1. Kubayini kufanele sizinikele kuJehova kwaphela?

UJEHOVA uyakufanelekela bona sizinikele kuye kwaphela ngombana uMdalethu begodu usinikele ukuphila. (IsAm. 4:11) Nanyana kunjalo, kunesitjhijilo esiqalana naso. Nanyana simthanda begodu simhlonipha uJehova, kungenzeka silingeke sigcine singasamlotjhi ngokupheleleko. Kungenzeka njani lokho? Akhesithome sicoce ngokuthi kutjho ukuthini ukuzinikela ngokupheleleko kuJehova.

2. UmTlolo ka-Eksodusi 34:14, uthi yini esizoyenza nasizinikele kuJehova kwaphela?

² IBhayibheli lithi ukuzinikela kuZimu, kutjho ukumthanda ngokusuka ehliziyweni. Nasizinikele ngokupheleleko kuJehova, sizokulotjha yena kwaphela. Angekhe sakhothamela abanye abozimu esikhundleni sakhe.—Funda u-Eksodusi 34:14.

3. Kubayini sinamabanga amahle wokuzinikela kuJehova?

³ Siyazi bona kubayini sizinikela kuJehova. Kubayini sitjho njalo? Kungombana ukuzinikela kwethu kuye kusekelwe eqinisweni esilifundileko ngaye. Sithanda ubuntu bakhe. Siyazi bona khuyini ayithandako nangayithandiko begodu nathi sizizwa njengaye. Siyawuzwisisa umnqophwakhe begodu siyawusekela. Siyakuthabela ukuthi usinikele ithuba lokuba bangani bakhe. (Rhu. 25:14) Koke esikufunda ngoMdalethu kusenza sitjhidele kuye.—Jak. 4:8.

4. (a) Khuyini uDeveli ayisebenzisako bona asihlukanise noJehova? (b) Sizokucoca ngani esihlokwenesi?

⁴ UDeveli ulawula iphaseli begodu usebenzisa izinto zalo  bona enze kube budisi ebantwini ukuthi balwisane neemfiso ezingakalungi. (Efe. 2:1-3; 1 Jwa. 5:19) Umnqophwakhe kukuthi asihlukanise noJehova, sithande ezinye izinto. Akhesicoce ngeendlela ezimbili uDeveli angasilinga ngazo. Kokuthoma, usilinga ngokuthi sifune ubunjinga, kwesibili usilinga ngokuthi sikhethe zokuzithabisa ezingakalungi.

5. Kubayini kufuze sitjheje bona singathandi imali khulu?

⁵ Soke siyakufuna ukuba nokudla okwaneleko, izambatho nendawo yokuhlala esebujamweni obuhle. Nanyana kunjalo, kufuze sitjheje singathandi imali khulu. Abantu abanengi ephasini lakaSathaneli ‘bathanda imali’ nezinto ezitlhoga imali enengi. (2 Thim. 3:2) UJesu bekazi ukuthi abalandeli bakhe kungenzeka bathome ukuthanda imali. Yeke wathi, “akakho ongaba sigqila samakhosi amabili; ngombana uzokuzonda enye athande enye, namkha uzokunamathela kwenye adelele enye. Angekhe naba ziingqila zakaZimu nezobuGwili.” (Mat. 6:24) Nange umuntu olotjha uJehova ngesikhathi esifanako asebenzise isikhathi esinengi alinga ukunjinga, umuntu loyo kuzokufana nokuthi ulotjha amakhosi amabili. Umuntu loyo uzabe angakazinikeli kuJehova ngokupheleleko.

6. Ngisiphi isifundo esingasifunda emezwini kaJesu nakakhuluma nebandla leLawodikeya?

⁶ Ngekupheleni kwesikhathi sabapostoli, amalunga webandla ledorobheni leLawodikeya bewazikhakhazisa ngokuba nemali, bewathi: “Nginjingile begodu ngizifumanele ubunjinga, angisatlhogi litho.” Kodwana phambi kwakaJehova noJesu ‘bebalisizi, batlhuwisa, badududu, baziimphofu begodu bahlubule.’ UJesu wabayala, ingasi ngombana bebaziinjinga kodwana ngombana ukuthanda  kwabo imali bekulimaza ubuhlobo babo noJehova. (IsAm. 3:14-17) Nasibona ngasuthi ithando lemali liyakhula eenhliziyweni zethu, kufuze sirhabe silungise indlela esicabanga ngayo. (1 Thim. 6:7, 8) Nasingakwenziko lokho, sizokuthoma sithande ezinye izinto begodu noJehova angekhe akwamukela ukumlotjha kwethu. Kazi uZimethu ‘unguZimu onesikhwele.’ (Dut. 4:24) Khuyini engenza bona imali iqakatheke khulu kithi?

7-9. Ufundani kilokho uDavid aqalana nakho?

⁷ Cabanga ngesibonelo sakaDavid, umdala obekasebenza budisi ohlala e-United States. Uthi bekasisebenzi esizinikeleko emsebenzinakhe. Ikampani ebekayisebenzela yamkhuphulela kwesinye isikhundla begodu bekaphuma phambili emsebenzini ebekawenza enarheni leyo. UDavid uthi, “ngesikhatheso, bengicabanga ukuthi ukuphumelela kwami bekubufakazi bokuthi ngibusiswa nguJehova.” Kghani bekaphumelela ngebanga lakaJehova?

⁸ UDavid wathoma ukulemuka bona umsebenzakhe bewumlimaza ngombana bewuthinta ubuhlobo bakhe noJehova. Uthi, “nangisemihlanganweni yebandla nesimini, ngizifumana ngicabanga ngemiraro yemsebenzini. Bengirhola imali enengi, kodwana bengigandeleleka khulu, ngitjho nomtjhadwami besele unemiraro.”

⁹ UDavid walemuka ukuthi kufuze acabange ngezinto eziza qangi ekuphileni kwakhe. Uthi, “ngathatha isiqunto sokulungisa ubujamo bami.” Bekafuna ukutjhugulula indlela asebenza ngayo, yeke watjela umqatjhakhe ngendaba le. Waba yini umphumela walokho? Bamqotjha emsebenzini! Wasabela njani? Uthi, “ngelanga elilandelako, ngathatha ubuphayona obusizako oburagela phambili.” Bona akghone ukuzisekela, yena nomkakhe  bathoma ukuziphilisa ngokwenza umsebenzi wokuhlwengisa. Ngemva kwesikhathi esithileko, wathatha ubuphayona besikhathi esizeleko begodu ngokukhamba kwesikhathi nomkakhe wathatha ubuphayona besikhathi esizeleko. Abatjhadikazaba bakhetha umsebenzi wokuziphilisa abantu abanengi abawuqalela phasi, kodwana akusimsebenzi abawenzako oqakathekileko kibo. Ngitjho nanyana imali ebebayifumana beyiyincani, qobe nyanga bayakghona ukuzitlhogomela. Bafuna ukubeka uJehova qangi ekuphileni kwabo begodu babona ukuthi uJehova uyabatlhogomela abantu bakhe ababeka umBuso qangi.—Mat. 6:31-33.

10. Singayitjheja njani ihliziywethu?

¹⁰ Kungakhathaliseki bona sinokunengi namkha sinokuncani, kufuze sitjheje ihliziywethu. Njani? Ungathomi uthande ubunjinga. Ungavumeli umsebenzi wokuziphilisa uze qangi ukudlula uJehova. Ungabona njani ukuthi lokho kuyenzeka kuwe? Eminye imibuzo ongazibuza yona, ithi: ‘Kghani nangisesifundweni namkha esimini ngicabanga ngomsebenzami wokuziphilisa? Kghani ngihlale ngitshwenyekile ngokuthi ngizozitlhogomela njani esikhathini esizako? Kghani imali nezinto eziphathekako ngizo ezingibangela imiraro emtjhadwenami? Kghani ngizimisele ukwenza umsebenzi abanye abawuqalela phasi ngitjho nanyana ungivumela bona ngenzele uJehova okunengi?’ (1 Thim. 6:9-12) Nasicabanga ngemibuzo le, kufuze sikhumbule ukuthi uJehova uyasithanda begodu wenze isithembiswesi ebantwini abazinikele kuye: “Angekhe nginitjhiye, begodu angekhe nginilahle.” Kungebangelo umpostoli uPowula wathi: “Indlelenu yokuphila ayingabi nalo ithando lemali.”—Heb. 13:5, 6.

11. Khuyini zokuzithabisa ezingayenza emuntwini?

¹¹ UJehova ufuna sithabele ukuphila, sikhethe kuhle nezokuzithabisa. Eqinisweni iliZwi lakhe lithi, “ayikho into umuntu angayenza ngcono, ngaphandle kokugoma nokusela, azithabise ngokutjhabatjheka kwakhe.” (UMtj. 2:24) Nanyana kunjalo, zokuzithabisa ezisephasini zingaba nomthelela omumbi kithi. Zonakalisa indlela abantu ekufuze baziphathe ngayo, zibakhuthaza bona bazamukele namkha bazithande—okuzizinto iliZwi lakaZimu elizilahlako.

12. Yoku-1 kwebeKorinte 10:21, 22, ithi kubayini kufuze sizikhethe kuhle zokuzithabisa?

¹² Sifuna ukulotjha uJehova ngokupheleleko, yeke angeze sadla “etafuleni lakaJehova  netafuleni lamadimoni.” (Funda yoku-1 kwebeKorinte 10:21, 22.) Kanengi ukudla nomuntu othileko kutjengisa bona nibangani. Nangabe sikhetha zokuzithabisa ezinenturhu, ubudimoni, ukuziphatha okumbi, namkha ezinye iimfiso zenyama nangendlela esiziphatha ngayo, eqinisweni lokho kuzokufana nokuthi sidla ukudla okulungiselelwe manaba kaZimu. Umphumela walokho uba kukuthi asizilimazi thina kwaphela, kodwana sonakalisa ubuhlobo bethu noJehova.

13-14. NgokomTlolo kaJakopo 1:14, 15, kubayini kufuze sitjheje nasikhetha zokuzithabisa? Fanekisa.

¹³ Zokuzithabisa zifana njani nokudla? Siyakukhetha ukudla esikudlako. Kodwana nasele sikugwinyile, angekhe sakhetha ukuthi kuzowuzuzisa njani umzimba. Ukudla okunepilo kuyasiphilisa; kodwana okunganapilo kuyasigulisa. Imiphumela yalokho angekhe wayibona ngesikhatheso, kunalokho ibonakala ekukhambeni kwesikhathi.

¹⁴ Ngokufanako, nasikhetha zokuzithabisa, kufuze sizikhethe kuhle izinto esizifaka eengqondweni zethu. Zokuzithabisa esizikhethako ziyayithinta indlela esicabanga nesizizwa ngayo. Zokuzithabisa ezihlanzekileko zingasakha; kodwana ezisilapheleko zingasilimaza. (Funda uJakopo 1:14, 15.) Imiphumela elethwa kuzithabisa okusilapheleko angeze sayibona ngesikhatheso, kunalokho izokubonakala ngokukhamba kwesikhathi. Kungebangelo iBhayibheli lisiyelelisa lithi: “Ningadurhiswa: UZimu akahlekwa ubudlhadlha. Lokho umuntu akutjalako, uzokuvuna khona; loyo otjala ngombono wenyama uzokuvuna ukonakala okuvela enyamenakhe.” (Gal. 6:7, 8) Kuqakatheke khulu ukwala zokuzithabisa ezithuthukisa izinto ezihloywa nguJehova!—Rhu. 97:10.

15. Ngiliphi ilungiselelo uJehova asiphe lona bona silithabele?

¹⁵ Abantu bakaJehova abanengi bayakuthabela ukubukela i-JW Broadcasting, okulihlelo le-TV elinezinto ezihlanzekileko. Udadwethu uMarilyn uthi: “I-JW Broadcasting ingisize bona ngibe mumuntu othabileko, ngibukela koke okufumaneka kiyo ngombana kuyangakha. Nangizizwa nginesizungu namkha ngidanile, ngibukela ikulumo ekhuthazako namkha ihlelo lokuKhulekela kweKuseni. Lokho kungenza ngizizwe ngitjhidele khulu kuJehova nehlanganwakhe. Ilungiselelo le-JW Broadcasting likutjhugulule kwamambala ukuphila kwami.” Kghani uyazuza elungiselelweneli elivela kuJehova? Qobe nyanga, i-JW Broadcasting iba nezinto ezitja, amavidiyo nezinto ezilalelwako kuhlanganise neengoma ezikhuthazako.

16-17. Kubayini kufuze silawule isikhathi esisisebenzisela zokuzithabisa begodu singakwenza njani lokho?

¹⁶ Kufuze sitjheje ukuthi sikhetha ukuzithabisa ngani nokuthi singangani isikhathi esisisebenzisela ukuzithabisa. Nasingenzi njalo, singasebenzisa isikhathi esinengi sizithabisa kunokuthi silotjhe uJehova. Abanengi bakufumana kubudisi ukulawula isikhathi abasisebenzisela ukuzithabisa. Udadwethu u-Abigail oneminyaka eli-18, uthi: “Ukubukela i-TV kungisiza bona ngizigedle ekupheleni kwelanga ebelimajadu. Kodwana nangingakatjheji, ngingayibukela isikhathi eside.” Umfowethu uSamuel uthi: “Ngazifumana ngibukela amavidiyo amanengi amafitjhani ku-Inthanethi. Ngathoma ngokubukela yinye, ngathi nangithi mehlo suka, ngalemuka  ukuthi sele kudlule ama-awara amathathu kuya kwamane.”

¹⁷ Ungasilawula njani isikhathi osisebenzisela zokuzithabisa? Kokuthoma linga ukufumana ukuthi singangani isikhathi osisebenzisela kwezokuzithabisa. Kubayini ungazenzeli ihlelo leveke? Ehlelwenelo ungatlola phasi bona singangani isikhathi osisebenzisela ukubukela i-TV, ukuqala izinto eziku-Inthanethi nokudlala imidlalo yamavidiyo. Nawucabanga ukuthi usebenzisa isikhathi esinengi kwezokuzithabisa, linga ukwenza ihlelo. Bekela ngeqadi isikhathi sokwenza izinto eziqakathekileko qangi, ngemva kwalokho ubeke sokuzithabisa. Nawuqedako, bawa uJehova bona akusize unamathele ehlelweni lakho. Nawenza njalo uzokuba nesikhathi namandla owatlhogako bona ufunde iBhayibheli, wenze ukukhulekela komndeni, ulungiselele imihlangano yebandla, uhlanganyele emsebenzini wokutjhumayela newokufundisa. Kungenzeka usithabele isikhathi osisebenzisela zokuzithabisa ngombana ubeke uJehova qangi.

18-19. Singatjengisa njani ukuthi sizinikele kuJehova ngokupheleleko?

¹⁸ Nakaqeda ukutlola ngokuphela kwephasi lakaSathana nokufika kwephasi elitjha, umpostoli uPitrosi wathi: “Nje-ke bathandekako, njengombana nilindele izintwezi, yenzani koke okusemandlenenu bona ekugcineni anifumane nimsulwa, ninganabala begodu nisekuthuleni.” (2 Pit. 3:14) Nasilalela iselulekwesi, senze koke esingakwenza bona siphile besilotjhe uJehova ngendlela ayamukelako, sitjengisa ukuthi sizinikele kuye ngokupheleleko.

¹⁹ USathana nephasi lakhe, bazokuragela phambili basilinga bona sibeke ezinye izinto qangi ekuphileni kwethu kunoJehova. (Luk. 4:13) Naphezu kweentjhijilo esiqalana nazo, angeze savumela nanyana ngubani namkha nanyana yini bona ithathe indawo kaJehova eenhliziyweni zethu. Sizimisele ukunikela uJehova okumfaneleko, okutjho ukuzinikela kuye ngokupheleleko!