu abathanda uNkulunkulu njalo abakuthandayo akubenzi bathokoze. Akuphileki labo abantu abanjalo ngoba benza impilo ibe “nzima.”

3. Sizaxoxa ngani esihlokweni lesi futhi kuzasisiza ngani?

 ³ UPhawuli wakubona ukuthi indlela abantu bomhlaba lo abenza ngayo ingaba yingozi kithi. Yikho wasixwayisa ukuthi ‘singahlanganyeli’ labo abantu abanjalo. (2 Tim. 3:5) Kodwa kunzima ukutshiyana labantu laba ngokupheleleyo ngoba siphila labo. Pho singenzani ukuze singacini sesilandela indlela abenza ngayo njalo siqhubeke sisenza izinto ezithokozisa uNkulunkulu wethu olothando? Ake sixoxe ngabantu uPhawuli ayekhuluma ngabo ku-2 Thimothi 3:2-4 siqathanise lalokho uJehova afuna sibe yikho. Lokhu kuzasinceda sihlole indlela esenza ngayo njalo sithole intokozo yeqiniso.

4. Kungani kungakubi ukuzithanda?

⁴ Umphostoli uPhawuli wabhala wathi: “Abantu bazakuba ngabazithandayo.” Kubi yini ukuzithanda? Hatshi akukubi. Kuvele kusegazini ukuthi sizithande ngoba uJehova wasidala ngaleyondlela. UJesu wathi: “Thanda umakhelwana wakho njengoba uzithanda.” (Mak. 12:31) Akwenzakali ukuthi sithande omakhelwane bethu nxa singazithandi. IBhayibhili lithi: “Amadoda kumele abathande omkawo njengemizimba yawo. Lowo othanda umfazi wakhe uyazithanda. Belo, kakho owake wazonda umzimba wakhe, kodwa uwunika ukudla awulondoloze.” (Efe. 5:28, 29) Ngakho siyabona-ke ukuthi ukuzithanda kuhle.

5. Banjani abantu abazithanda kakhulu?

⁵ Abantu uPhawuli ayekhuluma ngabo yilabo abazithanda baze badlulise amalawulo. Ukuzithanda kwabo kwenza bazigqaje futhi bazibone bengcono kakhulu kulabanye. (Bala uRoma 12:3). Nxa kungenzakala iphutha kabavumi ukuthi baphambanisile kodwa besulela icala kwabanye. Esinye isazi seBhayibhili sibafanisa lenyamazana okuthiwa yinhloni. Inyamazana le iyazigoqa ibe libhora ukuze uboya obukhudumalayo obungaphansi kwayo bukhudumeze yona yodwa ngapha icijise ameva ukuze kube nzima ukuyithinta. Banjalo abantu abazithandayo kabalandaba labanye futhi bazicabanga bona bodwa. Kodwa okudanisayo yikuthi kabathokozi lakancane.

6. Abantu abathanda uNkulunkulu bakhanya ngani?

⁶ Izikhwicamfundo ezicubungula iBhayibhili zikholwa ukuthi okwenza uPhawuli waqala ngokuqamba abantu abazithandayo yikuthi ukuzithanda okunjalo yikho okubangela eminye imikhuba emibi akhuluma ngayo. Kodwa thina uNkulunkulu ufuna sibe lothando oluzasenza sibe lokuthokoza, ukuthula, ukubekezela umusa, ukulunga, ukholo, ubumnene lokuzithiba. (Gal. 5:22, 23, NW) Umhubi wabhala wathi: “Babusisiwe abantu oNkulunkulu wabo nguJehova.” (Hubo. 144:15) UJehova unguNkulunkulu othokozayo njalo labantu bakhe bayathokoza njengaye. Kabafanani labantu abazithandayo abafuna ukwamukela sonke isikhathi kodwa benza okusemandleni abo ukuze bancede abanye.​—ImiSeb. 20:35.

7. Yiphi imibuzo engasinceda ukuthi sizihlole?

⁷ Ukuzithanda kakhulu kungaphambanisa indlela esithanda ngayo uNkulunkulu. Ngakho kuqakathekile ukuthi ngamunye wethu azihlole endabeni le. Kumele sikhumbule iseluleko lesi esithi: “Lingenzi lutho ngokuzikhukhumeza loba ukuziphakamisa okuyize, kodwa ngokuthobeka. Khangelani abanye njengabangcono kulani. Lowo lalowo wenu kangakhathaleli inzuzo yakhe kuphela kodwa akhathalele lenzuzo yabanye.” Zibuze imibuzo le: ‘Ngiyasisebenzisa yini iseluleko lesi empilweni yami? Ngiyazama yini ukwenza okufunwa nguNkulunkulu sikhathi sonke?  Ngiyakuqakathekisa yini ukunceda abanye ebandleni loba ekutshumayeleni?’ Ukunceda abanye akulula kudinga isikhathi lokuzinikela futhi kwesinye isikhathi kungatsho ukuthi sitshiye imisebenzi yethu. Kodwa nxa singakwenza sizathokoza ngoba siyabe sisenza lokho okufunwa nguBaba wethu.

8. Ukuthanda uNkulunkulu kubancede njani abanye?

⁸ Ukuthanda uNkulunkulu kwenze abanye bazimisela ukutshiya imisebenzi eyayingabanika imali ukuze benze okunengi enkonzweni. Omunye owakwenzayo lokhu ngudadewethu ongudokotela okuthiwa ngu-Ericka. Udade lo wakhetha ukuba liphayona lesikhathi sonke kulokuthi aqhubeke ngokuthuthukisa imfundo yakhe yobudokotela. Yena lomkakhe sebekhonze emazweni amanengi. U-Ericka uthi: “Zinengi izibusiso esazithola ngesikhathi sincedisa kwamanye amazwe futhi sathola labangane abanengi kakhulu. Ngilokhu ngingudokotela kodwa isikhathi sami esinengi ngisiqeda ngincedisa abantu ukuthi babe ngabangane bakaNkulunkulu lokuncedisa abanye ebandleni. Lokhu kungenza ngisuthiseke futhi kuyangithokozisa.”

9. Ukuthanda imali kuyayiletha yini intokozo?

⁹ UPhawuli wathi ezinsukwini zokucina kuzakuba labantu “abathanda imali.” Omunye umfowethu wase-Ireland oliphayona wathi exoxa lendoda ethile ngoNkulunkulu yakhupha imali esikhwameni yathi: “Owami unkulunkulu nangu!” Lanxa abanengi bengeke bakhulume njengendoda le, iqiniso elikhona yikuthi abantu emhlabeni lo bayikhonzile imali lezinto ezithengiswayo. IBhayibhili lithi: “Lowo othanda imali akaneliswa yiloba yimalini; lowo othanda inotho akasuthiswa yilokho akuzuzayo.” (UmTshu. 5:10) Aliqiniso sibili amazwi la ngoba abantu abathanda imali kabayisuthi, basebenza ubusuku lemini bezama ukuyibuthelela besekubadalela “izinsizi ezinengi.”​—1 Tim. 6:9, 10.

10. IBhayibhili lithini ngenotho lobuyanga?

¹⁰ Sonke siyayidinga sibili imali ngoba iyasinceda ukuthi sithole izinto eziqakathekileyo empilweni. (UmTshu. 7:12) Kodwa singathokoza yini nxa silemali enela izidingo zethu kuphela? Ye singathokoza. (Bala UmTshumayeli 5:12.) U-Aguri indodana kaJakhi wabhala wathi: “Ungangiphi ubuyanga loba inotho, kodwa ungiphe kuphela ukudla kwami kwansuku zonke.” Kuyini okwenza u-Aguri wacela ukuthi angehlelwa yibuyanga? Wayekwazi ukuthi ukuba ngumyanga kwakungabangela ukuthi antshontshe abesengcolisa ibizo likaNkulunkulu. Kodwa kungani wathandazela ukuthi angabi lenotho? Wabhala wathi: “Phela ngingaba lokunengi kakhulu ngikuphike wena ngithi, ‘Ungubani uJehova?’” (Zaga. 30:8, 9) Mhlawumbe lawe bakhona abantu obaziyo abathemba inotho yabo kulokuthemba uNkulunkulu.

11. UJesu wathini ngokuthanda imali?

¹¹ Kunzima ukuthi abantu abathanda imali bathokozise uNkulunkulu. UJesu wathi: “Kakho ongakhonza amakhosi amabili. Mhlawumbe uzathanda enye azonde enye, loba uzabambelela kwenye azonde enye. Lingazake likhonze uNkulunkulu njalo leMali.” Engakakhulumi amazwi la waqala wathi: “Lingazibutheli inotho emhlabeni lapho okubhubhisa khona inondo lokuthomba, njalo lapho okugqekeza khona amasela ebe. Kodwa zibutheleni inotho ezulwini lapho kungabhujiswa khona yinondo lokuthomba, njalo lapho kungagqekezi khona amasela ebe.”​—Mat. 6:19, 20, 24.

12. Ukungabi lezinto ezinengi empilweni kungasinceda njani ukuthi sikhonze uNkulunkulu? Nika isibonelo.

 ¹² Abanengi sebekunanzelele ukuthi ukungabi lezinto ezinengi empilweni kwenza bathokoze njalo kubanika isikhathi sokwenza okunengi emsebenzini kaJehova. Ngokwesibonelo umfowethu wase-United States okuthiwa nguJack wathengisa indlu kanye lebhizimusi yakhe ukuze aphayone lomkakhe. Uthi: “Kwakunzima ukwehlukana lezinto esasilazo kanye lebhizimusi yethu. Kodwa 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 futhi kuyangithokozisa ukuthi sesisebenzela uJehova sobabili.”

13. Singabona njani ukuthi sesiyithanda kakhulu imali?

¹³ 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.​—Mat. 6:33.

14. Kubi yini ukuzijabulisa?

¹⁴ UPhawuli wakhuluma langokuthi ezinsukwini zokucina kuzakuba labantu “abathanda injabulo.” Akukubi ukuthi sithole isikhathi sokwenza izinto ezingasenza sijabule. UJehova laye uyafisa ukuthi sijabule empilweni. IBhayibhili lithi: “Hamba nje uyezidlela ukudla kwakho uchelesile, unathe iwayini lakho ngenhliziyo emhlophe.”​—UmTshu. 9:7.

15. Ngabanjani abantu okukhulunywa ngabo ku-2 Thimothi 3:4?

¹⁵ Ku-2 Thimothi 3:4 uPhawuli wakhuluma ngabantu abathanda injabulo kulokuthanda  uNkulunkulu. Nanzelela ukuthi uPhawuli kazange athi bathanda injabulo ukwedlula uNkulunkulu kodwa wathi bathanda injabulo ‘kulokuthanda uNkulunkulu.’ Esinye isikhwicamfundo sithi: “[Ivesi] le kayitsho ukuthi abantu laba bathanda injabulo ukwedlula uNkulunkulu kodwa iveza ukuthi kabalandaba laye.” Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi ukuphilela injabulo kuyingozi. Umutsho othi ‘abathanda injabulo’ utshengisa ukuthi labobantu baphilela ‘ukukholisa’ futhi yikho okuqakatheke kakhulu kubo.​—Luk. 8:14.

16, 17. UJesu wasitshiyela siphi isibonelo endabeni yokuzilibazisa?

¹⁶ UJesu wayesiba lesikhathi sokuzilibazisa. Ngokwesibonelo ngelinye ilanga waya edilini lomtshado owawuseKhana futhi ngesinye isikhathi wanxuswa edilini emzini kaMathewu. (Joh. 2:1-10; Luk. 5:29) Kulowomtshado wenza isimanga wantshintsha amanzi aba liwayini elimnandi abantu banatha bakholisa. Ngesinye isikhathi abantu bathi bemsola ngendaba yokudla lokunatha uJesu wabatshela ukuthi umbono wabo ngendaba le wawunxele.​—Luk. 7:33-36.

¹⁷ Lanxa kunjalo uJesu kazange aphilele injabulo. Ayekuqakathekisa yikwenza intando kaJehova lokunceda abanye. Kanti njalo wanikela ngokuphila kwakhe ukuze sonke sithole ukuphila. Watshela abalandeli bakhe wathi: “Libusisiwe lina nxa abantu belithuka, belihlukumeza njalo beligcona ngobubi bonke ngenxa yami. Thokozani lijabule ngokuba mkhulu umvuzo wenu ezulwini, ngoba bahlukunyezwa ngaleyondlela abaphrofethi ababephambi kwenu.”​—Mat. 5:11, 12.

18. Yiphi imibuzo engasinceda sibone ukuthi sesiphilela injabulo?

¹⁸ Ukuzibuza imibuzo elandelayo kungasinceda sibone ukuthi sesiphilela injabulo yini loba hatshi: ‘Ngiyehluleka yini ukuya emihlanganweni lasekutshumayeleni ngenxa yokuzilibazisa? Ngizimisele yini ukulahlekelwa yizinto engizithandayo ukuze ngenze intando kaNkulunkulu? Ngiyahlola yini ukuthi uJehova uthini ngezinto engikhetha ukuzilibazisa ngazo?’ Nxa simthanda uNkulunkulu sizabalekela ukuzilibazisa ngezinto esikwaziyo ukuthi uyazizonda lalezo esicabangela ukuthi ngeke zimthokozise.​—Bala uMathewu 22:37, 38.

19. Ngobani abangasoze bajabule loba nini?

¹⁹ Sekwedlule iminyaka engu-6 000 uSathane ebangela usizi emhlabeni kodwa sekuzamphelela. Umhlaba lo ugcwele abantu abazithandayo, abathanda imali labathanda injabulo. Abantu laba abalandaba labanye, bagijimisa okufunwa yibo kuphela. Kodwa ngeke bayithole injabulo loba sekutheni. Abantu abajabulayo ngabenza intando kaNkulunkulu. Umhubi wathi: “Ubusisiwe lowo osizo lwakhe lunguNkulunkulu kaJakhobe, othemba lakhe likuJehova uNkulunkulu wakhe.”​—Hubo. 146:5.

20. Ukuthanda uNkulunkulu kukuncede njani ukuthi uthole injabulo?

²⁰ Lamuhla abantu abakhonza uNkulunkulu bayajabula futhi inani labo liqhubeka lisanda. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi uMbuso kaNkulunkulu uyabusa lokuthi sekuseduze ukuthi ulethe izibusiso emhlabeni. Ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu lokwazi ukuthi esikwenzayo kuyamthokozisa yikho kuphela okungenza sithokoze empilweni. Emhlabeni omutsha abantu abathanda uJehova bazathola injabulo engeke ichazwe ngamazwi. Esihlokweni esilandelayo sizaxoxa ngokunye okwatshiwo ngumphostoli uPhawuli sibone lokuthi kutshiyene njani lalokho okwenziwa yizinceku zikaJehova.