1. Singaba njani nesikhathi noJehova?

 SIYAKUTHABELA ukuba nesikhathi nabantu esibathandako. Abatjhadikazi abathabileko bakuthabela khulu ukuba nesikhathi ndawonye. Abantu abatjha bayakuthabela ukuba nesikhathi ndawonye nabangani ababathandako. Soke siyakuthabela ukuba nesikhathi nabantu esilotjha nabo uZimu. Ngaphezu kwakho koke, siyakuthanda ukuba nesikhathi noZimethu. Lokhu singakwenza ngokuthi sithandaze kuye, sifunde iliZwi lakhe besizindle ngomnqophwakhe nangobuntu bakhe obuhle. Siligugu kwamambala isikhathi esiba naso noJehova!—Rhu. 139:17.

2. Ngiziphi iintjhijilo esiqalana nazo?

² Nanyana sikuthabela ukuthandaza nokufunda iBhayibheli, akusilula ukukwenza ngaso soke isikhathi. Ukuphila kwethu kumajadu, okungenza ukuthi kube budisi ukuba nesikhathi sokulotjha uJehova. Umsebenzi wokuziphilisa, ukutlhogomela umndenethu nezinye izinto zingathatha soke isikhathi sethu kangangokuthi sizizwe simajadu bona singathandaza, sifunde namkha sizindle.

3. Khuyini enye engasidlela isikhathi?

³ Kunokhunye godu okungasidlela isikhathi sethu. Nasingakatjheji, singavumela ukuba matasa ngezinto okungasikumbi ukuzenza bona kusidlele isikhathi bekube budisi ukutjhidelana noJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, kuqakathekile ukuba nesikhathi sokuzithabisa. Nanyana ukuzithabisa kungasiyintwembi kodwana ukukwenza khulu kungasidlela isikhathi sokulotjha uJehova. Kufuze sibeke ukuzithabisa endawenakho.—IzA. 25:27; 1 Thim. 4:8.

4. Khuyini esizokucoca ngayo nje?

 ⁴ Esihlokwenesi, sizokucoca ngokuthi kubayini kuqakathekile ukukhetha izinto eziza qangi. Sizokucoca nangokuthi singasisebenzisa njani isikhathi sethu ngendlela ehle sinoJehova nokuthi singazuza njani ngokwenza njalo.

5. Iseluleko esisencwadini yebe-Efesu 5:15-17 singamsiza njani umuntu omutjha bona ayisebenzise kuhle ipilwakhe?

⁵ Khetha ipilo ephuma phambili. Esikhathini esinengi, abantu abatjha bayatshwenyeka ngokukhetha ukuthi bazoyisebenzisa njani ipilwabo ngendlela ehle. Abotitjhere namalunga womndeni angasi boFakazi bakaJehova bangabakhuthaza bona baye eyunivesithi ukuthi bakwazi ukufumana umsebenzi omuhle nobhadelako. Indlela le izobathathela isikhathi esinengi. Ngakelinye ihlangothi, ababelethi nabangani ebandleni bangabakhuthaza ukuthi basebenzise isikhathi sabo basebenzela uJehova. Khuyini engasiza umuntu omutjha othanda uJehova bona akhethe kuhle? Kungaba kuhle ngaye ukuthi afunde bekacabangisise ngomtlolo webe-Efesu 5:15-17. (Ufunde.) Ngemva kokufunda amavesi la, umuntu omutjha angazibuza ukuthi: ‘Iyini “intando kaJehova”? Ngisiphi isiqunto esizomthabisa? Ngiyiphi indlela engingayithatha ukwenzela ukuthi ngisisebenzise kuhle isikhathi sami?’ Khumbula ukuthi, “amalanga esiphila kiwo la mambi,” nokuthi iphasi elibuswa nguSathaneli lizokuqedwa nya ingasikade. Kuzokuba kuhlakanipha ukuthi sisebenzise ipilwethu bona sithabise uJehova.

6. UMariya wakhetha ukwenzani begodu kubayini leso bekusiqunto esihlakaniphileko?

⁶ Zibekele iminqopho efaneleko. Ngesinye esikhathi, ukusebenzisa kuhle isikhathi sethu kungatjho ukukhetha hlangana kwezinto ezimbili okungasisisono ukuzenza. Indaba le ibonaka kuhle kilokhu okwenzeke ngesikhathi uJesu avakatjhele uMariya noMarta. UMarta wakuthabela khulu ukuvakatjhelwa nguJesu bewamlungiselela nokudla okukhethekileko. Ngakelinye ihlangathi, uMariya wahlala hlanu kwakaJesu walalela koke akutjhoko. Nanyana kunjalo, lokhu uMarta akwenzileko bekungasi kumbi kodwana uJesu wathi uMariya “ukhethe ingcenye ezidlula zoke.” (Luk. 10:38-42) Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, kungenzeka uMariya walibala ukuthi bebadlani ngelangelo kodwana singaqiniseka ukuthi akhenge akulibale lokho akufunda kuJesu. Njengombana uMariya athebele isikhathi esincani sokuba noJesu, nathi siyasithabela isikhathi sokuba noJehova. Singasisebenzisa njani kuhle isikhatheso?

7. Kubayini kuqakathekile ukuthandaza, ukufunda nokuzindla?

⁷ Lemuka ukuthi ukuthandaza, ukufunda nokuzindla kuyingcenye yokulotjha kwethu. Lokha nasithandazako, vane sikhulumisana noBabethu wezulwini, osithanda kwamambala. (Rhu. 5:7) Nasifunda iBhayibheli, ‘sizomazi uZimu,’ oMthombo wakho koke ukuhlakanipha. (IzA. 2:1-5) Nasicabangisisa ngokudephileko ngalokho esikufundako ngoJehova, sicabanga ngobuntu bakhe obuhle besikhumbule nezinto ezihle afuna ukusenzela zona kuhlanganise nabantu boke. Le yindlela ehle khulu yokusebenzisa isikhathi sethu. Khuyini engasisiza ukuthi sikwenze lokhu?

8. Ngisiphi isifundo esingasifunda endleleni uJesu asebenzisa ngayo isikhathi sakhe nakasemmangweni?

 ⁸ Nakukghonakalako, khetha indawo ethulileko. Cabanga ngesibonelo sakaJesu. Ngaphambi kokuthi athome umsebenzakhe wokutjhumayela, uJesu wahlala amalanga ama-40 emmangweni. (Luk. 4:1, 2) Endaweni ethulileko leyo, uJesu bekangathandaza kuJehova bekazindle ngalokho uBabakhe amthume khona. Ukwenza njalo, bekuzokulungiselela uJesu bona aqalane neenlingo ezisezako. Ungazuza njani esibonelweni sakaJesu? Nawulilunga lomndeni omkhulu, kungenzeka kubudisi ukufumana indawo ethulileko la uhlala khona. Endabeni enjengaleyo, mhlamunye ungafuna indawo ethulileko ngaphandle. Ngilokho u-Julie akwenzako nakafuna ukuthandza kuJehova. Yena nobabakwakhe banendawo encancani khulu yokufihla ihloko e-France begodu kubudisi ukuba wedwa nokungaphazamiseki. U-Julie uthi, “Qobe langa ngiyakhamba ngiye ephageni. Lapho ngikghona ukuba ngedwa, ngingaphazamiseki bengikhulume noJehova.”

9. Naphezu kokuba majadu, uJesu watjengisa njani ukuthi itjhebiswano lakhe noJehova liqakathekile?

⁹ UJesu bekamajadu khulu. Nakatjhumayelako, bekalandelwa babantu abanengi eendaweni ngeendawo, boke abantwabo bebatlhoga isikhathi sakhe. Kobunye ubujamo, “idorobho loke labuthana emnyango” lizombona. Nanyana kunjalo, uJesu bekaqiniseka kobana uba nesikhathi sokuthandaza kuJehova. Ngaphambi kokuphuma kwelanga, “waya ngaphandle endaweni enganamuntu” lapho akghona khona ukuba yedwa noBabakhe.—Mar. 1:32-35.

10-11. Ngokuya ngoMatewu 26:40, 41, uJesu wakhuthaza abafundi bakhe ukuthi benzeni nakasesimini yeGetsemani kodwana khuyini okwenzekako?

¹⁰ Ngobusuku bakhe bamaswaphela asephasini, lokha nasele umsebenzakhe wokutjhumayela uzokuphela, uJesu wafuna indawo ethulileko la bekangazindla bekathandaze khona. Indawo leyo wayifumana esimini yeGetsemani. (Mat. 26:36) Kulapho uJesu atjela khona abafundi bakhe into eqakatheke khulu ngomthandazo.

¹¹ Cabanga bona kwenzekani. Nabafika esimini yeGetsemani besele kusebusuku khulu, mhlamunye ngamathathakusa. UJesu wabawa abapostoli ukuthi ‘bahlale baqalile,’ ngemva kwalokho wakhamba wayokuthandaza. (Mat. 26:37-39) Nakasathandazako, bafikelwa buthongo balala. Nakabafumana balele, uJesu wabakhuthaza ngokuthi ‘bahlale baqalile begodu bathandaze qobe.’ (Funda uMatewu 26: 40, 41.) Walemuka ukuthi bebagandelelekile begodu bebadiniwe. Wabacabangela bewavuma ukuthi “ummoya uyafisa, kodwana inyama iyabogaboga.” Nanyana kunjalo, kwaba namahlandla amabili lapha uJesu akhamba khona ayokuthandaza bese nakabuyako, abafumane balele kunokuthi bathandaze.—Mat. 26:42-45.

12. Khuyini esingayenza nangabe ngezinye iinkhathi sizizwa sigandelelekile namkha sidinwe khulu bona singathandaza?

¹² Khetha isikhathi esifaneleko. Ngezinye iinkhathi singazizwa sigandeleleke khulu namkha sidinwe khulu ukuthi singathandaza. Nangabe lokhu kwenzekile kuwe, awusiwedwa. Khuyini ongayenza? Labo abajayele ukuthandaza kuJehova ebusuku, bakufumane kuzuzisa ukuthi bathandaze entambamanyana lokha nabangakadinwa. Abanye bafumane ukuthi ukuthandaza bajamile, bahleli namkha baguqile kuyabazuzisa. Khuthiwani-ke nangabe uzizwa utshwenyeke khulu namkha uphele amandla bona ungathandaza? Tjela uJehova ngendlela ozizwa ngayo. Ungaqiniseka ukuthi uBabethu onomusa uzokuzwisisa.—Rhu. 139:4.

13. Iinsetjenziswa zethu ze-elekthroniki zingasiphazamisa njani lokha nasithandazako, nasifundako nalokha nasisesifundweni?

¹³ Balekela iinthikamezo nawufundako. Umthandazo akusiyo yodwa indlela esingayisebenzisa ukuthi siqinise itjhebiswano lethu noZimu. Ukufunda iliZwi lakaZimu nokuya esifundweni nakho kungasisiza bona sitjhidelane noZimu. Kghani ikhona into ongayenza ukuthi usisebebenzise kuhle isikhathi lokha nawufunda iBhayibheli nalokha nawusesifundweni? Zibuze, ‘Khuyini engiphazamisako lokha nangisesifundweni namkha ngilinga ukufunda?’ Kghani kungaba kukuthi ifowunakho vane ilile, ufumane umlayezo, i-email namkha uphazanyiswa ngezinye iinsetjenziswa ze-elekthroniki? Namhlanjesi banengi khulu abantu abanazo iinsetjenziswezi. Abanye abarhubhululi bathi lokha nawulinga ukwenza into ethileko ngaphandle kokuphazamiseka, ukuba nefowuni eduze kungakuphazamisa. Uphrofesa we-psychology uthi, “Awukghoni ukudzimelela kilokhu okwenzako. Umkhumbulwakho ukezinye izinto.” Ngaphambi kokuthi kuthome umhlangano  omkhulu namkha omncani, vane sikhuthazwe ukuthi sibeke iinsetjenziswa zethu ze-elekthroniki ebujamweni obungekhe buphazamise abanye. Kghani angekhe senze okufanako ngeensetjenziswa zethu bona zingasiphazamisi lokha nasifunda ngoJehova sisodwa?

14. Ngokuya ngokwebeFilipi 4:6, 7, uJehova angasisiza njani ukuthi singaphazamiseki?

¹⁴ Bawa uJehova akusize ungaphazamiseki. Nawulemukako ukuthi umkhumbulwakho uyazulazula lokha nawufundako namkha usesifundweni, bawa uJehova akusize. Nangabe utshwenyekile, angekhe kwaba lula ukulisa ukucabanga ngezinto ezikutshwenyako bese udzimelela eliZwini lakaZimu kodwana kuqakathekile ukuthi ukwenze lokho. Thandazela ukuthula okuzokuvikela ingasi ihliziywakho kwaphela kodwana ‘nomcabangwakho.’—Funda kwebeFilipi 4:6, 7.

15. Sizuza njani nasizipha isikhathi sokufunda ngoJehova?

¹⁵ Nawuzipha isikhathi sokukhuluma, sokulalela nokucabanga ngoJehova, uzokuzuza khulu. Njani? Kokuthoma, uzokwenza iinqunto ezihlakaniphileko. IBhayibheli lisiqinisekisa ngokuthi “okhambisana nabahlakaniphileko naye uyahlakanipha.” (IzA. 13:20) Nawuzipha isikhathi sokuba noMthombo wokuhlakanipha, uJehova, nawe uzokuhlakanipha. Uzokuzwisisa ngconywana ukuthi ungamthabisa njani nokuthi ungakubalekela njani ukwenza iinqunto ezizomzwisa ubuhlungu.

16. Ukuzipha isikhathi sokufunda ngoJehova kuyithuthukisa njani indlela esifundisa ngayo?

¹⁶ Kwesibili, uzokuba mfundisi ongcono. Nakunomuntu esimfundela iBhayibheli, umnqophwethu oqakathekileko kumsiza atjhidelane noJehova. Nasilokhu sithandaza besifunda ngoBabethu wezulwini, sizomthanda khulu begodu sizokghona ukufundisa iimfundo zethu ukuthi zimthande. Cabanga ngesibonelo sakaJesu. Wamhlathulula kuhle khulu uBabakhe kangangokuthi abafundi bakhe abathembekile bamthanda uJehova.—Jwa. 17:25, 26.

17. Kubayini ukuthandaza nokufunda kusisiza ekuqiniseni ukukholwa kwethu?

¹⁷ Kwesithathu, ukukholwa kwakho kuzokuqina. Cabanga ngokuthi kwenzekani lokha nawubawa uZimu bona akunqophise, akududuze namkha akusekele. Qobe uJehova nakaphendula umthandazwakho, ukukholwa kwakho kuyaqina. (1 Jwa. 5:15) Ngikuphi okhunye okungaqinisa ukukholwa kwakho? Kufunda ngoZimu. Khumbula ukuthi, “ukukholwa kulandela into ezwiweko.” (Rom.  10:17) Bona sakhe ukukholwa okuqinileko, kutlhogeka okungaphezu kokumane sifunde kwaphela. Ngikuphi okhunye esingakwenza?

18. Fanekisa bona kubayini sitlhoga ukuzindla.

¹⁸ Kufuze sizindle ngalokho esikufundako. Cabanga ngalokho okwehlela umtloli weRhubo 77. Bekagandelelekile ngebanga lokuzizwa ngasuthi yena namanye ama-Israyeli uJehova akasabamukeli. Bekangalali ebusuku ngebanga lemicabango enjalo. (Amavesi 3-9) Khuyini ayenzako? Watjela uJehova wathi: ‘Ngizokuhumuza ngemisebenzakho yoke, ngizindle ngezenzo zakho zamandla.’ (Ivesi  13) Kwamambala, umrhubi bekazazi izinto uJehova azenzele abantu bakhe esikhathini esidlulileko kodwana indoda etshwenyekileko le yazibuza: “Ingabe uZimu ukhohlwe ukuba nesirhawu, namkha ngelaka lakhe ususa isisa sakhe na?” (Ivesi  10) Umrhubi wazindla ngezinto uJehova azenzileko nangokuthi uZimu waba nomusa bewabarhawukela esikhathini sekadeni. (Ivesi  12) Umphumela waba yini? Waqiniseka ngokuthi uJehova angeze abalahle abantu Bakhe. (Ivesi  16) Ngokufanako, ukukholwa kwakho kuzokuqina nawuzindla ngalokho uJehova akwenzele abantu bakhe nangalokho akwenzele khona wena.

19. Ngiyiphi enye indlela esingazuza ngayo ngokufunda ngoJehova?

¹⁹ Kwesine nokuqakatheke khulu, ithando lakho ngoJehova lizokukhula. Ngaphezu kwakho koke, ithando lizosenza ukuthi silalele uJehova, sizidele bona simthabise besikghodlhelelele nanyana ngiziphi iintjhijilo. (Mat. 22:37-39; 1 Kor. 13:4, 7; 1 Jwa. 5:3) Ayikho into engaba ligugu ukudlula ubungani obutjhideleneko noJehova!—Rhu. 63:1-8.

20. Ungasivikela njani isikhathi sakho sokuthandaza, sokufunda nesokuzindla ngalokho okufundileko ngoJehova?

²⁰ Khumbula ukuthi ukuthandaza, ukufunda nokuzindla kuyingcenye yokulotjha kwethu. NjengoJesu, funa iindawo ezithulileko bona ufunde ngoJehova. Balekela izinto ezingakuphazamisa ngokungatlhogeki. Bawa uJehova akusize ungaphazamiseki nawenza izinto eziphathelene naye. Nawusisebenzisa kuhle isikhathi sakho nje, uJehova uzokubusisa ngepilo engapheliko ephasini lakhe elitjha.—Mar. 4:24.