1. Jehova wadala bantfu baba namaphi emakhono?

JEHOVA wadala bantfu baba nemakhono lamangalisako. Wasidala saba nelikhono lekucabanga kute sikwati kucatulula tinkinga futsi sikhone nekuhlelela likusasa. (Taga 2:11) Wasiniketa emandla ekwenta loko lesikuhlelile, lokwenta kutsi kube melula ngatsi kufinyelela imigomo lesitibekele yona. (Fil. 2:13) Wasidala saba nanembeza—lokulikhono lemvelo lekwati lokulungile nalokungakalungi—longasisita sikhone kubalekela tintfo letimbi futsi silungise emaphutsa etfu.—Rom. 2:15.

2. Jehova ufuna kutsi siwasebentise njani emakhono etfu?

² Jehova ufuna siwasebentise kahle emakhono etfu. Kungani? Kungenca yekutsi uyasitsandza futsi uyati kutsi nangabe siwasebentisa kahle natsi sitawujabula. Jehova usebentisa liVi lakhe kuze asisite siwasebentise kahle emakhono etfu. Nasi sibonelo, emiBhalweni yesiHebheru sifundza kutsi: “Emasu emuntfu lokhutsele amdvonsela ekuphumeleleni”; futsi “wonkhe umsebenti losetandleni takho wente ngemandla akho onkhe.” (Taga. 21:5; Shu. 9:10) EmiBhalweni yemaKhristu yesiGriki sitjelwa kutsi: “Nangabe nje sinelitfuba, asenteni lokuhle kubo bonkhe”; futsi “ngekwelizinga umuntfu ngamunye lemukele ngalo sipho, akasisebentise kuze  asite labanye.” (Gal. 6:10; 1 Phet. 4:10) Kusebaleni kutsi Jehova ufuna kutsi sisebentise emakhono lesinawo kuze sitisite tsine kanye nalabanye.

3. Ngutiphi tintfo bantfu labangakhoni kutenta?

³ Ngesikhatsi lesifanako, Jehova uyati kutsi kukhona tintfo lesingeke sikhone kutenta. Ngeke sikhone kucedza sono kanye nekufa. Ngeke sikhone nekulawula indlela labanye bantfu labenta ngayo tintfo ngobe bonkhe bantfu banenkhululeko yekutikhetsela. (1 Khos. 8:46) Ngako, kungakhatsaliseki kutsi sinelwati lolungakanani, kuJehova siyohlale sifanana nebantfwana.—Isa. 55:9.

4. Sitawucoca ngani kulesihloko?

⁴ Kungakhatsaliseki kutsi sikusiphi simo, kufanele setsembele kuJehova kuze asicondzise, simetsembe kutsi utasisekela futsi asentele loko tsine lesingakhoni kukwenta. Ngesikhatsi lesifanako, natsi kufanele sente loko lesingakhona kukwenta, setame kucatulula tinkinga futsi sisite nalabanye. (Fundza Tihlabelelo 37:3.) Kafishane nje, kufanele ‘setsembe Jehova, sente lokuhle’ futsi ‘sikhombise kutsi setsembekile.’ Manje asesicoce ngekutsi yini lesingayifundza esibonelweni saNowa, saDavide kanye nasetincekwini taNkulunkulu lebetetsembele kuJehova futsi letenta lokutsite kuze tikhombise kutsi tiyametsemba. Njengobe sitawufundza, sitawubona kutsi loko bekufaka ekhatsi kwehlukanisa emkhatsini waloko lebetingeke tikhone kukwenta naloko lebetingakhona kukwenta, kanye naloko letagcine tikwentile.

5. Chaza simo Nowa lebekabhekene naso.

⁵ Nowa abephila eveni ‘lebeligcwele budlova’ nekutiphatsa lokubi. (Gen. 6:4, 9-13) Bekati kutsi Jehova utalibhubhisa lelive lelibi. Nanobe kunjalo, kungenteka Nowa bekakhatsateka ngendlela bantfu lebebatiphatsa ngayo. Nowa wabona kutsi betikhona tintfo lebekangakhona kutenta kanye naleto lebekangeke akhone kutenta.

6, 7. (a) Yini Nowa lebekangeke akhone kuyenta? (b) Simo setfu lamuhla sifana kanjani nesaNowa?

⁶ Loko Nowa lebekangeke akhone kukwenta: Nanobe Nowa bekawumemetela ngekwetsembeka umlayeto lovela kuJehova losecwayiso, bekangeke akhone kuphocelela bantfu lababi kutsi bawemukele lomlayeto. Bekangeke futsi akhone nekwenta Zamcolo kutsi usheshe ufike. Nowa bekufanele ametsembe Jehova kutsi utasigcina setsembiso sakhe sekubhubhisa  bonkhe bantfu lababi nekutsi loko bekatakwenta ngesikhatsi sakhe lesifanele.—Gen. 6:17.

⁷ Natsi lamuhla siphila emhlabeni logcwele bantfu labenta tintfo letimbi futsi siyati kutsi Jehova wetsembise kubabhubhisa bonkhe labantfu. (1 Joh. 2:17) Kodvwa nyalo ngeke sikhone kuphocelela bantfu kutsi bemukele “letindzaba letimnandzi teMbuso.” Kute nalesingakwenta kuze sente “kuhlupheka lokukhulu” kutsi kusheshe kufike. (Mat. 24:14, 21) NjengaNowa, natsi kufanele sibe nekukholwa lokucinile, simetsembe Jehova kutsi ngekushesha utawutsatsa sinyatselo. (Hla. 37:10, 11) Siyaciniseka kutsi Jehova ngeke avumele lelive lelibi lichubeke likhona nangabe sekufike sikhatsi sakhe lesifanele sekulicedza.—Hab. 2:3.

8. Nowa wakhombisa njani kutsi bekanake loko lebekangakhona kukwenta? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.)

⁸ Loko Nowa lebekangakwenta: Kunekutsi Nowa aphelelwe ngemandla ngenca yaloko lebekangeke akhone kukwenta, wanaka loko lebekangakhona kukwenta. ‘Njengemshumayeli wekulunga,’Nowa wawumemetela ngekwetsembeka lomlayeto losecwayiso lebekaphatsiswe wona. (2 Phet. 2:5) Loko kwamsita kutsi abe nekukholwa lokucinile. Ngetulu kwemsebenti wekushumayela lebekawenta, wasebentisa emakhono lebekanawo kuze ente umsebenti lebekawunikwe nguNkulunkulu wekwakha umkhumbi.—Fundza Hebheru 11:7.

9. Singasilingisa njani sibonelo saNowa?

⁹ NjengaNowa, natsi siyatikhandla kuze sihlale ‘sinalokunyenti kwekukwenta emsebentini weNkhosi.’ (1 Khor. 15:58) Lomsebenti weNkhosi ungafaka ekhatsi umsebenti wekwakha tindzawo tekukhonta Jehova kanye nekutinakekela, kuvolontiya emihlanganweni yesifundza neyesigodzi, kusebenta ehhovisini leligatja nobe ehhovisini lekuhumusha. Ngetulu kwako konkhe, simatasa emsebentini wekushumayela ngobe siyati kutsi lomsebenti ucinisa litsemba letfu ngelikusasa. Lomunye dzadze watsi: “Nawukhuluma nalabanye bantfu mayelana netibusiso letitawuletfwa nguMbuso waNkulunkulu, uyabona kutsi bantfu labanyenti bete litsemba ngelikusasa futsi bacabanga kutsi tinkinga labanato ngeke ticatululeke.” Ngako, lomsebenti wekushumayela usenta kutsi sibe nembono lomuhle ngelikusasa futsi usenta singapheli emandla njengobe sikulomncintiswano wekuphila.—1 Khor. 9:24.

10. Chaza simo Davide lebekabhekene naso.

¹⁰ Jehova nakakhuluma ngeNkhosi Davide watsi ‘ungulowemukelwe yinhlitiyo [yakhe].’ (Imis. 13:22) Davide abengumuntfu lowetsembekile. Nanobe kunjalo, ngalelinye lilanga wake wenta sento lesibi. Waphinga naBhatisheba. Lesento sakhe saba sibi nakakhulu ngobe wetama kusifihla ngekutsi ahlele kutsi indvodza yaBhatisheba, lokungu-Uriya, ibulawe emphini. Davide waze waphatsisa yena Uriya incwadzi lebeyinemlayeto wekutsi kufanele abulawe! (2 Sam. 11:1-21) Kodvwa kute imphunga yelihlatsi, loko Davide lebekakwentile kwaphumela ebaleni. (Mak. 4:22) Wase wenta njani Davide?

11, 12. (a) Ngemuva kwekwenta sono, yini Davide lebekangeke akhone kuyenta? (b) Nangabe siphendvuka ngemuva kwekwenta sono, yini lesetsemba kutsi Jehova utawusentela yona?

¹¹ Loko Davide lebekangeke akhone kukwenta: Davide bekangeke asakushintja loko lebekakwentile. Bekangeke asayibalekela nemiphumela lebekatayitfola ngenca yaloko lakwentile. Empeleni, leminye yalemiphumela lebekatayitfola beyitamtsintsa kuphila kwakhe konkhe. (2 Sam. 12:10-12, 14) Ngako, bekudzingeka kutsi abe nekukholwa. Bekufanele etsembe kutsi nangabe aphendvuke mbamba, Jehova bekatamtsetselela futsi amsite akhutsatelele lemiphumela lebekatayitfola ngenca yaloko lebekakwentile.

¹² Ngenca yekutsi sonkhe sinesono, sihle siwenta emaphutsa. Lamanye emaphutsa mabi kakhulu kunalamanye. Ngaletinye tikhatsi, singase singakhoni kulungisa lawo maphutsa lesiwentile. Kungadzingeka nje kutsi sale siphila naleyo miphumela yaloko lesikwentile. (Gal. 6:7) Kodvwa siyaciniseka ngaloko Nkulunkulu lakushoko kutsi nasiphendvuka mbamba, yena utasisekela kuleto tikhatsi letimatima ngisho nobe lobo bumatima sitibangele tsine.—Fundza Isaya 1:18, 19; Imisebenti 3:19.

13. Yini leyasita Davide kute aphindze abe nebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu?

¹³ Loko Davide lebekangakwenta: Davide wavumela Jehova kutsi amsite kute aphindze abe nebuhlobo lobuhle naye. Lenye indlela Davide layisebentisa kwaba kutsi emukele siyalo lebesivela kuJehova ngemphrofethi Nathani. (2 Samuweli 12:13) Davide waphindze wathantaza kuJehova, wavuma emaphutsa akhe futsi wakhombisa kutsi uyafisa kuphindze abe nebuhlobo lobuhle naye. (Hla. 51:1-17) Kunekutsi advunyatwe ngumuva welicala, Davide wafundza emaphutseni akhe. Lokuhle kutsi akazange aphindze ente emaphutsa lafanako. Ngemuva kweminyaka letsite, wafa etsembekile futsi umlandvo wekwetsembeka kwakhe ulondvolotwe enkhumbulweni yaJehova.—Heb. 11:32-34.

14. Yini lesingayifundza esibonelweni saDavide?

¹⁴ Singafundzani kulesibonelo saDavide? Nangabe sente sono lesibi, kufanele siphendvuke mbamba futsi sicele Jehova kutsi asitsetselele. Kufanele sivume tono tetfu kuye. (1 Joh. 1:9) Kufanele siye nasemadvodzeni lamadzala elibandla, langasisita kutsi siphindze sibe nebuhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu. (Fundza Jakobe 5:14-16.) Nangabe siwasebentisa lamalungiselelo aJehova, sisuke sikhombisa kutsi siyametsemba kutsi utawusenta selulame emaphutseni lesiwentile futsi asitsetselele. Ngako, sitawube senta kahle nangabe sifundza emaphutseni etfu bese sichubeka nekukhonta Jehova futsi sichubeke nekulangatelela likusasa lelihle.—Heb. 12:12, 13.

15. Yini lesiyifundzako esibonelweni saHana?

¹⁵ Kungenteka ucabange nangaletinye tinceku taNkulunkulu lebetetsembele kuye futsi lebetenta tintfo letinhle. Nasi sibonelo, Hana bekanenkinga lebeyimkhatsata kakhulu yekungabatfoli bantfwana. Kodvwa beketsemba kutsi Jehova utamdvudvuta, kungako achubeka nekumkhonta ethempelini futsi  wamtjela konkhe lokumkhatsatako. (1 Sam. 1:9-11) Singamlingisa yini tsine Hana? Nangabe sinenkinga yemphilo nobe sibhekene naletinye timo letingetulu kwemandla etfu, kufanele siphonse konkhe kukhatsateka kwetfu kuJehova futsi setsembe kutsi uyasikhatsalela. (1 Phet. 5:6, 7) Kufanele sente konkhe lesingakwenta kuze sizuze nasisemihlanganweni yelibandla siphindze sifundze netincwadzi letisekelwe eBhayibhelini.—Heb. 10:24, 25.

16. Batali bangafundzani esibonelweni saSamuweli?

¹⁶ Yini lengentiwa batali labanebantfwana labashiye kukhonta kweliciniso? Samuweli lobekasakhulile bekangeke akhone kuphocelela bantfwana bakhe labadzala kutsi bahlale betsembekile kuJehova futsi bente loko labafundzisa kona. (1 Sam. 8:1-3) Bekudzingeka kutsi lesimo asishiyele kuJehova. Nanobe kunjalo, Samuweli bekangakhona kuhlala etsembekile kuBabe wakhe Jehova futsi amjabulise. (Taga 27:11) Lamuhla, batali labanyenti labangemaKhristu batitfola basesimeni lesifanako. Njengababe lokukhulunywa ngaye endzabeni yendvodzana yelulahleko, batali bayaciniseka kutsi Jehova uhlale akulungele kwemukela labo labaphendvukile etonweni tabo. (Luk. 15:20) Ngesikhatsi lesifanako, batali labakulesimo bayatikhandla kuze bahlale betsembekile kuJehova, ikakhulukati ngoba bayetsemba kutsi sibonelo sabo lesihle sitawukhutsata bantfwana babo kutsi babuyele kuJehova.

17. Kungani lesibonelo semfelokati lobekaphuyile sisikhutsata?

¹⁷ Cabanga nangendzaba yemfelokati lophuyile wangesikhatsi saJesu. (Fundza Lukha 21:1-4.) Lomfelokati kute lebekangakwenta ngetento letimbi lebetentiwa ethempelini. (Mat. 21:12, 13) Kungenteka nekutsi bekukuncane kakhulu lebekangakwenta ngesimo sakhe semnotfo. Nanobe kunjalo, wanikela ngekutitsandzela ngetinhlavu “letimbili temali” lebetingiko “konkhe lanako nalabengaphila ngako.” Lomfelokati wakhombisa kutsi beketsembele kuJehova ngenhlitiyo yakhe yonkhe, futsi bekati kutsi nakabeka tintfo letiphatselene naNkulunkulu kucala ekuphileni kwakhe, bekatamnakekela ngaloko lakudzingako. Lelitsemba lebekenalo lomfelokati lamshukumisela kutsi asekele lilungiselelo lekukhonta kweliciniso. Natsi lamuhla siyetsemba kutsi nangabe sichubeka sifuna kucala uMbuso, Jehova utawuciniseka kutsi sinato tintfo lesitidzingako.—Mat. 6:33.

18. Niketa sibonelo senceku yaNkulunkulu lebeyinembono lomuhle.

¹⁸ Bazalwane betfu labanyenti lesikhonta nabo Jehova lamuhla, nabo bakhombisile kutsi bayametsemba futsi baye bachubeka nekwenta tento letinhle. Cabanga ngemzalwane Malcolm lowahlala etsembekile waze washona nga-2015. Kuleminyaka leminyenti yena nemkakhe bakhonta Jehova, bebahle babhekana netimo letimatima. Malcom watsi: “Kuphila kumatima, ngeke wati kutsi yini letakwenteka kusasa, kodvwa Jehova uyababusisa labo labetsembele kuye.” Wachubeka watsi: “Thantazela kutsi wente konkhe longakwenta emsebentini waJehova. Naka kakhulu loko longakhona kukwenta kunekutsi unake loko longeke ukhone kukwenta.” *

19. (a) Kungani sihloko setfu semnyaka sifaneleka? (b) Lamavi alesihloko setfu semnyaka utawasebentisa njani ekuphileni kwakho?

¹⁹ Njengobe timo tiya ‘tiba timbi’ kakhulu kulesimiso saSathane, kufanele sikulindzele kutsi timo titawuba matima nakakhulu. (2 Thim. 3:1, 13) Ngako kubaluleke kakhulu kutsi singativumeli letimo letimatima lesibhekana nato kutsi tisicedze emandla. Kunaloko, kufanele simetsembe kakhulu Jehova futsi sichubeke nekwenta imisebenti lemihle. Kungako sihloko setfu salomnyaka sifaneleka kahle njengobe sitsi: “Tsemba Jehova, Wente Lokuhle”!—Hla. 37:3.