1. UJesu waba njani yisibonelo esihle sokuzidela?

 UJESU waba yisibonelo esipheleleyo sokuzidela ngesikhathi esemhlabeni. Kulokuthi aqakathekise izifiso zakhe njalo abuthelele inotho, wenza intando kaNkulunkulu. (Joh. 5:​30) Watshengisa ukuthi ukuzidela kwakhe kwakungelamkhawulo ngokuhlala ethembekile waze wafa esigodweni sokuhlutshwa.​—⁠Flp. 2:⁠8.

2. Singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyazidela, njalo kungani kumele senze njalo?

2 Lathi abalandeli bakaJesu kumele sitshengise ukuthi siyazidela. Kutshoni ukuzidela? Ngamafitshane nje, kutsho ukuthi umuntu uzimisele ukutshiya izinto azithandayo ukuze ancede abanye. Ngamanye amazwi umuntu lo kazifuneli okwakhe kuphela. (Mat. 16:​24) Ukuzidela kungasinceda ukuthi siqakathekise indlela abanye abazizwa ngayo kanye labakufunayo kulalokho thina esikufunayo. (Flp. 2:​3, 4) Yikho uJesu wafundisa ukuthi ukuzidela kungumgogodla wokukhonza kwethu. Njani? Uphawu lwabalandeli bakaJesu beqiniso luthando lobuKhristu olusinceda ukuthi sizidele. (Joh. 13:​34, 35) Cabanga ukuthi zingaki izibusiso esizitholayo ngenxa yokuba semulini yabazalwane abasemhlabeni wonke abatshengisa ukuzidela!

3. Kuyini okungaphambanisa isifiso sethu sokuqhubeka sizidela?

 3 Lanxa kunjalo, kulesitha esingaphambanisa isifiso sethu sokuqhubeka sizidela. Isitha lesi ngumkhuba wokuhlala sizifunela okwethu. Khumbula ukuthi u-Adamu lo-Eva batshengisa ukuthi babengelandaba labanye. U-Eva watshengisa ukuzifunela okwakhe kuphela lapho efisa ukuba njengoNkulunkulu. Umkakhe laye ngokufuna ukumthokozisa watshengisa ukuthi uzifunela okwakhe kuphela. (Gen. 3:​5, 6) Esephambule u-Adamu lo-Eva ekukhonzeni kweqiniso, uDeveli waqhubekela phambili ngokulinga abantu ukuthi bazifunele okwabo. Lokhu wazama ukukusebenzisa langesikhathi elinga uJesu. (Mat. 4:​1-⁠9) Kulezinsuku uSathane uduhisa abantu abanengi ebenza ukuthi bazifunele okwabo ngezindlela ezinengi. Yikho kumele siyihlolisise indaba le ngoba lathi singacina sesinjalo.​—⁠Efe. 2:⁠2.

4. (a) Esikhathini esiphila kuso, singaziqeda yini izifiso zokuzifunela okwethu kuphela? Chaza. (b) Yiyiphi imibuzo esizaxoxa ngayo?

4 Ukuzifunela okwethu kungafananiswa lerusi eqalisa ukudla insimbi. Loba yini eyenziwe ngensimbi iyarusa nxa inganethwa kumbe ibe selangeni. Ingozi ibakhona nxa irusi le ingekelwa ilokhu isidla insimbi ize yonakale. Lathi esikhathini esiphila kuso kasingeke sisiqede isono esizalwa laso kanye lezifiso zokuzifunela okwethu kuphela. Lanxa kunjalo kumele siqaphele ukuthi kuyingozi kangakanani lokhu njalo siqhubeke silwisana lakho. (1 Khor. 9:​26, 27) Singakubona njani ukuthi sesilomkhutshana wokuzifunela okwethu? Kuyini esingakwenza ukuze sifunde ukuzidela ngokugcweleyo?

5. (a) IBhayibhili lifana njani lesibuko? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.) (b) Nxa sizihlola ukuthi sizifunela okwethu yini, kuyini okungamelanga sikwenze?

5 Singasebenzisa iBhayibhili ukuze sizihlole ukuthi sinjani ngaphakathi lokuqondisa amaphutha esiwatholayo njengoba nje umuntu esebenzisa isibuko ukuthi azihlole ukuthi ukhangeleka njani. (Bala uJakhobe 1:​22-25.) Kodwa isibuko siba luncedo kuphela nxa sisetshenziswa kuhle. Ngokwesibonelo nxa singaphonguthi thala esibukweni, singehluleka ukunanzelela into encane kodwa ephambanisa indlela esikhangeleka ngayo. Kanti njalo nxa singakhangela isibuko siseceleni singabona ubuso bomunye umuntu. Yikho-ke ukuze sisebenzise iBhayibhili ukukhipha izinto ezimbi ezigoqela ukuzifunela okwethu, akumelanga siphongulifunda sigijima, futhi akumelanga silisebenzise ukubona amaphutha abanye.

6. ‘Singaqhubeka’ njani silandela umthetho opheleleyo?

6 Ngokwesibonelo, iLizwi likaNkulunkulu singalifunda kokuphela kumbe nsuku zonke sibili kodwa singananzeleli ukuthi umkhuba wokuzifunela okwethu lokhu ukhula. Kungenzeka njani lokhu? Cabanga ngalokhu: Emzekelisweni kaJakhobe wesibuko, uhlupho lwalungayisikho ukuthi umuntu lo wayengakhangelisisanga esibukweni. UJakhobe wabhala ukuthi umuntu ‘uyazibuka.’ Lapha uJakhobe usebenzisa ibala lesiGiriki elitsho ukuhlolisisa kumbe ukukhangelisisa. Pho-ke endabeni le lwaluyini uhlupho lomuntu lo? UJakhobe uqhubeka esithi: “Asuke ahle akhohlwe ukuthi unjani.” Uhlupho yikuthi utshibilika afulathele isibuko engakakulungisi lokho akubonileyo. Kodwa umuntu ophumelelayo ‘ukhangela ngenjongo umthetho opheleleyo’ aphinde ‘aqhubeke esenza lokhu.’ Kulokuthi atshiye umthetho opheleleyo oseLizwini likaNkulunkulu, uyaphikelela ezimfundisweni zawo. UJesu wakhuluma ngomcijo lo lapho esithi: “Uma libambelela emfundisweni yami lingabafundi bami ngempela.”​—⁠Joh. 8:⁠31.

7. Singalisebenzisa njani iBhayibhili ukuze sizihlole ukuthi sesizifunela okwethu yini?

7 Yikho-ke ukuze uphumelele ekulwisaneni lomkhuba wokuzifunela okwakho, kumele uqale ubale iLizwi likaNkulunkulu ngonanzelelo.  Lokhu kungakunceda ukuthi ubone lapho okumele ulungisise khona. Kodwa kulokunye futhi okumele ukwenze. Chwayisisa ukuze uthole okunengi. Nxa usubale ngodaba oluthile oluseBhayibhilini njalo selucacile engqondweni yakho, zifake phakathi ngokuzibuza imibuzo enjengokuthi: ‘Kuyimi ngangizakwenzani? Ngangizakwenza okuyikho yini?’ Okuqakatheke kakhulu yikuthi ungaqeda ukucabangisisa ngalokho okufundileyo uzame ukukusebenzisa. (Mat. 7:​24, 25) Ake sibone ukuthi singakusebenzisa njani okwenzakala eNkosini uSawuli lomphostoli uPhetro ukuze silondoloze ukuzidela.

8. USawuli waqalisa eyinkosi enjani, njalo lokhu kwakhanya ngani?

8 Okwenzakala eNkosini yako-Israyeli, uSawuli, kusixwayisa ukuthi ukuzifunela okwethu kungaqeda ukuzidela esilakho. USawuli wayemnene futhi ethobekile lapho eqalisa ukuba yinkosi. (1 Sam. 9:​21) Wala ukujezisa ama-Israyeli ayekhulume kubi ngokubusa kwakhe lanxa wayengakubona kuqondile ukuthi alwele isikhundla sakhe ayesiphiwe nguNkulunkulu. (1 Sam. 10:​27) INkosi uSawuli yavuma ukuqondiswa ngumoya kaNkulunkulu ngokukhokhela ama-Israyeli esiyanqoba ama-Amoni empini. Iqeda khonapho kayizange izitshaye isifuba, kodwa yathi nguJehova oyenze yanqoba.​—⁠1 Sam. 11:​6, 11-⁠13.

9. USawuli waqalisa njani ukuzifunela okwakhe?

9 Ngemva kwesikhathi, uSawuli wacina evumela ukuthi ukuzifunela okwakhe lokuzikhukhumeza kumhlasele njengerusi isidla insimbi. Aze anqobe ama-Amaleki waqakathekisa izifiso zakhe kulokulalela uJehova. USawuli ngobuhwaba wathatha impango kulokuthi ayitshabalalise njengoba ayetshelwe nguNkulunkulu. Waphinda waziphakamisa ngokwakha isikhumbuzo sakhe. (1 Sam. 15:​3, 9, 12) Lapho umphrofethi uSamuyeli emtshela ukuthi uJehova uzondile, uSawuli wazama ukuzigeza ngokuqamba izinto ayezenze kuhle kodwa esola abanye ngamaphutha akhe. (1 Sam. 15:​16-​21) Kanti njalo ukuzikhukhumeza kukaSawuli kwamenza wafisa ukubukwa ngabantu kulokuthi ajabulise uNkulunkulu. (1 Sam. 15:​30) Singayisebenzisa njani indaba kaSawuli njengesibuko sokusincedisa ukuthi siqhubeke sizidela?

10, 11. (a) Okwenzakala kuSawuli kusifundisani ngokuhlala sizidela? (b) Singenza njani ukuthi singalandeli isibonelo sikaSawuli esibi?

10 Okokuqala, indaba kaSawuli isifundisa ukuthi kakumelanga sigoqe izandla sizitshele ukuthi nxa sasizidela kutsho ukuthi sizahlala silokhu sinjalo. (1 Tim. 4:​10) Hlala ukhumbula ukuthi uSawuli waqala engumuntu owayesenza kuhle njalo elesibusiso sikaJehova kodwa wavumela ukuthi umkhuba wokuzifunela okwakhe ukhule kuye. UJehova wacina esemala uSawuli ngenxa yokungalaleli kwakhe.

11 Okwesibili yikuthi akumelanga sikhangele okuhle kuphela esikwenzayo besesikhohlwa izinto okumele sizilungisise. Lokhu kungafanana lokuthi sisebenzisa isibuko ukuthi sikhangele ukuthi izigqoko zethu ezintsha ziyasifanela yini ngapha singananzeleli iklezampisi elisebusweni bethu. Lanxa kuyikuthi asizikhukhumezi njengoSawuli, kumele sizimisele ukusebenza nzima ukuze sibalekele konke okungenza siphume endleleni eqondileyo. Kanti njalo nxa sinikwa iseluleko kumele siqaphele ukuthi singazigezi nxa siphambanisile, singalithathi lula icala esilenzileyo njalo singasoli omunye umuntu. Kungcono ukuthi samukele iseluleko kulokuthi senze njengoSawuli.​—⁠Bala iHubo 141:⁠5.

12. Ukuzidela kungasinceda njani nxa senze isono esikhulu?

12 Singenzani nxa senze isono esikhulu? USawuli wayezihlupha kakhulu ngokuthi abantu bazamkhangela njani, njalo lokhu kwenza ukuthi angalungisisi ubuhlobo bakhe loNkulunkulu. Kodwa okuhle ngokuzidela yikuthi kuyasinceda ukuthi singabi  lenhloni njalo sithole usizo esiludingayo. (Zaga. 28:​13; Jak. 5:​14-​16) Ngokwesibonelo, omunye umfowethu waqalisa ukubukela iphonogirafi eleminyaka engu-12 njalo waqhubeka eyibukela okweminyaka edlula elitshumi kungelamuntu okwaziyo. Uthi: “Kwakunzima kakhulu ukutshela umkami kanye labadala lokho engangikwenza. Kodwa khathesi ngenxa yokuthi sengilivumile icala lami, ngizwa angani ngethulwe umthwalo onzima kakhulu. Abanye abangane bami badana lapho ngikhitshwa ukuba yinceku ekhonzayo, kwakukhanya ukuthi ngibayangisile. Kodwa khathesi ngiyakwazi ukuthi inkonzo yami iyamthokozisa kakhulu uJehova kulakuqala ngisabukela iphonogirafi futhi indlela angibona ngayo yiyo eqakathekileyo.”

13, 14. Kwakhanya njani ukuthi uPhetro wayelomkhuba wokuzifunela okwakhe?

13 Umphostoli uPhetro watshengisa ukuzidela lapho eqeqetshwa nguJesu. (Luk. 5:​3-​11) Kodwa kwakumele alwisane lomkhuba wokuzifunela okwakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, wazonda kakhulu lapho umphostoli uJakhobe loJohane besakha icebo lokuthi baphiwe izikhundla eziphezulu sebebusa loJesu eMbusweni kaNkulunkulu. Engxenye uPhetro wayecabanga ukuthi esinye isikhundla kumele siphiwe yena ngoba uJesu wayeseke wakhuluma ngokuthi uPhetro wayezaphiwa umsebenzi oqakathekileyo. (Mat. 16:​18, 19) Kukho konke lokhu, uJesu waxwayisa uJakhobe, uJohane loPhetro kanye labaphostoli bonke ukuthi bangazifuneli okwabo ‘besebebaphatha kalukhuni’ abafowabo.​—⁠Mak. 10:​35-⁠45.

14 Lanxa uJesu wayezama ukuncedisa uPhetro ukuthi angazicabangi yena kuphela, kwakulokhu kunzima ukuthi uPhetro alungisise. Lapho uJesu etshela abaphostoli bakhe ukuthi babezamtshiya okwesikhatshana, uPhetro wazenza ongcono kulabanye esithi nguye yedwa owayezahlala ethembekile. (Mat. 26:​31-​33) Kodwa wayengelasizathu sokuzithemba ngendlela enjalo ngoba mhlalokho nje wehluleka ukuzidela. Wazama ukuzivikela ngokuphika uJesu kathathu.​—⁠Mat. 26:​69-⁠75.

15. Isibonelo sikaPhetro sisikhuthaza njani?

 15 Okwenziwa nguPhetro kuyasikhuthaza kakhulu lanxa wayephambanisa njalo elwisana lobuthakathaka bakhe. Wanqoba imikhuba eyayingaqondanga, wafunda ukuzibamba lokuba lothando olwalutshengisa ukuzidela ngenxa yokuthi wasebenza gadalala njalo wancediswa ngumoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu. (Gal. 5:​22, 23) Wabekezela lanxa waba lezilingo ezazinzima kakhulu ukwedlula lezo ezazike zamgwenxa kuqala. Indlela enza ngayo lapho umphostoli uPhawuli emkhuza phambi kwabantu yatshengisa ukuthi uyazithoba. (Gal. 2:​11-​14) Kanti njalo uPhetro esekhuziwe kazange aqhubeke ebambele uPhawuli isikhwili, ecabanga ukuthi umehlise isithunzi ngokumkhuza kwakhe. Wayelokhu emthanda uPhawuli. (2 Phet. 3:​15) Isibonelo sikaPhetro singasinceda lathi ukuthi sihlale sizidela.

16. Singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyazidela nxa silohlupho?

16 Cabanga ngokuthi wena nxa ulohlupho wenza njani. Lapho uPhetro labaphostoli bebotshwa njalo betshaywa kabuhlungu ngenxa yokutshumayela kwabo, bathokoza “ngoba basebekubonakalisile ukuthi babengalimela ihlazo lokuhluphekela iBizo [likaJesu].” (ImiSeb. 5:​41) Lawe ukuhlukuluzwa ungakubona njengethuba lokuthi ulingisele uPhetro njalo ulandele amanyathelo kaJesu ngokutshengisa ukuthi uyazidela. (Bala u-1 Phetro 2:​20, 21.) Ukuba lombono onjalo kungakunceda nxa ungakhuzwa ngabadala. Lingisela uPhetro kulokuthi ucaphuke.​—⁠UmTshu. 7:⁠9.

17, 18. (a) Singazibuzani mayelana lokulwisa ukwenza imisebenzi ephathelane lenkonzo? (b) Singenzani nxa singabona ukuthi ezinhliziyweni zethu silokuyimikhutshana kokuzifunela okwethu?

17 Kanti njalo isibonelo sikaPhetro singakunceda nxa kulomsebenzi othile ophathelane lenkonzo ofuna ukuwenza. Lwisa ukufeza umsebenzi lo ngendlela etshengisa ukuthi uyazidela. Kodwa kumele unanzelele ukuthi lokhu awukwenzeli ukuthi ubonwe ngabantu. Zibuze ukuthi, ‘Kuyini okwenza ngifune ukwenza okunengi enkonzweni kaJehova? Yikufuna ukubonwa ngabantu yini kumbe yikufuna isikhundla njengoJakhobe loJohane lapho becela isikhundla kuJesu?’

18 Nxa ungabona ukuthi enhliziyweni yakho usulokuyimikhutshana kokuzifunela okwakho, cela uJehova akuncedise ukuze ulungisise imicabango yakho lemizwa yakho, ubususebenza gadalala ukuthi uqakathekise udumo lwakhe kulolwakho. (Hubo. 86:​11) Kulezinye izinto ongazenza ezingeke zinanzelelwe lula ngabantu. Ngokwesibonelo, ungalwisa ukuthi utshengise isithelo somoya osibona sinzima ukusitshengisa ngokugcweleyo. Kanti njalo nxa ukhuthele ekulungiseleleni imihlangano kodwa ungakukhwabithi ukuhlanza iWolu loMbuso, ungalwisa ukusebenzisa iseluleko esikuRoma 12:​16.​—⁠Bala.

19. Kuyini esingakwenza ukuze singapheli amandla ngenxa yalokho esikubonayo esibukweni esiyiLizwi likaNkulunkulu?

19 Kungasidanisa nxa singazihlolisisa esibukweni esiyiLizwi likaNkulunkulu besesibona okuthile okungaqondanga, kumbe sibone okunye okutshengisa ukuthi sesilomkhuba wokuzifunela okwethu. Nxa lokhu kungenzakala kuwe, cabangisisa ngomuntu owaphumelelayo emzekelisweni kaJakhobe. UJakhobe kazange agcizelele ukuthi umuntu lo wahle walulungisisa uhlupho ayelutholile kumbe ukuthi wakuqeda lokhu okwakungabe kumngcolisa, kodwa uthi, ‘waqhubeka ewukhangela ngenjongo umthetho opheleleyo.’ (Jak. 1:​25) Umuntu lo wakhumbula lokhu ayekubone esibukweni njalo waqhubeka ezama ukuthuthuka. Yikho-ke, ungazifakeli imithetho enzima njalo ungaboni angani akumelanga uphambanise. (Bala umTshumayeli 7:​20.) Qhubeka uwuhlola umthetho opheleleyo njalo uzame ukuqhubeka uzidela. UJehova uzimisele ukukuncedisa njengoba encedise abanye okhonza labo lanxa belesono. Laba bemukelwa nguye njalo uyababusisa.