1, 2. (a) Bathini abanye abantu ngendaba yokuthi uZimu unehlangano? (b) Sizokufunda ngani esihlokwenesi?

UZIMU unayo na ihlangano? Abanye abantu bathi “akutlhogeki bona nibe nehlangano eninqophisako, into eqakathekileko nje kukuthi nibe nokukholwa.” Kuliqiniso na lokho? Lithini iBhayibheli ngalokho?

² Esihlokwenesi sizokufunda ukuthi kubayini sithi uJehova unguZimu ohlelekileko, begodu indlela ahleleke ngayo angeze yamadaniswa. Sizokubuye sifunde nangokuthi thina-ke kufuze senzeni lokha ihlangano kaJehova nayisinqophisako. (1 Kor. 14:33, 40) Kusukela kade ugubudu asadla ubulongwe bekube kunamhlanjesi, imiTlolo beyisolo isiza tle ekutheni ingcenye yephasini yehlangano kaJehova irhatjhe iindaba ezimnandi ephasini loke. Ngebanga lokuthi sinamathela kilokho okutjhiwo liBhayibheli begodu siyalalela nasinqotjhiswa yihlangano, amabandlethu ahlala ahlanzekile, anokuthula begodu abumbene.

3. Yini ekwenza uqiniseke bona akakho umuntu ohleleke ukudlula uJehova?

³ Indalo ikubeka ebaleni ukuthi akakho umuntu ohleleke  njengoJehova. IBhayibheli lithi, “[UJehova] wendlale iinsekelo zephasi ngobuhlakani, wanzinzisa amazulu ngokuzwisisa.” (IzA. 3:19) Thina-ke sesazi ‘iinquqwana zomsebenzakhe,’ ‘namahlebezi ngaye siwazwela kude.’ (Job. 26:14) Nanyana kunjalo, khona lokho esikwaziko okunjengemaplanethi, iinkwekwezi nemithala, kusenza sibone ukuthi iintwezi zoke nje zihleleke kuhle khulu. (Rhu. 8:3, 4) Imithala kazi leyo imumethe amamiliyoni weenkwekwezi, yoke ikhamba kuhle nangokuhleleka. Siyazibuza ukuthi kubayini vele amaplanethi azomba ilanga, ungafunga uthi kunepholisa lendlela elinqophisa koke lokhu. Ukubona indlela zoke iintwezi ezihleleke ngayo kwamambala kuyarara, begodu kusenza sibone ukuthi uJehova ‘wenza amazulu’ nephasi, kungebangelo kufanele sithembeke kuye, simdumise besimlotjhe.—Rhu. 136:1, 5-9.

4. Kubayini isayensi ibhalelwe kuphendula imibuzo eminengi?

⁴ Sekunengi esikutjelwa yisayensi malungana nendalo nangephasi lethweli, yabe yasivezela nezinto ezisisizako ekuphileni. Kodwana kunemibuzo eminengi khulu isayensi ebhalelwa kuyiphendula. Isibonelo salokho, izazi zephasi angeze zasitjela ukuthi iphaseli lenzeke njani nokuthi thina kubayini siphila ephasini elihle kangaka nelizele izinto ezinepilo. Nange ungabuza nenengi labantu ukuthi kubayini abantu bafisa ukuphila isiphelani, angeze lakuhlathululela. (UMtj. 3:11) Umbuzo kukuthi kubayini kanti kunemibuzo-kazi eminengi kanganga eqakathekileko engakaphendulwa? Okhunye okwenza lokho kukuthi abososayensi balahla abantu babenze bangakholelwa kuZimu, kunalokho babafundise ukuthi bakholelwe bona imvelo iyazenzakalela. Kodwana eliZwini lakhe uJehova utlole iimpendulo zemibuzo etshwenya abantu, kiyo yoke indawo.

5. Sithemba imithetho yemvelo ngaziphi iindlela?

⁵ Thina-ke siyayithemba imithetho yemvelo kaJehova engatjhugulukiko. Abantu abasebenza ngegezi, abafaka amaphayiphi wamanzi, abatjhayeli beemphaphamtjhini nabantu abahlinzako, boke njalo bathembele kiyo imithetho yemvelo bona benze imisebenzabo. Isibonelo salokho, abantu abahlinzako ngaphambi kokuthi bahlinze umuntu, bazi kuhle ukuthi izitho zomzimba womuntu zihlezi ngokufana kiwo woke umuntu. Yeke angeze bazibuze ukuthi kazi ihliziyo yomuntu abamhlinzako lo ikuphi. Kungebangelo soke siyihlonipha imithetho yemvelo. Nange mhlamunye singatjhalazelela umthetho wamandla adosela phasi, lokho kungasibangela umonakalo tle.

6. Kubayini kufuze silindele bona labo abalotjha uJehova bahleleke?

⁶ Izulu nephasi kuhleleke ngendlela erarako. Kutjho khona bona uJehova ufuna nalabo abamlotjhako bahleleke kuhle. Eqinisweni, uJehova usinqophisa ngeBhayibheli bekube nje. Cabanga ukuthi besingaba yini nange ihlangano kaJehova beyingasisizi. Bekuzakuba lisizi lodwa.

7. Sibona ngani ukuthi iBhayibheli lihlelekile?

⁷ IBhayibheli akusiyincwadi yeendaba ezitjharageneko zamaJuda nezamaKrestu. Kunalokho liyincwadi ehleleke ukuhleleka, ephefumulelwe nguZimu. Zoke iincwadi eziseBhayibhelini ziyathelelana. Zoke njalo kusukela kuGenesisi kuya kusAmbulo, zikhuluma ngento yinye—ukulwelwa kobukhosi bakaJehova nokuphetheka kwehloso yakhe, okuzokwenziwa mBuswakhe obuswa nguKrestu, ‘osizukulwana’ okwathiwa sizokufika.—Funda uGenesisi 3:15; uMatewu 6:10; isAmbulo 11:15.

8. Sikutjho ngaliphi ukuthi ama-Israyeli bekahlelekile?

 ⁸ Ama-Israyeli wemandulo bewasibonelo sendlela ihlangano okufuze ihleleke ngayo. Ngokwesibonelo, umthetho kaMosi bewuvumela ukuthi kube nabafazi ‘abasebenza emnyango wetende lokuhlanganela.’ (Eks. 38:8) Nendlela okuthuthwa ngayo ikampa nethabernakeli beyihlelekile. Kwathi nakukhamba isikhathi, iKosi uDavida yahlela amaLevi nabaphristi ngokweengaba zabo. (1 Kron. 23:1-6; 24:1-3) Bekuthi ama-Israyeli nakalalela uJehova abusiseke, ahleleke, abe nokuthula nokubumbana.—Dut. 11:26, 27; 28:1-14.

9. Khuyini etjengisa bona ibandla lamaKrestu wokuthoma belihlelekile?

⁹ Ibandla lamaKrestu wokuthoma belihlelekile, linomkhandlu olidosa phambili owakhiwa bapostoli. (IzE. 6:1-6) Ngokukhamba kwesikhathi, kwafakwa abanye abazalwana baba malunga womkhandlu lo. (IzE. 15:6) UZimu bekaphefumulela amadoda asebenzisana nomkhandlu wangesikhatheso, ukuthi atlole iinqophiso neeluleko eencwadini. (1 Thim. 3:1-13; Tit. 1:5-9) Alo iinqophiso ezivela emkhandlwini zawasiza njani amabandla?

10. Wabayini umphumela lokha amabandla nakalalela iimphetho ezathathwa sihlopha esibusako? (Qala isithombe esisekuthomeni.)

¹⁰ Funda IzEnzo 16:4,  5. Abazalwana ebebethunywe sihlopha esibusako bakhamba zoke iindawo badlulisa “iimphetho ezathathwa bapostoli nabaphathi eJerusalema.” Phela bekuthi amabandla nakalalela iinphethwezo ‘aqiniswe ekukholweni akhule malanga woke.’ Alo, thina sifundani endabeni le?

11. Amadoda adosa phambili kufuze asabele njani nakafumana isinqophiso ehlanganweni kaZimu?

¹¹ Yini okufuze yenziwe maKomiti weGatja, amaKomiti weNarha, abajikelezi nabadala lokha ihlangano kaZimu nayibanikela isinqophiso esithileko? Singakhohlwa ukuthi iBhayibheli lithi soke kufuze sibe babantu abalalelako nabathobekileko. (Dut. 30:16; Heb. 13:7, 17) Ukubanga umgurugu namkha ukuvukela abe akunayo ngitjho nencani indawo ehlanganweni kaZimu le, ngombana kungathikameza ithando, ukuthula nobunye esinabo emabandlenethu. Iqiniso kukuthi akunamKrestu othembekileko ongafuna ukufana noDiyotrefe, ngokuthi angahloniphi begodu angathembeki. (Funda yesi-3 Jwanisi 9, 10.) Akhesizibuze imibuzo nasi: ‘Ngiyabakhuthaza na abanye bona baragele phambili nokuthanda uZimu? Abadala nabangibawa bona ngenze into ethileko, inga-kghani ngiyenza ngaphandle kokuriyada?’

12. Kwenziwa maphi amatjhuguluko ekukhetheni abadala neenceku ezikhonzako?

¹² Akhesicoce ngesiqunto nasi esenziwa siHlopha esiBusako mva nje. IsiThala sangezi-15 Novemba 2014 esihlokweni esithi, “Imibuzo Evela Kubafundi” sademba indaba yokuthi abadala neenceku ezikhonzako bazokukhethwa njani. Isihlokwesi sakhuluma ngokuthi isihlopha esibusako sakade sanikela abajikelezi igunya lokukhetha amadoda azokudosa phambili emabandleni. Yeke kusukela ngomhlaka-1 Septemba 2014 kwathonywa ukusentjenziswa indlela leyo, abajikelezi bathoma ukukhetha abadala neenceku ezikhonzako. Kodwana ngaphambi kokuthi benze njalo, bathoma ngokuthi balwele ukuwazi amadoda lawo bebasebenze nawo nesimini nakukghonakalako. Nange indoda leyo itjhadile, uyawuqalisisa nomndenayo. (1 Thim. 3:4, 5) Bese kuthi yena nabadala baqale ukuthi indoda le iyakwenza okutjhiwo miTlolo bona ingaba yinceku ekhonzako namkha umdala.—1 Thim. 3:1-10, 12, 13; 1 Pit. 5:1-3.

13. Singatjengisa njani ukuthi sifuna ukulalela abadala?

 ¹³ Kufuze sisilalela isinqophiso esisekelwe eBhayibhelini esisinikelwa badala. Sihlale sikhumbula ukuthi abelusaba nabo banqotjhiswa mamezwi “aphilileko” okuliliZwi lakaZimu. (1 Thim. 6:3) Akhesicabange ngeseluleko sakaPowula malungana nabantu abangakahleleki ebandleni. Phela bekukhona ‘abaphila ngobuvila, behla benyuka, bazidlhunya eendabeni zabanye.’ Ngitjho nanyana abadala balinga ukubakhalima, bavele basiphayela ngeqadi iseluleko. Umbuzo kukuthi, ibandla lona bekufuze libaphathe njani abantu abanjalo? UPowula wathi, “Ningahlanganyeli nabo.” Kodwana iselulekweso besingatjho ukuthi bekufuze babahloye. (2 Thes. 3:11-15) Kungenzeka okufanako nanamhlanjesi, abadala bangasibekela ikulumo esiyelelisa ngomuntu okhalinywako kodwana aqinise ihloko, bebatjho nokuthi lokho kulithinta njani ibadla. Kungaba yindaba yomKrestu othandana nomuntu ongakabhajadiswa. (1 Kor. 7:39) Uzokusabela njani ekulumweni leyo? Nange kunomuntu owenza into ekukhulunywe ngayo ekulumweni le, uzokwenza okusemandlenakho na ukuthi ungazihlanganisi naye? Ukuba kwakho nesibindi nokumthanda kwakho kungamenza alise umkhubakhe loyo. ^[1]

14. Singalenza njani ibandla bona lihlale lihlanzekile?

¹⁴ Soke singasifaka isadla ekwenzeni ibandla ukuthi lithuthuke ekuthandeni uZimu, lokho singakwenza ngokuthi silalele isinqophiso esisifumana eliZwini lakaZimu. Akhesicoce ngezinto ebezenzeka ebandleni leKorinte lakade. UPowula wazikhandla khulu atjhumayela lapho begodu bekabathanda tle abantu “abacwengisiweko” ebekayibambe nabo. (1 Kor. 1:1, 2) Kodwana kungenzeka ukuthi bekubudisi khulu kuye ukuthi akhulume ngendaba yokuziphatha kumbi ngokomseme, kazi into le beyimraro wakosodiye endaweni le begodu nemabandleni beyenzeka.UPowula watjela abadala ukuthi umuntu oziphethe kumbi kufuze bamnikele kuSathana, okutjho ukuthi asuswe ekuhlanganyeleni. Ukuze ibandla lihlale lihlanzekile bekufuze baqiniseke bona “isibiliso” siqedwa nya. (1 Kor. 5:1, 5-7, 12) Yeke nathi nange sisekela isiqunto esenziwe badala sokususa umuntu ongaphendukiko ekuhlanganyeleni, sizabe sisiza ibandla bona lihlale lihlanzekile begodu kungenzeka nomuntu osusiweko naye athinteke bese uyaphenduka abawe uJehova ukuthi amlibalele.

15. Yini esingayenza ukuze ibandla lihlale linokuthula?

¹⁵ Kunomunye godu umraro ebekufuze ulungiswe eKorinte. Abazalwana bebasana emakhotho. UPowula wababuza wathi, “Kubayini ningafuni ukoniwa?” (1 Kor. 6:1-8) Kunomraro ofanako nanamhlanjesi. Ngasikhathi abazalwana bagqina sebangasathelelani amanzi ngebanga lokuthi izinto akhenge zikhambe kuhle ebhizinisini, mhlamunye kulahleke iimali bekusolwane. Abanye bebadoselane nemakhotho, kodwana iliZwi lakaZimu lithi kuncono ukuthi sizwe ubuhlungu bokulahlakelwa kunokuthi sihlambalaze ibizo lakaZimu namkha sithikameze ukuthula kwebandla. ^[2] Iqiniso kukuthi ukuze silungise imiraro nokungazwani okunjalo, kufuze sisebenzise iseluleko sakaJesu. (Funda uMatewu 5:23, 24; 18:15-17.) Nasingenza njalo sizabe sithuthukisa ukuthula nobunye obuphakathi kwabakhulekeli bakaJehova.

16. Kubayini abantu bakaZimu kufuze babenyanda yinye?

¹⁶ IBhayibheli liyasitjela ukuthi kubayini  singalindela ukuthi abantu bakaZimu babenyanda yinye. Umrhubi wabhina wathi: “Maye kuhle, kumnandi kangangani ukuhlalisana kwabafo ndawonye!” (Rhu. 133:1) Ama-Israyeli nakalalela uJehova bekahleleka begodu abenyanda yinye. UJehova wabikezela indlela abantu bakhe abazokuphila ngayo wathi, “Ngizobaragela esibayeni njengezimvu [ngokuthula].” (Mik. 2:12) Wabuye godu wasebenzisa umphorofidi uZefaniya wathi, “Yeke ngizakuhlambulula iimbhena zabantu ukuze boke babize ibizo [lakaJehova], bamlotjhe, babambisene.” (Zef. 3:9) Akhuthi uyaqala bona sibusiseke kangangani, silotjha uJehova ngobunye!

17. Ukuze ibandla lihlale lihlanzekile begodu libumbene, abadala kufuze bayidembe njani imilandu?

¹⁷ Ibandla nalizakuhlala linokuthula begodu lihlanzekile, abadala kufuze bazisikimele ngokuphazima kwelihlo iindaba ekufuze zilungiswe begodu lokho bakwenze ngethando. UPowula bekazi kuhle nje ukuthi ithando lakaZimu alitjhotjhozelwa mimizwa, begodu ubumbi akabutjhalazeleli. (IzA. 15:3) Kungebangelo atlola incwadi yokuThoma yebeKorinte, abakhalima ngokuqinileko kodwana nokho ngethando. Bese kwathi sekudlule iinyanga ezimbalwa watlola Yesibili yebeKorinte, yona-ke yatjengisa ukuthi besele kunomehluko omkhulu. Ngombana abadala bazilandela iinqophiso abanikela zona. Ngilokho okufuze kwenziwe badala, nange umKrestu athatha indlela ezomfaka emadakeni, kufuze bambuyise ngommoya omuhle.—Gal. 6:1.

18. (a) Iseluleko esiseliZwini lakaZimu sawasiza njani amabandla wakade? (b) Sizokufunda ngani esihlokweni esilandelako?

¹⁸ Kusebaleni-ke ukuthi iseluleko esiseliZwini lakaZimu sawasiza tle amaKrestu weKorinte nawakwezinye iindawo bona ahlale ahlanzekile, anokuthula begodu anyanda yinye. (1 Kor. 1:10; Efe. 4:11-13; 1 Pit. 3:8) Lokho kwenza nokuthi abafowethu nabodadwethu bangesikhatheso bakghona ukufeza umsebenzi omkhulu ekutjhumayeleni. UPowula wabe watjho wathi nakuziindaba ezimnandi zona, ‘zitjhunyayelwe kikho koke okudaliweko ngaphasi komthunzi welanga.’ (Kol. 1:23) Nanamhlanjesi ilwazi ngehloso kaZimu seyaziwa iphasi loke, koke lokho kwenziwa kubambisana kwamalunga wehlangano kaZimu. Isihloko esilandelako sizokutjengisa ukuthi boke abantwaba balihlonipha kangangani iBhayibheli nokuthi bazimisele kangangani ukudumisa uJehova iKosi emBusi.—Rhu. 71:15, 16.