1, 2. (a) Kutheni kububulumko ukunamathela kuYehova? (b) Siza kufunda ngantoni kweli nqaku?

KUBUBULUMKO ukunamathela kuYehova. Akekho umntu onamandla, osisilumko nonothando ukogqitha uThixo! Ngubani kuthi ongafuniyo ukuba kwicala lakhe? (INdu. 96:4-6) Into ebuhlungu kukuba, bakho abakhonzi bakaThixo abayekayo ukuma ngakwicala likaYehova.

² Kweli nqaku, siza kufunda ngabantu ababesithi bangakwicala likaYehova kodwa babe besenza izinto ezazimcaphukisa. Kwaba bantu siza kufunda izinto ezibalulekileyo eziza kusinceda singagungqi ekukhonzeni uYehova.

3. Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova alumkise uKayin, ibe wathini kuye?

³ Masithethe ngoKayin. Akakho omnye uthixo awayemkhonza ngaphandle koYehova. Kodwa uYehova akazange ayamkele indlela awayemnqula ngayo, kuba wabona izinto ezimbi entliziyweni yakhe. (1 Yoh. 3:12) UYehova wamlumkisa wathi: “Ukuba uyaguquka wenze okulungileyo, akusayi kuphakanyiswa yini na? Kodwa ukuba akuguquki wenze okulungileyo, isono sibuthumile ngasesangweni, sikhanuka wena; yaye ngaba wena uya kusongamela na?” (Gen. 4:6, 7) Eyona nto uYehova wayeyixelela uKayin yile, “Ukuba uyaguquka ube ngakwicala lam, nam ndiya kuba ngakwicala lakho.”

4. Xa uYehova wayemnika ithuba lokuba abe ngakwicala lakhe, wenza ntoni uKayin?

 ⁴ Ukuba uKayin wayeyilungisile indlela acinga ngayo, uYehova wayeza kuphinda amthande. Kodwa uKayin akazange ammamele uYehova. Ukucinga kwakhe izinto ezimbi nokucingela isiqu sakhe kwambangela wenza isono. (Yak. 1:14, 15) Xa wayesakhula, kusenokwenzeka ukuba uKayin zange ayicinge nokuyicinga into yokuba angavukela uYehova. Kodwa ekuhambeni kwexesha wayenza loo nto, waza wabulala umntakwabo!

5. Zizinto ezinjani esinokucinga ngazo ezinokusenza singathandwa nguYehova?

⁵ NjengoKayin, nangoku umKristu usenokuthi ukhonza uYehova, abe esenza izinto ezimbi. (Yude 11) Ngokomzekelo, unokucinga ngokuziphatha kakubi, ngokunyoluka okanye acaphukele umzalwana wakhe. (1 Yoh. 2:15-17; 3:15) Ezi zinto zinokumenza one. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba lo mKristu ukhuthele entsimini kwaye akaphoswa ziintlanganiso. Abanye abantu basenokungazazi izinto azicingayo nazenzayo, kodwa yena uYehova ubona zonke izinto kwaye uyazi xa singekho ngakwicala lakhe ngokupheleleyo.—Funda uYeremiya 17:9, 10.

6. UYehova usinceda njani silwe nezinto esiwa lula kuzo?

⁶ Nokuba sesizenza ezi mpazamo, uYehova akakhawulezi asincame. Xa umntu ebhekela kuye, uye amcenge athi: ‘Buyela kum, nam ndiza kubuyela kuwe.’ (Mal. 3:7) Uyazazi izinto esiwa lula kuzo, kodwa ufuna silwe nezo zinto. (Isa. 55:7) Ukuba siyayenza loo nto, uza kusinceda asinike amandla ‘okuzongamela’ okanye okulwa nazo.—Gen. 4:7.

7. Yintoni eyabangela uSolomon ayeke ukuthandwa nguYehova?

⁷ Zininzi izinto esinokuzifunda kuKumkani uSolomon. Xa wayesengumfana, wayemmamela uYehova. UThixo wampha ubulumko obuninzi waza wathi makakhe eyona tempile yakha yantle yaseYerusalem. Kodwa uSolomon wayeka ukuba ngumhlobo kaYehova. (1 Kum. 3:12; 11:1, 2) UMthetho kaThixo wawusithi ukumkani “makangazandiseli bafazi, ukuze ingaphambuki intliziyo yakhe.” (Dut. 17:17) USolomon zange athobele, watshata abafazi abayi-700. Waphinda waba namashweshwe ayi-300. (1 Kum. 11:3) Abanye babengengomaSirayeli, babenqula izithixo. Nalapho wophula umthetho kaThixo ngokutshata abantu bezinye iintlanga.—Dut. 7:3, 4.

8. USolomon wamona kangakanani uYehova?

⁸ Kancinci kancinci uSolomon wayeka ukwenza ukuthanda kukaYehova, waza ekugqibeleni wona kakhulu. Wakhela uthixokazi uAshtoreti nothixo uKemoshe izibingelelo, waza wanqula aba thixo babenqulwa ngabafazi bakhe. Eyona nto imangalisayo kukuba ezi zibingelelo wazakha kwintaba eyayiphambi kwetempile awayeyakhele uYehova eYerusalem! (1 Kum. 11:5-8; 2 Kum. 23:13) Mhlawumbi uSolomon waziqhatha ngokucinga ukuba, nokuba angangamthobeli uYehova akazukumenza nto, ukuba nje akayeki ukubingelela etempileni.

9. Kwenzeka ntoni xa uSolomon engazange amthobele uThixo?

⁹ UYehova akasoze enze ngathi akayiboni into embi. IBhayibhile ithi:  “UYehova waba nomsindo kuSolomon, ngenxa yokuba intliziyo yakhe yemka kuYehova . . . , lowo wayebonakele kabini kuye. Kwaye ngokuphathelele le nto wamyalela ukuba angalandeli abanye oothixo; kodwa akazange akugcine oko uYehova wayemyalele kona.” Ngenxa yaloo nto, uThixo wayeka ukumthanda nokumxhasa. Inzala kaSolomon yayeka ukulawula kwaSirayeli yaza yaneengxaki ezininzi kangangeminyaka.—1 Kum. 11:9-13.

10. Yintoni enokubangela siyeke ukuthandwa nguYehova?

¹⁰ Njengakwimeko kaSolomon, enye into ebangela ukuba abantu bayeke ukuthandwa nguYehova, kukuba nabahlobo abangayaziyo nabangayithobeliyo imigaqo yakhe. Abanye isenokuba ngabazalwana noodade kodwa abangasondelanga kakhulu kuYehova. Kanti isenokuba zizizalwane, abamelwane, abantu esisebenza okanye esifunda nabo, abangamkhonziyo uYehova. Ukuba abantu esichitha ixesha nabo abayihloniphi imigaqo kaYehova, ekuhambeni kwexesha banokusenza siyeke ukuba ngabahlobo bakaThixo.

11. Ziintoni ezinokusenza sibone ukuba simele sibuphelise ubuhlobo nomntu?

¹¹ Funda eyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte 15:33. Abantu abaninzi baneempawu ezintle, ibe abanye abangengomaNgqina basenokubonakala beziphethe kakuhle. Ukuba abantu obaziyo abangamaNgqina nabangengawo banjalo, ngaba ucinga ukuba banokuba ngabahlobo bakho? Khawuzibuze: Ngaba banokundenza ndisondele kakhulu kuYehova okanye banokundibhekelisa kuye? Ziintoni abacinga ngazo? Ngokomzekelo, ngaba basoloko bencokola ngefashoni, imali, izinto ze-elektroniki, ukuzonwabisa nezinye izinto ezifana nezo? Ngaba basoloko begxeka abantu okanye beqhula ngezinto ezingamanyala? UYesu walumkisa esithi: “Umlomo uthetha ngokuphuphuma kwentliziyo.” (Mat. 12:34) Ukuba uyabona ukuba abahlobo bakho bangakohlukanisa noYehova, sukuhlala ixesha elide nabo, okanye ukuba kunokwenzeka, buphelise obo buhlobo.—IMize. 13:20.

12. (a) UYehova wathini kumaSirayeli emva kokuba emkile eYiputa? (b) AmaSirayeli amphendula athini uThixo?

¹² Masithethe ngento eyenzeka emva kokuba amaSirayeli ephumile eYiputa. Abantu bahlanganisana phambi  kweNtaba YeSinayi. Apho uYehova wazibonakalisa ngendlela engummangaliso. Kwabakho ilifu elimnyama kwaza kwavakala iindundumo, kwabakho imibane, umsi nengxolo enkulu yesigodlo. (Eks. 19:16-19) Ngale ndlela uYehova wayebonisa amaSirayeli ukuba ‘unguThixo ofuna uzinikelo olupheleleyo.’ Wawaqinisekisa ukuba akabalahli abantu abamthandayo nabathobela imithetho yakhe. (Funda iEksodus 20:1-6.) UYehova wayesithi kuwo, “Ukuba ningakwicala lam, nam ndiza kuba kwicala lenu.” Ngewawutheni wena xa uYehova uThixo ekuthembisa loo nto? Siqinisekile ukuba wawuza kwenza njengamaSirayeli. “Baphendula ngazwi-nye bonke abantu bathi: ‘Sikulungele ukwenza ngokwamazwi onke awathethileyo uYehova.’” (Eks. 24:3) Kungadlulanga xesha lide, kwenzeka into engalindelekanga eyayifuna amaSirayeli abonise ukuba aza kuyenza na into awayeyithethile.

13. Yintoni eyavavanya ukuba amaSirayeli athembele kuYehova?

¹³ AmaSirayeli oyikiswa lilifu elimnyama, imibane nezinye izinto ezimangalisayo ezivela kuThixo. Acela uMoses ukuba awathethele kuYehova kwiNtaba YeSinayi. (Eks. 20:18-21) UMoses wahlala ixesha elide kuloo ntaba. AmaSirayeli ahlala entlango engenamntu uwakhokelayo. Ayeza kwenza ntoni? Kuyabonakala ukuba ayethembele ngoMoses kakhulu. Ngoko aba nexhala aza athi kuAron: ‘Senzele uthixo oya kuhamba phambi kwethu, kuba lo Moses, le ndoda yasikhuphayo ezweni laseYiputa, ngokuqinisekileyo asazi ukuba kwenzeke ntoni kuye.’—Eks. 32:1, 2.

14. AmaSirayeli aziqhatha ngelithini, ibe uYehova wathini?

¹⁴ AmaSirayeli ayesazi ukuba ukunqula izithixo yinto ayicaphukelayo uYehova. (Eks. 20:3-5) Bakhawuleza bayilibala loo nto baza banqula ithole legolide! Nakuba ayesenza loo nto, aziqhatha esithi angakwicala likaYehova. UAron wade wathi “ngumthendeleko kuYehova”! Wathini uYehova? Waxelela uMoses ukuba abantu “bonakalisile” ibe ‘baphambuke ngokukhawuleza endleleni awabayalela ukuba bahambe ngayo.’ ‘Evutha ngumsindo,’ uYehova wade wafuna ukulutshabalalisa olo hlanga.—Eks. 32:5-10.

15, 16. Yintoni eyenziwa nguMoses noAron eyabonisa ukuba babekwicala likaYehova? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.)

¹⁵ UYehova zange ade awatshabalalise amaSirayeli. Wawenzela inceba, wawanika ithuba lokuba ame ngakwicala lakhe. (Eks. 32:14) Wathi uMoses akubona indlela abangalawuleki ngayo abantu, bekhwaza, becula, bedanisela isithixo, walityumza elo thole legolide laluthuthu. Wakhwaza wathi: “Ngubani na ongakuYehova? Makeze kum!” Wathi akutsho “bahlanganisana kuye bonke oonyana bakaLevi.”—Eks. 32:17-20, 26.

¹⁶ Nangona lalenziwe nguAron ithole legolide, waguquka waza wema nabaLevi kwicala likaYehova. Ngoko aba bantu banyanisekileyo, babengathathi cala likaYehova nje kuphela, kodwa babezahlula nasebantwini abenza okubi. Bazinceda, kuba ngaloo mini abantu abaninzi ababenqula ithole legolide bafa. Kodwa uYehova wathembisa abo babekwicala lakhe ukuba uza kubasikelela.—Eks. 32:27-29.

17. Sifunda ntoni kumazwi kaPawulos athetha ngento eyenzekayo xa abantu babenqula ithole legolide?

 ¹⁷ Umpostile uPawulos walumkisa ngento eyenzekayo xa abantu babenqula ithole legolide esithi: ‘Ezi zinto zaba yimizekelo yethu, ukuze thina singabi ngabanquli-zithixo, njengoko bambi kubo benjenjalo. Le mizekelo, yabhalelwa ukulumkisa thina bafikelwe ziziphelo zeenkqubo zezinto. Ngenxa yoko lowo ucinga ukuba umile makalumke angawi.’ (1 Kor. 10:6, 7, 11, 12) Njengokuba uPawulos esitsho, nabakhonzi bakaYehova banokwenza izinto ezimbi. Banokucinga ukuba uYehova usabathanda. Kodwa ukuthi nje ufuna ukuba ngumhlobo kaYehova okanye ungakwicala lakhe, akuthethi kuthi uyakuthanda.—1 Kor. 10:1-5.

18. Yintoni enokusenza sibhekele kuYehova, ibe yintoni enokwenzeka?

¹⁸ Njengokuba amaSirayeli engazange akwazi ukulinda uMoses owayekwiNtaba YeSinayi, nanamhlanje amaKristu asenokungakwazi ukulinda xa ebona ngathi imini kaYehova yomgwebo nehlabathi elitsha azide zifike. Ezi zinto zisenokubonakala zikude kakhulu okanye zingenakwenzeka. Ukuba asilumkanga, loo nto inokubangela ukuba ibe zizinto zethu ezibaluleke ngaphezu kokwenza ukuthanda kukaYehova. Ekuhambeni kwexesha sisenokubhekela kuYehova size ekugqibeleni senze izinto ebesingenakuzenza ukuba besimi kwicala lakhe.

19. Yintoni eyona nto ibalulekileyo esingamele siyilibale, kwaye ngoba?

¹⁹ Singaze silibale ukuba uYehova ufuna simthobele nyhani kwaye sizinikele kuye ngokupheleleyo. (Eks. 20:5) Ukuba siyabhekela kuye, siya kuba senza ukuthanda kukaSathana, ibe loo nto inokusifaka engxakini. Yiloo nto uPawulos esithi: “Aninakusela indebe kaYehova nendebe yeedemon; aninakuba nenxaxheba ‘etafileni kaYehova’ nasetafileni yeedemon.”—1 Kor. 10:21.

20. UYehova usinceda njani xa senze iimpazamo?

²⁰ UKayin, uSolomon namaSirayeli banikwa ithuba lokuba ‘baguquke baze bajike’ indlela ababephila ngayo. (IZe. 3:19) UYehova akakhawulezi abancame abantu abenza iimpazamo. Wamxolela noAron. Kule mihla, uYehova unokusilumkisa ngeBhayibhile, ngeencwadi zethu ezithetha ngeBhayibhile okanye ngokucetyiswa ngumzalwana. Xa siwamamela la macebiso uYehova uza kusenzela inceba.

21. Yintoni ekufuneka sizimisele ukuyenza xa sineengxaki ezifuna sibonise ukuba sinamathele kuYehova?

²¹ UYehova usenzela ububele obungasifanelanga ngenjongo. (2 Kor. 6:1) Busenza “sizilumle kuko ukungabi nabuthixo nakwiminqweno yehlabathi.” (Funda kuTito 2:11-14.) Okwangoku sisaphila “phakathi kwale nkqubo yezinto,” siza kuba neengxaki eziza kusenza sibonise ukuba sizinikele ngokupheleleyo na kuYehova. Masizimisele ukuhlala singakwicala likaYehova uThixo wethu, kuba nguye ekufuneka ‘simoyike, simkhonze size sinamathele kuye’!—Dut. 10:20.