1, 2. (a) Ayini “amacebo” kaSathane? (b) Yini ezosisiza ukuba sisondele kuNkulunkulu?

UJEHOVA UNKULUNKULU wadala abantu benesidingo sokusondela kuye. Nokho, uSathane ufuna sicabange njengaye—ukuthi asimdingi uJehova. Lawa ngamanga uSathane aye wawabhebhethekisa kusukela u-Eva akhohliswa ensimini yase-Edene. (Gen. 3:4-6) Kuwo wonke umlando, abantu abaningi baye benza lelo phutha elifanayo.

² Kuyajabulisa ukwazi ukuthi akudingeki siwele ogibeni lukaSathane. “Asibona abangenalwazi ngamacebo akhe.” (2 Kor. 2:11) USathane uzama ukusidedisela kude noJehova ngokusithonya ukuba sikhethe kabi. Kodwa njengoba isihloko esandulele sibonisile, singakhetha kahle ngokuphathelene nomsebenzi, ukuzijabulisa nezindaba zomkhaya. Lesi sihloko sizosibonisa ukuthi ukugcina izinto zobuchwepheshe, impilo, imali nokuqhosha kusendaweni yakho kungasisiza kanjani ukuba ‘sisondele kuNkulunkulu.’—Jak. 4:8.

3. Bonisa indlela izinto zobuchwepheshe ezingasetshenziswa ngayo ngendlela enhle noma embi.

³ Izinto eziphambili zobuchwepheshe sezandile emhlabeni wonke. Uma zisetshenziswa kahle, zingaba amathuluzi awusizo. Uma zisetshenziswa ngendlela engalungile, zingangena phakathi kwethu noBaba wethu osezulwini. Cabanga ngama-computer. Umagazini owufundayo ubhalwe futhi wanyatheliswa ngosizo lwama-computer. I-computer ingaba ithuluzi elisheshayo ekucwaningeni nasekuxhumaneni futhi ngezinye izikhathi ingaba umthombo wokuzijabulisa oqabulayo. Nokho, kungenzeka sizithole sesisanganiswa ubuchwepheshe bama-computer. Ngobuhlakani, abakhangisi benza abantu bakholelwe ukuthi kumelwe babe nemikhiqizo yamuva. Enye insizwa yayifuna kakhulu ukuthola i-computer yohlobo lwe-tablet kangangokuthi yadayisa ngasese enye yezinso zayo ukuze iyithenge. Yeka ukuthi yazilahlekisela lukhulu kangakanani kungadingekile!

4. Omunye umKristu wayisingatha kanjani inkinga yakhe yokusebenzisa i-computer ngokweqile?

 ⁴ Into edabukisa nakakhulu ukuzilahlekisela ubuhlobo bakho noJehova ngenxa yokusebenzisa ubuchwepheshe kabi noma ngokweqile. UJon, * umKristu osecela eminyakeni engu-30, uthi, “Ngiyazi ukuthi iBhayibheli lithi kufanele ‘sizithengisisele isikhathi’ sezinto ezingokomoya. Kodwa uma kuziwa ekusebenziseni i-computer, ngiyisitha sami esikhulu.” UJon wayevame ukusebenzisa i-Internet kuze kube kwesikabhadakazi. Uyalandisa: “Nakuba sengikhathele kakhulu, kwakuba nzima ukuyeka ukuxoxa nothile engosini yengevu noma ukubukela iziqeshana zama-video—ngesinye isikhathi ayesuke engamfanele umKristu.” Ukuze agqashule kulo mkhuba omubi, wacupha i-computer yakhe ukuba izicime lapho sekuyisikhathi sokuba ayolala.—Funda eyabase-Efesu 5:15, 16.

5, 6. (a) Abazali banaziphi izibopho ngokuphathelene nezingane zabo? (b) Abazali bangaqinisekisa kanjani ukuthi izingane zabo zizihlanganisa nabangane abahle?

⁵ Bazali, akudingekile ukuba nilawule konke okwenziwa izingane zenu, kodwa kudingekile ukuba nilawule indlela eziyisebenzisa ngayo i-computer. Ningazishiyi zodwa zichayeke ekuziphatheni okubi kuyi-Internet, emidlalweni enobudlova, ekusebenzelaneni nemimoya nakubangane ababi, ngoba nje nifuna ukuzigcina zimatasa futhi zinganiphazamisi. Uma nenza kanjalo, zingase ziphethe ngokuthi, ‘Njengoba ubaba nomama bengenandaba nalokhu, kumelwe ukuba kulungile.’ Njengabazali, kuwumsebenzi wenu ukuvikela izingane zenu—kuhlanganise nalezo ezevé eminyakeni eyishumi nambili—kunoma yini engazidedisela kude noJehova. Ngisho nezilwane ziyawavikela amazinyane azo. Cabanga ngalokho okungenziwa ibhele lensikazi uma othile ebengasongela amawundlu alo!—Qhathanisa noHoseya 13:8.

⁶ Sizani izingane zenu ukuba zihlele ukuzijabulisa okunempilo namanye amaKristu ayisibonelo, amancane namadala. Khumbulani ukuthi izingane zenu zidinga ukuba nina nichithe isikhathi nazo! Ngakho hlelani isikhathi sokuhleka, sokudlala, sokusebenza ‘nesokusondela kuNkulunkulu’ ndawonye. *

7. Kungani sonke sifuna ukuhlale sinempilo enhle?

⁷ “Uzizwa kanjani?” Le nkulumo evamile ibonisa iqiniso elibuhlungu. Ngenxa yokuthi abazali bethu bokuqala bavumela uSathane ukuba abadedisele kude noJehova, sonke siphathwa izifo. Ukugula kufeza injongo kaSathane, ngoba lapho sigula, simkhonza kanzima uJehova. Kanti-ke uma sifa, asibe sisakwazi nhlobo ukumkhonza. (IHu. 115:17) Yingakho sifuna ukwenza konke okusemandleni ukuze sihlale sinempilo enhle! * Kufanele sikhathalele nanempilo nenhlalakahle yabafowethu.

8, 9. (a) Singakugwema kanjani ukweqisa ngokuphathelene nempilo? (b) Ziyini izinzuzo zokuhlakulela injabulo?

⁸ Nokho, kubalulekile ukugwema ukweqisa.  Abanye baye bakhuthaza ngentshiseko izinhlobo ezithile zokudla, izindlela zokwelapha noma imikhiqizo ethile—ngentshiseko engaphezu kwaleyo abashumayela ngayo izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaNkulunkulu. Kungenzeka bakholelwa ngobuqotho ukuthi basiza abanye. Noma kunjalo, akufaneleki nanini ukukhuthaza ukusetshenziswa kwemikhiqizo yezempilo noma izimonyo eHholo LoMbuso noma emihlanganweni yethu yesifunda noma yesigodi. Kungani kungafaneleki?

⁹ Sibuthana ndawonye ngenjongo yokuxoxa ngezinto ezingokomoya nokwandisa injabulo yethu, eyisithelo somoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu. (Gal. 5:22) Ngezikhathi ezinjalo, ukunikeza izeluleko zezempilo noma ukukhulumela imikhiqizo yezempilo—siceliwe noma cha—kungasiphazamisa enjongweni yethu engokomoya futhi kuphuce abanye injabulo yabo. (Roma 14:17) Umuntu kufanele azinqumele ukuthi uzozisingatha kanjani izinkinga zakhe zempilo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, akekho onesixazululo sazo zonke izifo. Ngisho nodokotela abachwepheshile bayaguga, bagule futhi ekugcineni bafe. Ukukhathazeka ngokweqile ngempilo ngeke kuselule isikhathi sethu sokuphila. (Luka 12:25) Ngakolunye uhlangothi, “inhliziyo ejabulayo ingumuthi omuhle.”—IzAga 17:22.

10. (a) Iziphi izimfanelo ezinhle phambi kukaJehova? (b) Singakwazi kanjani ukujabulela impilo engcono kakhulu?

¹⁰ Ngokufanayo, kuyafaneleka ukuba sikhathazeke ngokubukeka kwethu. Kodwa akudingeki ukuba sizikhandle sizama ukufihla zonke izimpawu zokuguga. Lezo zimpawu zingaba ubufakazi bokuvuthwa, isithunzi nobuhle bangaphakathi. Ngokwesibonelo, iBhayibheli lithi: “Ubumpunga bungumqhele wobuhle lapho butholakala endleleni yokulunga.” (IzAga 16:31) Yileyo ndlela uJehova asibheka ngayo, futhi kufanele sizame ukuzibheka ngendlela asibheka ngayo. (Funda eyoku-1 Petru 3:3, 4.) Khona-ke, ingabe kuwukuhlakanipha ukuzifaka engozini ngokungadingekile ngokuhlinzwa noma ngokusebenzisa imithi engasilimaza ngoba nje sifuna ukuthuthukisa indlela esibukeka ngayo? “Injabulo kaJehova” iwumthombo wobuhle bangempela obusuka ngaphakathi, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi umuntu mdala noma unempilo enhle kangakanani. (Neh. 8:10) Impilo ephelele nobuhle bobusha siyophinde sibuthole ezweni elisha kuphela. (Jobe 33:25; Isaya 33:24) Kuze kube yileso sikhathi, ukubonisa ukuhlakanipha okusebenzayo nokholo kuyosisiza ukuba sihlale siseduze noJehova sibe senza konke okusemandleni kulezi zimo zethu zamanje.—1 Thim. 4:8.

11. Imali ingaba kanjani ugibe?

¹¹ Imali ayiyimbi, futhi akukubi ukuba nebhizinisi elisemthethweni. (UmSh. 7:12; Luka 19:12, 13) Nokho, ukuhlakulela “uthando lwemali” nakanjani kuyosidedisela kude noJehova. (1 Thim. 6:9, 10) “Izinkathazo zalesi simiso,” noma ukukhathazeka ngokweqile ngokuthola izidingo zokuphila, zingasiminyanisa ngokomoya. Angenza okufanayo “namandla engcebo okukhohlisa,” okuwukukholelwa ngokuyiphutha ukuthi ingcebo ingaletha injabulo nokulondeka okuhlala njalo. (Math. 13:22) UJesu wakwenza kwacaca ukuthi “akekho” ongaphumelela ekukhonzeni uNkulunkulu nengcebo.—Math. 6:24.

12. Iziphi izingibe zezimali ezivamile namuhla, futhi singazigwema kanjani?

¹² Ukuba nombono ongalungile ngemali kungaholela ezenzweni ezingalungile. (IzAga 28:20) Izithembiso zokuceba kalula ngokushesha ziye zayengela abaningi ekuthengeni amathikithi e-lotto noma ukuba baphishekele izinhlelo zomasikhuphulane, baze bahilela namanye amalungu ebandla. Abanye baye bakhohliseka batshala izimali zabo ngoba bethenjiswa inzalo enkulu. Ungavumeli ukuhaha kukwenze uphanjwe. Hluzeka. Uma okwethenjiswayo kuzwakala kuyinto engenakwenzeka, cishe akunakwenzeka vele.

13. Umbono kaJehova ngemali uhluke kanjani kowezwe?

¹³ Lapho sibeka kuqala “umbuso nokulunga  kwakhe,” uJehova uyayibusisa imizamo yethu enokulinganisela yokuthola izidingo zokuphila. (Math. 6:33; Efe. 4:28) Akafuni silale emihlanganweni yebandla ngenxa yokusebenza ngokweqile noma sikhathazeke ngemali ngisho nalapho siseHholo LoMbuso. Nokho, abaningi ezweni esiphila kulo bakholelwa ukuthi bangaba nekusasa elilondekile kuphela ngokuthi bazikhandle bagaye imali manje bese bekhululeka kamuva lapho sebekhulile. Bavame ukugqugquzela izingane zabo ukuba zibe nomgomo ofanayo wokuqongelela izinto ezibonakalayo. UJesu wabonisa ukuthi kuwukungabi nangqondo ukucabanga ngaleyo ndlela. (Funda uLuka 12:15-21.) Lokhu kungase kusikhumbuze uGehazi, owacabanga ukuthi anganelisa ukuhaha kwakhe kodwa aqhubeke enokuma okuhle noJehova.—2 AmaKh. 5:20-27.

14, 15. Kungani kungamelwe sithembele emalini ukuze sithole ukulondeka? Nikeza isibonelo.

¹⁴ Kuthiwa izinkozi ezithile ziyahluleka ukundiza bese ziminza ngenxa yokungayidedeli inhlanzi esinda kakhulu eziyibambe ngamazipho. Kungenzeka yini ukuba umKristu ehlelwe into ethi ayifane? Omunye umdala ogama lakhe lingu-Alex uyachaza: “Ngokuvamile ngiyonga kakhulu. Ngisho noma ngithele insipho eningi kakhulu esandleni, ngiyayibuyisela ebhodleleni.” Noma kunjalo, u-Alex wabambeka ekuhwebeni ezimakethe zamasheya, ecabanga ukuthi kuyomenza asheshe ayeke emsebenzini angenele inkonzo yamaphayona. Wachitha isikhathi esiningi ngokwengeziwe ehlola izindlela ezihlukahlukene zokutshala imali nemibiko yendlela izimakethe ezisebenza ngayo. Esebenzisa imali ayeyongile nayeyiboleke kwababolekisayo, wathenga amasheya abahlaziyi ababethi inani lawo lizokwenyuka ngokushesha. Kunokuba lenyuke, lehla kungazelelwe. U-Alex uyalandisa, “Ngazimisela ukuyibuyisa imali yami. Ngaba nomuzwa wokuthi uma nje ngingabekezela ngiqhubeke, amasheya ayezobuye asimame.”

¹⁵ Kwaphela izinyanga kungasekho lutho olunye u-Alex alucabangayo. Wakuthola kunzima ukuba agxile ezintweni ezingokomoya, waphelelwa nawubuthongo. Kodwa amasheya awaphindanga asimama. Walahlekelwa imali ayeyongile futhi kwadingeka adayise indlu yakhe. Uyavuma: “Ngazwisa umkhaya wami ubuhlungu obukhulu.” Kodwa u-Alex wafunda isifundo esibalulekile. “Manje ngiyazi ukuthi noma ubani owethemba isimiso sikaSathane uzodumala kabuhlungu.” (IzAga 11:28) Ngempela, ukubeka ithemba lethu emalini esiyongile, esiyitshalile noma ekhonweni lethu lokugaya imali kulesi simiso kufana nokubeka ithemba lethu ‘kunkulunkulu walesi simiso sezinto,’ uSathane. (2 Kor. 4:4; 1 Thim. 6:17) Ukusukela lapho u-Alex wenza ukuphila kwakhe kwaba lula “ngenxa yezindaba ezinhle.” Uzokutshela ukuthi ukwenza kanjalo kuye kwamenza yena nomkhaya wakhe bajabula futhi basondela ngokwengeziwe kuJehova.—Funda uMarku 10:29, 30.

16. Ukuqhosha okuhle kuhluke kanjani kokubi?

¹⁶ Ukuqhosha ngezinto ezifanele kungaba into enhle. Ngokwesibonelo, kufanele ngaso sonke isikhathi siziqhenye ngokuthi singoFakazi BakaJehova. (Jer. 9:24) Ukuzihlonipha ngezinga elinempilo kusisiza ukuba senze izinqumo ezinhle futhi sigweme ukwehlisa izindinganiso zethu zokuziphatha. Kodwa ukubheka isikhundla sethu noma imibono yethu njengephakeme kakhulu kungasidedisela kude noJehova.—IHu. 138:6; Roma 12:3.

17, 18. (a) Nikeza izibonelo zaseBhayibhelini zabantu ababethobekile nababeqhosha. (b) Omunye umzalwane wakugwema kanjani ukuvumela ukuqhosha ukuba kumdedisele kude noJehova?

¹⁷ IBhayibheli liqukethe izibonelo zabantu ababeqhosha nababethobekile. Ngokuthobeka, iNkosi uDavide yafuna isiqondiso sikaJehova, futhi uJehova wayibusisa. (IHu. 131:1-3) Kodwa uJehova wawathobisa amakhosi aqhoshayo uNebukhadinezari noBhelishazari. (Dan. 4:30-37; 5:22-30) Nanamuhla ziba khona izimo ezivivinya ukuthobeka kwethu. URyan, inceku ekhonzayo eneminyaka engu-32, wathuthela kwelinye ibandla.  Uyalandisa: “Ngangilindele ukuba ngituswe ngokushesha njengomdala, kodwa kwaphela unyaka wonke kungenzeki.” Ingabe wathukuthela, waba nenhliziyo ebuhlungu, enomuzwa wokuthi abadala abamazisi ngokufanele? Ingabe wayeka ukuya emihlanganweni yebandla, evumela ukuqhosha kumdedisele kude noJehova nabantu baKhe? Wena wawuyokwenzenjani?

¹⁸ URyan uyakhumbula, “Ngafunda konke ebengingakufunda ezincwadini zethu ngokuphathelene nethemba elilitshazisiwe.” (IzAga 13:12) “Ngaqala ukuqaphela ukuthi kwakudingeka ngifunde ukubekezela nokuthobeka. Kwakudingeka ngivumele uJehova angiqeqeshe.” URyan akazange agxile kuye ngokwakhe kunalokho wagxila ekukhonzeni abanye—ebandleni nasensimini. Kungakabiphi wayeseqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli eziningana ezithuthukayo. Uthi, “Ngamangala lapho ngimiswa njengomdala ngemva konyaka nengxenye. Ngase ngiyekile ukukhathazeka ngakho ngoba ngangiyijabulela kakhulu inkonzo yami.”—Funda iHubo 37:3, 4.

19, 20. (a) Singaqiniseka kanjani ukuthi izinto esizenza nsuku zonke azisidediseli kude noJehova? (b) Iziphi izibonelo zalabo abahlala beseduze noJehova esingazilingisa?

¹⁹ Zonke izinto okuxoxwe ngazo kulesi sihloko nakwesandulele zinendawo efanele ekuphileni kwethu. Siyaziqhenya ngokuba izinceku zikaJehova. Ukuba nomkhaya ojabulayo nempilo enhle kungezinye zezipho ezinkulu kakhulu ezivela kuJehova. Siyaqonda ukuthi umsebenzi wokuziphilisa nemali kungasisiza ekunakekeleni izidingo zethu. Siyazi ukuthi ukuzijabulisa kungasiqabula nokuthi izinto zobuchwepheshe zingaba usizo olukhulu. Kodwa ukuphishekela noma iyiphi yalezi zinto ngesikhathi esingafanele, ngezinga eledlulele, noma ngendlela ephazamisa ukukhulekela kwethu kungasidedisela kude noJehova.

²⁰ Yiqiniso, uSathane angathanda ukukubona kwenzeka lokho. Noma kunjalo, ungayivimbela leyo nhlekelele ukuba ingakwehleli wena nomkhaya wakho! (IzAga 22:3) Sondela kuJehova uhlale useduze naye. Sinezibonelo eziningi eziseBhayibhelini ezingasifundisa ngale ndaba. U-Enoke noNowa ‘bahamba noNkulunkulu weqiniso.’ (Gen. 5:22; 6:9) UMose “waqhubeka egxilile sengathi uyambona Lowo ongabonakali.” (Heb. 11:27) UJesu wasekelwa uNkulunkulu njalo ngoba ngaso sonke isikhathi wayenza lokho okwakuthokozisa uYise osezulwini. (Joh. 8:29) Lingisa izibonelo ezinjalo. “Jabulani ngaso sonke isikhathi. Thandazani ningaphezi. Nibonge ngakho konke.” (1 Thes. 5:16-18) Ngaphezu kwakho konke, ungavumeli lutho lukudedisele kude noJehova!