1, 2. Ngemva kokuqeda ubusuku boke athiya iimfesi, yini enye uPitrosi ahlangabezana nayo?

ABAFUNDI bakaJesu abalikhomba baqeda ubusuku boke bathiya iimfesi eLwandle leGalile kodwana khenge bafumane litho. Nanguya noJesu elwandle ubaqalile njengombana basiqubuthu bathiya iimfesi. Wathi kibo: “‘Phoselani inede yenu ngesigomeni somkhumbi nizakubamba.’ Yeke bayiphosela, babhalelwa kuyidosa ngebanga lobunengi beenhlambi.”—Jwa. 21:1-6.

² Ngemva kobana uJesu abanikele ukudla kwekuseni, wakhuluma noSimoni uPitrosi wathi: “Simoni msa kaJwanisi, mbala ungithanda ukudlula [lokhu] na?” Bekatjho ukuthini uJesu ngalokhu? UPitrosi bekakuthanda tle ukuthiya! Yeke kubonakala ngasuthi uJesu bekayibethe ngesibhukwini nakambuza umbuzo lo, phela ithando lakhe belilele lapho khulu. Naku umbuzo esinawo, inga-kghani bekathanda khulu ibhizinisakhe yokuthiya iimfesi kunoJesu neemfundiso zakhe? Nakamphendulako uPitrosi, wathi: “Iye, Kosi, uyazi bona ngiyakuthanda.” (Jwa. 21:15) Mbala uPitrosi wenza ngokuvumelana namezwakhe. Ukusuka lapho ukuya phambili,  watjengisa ngezenzo bona umthanda kangangani uKrestu ngokuba majadu emsebenzini wokwenza abafundi, waba yisika yebandla lobuKrestu esikhathini sabapostoli.

3. Ngiziphi iingozi okufuze amaKrestu azitjheje?

³ Sifundani emezwini uJesu awatjela uPitrosi? Kufuze sitjheje bona singavumeli ithando lethu ngoKrestu lehle begodu singavumeli ukuthikaziseka emsebenzini oqakathekileko womBuso kaZimu. UJesu bekazazi kuhle iintjhijilo namatshwenyeko esizokuqalana nawo esikhathini esiphilakiswesi. Emfanekiswenakhe womtjali, wathi abanye bebazokwamukela ‘umlayezo ngomBuso’ benze amatjhuguluko ‘kodwana amatshwenyeko wepilo le nokuyengwa bugwili’ ‘bekuzokwenza ilizwi lingatheli.’ (Mat. 13:19-22; Mar. 4:19) Kwamambala kunjalo, nasingatjhejiko, amatshwenyeko esiqalana nawo qobe angakhathaza iinhliziyo zethu asenze bona silahlekelwe lithando ngoZimu. Kungebangelo uJesu ayelelisa abafundi bakhe wathi: “Yelelani, nakungasinjalo, iinhliziyo zenu zizakudisibezwa kurhiribidela, kudakwa kanye neemfiso zepilo.”—Luk. 21:34.

4. Yini ezosisiza bona sihlolisise ukuzika kwethando lethu ngoKrestu? (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.)

⁴ Njengombana kwenza uPitrosi ngemva kokuvuswa kwakaJesu, nathi sitjengisa bona sithanda uKrestu ngokwenza umsebenzi asinikela wona, siwubeke endaweni yokuthoma ezintweni esizenzako. Singaqiniseka njani bona siwenza qobe umsebenzi lo? Siyatlhoga bona sinande sizibuze imibuzo nasi: ‘Khuyini engikuthanda khulu? Kghani ngithatjiswa zizinto ezijayelekileko zokuphila khulu engizenza qobe namkha ngithatjiswa kukwenza izinto zakaZimu?’ Okwanje, akhesiqale iindawo ezintathu ekuphileni kwethu okungathi nange singazibeki endawenazo efaneleko zingehlisa ithando lethu ngoKrestu namkha ngezinto zakaZimu, izintwezi msebenzi wokuziphilisa, zokuzithabisa kunye nezinto zakanokutjho.

5. Ngimuphi umthwalo oseBhayibhelini okufuze iinhloko zemindeni ziwufeze?

⁵ KuPitrosi ukuthiya bekungasi yinto akhambisa ngayo isikhathi kodwana bekuyinto ayithandako naziphilisa ngayo. Iinhloko zemindeni nanamhlanjesi ziyalemuka bona zinomthwalo ongokomtlolo wokutlhogomela iindingo zemindenazo. (1 Tim. 5:8) Kufuze zisebenze budisi zondle imindenazo. Nanyana kunjalo, kuyadanisa ukuthi namhlanjesi, umsebenzi wokuziphilisa ngiwo olethela abantu amatshwenyeko.

6. Ngikuphi ukugandeleleka okukhona emsebenzini?

⁶ Ngebanga lokuthi imisebenzi mincani, inengi leensebenzi likatelelekile bona lisebenze ama-awara amanengi kodwana lirhole imadlana encani. Khonapho abantu bayagandelelwa bona basebenze bajuluke, lokho kubenza basale badiniwe emkhumbulweni nemmoyeni. Bese kuthi labo abangakghoni ukusebenza ama-awara amanengi balahlekelwa msebenzabo.

7, 8. (a) Ngikuphi okuqakatheke khulu nokuza qangi kithi? (b) Wafunda ini umnakwethu weThailand ngomsebenzakhe?

⁷ NasimaKrestu, okukuphela komuntu okufuze sithembeke kuye qangi ngaphambi kwananyana yini, nguJehova uZimu ingasi abaqatjhi bethu. (Luk. 10:27) Umsebenzi uyindlela yokuziphilisa kwaphela. Sisebenza ngombana sifuna ukutlhogomela iindingo zethu begodu sizisekele emsebenzini wokutjhumayela. Nokho nasingakatjheji, umsebenzi wokuziphilisa ungathikazisa indlela esilotjha ngayo uZimu. Ngokwesibonelo, umnakwethu othileko eThailand uthi: “Umsebenzami wokulungisa amakhompyutha bewungikara khulu kodwana bengisebenza ama-awara amanengi. Ngebanga lalokho, bewungidlela pheze soke isikhathi sokwenza umsebenzi kaZimu. Yeke ngabona ukuthi nange ngifuna ukwenza umsebenzi wokutjhumayela ngomBuso  kaZimu uze qangi, bekufuze ngilise umsebenzi lo ngombana bowuthatha isikhathi sami esinengi.” Yeke, yini umnakwethu lo ayenza?

⁸ Naku akutjhoko: “Ngemva komnyaka woke ngihlela, ngaqunta ukuthengisela abantu ama-Ice cream endleleni. Nangisathoma nehlelweli kwaba budisi ngombana besele ngingasayifumani imali eyaneleko, lokho kwangidanisa. Lokha nangihlangana nabantu ebegade ngisebenza nabo, bebangihleka bebangibuze nokuthi kubayini bengicabanga ukuthi ukuthengisa i-ice cream kungcono kunokusebenza ngamakhompyutha endaweni epholileko nehlelekileko. Ngathandaza ngabawa uJehova bona angisize ngiqalane nobujamo bamobu begodu ngibe nesikhathi esinengi ngenza umsebenzakhe. Esikhathini esingaphelisi ihliziyo, izinto zathoma ukuba ngcono. Ngathoma ukwazana ngcono nabathengi bami ngafunda nekghono lokwenza kuhle i-ice cream. Msinyana ngemva kwalokho bekuthi nakuphela ilanga i-ice cream yami ibe sele iphelile. Nangikhuluma iqiniso, nje khona ngingcono khulu ngokweemali kunangesikhathi ngisebenza ngamakhompyutha. Ngithabe khulu ngombana anginakho ukugandeleleka ebenginakho emsebenzinami wokulungisa amakhompyutha. Okuqakatheke khulu kukuthi nje ngizizwa ngitjhidelene khulu noJehova.”—Funda uMatewu 5:3, 6.

9. Yini engasisiza sibe nombono ofaneleko ngomsebenzi wokuziphilisa?

⁹ Ukukhuthala kungobunye bobuntu bakaZimu kanti nokusebenza budisi kunemiphumela emihle. (IzA. 12:14) Nanyana kunjalo, njengombana sele atjhwilo umnakwethu lo, umsebenzi wokuziphilisa kuqakathekile bona ubekwe endawenawo efaneleko. UJesu wathi: “Funani qangi umbuswakhe nakho koke ukulunga kwakhe, nje-ke koke lokhu [izinto esizitlhogako] nakho nizakuphiwa khona.” (Mat. 6:33) Nasifuna ukubona ukuthi inga-kghani sinombono olinganiselako nakuziwa eentweni zakaZimu kunye nomsebenzethu wokuziphilisa, kuhle bona sizibuze umbuzo naku: ‘Kghani ngikarwa khulu msebenzami wokuziphilisa kodwana nakuziwa ezintweni zakaZimu ngizenza nje ngombana vele kufuze ngizenze kodwana nakulithando lona anginalo ngazo?’ Ukucabanga nokuzindla ngendlela esizizwa ngayo ngomsebenzethu wokuziphilisa kunye nezinto zakaZimu lokho kuzosisiza sibone ukuthi kuhlekuhle ithando lethu lamambala likuphi hlangana nezintwezi.

10. Ngisiphi isifundo esiqakathekileko uJesu asifundisa nakuziwa endabeni yokukhetha ukuthi ngiziphi izinto eziza qangi?

¹⁰ UJesu wabeka ikambiso efaneleko nakuziwa endabeni yokuba nombono ofaneleko ngomsebenzi wokuziphilisa kunye nezinto zakaZimu. Kesinye isikhathi, uJesu wakhe wavakatjhela uMariya noMarta. UMarta nakalokhu aphasi phezulu alungiselela ukudla, uMariya wakhetha ukuhlala phasi eenyaweni zakaJesu, walalela amezwi kaJesu. UMarta nakalokhu anghonghoyila ngokuthi uMariya akamsizi alungiselele ukudla, uJesu wathi kuMarta: “UMariya ukhethe okungcono, yeke angekhe emukwa khona.” (Luk. 10:38-42) Lesi sifundo esiqakathekileko uJesu asifundisa uMarta. Nasifuna ukubalekela ukuthikaziswa msebenzi wokuziphilisa begodu siragele phambili sitjengisa bona simthanda kangangani uKrestu, kufuze sikhethe “okungcono” begodu lokho kubeka izinto zakaZimu qangi.

11. Yini imiTlolo esifundisa khona ngendaba yokuzithabisa?

¹¹ Siyasitlhoga isikhathi sokuditjha nesokuzithabulula sikhohlwe kancani msebenzi esiyenza qobe. IliZwi lakaZimu lithi: “Ayikho into umuntu angayenza ngcono, ngaphandle kokugoma nokusela, azithabise ngokutjhabatjheka kwakhe.” (UMtj. 2:24) UJesu bekazi ukuthi kuyatlhogeka bona siphumule ngezinye iinkhathi. Ngemva kelinye ijima elithileko lokutjhumayela, wathi kubafundi bakhe: “Nambani sikhambeni sodwa siyeni endaweni ethulileko lapha singaphumula khona.”—Mar. 6:31, 32.

12. Endabeni yokuzithabisa, yini okufuze siyitjheje? Sinikela isibonelo.

 ¹² Ukuzithabisa kuqakathekile. Nanyana kunjalo, kunengozi ekhona endabeni le yokuthi nasingakatjheji, ukuzithabisa kungathatha nendawo yokuthoma emaphilwenethu. Esikhathini sabapostoli, inengi labantu belinombono ongakafaneli othi, “Asigomeni, sisele ngombana ngomuso siyokufa.” (1 Kor. 15:32) Ummoya ofanako lo ukhona nanje. Ngokwesibonelo, kade, isokana elithileko laseTjhingalanga yeYurophu lathoma ukuya esifundweni. Kodwana ukuthanda kwakhe khulu ukuzithabisa kwamenza walisa ukuya esifundweni. Nokho ngokukhamba kwesikhathi wathoma ukubona ukuthi imirarwakhe eminengi beyilethwa kukuthi isikhathi sakhe esinengi usisebenzisa kwezokuzithabisa. Yeke, waraga godu nokufunda iBhayibheli waba mtjhumayeli weendaba ezimnandi. Ngemva kokubhajadiswa, wathi: “Okukuphela kwento engizisola ngayo kukuthi ngimotjhe isikhathi esinengi ngaphambi kobana ngibone ukuthi ukulotjha uJehova kuthabisa khulu kunokuthanda izinto ezilethwa liphaseli.”

13. (a) Sebenzisa umfanekiso usitjele ngeengozi ezihlobana nokuzithabisa. (b) Yini engasisiza sibeke zokuzithabisa endawenazo efaneleko?

¹³ Umnqopho wokuzithabisa kukobana sivuseleleke begodu sithabe. Yeke singangani isikhathi okufuze sisisebenzise ekuzithabiseni? Cabanga nganakhu: Inengi lethu liyakuthabela ukudla okusudu ngeenkhathi ezithileko, kodwana siyazi ukuthi nasifuna ipilo ehle ngekhe sayifumana ekudleni okunjalo. Kungebangelo sidla ukudla okunepilo. Ngendlela efanako, ukusebenzisa isikhathi esinengi kwezokuzithabisa kungenza bona singathuthuki ezintweni zakaZimu, sibogaboge. Ukubalekela lokho, kufuze sibe nesikhathi esinengi senza imisebenzi yomBuso kaZimu. Singabona njani ukuthi sinombono ofaneleko ngezokuzithabisa? Singakhetha iveke ethileko, bese sitlola phasi ama-awara esiwenza sitjhumayela, esiya ngawo esifundweni nesikhathi esisisebenzisela ezintweni zethu mathupha kunye nesikhathi sesifundo somndeni seBhayibheli. Nase sifumene isikhatheso, sisimadanisa nama-awara esiwenze evekeni leyo sizithabisa ezintweni ezinjengemidlalo, ukubukela ithelevitjhini namkha ukudlala imidlalo yamavidiyo. Ufumane ini ngemva kokumadanisa? Uyayibona itlhogeko yokulisa ukudla “izinto ezisudu” kwaphela?—Funda Efesu 5:15, 16.

14. Yini okufuze isinqophise nasikhetha zokuzithabisa?

¹⁴ Iinhloko zemindeni nabanye bangakhetha nanyana ngiziphi izinto zokuzithabisa khulukhulu nazivumelana neenkambisolawulo zakaJehova eziseBhayibhelini. * Ukuzithabisa okuhle “kusisipho esibuya kuZimu.” (UMtj. 3:12, 13) Iye, siyavuma ukuthi indlela yokuzithabisa esiyikhethako angekhe yafana neyabanye. (Gal. 6:4, 5) Nanyana kunjalo, kufuze sikhumbule ukuthi nanyana ngiziphi zokuzithabisa esizikhethako, kufuze sizibeke endawenazo efaneleko. UJesu wathi: “Lapha kunomnothwakho khona nehliziywakho ilapho.” (Mat. 6:21) Ithando elisuka ehliziyweni ngoJesu, lizositjhukumisela bona senze imikhumbulwethu, ikulumwethu nezenzo zethu bona zizinze ekwenzeni imisebenzi yomBuso kunemisebenzi yaqobe langa.—Flp. 1:9, 10.

15, 16. (a) Izinto zakanokutjho zingawabamba njani amaKrestu namhlanjesi? (b) Ngisiphi isiyeleliso esihlakaniphileko uJesu asinikele sona malungana nezinto zakanokutjho?

¹⁵ Abantu abanengi namhlanjesi bathanda khulu ifetjheni yamva nje, nokhunye okunengi. Yeke umKrestu ngamunye kufuze anande ahlola iimfiso zakhe ngokuzibuza nasi imibuzo: ‘Inga-kghani izinto zakanokutjho seziqakatheke khulu kimi kangangobana ngimotjha isikhathi esinengi ngifunisisa  begodu ngicabanga ngeenkoloyi zanje namkha izembatho zanje kunokobana ngisebenzise isikhathi sami ngilungiselela iinkulumo zemihlangano? Kghani ngimajadu khulu ngezinto zaqobe kangangobana angisasifumani nesikhathi sokuthandaza namkha sokufunda iBhayibheli?’ Nasibona ukuthi ithando lethu ngezinto zakanokutjho lidlula indlela esithanda ngayo uKrestu, kufuze sicabangisise ngamezwi kaJesu lokha nakathi: “Hlalani niqaphele boke ubumarhamaru.” (Luk. 12:15) Kubayini uJesu akhupha isiyeleliswesi?

¹⁶ UJesu wathi: “Akakho ongasebenzela abaphathi ababili.” Wangezelela wathi: ‘Anikwazi-ke ukulotjha uZimu khibe ngapha nilotjhana [nobunjinga].’ Lokhu kungebanga lokuthi abaphathi ababili bafuna ukuzinikela okupheleleko. Yeke kunjengombana uJesu atjho bona umuntu angekhe abathabisa bobabili, “uzakuzonda omunye athande omunye” namkha “azinikele ngokupheleleko komunye bese unyaza omunye.” (Mat. 6:24) Njengombana sibabantu abanesono, soke sitlhoga ukuragela phambili silwisane neenkanuko “zemvelo yethu yokonakala,” lokhu kufaka hlangana ukuthanda izinto zakanokutjho.—Efe. 2:3.

17. (a) Kubayini kubudisi ngabantu abathanda khulu izinto zakanokutjho bona balinganisele? (b) Yini engasisiza silwisane neemfiso zokuthanda khulu izinto zakanokutjho?

¹⁷ Kubudisi ngabantu abathanda khulu izinto zakanokutjho bona bangalinganisela. Kubayini kunjalo? Kungombana abazizwisisi izinto zommoya. (Funda 1 Korinte 2:14.) Lokha amandlabo wokucabanga nawagubuzeswe lithando labo lezinto zakanokutjho, kubudisi bona bangahlukanisa ezintweni ezifaneleko nezingakafaneli. (Heb. 5:11-14) Lokho kwenza bona abanye babhalelwe kulawula ithando labo ngezinto zakanokutjho begodu khonapho abaneliseki. (UMtj. 5:10) Kuyathokozisa ukwazi bona kunepengu yobulwelobu bokuthanda nokucabanga ngezinto zakanokutjho khulu, ipengu le kufunda iliZwi lakaZimu, iBhayibheli qobe. (1 Pit. 2:2) Ukuzindla ngezinto zakaZimu ngikho okwenza bona uJesu abalekele iinlingo, yeke nathi lokha nasisebenzisa esikufunda eBhayibhelini sizokukghona ukulwisana neemfiso zokuthanda khulu izinto zakanokutjho. (Mat. 4:8-10) Nasenza njalo, sizabe sitjengisa ukuthi sithanda uJesu ukudlula izinto nanyana yini.

18. Yini ozimisele ukuyenza?

¹⁸ Ngesikhathi uJesu abuza uPitrosi athi: ‘Ungithanda ukudlula [lokhu] na,’ begade akhumbuza uPitrosi ngetlhogeko yokubeka izinto zakaZimu qangi epilwenakhe. UPitrosi, igama lakhe nalihlathululwako litjho ukuthi ‘Idwala,’ mbala waphila ngokuvumelana negama lakhelo, watjengisa ubuntu bedwala. (IzE. 4:5-20) Nathi namhlanjesi sizimisele ukuhlala simthanda khulu uKrestu, sibe nombono ofaneleko ngomsebenzi wokuziphilisa, zokuzithabisa kunye nezinto zakanokutjho sizibeke endawenazo efaneleko. Kwanga indlela esikhetha ngayo ingatjengisa ukuthi sinombono ofana nokaPitrosi owathi kuJesu: “Kosi, uyazi bona ngiyakuthanda.”