1, 2. Ngumuphi umbuto lokufanele utibute wona ngemuva kwekushiya inkholo yemanga, futsi kungani ucabanga kutsi loku kubalulekile?

ASE sitsi utfola kutsi indzawo yakini ingcolisiwe. Lotsite ningamboni abelibala kulahla dodi lonashevu kuleyondzawo lohlala kuyo, nyalo kuphila kwakho kusengotini. Yini longayenta? Nakanjani, bewutawutfutsa kulendzawo nawukhona. Kodvwa ngisho sewusukile, utatibuta, ‘Angikawutfoli yini loshevu?’

² Lesimo sifanana kahle nenkholo yemanga. LiBhayibheli lifundzisa kutsi inkholo yemanga ingcoliswe timfundziso nemikhuba lengcolile. (2 Khorinte 6:17) Kungako-ke kubalulekile ngawe kutsi uphume ‘eBhabhulona Lelikhulu,’ umbuso welive wenkholo yemanga. (Sembulo 18:2, 4) Sewukwentile yini loko? Nangabe sewuphumile, wente kahle kakhulu. Kodvwa kunalokunye lokudzingekile kunekumane nje utehlukanise nenkholo yemanga. Ngemuva kwekutehlukanisa, kufanele utibute, ‘Kute yini lokusele kimi lokuhambisana nekukhonta kwemanga?’ Ase sicabangele lokunye kwaloko.

3. (a) Litsini liBhayibheli ngekukhonta tintfombe, futsi kungani kungaba lukhuni ngalabanye kwemukela lombono waNkulunkulu? (b) Kufanele utenteni tintfo lokungenteka unato letihlobene nekukhonta kwemanga?

³ Labanye sekuneminyaka banetitfombe nobe tindzawo tekuthandaza emakhaya abo. Unato yini wena? Nangabe kunjalo, ungase ucabange kutsi akuketayeleki nobe akukalungi kuthandaza kuNkulunkulu ngephandle kwelusito lwaletintfo longakwati kutibona. Kusenekwenteka letinye tato utitsandza kakhulu. Kodvwa nguNkulunkulu lokufanele asho kutsi ufuna simkhonte kanjani, futsi liBhayibheli litsi akafuni sisebentise titfombe nasimkhonta. (Eksodusi 20:4, 5; Tihlabelelo 115:4-8; Isaya 42:8; 1 Johane 5:21) Ngako-ke, ungamelela inkholo yeliciniso ngekulahla tonkhe tintfo lonato letihlobene nekukhonta kwemanga. Titsatse ngendlela Jehova latibheka ngayo njengetintfo ‘letisinengiso.’—Dutheronomi 27:15.

4. (a) Sati njani kutsi kukhonta emadloti akusiti ngalutfo? (b) Kungani Jehova abalela bantfu bakhe kutsi bahlanganyele kunobe nguluphi luhlobo lwekusebentelana nemimoya?

⁴ Kukhonta emadloti kuvamile etinkholweni letinyenti  temanga. Bangakalifundzi liciniso leBhayibheli, labanyenti bebakholwa kutsi labafile bayaphila endzaweni letsite yemoya lengabonakali futsi bangasita nobe balimate labaphilako. Kungenteka wawetayele kushweleta emadlotini. Kodvwa njengobe ufundzile eSehlukweni 6 salencwadzi, labafile ayikho indzawo labaphila kuyo. Ngako imetamo yekuchumana nabo ayisiti. Nobe ngabe ngumuphi umlayeto lokubonakala shengatsi uvela kulabafile, usuke uchamuka emadimonini. Kungako-ke Jehova awalela ema-Israyeli kutsi achumane nebantfu labafile nobe ahlanganyele kunobe nguluphi luhlobo lwekusebentelana nemimoya.—Dutheronomi 18:10-12.

5. Kufanele wente njani nangabe enkholweni lokuyo kukhontwa titfombe nemadloti?

⁵ Nangabe kukhonta tintfombe nemadloti bekuyincenye yekukhonta kwakho, yini lokufanele uyente? Fundza futsi uzindle ngaloko lokushiwo liBhayibheli ngendlela Nkulunkulu latibheka ngayo leto tintfo. Thandaza kuJehova onkhe emalanga umtjele ngesifiso sakho sekumelela inkholo yeliciniso, futsi umcele akusite kutsi ucabange ngendlela yena lacabanga ngayo.—Isaya 55:9.

6, 7. (a) Kutsiwa kusuke kugujwani ngaKhisimusi, futsi balandzeli baJesu belikhulu lekucala bebawugubha yini? (b) Ngumiphi imikhosi yekugujwa kwemalanga ekutalwa leyentiwa ngesikhatsi sebafundzi baJesu bekucala?

⁶ Indlela umuntfu lakhonta ngayo ingaphindze ingcoliswe yinkholo yemanga mayelana nemaholidi latsandvwako. Nasi sibonelo: Cabanga nje ngaKhisimusi. Bantfu bayaye batsi ngaKhisimusi bagubha lilanga lekutalwa kwaJesu Khristu, futsi cishe tonkhe tinkholo letitsi tebuKhristu tiyawugubha. Noko, kute bufakazi bekutsi bafundzi baJesu belikhulu lekucala leminyaka baligubha lelo holidi. Incwadzi letsi Sacred Origins of Profound Things itsi: “Kwaphela emakhulu lamabili eminyaka kusukela Khristu atelwe kuloku kungekho muntfu  lowatiko kutsi watalwa nini, futsi bebambalwa bantfu labanendzaba ngaloko.”

⁷ Ngisho nobe bafundzi baJesu bebangaze balati kahle lilanga latalwa ngalo, bebangeke baligubhe. Ngani? Ngobe emaKhristu ekucala “abebuka kugubha kutalwa kwanobe ngubani njengemkhuba wemahedeni,” njengobe kusho i-The World Book Encyclopedia. Lokukuphela kwekugujwa kwemalanga ekutalwa lokukhulunywa ngawo eBhayibhelini kwebabusi lababili labebangamkhonti Jehova. (Genesisi 40:20; Makho 6:21) Kwakugujwa nemalanga ekutalwa abonkulunkulu bemahedeni. Nasi sibonelo: Nga-May 24 emaRoma abegubha lilanga lekutalwa kwankulunkulukati Diana. Ngelilanga lelilandzelako abegubha lilanga lekutalwa kwankulunkulu wawo welilanga, Apollo. Ngako, kugujwa kwemalanga ekutalwa kwakuhlobene nebuhedeni, hhayi nebuKhristu.

8. Chaza kuhlobana kwekugujwa kwemalanga ekutalwa nekukholelwa lite.

⁸ Kunalesinye sizatfu lesenta emaKhristu elikhulu lekucala leminyaka angaligubhi lilanga lekutalwa kwaJesu. Kungenteka bafundzi bakhe bebati kutsi kugujwa kwemalanga ekutalwa kuhlobene nekukholelwa lite. Nasi sibonelo: EmaGriki lamanyenti kanye nemaRoma asendvulo abekholelwa kutsi kunemoya logadza kutalwa kwemuntfu ngamunye nekutsi uyamvikela kuphila kwakhe konkhe. Incwadzi letsi The Lore of Birthdays itsi: “Lomoya bewuba nebuhlobo lobuyimfihlo nankulunkulu lowatalwa ngelilanga lekutalwa laloyo muntfu.” Nobe ngumuphi umkhosi lobewungase uhlobanise Jesu nekukholwa lite, wawungeke nani umjabulise Jehova. (Isaya 65:11, 12) Pho, kwenteka njani kutsi Khisimusi ugujwe bantfu labanyenti kangaka?

9. Kwenteka njani kutsi December 25 amiswe njengelilanga lekutalwa kwaJesu?

⁹ Ngemuva kwemakhulu lambalwa eminyaka Jesu aphila emhlabeni, bantfu bacala kugubha lilanga lekutalwa kwakhe  nga-December 25. Kodvwa lelo akusilo lilanga lekutalwa kwaJesu, ngobe kusebaleni kutsi watalwa nga-October. * Kodvwa kungani bantfu bakhetsa December 25? Labatsite muva labatibita ngekutsi bangemaKhristu kungenteka kutsi “bebafisa kutsi lelo langa lihambisane nemkhosi wemaRoma webuhedeni ‘wekutalwa kwelilanga lelingehlulwa.’” (The New Encyclopædia Britannica) Ebusika, lapho lilanga lite emandla, emahedeni abevamise kuba nemikhosi yekulincenga kutsi libuye kute kuphindze kushise futsi kukhanye. Kucatjangwa kutsi nga-December 25 lilanga lalicala kubuya. Betama kutsi emahedeni aphendvuke, bafundisi bawemukela lomkhosi futsi bawuhlanganisa naloko lokusabuKhristu. *

10. Ngesikhatsi lesedlulile kungani labanye bangazange bawugubhe Khisimusi?

¹⁰ Sekusikhatsi lesidze bantfu bati kutsi Khisimusi wacala kugujwa ngemahedeni. Ngesizatfu sekutsi lomkhosi awukasekelwa emiBhalweni, bantfu balelwa kuwugubha engilandi nasetigodzini letitsite taseMelika ngelikhulu lesi-17. Nanobe ngubani lobekangayi emsebentini ngelilanga laKhisimusi abehlawuliswa. Noko-ke, kungakendluli sikhatsi lesidze, lomkhosi waphindze wamukeleka futsi kwengetwa naleminye lemisha. Khisimusi waphindze waba liholidi lelihlonishwako futsi loko kusenjalo nakulamanye emave lamanyenti. Noko-ke, ngekutsi Khisimusi uhambisana nenkholo yemanga, labo labafuna kujabulisa Nkulunkulu  abawugubhi, futsi abagubhi nanobe nguliphi lelinye liholidi lelisuka kumahedeni. *

11. Kungani labanye bantfu bagubha emaholidi, kodvwa yini lokufanele sitikhatsate ngayo ngalokuyinhloko?

¹¹ Labanye bayavuma kutsi emaholidi lafanana nalelaKhisimusi abegujwa ngemahedeni kodvwa bacabanga kutsi akukubi kuwagubha lamaholidi. Ecinisweni, bantfu labanyenti abacabangi ngenkholo yemanga lapho bagubha lamaholidi. Leti tikhatsi letenta kutsi imindeni ibe nelitfuba lekuba ndzawonye. Nawe utiva njalo yini? Nangabe kunjalo, kusenekwenteka kutsi utsandza umndeni wakho, hhayi inkholo yemanga lokwenta kube matima ngawe kumelela inkholo yeliciniso. Noko-ke, ciniseka kutsi Jehova longumsunguli wemindeni ufuna kutsi nibe nebuhlobo lobuhle netihlobo takho. (Efesu 3:14, 15) Kodvwa ungabucinisa lobo buhlobo ngetindlela Nkulunkulu latemukelako. Akhuluma ngentfo lokufanele sitikhatsate ngayo ngalokuyinhloko, umphostoli Pawula watsi: “Yetamani kufundza lokutfokotisa iNkhosi.”—Efesu 5:10.

12. Fananisa kutsi kungani kufanele siwabalekele emasiko nemikhosi leyacala kugujwa ngemahedeni.

¹² Kungenteka kutsi indlela lagujwa ngayo lamaholidi lamuhla ayisafani naleyo abegujwa ngayo ekucaleni. Kunendzaba yini kutsi lamaholidi abegujwa njani ekucaleni? Yebo! Kute sifananise: Ase sitsi ubona liswidi lisekhatsi etibini. Bewungalinyula yini ulidle? Cha, bewungeke! Lelo swidi lingcolile. Kunjalo nangemaholidi, angabonakala ajabulisa njengaleliswidi, kodvwa ekucaleni anyulwa etimfundzisweni tebucaba. Kute simelele inkholo yeliciniso, kufanele sibe nembono labenawo umphrofethi Isaya lowatjela tikhonti teliciniso watsi: “Ningatsintsi lutfo lolungcolile.”—Isaya 52:11.

13. Ngutiphi tinkinga letingavela lapho ungawagubhi emaholidi latsite?

¹³ Kungaba netinkinga lapho ukhetsa kungawagubhi emaholidi latsite. Nasi sibonelo: Labo losebenta nabo bangamangala kutsi kungani ungahlanganyeli nabo lapho bagubha emaholidi latsite. Kutsiwani nangabe bakupha sipho saKhisimusi? Kubi yini kusemukela? Kutsiwani nangabe loshade naye angesiye umKhristu njengawe? Ungaciniseka njani kutsi bantfwana bakho abativa shengatsi bemiwa lokutsite ngekungagubhi lamaholidi?

14, 15. Yini longayenta lapho umuntfu akufisela lokuhle ngesikhatsi seliholidi lelitsite nobe akupha sipho?

¹⁴ Kungase kudzingeke umuntfu acabange lapho asingatsa simo ngasinye. Lapho umuntfu akufisela lokuhle ngelilanga leliholidi lelitsite, ungase nje ubonge. Kodvwa ase sitsi lona ngumuntfu losebenta naye nobe lombona onkhe emalanga. Kuleso simo, ungase ukhetse kumchazela kabanti ngekuma kwakho. Kuto tonkhe timo, kufanele usebentise ingcondvo. LiBhayibheli liyasiyala: “Kukhuluma kwenu akube nemusa ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi, nikunadzise njengeluswayi ekudleni, khona nitekwati lenifanele kubaphendvula ngako bantfu.” (Kholose 4:6) Bonisa kutsi uyabahlonipha labanye. Chaza tinkholelo takho ukhombisa kucabanga. Bacinisekise kutsi awuphikisani nekuphana kwebantfu tipho nemibutsano yabo, kodvwa wena ukhetsa kwenta loko nganoma ngusiphi sikhatsi lokhona ngaso.

¹⁵ Kutsiwani nangabe umuntfu ufuna kukupha sipho? Loko kuyokuya ngetimo letitsite. Mhlawumbhe lomunye angatsi: “Ngiyati kutsi wena awuligubhi leliholidi. Kodvwa ngicela kukunika nasi sipho.” Ungakhetsa kusemukela kuleso simo utsi akufanani nekugubha lelo holidi. Noko-ke, nangabe loyo muntfu lokuniketa lesipho akatati tinkholelo takho, ungamtjela kutsi wena awuligubhi lelo holidi. Loku kungamsita abone kutsi kungani wena usemukela sipho sakhe kodvwa ungamniki lutfo wena. Ngakulolunye luhlangotsi, kungaba  kuhle kutsi ungasemukeli leso sipho nangabe siniketwa ngendlela letawenta shengatsi wena awubambeleli etinkholelweni takho nobe ungase ungatsembeki lapho utawutfola lokutsite.

16. Ungayisebentisa njani ingcondvo lapho ukhuluma nalabanye ngemaholidi?

¹⁶ Kutsiwani nangabe tihlobo takho atikholwa kuloko lokukholwako wena? Kudzingeka usebentise ingcondvo. Akudzingeki wente emasiko kanye nemicibhi yetihlobo takho kube yindzaba lekuphikiswana ngayo nato. Kunaloko, kufanele uyihloniphe imibono yato njengobe nawe bewungafuna kutsi bayihloniphe yakho. (Matewu 7:12) Balekela tonkhe tintfo letitakwenta uhlanganyele kulamaholidi. Nobe kunjalo, kudzingeka usebentise ingcondvo etindzabeni letingasho kutsi ugubha lomkhosi ngalokucondzile. Ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi kufanele wente intfo letakushiya unanembeza lohlobile.—1 Thimothi 1:18, 19.

17. Ungabasita njani bantfwana bakho kutsi bangativa shengatsi bemiwa lokutsite ngekutsi labanye bagubha emaholidi?

¹⁷ Yini longayenta kute bantfwana bakho bangativa shengatsi bemiwa lokutsite ngekutsi abawagubhi lamaholidi langahambisani nemibhalo? Loko kutawuya ngekutsi yini leniyentako ngaletinye tikhatsi temnyaka. Labanye batali bakhetsa sikhatsi lesitsite kute baphe bantfwana babo tipho. Lesinye sipho lesikhulu longasipha bantfwana bakho, kubabonisa lutsandvo kanye nekucitsa sikhatsi nabo.

18. Kuba khona emihlanganweni yemaKhristu kungakusita njani kutsi usekele inkholo yeliciniso?

¹⁸ Kute ujabulise Nkulunkulu, kudzingeka wehlukane nenkholo yemanga bese usekela inkholo yeliciniso. Loku kuhlanganisani? LiBhayibheli litsi: “Ngako-ke asinakane, sisitane ngekukhutsatana elutsandvweni nasemisebentini lemihle.  Singakuyekeli kuhlangana ndzawonye, njengobe labanye sebanemkhuba wekungahlangani; kodvwa asikhutsatane kakhulu, njengobe nani niyabona kutsi lilanga selisondzele.” (Hebheru 10:24, 25) Imihlangano yemaKhristu itikhatsi letijabulisako tekukhonta Nkulunkulu ngendlela layemukelako. (Tihlabelelo 22:22; 122:1) Emihlanganweni lenjena, emaKhristu letsembekile ‘ayasitana kanyekanye.’—Roma 1:12.

19. Kungani kubalulekile kukhuluma nalabanye ngetintfo lotifundze eBhayibhelini?

¹⁹ Lenye indlela yekusekela inkholo yeliciniso, kukhuluma nalabanye ngetintfo lotifundze eBhayibhelini naboFakazi BaJehova. Bantfu labanyenti lamuhla ‘bakhatsatekile bayabubula’ ngebubi lobugcwele emhlabeni. (Hezekeli 9:4) Mhlawumbhe uyabati labanye labativa ngaleyo ndlela. Kungani ungakhulumi nabo ngetetsembiso telikusasa letisekwelwe eBhayibhelini? Njengobe utihlanganisa nemaKhristu eliciniso futsi ucoca nalabanye ngetetsembiso letiliciniso letimangalisako lofundze ngato, utawutfola kutsi nobe ngabe ngusiphi sifiso sekugcina emasiko lebesisele enhlitiyweni yakho siyaphela. Ciniseka kutsi utawujabula kakhulu futsi utawutfola tibusiso letinyenti nangabe usekela inkholo yeliciniso.—Malakhi 3:10.