1. Nguwuphi umahluko okhoyo phakathi kwento ethi qatha ebantwini xa becinga ngobukhoboka naleyo ikhuthazwa kwincwadi yabaseRoma 12:11?

UKUBA ngamakhoboka kaThixo kwahluke gqitha kwinto ethi qatha ezingqondweni zabantu xa becinga ngobukhoboka. Kubo, ukuba likhoboka kuthetha ukuphathwa ngenkohlakalo nangokungekho sikweni nokucinezelwa. Kodwa iLizwi likaThixo lithetha ngobukhoboka obubandakanya ukuyikhonza ngokuzithandela iNkosi yethu enothando. Xa umpostile uPawulos wabongoza amaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala ukuba abe ‘ngamakhoboka kaYehova,’ wayewakhuthazela kwinkonzo engcwele eqhutywa kukuthanda uThixo. (Roma 12:11) Lubandakanya ntoni olu hlobo lobukhoboka? Sinokukuphepha njani ukuba ngamakhoboka kaSathana nehlabathi lakhe? Ziziphi iingenelo zokuba ngamakhoboka kaYehova athembekileyo?

2. (a) Yintoni eyayinokwenza ikhoboka elingumSirayeli lincame ilungelo lokukhululwa? (b) Yintoni ephawulekayo ngokugqojozwa endlebeni kwekhoboka?

² KuMthetho uThixo awawunika uSirayeli sifunda uhlobo lobukhoboka uYehova alulindeleyo kuthi. Ikhoboka elingumHebhere kwakufuneka likhululwe ngonyaka wesixhenxe wobukhoboka bakhe. (Eks. 21:2) Kodwa ke, uYehova wayenalo nelungiselelo lekhoboka elaliyithanda inkosi yalo nelalifuna ukuqhubeka nenkonzo yalo. Inkosi yalo yayimele ilizise ngaselucangweni okanye emgubasini ize iligqobhoze indlebe ngenyatyhowa. (Eks. 21:5, 6) Kubalulekile ukuphawula ukuba eli khoboka laligqojozwa endlebeni. Kulwimi lesiHebhere ingcamango yokuthobela ichazwa ligama elithetha ukuva nokuphulaphula. Eli khoboka lalinomnqweno wokuqhubeka likhonza inkosi yalo. Oku kusinceda sixabise oko kubandakanywa kukuzinikela  kwethu kuYehova—ukulungela kwethu ukuthobela siqhutywa kukuthanda uThixo.

3. Kutheni sizahlulela kuThixo?

³ Xa sasibhaptizwa njengamaKristu, sasisele senze isigqibo sokukhonza uYehova njengamakhoboka akhe. Xa sasizahlulela, sasimthembisa ukuba siza kumthobela size senze konke oko afuna sikwenze. Akukho mntu wasinyanzelayo. Nabaselula babhaptizwa kuphela emva kokuba bezahlulele kuYehova, kungekhona kuba befuna ukukholisa abazali. AmaKristu azahlulela kuba ethanda iNkosi yawo yasezulwini, uYehova. Umpostile uYohane wabhala wathi: “Kuba ukumthanda uThixo kuko ukuthi, siyigcine imiyalelo yakhe.”—1 Yoh. 5:3.

4. Yintoni efunekayo ukuze sibe “ngamakhoboka obulungisa”?

⁴ Simbulela gqitha uYehova kuba esivulele ithuba lokuba ngamakhoboka akhe. Ukholo lwethu kwidini lentlawulelo likaKristu lusenza singabi ngamakhoboka esono. Nakuba singafezekanga, sizikhethele uYehova noYesu njengeeNkosi zethu. UPawulos wakucacisa oku kwenye yeencwadi zakhe eziphefumlelweyo: “Zibaleleni ekuthini ningabafileyo eneneni esonweni kodwa ningabaphilileyo kuThixo ngoKristu Yesu.” Emva koko walumkisa wathi: “Anazi na ukuba lowo nizinikela kuye njengamakhoboka ukuze nimthobele, ningamakhoboka akhe ngenxa yokuba nimthobela, nokuba ngawesono ngokubhekisele ekufeni okanye awentobelo ngokubhekisele ebulungiseni? Kodwa makubulelwe kuThixo ngokuba beningamakhoboka esono kodwa naluthobela ngokusuka entliziyweni olo hlobo lwemfundiso enanikelwa kulo. Ewe, ekubeni nakhululwayo esonweni, niye naba ngamakhoboka obulungisa.” (Roma 6:11, 16-18) Qaphela ukuba lo mpostile uthetha ‘ngokuthobela ngokusuka entliziyweni.’ Ukuzahlulela kwethu kuYehova kusenza sibe “ngamakhoboka obulungisa.”

5. Yintoni esilwa nayo, yaye ngoba?

⁵ Nakuba kunjalo, kukho imiqobo ekufuneka siyoyisile ukuze sikwazi ukuphila ngokuvisisana nokuzahlulela kwethu. Umlo esikuwo untlu-mbini. Okokuqala, njengoPawulos silwa nobuthathaka bethu. Wathi: “Ngokwenene ndiyayoliswa ngumthetho kaThixo ngokomntu endinguye ngaphakathi, kodwa ndibona omnye umthetho emalungwini am usilwa nomthetho wengqondo yam yaye undithimbela emthethweni wesono osemalungwini am.” (Roma 7:22, 23) Nathi sikhathazwa kukungafezeki esizalwa nako. Ngenxa yoko, kufuneka siqhubeke sisilwa neminqweno yenyama. Umpostile uPetros usibongoza esithi: “Yibani njengabantu abakhululekileyo, ukanti ningayithabathi inkululeko yenu, njengesigqubuthelo sobubi, kodwa njengamakhoboka kaThixo.”—1 Pet. 2:16.

6, 7. USathana ulenza njani eli hlabathi libonakale linomtsalane?

⁶ Into yesibini esilwa nayo leli hlabathi lilawulwa ziidemon. USathana umlawuli weli hlabathi ujolise iintolo zakhe kuthi ngenjongo yokusenza singanyaniseki kuYehova nakuYesu. Ufuna ukusenza amakhoboka akhe ngokusihendela ekubeni sibe yinxalenye yehlabathi lakhe. (Funda eyabase-Efese 6:11, 12.) Enye indlela akwenza ngayo oku kukwenza eli hlabathi libonakale linomtsalane. Umpostile uYohane walumkisa wathi: “Nabani na olithandayo ihlabathi, uthando lukaBawo alukho kuye; kuba konke okusehlabathini—inkanuko yenyama nenkanuko yamehlo nokuqhayisa ngezinto zobu bomi—akuphumi kuBawo, kodwa kuphuma ehlabathini.”—1 Yoh. 2:15, 16.

⁷ Umnqweno wokuba sisityebi uyagquba kweli hlabathi. USathana wenza abantu bacinge ukuba imali izisa ulonwabo.  Ihlabathi lizaliswe ngoobhaza-bhaza beevenkile. Izibhengezo zikhuthaza ukuba abantu bathi swii zizinto eziphathekayo nolonwabo. Abaququzeleli bezokhenketho bakhuthaza abantu ukuba batyelele kwiindawo eziphambili, nalapho bephelekwa ngabantu abacinga ngendlela yehlabathi. Ewe, nokuba siphi na, ekuphela kwento esiyivayo kukuba kufuneka “siphucule” ubomi bethu, kodwa ngendlela yehlabathi.

8, 9. Yiyiphi ingozi ekhoyo, ibe ngoba?

⁸ Ebhekisela kumaKristu enkulungwane yokuqala awayesele ecinga ngendlela yehlabathi, uPetros walumkisa wathi: “Bakugqala kuluyolo ukuphila ngobunewunewu ngexesha lasemini. Bangamabala neziphako, bezifica ngokuhlohla iimfundiso zabo ezikhohlisayo xa besemathekweni kunye nani. Kuba bathetha ngokuzigwagwisa izinto ezingeyongenelo, yaye basebenzisa inkanuko yenyama nemikhwa evakalala ukuwexula abo basandula ukuyishiya ihambo ephosakeleyo. Ngoxa bebathembisa inkululeko, bona ngokwabo bangamakhoboka okonakala. Kuba nabani na owoyiswa ngomnye uyakhotyokiswa nguye.”—2 Pet. 2:13, 18, 19.

⁹ Ukwanelisa “inkanuko yamehlo” akumenzi akhululeke umntu. Kunoko, uba likhoboka lenkosi yeli hlabathi engabonakaliyo, uSathana uMtyholi. (1 Yoh. 5:19) Ukuba asilumkanga sinokuwela kwingozi yokuba ngamakhoboka ezinto eziphathekayo—ubukhoboka ekungekho lula ukuphuncuka kubo.

10, 11. USathana uzijolise koobani ngokukhethekileyo iintolo zakhe, ibe imfundo yehlabathi iza naziphi iingxaki?

¹⁰ Kanye njengoko wenzayo e-Eden, nanamhlanje uSathana ujolise iintolo zakhe kwabangenamava, ingakumbi ulutsha. Akavuyi xa umntu oselula, naye nabani na ke phofu, ezinikela ukuba abe likhoboka likaYehova. Olu tshaba lukaThixo lufuna ukuba bonke abazahlulele kuYehova banganyaniseki kuye.

¹¹ Makhe sibuyele kumzekelo wekhoboka elalivuma ukugqojozwa indlebe. Limele ukuba laliqaqanjelwa kangangethuba elithile; kodwa ke ezo ntlungu zazikhawuleza ziphele, lize lishiyeke nophawu olubonisa ubukhoboka balo. Kunokuba nzima okanye kube buhlungu kumntu oselula ukwahluka koontanga bakhe. USathana ukhuthaza into yokuba umele ufumane umsebenzi ophambili kweli hlabathi ukuze waneliseke, kodwa amaKristu afanele acinge ngokubaluleka kokwanelisa intswelo yabo yokomoya. UYesu wafundisa  oku: “Banoyolo abo bayiphapheleyo intswelo yabo yokomoya, kuba ubukumkani bamazulu bobabo.” (Mat. 5:3) AmaKristu azahluleleyo aphilela ukwenza intando kaThixo kungekhona ekaSathana. Ayoliswa ngumthetho kaYehova, ibe acamngca ngawo imini nobusuku. (Funda iNdumiso 1:1-3.) Noko ke, ukusukela imfundo enomsila kwenza umkhonzi kaYehova angabi naxesha lakucamngca ngeLizwi likaThixo nelokukhonza uYehova.

12. Ulutsha lujamelene naluphi ukhetho namhlanje?

¹² Ukuba nenkosi kweli hlabathi kunokwenza ubomi bube nzima kwikhoboka elingumKristu. Kwileta yakhe yokuqala kwabaseKorinte, uPawulos wabuza: “Wabizwa ulikhoboka na?” Emva koko wathi: “Makungakukhathazi oko; kodwa ukuba unako ukukhululeka, lixhakamfule elo thuba.” (1 Kor. 7:21) Ukuba ikhoboka belinenkosi ebenza nzima ubomi balo, beliya kukhetha ukukhululeka. Namhlanje, kumazwe amaninzi, imfundo inyanzelekile ukusa kwiminyaka ethile. Emva koko abafundi banokuzikhethela oko bafuna ukukwenza. Ukuqhubeka nemfundo kuba umntu efuna umsebenzi ophambili kweli hlabathi kunokumvimba inkululeko yokungenela inkonzo yexesha elizeleyo.—Funda eyoku-1 kwabaseKorinte 7:23.

13. Luluphi uhlobo lwemfundo olunokubanceda abakhonzi bakaYehova?

¹³ UPawulos walumkisa amaKristu aseKolose esithi: “Lumkani, ningathabatheki ziintanda-bulumko nayinkohliso elambathayo esekelwe kwizithethe zabantu, nakwizinto eziziziqalelo zehlabathi, kungekhona kuKristu.” (Kol. 2:8) ‘Iintanda-bulumko nenkohliso elambathayo esekelwe kwizithethe zabantu’ ibonakala namhlanje kwiimfundiso ezikhuthazwa zizifundiswa ezininzi. Imfundo enomsila, equka ezi mfundiso, ayisoloko ibanika ubuchule obufunekayo abafundi ukuze bakulungele ukumelana neengxaki zobomi. Ngokwahlukileyo koko, abakhonzi bakaYehova bakhetha imfundo eza kubanceda babe nobuchule obufunekayo ukuze baphile ubomi obulula enkonzweni kaThixo. Bahlala becinga ngesiluleko sikaPawulos kuTimoti: “Phofu ke, iyinene yona into yokuba, uzinikelo lobuthixo kunye nokwanela, kuyinzuzo enkulu. Ukuba sinesixhaso nesambatho, masaneliswe zezo zinto.” (1 Tim. 6:6, 8) Kunokusukela izidanga eziza kuwenza abizwe ngokuba angoothile-thile, amaKristu okwenyaniso asebenza nzima ukuze afumane “iincwadi zoncomelo” ­ngokuba  ­sentsimini kangangoko anako.—Funda eyesi-2 kwabaseKorinte 3:1-3.

14. Ngokutsho kweyabaseFilipi 3:8, uPawulos wayelijonga njani ilungelo awayenalo lokuba likhoboka likaThixo noKristu?

¹⁴ Cinga ngemeko kaPawulos. Wafunda ezinyaweni zikaGamaliyeli umfundisi woMthetho wamaYuda. Imfundo awayifumanayo sinokuyifanisa namhlanje neyaseyunivesithi. Kodwa uPawulos wayeyijonga njani le mfundo xa eyithelekisa nelungelo awayenalo lokuba likhoboka likaThixo noKristu? Wathi: “Ndikwazigqala zonke izinto ziyilahleko ngenxa yexabiso eligqwesileyo lolwazi olungoKristu Yesu iNkosi yam.” Wongezelela athi: “Ngenxa yakhe ndiye ndalahlekelwa zizinto zonke yaye ndizigqala njengenkunkuma eninzi, ukuze ndimzuze uKristu.” (Fil. 3:8) La mazwi anceda amaKristu aselula nabazali bawo aboyik’ uThixo ukuba benze isigqibo sobulumko ngokuphathelele imfundo. (Bona imifanekiso.)

15, 16. Yiyiphi imfundo esiyilungiselelwa yintlangano kaYehova, ibe yintoni eyona njongo yayo?

¹⁵ Kuqhubeka ntoni kumaziko amaninzi emfundo ephakamileyo? Kudla ngokugquba izidubedube zezopolitiko neengxwabangxwaba zabantu. (Efe. 2:2) Ngokwahlukileyo koko, intlangano kaYehova isinika eyona mfundo igqwesileyo kwibandla lamaKristu elinoxolo. Sonke sinokungenelwa veki nganye kwiSikolo Sobulungiseleli Sobuthixo. Zikho nezinye izikolo esinokungenelwa kuzo. Ngokomzekelo, kukho isikolo sabazalwana abangatshatanga abangoovulindlela (ISikolo SeBhayibhile Sabazalwana Abangatshatanga) nesezibini ezitshatileyo ezingoovulindlela (iSikolo SeBhayibhile Sezibini EzingamaKristu). Zonke ezi zikolo zisinceda sithobele uYehova, iNkosi yethu yasezulwini.

¹⁶ Sinokuyiphanda le nyaniso ixabisekileyo kwiWatch Tower Publications Index okanye kwiWatchtower Library ekwi CD-ROM. Eyona njongo yale mfundo yeBhayibhile kukukhonza uYehova. Isifundisa indlela yokunceda abanye babe ngabahlobo bakaYehova. (2 Kor. 5:20) Oku kuya kubanceda nabo bafundise abanye.—2 Tim. 2:2.

17. Ukukhetha eyona mfundo igqwesileyo kuzisa ziphi iingenelo?

¹⁷ Kumzekelo kaYesu weetalente, amakhoboka amabini athembekileyo ayanconywa ngomsebenzi wawo. Ngenxa yovuyo eyaba nalo inkosi yawo yawavuza ngomsebenzi ongakumbi. (Funda uMateyu 25:21, 23.) Ukukhetha le mfundo igqwesileyo kuzisa uvuyo neengenelo. Cinga nje ngomzekelo kaMichael. Kangangendlela awaqhuba kakuhle ngayo esikolweni, ootitshala bakhe bambiza ukuze bathethe naye ngamathuba anawo okuya eyunivesithi. Bothuka xa uMichael wakhetha ukwenza izifundo ezifutshane ezaziza kumnceda akwazi ukuzixhasa xa enguvulindlela. Ngaba ikho into azisola ngayo? Uthi: “Imfundo yobuthixo endiyifumene ngoxa ndinguvulindlela—nangoku ndingumdala webandla—iye yandinceda kakhulu. Iintsikelelo namalungelo endiwafumeneyo ayodlula lee nayiphi na imali ebendinokuyifumana. Ndivuya gqitha kuba ndingazange ndisukele imfundo enomsila.”

18. Kutheni umele ukhethe eyona mfundo igqwesileyo?

¹⁸ Imfundo egqwesileyo isifundisa ukuthanda kukaThixo ize isincede sibe ngamakhoboka kaYehova. Isinika ithemba ‘lokukhululwa ekukhotyokisweni kukonakala’ size ekugqibeleni ‘sibe nenkululeko ezukileyo yabantwana bakaThixo.’ (Roma 8:21) Ngaphezu kwako konke, sifunda indlela esinokubonisa ngayo ukuba siyithanda ngokwenene iNkosi yethu yasezulwini, uYehova.—Eks. 21:5.