‘Zikhetheleni Ukuba Ngubani Eniza Kumkhonza’

1. Ukuze sonwabe nyhani yintoni ekufuneka siyenze, futhi kutheni? (Isaya 48:​17, 18)

UTATA wethu osezulwini usithanda kakhulu, ufuna nokuba siphile kamnandi ngoku nakwixesha elizayo. (INtshu. 3:​12, 13) Usidale saneziphiwo ezininzi, kodwa akasenzanga sakwazi ukuzilawula okanye ukuzigqibela ukuba yintoni elungileyo nengalunganga. (INtshu. 8:9; Yer. 10:23) Uyazi ukuba ukuze sonwabe nyhani kufuneka simkhonze size simthobele.​—Funda uIsaya 48:​17, 18.

2. Yintoni uSathana afuna siyicinge? UYehova uye wabonisa njani ukuba uSathana lixoki?

² USathana ufuna sicinge ukuba asidingi Yehova ukuze sonwabe, singakwazi ukuzilawula kakuhle. (Gen. 3:​4, 5) Ukuze uYehova abonise ukuba uSathana lixoki, uye wavumela abantu abangathobeliyo ukuba bakhe bazilawule. Kulula ukubona ukuba xa abantu bezilawula kuye kwenzeke izinto ezibuhlungu. Kwelinye icala, iZibhalo zithetha ngamadoda nabafazi abaninzi ababesonwatyiswa kukukhonza uYehova. Oyena wonwaba nyhani nguYesu Kristu. Makhe siqale sithethe ngezizathu zokuba akhethe ukukhonza uYehova. Emva koko siza kubona ukuba kutheni uTata wethu osezulwini efanelwe kukukhonzwa. Ekugqibeleni, siza kuthetha ngezinye izizathu ezisenza sikhethe ukukhonza uYehova.

KWAKUTHENI UKUZE UYESU AKHETHE UKUKHONZA UYEHOVA?

3. USathana wathi uza kumnika ntoni uYesu? UYesu wakhetha ukwenza ntoni?

³ Xa wayelapha emhlabeni, uYesu kwafuneka akhethe ukuba uza kukhonza bani. Kungabanga xesha lide uYesu ebhaptiziwe, uSathana wathi ukuba unokumkhonza nje kube kanye, uza kumnika zonke izikumkani zomhlaba. UYesu wamphendula wathi: “Hamb’ apha Sathana! Kuba kubhaliwe kwathiwa: ‘Umele ukhonze uYehova uThixo wakho kuphela, ukhonze yena yedwa.’” (Mat. 4:​8-10) Makhe sithethe ngezinye izizathu zokuba uYesu akhethe ukwenza loo nto.

4-5. Zeziphi ezinye izizathu ezenza uYesu wakhetha ukukhonza uYehova?

⁴ Esona sizathu esenza uYesu wakhetha ukukhonza uYehova kukuba umthanda kakhulu uTata wakhe. (Yoh. 14:31) Esinye kukuba ukukhonza uYehova yinto afanele ayenze. (Yoh. 8:​28, 29; ISityhi. 4:11) Uyazi ukuba ubomi sibunikwe nguye, sinokumthemba, futhi usipha izinto ezininzi. (INdu. 33:4; 36:9; Yak. 1:17) UYehova wayesoloko ethetha inyaniso kuYesu. Zonke izinto awayenazo uYesu wayezinikwe nguYehova. (Yoh. 1:14) Yena uSathana akafani tu noYehova. Kaloku kungenxa yakhe le nto abantu besifa. Lixoki elinyolukileyo nelizicingela lodwa. (Yoh. 8:44) Ekubeni uYesu wayezazi ezi zinto, akazange acinge nakancinci ukulinganisa uSathana ongazange amthobele uYehova.​—Fil. 2:​5-8.

⁵ Esinye isizathu esenza uYesu wakhetha ukukhonza uYehova kukuba wayekhangele phambili kwizinto ezaziza kwenzeka xa eye wathembeka. (Heb. 12:2) Wayesazi ukuba xa eye wahlala ethembekile wayeza kulingcwalisa igama likaTata wakhe, enze nendlela yokuba isono nokufa zingaphindi zibekho.

KUTHENI UYEHOVA EFANELWE KUKUKHONZWA?

6-7. Kutheni abantu abaninzi namhlanje bengamkhonzi uYehova? Kutheni sifanele simkhonze?

⁶ Abantu abaninzi namhlanje abamkhonzi uYehova kuba abazazi iimpawu zakhe ezintle, bengazazi nezinto abenzele zona. Babenjalo abantu baseAthene awashumayela kubo umpostile uPawulos.​—IZe. 17:​19, 20, 30, 34.

⁷ UPawulos waxelela abantu baseAthene ababemmamele ukuba uThixo wokwenene ‘unika bonke abantu ubomi, umoya abawuphefumlayo nazo zonke izinto.’ Waphinda wathi: “Ngenxa yakhe sinobomi, siyashukuma yaye sikho.” UThixo nguMdali, “zonke iintlanga wazenza ezikhupha emntwini omnye,” ngoko nguye kuphela esifanele simkhonze.​—IZe. 17:​25, 26, 28.

8. Yintoni angasoze ayenze uYehova? Ubonise njani ukuba usithanda kakhulu?

⁸ Ekubeni enguMdali noMlawuli wendalo yonke, uYehova ebenokubanyanzela abantu ukuba bamkhonze. Kodwa akasoze ayenze loo nto. Kunokuba enze loo nto, usenza siqiniseke ukuba ukhona, futhi umthanda kakhulu ngamnye wethu. Ufuna ukuba abantu abaninzi kangangoko kunokwenzeka babe ngabahlobo bakhe. (1 Tim. 2:​3, 4) Yiloo nto esiqeqeshela ukuba sifundise abantu ngezinto ezintle aza kusenzela zona nendlela aza kuzenza ngayo. (Mat. 10:​11-13; 28:​19, 20) Usilungiselele amabandla nabadala abasithandayo abaza kusikhathalela.​—IZe. 20:28.

9. Ibonakala njani indlela uYehova abathanda ngayo abantu?

⁹ Indlela uYehova abathanda ngayo abantu ibonakala kwindlela abaphatha ngayo abo bangakholelwayo ukuba ukhona. Cinga ngale nto: Kangangamawaka eminyaka iibhiliyon zabantu ziye zazigqibela ukuba yintoni elungileyo nengalunganga. Sekunjalo, uYehova ubanika izinto abazidingayo ukuze bahlale bephila futhi bonwabe. (Mat. 5:​44, 45; IZe. 14:​16, 17) Ngenxa yakhe banokuba nabahlobo ababathandayo, bakhulise iintsapho, basebenze baze baphile kamnandi. (INdu. 127:3; INtshu. 2:24) Zonke ezi zinto zenza kucace ukuba uTata wethu osezulwini ubathanda bonke abantu. (Eks. 34:6) Ngoku makhe sizikhumbuze ngezinye izizathu ezisenza sikhethe ukukhonza uYehova, nangendlela asisikelela ngayo xa sikhetha ukumkhonza.

KUTHENI SIKHETHA UKUKHONZA UYEHOVA?

10. (a) Siyintoni esona sizathu sisenza sifune ukukhonza uYehova? (Mateyu 22:37) (b) Wena kuye kwakunceda njani ukuxolela kukaYehova? (INdumiso 103:​13, 14)

¹⁰ NjengoYesu, eyona nto isenza sikhethe ukukhonza uYehova kukuba simthanda kakhulu. (Funda uMateyu 22:37.) Ukufunda ngeempawu zakhe kusenza sisondele kuye. Ngokomzekelo, usoloko efuna ukusixolela. Xa amaSirayeli ayengamthobeli, wawacenga esithi: “Khanincede nibuye kwiindlela zenu ezimbi.” (Yer. 18:11) UYehova uyakhumbula ukuba sinesono futhi siluthuli. (Funda iNdumiso 103:​13, 14.) Ukucinga ngokuba uYehova uyaxolela, nangezinye iimpawu ezintle anazo, akukwenzi ufune ukumkhonza ngonaphakade?

11. Zeziphi ezinye izizathu ezisenza sikhethe ukukhonza uTata wethu osezulwini?

¹¹ Nathi njengoYesu, sikhonza uYehova kuba leyo yinto esifanele siyenze. (Mat. 4:10) Enye into, siyazi ukuba kuza kwenzeka ntoni xa simkhonza sithembekile. Ukuthembeka kwethu kungcwalisa igama likaYehova, kubonisa ukuba uMtyholi lixoki, kuze kuvuyise uTata wethu. Ukuba sikhetha ukumkhonza ngoku uYehova, sinethemba lokuba siza kumkhonza de kube ngonaphakade.​—Yoh. 17:3.

12-13. Njengoko siyivile into eyenziwa nguJane noPam, isifundisa ntoni?

¹² Ngoxa sisebancinci, sinokufunda ukumthanda kakhulu uYehova. Olo thando lunokuya lukhula njengoko sisiba badala. Le yinto eyenzeka kwabanye oodade ababini abazalwa kunye, uJane noPam.a Ukuqala kwabo ukufundelwa iBhayibhile uJane wayena-11, yena uPam ena-10. Abazali babo babengenamdla wesifundo, kodwa babavumela ukuba bafundelwe iBhayibhile ngamaNgqina, ukuba nje babeza kuya nabo ecaweni ngeempelaveki. UJane uthi: “Into endayifundiswa ngamaNgqina eBhayibhileni yandinceda andafana neentanga zam ezininzi ezazitshaya iziyobisi, ziziphethe kakubi nangesondo.”

¹³ Kwiminyaka embalwa emva koko, bobabini baba ngabavakalisi. Ekuhambeni kwexesha baba ngoovulindlela, ngoxa behoye abazali babo asebebadala. Xa ecinga ngazo zonke izinto uYehova abenzele zona, uJane uthi: “Ndiye ndafunda ukuba uYehova uyabakhathalela abahlobo bakhe, nokuba ‘uyabazi abangabakhe,’ njengokuba u-2 Timoti 2:19 esitsho.” Ngokuqinisekileyo uYehova uyabakhathalela abantu abakhetha ukumthanda nokumkhonza.

14. Silimela njani igama likaYehova? (Jonga nemifanekiso.)

¹⁴ Sifuna ukulithethelela igama likaYehova kwizinto ezibubuxoki ezithethwayo ngaye. Khawucinge ngale nto: Unomhlobo omthanda kakhulu, onobubele, ophayo noxolelayo. Ngenye imini uva umntu emtyhola esithi ukhohlakele futhi akananyani. Uza kwenza ntoni? Uyamthethelela. Ngendlela efanayo, xa uSathana nabantu bakhe bezama ukungcolisa igama likaYehova ngokusasaza ubuxoki ngaye, siyalimela igama likaYehova ngokuxelela abantu inyani ngaye. (INdu. 34:1; Isa. 43:10) Ngezinto esizithethayo nesizenzayo sibonisa ukuba sifuna ukukhonza uYehova.

15. Kwamnceda njani umpostile uPawulos ukutshintsha izinto awayezimisele ukuzenza? (Filipi 3:​7, 8)

¹⁵ Siyakulungela ukutshintsha izinto esizimisele ukuzenza ebomini ukuze sikhonze uYehova ngendlela ayifunayo okanye simsebenzele ngaphezu kokuba sisenza. Ngokomzekelo, umpostile uPawulos wakhetha ukuncama isikhundla awayekuso, nesasimenza abaluleke ebantwini, ukuze alandele uKristu nokuze akhonze uYehova. (Gal. 1:14) Ngenxa yaloo nto uYehova wamsikelela, futhi uza kulawula noKristu ezulwini. Zange azisole ngokukhetha ukukhonza uYehova, nathi soze sizisole.​—Funda amaFilipi 3:​7, 8.

16. Njengoko sesiyivile into eyenziwa nguJulia, isifundisa ntoni thina? (Jonga nemifanekiso.)

¹⁶ Ukuba eyona nto ibalulekileyo ebomini bethu kukukhonza uYehova, uza kusisikelela ngoku nakwixesha elizayo. Khawuve into eyenzeka kudade onguJulia. Waqala esemncinci ukucula kwikwayara yasecaweni yakokwabo. Wayecula kamnandi kakhulu kangangokuba kwabakho umntu omfundisa umculo, ukuze abe yimvumi. Kungabanga xesha lide emva koko, uJulia waba yimvumi edumileyo, ecula nakwiindawo ezaziwayo. Xa wayekwisikolo somculo esaziwayo, omnye umfana owayefunda naye wancokola naye ngoThixo, wamxelela nokuba igama likaThixo nguYehova. Kungadlulanga xesha lide emva koko, uJulia wafunda iBhayibhile kabini ngeveki. Ekugqibeleni, wakhetha ukuchitha ixesha namandla akhe ekhonza uYehova kunokusebenzela ukuba yimvumi eyaziwayo. Kwakungekho lula ke ukuyenza loo nto. Uthi: “Abantu abaninzi babesithi ndidlala ngesiphiwo endinaso, kodwa mna ndandifuna ukuphilela ukukhonza uYehova.” Uziva njani ngoku ngesigqibo awasenza kwiminyaka engaphezu kweyi-30 edlulileyo? Uthi: “Ndonwabe nyhani, ndiyamthemba uYehova ukuba uza kundinika zonke izinto ezinqwenelwa yintliziyo yam kwixesha elizayo.”​—INdu. 145:16.

UNGAYEKI UKUKHONZA UYEHOVA

17. Ukusondela kwexesha lesiphelo kuthetha ntoni kwabo sebekhethe ukukhonza uYehova, nakwabo bangekayenzi loo nto?

¹⁷ Asifikanga sigalelekile isiphelo seli hlabathi. Umpostile uPawulos wathi: “Kuba sekushiyeke ‘ixesha elincinci kakhulu,’ aze ‘lowo uzayo afike, angalibazisi.’” (Heb. 10:37) Ithetha ukuthini le nto kuthi? Sekushiyeke ixesha elincinci kakhulu lokuba abantu bakhethe ukukhonza uYehova. (1 Kor. 7:29) Kanti ukuba sesikhethe ukumkhonza, siyazi ukuba naziphi na iingxaki ekusenokufuneka sizinyamezele, siza kuzinyamezela “ixesha elincinci kakhulu.”

18. UYehova noYesu bafuna senze ntoni?

¹⁸ UYesu wakhuthaza abafundi bakhe ukuba bangapheleli nje ekumlandeleni, kodwa baqhubeke bemlandela. (Mat. 16:24) Ngoko ukuba sesineminyaka sikhonza uYehova, masizimisele ukuhlala simkhonza, singayeki. Isenokungabi lula ke loo nto. Kodwa ukuba sisebenza nzima sikhonza uYehova, sinokonwaba aze asisikelele!​—INdu. 35:27.

19. Xa sicinga ngento eyenzeka kuGene, sifunda ntoni?

¹⁹ Abanye abantu bacinga ukuba zininzi kakhulu izinto ekufuneka bazincame xa bekhonza uYehova. Ukuba usemtsha, ngaba ubona ngathi ikhona into ekuphosayo xa ukhonza uYehova? Omnye umzalwana osemtsha, uGene, uthi: “Ndandibona ngathi ukuba liNgqina LikaYehova kundenza ndiphoswe lulonwabo. Kwakubonakala ngathi abantwana abaninzi endandikhula nabo babesonwatyiswa zizinto ezifana neepati, ukuthandana, okanye ukudlala iivideo games ezinabantu abalwayo, ngoxa mna kufuneka ndibe sesifundweni nasentsimini.” Wenza ntoni uGene? Uthi: “Ndaqalisa ukwenza izinto ezimbi ezazisenziwa ngabanye abantwana. Ndandonwabile kona, kodwa olo lonwabo zange luthathe xesha lide. Ndaqalisa ukucinga ngeemfundiso zeBhayibhile endandikhethe ukungazihoyi, ndaza ndagqiba ekubeni ndikhonze uYehova ngentliziyo yam yonke. Kubonakala ngathi ukususela ngoko, uYehova uye wayiphendula yonke imithandazo yam.”

20. Yintoni esimele sizimisele ukuyenza?

²⁰ Umdumisi waculela uYehova wathi: “Wonwabile umntu omkhethileyo waza wamsondeza ukuze ahlale eyadini yakho.” (INdu. 65:4) Masizimisele ukuhlala simkhonza uYehova njengoYoshuwa owathi: “Mna nendlu yam, siza kukhonza uYehova.”​—Yosh. 24:15.