1, 2. Yini eyabikezelwa yiBhayibheli mayelana nokwanda kwabantu bakaJehova?

EMHLABENI jikelele, kunenhlangano eyakhiwe abantu abathanda uJehova nabafuna ukumkhonza. Labo bantu bangoFakazi BakaJehova. Nakuba bengaphelele futhi benza amaphutha, uJehova uyabaqondisa ngomoya ongcwele. Ake sibheke ezinye zezindlela ababusise ngazo.

² Ngo-1914, babembalwa kakhulu abantu ababekhulekela uJehova. Yize kunjalo uJehova uye wawubusisa umsebenzi wokushumayela. Ngenxa yalokho, izigidi zabantu ziye zafunda iqiniso leBhayibheli futhi zaba oFakazi bakhe. UJehova wachaza lokho kwanda okumangalisayo lapho ethi: “Omncane uyoba yinkulungwane, umuntukazana abe yisizwe esinamandla. Mina, Jehova, ngiyokusheshisa ngesikhathi sako.” (Isaya 60:22) Namuhla, sibona ngokucacile ukuthi lesi siprofetho sigcwalisekile. Abantu bakaJehova banjengesizwe esikhulu. Empeleni, kunezizwe eziningi emhlabeni ezinenani labantu elincane uma ziqhathaniswa nengqikithi yabantu bakaJehova sebebonke.

3. Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ziye zalubonisa kanjani uthando?

 ³ Phakathi nalezi zinsuku zokugcina, uJehova uye wasiza abantu bakhe ukuba bakwazi ukujulisa uthando lwabo ngomunye nomunye. “UNkulunkulu uluthando,” futhi abantu bakhe balingisa yena. (1 Johane 4:8) UJesu wayala abalandeli bakhe ‘ukuba bathandane.’ Waphinde wathi kubo: “Bonke bayokwazi ngalokho ukuthi ningabafundi bami, uma ninothando phakathi kwenu.” (Johane 13:34, 35) Muva nje, izinceku zikaJehova ziye zabonisana lolu thando ngisho nalapho izizwe ziya empini. Ngokwesibonelo, kwabulawa abantu abangaba yizigidi ezingu-55 phakathi nempi yezwe yesibili. Kodwa abantu bakaJehova ababulalanga ngisho noyedwa kuleyo mpi. (Funda uMika 4:1, 3.). Lokhu kuye kwabasiza bahlala ‘bemsulwa egazini labo bonke abantu.’—Izenzo 20:26.

4. Kungani ukwanda kwabantu bakaJehova kuphawuleka?

⁴ Abantu bakaNkulunkulu bayaqhubeka banda ngisho noma benesitha esinamandla, uSathane, ‘ungunkulunkulu walesi simiso sezinto.’ (2 Korinte 4:4) USathane ulawula izinhlangano zezombangazwe zaleli zwe kanye nemithombo yezindaba, usebenzisa lezi zinto ukuze avimbele umsebenzi wokushumayela izindaba ezinhle. Kodwa ngeke awuvimbe lo msebenzi. Nokho, uSathane uyazi ukuthi usalelwe isikhathi esifushane, ngakho uyaqhubeka ezama ukusivimba ukuba siyeke ukukhulekela uJehova.—IsAmbulo 12:12.

5. Kungani abanye bangase basizwise ubuhlungu ngezinye izikhathi? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

⁵ Izinceku zikaNkulunkulu ziyazi ukuthi kubaluleke kakhulu ukuthanda uNkulunkulu nabanye abantu. UJesu wathi: “‘Kumelwe uthande uJehova uNkulunkulu wakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yakho nangawo wonke umphefumulo wakho nangayo yonke ingqondo yakho.’ Lona ngumyalo omkhulu kunayo yonke futhi ungowokuqala. Owesibili, onjengawo, yilo, ‘Kumelwe uthande umakhelwane wakho njengoba uzithanda wena.’” (Mathewu 22:35-39) Noma kunjalo, iBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi wonke umuntu wazalwa engaphelele ngenxa yesono sika-Adamu. (Funda eyabaseRoma 5:12, 19.) Ngakho ngezinye izikhathi abanye bangase basho noma benze izinto ezisizwisa ubuhlungu. Uma lokhu kwenzeka kithi, siyokwenzenjani? Ingabe uthando lwethu ngoJehova luyohlala luqinile? Ingabe siyoba qotho kuye nakubantu bakhe? IBhayibheli lisitshela ngezinye zezinceku zikaNkulunkulu ezasho noma zenza izinto ezazwisa abanye ubuhlungu. Ake sibone ukuthi yini esingayifunda kulokho okwenzeka kuzo.

6. Wehluleka kanjani u-Eli ukuyala amadodana akhe?

⁶ Ngokwesibonelo, u-Eli wayengumpristi ophakeme kwa-Israyeli, kodwa amadodana akhe amabili ayengayilaleli imithetho kaJehova. IBhayibheli lithi: “Amadodana ka-Eli ayengabantu abangelusizo lwalutho; engamqapheli uJehova.” (1 Samuweli 2:12) U-Eli wayazi ngobubi obabenziwa amadodana akhe. Noma kunjalo, akawayalanga ngokwanele. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, uJehova wajezisa u-Eli namadodana akhe amabili. Kamuva, akabange esayivumela inzalo ka-Eli ukuba ikhonze njengabapristi abaphakeme. (1 Samuweli 3:10-14) Ukube wawuphila ngesikhathi sika-Eli futhi wazi ukuthi uvumela  amadodana akhe ukuba enze izinto ezimbi, wawuyokhubeka? Ingabe lesi simo sasiyolwenza buthaka ukholo lwakho kuJehova bese uyayeka ukumkhonza?

7. Yiziphi izono ezinkulu uDavide azenza futhi uJehova wenzani ngazo?

⁷ UDavide wayenezimfanelo ezinhle, shono uJehova ayemthanda kangaka! (1 Samuweli 13:13, 14; IzEnzo 13:22) Noma kunjalo, uDavide wenza into embi kakhulu. Ngesikhathi u-Uriya esempini, uDavide walala nomka-Uriya, uBhati-sheba, wabe esekhulelwa. UDavide wayengafuni muntu ukuba azi ngayekwenzile. Ngakho wayala ukuba u-Uriya abizwe futhi wamnxenxela ukuba alale emzini wakhe. UDavide wayenethemba lokuthi u-Uriya wayezolala noBhati-sheba ukuze abantu bacabange ukuthi ngu-Uriya uyise womntwana. Kodwa u-Uriya akalalanga emzini wakhe. UDavide waqikelela ukuba u-Uriya abulawe empini. Ngenxa yalezi zono ezimbi zikaDavide, umndeni wakhe wahlupheka kakhulu. (2 Samuweli 12:9-12) Nokho uJehova waba nesihe, wamthethelela. Wayazi ukuthi uDavide wayefuna ukwenza okulungile. (1 AmaKhosi 9:4) Ukube wawuphila esikhathini sikaDavide, wawuyozizwa kanjani ngalokho akwenza? Ingabe wawuyoyeka ukukhonza uJehova?

8. (a) Umphostoli uPetru wehluleka kanjani ukugcina izwi lakhe? (b) Kungani uJehova aqhubeka emsebenzisa ngisho nalapho esonile?

⁸ Esinye isibonelo esiseBhayibhelini esomphostoli uPetru. UJesu wakhetha uPetru ukuba abe umphostoli. Nokho ngezinye izikhathi uPetru wayesho noma enze izinto ezingalungile. Ngokwesibonelo,  uPetru wathi wayengeke amshiye uJesu ngisho noma bonke abanye bemshiya. (Marku 14:27-31, 50) Ngemva kokuba uJesu eseboshiwe, bonke abaphostoli kuhlanganise noPetru, bamshiya. UPetru waphika uJesu izikhathi ezintathu. (Marku 14:53, 54, 66-72) Nokho, uPetru wadabuka kakhulu ngalokho ayekwenzile. Kodwa uJehova wamxolela futhi waqhubeka emsebenzisa. Ukube wawungomunye wabafundi bakaJesu futhi wazi ngalokho okwakwenziwe uPetru, ingabe wawuyoqhubeka umethemba uJehova?

9. Kungani uqiniseka ukuthi izinqumo zikaNkulunkulu zihlale zilungile?

⁹ Lezi zibonelo zibonisa ukuthi ezinye zezinceku zikaJehova zenza izinto ezimbi futhi zazwisa abanye ubuhlungu. Uma lokhu kwenzeka namuhla, uzokwenzenjani? Uzoyeka yini ukuya emihlanganweni noma ushiye uJehova nabantu bakhe ngokuphelele? Noma ingabe uyoqaphela ukuthi uJehova unesihe nokuthi mhlawumbe unikeza lo muntu ithuba lokuphenduka? Nokho, ngezinye izikhathi umuntu owenze isono esibi angase angazisoli ngalokho akwenzile. Ingabe uyoqaphela yini ukuthi uJehova uyakwazi lokho nokuthi uzothatha isinyathelo ngesikhathi esifanele? Angaze amsuse lowo muntu nasebandleni uma kudingeka. Uyakholelwa yini ukuthi uJehova uyohlale enza okulungile?

10. Yini uJesu ayeyazi ngamaphutha kaJuda Iskariyothe noPetru?

¹⁰ EBhayibhelini, sifunda ngabaningi abaqhubeka beqotho kuJehova nakubantu bakhe ngisho noma abantu ababebazungezile benza amaphutha amakhulu. UJesu uyisibonelo esihle kakhulu kule ndaba. Ngemva kokuchitha ubusuku bonke ecela usizo kuYise, wakhetha abaphostoli abangu-12. Kodwa oyedwa wabo, uJuda Iskariyothe, kamuva wamkhaphela. UPetru naye wathi akamazi uJesu. (Luka 6:12-16; 22:2-6, 31, 32) UJesu akamsolanga uJehova noma abafundi bakhe lapho abanye babo bemdumaza. UJesu wahlala esondelene noYise futhi waqhubeka emkhonza ngobuqotho. Ngenxa yalokho, uJehova wamvuza ngokuthi amvuse, kamuva, wamenza iNkosi yoMbuso wasezulwini.—Mathewu 28:7, 18-20.

11. Yini eyabikezelwa yiBhayibheli ngezinceku zikaNkulunkulu osukwini lwethu?

¹¹ Isibonelo sikaJesu sisifundisa ukuthi kumelwe sibe qotho kuJehova nakubantu bakhe. Futhi sinezizathu ezinhle zokwenza kanjalo. Siyabona ukuthi uJehova uqondisa izinceku zakhe kulesi sikhathi sokuphela. Uyazisiza zikwazi ukushumayela iqiniso emhlabeni wonke futhi yizo kuphela ezenza lo msebenzi. Zinobunye ngempela futhi zijabule ngenxa yakho konke uJehova azifundisa khona. UJehova wakuchaza lokhu lapho ethi: “Bhekani! Izinceku zami ziyokhamuluka ngenjabulo ngenxa yesimo esihle senhliziyo.”—Isaya 65:14.

12. Kufanele siwabheke kanjani amaphutha abanye?

¹² Sijabule ngempela ngenxa yokuthi uJehova uyasiqondisa futhi uyasisiza  ukuba senze izinto eziningi ezinhle. Ngokuphambene nalokho, abantu ezweni likaSathane abajabule futhi abanalo ithemba langempela ngekusasa. Yeka ukuthi bekuyoba okungahlakaniphile futhi okungalungile kangakanani ukushiya uJehova nabantu bakhe ngenxa nje yokuthi kunothile ebandleni owenza noma osho into ethile engafanele! Kunalokho, kumelwe sihlale siqotho kuJehova futhi silandele isiqondiso sakhe. Kudingeka sifunde nendlela yokubheka neyokusabela kahle emaphutheni abanye.

13, 14. (a) Kungani kufanele sibekezelelane? (b) Yisiphi isithembiso esifuna ukusikhumbula?

¹³ Yini okufanele uyenze uma umfowenu esho noma enza into ekuzwisa ubuhlungu? IBhayibheli linikeza lesi seluleko: “Ungasheshi ukucasuka emoyeni wakho, ngoba ukucasuka kuhlala esifubeni seziphukuphuku.” (UmShumayeli 7:9) Sonke asiphelele futhi senza amaphutha. Ngakho asinakulindela ukuthi abafowethu bohlale besho noma benza izinto ezinhle ngaso sonke isikhathi. Ngeke kube kuhle ngathi ukuhlale sicabanga ngamaphutha abo. Uma senza kanjalo, singase singajabuli lapho sikhonza uJehova. Okubi nakakhulu, ukholo lwethu kuye lungase lube buthaka, size sishiye nenhlangano yakhe. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, singabe sisamkhonza uJehova noma silahlekelwe ithemba lokuphila ezweni elisha.

¹⁴ Yini engakusiza ukuba uhlale ujabule lapho ukhonza uJehova kuyilapho abanye benza izinto ezikucasulayo? Hlale ukhumbula isithembiso sakhe esiduduzayo: “Bhekani ngidala amazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha; izinto zangaphambili ngeke zikhunjulwe, futhi ngeke zifike enhliziyweni.” (Isaya 65:17; 2 Petru 3:13) UJehova uyokunika lezi zibusiso uma uhlala uqotho kuye.

15. UJesu wathi yini okufanele siyenze lapho abanye benza amaphutha?

¹⁵ Yiqiniso, asikakafiki ezweni elisha. Ngakho uma umuntu esizwisa ubuhlungu, kudingeka sizindle ngalokho uJehova afuna sikwenze. Ngokwesibonelo, uJesu wathi: “Ngoba uma nithethelela abantu iziphambeko zabo, noYihlo osezulwini uzonithethelela nani; kanti uma ningabathetheleli abantu iziphambeko zabo, noYihlo ngeke azithethelele iziphambeko zenu.” Lapho uPetru ebuza uJesu ukuthi kufanele sithethelele “kuze kube kasikhombisa” yini, uJesu waphendula: “Angisho kuwe ukuthi, kuze kube kasikhombisa, kodwa, kuze kube izikhathi ezingamashumi ayisikhombisa nesikhombisa.” UJesu wasifundisa ukuthi kufanele sihlale sizimisele ukuthethelela abanye.—Mathewu 6:14, 15; 18:21, 22

16. Yisiphi isibonelo esihle esabekwa uJosefa?

¹⁶ Isibonelo sikaJosefa sisifundisa ukuthi kufanele sisabele kanjani lapho abanye besidumaza. UJosefa nomfowabo  omncane babewukuphela kwezingane zikaJakobe noRaheli. UJakobe wayenamanye amadodana ayishumi, kodwa wayethanda uJosefa ngaphezu kwawo wonke. Lokhu kwenza aba nomona ngoJosefa. Empeleni, ayemzonda kakhulu kangangokuba amthengisa njengesigqila, amthengisela eGibhithe. Ngemva kweminyaka eminingi, inkosi yaseGibhithe yenza uJosefa waba umbusi wezwe wesibili ngoba yayiwuthanda kakhulu umsebenzi wakhe. Kamuva, abafowabo bakaJosefa beza eGibhithe bezothenga ukudla ngenxa yendlala. Lapho behlangana noJosefa, babengasamboni, kodwa yena wayebabona. Nakuba babemphathe kabi, akazange abajezise. Kunalokho, wabavivinya ukuze abone ukuthi babeshintshe ngempela yini. Lapho uJosefa eqaphela ukuthi base beshintshile, wabatshela ukuthi wayengumfowabo. Kamuva, wabaduduza wathi: “Ningesabi. Mina ngizoqhubeka ngininika ukudla nina nabantwana benu abancane.”—Genesise 50:21.

17. Yini ofuna ukuyenza lapho abanye benza amaphutha?

¹⁷ Khumbula ukuthi njengoba wonke umuntu enza amaphutha, nawe ungabacasula abanye. Ngakho uma ubona ukuthi kukhona umuntu omcasulile, landela iseluleko seBhayibheli. Mcele akuxolele bese uzama ukwenza ukuthula naye. (Funda uMathewu 5:23, 24.) Siyajabula lapho abanye besixolela. Ngakho nathi kufanele sibaxolele. EyabaseKolose 3:13 ithi: “Qhubekani nibekezelelana futhi nithethelelana ngokukhululekile uma umuntu enesizathu sokukhononda ngomunye. Njengoba nje uJehova anithethelela ngokukhululekile, yenzani kanjalo nani.” Uma sibathanda ngempela abafowethu, ngeke sihlale sibacasukele ngenxa yento abayenza esikhathini esedlule. (1 Korinte 13:5) Uma sixolela abanye, noJehova uyosixolela. Ngakho lapho abanye benza amaphutha, kwangathi singababonisa isihe njengoba noBaba wethu, uJehova, enesihe kithi.—Funda iHubo 103:12-14.