1. Kungani kungasimangazi ukubona ukungathembeki kwande kangaka ezweni?

 KULELI zwe likaSathane, abantu abazi ukuthi ubani abangamethemba. Bahlale bedunyazwa ukuziphatha kosomabhizinisi, abezepolitiki nabaholi benkolo. Abaningi ababethembi abangane, omakhelwane ngisho namalungu omndeni. Akufanele kusimangaze lokhu. IBhayibheli labikezela: “Ezinsukwini zokugcina. . . , abantu bayokuba . . . abangathembekile, . . . abanyundeli, . . . abakhapheli.” Ngamanye amazwi, abantu babeyobonisa ubuntu bukankulunkulu waleli zwe, ongasondeli ngisho nokusondela ekwethembekeni.​—2 Thim. 3:1-4; 2 Kor. 4:4.

2. (a) Ubani esingamethemba ngokuphelele? (b) Yini abanye abangase bazibuze yona?

² Nokho, njengamaKristu siyazi ukuthi singamethemba ngokuphelele uJehova. (Jer. 17:7, 8) Siyaqiniseka ngokuthi uyasithanda nangokuthi ‘akasoze abashiya’ abangane bakhe. (IHu. 9:10) Singamethemba noKristu Jesu ngoba wanikela ngokuphila kwakhe ngenxa yethu. (1 Pet. 3:18) Kanti sizibonele ngokwethu ukuthi iBhayibheli lineziqondiso esingazethemba. (2 Thim. 3:16, 17) Siyaqiniseka ukuthi singamethemba uJehova, uJesu neBhayibheli. Kodwa abanye bangase bazibuze ukuthi bangakwazi yini ukuhlale bebethemba abafowabo nodadewabo ebandleni. Uma impendulo inguyebo, kungani singabethemba?

3. Yiliphi ilungelo elikhethekile esinalo? (Marku 10:29, 30)

³ UJehova usikhethe ukuba sibe yingxenye yomndeni wezikhonzi zakhe emhlabeni. Cabanga nje ukuthi yilungelo elikhulu kangakanani lelo nokuthi linaziphi izinzuzo! (Funda uMarku 10:29, 30.) Emhlabeni wonke, sinabafowethu nodadewethu  abathanda uJehova njengathi nabazama ngokusemandleni ukuphila ngemithetho yakhe. Ulimi lwethu, amasiko nendlela esigqoka ngayo kungase kwehluke kokwabo kodwa siyabathanda ngisho noma siqala ukubabona. Siyathanda ukuba nabo, ikakhulu lapho sikhonza futhi sidumisa uBaba wethu osezulwini onothando.​—IHu. 133:1.

4. Kungani sibadinga abafowethu nodadewethu?

⁴ Manje kudingeka sihlale sinobunye nabafowethu nodadewethu kunanini ngaphambili. Ngezinye izikhathi bayasisiza lapho sibhekene nezinkinga. (Roma 15:1; Gal. 6:2) Basikhuthaza nokuba sihlale simatasa enkonzweni kaJehova futhi sihlale siqinile ngokomoya. (1 Thes. 5:11; Heb. 10:23-25) Cabanga ukuthi besingazizwa kanjani ukube besingekho isivikelo sebandla esisisiza sikwazi ukumelana nezitha zethu​—uSathane uDeveli nezwe lakhe elikhohlakele. Maduze, uSathane nalabo abalawulayo bazohlasela izinceku zikaNkulunkulu. Cabanga nje ukuthi siyokwazisa kangakanani ukusekelwa abafowethu nodadewethu!

5. Kungani abanye bengase bakuthole kunzima ukwethemba abafowabo nodadewabo?

⁵ Kwabanye nokho, kunzima ukwethemba abafowabo nodadewabo, mhlawumbe ngenxa yokuthi akholwa naye wake wadalula indaba yakhe eyimfihlo noma wehluleka ukugcina isithembiso asenzile. Noma mhlawumbe othile washo noma wenza into ethile eyamzwisa ubuhlungu obukhulu. Izimo ezifana nalezi zingenza kube nzima ukwethemba abanye. Pho yini engasisiza sibethembe abafowethu nodadewethu?

6. Uthando lungasisiza kanjani sethembe abafowethu? (1 Korinte 13:4-8)

⁶ Uthando luyisisekelo sokwethembana. Eyokuqala kwabaseKorinte isahluko 13 ichaza izindlela eziningi uthando olungasisiza ngayo  sethembe abanye noma siphinde sibethembe labo esingasabethembi. (Funda eyoku-1 Korinte 13:4-8.) Ngokwesibonelo, ivesi 4 lithi “uthando luyabekezela futhi lunomusa.” UJehova uyasibekezelela ngisho noma simona. Ngokuqinisekile-ke, nathi singababekezelela abafowethu uma besho noma benza izinto ezisicasulayo noma ezisizwisa ubuhlungu. Ivesi 5 liyanezela: “[Uthando] alucasuki. Alunamagqubu.” Asifuni ukubamba “amagqubu,” silokhu sikhumbula izinto abafowethu abasone ngazo. UmShumayeli 7:9 uthi ‘singasheshi ukucasuka.’ Kungcono ngempela ukusebenzisa amazwi akweyabase-Efesu 4:26: “Ilanga malingashoni nisacasukile”!

7. Izimiso ezikuMathewu 7:1-5 zingasisiza kanjani sethembe abafowethu?

⁷ Okunye okungasisiza sethembe abafowethu nodadewethu ukubabheka ngendlela uJehova ababheka ngayo. UNkulunkulu uyabathanda futhi akalokhu ebala izono zabo. Nathi akufanele sizibale. (IHu. 130:3) Kunokugxila emaphutheni abo, kufanele silwele ukubheka izimfanelo zabo ezinhle, sicabange nangezinto ezinhle abangase bakwazi ukuzenza. (Funda uMathewu 7:1-5.) Siyabethemba ukuthi bangakwazi ukwenza okuhle ngoba uthando “lukholelwa yizo zonke izinto.” (1 Kor. 13:7) Lokho akusho ukuthi uJehova ulindele ukuba sethembe abanye ngaphandle kwezizathu ezizwakalayo; kunalokho, ulindele ukuba sibethembe ngoba bezibonakalisa bethembekile. *

8. Yini esingayenza ukuze sethembe abafowethu?

⁸ Ukwethenjwa kufana nenhlonipho, kuyasetshenzelwa futhi lokho kuthatha isikhathi. Ungabethemba kanjani abafowenu? Bazi kangcono. Xoxa nabo emihlanganweni yebandla. Hlela ukusebenza nabo enkonzweni. Babekezelele, ubanike ithuba lokuzibonisa ukuthi bathembekile. Ekuqaleni, ungase uzikhethe izindaba zakho ozixoxa nothile osazama ukumazi kangcono. Njengoba ubungane benu bukhula, ungase uzizwe ukhululeke kakhudlwana ukukhuluma ngendlela ozizwa ngayo. (Luka 16:10) Kodwa yini ongayenza uma umfowenu engathembeki kuwe? Ungasheshi ubuqede ubungane benu. Kunalokho linda kudlule isikhathi. Ungavumeli nokuba izenzo zabambalwa zikwenze ungabe usabethemba abafowenu. Kule ndaba, sizoxoxa ngesibonelo esabekwa izinceku zikaJehova eziningi ezithembekile, okwathi noma zidunyazwe abathile, zaqhubeka zibethemba abanye.

9. (a) UHana waqhubeka kanjani ewethemba amalungiselelo kaNkulunkulu naphezu kwamaphutha enziwa abanye babameleli bakhe? (b) Isibonelo sikaHana sikufundisani ngokwethemba amalungiselelo kaJehova? (Bheka isithombe.)

⁹ Wake wadunyazwa isenzo somzalwane ophathiswe imithwalo? Uma kunjalo, kungakuzuzisa ukucabanga ngesibonelo sikaHana. Ngaleso sikhathi uMpristi Ophakeme u-Eli nguye owayehola ekukhonzeni uJehova kwa-Israyeli. Kodwa umndeni wakhe wawungesona isibonelo esihle. Amadodana akhe, ayengabapristi, ayevame ukwenza izinto ezihlazisayo, eziphatha kabi; kodwa kuncane okwenziwa uyise ukuze awakhuze. UJehova akamgudluzanga ngokushesha u-Eli esikhundleni sakhe. Noma kunjalo, uHana waqhubeka ewahlonipha amalungiselelo kaNkulunkulu, wayeya etabernakele ngisho noma u-Eli ayesenguMpristi. Lapho u-Eli ebona uHana ethandaza ecindezeleke kakhulu, wafinyelela isiphetho esiyiphutha sokuthi udakiwe. Engenawo amaqiniso aphelele, wamgxeka lo wesifazane ocindezelekile.  (1 Sam. 1:12-16) Noma kunjalo, uHana wafunga ukuthi uma ayengaba nendodana, wayeyoyiletha ukuba ikhonze etabernakele ngaphansi kuka-Eli. (1 Sam. 1:11) Ingabe kwakudingeka ilungiswe indaba ehilela amadodana ka-Eli? Yebo, futhi uJehova wayilungisa ngesikhathi esifanele. (1 Sam. 4:17) Engakayilungisi, uNkulunkulu wabusisa uHana ngendodana, uSamuweli.​—1 Sam. 1:17-20.

10. INkosi uDavide yaqhubeka kanjani ibethemba abanye naphezu kokudunyazwa?

¹⁰ Wake wadunyazwa umngane wakho omkhulu? Uma kwake kwenzeka, cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka eNkosini uDavide. Wayenomngane okuthiwa u-Ahithofeli. Kodwa lapho u-Absalomu, indodana kaDavide, ezama ukuthatha ubukhosi bukayise, u-Ahithofeli wamjoyina kulokho kuvukela. Kumelwe ukuba kwamzwisa ubuhlungu obukhulu uDavide lapho indodana yakhe nomuntu ayembheka njengomngane bemjikela! Nokho, uDavide akakuvumelanga lokho kudunyazwa kumenze ayeke ukwethemba abanye. Waqhubeka emethemba uHushayi, omunye umngane wakhe oqotho, owenqaba ukujoyina lokho kuvukela. UDavide wayenezizathu ezinhle zokumethemba. UHushayi wazibonakalisa engumngane omuhle, wafaka ngisho nokuphila kwakhe engozini ukuze asize uDavide.​—2 Sam. 17:1-16.

11. Enye yezinceku zikaNabali yabonisa kanjani ukuthi iyabethemba abanye?

¹¹ Cabanga nangesibonelo esabekwa enye yezinceku zikaNabali. Ngomusa, uDavide namadoda ayekanye naye babevikele izinceku zomIsrayeli okuthiwa uNabali. Ngemva kwesikhathi esithile, uDavide wacela uNabali owayecebile ukuba abaphe ukudla, noma yini nje ayengabapha yona. Lapho uNabali esenqaba lesi sicelo esibonisa ukucabangela, uDavide wathukuthela kakhulu kangangokuba wanquma ukubulala bonke abesilisa bendlu kaNabali. Kunenceku eyabikela u-Abhigayili, umkaNabali ngalesi simo. Njengelungu lomndeni, yayazi ukuthi ukuphila kwayo kusezandleni zika-Abhigayili. Kunokuba ibaleke, yethemba ukuthi u-Abhigayili uzokwazi ukulungisa isimo. Yayingamethemba ngenxa yokuthi wayaziwa njengowesifazane ohlakaniphile. Okwenzeka kubonisa ukuthi yayinezizathu ezinhle zokumethemba. U-Abhigayili wabonisa isibindi ngokunqanda uDavide ukuba angakwenzi  ayekuhlelile. (1 Sam. 25:2-35) U-Abhigayili wamethemba uDavide ukuthi uzobonisa ukucabangela.

12. UJesu wabonisa kanjani ukuthi uyabethemba abafundi bakhe naphezu kwamaphutha abo?

¹² UJesu wayebethemba abafundi bakhe naphezu kwamaphutha abo. (Joh. 15:15, 16) Lapho uJakobe noJohane becela uJesu ukuba abanike izikhundla ezikhethekile eMbusweni, uJesu akazange azingabaze izisusa zabo zokukhonza uJehova noma abayekise ukuba abaphostoli. (Marku 10:35-40) Kamuva, bonke abafundi bakhe bamshiya ngobusuku aboshwa ngabo. (Math. 26:56) Noma kunjalo, uJesu akayekanga ukubethemba. Wayewazi kahle amaphutha abo; kodwa “wabathanda kwaze kwaba sekupheleni.” (Joh. 13:1) UJesu ovusiwe waze wanikeza abaphostoli bakhe abangu-11 abathembekile isabelo esibalulekile sokuhola emsebenzini wokwenza abafundi nokunakekela izimvu zakhe eziyigugu. (Math. 28:19, 20; Joh. 21:15-17) Wayenezizathu ezinhle zokwethemba la madoda anesono. Wonke akhonza ngokwethembeka aze aqeda inkambo yawo yasemhlabeni. Ngokuqinisekile, uHana, uDavide, inceku kaNabali, u-Abhigayili noJesu babeka isibonelo esihle sokwethemba abantu abanesono.

13. Yini engase yenze kube nzima ukwethemba abanye?

¹³ Wake wamtshela yini umfowenu into eyimfihlo, kamuva wathola ukuthi akazange ayigcine iyimfihlo? Kungakudumaza ngempela lokho. Kunesikhathi lapho udade atshela khona umdala indaba eyimfihlo. Ngosuku olulandelayo, inkosikazi yalo mdala yafonela lo dade ukuze imkhuthaze, okwavele kwaba sobala ukuthi isiyayazi indaba eyimfihlo eyayixoxelwe lo mdala. Kuyaqondakala ukuthi kwaba nzima ukuba lo dade aphinde amethembe lo mdala. Kodwa okuhle ukuthi lo dade wafuna usizo. Wakhuluma nomunye umdala, lowo mdala wamsiza waphinde wabethemba abadala.

14. Yini eyasiza omunye umzalwane waphinde wabethemba abanye?

¹⁴ Kwase kuyisikhathi eside omunye umzalwane ecasukele abadala ababili, enomuzwa wokuthi ngeke esakwazi ukubethemba. Nokho, waqala ukucabanga ngokuthile okwashiwo umzalwane ayemhlonipha kakhulu. Amazwi alula kodwa anamandla awasho ayethi: “NguSathane oyisitha, hhayi abafowethu.” Lo mzalwane wacabangisisa ngala mazwi futhi wathandaza, wagcina ekwazile ukwenza ukuthula nalabo badala ababili.

15. Kungani kungase kuthathe isikhathi ukuphinde ubethembe abanye? Nikeza isibonelo.

¹⁵ Wake walahlekelwa ilungelo ebandleni? Kungaba buhlungu ngempela lokho. UGrete nonina babengoFakazi abathembekile eJalimane lobuNazi ngawo-1930 ngesikhathi umsebenzi wethu uvinjelwe. UGrete wayejabulela ilungelo lokuthayphela akholwa nabo amakhophi e-Nqabayokulinda. Kodwa lapho abazalwane bezwa ukuthi uyise uyaphikisa, lamlahlekela lelo lungelo ngenxa yokuthi babesaba ukuthi uyise angase anikeze abaphikisi imininingwane yebandla. UGrete wayesazobhekana nolunye uvivinyo. Phakathi neMpi Yezwe Yesibili, abazalwane babengamniki uGrete nonina amakhophi omagazini futhi babengafuni ukubakhulumisa lapho behlangana nabo emgwaqweni. Kwamzwisa ubuhlungu ngempela lokho, wathi kwamthatha isikhathi eside ukuba abaxolele futhi aphinde abethembe labo bazalwane. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwasikhathi wavuma ukuthi kumelwe ukuba uJehova usebathethelele, ngakho naye kwakufanele enze okufanayo. *

16. Kungani kumelwe sigweme noma yini engenza kube nzima ukuphinde sibethembe abanye?

 ¹⁶ Uma nawe uke wabhekana nesimo esibuhlungu njengalesi, sebenzela ukuphinde ubethembe abanye. Ungase udinge isikhathi kodwa imizamo yakho ngeke ibe yize. Ake sikufanekise kanje, uma wake wagula ngenxa yokudla ukudla okungazwani nawe, cishe uyokuqapha kakhudlwana ukudla okudlayo. Noma kunjalo, asiyeki ukudla lonke uhlobo lokudla ngenxa yokuthi nje kukhona okwake kwasigulisa. Ngendlela efanayo, akufanele sivumele isenzakalo esisodwa esibi sisenze singabe sisabethemba bonke abafowethu nodadewethu, esazi kahle ukuthi bazalwa benesono. Lapho siphinde sibethemba abanye, siyojabula nakakhulu futhi sikwazi ukugxila kulokho thina esingakwenza ukuze sibe nesandla ekukhuthazeni ukwethembana ebandleni.

17. Kungani kubaluleke kangaka ukwethemba abanye futhi sizoxoxa ngani esihlokweni esilandelayo?

¹⁷ Ukwethembana kuyivelakancane ezweni likaSathane kodwa ngoba abazalwane bomhlaba wonke bayathandana, bona bayethembana. Ukwethembana okunjalo kwenezela enjabulweni nasebunyeni bethu manje futhi kuyosivikela ezikhathini ezinzima ezizayo. Kuthiwani uma udunyazwe umuntu obumethemba? Zama ukubheka izinto ngendlela uJehova azibheka ngayo, usebenzise izimiso zeBhayibheli, uhlakulele uthando olujulile ngabafowenu futhi ufunde ezibonelweni eziseBhayibhelini. Singawunqoba umuzwa wokudumazeka, siphinde sibethembe abanye. Lapho senza kanjalo, sizojabulela izibusiso zokuba nenqwaba yabangane ‘abanamathela ngaphezu komfowethu.’ (IzAga 18:24) Kodwa akwanele nje ukwethemba abanye, nabo kufanele bazi ukuthi bangasethemba. Esihlokweni esilandelayo, sizoxoxa ngokuthi singazibonakalisa kanjani sikufanelekela ukwethenjwa abafowethu.