1, 2. Chaza ukuthi kwenzakalani kuPhethro.

ABAFUNDI bakaJesu abayisikhombisa baqeda ubusuku bonke beseLwandle lwaseGalile begola inhlanzi kodwa kababambanga lutho. Ekuseni kakhulu uJesu wema ekhunjini wababukela. Ngemva kwalokho wamemeza wathi: “Phosani umambule wenu ngasekunene kwesikepe lizazuza khona. Bathe sebenze njalo behluleka ukudonsa umbule ngenxa yobunengi bezinhlanzi.”—Joh. 21:1-6.

² Ngemva kokubenzela ukudla kwekuseni uJesu wabuza uSimoni Phethro wathi: “Simoni ndodana kaJohane, uyangithanda na ukwedlula lezi?” Wayekhuluma ngani uJesu? UPhethro wayekuthanda ukugola inhlanzi. Ngakho kukhanya uJesu wambuza umbuzo lo ukuze abone ukuthi kuyini ayekuthanda kakhulu. Wayethanda uJesu yini kumbe ibhizimusi yokugola inhlanzi? UPhethro waphendula wathi: “Yebo, Nkosi, uyakwazi ukuthi ngiyakuthanda.” (Joh. 21:15, NW) Kusukela ngalesosikhathi uPhethro watshengisa ukuthi uyamthanda kakhulu uKhristu. Wazinikela  emsebenzini wokutshumayela njalo waba yinsika ebandleni.

3. Kuyini okumele sikunanzelele?

³ Thina singafundani kulokho okwatshiwo nguJesu kuPhethro? Kufanele sinanzelele izinto ezingabangela ukuthi sicine singasamthandi uKhristu. UJesu wayekwazi ukuthi ngezinsuku zokucina zinengi izinto ezazingaphambanisa abalandeli bakhe. Emzekelisweni womhlanyeli wakhuluma ngokuthi abanye bazalamukela ‘ilizwi lombuso’ bathuthuke kodwa kuthi ngokuya kwesikhathi “inkohliso yenotho” ‘iliminyanise ilizwi.’ (Mat. 13:19-22; Mak. 4:19) Siyabona-ke ukuthi nxa singayekela ukunanzelela ukukhathazeka ngezinto zansuku zonke kungasiphambanisa ekukhonzeni. Yikho uJesu waxwayisa abafundi bakhe wathi: “Nanzelelani funa izinhliziyo zenu zithundubale ngokuzitika lokudakwa lokunqineka ngezinto zempilo.”—Luk. 21:34.

4. Kuyini okungasinceda sibone ukuthi simthanda kangakanani uKhristu? (Khangela umfanekiso osekuqaliseni.)

⁴ Lathi njengoPhethro singatshengisa ukuthi siyamthanda uKhristu ngokuqakathekisa umsebenzi wokutshumayela asiphathise wona. Kuyini okungasinceda sibone ukuthi silokhu siwuqakathekisa yini umsebenzi lo? Yikuhlala sizibuza imibuzo elandelayo: ‘Kuyini engikuthanda kakhulu empilweni? Ngiqakathekisa izinto engizithandayo ukwedlula ukukhonza uJehova yini?’ Ukuze siphendule imibuzo le ake sixoxe ngezinto ezintathu ezingaphambanisa indlela esimthanda ngayo uKhristu. (1) Umsebenzi, (2) ezokuzilibazisa, (3) imali.

5. Inhloko zezimuli zikhangelelwe ukuthi zenzeni?

⁵ Ukugola inhlanzi kwakungasinto uPhethro ayeyenzela ukukholisa kodwa kwakungumsebenzi ayewenza ukuze aphandele imuli yakhe. Lalamuhla uJehova ukhangelele ukuthi inhloko zezimuli zondle imuli zazo. (1 Tim. 5:8) Ngakho kumele zisebenze nzima ukuze zifeze umsebenzi lo. Loba kunjalo ukusebenza kuyabacindezela abantu abanengi futhi kwenza bangahlaliseki.

6. Kuyini okwenza kube nzima ukusebenza kulezinsuku?

⁶ Kulezinsuku imisebenzi kayitholakali ikanti abasebenzayo labo bazama ngamandla wonke ukulondoloza imisebenzi yabo. Abanye baze basebenze amahola amanengi lanxa bephiwa iholo elincane. Kanti njalo imisebenzi iyabakhulela abanye ngoba abaqhatshi babo bayabe bekhangelele ukuthi benze okunengi ngapha bebalutshwana. Lokhu kubangela ukuthi izisebenzi zihlale zidiniwe, zikhathazekile futhi ezinye zicina zigula. Ngenxa yokwesaba ukuphelelwa yimisebenzi abanengi bayabubhensela ubunzima bonke lobu.

7, 8. (a) Ngubani okumele sibe qotho kuye? (b) Chaza ukuthi omunye umfowethu waseThailand wenzani ngomsebenzi ayewenza.

⁷ Siyakwazi ukuthi kumele sibe qotho kuJehova uNkulunkulu hatshi kubaqhatshi bethu. (Luk. 10:27) Ukusebenza kuyasinceda sibili ukuthi sithole izinto eziqakathekileyo esizidingayo empilweni lokuthi sisekele umsebenzi wethu wokutshumayela. Kodwa kumele siqaphele ngoba umsebenzi ungaphambanisa indlela esimkhonza ngayo uJehova. Ngokwesibonelo omunye umzalwane waseThailand wathi: “Ngangiwukholisa umsebenzi wokulungisa amakhompiyutha engangiwenza. Kodwa uhlupho yikuthi ngangisebenza amahola amanengi kakhulu futhi wawungiphambanisa ekukhonzeni. Ngananzelela ukuthi kwakumele ngintshintshe umsebenzi ukuze ngithole isikhathi sokwenza imisebenzi ephathelane lokukhonza.” Manje wenzani umzalwane lo?

 ⁸ Uqhubeka esithi: “Ngaqeda umnyaka wonke ngihlolisisa ukuthi ngingenza msebenzi bani futhi ngisonga imali, ngasengibona kungcono ukuthi ngithengise i-ice cream emgwaqweni. Ekuqaliseni kwakunzima ngoba ngangingatholi lutho futhi lokhu kwakungidanisa. Abantu engangisebenza labo babengihleka nxa ngihlangana labo besithi ukulungisa amakhompiyutha kwakungcono kakhulu kulokutshona ngitshiswa lilanga. Ngangithandaza kuJehova ngimcela ukuthi angisize ukuze ngenelise ukwenza okunengi emsebenzini wakhe. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi izinto zaqalisa ukuba ngcono. Ngasengisenelisa ukwenza i-ice cream eyayithandwa ngabantu futhi yayisithengwa yonke iphele. Khathesi ngithola imali engcono kakhulu kulangesikhathi ngilungisa amakhompiyutha futhi angisakhathazeki ngendaba yesikhathi. Okungithokozisa kakhulu yikuthi sengiseduze loJehova.”—Bala uMathewu 5:3, 6.

9. Kuyini okungasinceda sibone ukuthi siwuqakathekisa kangakanani umsebenzi esiwenzayo?

⁹ UJehova uyabathanda abantu abakhutheleyo njalo usitshela ukuthi ukusebenza kwenza sisuthiseke. (Zaga. 12:14) Kodwa njengoba sibonile kumfowethu waseThailand, imisebenzi esiyenzayo ingasiphambanisa kwezinye izikhathi. UJesu wathi: “Funani kuqala uMbuso wakhe lokulunga kwakhe, kuzakuthi-ke zonke lezizinto [okutsho izinto esingeke siphile singelazo] liziphiwe lazo.” (Mat. 6:33) Pho singabona njani ukuthi sesiqakathekisa umsebenzi wethu ukwedlula ukukhonza uJehova? Nanku umbuzo esingazihlola ngawo: ‘Ngiwuthanda kakhulu umsebenzi wami yini okokuthi ngicina ngibona angathi ukukhonza uJehova kungibisela emuva?’ Ukucabangisisa ngombuzo lo kuzasinceda sibone ukuthi kuyini sibisibili esikuthanda kakhulu phakathi kokukhonza uJehova lomsebenzi esiwenzayo.

10. Yisiphi isifundo esihle esasitshiyelwa nguJesu endabeni yemisebenzi lokukhonza?

¹⁰ UJesu wasinika isifundo esihle mayelana lalokho okumele sikuqakathekise empilweni. Kwelinye ilanga wavakatshela abangane bakhe uMatha loMariya. Ekufikeni kwakhe uMatha waqalisa ukudidizela epheka izibiliboco kodwa uMariya wahlala eduze kukaJesu ukuze amlalele efundisa. UMatha wakhalaza kuJesu emtshela ukuthi uMariya kafuni kumncedisa kodwa uJesu wamphendula wathi: “UMariya ukhethe okungcono, okungasoze akwemukwe futhi.” (Luk. 10:38-42) UJesu wayefuna uMatha athole isifundo esiqakathekileyo. Kuyacaca ukuthi ukuze sihlale simthanda uKhristu njalo singaphanjaniswa yimisebenzi yansuku zonke kufanele ‘sikhethe okungcono’ okutsho ukuthi siqakathekise ubuhlobo bethu loJehova ukwedlula loba yini.

11. IMibhalo isitshelani ngokuphumula?

¹¹ Lanxa silokunengi esikwenzayo nsuku zonke siyasidinga isikhathi sokuphumula ngoba kuyasinceda ukuthi siphumuze umzimba lengqondo. ILizwi likaNkulunkulu lithi: “Akukho okungcono emuntwini ngaphandle kokuthi adle, anathe njalo azuze ukusuthiseka ngomsebenzi wakhe.” (UmTshu. 2:24) UJesu laye wayekwazi ukuthi ukuphumula kuqakathekile. Ngelinye ilanga babesebenze nzima labafundi bakhe betshumayela, wasebabizela eceleni wathi: “Ngilandelani lodwa siye endaweni ethuleyo ukuze liphumule.”—Mak. 6:31, 32.

12. Kuyini okumele sikunanzelele ngendaba yokuzilibazisa? Nika isibonelo.

¹² Ukuzilibazisa lakho kuqakathekile empilweni. Kodwa kungenzakala ukuthi umKhristu  aqalise ukuphilela injabulo kanye lokuzilibazisa. Babenjalo abanye ngesikhathi sabaphostoli, babesithi: “Kasidleni sinathe, ngoba kusasa sizakufa.” (1 Khor. 15:32) Lalamuhla kugcwele abantu abanjalo emhlabeni. Ngokwesibonelo omunye ujaha ohlala entshonalanga ye-Europe wayefunda iBhayibhili futhi waqalisa lokungena imihlangano. Kodwa ngenxa yokuthi wayethanda kakhulu ezokuzilibazisa wacina engasangeni imihlangano. Ngokuya kwesikhathi wazibonela ukuthi ukuphilela injabulo kudala inhlupho lokuzisola. Ngakho waphinda waqalisa ukufunda iBhayibhili waze waba ngummemezeli ongabhabhathizwanga. Ngemva kokubhabhathizwa wathi: “Engizisola ngakho yikuthi ngadlalisa isikhathi esinengi ngigijimisana lenjabulo kodwa khathesi sengikubona ukuthi ukukhonza uJehova kuletha intokozo emangalisayo.”

13. (a) Nika umzekeliso otshengisa ukuthi ukuphilela ukuzilibazisa kungaba yingozi. (b) Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi singadlulisi amalawulo endabeni yokuzilibazisa?

¹³ Ukuzilibazisa kusinika ithuba lokuphumula futhi kuyasivuselela. Kodwa kuyingozi ngani ukuphilela ukuzilibazisa? Ake sixoxe ngomzekeliso olandelayo: Abantu abanengi bayawathanda amakhekhe, iziwiji lezinye izinto eziletshukela. Kodwa siyakwazi ukuthi ukuphilela ukudla izinto lezi kungabangela ukuthi sicine sihlaselwa yimikhuhlane. Ngakho siba leqiniso lokuthi sidla izinto ezakha umzimba ukuze sibe lempilakahle. Kunjalo lokuzilibazisa, nxa singaphilela khona ubuhlobo bethu loJehova bungaba sengozini. Manje ungabona njani ukuthi usudlulisa amalawulo endabeni yokuzilibazisa? Okunye ongakwenza yikuthi kwenye iviki ubhale ukuthi mangaki amahola owasebenzisa ezintweni eziphathelane lokukhonza ezigoqela ukungena imihlangano, ukutshumayela, ukutaditsha uwedwa loba ukukhonza kwemuli. Bala lokuthi mangaki owasebenzise leyoviki ubukele ithelevizhini, udlala imidlalo yamavidiyo (video games) kumbe uphatheke kweminye nje imidlalo. Ngemva kwalokho qathanisa ukuthi yikuphi othatha isikhathi esinengi kukho ubusulungisisa nxa kudingeka.—Bala u-Efesu 5:15, 16.

14. Kuyini okumele kusiqondise nxa sikhetha ezokuzilibazisa?

¹⁴ UJehova uyasivumela ukuthi sizikhethele esifuna ukuzilibazisa ngakho. Inhloko zezimuli lazo zingakhetha lokho imuli engazilibazisa ngakho. Kodwa kumele sibe leqiniso lokuthi esikukhethayo kuyavumelana lezimiso zikaJehova eziseBhayibhilini. * Phela ukuzilibazisa “kuyisipho sikaNkulunkulu.” (UmTshu. 3:12, 13) Indlela esikhetha ngayo ezokuzilibazisa iyatshiyana kusiya ngokuthi umuntu ngamunye uthandani. (Gal. 6:4, 5) Lanxa kunjalo kumele sinanzelele ukuthi loba yikuphi esikukhethayo akusiphambanisi ekukhonzeni. UJesu wathi: “Lapho inotho yakho ikhona, kulapho inhliziyo yakho izakuba khona.” (Mat. 6:21) Ngakho nxa simthanda uJesu sizazimisela ukutshengisa ngamazwi langezenzo kanye lemicabango yethu ukuthi siyawuqakathekisa uMbuso ukwedlula loba yini.—Flp. 1:9, 10.

15, 16. (a) Ukuthanda imali kungamphambanisa njani umKhristu? (b) Yisiphi isixwayiso esasinikwa nguJesu mayelana lokuthanda inotho?

¹⁵ Abantu abanengi lamuhla bagijimisana lokuthenga yonke into entsha ethengiswayo kungaba yizigqoko amafoni amakhompiyutha lokunye okunjalo. Ngakho ngamunye  wethu kufanele ahlale ehlola ukuthi kuyini akuqakathekisa kakhulu endabeni le. Ngokwesibonelo ungazibuza imibuzo le: ‘Ngithatha isikhathi esinengi yini ngicabanga loba ngidingisisa ngezimota ezintsha, impahla kumbe ezinye izinto ezithengiswayo ezisanda kuphuma ngize ngisale lesikhathi esincane kakhulu sokulungiselela imihlangano? Ngihlala ngiphathekile ngemisebenzi yansuku zonke yini okokuthi ngicina ngilesikhathi esincane sokubala iBhayibhili lesokukhuleka? Nxa ungananzelela ukuthi izinto lezi seziphambanisa indlela omthanda ngayo uKhristu cabangisisa ngamazwi la athi: “Limukani yonke imihlobo yobuhaga.” (Luk. 12:15) Kuyini okwenza uJesu watsho amazwi la?

¹⁶ UJesu wathi: “Kakho ongakhonza amakhosi amabili.” Waphinda wathi: “Lingazake likhonze uNkulunkulu njalo leMali.” Aliqiniso sibili amazwi la ngoba kunzima ukuthi umuntu agijimise izinto ezimbili sikhathi sinye. UJesu waveza ukuthi kuba njani nxa umuntu angakhonza amakhosi amabili. Wathi: “Uzathanda enye azonde enye” kumbe “uzabambelela kwenye azonde enye.” (Mat. 6:24) Ngakho sonke kumele siqhubeke silwisana ‘lezifiso zemvelo yethu yesono’ ezigoqela lokuthanda imali.—Efe. 2:3.

17. (a) Kungani kunzima ukuthi abantu abanengi babone ingozi yokugijimisana lenotho? (b) Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi senelise ukunqoba umkhuba wokuthanda inotho?

¹⁷ Abantu abanengi lamuhla baqakathekisa injabulo kanye lezifiso zabo njalo kabayiboni ingozi yokugijimisana lezinto lezi. (Bala u-1 Khorinte 2:14.) Ukulandela izifiso zabo kwenza kube nzima ukuthi behlukanise okuhle lokubi. (Heb. 5:11-14) Lokhu kubangela ukuthi bahlale befuna ukuba lezinto ezinengi empilweni futhi bangasuthiseki ngalokho abakutholayo. (UmTshu. 5:10) Ukuze umkhuba lo ungasihlaseli kufanele sibale iBhayibhili nsuku zonke. (1 Phet. 2:2) Kumele sisebenzise lezimiso esizitholayo ngoba zingasinceda ukuthi sinqobe umkhuba wokuthanda inotho njengoba ukucabangisisa ngazo kwasiza loJesu ukuthi anqobe isilingo ayephakathi kwaso. (Mat. 4:8-10) Singenza njalo siyabe sitshengisa ukuthi siyamthanda kakhulu uJesu.

18. Uzimisele ukwenzani?

¹⁸ Lapho uJesu esithi kuPhethro, ‘Uyangithanda na ukwedlula lezi?’ wayefundisa uPhethro ukuthi ukukhonza uJehova yikho okwakumele akuqakathekise ukwedlula ezinye izinto. Ibizo elithi Phethro litsho ukuthi “Idwala.” Lakanye uPhethro watshengisa ukuthi ulidwala ngoba wayelezimpawu ezinhle kakhulu. (ImiSeb. 4:5-20) Lathi kasizimiseleni ukuqhubeka simthanda uKhristu, singavumi ukuthi umsebenzi, ezokuzilibazisa loba inotho kusiphambanise. Singenza njalo kuyabe kungani sithi kuJesu: “Yebo, Nkosi, uyakwazi ukuthi ngiyakuthanda.”