1, 2. Yiwuphi umbuzo okumele uzibuze wona nxa usutshiye inkolo yamanga, njalo ucabanga ukuthi kungani kuqakathekile lokho?

AKE sithi uthole ukuthi endaweni ohlala kuyo kulomuntu ofake itshefu emanzini eliwanathayo lingakwazi, njalo lokhu sekufaka impilo zenu engozini. Ungenzani? Akuthandabuzwa ukuthi ungathatha inyathelo masinyane ukuze uthole amanzi ahlanzekileyo. Lanxa ungenze njalo ungazibuza umbuzo lo oqakathekileyo othi, ‘Besengiwanathile yini amanzi aletshefu?’

² Umzekeliso lo uhambelana lokwenzakalayo enkolweni yamanga. IBhayibhili lifundisa ukuthi inkolo enjalo iletshefu yezimfundiso lezenzo ezingcolileyo. (2 KwabaseKhorinte 6:17) Yikho kuqakathekile ukuthi uphume ‘eBhabhiloni eNkulu,’ umbuso womhlaba wonke wenkolo yamanga. (ISambulo 18:2, 4) Usukwenzile yini lokho? Nxa usukwenzile, uyanconywa. Kodwa ukuhlukana lenkolo yamanga kumbe ukuyivalelisa akwenelanga. Nxa usukwenzile lokho, kumele uzibuze ukuthi, ‘Kulokunye yini engisakwenza okuphathelane lenkolo yamanga?’ Ake sixoxe ngezinye izibonelo.

3. (a) IBhayibhili lithini ngokusebenzisa izithombe, njalo kungani abanye bengakubona kunzima ukuba lombono kaNkulunkulu? (b) Kumele wenzeni ngezinto olazo ezitholakala enkolweni yamanga?

³ Abanye baleminyaka eminengi belezithombe emakhaya abo. Wena ulazo yini? Nxa ulazo, ungabona angathi akuzwisiseki kumbe akuqondanga ukuthandaza kuNkulunkulu ungelazo. Kungaba nzima ukuthi uhlukane lazo ngenxa yokuthi uyabe uzithanda lezo zithombe. Kodwa uNkulunkulu nguye ositshelayo ukuthi simkhonze njani, njalo iBhayibhili lifundisa ukuthi kafuni sisebenzise izithombe. (Bala u-Eksodusi 20:4, 5; IHubo 115:4-8; U-Isaya 42:8; 1 UJohane 5:21) Ngakho ungabambelela enkolweni yeqiniso ngokulahla konke olakho okukuhlanganisa lenkolo yamanga. Zimisele ukukubona ngendlela uJehova akubona ngayo. Ukubona ‘njengokuyisinengiso.’​—UDutheronomi 27:15.

4. (a) Sikwazi njani ukuthi ukukhonza amadlozi akuncedi? (b) Kuyini okwenza uJehova walisa abantu bakhe ukuthi bazihlanganise lamadimoni?

⁴ Ukukhonza amadlozi lakho kujayelekile ezinkolweni ezinengi zamanga. Bengakafundi iqiniso, abanengi babekholwa  ukuthi abantu abafileyo bayaphila endaweni ethile yomoya futhi balamandla okunceda lokulimaza abantu abaphilayo. Mhlawumbe lawe wawusebenza nzima ukuze uthethele emadlozini. Kodwa njengoba safunda esahlukweni 6 sebhuku leli, abantu abafileyo kabaphili ndawo. Yikho-ke ukuzama ukukhuluma labo akuncedi. Imilayezo yonke ekhanya angathi ivela kwabafileyo iyabe ivela emadimonini. Yikho uJehova walisa ama-Israyeli ukuzama ukukhuluma labafileyo kumbe ukuzama ukuzihlanganisa lamadimoni.​—Bala uDutheronomi 18:10-12.

5. Kuyini ongakwenza nxa wawukhonza usebenzisa izithombe kumbe ukhonza amadlozi?

⁵ Kuyini ongakwenza nxa wawukhonza usebenzisa izithombe kumbe ukhonza amadlozi? Bala futhi ucabangisise ngezindaba eziseBhayibhilini ezikutshengisa indlela uJehova abona ngayo izinto lezi. Khuleka kuJehova nsuku zonke umtshela ngesifiso sakho sokubambelela enkolweni yeqiniso, ubusumcela ukuthi akuncedise ucabange ngendlela yena acabanga ngayo.​—U-Isaya 55:9.

6, 7. (a) Abananza iKhisimusi bathi bayabe bekhumbulani, njalo abalandeli bakaJesu bekhulu lokuqala babeyinanza yini? (b) Ngesikhathi sabafundi bakaJesu bokuqala, ukunanzwa kwezinsuku zokuzalwa kwakuhambelana lani?

⁶ Ukukhonza komuntu kungangcoliswa yinkolo yamanga endabeni zamakhefu ajayelekileyo. Ngokwesibonelo, ake sixoxe ngeKhisimusi. Abananza iKhisimusi bathi bayabe bekhumbula ukuzalwa kukaJesu Khristu njalo phose zonke izinkolo ezithi zingamaKhristu ziyayinanza. Kodwa akulabufakazi obutshengisa ukuthi abafundi bakaJesu bekhulu lokuqala babelinanza lelokhefu. Ibhuku elithi Sacred Origins of Profound Things lithi: “Okweminyaka engu-200 akulamuntu owayekwazi ngokuzalwa kukaKhristu njalo balutshwana ababelendaba lokuthi wazalwa nini sibili.”

 ⁷ Lanxa abafundi bakaJesu babengaba lolwazi lokuthi wazalwa nini sibili, babengasoze balunanze lolosuku. Ngani? Ngoba ibhuku lezokuchwayisisa i-World Book Encyclopedia lithi amaKhristu okuqala “ayebona ukunanza usuku lokuzalwa lwanoma ngubani njengomkhuba wobuhedeni.” Izinsuku zokuzalwa ezananzwayo eziseBhayibhilini ngezamakhosi amabili kuphela ayengakhonzi uJehova. (UGenesisi 40:20; UMakho 6:21) Ukukhunjulwa kwezinsuku zokuzalwa kwakusenzelwa lokuhlonipha onkulunkulu abangamahedeni. Ngokwesibonelo, ngoMay 24 abantu belizwe laseRoma babenanza usuku lokuzalwa kukankulunkulukazi uDiana. Ngelanga elilandelayo babenanza usuku lokuzalwa kukankulunkulu wabo welanga u-Apollo. Lokhu kutshengisa ukuthi ukunanzwa kwezinsuku zokuzalwa kwakuhambelana lobuhedeni hatshi lobuKhristu.

8. Chasisa ukuthi imicimbi yezinsuku zokuzalwa lezinto zamasalamusi kungenelana njani.

⁸ Kulesinye isizathu esingabe senza ukuthi amaKhristu ekhulu lokuqala angananzi usuku lokuzalwa kukaJesu. Kufanele ukuthi abafundi babekwazi ukuthi imicimbi yezinsuku zokuzalwa ingenelana lezinto zamasalamusi. Ngokwesibonelo, amaGiriki lamaRoma amanengi akudala ayekholwa ukuthi kulomoya oba khona ekuzalweni komuntu njalo uyamvikela okwempilo yakhe yonke. Ibhuku elithi The Lore of Birthdays lithi: “Umoya lo wawusebenza ngendlela eyimfihlo lonkulunkulu oba khona nxa umuntu ezalwa.” UJehova wayengeke athokoziswe yinoma yiwuphi umcimbi owawuzahlanganisa uJesu lezinto zamasalamusi. (U-Isaya 65:11, 12) Pho-ke kwenzakala njani ukuthi abantu abanengi bacine sebenanza iKhisimusi?

9. UDecember 25 wakhethwa njani ukuthi abe lilanga lokukhumbula ukuzalwa kukaJesu?

⁹ Abantu baqalisa ukukhumbula ukuzalwa kukaJesu ngoDecember 25 sekudlule amakhulu amanengi eminyaka uJesu efile. Kodwa lelo kwakungayisilo ilanga uJesu azalwa ngalo,  ngoba ubufakazi butshengisa ukuthi wazalwa ngo-October. * Pho-ke, kungani kwakhethwa uDecember 25? Abanye abacina bezithi bangamaKhristu kungenzeka “babefisa ukuthi ilanga lelo liqondane lelanga lomcimbi wamaRoma wobuhedeni owawusenzelwa ‘usuku lokuzalwa kwelanga elingehlulwayo.’” (The New Encyclopædia Britannica) Ngesikhathi sobusika, lapho ilanga elalingaphumi kuhle khona, amahedeni ayesenza imicimbi ukwenzela ukuthi ilanga liphenduke livela ezindaweni ezikhatshana ukuze lizobakhudumeza njalo libakhanyisele. Kwakucatshangwa ukuthi ilanga laliqalisa ukuphenduka ngoDecember 25. Abakhokheli benkolo ababezama ukuguqula amahedeni bavumela ukuthi kube lomcimbi lo bezama ukwenza ukuthi kukhanye angathi “ngowobuKhristu.” *

10. Ngezinsuku zakudala, kungani abanye abantu babengayinanzi iKhisimusi?

¹⁰ Sekulesikhathi eside kusaziwa ukuthi iKhisimusi yavela ezimfundisweni zobuhedeni. IKhisimusi yayingasavunyelwa ukunanzwa eNgilandi lakwamanye amazwe ayengaphansi kweMelika ekhulwini lesi-17 ngenxa yokuthi yayingasekelwanga emibhalweni. Umuntu owayelova emsebenzini ahlale ngekhaya mhla weKhisimusi wayejeziswa. Kodwa ngesikhatshana nje, kwavuselelwa imikhuba yakudala njalo kwangezelelwa leminye emitsha. IKhisimusi yaphinda yaba likhefu eliqakathekileyo njalo emazweni amanengi ilokhu isaqakathekiswa. Ngenxa  yokuthi iKhisimusi ivela enkolweni yamanga, abafuna ukuthokozisa uNkulunkulu kabayinanzi kuhlanganisa lamanye amakhefu avela ezinkolweni zobuhedeni. *

11. Kungani abanye abantu benanza amakhefu, kodwa kuyini okumele sikuqakathekise kakhulu?

¹¹ Abanye bayavuma ukuthi amakhefu anjengeKhisimusi avela ezimfundisweni zobuhedeni kodwa babona angathi akulandaba ukuwananza. Abantu abanengi abacabangi ngenkolo yamanga nxa benanza amakhefu. Izikhathi lezi zinika izimuli amathuba okuthi zibe ndawonye. Lawe ukubona njalo yini? Nxa kunjalo, kufanele ukuthi okwenza kube nzima ukuthi ubambelele enkolweni yeqiniso yikuthanda imuli yakho hatshi ukuthanda inkolo yamanga. Qiniseka ukuthi uJehova onguye owasungula imuli ufuna ukuthi ube lobungane obuqinileyo lezihlobo zakho. (Kwabase-Efesu 3:14, 15) Kodwa lobo bungane ungabuqinisa ngendlela eyamukelwa nguNkulunkulu. Umphostoli uPhawuli wakhuluma ngalokho okumele siqhubeke sikuqakathekisa kakhulu esithi: “Lidinge okuthokozisa iNkosi.”​—Kwabase-Efesu 5:10.

12. Yiwuphi umzekeliso otshengisa ukuthi kungani kumele sibalekele imikhuba lemicimbi eyavela endaweni ezingcolileyo?

¹² Mhlawumbe ungabona angathi lapho okwavela khona amakhefu akulani lendlela ananzwa ngayo lamuhla. Kulendaba yini ukuthi avela ngaphi? Ye, kulendaba! Singakufanisa lalokhu: Ake sithi ubone isiwiji esisezibini. Ungasidobha usidle yini? Awungeke! Isiwiji leso singcolile. Ukunanza amakhefu kungakhanya kumnandi kakhulu njengesiwiji leso, kodwa adojwe ezindaweni ezingcolileyo. Nxa ufuna ukubambelela enkolweni yeqiniso kumele ube lombono onjengowomphrofethi u-Isaya, owatshela izikhonzi zeqiniso ukuthi: “Lingathinti lutho olungcolileyo.”​—U-Isaya 52:11.

13. Yibuphi ubunzima obungabakhona nxa ungananzi amakhefu?

¹³ Kungaba lobunzima nxa ungakhetha ukungananzi amakhefu. Ngokwesibonelo, osebenza labo bangamangala ukuthi kungani ungenzi ezinye izinto eziphathelane lamakhefu. Ungenzani nxa unganikwa isipho seKhisimusi? Kuqondile yini ukuthi usamukele? Kuthiwani nxa umuntu otshade laye engakholwa izinto ozikholwayo? Ungenzani ukuze ube leqiniso lokuthi abantwabakho kababoni angathi bayacindezelwa ngenxa yokuthi kabananzi amakhefu?

14, 15. Ungenzani nxa umuntu engaqabuka ekufisele ukuthi ube lekhefu elihle kumbe nxa omunye umuntu efuna ukukunika isipho?

¹⁴ Kumele ube lokwahlulela okuhle ukuze usebenzise ukuhlakanipha ezimeni ezitshiyeneyo. Nxa umuntu engaqabuka ekufisele ukuthi ube lekhefu elihle, kungcono ukumbonga nje kuphela. Kodwa ungenzani nxa kungumuntu ojayele ukumbona kumbe kungumuntu osebenza laye? Esimeni esinjalo, ungakhetha ukumtshela okunengi. Kukho konke oyabe umtshela khona, khuluma ngonanzelelo. IBhayibhili lithi: “Ingxoxo yenu kayihlale igcwele umusa, ifakwe itshwayi, ukuze likwazi ukuphendula umuntu wonke.” (KwabaseKholose 4:6) Qaphela ukuthi ungakhulumi ngendlela etshengisa ukuthi awuhloniphi abanye. Okumele ukwenze yikuchasisa lokho okukholwayo ngonanzelelo. Yenza kucace ukuthi awutsho ukuthi ukunikana izipho kanye lokuba lemibuthano kubi, kodwa ungafuna ukwenza lezozinto ngesinye isikhathi.

¹⁵ Ungenzani nxa omunye umuntu efuna ukukunika isipho? Lokhu kuzakuya ngezimo. Okunikayo angathi: “Ngiyakwazi ukuthi awulinanzi lelikhefu leli. Kodwa ngifuna ukukunika lokhu.” Unganquma ukuthi ukwamukela isipho leso ngalesosikhathi akufanani lokunanza lelokhefu. Kodwa nxa okunikayo engajayelananga lalokho okukholwayo, ungamtshela ukuthi awulinanzi ikhefu lelo. Lokhu kunganceda ukuthi uchasise ukuthi kungani usamukela isipho kodwa wena unganiki abanye izipho ngalesosikhathi. Lanxa kunjalo, akungeke kube yikuhlakanipha  ukuthi wamukele isipho nxa kusegcekeni ukuthi okunikayo ufuna ukutshengisa ukuthi awubambelelanga kulokho okukholwayo, kumbe ukuthi awubambeleli kukho ngenxa yokufuna izipho.

16. Ungakhuluma njani ngonanzelelo nxa sekusiza ezindabeni eziphathelane lamakhefu?

¹⁶ Ungenzani nxa kuyikuthi abemuli yakho kabazikholwa izinto ozikholwayo? Kumele ukhulume labo ngonanzelelo. Akumelanga uphikisane layo yonke imikhuba kumbe imicimbi ekhethwa ukunanzwa yizihlobo zakho. Kodwa kumele uhloniphe imibono yabo njengoba lawe ufuna bahloniphe eyakho. (Bala uMathewu 7:12.) Ungenzi lutho oluzakwenza kukhanye angathi uyalinanza ikhefu abalinanzayo. Lanxa kunjalo, kumele ube ngumuntu ozwisisayo nxa kuyizinto ezingahambelani lokunanza ikhefu lakhona sibili. Ngesikhathi esifananayo, kumele wenze izinto ezizakutshiya ulomzwangedwa ongelacala zikhathi zonke.​—Bala u-1 Thimothi 1:18, 19.

17. Ungabanceda njani abantwabakho ukuthi bangaboni angathi bacindezelwe nxa bebona abanye benanza amakhefu?

¹⁷ Ungenzani nxa ufuna ukuthi abantwabakho bangaboni angathi bacindezelwe ngenxa yokuthi kabananzi amakhefu angasekelwanga eBhayibhilini? Lokhu kuzakuya ngokuthi lenzani ngezinye izikhathi zomnyaka. Abanye abazali bahlela ukunika abantwababo izipho ngezinye izikhathi. Esinye isipho esihle kakhulu ongasinika abantwabakho yikuzinika isikhathi sokuba labo kanye lokubatshengisa ukuthi uyabathanda.

18. Ukuba khona emihlanganweni yobuKhristu kungakunceda njani ukuthi ubambelele enkolweni yeqiniso?

¹⁸ Nxa ufuna ukuthokozisa uNkulunkulu kumele utshiye inkolo yamanga ubusubambelela kweyeqiniso. Lokhu kuhlanganisani? IBhayibhili lithi: “Kasicabangeni ukuba singakhuthazana kanjani ethandweni lasezenzweni ezinhle.Kasingakudeli ukuhlangana, njengalokho abanye abajayele ukukwenza,  kodwa kasikhuthazane—ikakhulu njengoba libona uSuku lusondela.” (KumaHebheru 10:24, 25) Imihlangano yobuKhristu esiyijabulelayo ikuncedisa ukuthi ukhonze uNkulunkulu ngendlela ayamukelayo. (IHubo 22:22; 122:1) Kuleyo mihlangano amaKhristu athembekileyo ‘ayaqinisana.’​—KwabaseRoma 1:12.

19. Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi ukhulume labanye ngezinto ozifunde eBhayibhilini?

¹⁹ Okunye okungakunceda ukuthi ubambelele enkolweni yeqiniso yikukhuluma labanye ngezinto ozifunde laboFakazi bakaJehova ezifundweni zakho zeBhayibhili. Abantu abanengi babubula bekhala kakhulu ngenxa yobubi obukhona emhlabeni lamuhla. Mhlawumbe abanye bakhona uyabazi. Kungaba kuhle ukuthi ukhulume labo ngethemba lakho elisekelwe eBhayibhilini mayelana lekusasa. Njengoba uqhubeka uzihlanganisa lamaKhristu eqiniso njalo ukhuluma labanye ngeqiniso elimangalisayo eliseBhayibhilini osulifundile, uzabona ukuthi imikhuba yenkolo yamanga oyifisayo engabe isalele enhliziyweni yakho izanyamalala kancane kancane. Qiniseka ukuthi uzathokoza kakhulu njalo uzathola izibusiso ezinengi nxa ungabambelela enkolweni yeqiniso.​—UMalaki 3:10.