1, 2. (a) Yikuphi ukuthula esingakujabulela manje? (b) Yini eyenza singakwazi ukuba nokuthula okuphelele kulezi zinsuku zokugcina? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

SONKE sifuna ukuphila okunokuthula, okungenazo izinkathazo. Ave simbonga uJehova ngokuthi usinika “ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu.” Lokho, ukuthula kwangaphakathi okungasivikela emicabangweni nasemizweni esikhathazayo. (Fil. 4:6, 7) Ngenxa yokuthi sazinikezela kuJehova sijabulela “ukuthula noNkulunkulu,” okuwubuhlobo obuhle naye.​—Roma 5:1.

² Noma kunjalo, asikafiki isikhathi sokuba uNkulunkulu alethe ukuthula okuphelele. Lezi zinsuku zokugcina zigcwele izinkinga ezibangela izingxabano futhi abantu abaningi banodlame. (2 Thim. 3:1-4) NjengamaKristu kufanele simelane noSathane nezimfundiso zakhe zamanga azigqugquzelayo. (2 Kor. 10:4, 5) Kodwa okungasikhathaza nakakhulu ukuphikiswa izihlobo zethu ezingamkhonzi uJehova. Abathile bangase bahlekise ngezimfundiso zethu, abanye bangasisola ngokuhlukanisa umndeni noma bathi bazosilahla uma singayeki ukukhonza uJehova. Kufanele sikubheke kanjani ukuphikiswa umndeni? Singabhekana kanjani ngokuphumelelayo nezinselele zokuphikiswa umndeni?

3, 4. (a) Yini ebangelwa izimfundiso zikaJesu? (b) Kunini lapho kungaba yinselele khona ukulandela uJesu?

³ UJesu wayazi ukuthi izimfundiso zakhe zazizohlukanisa abantu. Wayazi nokuthi labo abamlandelayo kwakuyodingeka babe nesibindi ukuze bamlandele ngisho noma bephikiswa. Lokhu kuphikiswa kungaphazamisa ukuthula emndenini. UJesu wathi: “Ningacabangi ukuthi ngizele ukubeka ukuthula phezu komhlaba; angizelanga ukubeka ukuthula, kodwa inkemba. Ngoba ngize ukubangela ukuhlukana, umuntu amelane noyise, nendodakazi imelane nonina, nomalokazana amelane noninazala. Ngempela, izitha zomuntu kuyoba abantu bendlu yakubo.”​—Math. 10:34-36.

⁴ Lapho uJesu ethi, “Ningacabangi ukuthi ngizele ukubeka ukuthula” wayesho ukuthi labo abamlalelayo kudingeka bacabange ngemiphumela yokumlandela. Umyalezo wakhe ungase uhlukanise abantu. Kuyiqiniso ukuthi isisusa sikaJesu kwakuwukufundisa iqiniso ngoNkulunkulu, hhayi ukuxabanisa abantu. (Joh. 18:37) Noma kunjalo, ukulalela izimfundiso zikaKristu kungaba yinselele uma umngane wakho omkhulu noma amalungu omndeni elenqaba iqiniso.

5. Yini abalandeli bakaJesu abaye bayikhuthazelela?

⁵ UJesu wathi ubuhlungu bokuphikiswa umndeni bungenye yezinto abalandeli bakhe okumelwe bazikhuthazelele. (Math. 10:38) Abafundi bakhe kuye kwadingeka bakhuthazelele ukwenziwa inhlekisa ngisho nokukhishwa inyumbazane imindeni yabo ukuze babonise ukuthi bayamthanda uKristu. Nokho, baye bathola izibusiso ezingaphezu kwalokho okwabalahlekela.​—Funda uMarku 10:29, 30.

6. Yini okumelwe siyikhumbule lapho izihlobo zethu zimelana nemizamo yethu yokukhonza uJehova?

⁶ Ngisho noma izihlobo zethu zimelana nemizamo yethu yokukhonza uJehova, siyaqhubeka sizithanda. Kodwa kufanele sikhumbule ukuthi kumelwe sithande uNkulunkulu noKristu ngaphezu kwanoma ubani. (Math. 10:37) Kumelwe siqaphele nokuthi uSathane uyozama ukusebenzisa uthando esinalo ngemindeni yethu ukuze aphule ubuqotho bethu. Ake sihlole izimo ezithile ezihilela ukuphikiswa umndeni bese sixoxa ngokuthi singabhekana kanjani nazo ngokuphumelelayo.

7. Labo abashade nabantu abangamkhonzi uJehova kufanele basibheke kanjani isimo sabo?

⁷ IBhayibheli lixwayisa ukuthi labo abashadayo “bayoba nosizi enyameni yabo.” (1 Kor. 7:28) Uma ushade nomuntu ongamkhonzi uJehova, cishe uyocindezeleka kakhulu futhi ube nezinkathazo ezengeziwe emshadweni wakho. Noma kunjalo, kubalulekile ukuba ubheke isimo sakho ngendlela uJehova asibheka ngayo. Awukwazi ukuhlala ngokwehlukana noma udivose umuntu oshade naye ngenxa nje yokuthi akayena umKristu. (1 Kor. 7:12-16) Nakuba umyeni ongakholwa engaholi ezintweni eziphathelene nokukhonza uNkulunkulu, kufanele ahlonishwe ngoba uyinhloko yomndeni. Ngendlela efanayo, inkosikazi engamkhonzi uJehova eshade nomyeni ongumKristu kufanele ithandwe ngokujulile.​—Efe. 5:22, 23, 28, 29.

8. Yimiphi imibuzo ongazibuza yona lapho oshade naye ezama ukunciphisa isikhathi osichitha enkonzweni?

⁸ Kuthiwani uma oshade naye ezama ukunciphisa isikhathi osichitha enkonzweni? Ngokwesibonelo, umyeni wodade othile wathi angashumayela ngezinsuku ezithile kuphela. Uma ubhekene nesimo esifanayo, zibuze: ‘Ingabe umyeni noma umkami unginqabela ukuba ngikhonze uNkulunkulu? Uma kungenjalo, ngingakwenza yini lokho akucelayo?’ Ukucabangela kungakusiza ugweme izingxabano ezingenasidingo emshadweni.​—Fil. 4:5.

9. Umzali ongumKristu angazifundisa kanjani izingane zakhe ukuba zihloniphe ashade naye ongamkhonzi uJehova?

 ⁹ Ukuqeqesha izingane kungaba inselele kakhulu uma ushade nomuntu ongamkhonzi uJehova. Ngokwesibonelo, kudingeka ufundise izingane zakho ukuba zilalele umyalo weBhayibheli othi: “Hlonipha uyihlo nonyoko.” (Efe. 6:1-3) Kodwa kuthiwani uma oshade naye engaphili ngezimiso eziphakeme zokuziphatha eziseBhayibhelini? Bekela izingane zakho isibonelo esihle ngokuhlonipha oshade naye. Gxila ebuntwini bakhe obuhle futhi umbonge ngezinto ezinhle azenzayo. Gwema ukusho izinto ezimbi ngoshade naye phambi kwezingane zakho. Kunalokho, zichazele ukuthi umuntu kumelwe azikhethele ukukhonza uJehova. Ukuziphatha okuhle kwezingane kungase kudonsele umzali ongamkhonzi uJehova eqinisweni.

10. Abazali abangamaKristu bangazifundisa kanjani izingane zabo iqiniso leBhayibheli emndenini ohlukene ngokwenkolo?

¹⁰ Ngezinye izikhathi, oshade naye ongamkhonzi uJehova angafuna ukuba izingane zigubhe imikhosi engqubuzana nezimfundiso zeBhayibheli noma ukuba zifundiswe izimfundiso zenkolo yamanga. Abayeni abathile bangase bawenqabele amakhosikazi abo ukuba afundise izingane iBhayibheli. Noma kunjalo, inkosikazi engumKristu yenza konke engakwenza ukuze ifundise izingane zayo iqiniso leBhayibheli. (IzE. 16:1; 2 Thim. 3:14, 15) Ngokwesibonelo, umyeni oshade nomKristu angase anqabele umkakhe ukuba afundele izingane zakhe ezisencane iBhayibheli noma aye nazo emihlanganweni yobuKristu. Nakuba esihlonipha isinqumo somyeni wakhe, angazixoxela izingane zakhe lokho akukholelwayo lapho ithuba livela. Ngaleyo ndlela, izingane  zingafunda ngalokho uJehova akushoyo ngokuziphatha. (IzE. 4:19, 20) Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi izingane zizozinqumela ukuthi zizokhonza bani.—Dut. 30:19, 20. *

11. Yini engabangela izinkinga phakathi kwakho nezihlobo zakho ezingebona oFakazi?

¹¹ Lapho siqala ukuzihlanganisa noFakazi BakaJehova kungenzeka asizitshelanga izihlobo zethu. Nokho, lapho ukholo lwethu lukhula sabona isidingo sokuzitshela ngezinkolelo zethu. (Marku 8:38) Uma ukumelela kwakho iqiniso ngesibindi kuye kwadala izinkinga phakathi kwakho nezihlobo zakho ezingebona oFakazi, sebenzisa la macebiso esizoxoxa ngawo ukuze akusize unciphise izingxabano ngesikhathi esifanayo uhlale uqotho kuNkulunkulu.

12. Yini engenza izihlobo zethu zisiphikise kodwa singazwelana kanjani nazo?

¹² Zama ukuzwelana nezihlobo zakho ezingamkhonzi uJehova. Nakuba singase sijabule ngokuthi sesiyawazi amaqiniso eBhayibheli, izihlobo zethu zingase zicabange ukuthi sikhohlisiwe. Zingase zicabange ukuthi asisazithandi ngoba asisagubhi amaholide nazo. Zingase zesabe ukuthi sizokwehlelwa amabhadi. Kufanele sizwelane nazo ngokuzama ukubona izinto ngendlela yazo nangokulalelisisa ukuze sithole ukuthi zikhathazwa yini. (IzAga 20:5) Umphostoli uPawulu wazikhandla ukuze aqonde ‘abantu bazo zonke izinhlobo’ ukuze akwazi ukubaxoxela izindaba ezinhle, ukwenza lokho kungasisiza nathi.​—1 Kor. 9:19-23.

13. Kufanele sikhulume kanjani nezihlobo zethu ezingamkhonzi uJehova?

¹³ Khuluma ngendlela enomusa. IBhayibheli lithi: “Amazwi enu ngaso sonke isikhathi mawabe nomusa.” (Kol. 4:6) Singacela uJehova asiphe umoya wakhe ongcwele ukuze sikhulume ngendlela enomusa nezihlobo zethu. Akufanele sigxeke zonke izinkolelo zabo ezingamanga. Uma izihlobo zikhuluma noma zenza izinto ezisizwisa ubuhlungu kufanele silingise isibonelo sabaphostoli. UPawulu wabhala: “Sithi sithukwa‚ sibe sibusisa; sithi sizingelwa‚ sibe sibekezela, sithi sihletshwa‚ sibe siphendula kahle.”​—1 Kor. 4:12, 13, IBhayibheli lesiZulu elivamile.

14. Yiziphi izinzuzo zokuziphatha kahle?

¹⁴ Ziphathe kahle ngaso sonke isikhathi. Nakuba ukukhuluma ngendlela enomusa kungasisiza lapho izihlobo zethu zisiphikisa, ukuziphatha kwethu kungaba nomthelela omkhulu kuzo. (Funda eyoku-1 Petru 3:1, 2, 16.) Yiba yisibonelo esihle ezihlotsheni zakho ukuze uzisize zibone ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova babathanda ngempela abantu abashade nabo, bazikhulisa kahle izingane zabo, baziphethe kahle futhi baphila ukuphila okuhlanzekile okubenza bajabule. Ngisho noma izihlobo zethu zingalamukeli iqiniso, kungasijabulisa ukwazi ukuthi ukuziphatha kwethu ngokwethembeka kuyamthokozisa uJehova.

15. Singazihlelela kanjani kusengaphambili izimo ezingadala izingxabano?

¹⁵ Hlela kusengaphambili. Cabanga ngezimo ezingadala izingxabano bese ufuna indlela yokuzisingatha. (IzAga 12:16, 23) Udade wase-Australia uthi: “Ubabezala wayephikisa kakhulu. Ngaphambi kokuba simfonele, mina nomyeni wami sasithandaza kuJehova simcele ukuba asisize sigweme ukumphendula ngolaka. Sasicabanga ngezinto esizoxoxa ngazo ukuze sigweme izingxoxo ezizosixabanisa. Sasinquma isikhathi esizosikhuluma ukuze sigweme izingxoxo ezinde ezingasenza sigcine sesiphikisana ngenkolo.”

16. Ungayinqoba kanjani imizwa yokuzisola lapho udumaze izihlobo zakho?

 ¹⁶ Ngeke ukwazi ukukugwema ngaso sonke isikhathi ukuphikisana nezihlobo zakho ezingamkhonzi uJehova. Izingxabano ezinjalo zingakwenza uzisole, ikakhulukazi ngoba uyazithanda izihlobo zakho futhi ufuna ukuzijabulisa. Uma uzizwa ngale ndlela, lwela ukuba qotho kuJehova ngaphezu kwendlela othanda ngayo izihlobo zakho. Empeleni lokho kungazisiza zibone ukuthi ukuphila ngokuvumelana nalokho okufundiswa iBhayibheli kuyindaba yokufa nokuphila. Hlala ukhumbula ukuthi ngeke ukwazi ukuphoqa abanye ukuba bamukele iqiniso. Kunalokho, babonise izinzuzo zokulandela izindlela zikaJehova. UNkulunkulu wethu onothando ubanika ithuba lokukhetha ukumkhonza, njengoba enza kithi.​—Isaya 48:17, 18.

17, 18. Yini engakusiza lapho ilungu lomndeni lishiya uJehova?

¹⁷ Lapho ilungu lomndeni lisuswa noma lizihlukanisa nebandla, lokho kungasizwisa ubuhlungu obukhulu. Ungabhekana kanjani nalobo buhlungu?

¹⁸ Gxila enkonzweni. Qinisa ukholo lwakho ngokufunda iBhayibheli nsuku zonke, lungiselela imihlangano yebandla futhi uye kuyo, iya enkonzweni yasensimini futhi ucele uNkulunkulu akunike amandla azokusiza ukhuthazele. (Jude 20, 21) Kodwa kuthiwani uma ubuhlungu bungapheli nakuba uzenza lezi zinto? Ungayeki! Ukugxila enkonzweni yakho kuzokusiza ukwazi ukulawula imicabango nemizwa yakho. Cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka kumlobi weHubo 73. Indlela yakhe yokucabanga yayiphazamisekile futhi ekhathazeke kakhulu kodwa wakwazi ukulungisa ukucabanga kwakhe lapho engena endlini kaNkulunkulu yokukhulekela. (IHu. 73:16, 17) Ukukhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka kungakusiza nawe wenze okufanayo.

19. Ungayibonisa kanjani inhlonipho ngelungiselelo likaJehova lokuyala?

¹⁹ Hlonipha isiyalo sikaJehova. Ilungiselelo lakhe lingasizuzisa sonke—nalabo abenza okubi—ngisho noma isiyalo singasizwisa ubuhlungu lapho sisithola. (Funda eyamaHebheru 12:11.) Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova usiyala ukuba ‘siyeke ukuzihlanganisa’ nabantu abasusiwe. (1 Kor. 5:11-13) Ngisho noma kungathiwa izinhliziyo zethu zibuhlungu kangakanani, kumelwe sigweme ukuxoxa nelungu lomndeni elisusiwe ngocingo, nge-sms, ngencwadi, nge-email noma ezinkundleni zokuxhumana.

20. Yiliphi ithemba okufanele sihlale sinalo?

²⁰ Ungaphelelwa ithemba. Uthando “luthemba zonke izinto,” ngakho sihlale sinethemba lokuthi labo abashiye uJehova bazobuyela kuye. (1 Kor. 13:7) Uma ubona ukuthi ilungu lomndeni liyazisola, ungathandazela ukuba lithole amandla avela emiBhalweni futhi lenze ngokuvumelana nesicelo sikaJehova esithi: “Buyela kimi.”​—Isaya 44:22.

21. Yini okufanele uyenze lapho umndeni ukuphikisa ngenxa yokuthi ulandela uJesu?

²¹ UJesu wathi uma kunomuntu esimthanda ukwedlula yena, lokho kuyosho ukuthi asimfanele. Noma kunjalo, wayeqiniseka ngokuthi abafundi bakhe babeyoba nesibindi sokuhlala beqotho kuye naphezu kokuphikiswa imindeni yabo. Uma ukulandela uJesu kuye kwakulethela “inkemba” emndenini wakho, thembela kuJehova ukuba akusize ukwazi ukubhekana naleyo nselele ngokuphumelelayo. (Isaya 41:10, 13) Yaneliswa ukwazi ukuthi wenza uJehova noJesu bajabule nokuthi bazokubusisa ngokuhlala uqotho.