1-3. (a) Kumele siliphathe njani iqiniso? Nika umzekeliso. (Khangela imifanekiso esekuqaliseni.) (b) Yiphi imibuzo esizayiphendula esihlokweni lesi?

KUJAYELEKILE ukuthi nxa abantu bangathenga izinto baphinde bazibuyisele lapho abazithenge khona. Abachwayisisayo bathi kwamanye amazwe kubuyiselwa izinto ezingaba ngamaphesenti angu-9 ezithengwe ezitolo, ikanti ezithengwe nge-inthanethi zingedlula amaphesenti angu-30. Lokhu kungabe kubangelwa yikuthi kabasuthiseki ngazo kumbe kazikho esimeni esihle loba kabazithandi kangako. Yikho bacina bekubona kungcono ukuntshintsha bathathe ezinye loba bacele ukubuyiselwa imali yabo.

² Lanxa kwezinye izikhathi singabuyisela impahla esiyithengileyo ukuze sithathe enye engcono loba siphiwe imali yethu, kasifuni ukubuyisela loba ‘ukuthengisa’ iqiniso ‘esilithengileyo.’ (Bala iZaga 23:23; 1 Tim. 2:4) Esihlokweni esidlulileyo sixoxe ngezinto esazenzayo ukuze sithenge iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini. Sonke sasebenzisa isikhathi sethu silifunda futhi abanye batshiya amathuba okuthola imali lenotho. Abanye badela izihlobo labangane, bantshintsha indlela ababecabanga ngayo lababeziphatha ngayo njalo bayekela imikhuba lamasiko angavumelani leBhayibhili.  Loba kunjalo, kasizisoli ngoba izibusiso esizitholileyo zinengi kakhulu kulezinto ezisilahlekeleyo.

³ Iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini kasilithontisi, silithanda njengendoda okukhulunywa ngayo emzekelisweni kaJesu wephareli. UJesu wathi indoda leyo yayihamba idinga amaphareli amahle. Yathi ithola iphareli elalilentengo ephezulu yahle yasuka ‘yayathengisa’ konke eyayilakho, yalithenga. (Mat. 13:45, 46) Umzekeliso lo utshengisa ukuthi iqiniso elimayelana loMbuso liqakatheke kakhulu. Yikho lathi sakhetha ukutshiya izinto esasizithanda ukuze silithole iqiniso leli eliphathelene loMbuso kaNkulunkulu kanye lamanye amagugu aseLizwini lakhe. Nxa singaqhubeka silithanda, kasisoze safa ‘salithengisa.’ Lanxa kunjalo, abanye bethu bayakhohlwa ukuthi iqiniso liqakatheke kangakanani, baze bacine belithengisa. Kodwa akumelanga silithengise igugu leli esiliphetheyo! Manje singatshengisa njani ukuthi siyalithanda iqiniso lokuthi kasisoze salithengisa loba sekutheni? IBhayibhili lithi kumele ‘siqhubeke siphila ngokumayelana leqiniso.’ (Bala u-3 Johane 2-4.) Lokhu kutsho ukuthi kufanele siphilele iqiniso, siliqakathekise ukwedlula loba yini njalo silisebenzise kukho konke esikwenzayo. Esihlokweni lesi sizaxoxa ngemibuzo le: Kungani abanye ‘bethengisa’ iqiniso futhi bakwenza njani lokho? Singenzani ukuze singalithengisi? Kuyini okumele sikwenze ukuze ‘siqhubeke sihamba eqinisweni’?

4. Kuyini okwenza abanye ‘bathengisa’ iqiniso ngesikhathi sikaJesu?

⁴ Ngesikhathi uJesu esemhlabeni, abanye babelalela lokho ayekufundisa kodwa behluleka ukuqhubeka behamba eqinisweni. Ngokwesibonelo, wathi esesuthise ixuku elikhulu wasuka waya ngaphetsheya koLwandle LwaseGalile. Abantu bathi benanzelela ukuthi wayengasekho kuleyondawo bamlandela. Bathi sebefikile kuye uJesu wakhuluma amazwi abatshiya bebambe owangaphansi, wathi: “Ngiqinisile ngithi, ngaphandle kokuba lidle inyama yeNdodana yoMuntu, linathe igazi layo, kalilakuphila phakathi kwenu.” Kulokuthi bambuze ukuthi wayesitshoni, bacaphuka bathi: “Le yimfundiso enzima. Kambe ngubani ongayamukela na?” Kusukela ngalesosikhathi “abafundi bakhe abanengi bamdela ababe besamlandela.”​—Joh. 6:53-66.

5, 6. (a) Kuyini okubangele ukuthi abanye behluleke ukuqhubeka bebambelele eqinisweni? (b) Abanye balitshiye njani iqiniso?

⁵ Kuyadanisa ukuthi labanye lamuhla behlulekile ukubambelelela eqinisweni. Abanye bakhutshwe yindlela esesizwisisa ngayo imibhalo ethile kumbe yinto eyatshiwo loba yenziwa ngumzalwane ohloniphekayo. Abanye bafulathele iqiniso ngenxa yokungezwani lomunye ebandleni loba ngenxa yeseluleko abasiphiweyo lanxa sisekelwe eMibhalweni. Kanti njalo bakhona abadela iqiniso ngenxa yokulalela izinto ezikhulunywa ngabahlamuki kanye labaphikisi abatshila lokho esikukholwayo. Lokhu kwenze ‘baphambuka’ batshiya uJehova kanye lebandla. (Heb. 3:12-14) Kabazange balingisele umphostoli uPhetro owaqhubeka elokholo futhi emthemba uJesu. UJesu wathi ebuza abaphostoli ukuthi labo basebefuna ukumtshiya yini, uPhetro wahle waphendula wathi: “Nkosi, sizakuya kubani na? Wena ulamazwi okuphila okungapheliyo.”​—Joh. 6:67-69.

⁶ Abanye batshiye iqiniso bengananzeleli. Abantu laba bafanana lesikepe ebesisekhunjini, esilokhu sidonswa ngamagagasi kancane kancane size singene olwandle. IBhayibhili lithi abantu abanjalo ‘bayaduka.’ (Heb. 2:1) Bona kabafanani lomuntu otshiya iqiniso  ngabomu, kodwa bayakhukhuleka bengananzeleleli. Lokhu kubangela ukuthi bacine bengasamkhonzi uJehova futhi sebekhatshana laye. Pho singenzani ukuze singaduki?

7. Kuyini okungasisiza ukuthi siqhubeke sihamba eqinisweni?

⁷ Ukuvuma ukufundiswa nguJehova lokulalela konke asifundisa khona kuzasisiza ukuthi siqhubeke sihamba eqinisweni. Kumele siqakathekise iqiniso ukwedlula loba yini njalo silandele izimiso zeBhayibhili empilweni zethu. INkosi uDavida yathandaza kuJehova yathi: ‘Ngizahamba eqinisweni lakho.’ (Hubo. 86:11) Lathi kumele sizimisele ukuqhubeka sihamba eqinisweni njengoDavida. Nxa singayekela ukwenza njalo sizaqala ukucabanga izinto esazitshiya emuva ngesikhathi sithola iqiniso size sicine sibuyela kuzo. Ngakho kasizameni ngamandla wonke ukusebenzisa konke esikufundiswayo futhi sikhumbule ukuthi kasizikhetheli ukuthi sifuna ukulalela kuphi sitshiye kuphi. Kumele sihambe “kulo lonke iqiniso.” (Joh. 16:13) Esihlokweni esidlulileyo sixoxe ngezinto ezinhlanu esazitshiyayo ukuze sithenge iqiniso. Okwakhathesi asixoxeni ngalokho esingakwenza ukuze singacini sesibuyela ezintweni lezo.​—Mat. 6:19.

8. Kuyingozi ngani ukusebenzisa kubi isikhathi? Nika isibonelo.

⁸ Isikhathi. Kuqakathekile ukuthi sisebenzise kuhle isikhathi sethu ukuze singaphambuki eqinisweni. Nxa singananzeleli singacina sesichitha isikhathi esinengi kakhulu sibukele i-TV, siku-inthanethi loba sizilibazisa ngokunye nje esikuthandayo. Akukubi sibili ukwenza izinto lezi kodwa kumele sinanzelele ngoba zingacina zisithathela isikhathi sethu sokutaditsha loba esokwenza okunye okuphathelane lokukhonza. Lokhu yikho kanye okwenzakala komunye udadewethu okuthiwa ngu-Emma. * Kusukela esakhula wayewathanda kakhulu amabhiza futhi wayejayele ukuya emidlalweni yokugada amabhiza. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi u-Emma waqala ukukhathazeka ngoba ayekwenza kwakumdlela isikhathi esinengi. Ngakho wazimisela ukwenza untshintsho ukuze asebenzise kuhle isikhathi sakhe. Okunye okwamkhuthazayo yilokho okwenziwa ngudadewethu okuthiwa nguCory Wells owayeyintshantshu emdlaweni wokugada amabhiza. * Khathesi u-Emma usebenzisa isikhathi sakhe esinengi ezintweni eziphathelane lokukhonza futhi uyenelisa ukuthola isikhathi sokuba lemuli yakhe kanye labangane. Ukusebenzisa kuhle isikhathi kumenze wasondela kakhulu kuJehova njalo wathokoza.

9. Kungani kufanele siqaphele umkhuba wokuthanda imali lenotho?

⁹ Imali lenotho. Nxa sifuna ukuqhubeka sihamba eqinisweni kufanele sinanzelele umkhuba wokuthanda imali. Sathi siqala ukufunda iqiniso sabona ukuthi ukukhonza uJehova kuqakatheke kakhulu ukwedlula imali lenotho. Yikho sakhetha ukutshiya amathuba okuthola imali ukuze sithenge iqiniso. Kodwa ngokuhamba kwesikhathi singabona abanye bekhomba ngophakathi loba bethenga ezempucuko zakulezinsuku, besesibona angathi sesisalele emuva. Lokhu kungenza singasuthiseki ngesilakho futhi sicine sesiqakathekisa imali ukwedlula ukukhonza. Indaba le isikhumbuza okwenzakala kumKhristu wasendulo okuthiwa nguDemasi. Ukuthanda “umhlaba lo” kwamenza watshiya inkonzo eqakathekileyo ayeyenza lomphostoli uPhawuli. (2 Tim. 4:10) Kambe ukuthi wayesethanda inotho ukwedlula  ukukhonza uJehova loba wayengasafuni ukuqhubeka encedisa uPhawuli? IBhayibhili kalisitsheli ukuthi kwahamba njani. Pho thina sifundani? Mhlawumbe kudala kwethu sasiyithanda kakhulu imali lezinto ezisemhlabeni lo. Nxa kunjalo, kumele siqaphele ngoba umkhuba lo ungaphinda uvuke sicine singasalithandi iqiniso.

10. Kuyini okunye okungasisiza ukuthi siqhubeke sihamba eqinisweni?

¹⁰ Izihlobo labangane. Okunye okuzasisiza ukuthi siqhubeke sihamba eqinisweni yikungavumi ukuyengwa loba ukucindezelwa ngabantu abangamkhonziyo uJehova. Sathi sesifunde iqiniso, ubudlelwano bethu lezihlobo kanye labanye abantu esibajayeleyo bantshintsha. Abanye bakwamukela esasesikukhethile kodwa abanye baqala ukusizonda lokusiphikisa. (1 Phet. 4:4) Siyafuna ukuhlala sizwanana lezihlobo zethu labangane kodwa akumelanga sephule izimiso zikaJehova ngenxa yokufuna ukuthabisa abantu. Sizaqhubeka sizama ukuhlalisana kuhle lezihlobo zethu kodwa kufanele sihlale sikhumbula isixwayiso esiku-1 Khorinte 15:33. Kufanele sikhumbule lokuthi abangane abahle sibathola ebantwini abakhonza uJehova kuphela.

11. Singayibalekela njani imicabango engcolileyo lezenzo ezimbi?

¹¹ Imicabango engcolileyo lezenzo ezimbi. Bonke abahamba eqinisweni kufanele babengcwele. (Isaya. 35:8; bala u-1 Phetro 1:14-16.) Sonke sathi sithola iqiniso sazimisela ukuntshintsha izenzo zethu ukuze silandele izimiso zeBhayibhili. Abanye bethu kwadingeka ukuthi benze untshintsho olukhulu kakhulu. Kungelani lokuthi yikuphi esakwenzayo akumelanga loba nini sithengise imikhuba emihle esesilayo ngokwenza izinto ezenyanyekayo ezigcwele emhlabeni lo. Manje kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sibalekele imicabango engcolileyo lezenzo ezimbi? Akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi uJehova wasithenga ngegazi eliligugu leNdodana yakhe uJesu Khristu ukuze sibe ngcwele. (1 Phet. 1:18, 19) Le yimbadalo enkulu kakhulu esasingeke siyenelise. Ngakho kasicabangisiseni ngomhlatshelo wenhlawulo kaJesu ngazo zonke izikhathi ukuze sihlale singcwele phambi kukaJehova.

12, 13. (a) Kungani kuqakathekile ukuthi sibe lombono kaJehova ezindabeni zokunanza amakhefu? (b) Sizaxoxa ngani khathesi?

¹² Imikhuba lamasiko aphikisana leBhayibhili. Izihlobo zethu labantu esisebenza labo kanye lesifunda labo esikolo bangazama ukusihuga ukuthi sinanze izinsuku zokuzalwa lamanye amakhefu akhona emphakathini. Pho singenzani nxa abantu besiyenga ukuthi sinanze amakhefu angamthokozisiyo uJehova? Ukuhlala sikhumbula ukuthi uJehova uthini ngezinto lezi kungasinceda kakhulu. Yikho kasihloleni amabhuku esiwaphiwa yinhlanganiso ukuze sifunde ukuthi amakhefu la aqalisa njani. Ukucabangisisa ngezizatho eziseMibhalweni ezenza singananzi amakhefu athandwa ngabantu kuzasisiza ukuthi siqhubeke sihamba endleleni ‘ethokozisa iNkosi.’ (Efe. 5:10) Nxa singamthemba uJehova njalo sinamathele eLizwini lakhe kasisoze ‘sesabe abantu.’​—Zaga. 29:25.

¹³ Kumele sizimisele ukuhamba eqinisweni okwempilo yethu yonke kuze kube nini lanini. Kuyini okungasinceda ukuthi sibe lesifiso esikhulu sokuqhubeka sihamba eqinisweni? Asixoxeni ngezinto ezintathu ezingasisiza ukuthi sikwenze lokhu.

14. (a) Ukuqhubeka sithenga iqiniso kuzasinceda njani? (b) Kuqakatheke ngani ukuthi sithenge ukuhlakanipha lokuzikhuza lokuzwisisa?

¹⁴ Okokuqala, hlala ubala iLizwi likaNkulunkulu njalo ucabangisise ngalo. Zinike  isikhathi nsuku zonke sokubala iBhayibhili ukuze uthenge iqiniso eliligugu. Ukwenza njalo kuzakusiza ukuthi ulithande kakhulu futhi uzimisele ukungalithengisi loba sekutheni. Nxa usulithengile kulokunye futhi okumele ukwenze. IBhayibhili lithi thenga “ukuhlakanipha lokuzikhuza lokuzwisisa.” (Zaga. 23:23) Amazwi la atshengisa ukuthi ukuba lolwazi nje ngeke kukuncede. Kufanele usebenzise iqiniso empilweni yakho njalo ube lokuzwisisa ukuze ukwazi ukuthi okufundileyo uzakusebenzisa njani. Ukuhlakanipha kuzakusiza ukuthi wenze osukufundile. Ngezinye izikhathi iqiniso liyasikhuza nxa sesiphambuka futhi lisitshengise lapho okufanele silungise khona. Ngakho kasivumeleni iqiniso lisibumbe ngoba liligugu ukwedlula isiliva.​—Zaga. 8:10.

15. Ibhanti leqiniso lisivikela njani?

¹⁵ Okwesibili, zimisele ukulisebenzisa nsuku zonke iqiniso olifundayo. Qhubeka ubophele ibhanti leqiniso ekhalweni lwakho. (Efe. 6:14) Ngezikhathi zeBhayibhili amasotsha ayebophela ibhanti okhalweni. Ibhanti lelo lalisenza isotsha lenelise ukulwa kuhle kodwa kwakumele libotshwe liqine ukuze lenze umsebenzi walo. Iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini lalo lifanana lebhanti leli. Nxa singaligcina lisezinhliziyweni lasezingqondweni zethu, lizasinceda ukuthi senze izinqumo ezinhle njalo sibalekele imicabango engalunganga. Nxa siphakathi kohlupho olunzima kumbe sihugwa yimicabango engasiwisela esonweni, iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini lizasinceda ukuthi sizimisele ukwenza okuhle. Amasotsha asendulo ayekwazi ukuthi ukuhamba empini ungelalo ibhanti kwakuyikudlala ngomlilo. Yikho lathi kasihlaleni siligqokile ibhanti leqiniso, singaliyekeli lixega kumbe silikhuphe. Kasitshengiseni ukuthi silibophe laqina ngokwenza lokho iqiniso elikutshoyo. Okunye okuhle yikuthi ibhanti lelo lalilendawo lapho isotsha elalingafaka khona inkemba yalo ukuze liyithwale kuhle. Lokhu kusisa emcijweni wesithathu ozasisiza ukuthi siqhubeke sihamba eqinisweni.

16. Ukufundisa abanye iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini kusinceda ngani?

¹⁶ Okwesithathu, khuthalela ukufundisa abanye iqiniso eliseBhayibhilini. Lokhu kuzakwenza uyibambe uqinise inkemba ‘yomoya, eyilizwi likaNkulunkulu.’ (Efe. 6:17) Sonke kufanele siqhubeke sithuthukisa indlela esifundisa ngayo ukuze ‘siliphathe kuhle ilizwi leqiniso.’ (2 Tim. 2:15) Ukunceda abanye ukuthi bathenge iqiniso njalo batshiye izimfundiso zamanga kuyasisiza ukuthi sijulise iqiniso ezinhliziyweni lasezingqondweni zethu. Kanti njalo kusinika amandla okuqhubeka sihamba eqinisweni.

17. Kungani iqiniso liligugu kuwe?

¹⁷ Iqiniso liyisipho esiligugu esivela kuJehova. Yilo elasinceda ukuthi sithole inotho eqakatheke ukwedlula loba yini esingayicabanga. Inotho le yibungane esilabo loBaba wethu osezulwini. Kunengi asesifundise khona kodwa akusilutho nxa sikuqathanisa lalokho esizaqhubeka sikufunda. Phela uNkulunkulu uthembisa ukuthi uzasifundisa kuze kube nini lanini. Ngakho liqakathekise iqiniso njengephareli elilentengo ephezulu, ‘ulithenge futhi ungalithengisi’ loba sekutheni. Qhubeka usenza lokho okwatshiwo ngumhubi uDavida owathembisa uJehova wathi: ‘Ngizahamba eqinisweni lakho.’​—Hubo. 86:11.