1. Ngoobani abaqalisa ibandla laseFilipi?

XA UMPOSTILE uPawulos, uSilas, uLuka noTimoti bafika eFilipi, badibana nabantu abaninzi ababefuna ukwazi okungakumbi ngeendaba ezilungileyo. Aba bazalwana bane bakhutheleyo baqalisa ibandla. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba eli bandla lalingenela kwikhaya lodade owayekuthanda ukubuka iindwendwe ekuthiwa nguLidiya.​—IZe. 16:40.

2. Yeyiphi ingxaki elaba nayo ibandla laseFilipi?

² Akuzange kube kudala, eli bandla lalisandokubakho laba nengxaki. USathana wabangela ukuba abantu ababengayithandi inyaniso balwe noPawulos naba bazalwana bathathu kuba beshumayela. UPawulos noSilas babanjwa, babethwa ngeentonga baza bavalelwa ejele. Emva kokukhululwa ejele, bayokubona abafundi abatsha baza babakhuthaza. Emva koko, uPawulos, uSilas noTimoti bemka kweso sixeko ibe kubonakala ukuba uLuka washiyeka. Babeza kuthini ke aba bazalwana noodade batsha? UYehova wabanika umoya wakhe, ngoko baqhubeka bemkhonza. (Fil. 2:12) Yiyo le nto uPawulos wayezidla kangaka ngabo.

3. Ngokutsho kwamaFilipi 1:9-11, uPawulos wathandazela ntoni?

³ Malunga neminyaka eyi-10 emva koko, uPawulos wabhalela ibandla laseFilipi ileta. Xa ufunda loo leta, uyibona kakuhle indlela uPawulos awayebathanda ngayo abazalwana bakhe. Wathi: “Ndinilangazelela nonke ngomsa onjengalowo uKristu Yesu anawo.” (Fil. 1:8) Wathi kubo uyabathandazela. Wacela uYehova ukuba abancede bathandane  ngakumbi, baqiniseke ngezinto ezibaluleke ngakumbi, bangabi nasiphako, bakuphephe ukukhubekisa abanye baze baqhubeke besenza izinto ezilungileyo. Ngoko, makhe siyifunde into uPawulos awayibhalela amaKristu aseFilipi. (Funda amaFilipi 1:9-11.) Emva koko, siza kuthetha ngezinto awazibhalayo nendlela ezingasinceda ngayo.

4. (a) Ngokutsho kweyoku-1 kaYohane 4:9, 10, uYehova wasibonisa njani indlela asithanda ngayo? (b) Simele simthande kangakanani uThixo?

⁴ UYehova wabonisa indlela asithanda ngayo ngokuthumela uNyana wakhe emhlabeni ukuze afele izono zethu. (Funda eyoku-1 kaYohane 4:9, 10.) Indlela uYehova asithanda ngayo isenza simthande nathi. (Roma 5:8) Simele simthande kangakanani uThixo? UYesu wakha wawuphendula lo mbuzo xa wayethetha nomFarisi, wathi: “Uze umthande uYehova uThixo wakho ngentliziyo yakho iphela nangomphefumlo wakho uphela nangengqondo yakho iphela.” (Mat. 22:36, 37) Sifuna ukumthanda ngentliziyo yethu yonke uThixo, ibe sifuna ukumthanda ngakumbi yonke imihla. UPawulos wathi kumaKristu aseFilipi ‘uthando lwawo maluphuphume ngakumbi nangakumbi.’ Simele senze ntoni ukuze simthande ngakumbi uThixo?

5. Simele senze ntoni ukuze simthande ngakumbi uThixo?

⁵ Kufuneka simazi uThixo ukuze simthande. IBhayibhile ithi: “Lowo ungenaluthando akamazi uThixo, kuba uThixo uluthando.” (1 Yoh. 4:8) Umpostile uPawulos wathi siza kumthanda ngakumbi uThixo ukuba ‘sinolwazi oluchanileyo nokuqonda okupheleleyo’ ngaye. (Fil. 1:9) Xa saqalisa ukufunda iBhayibhile, samthanda uYehova nangona sasingazi nto ingako ngaye. Sathi sakufunda izinto ezingakumbi ngaye, samthanda nangakumbi. Yiyo loo nto kubaluleke nyhani ukuba siyifunde qho iBhayibhile size sicinge ngezinto esizifundayo.​—Fil. 2:16.

6. Ngokutsho kweyoku-1 kaYohane 4:11, 20, 21, ngoobani abanye esimele sibathande xa sithanda uThixo?

⁶ Xa simthanda uThixo, siza kubathanda nabazalwana bethu. (Funda eyoku-1 kaYohane 4:11, 20, 21.) Mhlawumbi sicinga ukuba kuyinto nje elula ukuthanda abazalwana noodadewethu. Ngapha koko, sonke sikhonza uYehova ibe sifuna ukufana naye. Kwakhona, sifuna ukubathanda abazalwana bethu njengoYesu owanikela ngobomi bakhe kuba esithanda. Kodwa ke, ngamanye amaxesha kusenokuba nzima ukubathanda abazalwana bethu nangona iBhayibhile isitsho. Khawucinge ngento eyenzeka kwibandla laseFilipi.

7. Yintoni esiyifundayo kwinto uPawulos awayithetha kuWodiya noSintike?

⁷ UWodiya noSintike yayingoodade abakhutheleyo ababekhonza nompostile uPawulos. Kodwa kusenokwenzeka ukuba baxabana baza bayeka ukuba ngabahlobo. Kwileta awayibhalela ibandla ababekhonza kulo aba dade, uPawulos wathi uWodiya noSintike ‘mabacinge nto-nye.’ (Fil. 4:2, 3) UPawulos wabona kunyanzelekile ukuba axelele ibandla lonke ukuba ‘lihlale lisenza zonke izinto ngaphandle kokumbombozela nengxoxo.’ (Fil. 2:14) Ngokuqinisekileyo, la mazwi kaPawulos awazange ancede aba dade babini nje qha, kodwa anceda ibandla lonke ukuba lithandane.

8. Yintoni enokwenza kube nzima ukubathanda abazalwana bethu, ibe sinokuncedwa yintoni?

 ⁸ Ngamanye amaxesha kusenokuba nzima ukubathanda abazalwana bethu kuba sijonge iimpazamo abazenzayo, kanye le nto yenziwa nguWodiya noSintike. Sonke siyazenza iimpazamo yonk’ imihla. Xa sisoloko sicinga ngeempazamo ezenziwa ngabanye, kuza kuba nzima ukubathanda. Ngokomzekelo, ukuba umzalwana ulibele ukusincedisa ekucoceni iHolo YoBukumkani, isenokusikruqula loo nto. Ukuba siqalisa ukucinga ngazo zonke iimpazamo ezakha zenziwa nguloo mzalwana, sisenokudikwa nangakumbi size singamthandi njengakuqala. Ukuba unengxaki enje nomntu osebandleni lakho, khumbula ukuba uYehova uyazazi iimpazamo zakho nezaloo mntu. Kodwa nangona singafezekanga sinjalo, usamthanda loo mntu, ibe uyakuthanda nawe. Yiyo loo nto simele sibathande njengoYehova abazalwana bethu size sijonge izinto ezintle abazenzayo. Xa sizama kangangoko sinako ukubathanda abazalwana bethu, siye sisondelelane nangakumbi.​—Fil. 2:1, 2.

9. Zeziphi ezinye ‘zezinto ezibaluleke ngakumbi’?

⁹ UYehova waphefumlela uPawulos ukuba axelele amaKristu aseFilipi ukuba ‘aqiniseke ngezinto ezibaluleke ngakumbi.’ Nathi simele senze loo nto namhlanje. (Fil. 1:10) Ezinye zezi zinto zibalulekileyo kukungcwaliswa kwegama likaYehova, ukwenzeka kwezinto azithembisileyo, uxolo phakathi kwabantu bakaThixo nokusondelelana kwabo. (Mat. 6:9, 10; Yoh. 13:35) Xa ezi zinto zibaluleke ngakumbi ebomini bethu, sibonisa indlela esimthanda ngayo uYehova.

10. Simele senze ntoni ukuze singabi nasiphako kuYehova?

¹⁰ UPawulos waphinda wathi simele ‘singabi nasiphako.’ Le nto ayithethi kuthi simele sifezeke. Asinakuba ngabantu abangenasiphako njengoYehova. Kodwa siza kuba ngabangenasiphako kuYehova ukuba sizama kangangoko sinako ukubathanda abantu size siqiniseke ngezinto ezibaluleke ngakumbi. Enye indlela esinokubonisa ngayo ukuba sibathanda nyhani abanye, kukungenzi nantoni na eza kubakhubekisa.

11. Kutheni simele singabakhubekisi abanye?

¹¹ Kubalulekile ukuba singabakhubekisi abanye. Sinokumkhubekisa njani umntu? Ngendlela esizonwabisa ngayo, indlela esinxiba ngayo nangomsebenzi esiwenzayo. Kusenokwenzeka ukuba asenzi nto uYehova angayifuniyo. Kodwa ke, iba khona ingxaki xa imkhubekisa omnye umntu. UYesu wathi kungabhetele sigangxwe ngelitye elinzima entanyeni size sitshoniswe elwandle kunokuba sikhubekise umkhonzi kaThixo!​—Mat. 18:6.

12. Sifunda ntoni kwaba vulindlela?

¹² Omnye umzalwana nenkosikazi yakhe abangoovulindlela bayenza njani into eyathethwa nguYesu? Babesebandleni elinye nomnye umzalwana nenkosikazi yakhe ababesandokubhaptizwa nababekhuliswe ngabazali ababengabavumeli ukuba benze izinto ezininzi. Lo mzalwana nenkosikazi yakhe babecinga ukuba amaKristu awamele abukele iimuvi, nokuba zinjani. Bakhubeka nyhani bakuva ukuba aba vulindlela bakhe bayokubukela imuvi. Emva koko, aba vulindlela abazange baphinde bayokubukela imuvi de aba basondokubhaptizwa bakwazi ukuqeqesha izazela zabo ukuze bayiqonde eyona nto  ifanelekileyo nengafanelekanga. (Heb. 5:14) Aba vulindlela bayenza yacaca into yokuba bayamthanda lo mzalwana nenkosikazi yakhe, kungekuphela nje ngamazwi kodwa nangezenzo.​—Roma 14:19-21; 1 Yoh. 3:18.

13. Sinokumenza njani umntu enze isono?

¹³ Enye indlela esinokumkhubekisa ngayo omnye umntu kukumenza enze isono. Makhe siyizekelise ngolu hlobo le nto. Masithi umntu obefundelwa usebenze nzima kangangexesha elide, wade wakwazi ukohlukana notywala. Uzixelela ukuba akasoze aphinde abuphathe. Uye aqalise ukutshintsha izinto ezininzi ebomini bakhe aze abhaptizwe. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, omnye umzalwana uyammema, amnike utywala aze athi: “UngumKristu kaloku ngoku, unomoya kaYehova. Umoya oyingcwele wenza umntu akwazi ukuzibamba. Ukuba nawe uyakwazi ukuzibamba, awuzukuya ngamandla.” Ingabuhlungu kakhulu into enokwenzeka ukuba lo mzalwana angamamela loo nto, kuze kuphinde kube nzima ukuba ohlukane notywala.

14. Iintlanganiso zethu zisinceda njani sizenze izinto esizifunda kumaFilipi 1:10?

¹⁴ Iintlanganiso zethu zisinceda sizenze izinto esizifunda kumaFilipi 1:10 ngeendlela ezininzi. Okokuqala, izinto esizifunda kwiintlanganiso zisibonisa ukuba ziintoni ezona zinto zibalulekileyo kuYehova. Okwesibini, zisinceda sibone ukuba singazenza njani izinto esizifundileyo ukuze singabi nasiphako. Okwesithathu,  sikhuthazwa ukuba sithandane size senze izinto ezintle. (Heb. 10:24, 25) Xa abazalwana besikhuthaza, siye sibathande ngakumbi size simthande ngakumbi noYehova. Xa simthanda uThixo nabazalwana bethu ngentliziyo yethu yonke, siza kuqiniseka ukuba asibakhubekisi.

15. Kuthetha ukuthini ‘ukuzaliswa sisiqhamo sobulungisa’?

¹⁵ UPawulos wathandazela ukuba amaKristu aseFilipi ‘azaliswe sisiqhamo sobulungisa.’ (Fil. 1:11) Enye yezinto ayemele ayenze ukuze abonise ukuba ‘anesiqhamo sobulungisa’ kukuthanda uYehova nabantu bakhe. Kwakhona, ayemele axelele abanye abantu ngokukholelwa kuYesu nangethemba analo. KumaFilipi 2:15 wenza omnye umzekeliso. Wathi amaKristu ‘anjengezikhanyiso ehlabathini.’ Lo mzekeliso usikhumbuza into eyathethwa nguYesu, xa wathi abafundi bakhe ‘balukhanyiselo lwehlabathi.’ (Mat. 5:14-16) Waphinda wathi abalandeli bakhe ‘mabayokwenza abafundi,’ waza wathi babeza kuba “ngamangqina . . . kude kuse nakwezona nxalenye zikude zomhlaba.” (Mat. 28:18-20; IZe. 1:8) Sibonisa ukuba ‘sinesiqhamo sobulungisa’ xa sizimisela kulo msebenzi ubaluleke kangaka.

16. AmaFilipi 1:12-14 abonisa njani ukuba sinokuba njengezikhanyiso nokuba sekunzima? (Jonga umfanekiso ongaphandle.)

¹⁶ Sinako ukuba njengezikhanyiso, nokuba kwenzeka ntoni na. Ngamanye amaxesha, izinto ezisenokubonakala ngathi zisenza singakwazi ukushumayela zisenokuba zezona zisinika ithuba lokushumayela. Ngokomzekelo, umpostile uPawulos wayevalelwe endlini eRoma xa wabhalela amaKristu aseFilipi. Nangona wayesejele, akazange ayeke ukushumayela  koonogada nakubantu ababeyokumbona. Wayekukhuthalele ukushumayela nangona wayenezi ngxaki, ibe loo nto yenza abazalwana banesibindi baza ‘balithetha ilizwi likaThixo ngokungenaloyiko.’​—Funda amaFilipi 1:12-14; 4:22.

17. Abanye abazalwana noodade bazama njani ukushumayela nokuba sekunzima?

¹⁷ Abazalwana noodade abaninzi babonisa ukuba banesibindi njengoPawulos. Bahlala kumazwe apho ungavumelekanga khona umsebenzi wokushumayela, ibe loo nto ibenza bangakwazi ukuya kwindlu ngendlu. Ngoko bazama ukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo ngezinye iindlela. (Mat. 10:16-20) Kwelinye ilizwe, umveleli wesiphaluka wathi abavakalisi mabashumayele kubantu abazalana nabo, kubamelwane, kubantu abafunda nabasebenza nabo nakubantu ababaziyo. Kwiminyaka nje emibini, amabandla akweso siphaluka anda kakhulu. Mhlawumbi kwindawo esihlala kuyo sivumelekile ukuba sishumayele. Kodwa ke, ininzi into esinokuyifunda kwaba bazalwana noodade. Ukuba uzama kangangoko unako ukushumayela kwabanye, uYehova uza kukunika amandla okuqhubeka nokuba sekunzima.—Fil. 2:13.

18. Ziintoni esimele sizimisele ukuzenza?

¹⁸ Ngoku kubaluleke ngakumbi kunangaphambili ukuyenza into uPawulos awayixelela amaKristu aseFilipi. Simele siqiniseke ngezinto ezibaluleke ngakumbi, singabi nasiphako, singenzi izinto eziza kubakhubekisa abanye size sizaliswe sisiqhamo sobulungisa. Xa sisenza ezo zinto, siza kubathanda ngakumbi abazalwana noodadewethu size simzukise uTata wethu osithandayo, uYehova.