1, 2. Kulomhlaba lesiphila kuwo, kungani kutawuhlala kunebantfu labaphuyile?

LAMUHLA simo semnotfo simatima futsi akusiso lesihle. Bantfu labasha bafuna imisebenti kodvwa abayitfoli. Labanyenti bafaka kuphila kwabo engotini ngekutsi batfutsele etindzaweni letitfutfukile. Buphuya buhlasele umhlaba wonkhe, ngisho nasemaveni lacebile. Umkhatsi lokhona emkhatsini webantfu labanjingile nebantfu labaphuyile uyakhula. Kwatiswa kwakamuva kusitjela kutsi umuntfu munye lonjingile kubantfu labalikhulu labanjingile emhlabeni wonkhe, umcebo wakhe wendlula umcebo wabo bonkhe bantfu labanjingile emhlabeni nasewuhlanganisiwe. Nanobe singeke siciniseke ngalesibalo, kute umuntfu longaphika kutsi tigidzigidzi tebantfu emhlabeni tiphuye kakhulu kodvwa kube kunebantfu labanjinge kakhulu kangangekutsi umcebo wabo ungabachuba kuphila kwabo konkhe. Jesu wakhuluma ngalesimo lesibuhlungu lesikhona watsi: “Bantfu labeswele nihlale ninabo.” (Mak. 14:7) Ubangelwa yini lomehluko longaka?

² Jesu bekacondza kutsi lesimo lesikhona kutemnotfo ngeke sishintje kute kufike uMbuso waNkulunkulu. Tepolitiki kanye netenkholo letihambisana netentsengiselwano letiticabangela tona letimelelwa ‘ngulabatsengisi’ lokukhulunywa ngabo kuSembulo 18:3, tiyincenye yelive laSathane. Ngekungafani nebantfu baNkulunkulu labatehlukanise ngalokuphelele kupolitiki kanye nasenkholweni  yemanga, bantfu labanyenti abakhoni kutehlukanisa ngalokuphelele netentsengiselwano letiyincenye yalelive laSathane.

3. Ngumiphi imibuto lesitawucoca ngayo?

³ NjengemaKhristu, sitawube senta kahle nangabe sihlola umbono lesinawo ngetekutsengiselana letikhona lamuhla ngekutsi sitibute imibuto lefana nalena: ‘Ngingawusebentisa njani umcebo wami kute ngikhombise kutsi ngetsembekile kuNkulunkulu? Ngingalinciphisa njani lizinga lengingena ngalo kutekutsengiselana talelive? Ngubuphi bufakazi lobukhombisa kutsi bantfu baNkulunkulu bayametsemba kulesikhatsi lesimatima lesiphila kuso?’

4, 5. (a) Ngusiphi simo sisebenti lesisemfanekisweni waJesu lesatitfola sikuso? (b) Ngusiphi seluleko Jesu lasinika balandzeli bakhe?

⁴ Fundza Lukha 16:1-9. Lomfanekiso waJesu walesisebenti lesingakalungi usenta sicabange. Ngemuva kwekuba lesisebenti sesibekwe licala lekudlabhatisa imphahla, sakhombisa kutsi ‘sihlakaniphile’ ngekutsi ‘sitentele bangani’ kuze basisite nasesilahlekelwa ngulesikhundla saso sekuba ngumphatsi. * Liciniso, Jesu bekangakhutsati bafundzi bakhe kutsi bente tintfo letimbi kuze baphumelele kulelive lesiphila kulo. Watsi lomkhuba wentiwa “bantfu balelive,” kodvwa wasebentisa lomfanekiso kuze agcizelele liphuzu lelitsite.

⁵ Jesu bekati kutsi njengobe lesisebenti satikhandza sisesimeni lesimatima, nebalandzeli bakhe bekutawudzingeka babe nendlela yekutiphilisa kulelive lelingakalungi. Ngako wabakhutsata watsi: “Tenteleni bangani ngemcebo walelive, kuze kutsi nawuphela, [Jehova naJesu] banemukele etindzaweni tekuhlala taphakadze.” Yini lesingayifundza kuleseluleko saJesu?

6. Sati njani kutsi tentsengiselwano betingasiyo injongo yaNkulunkulu?

⁶ Nanobe Jesu angachazi kutsi kungani abita umcebo ngekutsi ‘walelive,’ liBhayibheli likwenta kucace kutsi tekutsengiselana betingasiyo injongo yaNkulunkulu. Jehova bekabanike konkhe labakudzingako bo-Adamu na-Eva ngesikhatsi basahlala e-Edeni. (Gen. 2:15, 16) Kamuva, ngalesikhatsi umoya longcwele usebenta ebandleni lemaKhristu lagcotjiwe langelikhulu lekucala, “kute ngisho namunye labegovuka netintfo takhe, kodvwa bebabelana loko labanako.” (Imis. 4:32) Umphrofethi Isaya wakhuluma ngesikhatsi lapho bonkhe bantfu batawujabulela umkhicito wemhlaba. (Isa. 25:6-9; 65:21, 22) Sisengakefiki leso sikhatsi, balandzeli baJesu kutawudzingeka kutsi ‘bahlakaniphe’ kuze bakhone kutiphilisa ‘ngalomcebo walelive,’ ngesikhatsi lesifanako babe bajabulisa Nkulunkulu.

7. Ngusiphi seluleko lesisitfola kuLukha 16:10-13?

⁷ Fundza Lukha 16:10-13. Lesisebenti lesisemfanakisweni waJesu satakhela bangani kute sitizuzise. Nobe kunjalo, Jesu wakhutsata balandzeli bakhe kutsi batakhele bangani ezulwini, hhayi ngetizatfu tebugovu. Emavesi lalandzela lomfanekiso ahlobanisa indlela losetjentiswa ngayo “umcebo walelive” nekwetsembeka kuNkulunkulu. Liphuzu laJesu belikutsi singahlala ‘setsembekile’ ngisho nobe sinalomcebo walelive. Singakwenta njani loko?

8, 9. Niketa sibonelo salabanye labakhombise kutsi betsembekile nabasebentisa umcebo walelive.

⁸ Indlela lekahle lesingakhombisa ngayo kutsi setsembekile ngemcebo lesinawo, kutsi sinikelele umsebenti wekushumayela wemhlaba wonkhe Jesu labiketela kutsi utawukwentiwa. (Mat. 24:14) Lenye intfombatanyana yaseNdiya beyinelibhokisi lelincane lebeyifaka kulo imali, beyize ikhetse kungatsengelwa emathoyizi  kuze ifake imali kulelibhokisi. Belitsi naseligcwele lelibhokisi, inikele ngalemali kute isetjentiselwe umsebenti wekushumayela. Lomunye umzalwane eNdiya lonelipulazi lemakhokhonathi wanikela ngawo ehhovisini lekuhumusha laseMalayalam kunekutsi anikele ngemali ngobe bekati kutsi lelihhovisi liyawatsenga emakhokhonathi. Lesi, sento lesihlakaniphile. Ngendlela lefanako, bazalwane baseGreece banikela njalo nge-olive oil, cheese kanye nalokunye kudla emndenini waseBethel.

⁹ Lomunye umzalwane waseSri Lanka losekahlala kulelinye live, wanikela ngendzawo yakhe kute isetjentiselwe imihlangano yelibandla kanye nemihlangano yesigodzi nekutsi kuhlale tisebenti tasikhatsi sonkhe. Loku kusho kutsi lomzalwane utidzelile ngekutsi angatfoli imali, kodvwa loku kulusito lolukhulu kubamemeteli labete imali lenyenti labakhona kulendzawo. Endzaweni lapho umsebenti wekushumayela uvinjelwe khona, bazalwane bavula emakhaya abo kute asetjentiswe njengemaHholwa eMbuso, bavumele emahlahlandlela kanye nalabanye kutsi bachubele khona imihlangano ngaphandle kwekutsi bakhokhe imali lenyenti.

10. Ngutiphi tibusiso lesititfolako nangabe sipha labanye?

¹⁰ Letibonelo lesesikhulume ngato tikhombisa indlela bantfu baNkulunkulu labangatsembeka ngayo ‘kulokuncane’ ngekutsi basebentise umcebo wabo walelive, lokuyintfo lengakabaluleki kwengca umcebo wabo losezulwini. (Luk. 16:10) Labangani baJehova bativa njani ngalokutidzela kwabo? Bayati kutsi kupha kuyindlela yekutfola umcebo longuwo “sibili.” (Luk. 16:11) Lomunye dzadze lowunikelela njalo umsebenti weMbuso usichazela ngetibusiso latitfolile, utsi: “Ngekupha labanye tintfo labatidzingako, ngijabulele tintfo lebetingakavami kwenteka kimi kuleminyaka leyendlulile. Njengobe ngichubeka nekupha bantfu tintfo labatidzingako, ngiba nebudlelwane lobuhle nalabanye bantfu. Ngikujabulela kakhulu kutsetselela labanye, nekubabeketelela, kanye nekwamukela kudvumateka, nekwelulekwa.” Labanyenti bafundze kutsi kupha kutfutfukisa buhlobo lobuhle naNkulunkulu.​—Hla. 112:5; Taga 22:9.

11. (a) Nangabe sipha labanye sisuke sikhombisa njani kutsi ‘sihlakaniphile’? (b) Ngukuphi kwabiwa kwetimali ngekulingana lokwentelwa bantfu baNkulunkulu? (Buka sitfombe lesisekucaleni kwalesihloko.)

¹¹ Kusebentisa umcebo wetfu kute sisekele tindzaba teMbuso, kungulenye indlela yekukhombisa kutsi ‘sihlakaniphile.’ Loku kusiniketa litfuba lekutsi sisebentise tintfo lesinato kute sisite labanye. Labo labanemcebo kodvwa babe bangakhoni kwenta umsebenti wasikhatsi sonkhe, bayajabula ngekwati kutsi bayawusekela umsebenti wekushumayela lowentiwa ngulabanye. (Taga 19:17) Umnikelo wekutitsandzela uyasita ekutfumeleni tincwadzi letisekelwe eBhayibhelini kanye nekusekela umsebenti wekushumayela etindzaweni letihlaselwe buphuya kantsi kunekwandza lokukhulu kwebantfu labafuna kufundza ngaNkulunkulu. Sekuphele iminyaka leminyenti, bazalwane labasemaveni lanjengaseCongo, eMadagascar kanye naseRwanda, bakhetsa emkhatsini wekutfolela imindeni yabo kudla noma emakhophi eliBhayibheli, lokuyimali lelingana nemholo weliviki nobe wenyanga. Ngelusito lwaleminikelo nekwabiwa kwetimali ‘ngekulingana’, inhlangano yaJehova ikhonile kusekela umsebenti wekuhumusha  kanye nekwabiwa kwemaBhayibheli elungeni ngalinye lemndeni kanye nakubafundzi beliBhayibheli labalambele liciniso ngaNkulunkulu. (Fundza 2 Khorinte 8:13-15.) Loko kwenta kutsi bungani naJehova bujatjulelwe ngulabo labaphako nalabo labemukelako ngendlela lelinganako.

12. Abrahama wakhombisa njani kutsi bekametsemba Nkulunkulu?

¹² Lenye indlela lesingaba bangani ngayo naJehova kutsi singangeni kakhulu etindzabeni tekutsengiselana kunaloko sisebentise emandla etfu ekufuneni umcebo “sibili.” Abrahama, indvodza yasendvulo lebeyinekukholwa, ngekutfobeka yashiya live lelinjingile lase-Uri kute iyohlala emathendeni futsi yakha bungani naJehova. (Heb. 11:8-10) Ngaso sonkhe sikhatsi beketsembela kuNkulunkulu njengeMtfombo wemcebo sibili, futsi akazange afune ematfuba ekuba nemcebo walelive lokuyintfo lebeyingakhombisa kutsi unekukholwa lokubutsakatsaka kuNkulunkulu. (Gen. 14:22, 23) Jesu wakhutsata kukholwa lokufana nekwa-Abrahama ngekutjela lenye indvodza lebeyinjingile ngekutsi atsi kuyo: “Nawufuna kuphelela, hamba utsengise konkhe lonako, uphe labeswele, futsi utawuba nemcebo ezulwini, bese uyeta uba ngumlandzeli wami.” (Mat. 19:21) Lendvodza beyite kukholwa lebekufana nekwa-Abrahama, nobe kunjalo, bakhona bantfu lebebanekukholwa kuNkulunkulu.

13. (a) Ngusiphi seluleko Pawula lasinika Thimothewu? (b) Singasisebentisa njani seluleko saPawula lamuhla?

¹³ Thimothewu bekayindvodza lenekukholwa. Ngemuva kwekutsi Pawula abite Thimothewu ngekutsi “lisotja lelihle laKhristu Jesu,” wase utsi kuye: “Kute umuntfu lolisotja lotifaka etindzabeni tekutsengiselana, nangabe afuna kwemukelwa nguloyo lamcashe njengelisotja.” (2 Thim. 2:3, 4) Lamuhla balandzeli baJesu labafaka ekhatsi libutfo lebashumayeli basikhatsi sonkhe labangetulu kwesigidzi, basebentisa leseluleko saPawula kuye ngekutsi timo tabo tibavumela kutsi benteni. Ngekungavumeli kucindzetelwa tintfo letikhangiswako kanye nekucindzetelwa ngulelive labaphila kulo, bakhumbula lesimiso lesitsi: “Nemboleki uba sigcili sembolekisi.” (Taga 22:7) Kute lokunye lokufunwa nguSathane ngaphandle kwekutsi sisebentise onkhe emandla etfu nesikhatsi setfu njengetigcili temcebo walelive. Letinye tincumo lesingatenta tingasibangela kutsi singene shi etikweletini iminyaka leminyenti. Kubhadala tikweleti temiti lemikhulu, kubhadala tikweleti tekufundzisa bantfwana etikolweni letidulile, kubhadala tikweleti tetimoto letidulile, kanye nekwenta imishado ledulile kungabangela kukhatsateka lokukhulu endzabeni yetimali. Sisuke sikhombisa kutsi sihlakaniphile nangabe siphila kuphila lokumelula, sinciphisa tikweleti futsi singatsengi tintfo letidulile, bese sitibekela umgomo wekuba tigcili taNkulunkulu kunekutsi sibe tigcili talelive.​—1 Thim. 6:10.

14. Ngukuphi kutimesela lokudzingeka kutsi sikwente? Niketa tibonelo.

¹⁴ Kwenta kuphila kwetfu kube melula kufaka ekhatsi kubeka tintfo letibalulekile tite kucala ekuphileni kwetfu. Labanye labashadile bebanelibhizinisi leliphumelelako lekukhicita timphahla. Nobe kunjalo, sifiso sabo sekuphindze bangenele umsebenti wekushumayela wasikhatsi sonkhe sabenta batsengisa lelibhizinisi labo, sikebhe sabo kanye naletinye tintfo lebebanato. Ngemuva kwaloko, bahamba bayosekela umsebenti wekwakha indlunkhulu yaboFakazi eWarwick leseNew York. Bajabulela sibusiso lesikhetsekile sekusebenta eBethel nendvodzakati yabo kanye nemkhwenyane wabo, futsi ngemuva kwemaviki batali balomkhwenyane beta batosebenta kulomsebenti wekwakha eWarwick. Lomunye dzadze lolihlahlandlela eColorado leseMelika, watfola umsebenti ebhange wekusebenta emalanga latsite evikini. Tisebenti tasebhange tayijabulela indlela yakhe yekusebenta taze tamtsembisa kumcasha kutsi sale asebenta kulelibhange  sonkhe sikhatsi futsi liholo lakhe beselitawuphindvwa katsatfu kunalelo bekalihola ekucaleni. Nobe kunjalo, ngenca yekutsi lomsebenti wakhe bewutamenta kutsi angakhoni kuchubeka nekuba lihlahlandlela lelivamile, wawala lomsebenti. Leti tibonelo letimbalwa taloko lokwentiwe tinceku taJehova kute tikhombise kutsi tiyatidzela. Nangabe sitimisele kubeka uMbuso kucala ekuphileni kwetfu, sisuke sikhombisa kutsi sibutsatsa njengalobubalulekile bungani betfu naNkulunkulu kanye nemcebo wasezulwini kunekutsi sinake loko umcebo welive longasiniketa kona.

15. Ngumuphi umcebo loletsa injabulo lengapheli?

¹⁵ Kuba nemcebo lomnyenti akusho kutsi usuke ubusiswe nguNkulunkulu. Jehova ubusisa labo labafuna kunjinga “emisebentini lemihle.” (Fundza 1 Thimothi 6:17-19.) Nasi sibonelo, ngalesikhatsi Lucia * eva kutsi bekunesidzingo sebashumayeli e-Albania, wesuka e-Italy nga-1993 ete ngisho nemali yekutisekela anelitsemba lekutsi Jehova utamsita. Walufundza kahle lulwimi lwesi-Albanian futsi wakhona kufundzisa bantfu labangetulu kwa-60 liciniso bate babhajatiswa. Nanobe linyenti lebantfu baNkulunkulu lingashumayeli kuletindzawo letinebantfu labalambele liciniso, nobe yini tsine labanye lesiyentako ingasita labanye kutsi batfole indlela leya ekuphileni, futsi bahlale kuyo. Loku kuyokwenta kutsi sijabule kanye nabo kute kube phakadze.​—Mat. 6:20.

16. (a) Yini letawenteka kulesimiso lesikhona setentsengiselwano? (b) Loko lesikwatiko ngesiphetfo semcebo walelive kufanele kusente sitsatse siphi sinyatselo?

¹⁶ Jesu watsi: “Kuze kutsi [umcebo walelive] nawuphela,” hhayi kutsi ‘nakungenteka uphele.’ (Luk. 16:9)Kuwa kwemnotfo kanye nekuvalwa kwemabhange kulamalanga ekugcina kubufakazi baloko lokutawukwenteka madvutane kulelive lesiphila kulo. Sonkhe lesimiso saSathane lesifaka ekhatsi ipolitiki, inkholo kanye nesimo semnotfo sitawuphela. Umphrofethi Hezekiya kanye nemprofethi Zefaniya babiketela kutsi ligolide nelisiliva lokuyinsika yemnotfo wemhlaba kusukela endvulo, kutawuba lite. (Hez. 7:19; Zef. 1:18) Sitawutiva njani nangabe sifa solo sisebenta kamatima kute sibe ‘nemcebo walelive’ kunekutsi sifune umcebo sibili? Sitawutiva ngendlela lefanako nendvodza leyasebenta kuphila kwayo konkhe solo icongelela imali, kwase kutsi ekugcineni yatfola kutsi yimali mbumbulu. (Taga 18:11) Kuliciniso kutsi, ekugcineni umcebo lonjengalona utawuphela, ngako sebentisa lelitfuba kute utentele bangani ezulwini. Kunobe ngabe yini lesiyentako kute sisekele uMbuso waJehova, loko kutawusenta kutsi sibe nebuhlobo lobuhle naye.

17, 18. Ngutiphi tibusiso letitawutfolwa bangani baNkulunkulu esikhatsini lesitako?

¹⁷ Nasekubusa uMbuso waNkulunkulu, kute bantfu labatawucasha tindlu tekuhlala nobe batsenge tindlu, kudla kutawuba mahhala, kube kunyenti futsi bantfu ngeke basabhadala imali kute nje balashwe. Umndeni waJehova wasemhlabeni utawujabulela tibusiso letinyenti letitawuba khona. Ligolide nelisiliva kanye nalamanye ematje laligugu atawuba yintfo yekuhlobisa hhayi kutsengiswa nobe kube yintfo legcinwe endzaweni yemcebo. Tingodvo leticinile tekwakha, ematje lamahle ekuhlobisa kanye nensimbi lecinile yekwakha, kuyawutfolakala mahhala kute bantfu bakhe emakhaya lamahle. Bangani betfu batawusisekela ngekutitsandzela hhayi kutsi sibabhadale imali. Eveni lelisha tonkhe tintfo letikhona tiyawukwabelwa bonkhe bantfu ngendlela lelinganako futsi lena kutawuba yindlela yekuphila.

¹⁸ Loku kumane nje kuyincenye yelifa lelitawutfolwa ngulabo lababangani baNkulunkulu. Tinceku taJehova letisemhlabeni tiyawujabula tingacedzi nativa emavi aJesu latsi: “Kotani nine lenibusiswe nguBabe, nitewudla lifa leMbuso lenalilungiselelwa kusukela kwasekelwa umhlaba.”​—Mat. 25:34.