1-2. Kuqakatheke ngani ukutshengisa abanye uthando oluqotho?

KUQAKATHEKILE ukuthi sitshengise uthando oluqotho kwabanye. Nanzelela ukuthi izaga ezilandelayo zikutshengisa njani lokhu: ‘Akungasuki kuwe loba nini uthando [“oluqotho,” NWT] lokuthembeka. Ngalokho uzathandeka uzuze igama elihle emehlweni kaNkulunkulu laphambi kwabantu.’ “Umuntu [“olothando oluqotho,” NWT] uyazisiza.” “Lowo odinga ukuhlakanipha lothando [“oluqotho,” NWT] uzuza ukuphila.”—Zaga. 3:3, 4; 11:17; 21:21.

² Izaga lezi ziveza izizatho ezintathu zokutshengisa abanye uthando oluqotho. Esokuqala, siba ligugu kuNkulunkulu. Esesibili, kuyasinceda ukwenza njalo. Ngokwesibonelo, siba lobungane obuqinileyo labanye. Esesithathu, sizathola izibusiso esikhathini esizayo, ezigoqela ukuphila okungapheliyo. Kuyanceda sibili ukulalela amazwi kaJehova athi: “Tshengisani [“uthando oluqotho,” NWT] lozwelo omunye komunye.”—Zek. 7:9.

3. Yiphi imibuzo esizayiphendula esihlokweni lesi?

³ Esihlokweni lesi sizaphendula imibuzo emine. Ngobani okumele sibatshengise uthando oluqotho? Sifundani ebhukwini likaRuthe mayelana lokutshengisa abanye uthando oluqotho? Singalutshengisa njani? Sizatholani nxa singatshengisa abanye uthando oluqotho?

4. Singamlingisela njani uJehova ekutshengiseni uthando oluqotho? (UMakho 10:29, 30)

⁴ Esihlokweni esidlulileyo sibonile ukuthi uJehova utshengisa uthando oluqotho kulabo abamthandayo labamkhonzayo kuphela. (Dan. 9:4, NWT) Sifuna ‘ukulingisela uNkulunkulu njengoba singabantwana abathandwayo.’  (Efe. 5:1) Yikho sizimisele ukubatshengisa uthando oluqotho abafowethu labodadewethu.—Bala uMakho 10:29, 30.

5-6. Yiwuphi umehluko okhona phakathi kothando oluqotho lokuba lomusa?

⁵ Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi kuzaba lula ukutshengisa uthando oluqotho kubafowethu labodadewethu nxa singazwisisa ukuthi luyini. Asixoxeni ngomehluko okhona phakathi kothando oluqotho lokuba lomusa. Nansi isibonelo.

 ⁶ Umphostoli uPhawuli labanye ababebhidlikelwe ngumkhumbi batshengiswa umusa. Abantu besihlenge seMalitha lapho umkhumbi owawubhidlikele khona babengabazi kodwa babamukela kuhle. (ImiSeb. 28: 2, 7) Kambe singathi abantu baseMalitha baba lothando oluqotho? Hatshi. Kwasekube lengozi yikho babefuna ukusiza abantu ababedinga uncedo.

7-8. (a) Kuyini okwenza umuntu atshengise uthando oluqotho? (b) Kuzasinceda ngani ukuxoxa ngamanye amavesi asebhukwini likaRuthe?

⁷ Umehluko okhona phakathi kokuba lomusa okukhulunywe ngakho  kundima 6 lothando oluqotho yisizatho esenza umuntu akutshengise. Kuyini okwenza izinceku zikaNkulunkulu zakudala zatshengisa uthando oluqotho? Zazingatshengisi abanye uthando oluqotho ngenxa yokuthi kwakumele zenze njalo kodwa zazilutshengisa kusuka enhliziyweni. Cabanga ngalokho okwenziwa nguDavida. Watshengisa umngane wakhe uJonathani uthando oluqotho lanxa uyise kaJonathani wayefuna ukumbulala. Sekwedlule iminyaka uJonathani efile, uDavida waqhubeka emtshengisa uthando oluqotho ngokuba lothando oluqotho kuMefibhoshethi indodana kaJonathani.—1 Sam. 20:9, 14, 15, NWT; 2 Sam. 4:4; 8:15; 9:1, 6, 7, NWT.

⁸ Sizafunda okunengi ngothando oluqotho nxa singabala amanye amavesi ebhukwini likaRuthe. Abantu okukhulunywa ngabo ebhukwini lelo bangasifundisani ngokutshengisa uthando oluqotho? Singabalingisela njani ekutshengiseni abafowethu labodadewethu ebandleni uthando oluqotho? *

9. Kuyini okwenza uNawomi wacabanga ukuthi uJehova nguye owayebangele ukuthi ahlupheke?

⁹ Ebhukwini likaRuthe, sibala ngoNawomi lomalukazana wakhe uRuthe langendoda okuthiwa nguBhowazi eyayithanda uNkulunkulu. Indoda leyo yayiyisihlobo somkaNawomi. Kwaba lendlala ko-Israyeli yikho uNawomi lomkakhe lamadodana abo amabili basuka bayahlala koMowabi. Bekhonale, umkaNawomi wafa. Amadodana abo athatha kodwa okudanisayo yikuthi lawo afa. (Ruthe. 1:3-5; 2:1) Usizi olungaka lwabangela ukuthi uNawomi adane kakhulu. Wezwa ubuhlungu okokuthi wacabanga ukuthi uJehova nguye owayebangele ukuthi ahlupheke kangako, waze wathi: “Ingalo kaJehova isingihlanekele.” “USomandla wenze impilo yami yaba munyu.” Waphinda wathi: “UJehova ungehlisele uhlupho; uSomandla ungehlisele okubi.”—Ruthe. 1:13, 20, 21.

10. UJehova wezwa njani ngamazwi kaNawomi abuhlungu futhi wamphatha njani?

¹⁰ UJehova wezwa njani ngamazwi kaNawomi abuhlungu futhi wamphatha njani? Kazange ayitshiye inceku yakhe le  eyayiphakathi kosizi. Wayizwela, ngoba uyazwisisa ukuthi ‘ukucindezelwa kwenza ohlakaniphileyo abe luhlanya.’ (UmTshu. 7:7, TBS) Lanxa kunjalo, uNawomi wayedinga ukuncediswa ukuze abone ukuthi uJehova kamlahlanga. UNkulunkulu wamncedisa njani? (1 Sam. 2:8) Wasebenzisa uRuthe ukuthi amtshengise uthando oluqotho. URuthe wamtshengisa uthando uNawomi futhi wamncedisa ukuthi angadani kakhulu lokuthi abone ukuthi uJehova wayelokhu emthanda. Sifundani kulokho akwenzayo?

11. Kuyini okwenza ukuthi abafowethu labodadewethu abalomusa bancedise abadanileyo labahlulukelweyo?

¹¹ Ukuba lothando oluqotho kwenza sincedise labo abadanileyo. URuthe kazange amtshiye uNawomi. Abafowethu labodadewethu abalomusa balingisela uRuthe ngokuqhubeka bencedisa abadanileyo labahlulukelweyo. Bayabathanda abafowabo labodadewabo labo, futhi bazimisele ukwenza konke abangakwenza ukuthi babancedise. (Zaga. 12:25; 24:10) Lokhu yikho kanye umphostoli uPhawuli asikhuthaza ukuthi sikwenze. Wathi: ‘Duduzani abahlulukelweyo njalo lisekele ababuthakathaka, libekezelele wonke umuntu.’—1 Thes. 5:14.

12. Izikhathi ezinengi yiphi indlela engcono kakhulu yokuncedisa umfowethu loba udadewethu odanileyo?

¹² Izikhathi ezinengi indlela engcono kakhulu yokuncedisa umfowethu loba udadewethu odanileyo yikumlalela nxa ekhuluma lokumqinisekisa ukuthi siyamthanda. UJehova uyabona nxa sincedisa imvu yakhe eligugu. (Hubo. 41:1) IZaga 19:17 zithi: “Olomusa [“kophansi uboleka,” NWT] uJehova, uzakumvuza ngalokho akwenzayo.”

13. Okwenziwa nguRuthe kwakutshiyene njani lokwenziwa ngu-Opha futhi lokho akwenzayo kwatshengisa njani ukuthi ulothando oluqotho? (Khangela umfanekiso ongaphandle.)

¹³ Okunye okungasinceda ukuthi sizwisise kuhle ukuthi luyini uthando oluqotho yikuhlola lokho okwenzakala kuNawomi ngemva kokufelwa ngumkakhe lamadodana akhe amabili. Wathi esezwile ukuthi “uJehova wayesesize abantu bakhe ngokubapha ukudla” wabona kungcono ukuthi abuyele kibo. (Ruthe. 1:6) Omalukazana bakhe ababili babuyela laye. Kodwa sebesendleleni uNawomi wabancenga kathathu ukuthi babuyele koMowabi. Benzani? IBhayibhili lithi: “U-Opha wasesanga uninazala wamvalelisa, kodwa uRuthe wanamathela kuye.” (Ruthe. 1:7-14) U-Opha wenza lokho akutshelwa nguNawomi, wabuyela ngakibo. URuthe laye wayengazibuyelela ngakibo, kodwa wakhetha ukungamtshiyi uninazala. (Ruthe. 1:16, 17) Wakhetha ukunamathela kuNawomi hatshi ngoba kumele enze njalo kodwa ngenxa yokuthi wayefuna.  Akwenzayo kwatshengisa ukuthi ulothando oluqotho sibili. Sifundani?

14. (a) Abafowethu labodadewethu abalothando benzani? (b) Ngokwalokho okutshiwo kuHebheru 13:16, singamthokozisa njani uNkulunkulu?

¹⁴ Nxa silothando oluqotho senza okwedlula lokho okukhangelelwe ukuthi sikwenze. Lalamuhla abafowethu labodadewethu abanengi batshengisa uthando oluqotho kwamanye amaKhristu lanxa bengakaze bawabone. Ngokwesibonelo, nxa bengezwa ukuthi kube lomonakalo wemvelo, bahle bafise ukwazi ukuthi bangancedisa njani. Nxa omunye ebandleni angaba lohlupho lwemali, bahle bazame ukudinga ukuthi bangamncedisa njani besebesenza njalo. Balingisela amaKhristu aseMakhedoniya ngokwenza okwedlula lokho okukhangelelwe ukuthi bakwenze. Banikela ngalokho abalakho, baze “benze okungaphezu kwamandla abo” ukuze bancedise abafowabo labodadewabo abasebunzimeni. (2 Khor. 8:3) UJehova uyathokoza kakhulu nxa ebabona betshengisa uthando oluqotho!—Bala uHebheru 13:16.

15-16. URuthe watshengisa njani ukuthi uyaphikelela?

¹⁵ Singafunda izifundo eziqakathekileyo nxa singahlola indaba kaRuthe loNawomi. Asixoxeni ngezinye zakhona.

¹⁶ Ungakhalali. Ngesikhathi uRuthe etshela uNawomi ukuthi uzabuyela laye koJuda, uNawomi wazama ukumalisa. Kodwa uRuthe waphikelela. Kwaphetha ngani? “Kwathi uNawomi esebonile ukuthi uRuthe uzimisele ukuhamba laye waseyekela ukumcindezela.”—Ruthe. 1:15-18.

17. Kuyini okuzasinceda ukuthi singaphangisi ukukhalala nxa sizama ukuncedisa abadanileyo?

¹⁷ Sifundani? Kudinga isineke ukuthi sincedise abadanileyo, kodwa akumelanga sikhalale ukuzama ukubancedisa. Udade ophakathi kohlupho angaqala esala ukuncediswa. * Kodwa nxa silothando oluqotho sizakwenza konke esingakwenza ukuze siqhubeke simncedisa, singakhalali. (Gal. 6:2) Sithemba ukuthi ngelinye ilanga uzavuma ukuthi simncedise njalo simduduze.

18. Kuyini okwazwisa uRuthe ubuhlungu?

¹⁸ Ungaphangisi ukucaphuka. UNawomi loRuthe bathi sebefikile eBhethilehema, bahlangana labantu ababengomakhelwane bakaNawomi. Wathi kubo: “Ngasuka lapha ngigcwele, kodwa uJehova usengibuyise ngingelalutho.” (Ruthe. 1:21) Akucabange ukuthi uRuthe wezwa njani esizwa uNawomi ekhuluma amazwi lawo! Wayengamtshiyanga ngesikhathi esebunzimeni. Wayekhale laye, wamduduza futhi wahamba laye okwamalanga amanengi. Kodwa uNawomi wathi: “UJehova usengibuyise ngingelalutho.” Lanxa uRuthe wayeseceleni kwakhe, amazwi akhe enza kwakhanya angani wayengakuqakathekisi ayemenzele khona. Kumele ukuthi lokhu kwamzwisa ubuhlungu obukhulu uRuthe. Lanxa kunjalo, kazange amtshiye uNawomi.

19. Kuyini okuzasinceda ukuthi singamtshiyi umfowethu loba udadewethu osebunzimeni?

¹⁹ Sifundani? Udadewethu angakhuluma amazwi asizwisa ubuhlungu lanxa senze konke esingakwenza ukuthi simncedise. Kodwa akumelanga siphangise ukucaphuka. Asimtshiyi udadewethu ophakathi kohlupho futhi sicela uJehova ukuthi asincedise sithole indlela yokumduduza.—Zaga. 17:17.

20. Kuyini okwenza uRuthe waba lamandla okuqhubeka encedisa uNawomi?

 ²⁰ Bakhuthaze abadinga ukukhuthazwa. URuthe wayetshengise uNawomi uthando oluqotho kodwa khathesi laye wayesedinga ukukhuthazwa. UJehova wasebenzisa uBhowazi ukuthi amkhuthaze. UBhowazi wathi kuRuthe: “Sengathi uJehova angakupha umvuzo ngalokhu okwenzileyo. Sengathi uJehova, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, oze ukuphephela ngaphansi kwamaphiko akhe angakupha umvuzo omkhulu.” Amazwi la amduduza sibili uRuthe. Waphendula uBhowazi wathi: “Usungiphe ukududuzeka njalo ukhulume ngomusa encekukazini yakho.” (Ruthe. 2:12, 13) UBhowazi wakhuthaza uRuthe ngesikhathi edinga ukukhuthazwa futhi lokho kwamnika amandla okuthi angakhalali ukuncedisa uNawomi.

21. Ngokwalokho okutshiwo ku-Isaya 32:1, 2, abadala abalothando benzani?

²¹ Sifundani? Ngezinye izikhathi labo abatshengisa abanye uthando oluqotho labo bayakudinga ukukhuthazwa. UBhowazi wamncoma uRuthe esenanzelele ukuthi wayelomusa kuNawomi. Lamuhla abadala bayabancoma abafowabo labodadewabo abasebandleni nxa bengananzelela ukuthi bayabancedisa abanye. Lokhu kwenza abafowethu labodadewethu babe lamandla okuqhubeka bencedisa abanye.—Bala u-Isaya 32:1, 2.

22-23. Indlela uNawomi ayecabanga ngayo yatshintsha njani futhi kuyini okwenza yatshintsha? (IHubo 136:23, 26)

²² Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi uBhowazi wanika uRuthe loNawomi ukudla. (Ruthe. 2:14-18) Wezwa njani uNawomi ngomusa ongaka? Wathi: “UJehova kambusise! Kakuyekelanga ukutshengisa [“uthando lwakhe oluqotho,” NWT] kwabaphilayo lakwasebafayo.” (Ruthe. 2:20a)  Indlela uNawomi ayecabanga ngayo yayisitshintshile sibili. Phela wayeke wakhala esithi: “UJehova ungehlisele uhlupho,” kodwa khathesi wayesekhuluma ethokoza esithi: “UJehova kakuyekelanga ukutshengisa [“uthando lwakhe oluqotho,” NWT].” Kuyini okwenza uNawomi watshintsha indlela ayecabanga ngayo?

²³ UNawomi waqalisa ukuzwisisa ukuthi uJehova wayengamtshiyanga. UJehova wayesebenzise uRuthe ukuthi amsekele ngesikhathi ebuyela koJuda. (Ruthe. 1:16) UNawomi wananzelela lokuthi uJehova wayesebenzise uBhowazi ukuthi ancede yena loRuthe. (Ruthe. 2:19, 20b) Kungenzeka wathi, ‘Khathesi sengizwisisa ukuthi uJehova ubengangitshiyanga. Ubelokhu elami isikhathi sonke lesi!’ (Bala iHubo 136:23, 26, NWT.) * Kumele ukuthi wayebonga engaqedi ngokuthi uRuthe loBhowazi babengazange bakhalale ukumncedisa! Bobathathu bathaba ngoba uNawomi wayesethokoza futhi eselamandla okuqhubeka ekhonza uJehova.

24. Kungani sifuna ukuqhubeka sitshengisa abafowethu labodadewethu uthando oluqotho?

²⁴ Sifundeni ebhukwini likaRuthe ngothando oluqotho? Uthando oluqotho lwenza singakhalali ukuncedisa abafowethu labodadewethu abasebunzimeni. Lwenza ukuthi senze okwedlula lokho okukhangelelwe ukuthi sikwenze ukuze sibancedise. Abadala kumele babakhuthaze labo abatshengisa uthando oluqotho kwabanye. Siyathokoza okwamagama nxa sibona labo abaphakathi kohlupho bephinda bethokoza futhi besiba lamandla okuqhubeka bekhonza uJehova. (ImiSeb. 20:35) Kodwa yisiphi isizatho esiqakatheke kulazo zonke sokuqhubeka sitshengisa abanye uthando oluqotho? Sifuna ukulingisela lokuthokozisa uJehova ‘ogcwele uthando oluqotho.’—Eks. 34:6; Hubo. 33:22.