1-3. (a) Kufanele sizizwe kanjani ngeqiniso leBhayibheli? (Bheka izithombe ezisekuqaleni.) (b) Yimiphi imibuzo esizoxoxa ngayo kulesi sihloko?

KUVAMILE ukuphindisela into ethengiwe. Kulinganiselwa ukuthi kwamanye amazwe abantu baphindisela emuva amaphesenti angu-9 ezinto abazithenge ezitolo. Angaba ngaphezu kuka-30 amaphesenti ezinto eziphindiselwayo ezithengwe nge-inthanethi. Mhlawumbe abathengi bathole ukuthi into abayithengile ayikona lokho abebekulindele, ilimele noma abayithandi. Ngakho banquma ukuyishintsha leyo nto noma bacele ukubuyiselwa imali yabo.

² Ngisho noma singase sicele ukubuyiselwa imali yezinto esizithengile, asisoze safuna ukubuyisela noma ‘ukuthengisa’ ‘ulwazi olunembile’ lweqiniso oluseBhayibhelini ‘esiluthengayo.’ (Funda izAga 23:23; 1 Thim. 2:4) Njengoba sifundile esihlokweni esidlule, sithola iqiniso ngokuchitha isikhathi esiningi silifunda. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukuze sithenge iqiniso, kungenzeka siye sadela umsebenzi okhokhela kahle, abangane nezihlobo, indlela yokucabanga nokuziphatha uNkulunkulu angakufuni noma amasiko nemikhuba engamjabulisi uNkulunkulu.  Nokho, ukuzidela esiye sakwenza kuncane kakhulu uma kuqhathaniswa nezibusiso esiye sazithola.

³ Lapho kukhulunywa ngeqiniso esilithola eBhayibhelini, sizizwa ngendlela efana neyendoda uJesu akhuluma ngayo emfanekisweni wakhe omfushane. Ukuze abonise ukuthi libaluleke kangakanani iqiniso loMbuso kaNkulunkulu kulabo abalitholayo, uJesu wakhuluma ngomthengisi ohambahambayo ofuna amaparele amahle abese ethola elilodwa. Empeleni, lelo parele lalingelenani elikhulu kakhulu kangangokuthi “wathengisa masinyane” yonke into ayenayo ukuze alithenge. (Math. 13:45, 46) Ngokufanayo iqiniso esilitholayo—okuyiqiniso loMbuso kaNkulunkulu namanye amaqiniso ayigugu esiwafunda eZwini likaNkulunkulu—libaluleke kakhulu kithi kangangokuthi ngokushesha nangokuzithandela siyazidela ukuze silithole. Uma siqhubeka sibheka iqiniso njengelibalulekile, ngeke ‘silithengise.’ Ngokudabukisayo, abanye abantu bakaNkulunkulu baye bayeka ukulibheka njengelibalulekile iqiniso abaye balithola—baze ngisho balithengisa. Kwangathi kungelokothe kwenzeke kithi lokho! Ukuze sibonise ukuthi siyalithanda ngempela iqiniso nokuthi asisoze salithengisa, kumelwe silalele iseluleko seBhayibheli ‘sokuqhubeka sihamba eqinisweni.’ (Funda eyesi-3 Johane 2-4.) Ukuhamba eqinisweni kuhilela ukuphila ngalo—ukulenza libe yinto ebalulekile ekuphileni kwethu nokuziphatha ngokuvumelana nalo. Ake sixoxe ngale mibuzo: Kungani abanye bengase ‘balithengise’ iqiniso futhi bangakwenza kanjani lokho? Singakugwema kanjani ukwenza leli phutha elibuhlungu? Singazimisela kanjani ‘ukuqhubeka sihamba eqinisweni’?

4. Ngekhulu lokuqala, kungani abanye ‘bathengisa’ iqiniso?

⁴ Ngekhulu lokuqala, abantu abaqale bazamukela izimfundiso zikaJesu behluleka ukuqhubeka behamba eqinisweni. Ngokwesibonelo, ngemva kokuba uJesu enike isixuku esikhulu ukudla ngokuyisimangaliso, leso sixuku samlandela saya ngaphesheya koLwandle LwaseGalile. Kuleyo ndawo, uJesu washo into eyasishaqisa: “Ngaphandle kokuba nidle inyama yeNdodana yomuntu niphuze igazi layo, aninakho ukuphila kini ngaphakathi.” Esikhundleni sokufuna incazelo yamazwi kaJesu, isixuku sabe sesithi: “Le nkulumo iyashaqisa; ubani ongayilalela na?” Ngenxa yalokho, “abaningi kubafundi bakhe bahamba baya ezintweni ababezishiye emuva futhi ababange besahamba naye.”—Joh. 6:53-66.

5, 6. (a) Esikhathini esiphila kuso kungani abanye beye bahluleka ukubambelela eqinisweni? (b) Umuntu angalishiya kanjani iqiniso kancane kancane?

⁵ Ngokudabukisayo, abanye namuhla baye bahluleka ukubambelela eqinisweni. Abanye baye bakhutshwa ukuthuthukiswa kwendlela esiqonda ngayo ivesi elithile leBhayibheli noma bakhutshwa into eshiwo noma eyenziwe umzalwane onegunya. Abanye baye basekela izihlubuki nabantu abakhuluma kabi ngezinto esizikholelwayo. Ngenxa yalokho, ngamabomu abanye baye ‘bahlehla’ kuJehova nasebandleni. (Heb. 3:12-14) Yeka ukuthi bekuyoba ngcono kanjani ukube bebelondoloze ukholo lwabo futhi bethemba uJesu njengoba kwenza umphostoli uPetru! Lapho uJesu ebuza abaphostoli ukuthi nabo babefuna ukuhamba yini, ngokushesha uPetru waphendula wathi: “Nkosi, ubani esizoya kuye? Nguwe onamazwi okuphila okuphakade.”—Joh. 6:67-69.

 ⁶ Abanye baye bashiya iqiniso kancane kancane, mhlawumbe benganakile. Umuntu oshiya iqiniso kancane kancane ufana nesikebhe esimuka kancane kancane sisuka osebeni lomfula. IBhayibheli lichaza lokho kuqhela ngokuthi ‘ukukhukhuleka.’ (Heb. 2:1) Ngokungafani nomuntu oshiya iqiniso ngamabomu, umuntu okhukhulekayo akalishiyi ngamabomu. Noma kunjalo, lowo muntu ulimaza ubuhlobo bakhe noJehova futhi bungase buphele. Singayigwema kanjani leyo nhlekelele?

7. Yini ezosisiza sigweme ukuthengisa iqiniso?

⁷ Ukuze sihambe eqinisweni kumelwe samukele futhi senze konke uJehova akushoyo. Kumelwe iqiniso lize kuqala ekuphileni kwethu futhi siphile ngokuvumelana nezimiso zeBhayibheli. Ithandaza kuJehova, iNkosi uDavide yathi: “Ngizohamba eqinisweni lakho.” (IHu. 86:11) UDavide wayezimisele ukwenza lokho. Nathi kumelwe sizimisele ukuqhubeka sihamba eqinisweni likaNkulunkulu. Uma singakwenzi lokho, singazisola ngalokho esiye sakudela ukuze sithole iqiniso, mhlawumbe silingeke nokuba sifune lezo zinto esazidela. Esikhundleni salokho kumelwe sibambelele ngokuqinile eqinisweni. Siyaqaphela ukuthi asikwazi ukuzikhethela ukuthi yiliphi iqiniso esizolamukela nesingeke silamukele. Kumelwe sihambe “kulo lonke iqiniso.” (Joh. 16:13) Ake sihlole izinto ezinhlanu okungenzeka sazidela ukuze sithole iqiniso. Ukwenza lokho kuzosenza sizimisele ukuba singakufisi ukubuyela ezintweni esazidela.—Math. 6:19.

8. Ukusebenzisa kabi isikhathi kungamenza kanjani umKristu aqhele eqinisweni? Nikeza isibonelo.

⁸ Isikhathi. Ukuze sigweme ukuqhela eqinisweni, kumelwe sisisebenzise kahle isikhathi sethu. Uma singaqaphile, singachitha isikhathi esiningi kwezokuzijabulisa, ezintweni esizithandayo, ku-inthanethi noma sibukela ithelevishini. Nakuba lezi zinto zingezimbi, isikhathi esisichitha kuzo singabangela ukuba singakwazi ukuba nesikhathi esanele sokukhonza uNkulunkulu. Cabanga ngalokho okwenzeka kudade ongumKristu esizothi u-Emma. * Kusukela esemncane ubewathanda amahhashi. Njalo lapho ethola ithuba ubehamba ayogibela amahhashi. Ngemva kwesikhathi esithile, waqala ukukhathazeka lapho ecabanga ngesikhathi ayesichitha egibela amahhashi. Walungisa futhi ekugcineni wakwazi ukugcina ukuzijabulisa kusendaweni yako efanele. Wakhuthazwa nayindaba kaCory Wells, owayengumgibeli wamahhashi oqavile. * Manje u-Emma ujabulela ukuchitha isikhathi esiningi ekhonza uJehova futhi ekanye namanye amaKristu nabangane. Uzizwa esondelene noJehova futhi kuyamkhulula ukwazi ukuthi usebenzisa isikhathi sakhe ngokuhlakanipha.

9. Ukufuna izinto zaleli zwe kungabenza kanjani abanye bayeke ukukhonza uNkulunkulu?

⁹ Ukuthanda Izinto Zaleli Zwe. Uma sifuna ukuqhubeka sihamba eqinisweni, kumelwe sigcine izinto zaleli zwe zisendaweni yazo efanele. Ngesikhathi sifunda iqiniso, saqaphela ukuthi ukukhonza uJehova kuza kuqala kunezinto zaleli zwe. Sakujabulela ukuzidela lezo zinto ukuze sihambe eqinisweni. Nokho, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi singase sibone abanye bethenga izinto zobuchwepheshe  zakamuva noma sibone abanye bethenga izinto eziningi. Singase sibe nomuzwa wokuthi kukhona okusilahlekelayo. Singayeka ukwaneliswa yizinto esinazo bese sigxila kakhulu ezintweni esingazithenga ngemali kunokukhonza uJehova. Lokhu kusikhumbuza ngoDema. Ukuthanda kwakhe “isimiso samanje sezinto” kwamenza wayeka umsebenzi ayewenza nomphostoli uPawulu. (2 Thim. 4:10) Yini eyabangela ukuba uDema ashiye uPawulu? IBhayibheli alisho, kodwa kungenzeka wayethanda kakhulu izinto zaleli zwe noma wayengasafuni ukuzidela ukuze akhonze noPawulu. Asifuni nanini ukuvuselela isifiso sokuthola izinto zaleli zwe bese lokho kusenze siyeke ukuthanda iqiniso.

10. Ukuze sihambe eqinisweni, yiliphi ithonya okumelwe simelane nalo?

¹⁰ Izihlobo nabangane. Ukuze siqhubeke sihamba eqinisweni akumelwe sivume ukuthonywa abantu abangamkhonzi uJehova. Ngesikhathi siqala ukuhamba eqinisweni, izihlobo zethu nabangane bashintsha. Abanye babesibekezelela; kanti abanye babesiphikisa. (1 Pet. 4:4) Nakuba sizama ukuba nobuhlobo obuhle namalungu omndeni nokuwaphatha kahle, kumelwe siqaphe singaqheli eqinisweni ukuze sijabulise wona. Sizoqhubeka sizama ukuphilisana kahle namalungu emindeni yethu. Silalela isixwayiso esikweyoku-1 Korinte 15:33, siyoba nobungane obuseduze kuphela nalabo abathanda uJehova.

11. Singakugwema kanjani ukucabanga nokuziphatha ngendlela uNkulunkulu angayifuni?

¹¹ Ukucabanga nokuziphatha uNkulunkulu angakufuni. Bonke abahamba eqinisweni kumelwe babe ngcwele. (Isaya 35:8; funda eyoku-1 Petru 1:14-16.) Ngesikhathi sifunda iqiniso, sonke kwadingeka senze izinguquko ukuze siphile ngokuvumelana neBhayibheli. Abanye kwadingeka benze ushintsho olukhulu. Kunoma yikuphi, akumelwe nanini sivume ukuphila ukuphila okungahlanzekile kwaleli zwe. Singakugwema kanjani ukunqotshwa indlela yokuziphatha engcolile? Cabanga ngalokho uJehova alahlekelwa yikho ukuze sibe ngcwele—ukuphila okuyigugu kweNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu. (1 Pet. 1:18, 19) Ukuze sihlale sihlanzekile phambi kukaJehova, kudingeka sikhumbule njalo ukuthi siyigugu kangakanani isihlengo sikaJesu.

12, 13. (a) Kungani kubalulekile ukuhlala sinombono kaJehova ngamaholidi? (b) Yini esizoxoxa ngayo manje?

¹² Amasiko nemikhuba engamjabulisi uNkulunkulu. Amalungu omndeni, abantu esisebenza nabo nesifunda nabo bangase bazame ukusenza sihlanganyele emicimbini yabo. Singamelana kanjani nengcindezi yokuhileleka emasikweni nasemaholidini angamdumisi uJehova? Lokho singakwenza ngokuhlale sikhumbula indlela uJehova azibheka ngayo izinto ezinjalo. Kungasisiza ukuhlola izihloko ezisezincwadini zethu ezibonisa umsuka wamaholide athandwayo. Lapho sizikhumbuza ngezizathu ezingokomBhalo zokungahlanganyeli kulawo maholidi, siyaqiniseka ukuthi sihamba endleleni ‘eyamukelekayo eNkosini.’ (Efe. 5:10) Ukuthembela kuJehova naseZwini lakhe kuyosenza singakhathazeki ngokuthi abantu bazothini.—IzAga 29:25.

¹³ Ukuhamba eqinisweni kuyinto eqhubekayo, kuwuhambo esifisa ukuqhubeka sikulo kuze kube phakade. Yini esingayenza ukuze sizimisele nakakhulu ukuqhubeka sihamba eqinisweni? Ake sixoxe ngezindlela ezintathu.

14. (a) Ukuqhubeka sithenga iqiniso kuyosisiza kanjani sizimisele ukungalithengisi? (b) Kungani ukuhlakanipha, isiyalo kanye nokuqonda kubalulekile?

¹⁴ Okokuqala, qhubeka ufunda iZwi likaNkulunkulu futhi uzindle ngamaqiniso ayigugu owathola kulo. Yebo, thenga iqiniso ngokuhlale ubekela eceleni isikhathi sokuzondla ngamaqiniso ayigugu aseZwini likaNkulunkulu. Ngaleyo ndlela, uyolithanda nakakhulu iqiniso futhi uyozimisela nakakhulu ukuba ungalokothi ulithengise. IzAga 23:23 zithi kumelwe sithenge “ukuhlakanipha nesiyalo nokuqonda.” Ulwazi lulodwa alwanele. Kumelwe iqiniso lisebenze ekuphileni kwethu. Lapho sinokuqonda, siyokwazi ukuthola umqondo wakho konke uJehova akushoyo. Ukuhlakanipha kusenza sikusebenzise lokho esikwaziyo. Ngezinye izikhathi, iqiniso liyasiyala lisibonise lapho kumelwe senze khona ushintsho. Kwangathi singasabela njalo ekuqondisweni yiqiniso. Libaluleke ngaphezu kwesiliva.—IzAga 8:10.

15. Ibhande leqiniso lisivikela kanjani?

¹⁵ Okwesibili, zimisele ukusebenzisa iqiniso ekuphileni kwakho nsuku zonke. Ligqoke ibhande leqiniso okhalweni lwakho. (Efe. 6:14) Ngezikhathi zeBhayibheli, ibhande lesosha kwakumelwe livikele ukhalo ekulimaleni. Nokho, ukuze ibhande likuvikele kumelwe liboshwe liqine. Ibhande elixegayo alimvikeli ngokuphelele umuntu. Ibhande lethu elingokomoya lisivikela kanjani? Uma siqhubeka silibophe ngokuqinile njengebhande, iqiniso lisivikela ekucabangeni okuyiphutha futhi lisisiza senze izinqumo ezihlakaniphile. Lapho silingwa noma sivivinywa, iqiniso leBhayibheli liyosisiza sizimisele ukwenza okulungile. Njengoba isosha lingeke likucabange ukuya empini lingalibophile ibhande, kumelwe sizimisele ukungalokothi sixegise noma sikhumule ibhande lethu leqiniso. Kunalokho, senza konke esingakwenza ukuze siligcine liqinile emzimbeni wethu ngokuphila ngokuvumelana neqiniso. Omunye umsebenzi webhande lesosha kwakuwukufaka inkemba. Lokhu kusenza sixoxe ngenye indlela engasisiza sizimisele nakakhulu ukuqhubeka sihamba eqinisweni.

16. Ukufundisa abanye iqiniso kusisiza kanjani sizimisele nakakhulu ukuhamba eqinisweni?

¹⁶ Okwesithathu, hlanganyela ngokugcwele ekufundiseni abanye iqiniso leBhayibheli. Ngale ndlela uyoyibamba ngokuqinile inkemba engokomoya, “izwi likaNkulunkulu.” (Efe. 6:17) Sonke singalwela ukuthuthukisa amakhono ethu njengabafundisi, ‘siphathe izwi leqiniso ngokufanele.’ (2 Thim. 2:15) Njengoba sisebenzisa iBhayibheli ukuze sisize abanye bathenge iqiniso futhi benqabe amanga, sigxilisa iZwi likaNkulunkulu ezingqondweni nasezinhliziyweni zethu. Ngale ndlela, siqinisa ukuzimisela kwethu ukuqhubeka sihamba eqinisweni.

17. Kungani iqiniso libalulekile kuwe?

¹⁷ Iqiniso liyisipho esiyigugu esivela kuJehova. Liye lasisiza saba abangane abaseduze noBaba wethu osezulwini. Kuncane kakhulu asasifundise khona kuze kube yimanje! UNkulunkulu usithembisa ukusifundisa phakade. Ngakho, liphathe kahle iqiniso njengeparele elihle. Qhubeka ‘uthenga iqiniso ungalithengisi.’ Lokho kuyokusiza wenze ngokuvumelana namazwi kaDavide athi: “Ngizohamba eqinisweni lakho.”—IHu. 86:11.