1, 2. IBhayibhile yakuchaza njani kwangaphambili ukwanda kwabantu bakaYehova?

EMHLABENI wonke kukho intlangano yabantu abamthandayo uYehova nabafuna ukumkhonza. Abo bantu ngamaNgqina kaYehova. UYehova ubakhokela ngomoya wakhe oyingcwele abantu bakhe, nangona beneziphoso yaye besenza iimpazamo. Makhe sithethe ngezinye iindlela aye wabasikelela ngazo.

² Ngo-1914 babembalwa kakhulu abantu ababenqula uYehova. Kodwa uYehova uye wawusikelela umsebenzi wokushumayela. Ngenxa yoko, izigidi zabantu ziye zafunda inyaniso eseBhayibhileni zaza zaba ngamaNgqina akhe. UYehova wayethetha ngolu lwando lumangalisayo xa wathi: “Omncinane uya kuba liwaka, nophantsi abe luhlanga olunamandla. Mna, Yehova, ndiya kukukhawulezisa oko ngexesha lako.” (Isaya 60:22) Namhlanje izicacele into yokuba esi siprofeto siyazaliseka. Abantu bakaYehova bafana nohlanga olukhulu. Kangangokuba, iintlanga ezininzi emhlabeni wonke zinabantu abambalwa kunabantu bakaYehova xa bephelele.

3. Abakhonzi bakaYehova baye balubonisa njani uthando?

 ³ Kule mihla yokugqibela, uYehova uye wabanceda abantu bakhe ukuba bahlale bethandana. Baxelisa umzekelo wakhe, kuba “uThixo uluthando.” (1 Yohane 4:8) UYesu wayalela abalandeli bakhe ukuba ‘bathandane.’ Kwakhona wathi kubo: “Ngako oko bonke baya kwazi ukuba ningabafundi bam, ukuba ninothando phakathi kwenu.” (Yohane 13:34, 35) Kutshanje, abakhonzi bakaYehova baye balubonisa olu othando ngoxa zona iintlanga beziqushana emfazweni. Ngokomzekelo, ngemfazwe yehlabathi yesibini kwabulawa abantu abamalunga nezigidi eziyi-55. Kodwa akukho nokuba abe mnye owabulawa ngabantu bakaYehova kuloo mfazwe. (Funda uMika 4:1, 3.) Oku kuye kwabanceda ukuba bahlale ‘bemsulwa egazini labantu bonke.’—IZenzo 20:26.

4. Kutheni kumangalisa nje ukwanda kwabantu bakaYehova?

⁴ Abantu bakaThixo baqhubeka besanda nangona bethiyw’ egazini nguSathana, utshaba lwabo olunamandla. ‘Unguthixo wale nkqubo yezinto.’ (2 Korinte 4:4) Nguye olawula imibutho yezopolitiko yeli hlabathi, namajelo eendaba, ibe usebenzisa wona ukuzama ukusiyekisa ukushumayela iindaba ezilungileyo. Kodwa utsho phantsi. Noko ke, uSathana uyazi ukuba unexesha elifutshane kuphela eliseleyo, ngoko usoloko ezama ukusiyekisa ukunqula uYehova.—ISityhilelo 12:12.

5. Kutheni abanye besikhubekisa ngamanye amaxesha? (Jonga umfanekiso osekuqaleni.)

⁵ Abakhonzi bakaThixo bafunde ukuba kubaluleke kakhulu ukumthanda, nokuthanda abanye abantu. UYesu wathi: “‘Uze umthande uYehova uThixo wakho ngentliziyo yakho iphela nangomphefumlo wakho uphela nangengqondo yakho iphela.’ Lo ngowona myalelo mkhulu nowokuqala. Owesibini, njengawo, ngulo, ‘Uze umthande ummelwane wakho njengawe siqu.’” (Mateyu 22:35-39) Sekunjalo, iBhayibhile isixelela ukuba bonke abantu baye bazalwe bengafezekanga ngenxa yesono sika-Adam. (Funda amaRoma 5:12, 19.) Ngoko ngamanye amaxesha, abanye ebandleni basenokuthetha okanye benze izinto ezisikhubekisayo. Xa oko kusenzeka, siza kusabela njani? Ngaba uthando lwethu ngoYehova luza kuqhubeka lomelele? Ngaba asiyi kumshiya yena nabantu bakhe? IBhayibhile isixelela ngabanye abakhonzi bakaThixo abaye benza okanye bathetha izinto ezakhubekisa abanye. Makhe sibone ukuba singafunda ntoni koko kwenzekayo kubo.

6. UEli wasilela njani ukubohlwaya oonyana bakhe?

⁶ Ngokomzekelo, uEli wayengumbingeleli omkhulu wakwaSirayeli, kodwa oonyana bakhe ababini babengayithobeli imithetho kaYehova. IBhayibhile ithi: “Oonyana bakaEli babengamadoda angamatshivela; babengamqondi uYehova.” (1 Samuweli 2:12) UEli wayesazi ukuba oonyana bakhe benza izinto ezothusayo. Kodwa akazange abohlwaywe ngokwaneleyo. Ekuhambeni kwexesha, uYehova wamohlwaya uEli noonyana bakhe ababini. Ibe kamva, akazange avumele nabani na kwinzala kaEli ukuba abe ngumbingeleli omkhulu. (1 Samuweli 3:10-14) Ukuba wawuphila ngexesha likaEli, ibe usazi ukuba uvumela oonyana bakhe benze izinto ezimbi, ngaba wawuya kukhubeka? Ngaba le nto yayiya kulwenza  buthathaka ukholo lwakho kuYehova, ude uyeke nokumkhonza?

7. Ziziphi izono ezinzulu ezenziwa nguDavide, ibe uThixo wavakalelwa njani?

⁷ UDavide wayeneempawu ezintle kakhulu, yiyo loo nto wayethandwa gqitha nguYehova. (1 Samuweli 13:13, 14; IZenzo 13:22) Kodwa kwalo Davide wakha wenza into embi kakhulu. Xa u-Uriya wayesemfazweni, uDavide walala nomfazi wakhe uBhatshebha, waza wakhulelwa. UDavide wayengafuni nabani na awazi lo mkhuba awayewenzile. Ngoko wabiza u-Uriya waza wazama ukumqhatha ukuba aye endlwini yakhe. Wayenethemba lokuba xa eye endlwini yakhe, uza kulala noBhatshebha, ukuze abantu bacinge ukuba nguye utata womntwana. Kodwa u-Uriya wayengafuni tu ukuya endlwini yakhe. Ngoko uDavide wenza iyelenqe lokuba abulawe emfazweni. Ngenxa yezono zakhe ezinzulu, uDavide kunye nentsapho yakhe behlelwa zizinto ezibuhlungu kakhulu. (2 Samuweli 12:9-12) Kodwa uYehova waba nenceba waza wamxolela. Wayesazi ukuba uDavide wayefuna ukwenza okulungileyo. (1 Kumkani 9:4) Ukuba wawuphila ngexesha likaDavide, ngewawuvakalelwe njani ngale nto wayenzayo? Ngaba wawuza kuyeka ukukhonza uYehova?

8. (a) Yintoni ephosakeleyo eyenziwa ngumpostile uPetros? (b) Kwakutheni ukuze uYehova aqhubeke emsebenzisa uPetros nasemva kokuba enze impazamo?

⁸ Omnye umzekelo ngokaPetros. Wakhethwa nguYesu ukuba abe ngumpostile. Kodwa ngamanye amaxesha uPetros wayethetha okanye enze izinto eziphosakeleyo. Ngokomzekelo, wathi yena  soze amshiye uYesu nokuba abanye bangamshiya. (Marko 14:27-31, 50) Kodwa wathi akubanjwa uYesu, bamshiya bonke abapostile bakhe, kuquka noPetros lowo. Emva koko wakhanyela kwada kwakathathu, esithi akamazi nokumazi uYesu. (Marko 14:53, 54, 66-72) Kodwa yamkhathaza gqitha uPetros le nto wayeyenzile. Ngoko uYehova wamxolela waza waqhubeka emsebenzisa. Ukuba wawungumfundi kaYesu ngelo xesha, ibe ukwazi oko kwenziwa nguPetros, ngaba wawuza kuqhubeka uthembela kuYehova?

9. Kutheni uqinisekile ukuba uThixo usoloko esenza okusesikweni?

⁹ Le mizekelo isibonisa ukuba abanye abakhonzi bakaYehova bakhe bazenza izinto ezimbi baza babavisa kabuhlungu abanye. Xa le nto isenzeka nanamhlanje, uza kwenza ntoni? Ngaba uza kuyeka ukuya ezintlanganisweni okanye umshiye ngokupheleleyo uYehova nabantu bakhe? Okanye ngaba uza kuyiqonda into yokuba uYehova unenceba yaye usenokuba umlindile loo mntu ukuba aguquke? Kodwa kusenokubakho amaxesha apho umntu owenze isono engazisoli nakancinane ngento ayenzileyo. Ngaba uza kuqonda ukuba uYehova uyayazi loo nto, ibe uza kuyilungisa ngexesha elifanelekileyo? Unokude amsuse ebandleni loo mntu xa kuyimfuneko. Ngaba uyakholelwa ukuba uYehova uza kusoloko esenza oko kulungileyo nokusesikweni?

10. Wasabela njani uYesu kwiimpazamo ezenziwa nguYudas Skariyoti noPetros?

¹⁰ EBhayibhileni sifunda ngabantu abaninzi abangazange bamlahle uYehova nabantu bakhe, nangona abanye abantu ababebangqongile babesenza iimpazamo ezinzulu. UYesu ungowona mzekelo mhle woku. Emva kokuchitha ubusuku bonke ethandazela uncedo lukaYise, wakhetha abapostile abayi-12. Kamva omnye wabo, uYudas Skariyoti, wamngcatsha. Nompostile uPetros wamkhanyela uYesu. (Luka 6:12-16; 22:2-6, 31, 32) UYesu akazange ambek’ ityala uYehova okanye abafundi bakhe xa abathile bamphoxayo. Kunoko wanamathela kuYise waza akayeka ukumkhonza. Ngenxa yoko, uYehova wamvuza ngokumvusa waza ekuhambeni kwexesha wammisela njengoKumkani woBukumkani ezulwini.—Mateyu 28:7, 18-20.

11. Yathini iBhayibhile ngabakhonzi bakaYehova banamhlanje?

¹¹ Umzekelo kaYesu usifundisa ukuba simele sinamathele kuYehova nakubantu bakhe. Yaye sinezizathu ezininzi zokukwenza oko. Siyayibona into yokuba uYehova uyabakhokela abakhonzi bakhe kule mihla yesiphelo. Uyabanceda ukuba bakwazi ukushumayela emhlabeni wonke, yaye ngabo kuphela abawenzayo lo msebenzi. Kwakhona, bamanyene yaye bonwabe ngokwenene, ngenxa yako konke oko abafundisa kona uYehova. UYehova wakuchaza ngale ndlela oku: “Khangelani! Abakhonzi bam baya kumemelela ngovuyo ngenxa yemeko elungileyo yentliziyo.”—Isaya 65:14.

12. Simele sizijonge njani iimpazamo zabanye?

 ¹² Siyavuya ngokwenene kuba uYehova uyasikhokela yaye usinceda siphumeze izinto ezintle ezininzi. Ngokwahlukileyo, abantu kwihlabathi likaSathana abonwabanga yaye abanalo ithemba lokwenene ngekamva. Hayi indlela ekungebobulumko nekungafanelekanga ngayo ukushiya uYehova nabantu bakhe, kuba nje umntu othile ebandleni eye wenza okanye wathetha into ekhubekisayo! Kunoko, simele sihlale sinamathele kuYehova size silandele ulwalathiso lwakhe. Simele sifunde nendlela esimele sizijonge ngayo iimpazamo zabanye.

13, 14. (a) Kutheni singamele sikhawuleze ukucaphuka? (b) Sisiphi isithembiso esimele sihlale sisikhumbula?

¹³ Umele usabele njani xa omnye umzalwana ethetha okanye esenza into ekukhathazayo? IBhayibhile ineli cebiso: “Musa ukukhawuleza ukucaphuka ngomoya wakho, kuba ukucaphuka kuhlala esifubeni sabaziziyatha” (INtshumayeli 7:9) Sonke asifezekanga ibe siyaphazama. Ngoko asinakulindela ukuba abazalwana bethu bahlale bethetha okanye besenza izinto ezilungileyo. Ibe akuzi kusinceda nganto ukuhlala sicinga ngeempazamo zabo. Kunoko, kunokusenza singonwabi njengoko sikhonza uYehova. Okubuhlungu nangakumbi kukuba, ukholo lwethu lunokuba buthathaka, ibe sisenokude siyishiye intlangano kaYehova. Xa kunjalo, asinasiqinisekiso sokuba siya kuphila kwihlabathi elitsha likaYehova yaye asinakukwazi ukumkhonza.

¹⁴ Ngoko, yintoni enokukunceda uqhubeke uvuya njengoko ukhonza uYehova naxa abanye besenza into ekukhathazayo? Hlala usikhumbula esi sithembiso sakhe sithuthuzelayo: “Yabona, ndidala amazulu amatsha nomhlaba omtsha; kwaye izinto zangaphambili aziyi kukhunjulwa, zinganyuki zithi qatha entliziyweni.” (Isaya 65:17; 2 Petros 3:13) UYehova uza kukunika ezi ntsikelelo ukuba uhlala unamathele kuye.

15. UYesu wathi simele sisabele njani xa abanye besenza iimpazamo?

¹⁵ Kakade ke, asikho kwihlabathi elitsha ngoku. Ngoko ukuba kukho umntu osikhathazileyo, simele sicamngce ngoko uYehova afuna sikwenze. Ngokomzekelo, uYesu wathi: “Ukuba niyabaxolela abantu izigqitho zabo, noYihlo osemazulwini uya kunixolela; kanti ukuba anibaxoleli abantu izigqitho zabo, noYihlo akayi kunixolela ezenu izigqitho.” Naxa uPetros wabuza uYesu enoba simele sixolele “ukusa kwizihlandlo ezisixhenxe na,” wamphendula wathi: “Ndithi kuwe, kungekhona, ukusa kwizihlandlo ezisixhenxe, kodwa, ukusa kwizihlandlo ezingamashumi asixhenxe anesixhenxe.” UYesu wasifundisa ukuba simele sihlale sikulungele ukuxolela abanye.—Mateyu 6:14, 15; 18:21, 22.

16. Nguwuphi umzekelo omhle owamiselwa nguYosefu?

 ¹⁶ Umzekelo kaYosefu usifundisa indlela yokusabela xa sikhutyekiswa ngabanye. UYosefu nomntakwabo omncinane babekukuphela kwabantwana uYakobi awayenabo kuRakeli. UYakobi wayenabanye oonyana abalishumi, kodwa wayethanda uYosefu ngaphezu kwabo bonke. Le nto yabenza babhuqwa ngumona. Enyanisweni, babemthiy’ egazini, kangangokuba bamthengisa njengekhoboka waza wasiwa eYiputa. Emva kweminyaka emininzi, ukumkani waseYiputa wamenza uYosefu wangumntu wesibini ukuba negunya, kuba wayewuthanda kakhulu umsebenzi omhle awayewenza. Kamva, xa kwabakho indlala, abantakwabo Yosefu baya eYiputa ukuze bathenge ukutya. Xa badibana noYosefu, babengamazi ukuba ngubani, kodwa yena wayebazi kakuhle. Nangona babemphethe kakubi, akazange abohlwaye. Kunoko, wazama iindlela zokuqonda ukuba batshintshe ngokwenene na. Akubabona ukuba batshintshe nyhani, wabaxelela ukuba ungumnakwabo, waza kamva wabathuthuzela wathi: “Musani ukoyika. Ndiza kunibonelela ngokutya nina nabantwana benu.”—Genesis 50:21.

17. Yintoni ofuna ukuyenza xa abanye bekukhubekisa?

¹⁷ Khumbula ukuba ekubeni wonke emntu ephazama, nawe usenokubakhubekisa abanye. Ngoko ukuba kukho umntu omkhubekisileyo, landela icebiso leBhayibhile. Mcele ukuba akuxolele, uze uzame ukwenza uxolo naye. (Funda uMateyu 5:23, 24.) Siyavuya xa abanye besixolela. Ngoko nathi kufuneka sibaxolele. AmaKolose 3:13 athi: “Qhubekani ninyamezelana yaye nixolelana ngesisa ukuba nabani na unesizathu sokukhalazela omnye. Kanye njengoko uYehova wanixolela ngesisa, yenzani njalo nani.” Ukuba sibathanda nyhani abazalwana bethu, asiyi kuqhubeka siqumbile ngenxa yezinto abakhe basenza zona. (1 Korinte 13:5) Ibe xa sibaxolela abanye, noYehova uya kusixolela nathi. Ngoko xa abanye besikhubekisa, ngamana singaba nenceba kubo njengokuba noBawo wethu uYehova enenceba kuthi.—Funda iNdumiso 103:12-14.