1. (a) Yini uMahluleli uJefta noHana ababefana ngayo? (Bheka izithombe ezisekuqaleni.) (b) Yimiphi imibuzo ezophendulwa kulesi sihloko?

WAYENGUMHOLI oyiqhawe; wayeyinkosikazi ethobekile nenakekela umndeni wayo. Ngaphandle kokukhonza uNkulunkulu oyedwa, uMahluleli uJefta nenkosikazi ka-Elkana uHana babefana ngani? Bobabili babenze izifungo kuNkulunkulu futhi ngokwethembeka bazifeza izifungo zabo. Bayizibonelo ezinhle kwabesilisa nabesifazane abakhetha ukwenza izifungo kuJehova. Nokho, kunemibuzo ebalulekile ephakamayo: Siyini isifungo? Kuyinto ebaluleke kangakanani ukufeza isifungo kuNkulunkulu? Yiziphi izifundo esizifunda kuJefta nakuHana?

2, 3. (a) Siyini isifungo? (b) Ithini imiBhalo ngokufeza izifungo kuNkulunkulu?

² EBhayibhelini isifungo sivezwa njengesithembiso esibalulekile esenziwa kuNkulunkulu. Umuntu usuke ethembisa ukwenza into ethile, ukunikela ngento ethile, ukungenela uhlobo oluthile lwenkonzo noma ukugwema izinto ezithile. Umuntu uzenzela yena izifungo, akaphoqwa muntu. Noma kunjalo, zingcwele futhi ziyisibopho emehlweni kaNkulunkulu ngoba zinamandla esivumelwano esingokomthetho—incwadi yesifungo—esithembisa ukuthi umuntu uzoyenza noma ngeke ayenze into ethile. (Gen. 14:22, 23; Heb. 6:16, 17) Ithini imiBhalo ngokubaluleka kokufeza izifungo kuNkulunkulu?

³ UMthetho kaMose wathi: “Uma kwenzeka ukuba umuntu enze isithembiso kuJehova noma afunge isifungo sokubopha  umphefumulo wakhe . . . , akumelwe aliphule izwi lakhe. Kufanele enze ngokuvumelana nakho konke lokho okuphume emlonyeni wakhe.” (Num. 30:2) Kamuva, uSolomoni waphefumulelwa ukuba abhale: “Noma nini lapho wenza isithembiso kuNkulunkulu, unganqikazi ukusigcwalisa, ngoba akukho ukujabula kwabayiziphukuphuku. Gcwalisa isithembiso sakho.” (UmSh. 5:4) UJesu wakuqinisekisa ukubaluleka kokufeza izifungo lapho ethi: “Futhi nizwile ukuthi kwathiwa kulabo bezikhathi zasendulo, ‘Akumelwe ufunge ungenzi, kodwa kumelwe uzifeze izifungo zakho kuJehova.’”—Math. 5:33.

4. (a) Kuyinto ebaluleke kangakanani ukufeza isifungo kuNkulunkulu? (b) Yini esifuna ukuyifunda kuJefta nakuHana?

⁴ Ngakho-ke, kuyacaca ukuthi kuyinto ebaluleke kangakanani ukufeza izithembiso kuNkulunkulu. Indlela esifeza ngayo izabelo zethu ithinta ubuhlobo bethu noJehova. UDavide wabhala: “Ngubani ongakhuphukela entabeni kaJehova, futhi ngubani ongama endaweni yakhe engcwele? Yinoma ngubani . . . ongazange awuphathe ngendlela engafanele umphefumulo [kaJehova], futhi ongenzanga isifungo ngenkohliso.” (IHu. 24:3, 4) UJefta noHana benza ziphi izifungo futhi kwakulula kangakanani ngabo ukuzigcwalisa izifungo zabo?

5. UJefta wafunga ukwenzani futhi waba yini umphumela?

⁵ UJefta ngokwethembeka wasigcina isithembiso ayesenze kuJehova lapho eyolwa nabakwa-Amoni, ababecindezela abantu bakaNkulunkulu. (AbaHl. 10:7-9) Enesifiso esinamandla sokunqoba, uJefta wafunga: “Uma nakanjani unikela abantwana bakwa-Amoni esandleni sami, kuyokuthi lowo ophumayo, ophuma eminyango yendlu yami ezongihlangabeza lapho ngibuya ngokuthula kubantwana bakwa-Amoni, abe ngokaJehova.” Waba yini umphumela? Abakwa-Amoni bahlulwa futhi kwakuyindodakazi kaJefta ayithandayo eyaphuma ukuzomhlangabeza lapho ebuya empini. Yiyo eyayizoba “ngokaJehova.” (AbaHl. 11:30-34) Kwakuhilelani lokho kuyo?

6. (a) Kwakulula kangakanani ngoJefta nendodakazi yakhe ukufeza izifungo zabo? (b) UDuteronomi 23:21, 23 neHubo 15:4 bakukhuthaza ukuba wenzeni ngesifungo osenza kuNkulunkulu?

⁶ Ukuze ifeze isifungo esenziwa uyise, indodakazi kaJefta kwakufanele ikhonze uJehova ukuphila kwayo konke ethempelini. Ingabe isifungo sikaJefta sasingacatshangelwanga kahle? Cha, ngoba kungenzeka wayazi ukuthi indodakazi yakhe yiyo engaphuma kuqala endlini izomhlangabeza. Noma kunjalo, ubaba nendodakazi babebhekene nesimo esinzima kakhulu ngokomzwelo—ukuzidela kwangempela kubo bobabili. Lapho ebona indodakazi yakhe, uJefta “waklebhula izingubo zakhe” futhi wathi inhliziyo yakhe ibuhlungu. Indodakazi yakhe ‘yakhalela ubuntombi bayo.’ Kungani? UJefta wayengenandodana futhi ukuphela kwendodakazi ayenayo yayingeke ize ishade noma imzalele abazukulu. Kwakungekho muntu owayeyothatha ifa futhi aqhubeze isibongo sakhe. Nokho, leyo kwakungeyona into ebaluleke kakhulu. UJefta wathi: “Ngivulé umlomo wami kuJehova, futhi angikwazi ukuhlehla.” Futhi indodakazi yakhe yathi: “Yenza kimi ngokwalokho okuphumé emlonyeni wakho.” (AbaHl. 11:35-39) Laba kwakungabantu ababeqotho abangasoze bakucabanga ukwephula isithembiso abasenze kuNkulunkulu Ophakeme—kungakhathaliseki ukuthi balahlekelwa yini.—Funda uDuteronomi 23:21, 23; iHubo 15:4.

7. (a) UHana wafunga ukwenzani futhi kungani, futhi yini eyenzeka kuye? (b) Isifungo sikaHana sasisho ukuthini ngoSamuweli? (Bheka umbhalo waphansi.)

⁷ UHana wayengomunye owasifeza ngokwethembeka  isifungo ayesenze kuJehova. Isifungo sakhe wasenza ecindezeleke kakhulu ngenxa yokungabatholi abantwana nokugconwa njalo. (1 Sam. 1:4-7, 10, 16) UHana wathululela isifuba sakhe kuNkulunkulu wafunga: “O Jehova wamabutho, uma ungakubheka nokukubheka ukuhlupheka kwencekukazi yakho futhi ungikhumbule ngempela, futhi ungeke uyikhohlwe incekukazi yakho kodwa empeleni ungayipha inzalo yesilisa, ngiyoyinika uJehova zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwayo, akukho nsingo eyothinta ikhanda layo.” * (1 Sam. 1:11) Umthandazo kaHana waphendulwa futhi ngempela izibulo lakhe kwaba indodana. Yeka indlela ajabula ngayo! Noma kunjalo, akazange asikhohlwe isifungo ayesenzile kuNkulunkulu. Ngesikhathi eqeda ukuzala indodana yakhe, wathi: “Ngimcele kuJehova.”—1 Sam. 1:20.

8. (a) Kwakulula yini ngoHana ukufeza isifungo sakhe? (b) Amazwi kaDavide alotshwe kuyiHubo 61 akukhumbuzani ngesimo sengqondo sikaHana esihle?

⁸ Ngokushesha nje lapho uSamuweli eseyeke ibele, cishe eseneminyaka emithathu, uHana wenza khona kanye lokho ayekufunge kuNkulunkulu. Akakucabanganga nhlobo ukwenza okuhlukile. Wathatha uSamuweli wamyisa etabernakele eShilo kuMpristi oPhakeme u-Eli wabe esethi: “Ngangithandaza ngokuqondene nalo mfana ngicela ukuba uJehova angiphe engangikucela kuye. Mina-ke, ngimboleké uJehova. Zonke izinsuku zokuphila kwakhe, ungocelelwe uJehova.” (1 Sam. 1:24-28) Lapho, “umfana uSamuweli waqhubeka ekhula enoJehova.” (1 Sam. 2:21) Kodwa lokho kwakusho ukuthini ngoHana? Kwakusho ukuthi wayengeke esakwazi ukumbona ekhula usuku nosuku umfana wakhe omncane, nakuba ayemthanda kakhulu. Cabanga indlela ayekulangazelela ngayo ukumgona, adlale naye—enze naye zonke izinto umama onothando azijabulelayo lapho ebona umntwana wakhe ekhula. Noma kunjalo, uHana akazange azisole ngokufeza isifungo sakhe ayesenze kuNkulunkulu. Inhliziyo yakhe yajabula ngoJehova.—1 Sam. 2:1, 2; funda iHubo 61:1, 5, 8.

9. Yimiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo?

⁹ Njengoba sesikuqonda kahle ukubaluleka kokufeza isifungo kuNkulunkulu, ake sixoxe ngale mibuzo: NjengamaKristu yiziphi izifungo esingase sizenze? Kufanele sizimisele kangakanani ukufeza izifungo zethu?

10. Yisiphi isifungo esibaluleke kunazo zonke umKristu angasenza futhi lokho kuhilelani?

¹⁰ Isifungo esibaluleke kunazo zonke umKristu angasenza esokuzinikezela kuJehova. Kungani sisho njalo? Yingoba, emthandazweni wangasese, uthembisa uJehova ukuthi ukuphila kwakhe konke uzokusebenzisela ukukhonza uNkulunkulu, kumnyama kubomvu. Ngakho uma sisebenzisa amazwi kaJesu, umuntu ‘uyazidela,’ angabe esaziphilela yena futhi afunge ukwenza intando kaNkulunkulu kunanoma yini enye ekuphileni kwakhe. (Math. 16:24) Kusukela ngalolo suku, ‘ungokaJehova.’ (Roma 14:8) Noma ubani owenza isifungo sokuzinikezela kufanele asibheke njengento ebaluleke kakhulu, njengomhubi owakhuluma ngezifungo ayezenze kuNkulunkulu: “Ngizombuyisela ngani uJehova ngazo zonke izinzuzo zakhe kimi? Ngizogcwalisa kuJehova izifungo zami, yebo, phambi kwabo bonke abantu bakhe.”—IHu. 116:12, 14.

11. Kwenzekani ngosuku owabhapathizwa ngalo?

¹¹ Ingabe usuzinikezele kuJehova futhi wabonakalisa ukuzinikezela kwakho  ngokubhapathizwa emanzini? Uma kunjalo, kuhle kakhulu lokho! Khumbula ukuthi ngosuku owabhapathizwa ngalo, phambi kofakazi bokuzibonela, wabuzwa ukuthi usuzinikezele yini kuJehova nokuthi ingabe uyaqonda yini ukuthi “ukuzinikezela nokubhapathizwa kwakho kukubonakalisa njengomunye woFakazi BakaJehova ozihlanganise nenhlangano kaNkulunkulu eqondiswa ngumoya.” Izimpendulo zakho ezizwakalayo zaba ubufakazi obusobala bokuzinikezela ngokungazigodli futhi zabonisa ukuthi uyakufanelekela ukubhapathizwa njengenceku kaJehova. Kumelwe ukuba wamenza wajabula kakhulu uJehova!

12. (a) Yimiphi imibuzo okufanele sizibuze yona? (b) Yiziphi izimfanelo uPetru athi kufanele sibe nazo?

¹² Nokho, ubhapathizo lumane nje luyisiqalo. Ngemva kwalo, sifuna ukuphila ngokuvumelana nokuzinikezela kwethu ngokukhonza uNkulunkulu ngokwethembeka. Ngakho, singazibuza: ‘Kusukela ngabhapathizwa ingokomoya lami liye lathuthuka kangakanani? Ingabe ngisamkhonza ngenhliziyo yonke uJehova? (Kol. 3:23) Ingabe ngiyathandaza, ngiyalifunda iZwi likaNkulunkulu, ngiyaya emihlanganweni yebandla futhi ngiyaya ensimini njalo? Noma ingabe sengiyayekethisa kule misebenzi engokomoya?’ Umphostoli uPetru  wachaza ukuthi singakwazi ukugwema ukuvilapha enkonzweni yethu uma siqhubeka siqinisa ukholo lwethu ngolwazi, ngokukhuthazela nangokuzinikela kuNkulunkulu.—Funda eyesi-2 Petru 1:5-8.

13. Yini okufanele iqondwe umKristu ozinikezele wabhapathizwa?

¹³ Akunakwenzeka ukuba sishintshe isifungo sokuzinikezela kuNkulunkulu. Uma umuntu engasafuni ukukhonza uJehova noma ukuphila impilo yobuKristu, ngeke akwazi ukushintsha athi vele wayengazange azinikezele ngempela noma athi ubhapathizo lwakhe lufana nento eyize. * Zonke izenzo nezisusa zakhe, kwakumbonisa njengomuntu ozinikezele ngokuphelele kuNkulunkulu. Uyolandisa phambi kukaJehova naphambi kwebandla ngazo zonke izono ezimbi angase azenze. (Roma 14:12) Kwangathi kungelokothe kushiwo ngathi ukuthi ‘asisenalo uthando esasinalo ekuqaleni.’ Kunalokho, sifuna uJesu athi kithi: “Ngiyazazi izenzo zakho, nothando lwakho, nokholo, nenkonzo, nokukhuthazela, nokuthi izenzo zakho zamuva zingaphezu kwezangaphambili.” (IsAm. 2:4, 19) Kwangathi singaqhubeka ngentshiseko siphila ngokuvumelana nesifungo sethu sokuzinikezela—sijabulise uJehova.

14. Yisiphi isifungo esingesesibili ngokubaluleka umuntu angasenza futhi kungani?

¹⁴ Isifungo esingesesibili ngokubaluleka umuntu angasenza isifungo somshado. Kungani sisho kanjalo? Yingoba umshado ungcwele. Umakoti nomkhwenyana bazisho phambi kukaNkulunkulu nofakazi bokuzibonela izifungo zabo zomshado. Ngokuvamile bathembisa ukuthanda, ukwazisa nokuhlonipha omunye nomunye futhi lokho bayokwenza “uma nje [bobabili besaphila] ndawonye emhlabeni ngokwelungiselelo likaNkulunkulu lomshado.” Abanye kungenzeka abashongo amagama afana nsé nalawa, noma kunjalo basenza isifungo phambi kukaNkulunkulu. Ngemva kwalokho, kuye kuthiwe sebeyindoda nomfazi futhi umshado wabo uyisibopho saphakade. (Gen. 2:24; 1 Kor. 7:39) UJesu wathi: “Ngakho-ke, lokho uNkulunkulu akuhlanganisile makungahlukaniswa muntu”—akumelwe kuhlukaniswe umyeni noma inkosikazi noma ubani omunye. Ngakho abantu abashadayo akumelwe bacabange ngisho nokucabanga ngesehlukaniso.—Marku 10:9.

15. Kungani amaKristu kungafanele abe nesimo sengqondo esibi saleli zwe ngomshado?

¹⁵ Yiqiniso, awukaze ube khona umshado ongenazo izinkinga. Umshado ngamunye wenziwa abantu ababili abangaphelele. Yingakho iBhayibheli lithi abantu abashadile bayoba “nosizi” ngezinye izikhathi. (1 Kor. 7:28) Kuyadabukisa ukusho ukuthi, abantu abaningi kuleli zwe banesimo sengqondo esibi ngomshado. Lapho kuphakama izinkinga, bavele baphonse ithawula futhi babashiye abashade nabo. Nokho, umKristu akufanele enze kanjalo. Ukwephula isifungo somshado kufana nokuqamba amanga kuNkulunkulu futhi uNkulunkulu uyabazonda abaqambimanga! (Lev. 19:12; IzAga 6:16-19) Umphostoli uPawulu wabhala: “Ingabe uboshelwe kumfazi? Yeka ukufuna ukukhululwa.” (1 Kor. 7:27) UPawulu wakusho lokho ngoba wayazi ukuthi uJehova uyakuzonda ukwehlukanisa kokukhohlisa.—Mal. 2:13-16.

16. Lithini iBhayibheli ngesahlukaniso nangokuhlala ngokwahlukana?

¹⁶ UJesu wafundisa ukuthi isizathu esingokomBhalo sokwephula isifungo somshado yilapho kuphela umngane womshado ongenacala ekhetha ukungamxoleli ophingile. (Math. 19:9; Heb. 13:4) Nokho,  kuthiwani ngokuhlala ngokwahlukana? Nalapha iBhayibheli licacile. (Funda eyoku-1 Korinte 7:10, 11.) IBhayibheli alinazo izizathu zokuhlala ngokwahlukana. Nokho, amanye amaKristu ashadile aye abheka izimo ezithile njengezizathu zokuhlala ngokwahlukana, njengalapho ukuphila komuntu kubekwa engozini ngokoqobo noma ngokomoya, umlingani womshado oyisihlubuki noma ohlukumezayo. *

17. AmaKristu ashadile angawenza kanjani umshado wawo ube yisibopho esihlala phakade?

¹⁷ Lapho abashadile becela iseluleko kubadala bebandla mayelana nezinkinga zomshado, abadala benza kahle ngokubabuza ukuthi sebeke bayibuka yini i-video ethi Luyini Uthando Lweqiniso? nokuthi sebeke bayifunda yini ndawonye incwajana ethi Umndeni Wakho Ungajabula. Kungani? Kungenxa yokuthi la mathuluzi aqokomisa izimiso zikaNkulunkulu eziye zasiza abaningi baqinisa imishado yabo. Abanye abashadile bathi: “Kusukela saqala ukufunda le ncwajana, umshado wethu usujabulisa kakhulu kunakuqala.” Inkosikazi yathi ngomshado wayo weminyaka engu-22 owawusengcupheni yokuchitheka: “Sobabili sasibhapathiziwe kodwa sasingasondelene ngokomzwelo. Le video yafika ngesikhathi! Manje umshado wethu usungcono kakhulu.” Ingabe ushadile? Zama ngazo zonke izindlela ukusebenzisa izimiso zikaJehova emshadweni wakho. Ukwenza lokho kuyokusiza ufeze isifungo sakho somshado—ngenjabulo!

18, 19. (a) Yini abazali abaningi abangamaKristu abayenzile? (b) Yini engashiwo ngalabo abasenkonzweni ekhethekile yesikhathi esigcwele?

¹⁸ Ingabe ubonile ukuthi yini enye uJefta noHana ababefana ngayo? Izifungo abazenza zaholela ekutheni izingane zabo—indodakazi kaJefta nendodana kaHana—zinikelwe enkonzweni engcwele ekhethekile etabernakele. Lokho kwakuzozinika ukuphila okwanelisa ngempela. Namuhla, abazali abaningi abangamaKristu baye bakhuthaza izingane zabo ukuba zingenele inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele futhi zigxilise ukuphila kwazo ekukhulekeleni uNkulunkulu. Lezo ezikwenzile lokho ziyakufanelekela ukunconywa ngobuqotho.—AbaHl. 11:40; IHu. 110:3.

¹⁹ Manje, kunamalungu angu-67 000 oHlelo Lomhlaba Wonke Lwezinceku ZoFakazi BakaJehova Ezisenkonzweni Ekhethekile Yesikhathi Esigcwele. Amanye akhonza eBethel, asenkonzweni yokwakha, ayajikeleza, afundisa esikoleni sabadala, aba amaphayona akhethekile, aba yizithunywa zevangeli noma izisebenzi ezinakekela amaHholo OMhlangano noma izikole zeBhayibheli. Wonke angaphansi kwesibopho esenza avume ukwenza noma yini ayabelwe ukuze kuthuthukiswe izithakazelo zoMbuso, aphile ukuphila okulula futhi angawenzi umsebenzi wokuziphilisa ngaphandle kwalapho egunyaziwe. Akubona abantu ababhekwa njengabakhethekile kodwa izabelo zabo ezikhethekile. Bayakuqaphela ukubaluleka kokufeza isifungo sabo uma nje besasenkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele.

20. Yini okufanele siyenze “usuku nosuku” futhi kungani?

²⁰ Kulezi zifungo esesikhulume ngazo zingaki osuzenzile kuNkulunkulu—sisodwa, zimbili noma zontathu? Ngokuqinisekile uyaqaphela ukuthi izifungo zakho akumelwe zithathwe kancane. (IzAga 20:25) Ukwehluleka ukufeza isithembiso kuJehova noma isifungo kungaba nemiphumela edabukisayo. (UmSh. 5:6) Ngakho-ke ‘masihubele igama likaJehova kuze kube phakade, njengoba sigcwalisa izifungo zethu usuku nosuku.’—IHu. 61:8.