1. (a) Yini umehluleli Jeftha naHana lebebafana ngayo? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.) (b) Ngumiphi imibuto lesitawucoca ngayo kulesihloko?

JEFTHA abengumholi lonesibindzi; Hana bekangumfati lotfobekile. Jeftha bekalichawe lelinemandla; Hana bekangumfati lokhutsele. Ngaphandle nje kwekutsi bebatikhonti taNkulunkulu, yini uMehluleli Jeftha naHana umfati wa-Elkhana labebafana ngayo? Bobabili bebente sifungo kuNkulunkulu, futsi batifeza ngekwetsembeka tifungo tabo. Batibonelo letinhle kakhulu kuwo onkhe emadvodza nebafati balamuhla labakhetsa kwenta sifungo kuJehova. Nobe kunjalo, loku kuphakamisa imibuto lebalulekile: Siyini sifungo? Kuyintfo lebaluleke kangakanani kwenta sifungo kuNkulunkulu? Ngutiphi tifundvo lesititfola esibonelweni saJeftha naHana?

2, 3. (a) Siyini sifungo? (b) Itsini imiBhalo ngekubaluleka kwekugcina sifungo lesisente kuNkulunkulu?

² Njengoba lisetjentisiwe eBhayibhelini, ligama lelitsi sifungo lisho setsembiso lesibalulekile umuntfu lasenta kuNkulunkulu. Umuntfu angatsembisa kwenta lokutsite, atsembise kupha lomunye sipho, atsembise kwenta inkonzo letsite, nome atsembise kuyekela tintfo letitsite. Umuntfu wenta tifungo ngekutitsandzela. Kodvwa tifungo tibaluleke kakhulu futsi umuntfu tiyambopha embikwaNkulunkulu ngoba kufanele atigcine atsandza nobe angatsandzi; tisetsembiso tekutsi umuntfu utawenta intfo letsite nome ayekele kwenta intfo letsite. (Gen. 14:22, 23; Heb. 6:16, 17) Itsini imiBhalo ngekubaluleka kwekugcina tifungo lesitente kuNkulunkulu?

 ³ Umtsetfo waMosi bewutsi: “Nangabe umuntfu enta sincumo kuSimakadze nome ente sifungo sekutibopha ngesetsembiso, kufanele angawephuli emavi akhe, kodvwa ente konkhe lakukhulumile.” (Num. 30:2) Kamuva, Solomoni wabhala watsi: “Nawenta sifungo kuNkulunkulu, ungacali wephute ekusifezeni. Akatijabuleli tilima; sifungo sakho sifeze.” (Shu. 5:4) Jesu naye wagcizelela kubaluleka kwekugcina sifungo nakatsi: “Niyati kutsi kwatsiwa kubantfu basendvulo: ‘Ungafungeli lite, kepha kufanele ufeze sifungo sakho kuJehova.’”—Mat. 5:33.

4. (a) Kungani kufanele singatitsatsi kalula tetsembiso lesitente kuNkulunkulu? (b) Yini lesitawufundza ngayo mayelana naJeftha kanye naHana?

⁴ Ngako-ke, kusebaleni kutsi akukafanele sititsatse kalula tetsembiso lesitente kuNkulunkulu. Indlela lesenta ngayo mayelana netifungo lesitentile iyabutsintsa buhlobo betfu naNkulunkulu. Davide watsi: “Ngubani loyakwenyuka intsaba yaSimakadze? Ngubani loyakuma endzaweni yakhe lengcwele? Ngulowo lonetandla letihlantekile nalonenhlitiyo lengenacala longawulibatisi ngelite umphefumulo wakhe, nalongawafungeli emanga.” (Hla. 24:3, 4) BoJeftha naHana benta tiphi tifungo futsi bekumelula yini ngabo kufeza leto tifungo?

5. Ngusiphi sifungo Jeftha lasenta, futsi kwentekani?

⁵ Jeftha wetsembeka esifungweni lebekasente kuJehova ngalesikhatsi ayokulwa nema-Amoni lebekahlukubeta bantfu baNkulunkulu. (Khu. 10:7-9) Anelitsemba lelikhulu lekutsi utoncoba, Jeftha wafunga watsi: “Nawunganikela ema-Amoni esandleni sami, nome ngabe ngubani loyawuphuma kucala emnyango wendlu yami kungihlangabeta nase ngibuya ekuncobeni imphi yema-Amoni, uyawuba waSimakadze.” Kwentekani? Wawehlula ema-Amoni, futsi indvodzakati yakhe layitsandzako ngiyo leyamhlangabeta nakabuya emphini. Ngiyo ‘lebeyitawuba yaSimakadze.’ (Khu. 11:30-34) Bekusho kutsini loku ngalendvodzakati yaJeftha?

6. (a) Bekulula yini ngaJeftha nendvodzakati yakhe kutsi bagcine sifungo lebebasente kuNkulunkulu? (b) UmBhalo waDutheronomi 23:21, 23 kanye neTihlabelelo 15:4 isisita njani kutsi sikucondze kubaluleka kwekwenta sifungo kuNkulunkulu?

⁶ Kute ifeze lesifungo sababe wayo, lendvodzakati yaJeftha bekudzingeka kutsi itinikele ngalokuphelele kuJehova ngekutsi iyokhonta endlini yakhe. Jeftha akacabangisisanga yini ngalesifungo sakhe ngaphambi kwekutsi asente? Cha, kungenteka bekati kahle kutsi indvodzakati yakhe ngiyo lebeyitamhlangabeta. Nanobe kunjalo, lesi bekusimo lesimatima ngoba bobabili bekufanele batidzele. Ngesikhatsi Jeftha abona lendvodzakati yakhe imhlangabeta, “waklebhula timphahla takhe” futsi watsi inhlitiyo yakhe beyidzabukile. Nalendvodzakati yakhe ‘yalilela butfobhi bayo.’ Kungani? Jeftha bekete indvodzana, futsi nalendvodzakati yakhe beyingeke ishade lokusho kutsi bekangeke abe nebatukulu. Bekutaba bete lobekatawuvusa indlu yakhe kanye nalobekatawuba yindlalifa. Nobe kunjalo, lena bekungasiyo intfo lebeyimkhatsata kakhulu. Jeftha watsi: “Ngobe ngente sifungo kuSimakadze lengingasoze ngasephula.” Indvodzakati yakhe yamphendvula yatsi: “Yenta kimi njengobe ufungile kuSimakadze.” (Khu. 11:35-39) Laba bekubantfu lebebatsembekile futsi lebebangazange sebakucabange kwephula sifungo lebesentiwe kuNkulunkulu longetulu kwako konkhe, kungakhatsaliseki kutsi bebatawulahlekelwa kanganani.—Fundza Dutheronomi 23:21, 23; Tihlabelelo 15:4.

7. (a) Ngusiphi sifungo lesentiwa nguHana, kungani asenta futsi waba yini umphumela? (b) Sifungo Hana lasenta besisho kutsi kutakwentekani kuSamuweli? (Buka umbhalo longentasi.)

⁷ Hana bekangulomunye lebekatsembekile ekugcineni tifungo latenta kuJehova. Wenta setsembiso ngalesikhatsi acindzetelekile futsi akhatsatekile ngenca yekutsi bekangabatfoli  bantfwana, nazakwabo bekametfuka njalo. (1 Sam. 1:4-7, 10, 16) Hana watfululela sifuba sakhe kuNkulunkulu waphindze wenta nesifungo watsi: “Awu, Simakadze Somandla, nawungamane ubukisise lusizi lwencekukati yakho, ungikhumbule, ungayikhohlwa incekukati yakho, kodvwa incekukati yakho uyiphe indvodzana, leyo ndvodzana ngiyakunikela ngayo kuSimakadze, tonkhe tinsuku tekuphila kwayo, kuyawubate insingo leyawutsintsa inhloko yayo.” * (1 Sam. 1:11) Umthantazo waHana waphendvulwa futsi watala indvodzana yakhe yekucala. Loku kwamjabulisa kakhulu Hana! Nanobe kunjalo, bekasolo angakasikhohlwa sifungo lebekasente kuNkulunkulu. Nakacedza nje kumbeleka umfana wakhe, watsi: “Ngamcela kuSimakadze.”—1 Sam. 1:20.

8. (a) Bekulula yini ngaHana kutsi agcine setsembiso lebekasentile? (b) Lamavi aDavide lakuTihlabelelo 61 asikhutsata njani kutsi silingise sibonelo saHana?

⁸ Ngekushesha nje lapho Samuweli sekaneminyaka lemitsatfu budzala, walunyulwa futsi Hana wenta njengobe abefungile kuJehova. Akufikanga engcondvweni yakhe kungasigcini leso setsembiso. Watsatsa Samuweli wamyisa ku-Eli, uMphristi lomkhulu, lobekasethempelini eShilo wafika watsi: “Ngathandaza ngicela lomntfwana, Simakadze wase uyangipha loko lengangikucele kuye. Ngako manje sengimletse kuSimakadze. Kuko konkhe kuphila kwakhe utawuba waSimakadze.” (1 Sam. 1:24-28) Ngesikhatsi alapho, lomfana “longuSamuweli abesolomane achubeka akhula embikwaSimakadze.” (1 Sam. 2:21) Kodvwa besekatakwenta njani Hana? Bekamtamtsandza kakhulu lomfanyana wakhe, kodvwa bekangeke asakhona kumbona onkhe malanga njengobe bekachubeka akhula. Asewucabange nje ngendlela lebekakulangatelela ngayo kumgona, kudlala naye, kumnakekela, kanye netintfo lebekatatikhumbula ngaye nakasakhula njengobe bonkhe bomake bajatjuliswa kubona bantfwana babo bakhula. Nanobe kunjalo, Hana akazange atisole ngekugcina setsembiso lebekasente kuNkulunkulu. Bekajabula ngaloko lakwentele Jehova.—1 Sam. 2:1, 2; fundza Tihlabelelo 61:1, 5, 8.

9. Ngumiphi imibuto lesitawucoca ngayo?

⁹ Nyalo sesiyabona kutsi kubaluleke kangakanani kugcina tifungo lesitente kuNkulunkulu, ngako, asesicoce nganayi imibuto: Ngutiphi tifungo emaKhristu langase atente? Kufanele sitimisele kangakanani kugcina tifungo lesitentile?

10. Ngusiphi sifungo lesibalulekile umKhristu langasenta futsi loku kuhilelani?

¹⁰ Sifungo lesibalulekile umKhristu langasenta nguleso lasenta nakatinikela kuJehova. Kungani kunjalo? Kungoba emthantazweni latentela wona usuke atsembisa Jehova kutsi utamkhonta kuphila kwakhe konkhe, kungakhatsaliseki kutsi kwentekani. Ngekusho kwemavi aJesu, umuntfu ‘lotidzelako’ usuke angasaphileli kwenta tintfo letifunwa nguye kodvwa kwenta intsandvo yaNkulunkulu kuta kucala ekuphileni kwakhe. (Mat. 16:24) Kusukela ngalelo langa latinikela ngalo, ‘uba waJehova.’ (Rom. 14:8) Nobe ngabe ngubani lowenta sifungo sekutinikela kufanele asitsatse njengalesibaluleke kakhulu, njengoba nje nemhlabeleli akhuluma ngesifungo lebekasente kuNkulunkulu nakatsi: “Ngiyawumentelani Simakadze, ngimbonge ngako konkhe lokuhle langentela kona. Tifungo tami ngiyawutifeza kuSimakadze, embikwabo bonkhe bantfu bakhe.”—Hla. 116:12, 14.

11. Yini loyikhumbulako ngelilanga lowabhajatiswa ngalo?

¹¹ Sewutinikele yini kuJehova waphindze wakhombisa kutinikela kwakho ngekutsi ubhajatiswe emantini? Kuhle nawente njalo! Khumbula kutsi ngalelilanga ubhajatiswa  bewume embikwabofakazi labanyenti futsi wabutwa umbuto lotsi sewutinikele yini kuJehova nekutsi uyakucondza yini kutsi “kutinikela kanye nekubhajatiswa kwakho kusho kutsi sewungulomunye waboFakazi BaJehova lotihlanganisa nenhlangano yaNkulunkulu lecondziswa ngumoya.” Kuvuma kwakho embikwebantfu labanyenti kutsi sewutinikele kwakhombisa kutsi uyakufanelekela kubhajatiswa njengesikhonti saJehova. Wamjabulisa Jehova ngalelo langa!

12. (a) Ngumiphi imibuto lebalulekile lokufanele sitibute yona? (b) Ngutiphi tintfo umphostoli Phetro latsi kufanele sitihlole kutsi sinato yini?

¹² Nanobe kunjalo, kubhajatiswa kumane kusicalo. Ngemuva kwaloko, kufanele sichubeke siphila ngendlela lekhombisa kutsi sitinekele enkonzweni yetfu lesiyentela Nkulunkulu ngekwetsembeka. Ngaleso sizatfu, kufanele sitibute: ‘Kusukela ngabhajatiswa intfutfuko yami iyabonakala yini? Ngisachubeka ngimkhonta ngenhlitiyo yami yonkhe yini Jehova? (Khol. 3:23) Ngithandaza njalo yini, ngilifundza onkhe malanga yini liVi laNkulunkulu, ngiba khona njalo yini emihlanganweni yelibandla futsi ngihlanganyela ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi yini emsebentini wekushumayela? Selehlile yini lizinga lesengiyenta ngayo imisebenti yebukhristu?’ Umphostoli Phetro wachaza kutsi singakugwema kwehlisa  lizinga emisebentini yebukhristu nangabe ekukholweni kwetfu sengeta lwati, sikhutsatele, futsi sitinikele kuNkulunkulu.—Fundza 2 Phetro 1:5-8.

13. Yini umKhristu lotinikele lokufanele ayati?

¹³ Kute indlela yekusijikisa sifungo sekutinikela kuNkulunkulu lesasenta kuye nome yekujikisa loko lesamtsembisa kona. Nangabe umuntfu ayekela kukhonta Jehova nome ayishiya indlela yemaKhristu yekuphila, ngeke atitjele kutsi yena akazange atinikele kuNkulunkulu nome atitjele kutsi kubhatjatiswa kwakhe bekungasho lutfo. * Ecinisweni, lomuntfu abetinikele ngalokuphelele kuNkulunkulu. Utawulandzisa kuJehova nasebandleni nganome ngusiphi sono lesikhulu langasenta. (Rom. 14:12) Shengatsi kungete kwashiwo kitsi kutsi ‘sesishiye lutsandvo lebesinalo ekucaleni.’ Kunaloko, sifuna Jesu atsi ngatsi: “Ngiyayati imisebenti yakho, nelutsandvo, nekukholwa, nekukhonta, nekucinisela kwakho, nekutsi imisebenti yakho yamuva iyayendlula leya yakucala.” (Semb. 2:4, 19) Shengatsi singachubeka siphila ngendlela lekhombisa kutsi sifungele kutinikela kuJehova, kute ajabule.

14. Ngusiphi sifungo sesibili lesibalulekile umuntfu langasenta futsi kungani?

¹⁴ Sifungo sesibili lesibalulekile umuntfu langasenta, sifungo semshado. Kungani kunjalo? Kungoba umshado ungcwele. Laba labashadako bafunga embikwaNkulunkulu nasembikwabofakazi labanyenti. Batsembisana kutsi batawutsandzana, banakekelane futsi bahloniphane, nekutsi batawukwenta loku “nangabe nje [basahlala] ndzawonye emhlabeni ngekuvumelana nelilungiselelo laNkulunkulu lemshado.” Kungenteka labanye abazange sebawasho lamavi ngalendlela, kodvwa nabo bafunga kuNkulunkulu. Nabo kwatsiwa sebayindvodza nemfati, futsi umshado wabo kufanele ube sibopho lesihlala njalo. (Gen. 2:24; 1 Khor. 7:39) Ngaleso sizatfu, emavi aJesu latsi, “loko Nkulunkulu lakuhlanganisile, akungehlukaniswa ngumuntfu” asho kutsi kute umuntfu lokufanele abehlukanise, loku kufaka ekhatsi lendvodza, lomfati nome lomunye umuntfu. Ngako-ke, kumelwe kuhlale kusengcondweni yebantfu labashadene kutsi idovisi ayisilo likhambi letinkinga.—Mak. 10:9.

15. Kungani emaKhristu kungakafaneli awutsatse melula umshado?

¹⁵ Kuliciniso kutsi kute imishado lete tinkinga. Umshado wakhiwa bantfu lababili labanesono. Kungako liBhayibheli litsi bantfu labashadene “batawuba nelusizi” ngaletinye tikhatsi. (1 Khor. 7:28) Kuyadzabukisa kutsi labanye bantfu bawutsatsa kalula umshado. Nangabe kuphakama tinkinga emshadweni bavele balahle litsemba futsi banconote kwehlukana. Nobe kunjalo, leyo akusiyo indlela emaKhristu lokufanele ente ngayo. Kwephula sifungo semshado kufanana nekucala emanga kuNkulunkulu, lokuyintfo layitondzako! (Lev. 19:12; Taga 6:16-19) Umphostoli Pawula watsi: “Uboshelwe emfatini yini? Nakunjalo, ungafuni kukhululeka.” (1 Khor. 7:27) Pawula washo lamavi lawa ngesizatfu sekutsi bekati kutsi Jehova uyayenyanya idivosi lengakasekelwa emiBhalweni.—Mal. 2:13-16.

16. Yini liBhayibheli leliyishoko ngedivosi kanye nangekuhlala ngekwehlukana?

¹⁶ Jesu wafundzisa kutsi sinye kuphela sizatfu lesisekelwe emiBhalweni sekucedza umshado, kulapho lona lote sono akhetsa kungamcoleli loyo lashade naye losaphingile. (Matt. 19:9; Heb. 13:4) Kutsiwani ngekuhlala ngekwehlukana kwebantfu labashadene? Nalapho liBhayibheli likubeka ngendlela lecacile. (Fundza 1 Khorinte 7:10, 11) Kute liBhayibheli lelikushoko mayelana netizatfu tekuhlala ngekwehlukana. Nobe kunjalo,  lamanye emaKhristu lashadene abone letinye timo titizatfu tekuhlala ngekwehlukana, njengalapho kuphila kwalomunye wabo kusengotini lenkhulu nome buhlobo bakhe naJehova busengotini ngenca yalashade naye losihlubuki futsi losidlova. *

17. Yini emaKhristu lashadene langayenta kute imishado yawo ihlale njalo?

¹⁷ Nangabe labashadene bacela lusito lwemadvodza lamadzala mayelana netinkinga emshadweni wabo, labadzala kufanele bababute kutsi sebake bayibukela yini i-video lenesihloko lesitsi “Luyini Uthando Lweqiniso?” futsi sebayifundzile yini ndzawonye incwajana letsi Umndeni Wakho Ungayitfola Injabulo. Kungani? Sizatfu sikutsi lamathuluzi agcizelela timiso taNkulunkulu lesetisite labanyenti bacinisa imishado yabo. Labanye labashadene bake batsi: “Solo sacala kufundza lencwajana, nyalo sesijabula kakhulu emshadweni wetfu.” Lomunye umfati watsi ngemshado wakhe lobesewuneminyaka lengu-22 kepha sewusengotini yekuphela: “Sobabili besibhajatisiwe, kepha besingativa ngendlela lefanako kulomshado. Le-video yefika ngesikhasi lesifanele! Nyalo sesihlalisana ngekuthula.” Sewushadile yini? Yetama ngato tonkhe tindlela emshadweni wakho kusebentisa timiso taJehova. Kwenta kwakho kanjalo kutawenta kutsi uphile ngendlela lowafunga ngayo nawushada futsi uhlale ujabulile!

18, 19. (a) Yini batali labanyenti labangemaKhristu labayentile? (b) Yini lesingayisho mayelana nalabo labasemsebentini lokhetsekile wasikhatsi sonkhe?

¹⁸ Unakile yini kutsi yini lenye boJeftha naHana lebebafana ngayo? Tifungo tabo bobabili taphumela ekutseni indvodzakati yaJeftha nendvodzana yaHana batinikele emsebentini lokhetsekile wekukhonta ethendeni lekukhontela. Loko kwabaholela emphilweni lejabulisa kakhulu. Lamuhla emaKhristu lamanyenti akhutsata bantfwababo kutsi batinikele emsebentini wasikhatsi sonkhe futsi kuphila kwabo konkhe bakusebentisele kukhonta Nkulunkulu. Sibabonga kakhulu bonkhe labo labakwentile loko.—Khu. 11:40; Hla. 110:3.

¹⁹ Kuze kube ngunyalo, kunebazalwane labangaba ngu-67 000 labasemsebentini lokhetsekile wasikhatsi sonkhe waboBoFakazi BaJehova emhlabeni wonkhe. Labanye bakhonta eBhethel, labanye basemisebentini yekwakha, labanye bababonisi betigodzi, labanye bachuba tikolwa tebuKhristu, labanye bangemahlahlandlela lakhetsekile, titfunywa telivangeli, kantsi labanye batisebenti tasemaHholweni emihlangano noma batisebenti tasetindzaweni lapho kuchutjelwa khona tikolwa teliBhayibheli. Bonkhe balawulwa sibopho lesibitwa ngekutsi yi-“Vow of Obedience and Poverty,” lesisho kutsi bayavuma kwenta nome ngabe yini labaniketwa yona lephatselene neMbuso, nekutsi batawuphila imphilo lemelula, nekutsi ngeke bente leminye imisebenti levamile ngaphandle kwemvume. Akusibo labantfu labakhetsekile kodvwa nguloko labakwentako. Bayakwati kubaluleka kwekuphila ngalesifungo labasenta yingci nje nabasolo basemsebentini wasikhatsi sonkhe.

20. Yini lokufanele sihlale siyenta ‘malanga onkhe’ futsi leni?

²⁰ Tingakhi tifungo lesesicoce ngato losewutentile kuNkulunkulu—sinye, timbili nobe totintsatfu? Kungenteka sewubonile kutsi tifungo takho akukafaneli titsatfwe melula. (Taga 20:25) Kwehluleka kwemuntfu kugcina setsembiso sakhe kuJehova nekwephula sifungo sakhe kuye kungaba nemiphumela lemibi. (Shu. 5:6) Ngako-ke, asihlabelele ‘sidvumise libito laJehova njengoba sifeza tifungo tetfu malanga onkhe.’—Hla. 61:8.