1. Kuthetha ukuthini ‘ukuhlala sithe qwa’? (2 Timoti 4:5)

 XA KUKHO into esikhathazayo, kunokufuneka sibonise ukuba sinyaniseke kangakanani kuYehova nakwintlangano yakhe. Yintoni ekufuneka siyenze? Kufuneka sihlale sithe qwa, sibe “nokholo olomeleleyo.” (Funda u-2 Timoti 4:5.) Xa sihleli sithe qwa siyazola, sicinge kakuhle size sizame ukubona izinto ngendlela uYehova azibona ngayo. Xa sisenza loo nto, izinto esizicingayo azizukuqhutywa yindlela esiziva ngayo.

2. Siza kuthetha ngantoni kweli nqaku?

² Kwinqaku elidlulileyo sithethe ngeengxaki ezintathu esinokuzifumana kubantu abangengomaNgqina. Kweli, siza kuthetha ngezi ngxaki zintathu sinokuzifumana ebandleni nezinokufuna sibonise ukuba sinyaniseke kangakanani kuYehova: (1) Xa sikhathazwe ngomnye umKristu, (2) xa silungiswa nguYehova, (3) naxa kunzima ukwamkela izinto ezitshintshwa yintlangano. Sinokwenza ntoni ukuze sihlale sithe qwa, sinyanisekile kuYehova nakwintlangano yakhe xa kuvela ezi ngxaki?

3. Yintoni esinokuyicinga xa sikhathazwe ngomnye umKristu?

³ Ngaba wakha wakhathazwa ngudade okanye umzalwana, mhlawumbi loo mzalwana uyakhokela ebandleni, njengomdala? Mhlawumbi loo mzalwana wayengazimiselanga ukukhathaza. (Roma 3:23; Yak. 3:2) Kodwa kusenokwenzeka ukuba izinto awazenzayo zakukhathaza. Mhlawumbi kwaba nzima nokulala ucingana nale nto. Usenokuba wade wazibuza, ‘Ngaba yintlangano kaThixo nyhani le xa umzalwana  ekwazi ukwenza le nto?’ Yiloo nto kanye uSathana afuna siyicinge. (2 Kor. 2:11) Ukuba sicinga ngolu hlobo, sinokuyeka ukukhonza uYehova, sishiye nentlangano yakhe. Ukuba sikhathazwe ngumzalwana okanye ngudade, sinokuhlala njani sithe qwa, sikulumkele ukucinga ngendlela uSathana afuna sicinge ngayo?

4. Xa uYosefu waphathwa kakubi, yintoni eyamncedayo wahlala ezolile? Sifunda ntoni thina kuye? (Genesis 50:19-21)

⁴ Sukuqumba. Xa uYosefu wayesengumfana, waphathwa kakubi ngabakhuluwa bakhe. Babemcaphukela, abanye kubo bade bafuna nokumbulala. (Gen. 37:4, 18-22) Ekuhambeni kwexesha, bamthengisa wayokuba likhoboka. Ngenxa yaloo nto, waba neengxaki ezinzima kangangeminyaka emalunga neyi-13. Wayenokucinga ukuba uYehova akamthandi. Wayesenokuzibuza nokuba uYehova angamlahla njani kanye ngeli xesha amdinga ngalo. Kuyo yonke loo nto yayisenzeka kuye, zange aqumbe. Wahlala ezolile. Xa wafumana ithuba awayenokuziphindezela ngalo kubantakwabo, zange ayenze loo nto. Wabonisa indlela awayebathanda ngayo, wabaxolela. (Gen. 45:4, 5) Isizathu sokuba enze loo nto kukuba wakwazi ukucinga kakuhle. Kunokuba abe ecingana neengxaki zakhe, wahlala ecinga ngento efunwa nguYehova. (Funda iGenesis 50:19-21.) Yintoni esiyifundayo thina? Ukuba uye waphathwa kakubi, sukumqumbela uYehova okanye uzibuze ukuba ukulahlile na. Endaweni yaloo nto, cinga ngendlela akunceda ngayo ukuze ukwazi ukunyamezela ingxaki onayo. Enye into, xa abantu bekuphatha kakubi baxolele, ukhumbule ukuba uthando logquma izono ezininzi.—1 Pet. 4:8.

5. Yintoni eyabonisa ukuba uMiqueas wahlala ethe qwa xa wayephethwe kakubi?

⁵ Khawucinge ngento eyenzeka komnye umzalwana waseMzantsi Merika, uMiqueas. b Ukhumbula ukuba wakhe wacinga ukuba uye waphathwa kakubi kakhulu ngabazalwana abakhokelayo. Uthi: “Zange ndaba nestres esifana neso ndandinaso. Ndandisoyika. Ndandingalali nasebusuku, iinyembezi zizehlela, ndicinga ukuba akukho nto ndinokuyenza.” Sekunjalo, uMiqueas wahlala ethe qwa, wasebenza nzima ukuze angacingi yonk’ into le. Zange ayeke ukuthandaza, ecela uYehova ukuba amphe umoya oyingcwele namandla okunyamezela. Wayekhangela nezinto ezinokumnceda kwiimpapasho zethu. Yintoni esiyifundayo? Ukuba kukho umzalwana okanye udade oye wakukhathaza, hlala uzolile, uzame ukukhupha nayiphi na into engafanelekanga oyicingayo. Usenokungayazi into emqhubele ekubeni athethe okanye enze loo nto ayenzileyo. Ngoko thandaza ucele uYehova akuncede uzifake ezihlangwini zaloo mntu. Loo nto iza kukunceda ukwazi ukucinga ukuba umzalwana okanye udade ebengazimiselanga ukukhathaza, uze umxolele. (IMize. 19:11) Khumbula ukuba uYehova uyayazi imeko yakho nokuba uza kukunika amandla okunyamezela.—2 Kron. 16:9; INtshu. 5:8.

6. Kutheni kubalulekile ukwazi ukuba uYehova usilungisa kuba esithanda? (Hebhere 12:5, 6, 11)

⁶ Kungenzeka sikhathazeke xa uYehova esilungisa. Kodwa ukuba sicinga kakhulu ngendlela esikhathazeke ngayo, sisenokubona ngathi asilungiswanga kakuhle okanye silungiswe ngendlela eqatha.  Loo nto inokusenza singayiboni eyona nto ebalulekileyo eyile: UYehova usilungisa kuba esithanda. (Funda amaHebhere 12:5, 6, 11.) Ukuba sicinga kakhulu ngendlela esiziva ngayo, sivulela uSathana ithuba lokuba asihlasele. Ufuna singayamkeli indlela esilungiswa ngayo. Phofu eyona nto ayifunayo kukuba siyeke ukukhonza uYehova, silishiye nebandla. Unokwenza ntoni ukuze uhlale uthe qwa xa ulungiswa?

7. (a) Njengokuba sibona emfanekisweni, uYehova wamsebenzisa njani uPetros emva kokuba evumile ukulungiswa? (b) Yintoni oyifundayo kuPetros?

⁷ Vuma xa ulungiswa uze utshintshe. UYesu wamlungisa kaninzi uPetros abanye abapostile besiva. (Marko 8:33; Luka 22:31-34) Kungenzeka ukuba uPetros waziva ehlazekile, kodwa zange ayeke ukunyaniseka kuYesu. Wavuma ukulungiswa waza wafunda kwiimpazamo zakhe. Emva koko, uYehova wamsikelela ngokunyaniseka kwakhe, waza wamnika imisebenzi ebalulekileyo ebandleni. (Yoh. 21:15-17; IZe. 10:24-33; 1 Pet. 1:1) Yintoni esinokuyifunda kule nto yenziwa nguPetros? Sinceda thina nabanye xa sivuma ukulungiswa size sitshintshe, singabe sicingana nendlela esihlazeke ngayo. Xa sisenza loo nto, siza kuya sisetyenziswa nguYehova nangabazalwana bethu.

8-9. Emva kokuba elungisiwe, ekuqaleni uBernardo waziva njani? Wancedwa yintoni?

⁸ Khawuve into eyenzeka komnye umzalwana waseMozambique, uBernardo. Wayekiswa ukuba ngumdala. Waziva njani ekuqaleni? Uthi, “Yandicaphukisa le nto kuba zange ndiyithande indlela endalungiswa ngayo.” Wayecinga ukuba abanye ebandleni baza kumjonga njani. Uthi, “Amehlo avuleka emva kweenyanga, ndabona ukuba ndilungiswe ngendlela efanelekileyo ndaza ndaphinda ndamthemba uYehova nentlangano yakhe.” Wancedwa yintoni?

⁹ UBernardo wayilungisa indlela awayecinga ngayo. Uthi: “Ngokuya ndandisengumdala, ndandidla ngokunceda abantu basibone isizathu sokuba uYehova asilungise ngokusebenzisa amaHebhere 12:7. Ngoku ndandizibuza: ‘Ngubani ekufuneka enze le nto ithethwa sesi sibhalo?’ Ngabo bonke abakhonzi bakaYehova, nalo undim.” Emva koko uBernardo wenza nezinye  izinto ezamnceda waphinda wamthemba uYehova nentlangano yakhe. Wayifunda kakhulu iBhayibhile, ezipha nexesha lokucingisisa ngento ayifundileyo. Ngoxa wayesakhathazwa yindlela ekwakusenokwenzeka ukuba abanye abazalwana noodade bamjonga ngayo, waqhubeka eshumayela nabo ephendula nakwiintlanganiso. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, waphinda wangumdala. Ukuba nawe uye walungiswa njengoBernardo, zama ukungacingi kakhulu ngendlela oziva uhlazeke ngayo, vuma ukulungiswa uze utshintshe. c (IMize. 8:33; 22:4) Ukuba uye wayenza loo nto, qiniseka ukuba uYehova uza kukusikelela ngokuhlala unyanisekile kuye nakwintlangano yakhe.

10. Yintoni eyatshintshwa yintlangano eyenza amanye amadoda akwaSirayeli akanyaniseka kuYehova?

¹⁰ Izinto ezitshintshwa yintlangano zinokufuna sibonise ukuba sinyaniseke kangakanani kuYehova. Ukuba asilumkanga sinokuzivumela zisenze siyeke ukukhonza uYehova. Ngokomzekelo, khawucinge indlela amaSirayeli awayijonga ngayo into eyatshintshwa nguMthetho owabhalwa nguMoses. Ngaphambi kokuba uYehova awanike lo Mthetho, iintloko-ntsapho zazisenza umsebenzi wababingeleli. Zazisakha izibingelelo zize zibingelelele iintsapho zazo kuYehova. (Gen. 8:20, 21; 12:7; 26:25; 35:1, 6, 7; Yobhi 1:5) Kodwa kuMthetho owabhalwa nguMoses, iintloko-ntsapho zazingasavumelekanga ukuba zenze loo misebenzi. UYehova wakhetha ababingeleli kwintsapho ka-Aron. Ukususela ngoko, ukuba intloko-ntsapho engaphumi kwinzala ka-Aron yayisenza izinto ezimele zenziwe ngumbingeleli, yayibulawa. d (Lev. 17:3-6, 8, 9) Ngaba yile nto eyabangela ukuba uKora, uDatan, uAbhiram nezinye iinkosi eziyi-250 zingamthobeli uMoses noAron? (Num. 16:1-3) Asiqinisekanga. Nokuba sasiyintoni isizathu, uKora namadoda awayekunye naye, abazange bahlale benyanisekile kuYehova. Ukuba izinto ezitshintshwa yintlangano zifuna ubonise ukuba unyaniseke kangakanani kuYehova, yintoni omele uyenze?

11. Yintoni esiyifundayo kwinto eyenziwa ngamanye amaKohati?

¹¹ Sebenzisana nentlangano xa itshintsha. Xa amaSirayeli ayesentlango, amaKohati ayesenza umsebenzi obalulekileyo. Qho xa amaSirayeli efuduka, amaKohati ayehamba phambi kwabantu ethwele ityeya yesivumelwano. (Num. 3:29, 31; 10:33; Yosh. 3:2-4) Yayiyinyhweba enkulu nyhani leyo! Kodwa xa amaSirayeli afikayo kwiLizwe Lesithembiso, izinto zatshintsha. Kwakungasafuneki ukuba iTyeya ifuduswe qho. Ngoko xa kwakulawula uSolomon, amanye amaKohati anikwa imisebenzi yokuba ziimvumi, yokugada ezigeyithini nokuhoya oovimba. (1 Kron. 6:31-33; 26:1, 24) Asiva nto ethi amaKohati akhalaza efuna ukunikwa imisebenzi ebalulekileyo ngenxa yomsebenzi awayewenza ngaphambi kokuba amaSirayeli afike kwiLizwe Lesithembiso. Yintoni esinokuyifunda kuwo? Sebenzisana ngentliziyo yakho yonke nentlangano kaYehova xa itshintsha, nokuba into eyitshintshayo inento  yokwenza nomsebenzi owenzayo. Vuyela nawuphi na umsebenzi owunikwayo. Sukulibala ukuba ayingomsebenzi owenzayo obangela ukuba uYehova akuthande. Eyona nto akuthandela yona kukuthobeka.—1 Sam. 15:22.

12. Waziva njani uZaina xa wacelwa ukuba amke eBheteli abuyele entsimini?

¹² Khawuve into eyenzeka kuZaina ekwafuneka ayeke umsebenzi awayewuthanda. Emva kweminyaka eyi-23 eseBheteli, kwathiwa makabuyele entsimini. Uthi: “Ndothuka kakhulu. Ndaziva ngathi akukho yam, ndamane ndizibuza, ‘Ndenze ntoni?’” Okubuhlungu kukuba abanye abazalwana noodade babefak’ ityiwa kwinxeba lakhe, besithi: “Ukuba ubuzenza kakuhle zonke izinto, ngowusephaya nangoku.” Wakhe watyhafa, ekhala qho ebusuku. Uthi: “Zange ndiyivumele nakanye loo nto ukuba indenze ndithandabuze intlangano okanye indlela uYehova andithanda ngayo.” Wenza njani ukuze ahlale ethe qwa?

13. Yintoni eyamncedayo uZaina ukuze akwazi ukumelana nendlela awayeziva ngayo?

¹³ Yintoni eyanceda uZaina wakwazi ukumelana nendlela awayeziva ngayo? Wafunda amanqaku akwiincwadi zethu athetha ngengxaki awayenayo nawamnceda wakwazi ukunyamezela. Inqaku elamnceda kakhulu leleMboniselo kaFebruwari 1, 2001 elithi: “Unako Ukuhlangabezana Nokudimazeka!” Eli nqaku lithetha ngendlela umbhali weBhayibhile uMarko anokuba walwisana ngayo nendlela awayeziva ngayo xa wayenengxaki efana nekaZaina. Kaloku naye wakhe wayekiswa umsebenzi awayewenza kwathiwa makenze omnye. UZaina uthi, “UMarko wenza kanye le nto kwakufuneka ndiyenze ukuze ndiyeke ukutyhafa.” Enye into eyamncedayo kukuhlala ekunye neetshomi zakhe. Akazange ayeke ukushumayela nabazalwana noodade futhi wayengasoloko ezisizela. Wabona ukuba intlangano ikhokelwa ngumoya kaYehova nokuba abazalwana abakhokelayo bamkhathalele kakhulu. Wabona nokuba eyona nto ibalulekileyo kwintlangano kaYehova kukuba umsebenzi kaYehova wenziwe.

14. Yintoni ekwakunzima ukuba ayamkele uVlado? Wancedwa yintoni?

¹⁴ Omnye umdala waseSlovenia oneminyaka eyi-73, uVlado, waba nengxaki xa ibandla labo lalidityaniswa nelinye ibandla  yaza iHolo YoBukumkani ababekuyo yavalwa. Uthi: “Ndandingasiqondi isizathu sokuba kuvalwe iHolo YoBukumkani eyayintle kangaka. Eyona nto yandikhathazayo kukuba sasisandukuyilungisa le holo. Ekubeni ndingumntu osebenza ngamaplanga, ndandisandukuyenzela ifenitsha entsha. Enye into, emva kokudityaniswa kwala mabandla kwafuneka kutshintshwe izinto ezininzi ezenza akwabi lula kuthi bavakalisi sebekhulile.” Wancedwa yintoni ukuze ayenze ngokukhululekileyo into ayixelelwa yintlangano? Uthi: “UYehova uhlala ekusikelela xa uzamkela izinto ezitshintshwa yintlangano yakhe. Ngezinto ezitshintshayo ngoku, isilungiselela ezinkulu eseza kuzitshintsha kwixesha elizayo.” Ngaba kunzima ukuzamkela izinto ezitshintsha ngenxa yokudityaniswa kwamabandla okanye ukwamkela ukutshintshwa kumsebenzi obukade uwenza? Qiniseka ukuba uYehova uyayiqonda indlela oziva ngayo. Xa uzamkela izinto ezitshintshwayo, uze uhlale unyanisekile kuYehova nakwintlangano ayisebenzisayo, qiniseka ukuba uza kukusikelela.—INdu. 18:25.

15. Singahlala njani sithe qwa naxa sifumana iingxaki ebandleni?

¹⁵ Eli hlabathi libi seliza kutshatyalaliswa, ngoko sinokulindela ukuba sifumane iingxaki nalapha ebandleni. Ezo ngxaki zinokufuna sibonise ukuba sinyaniseke kangakanani kuYehova. Ngoko simele sihlale sithe qwa. Ukuba uye wakhathazwa ngomnye umKristu, sukuqumba. Ukuba uyalungiswa, sukucinga indlela oza kuhlazeka ngayo, vuma ukulungiswa uze uyilungise loo nto. Xa intlangano kaYehova itshintsha, yamkele ngentliziyo yakho yonke loo nto iyitshintshayo uze uyenze.

16. Yintoni enokukwenza uhlale uthembekile kuYehova nakwintlangano yakhe?

¹⁶ Unokuhlala uthembekile kuYehova nakwintlangano yakhe xa kusenzeka izinto ezifuna ubonise ukuba unyaniseke kangakanani kuYehova. Kodwa ukuze ukwazi ukuyenza loo nto, kufuneka uhlale uthe qwa. Loo nto ithetha ukuba kufuneka uhlale uzolile, ucinga kakuhle uze ubone izinto ngendlela uYehova azibona ngayo. Zimisele ukufunda ngabantu ekuthethwa ngabo eBhayibhileni abakwaziyo ukumelana neengxaki ezifana nezakho, uze wenze izinto abazenzayo. Thandaza ucele uYehova akuncede. Ungaze uhambele kude nebandla. Ukuba uyazenza ezi zinto, uSathana akasoze akwazi ukukwenza uyeke ukukhonza uYehova okanye ushiye intlangano Yakhe.—Yak. 4:7.