1. AmaKristu eqiniso angekhulu lokuqala abhekana naziphi izimo?

PHAKATHI nonyaka ka-62 no-64 C.E., umphostoli uPetru wabhalela “abayizakhamuzi zesikhashana ezihlakazekele ePhontu, eGalathiya, eKhaphadosiya, e-Asiya, naseBhithiniya.” (1 Pet. 1:1) La mabandla anamasiko angafani ase-Asia Minor ayedinga isikhuthazo nokuqondiswa. Ayebhekene nokushushiswa futhi ethukwa. ‘Ayekhungathekiswa ukusha ayekuzwa’ futhi ephila esikhathini esibucayi. UPetru wathi: “Ukuphela kwezinto zonke sekusondele.” Ukuphela kwaleso simiso esinobudlova samaJuda kwakuzofika kungakapheli neminyaka eyishumi. Yini eyayingasiza amaKristu kuzo zonke izindawo ukuba abhekane nalezo zikhathi ezinzima?​—1 Pet. 4:4, 7, 12.

2, 3. Kungani uPetru akhuthaza abafowabo ukuba bameme abanye? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

² Phakathi kwezinye izinto, uPetru wakhuthaza abafowabo ngokuthi: “Ngenisanani.” (1 Pet. 4:9) Igama elithi “ngenisanani” ngesiGreki lisho “ukuthanda noma ukuba nomusa ezihambini.” Noma kunjalo, phawula ukuthi uPetru wakhuthaza abafowabo nodadewabo ukuba bamemane, lokho bakwenze ikakhulukazi kulabo abahlanganyela nabo. Ukumemana kwakuzobasiza kanjani?

 ³ Kwakuzobenza basondelane. Cabanga ngolokho okuye kwenzeka kuwe. Ingabe uke wamenywa othile? Ingabe leso sikhathi asikushiyanga yini ujabule? Lapho umema abanye ebandleni, ingabe ubungane benu abuzange bukhule? Ukumema abafowethu nodadewethu kwenza sibazi kahle. AmaKristu angosuku lukaPetru kwakudingeka asondelane kakhulu njengoba izimo zaziya ziba zimbi. Kungokufanayo nangamaKristu kulezi ‘zinsuku zokugcina.’​—2 Thim. 3:1.

4. Sizoxoxa ngamiphi imibuzo kulesi sihloko?

⁴ Yimaphi amathuba esinawo okumemana? Singazinqoba kanjani izithiyo ezisivimbela ukuba simeme abanye? Yini engasisiza sibe izimenywa ezikahle?

5. Singayibonisa kanjani inkambo yokungenisa izihambi emihlanganweni yethu?

⁵ Emihlanganweni: Samukela bonke abeza emihlanganweni yethu yobuKristu njengokungathi simenywe nabo edilini elingokomoya. Simenywe nguJehova nenhlangano yakhe. (Roma 15:7) Lapho abantu befika okokuqala sibaphatha njengezimenywa zethu. Siyabamukela kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bagqoke noma bazilungise kanjani. (Jak. 2:1-4) Uma behleli bodwa, siyabamema ukuba bahlale nathi. Bangase bakujabulele ukusizwa ukuze bahambisane nohlelo futhi bathole nemiBhalo efundwayo. Lena kungaba yindlela enhle yokulandela “inkambo yokungenisa izihambi.”​—Roma 12:13.

6. Obani okufanele siqale ngabo ukubamema emizini yethu?

⁶ Iziphuzo nokudla: Ngezikhathi zeBhayibheli, ukumema abanye ekhaya lakho, ngokuvamile kwakuhlanganisa nokubamemela esidlweni. (Gen. 18:1-8; AbaHl. 13:15; Luka 24:28-30) Ukumemela abanye esidlweni kwakuyindlela yokwakha ubungane nokuthula. Obani okufanele siqale ngabo ukubamema? Yilabo esinabo njalo ekuphileni kwethu, abafowethu nodadewethu ebandleni esikulo. Lapho izikhathi ezinzima zifika, siyoncika komunye nomunye. Kudingeka sibe nobungane obuqotho nokuthula nabo bonke. Ngo-2011 iNdikimba Ebusayo yashintsha isikhathi okuqhutshwa ngaso isifundo se-Nqabayokulinda somkhaya waseBethel wase-United States isisusa ku-6:45 p.m. isisa ku-6:15 p.m. Kungani? Isaziso sathi uma umhlangano usheshe uphele lokho kuzokwenza abaningi bamemane ngemva kwawo. Namanye amagatsha enza okufanayo. Leli lungiselelo liye lenza amalungu emikhaya yaseBethel asondelana nakakhulu.

7, 8. Ungawubonisa kanjani umoya wokungenisa izihambi lapho kufike abazalwane abazobeka inkulumo nabavela egatsheni?

⁷ Ukuvakashelwa yizikhulumi ezivela kwamanye amabandla, ababonisi besigodi ngezinye izikhathi nabazalwane abavela egatsheni kusivulela amathuba okumema abafowethu abasivakashele. (Funda eyesi-3 Johane 5-8.) Enye indlela enhle esingakwenza ngayo lokhu ukubenzela ukudla noma ukubapha isiphuzo. Sonke singakwenza lokhu.

⁸ Udade wase-United States uthi: “Mina nomyeni wami siye samemela abazalwane abazosibekela inkulumo nomkabo ekhaya lethu. Njalo lapho sinabo kuba mnandi futhi kuyajabulisa, ngaphezu kwalokho kwenza ubuhlobo bethu noNkulunkulu buqine. Asikaze sizisole.”

9, 10. (a) Obani abangase badinge indawo yokuhlala isikhathi eside? (b) Ingabe nalabo abanezindlu ezincane bangakwazi ukusiza? Fanekisa.

⁹ Izivakashi ezizohlala isikhathi eside: Endulo, ukumema abantu ngokuvamile kwakuhilela ukunika izivakashi ozethembayo indawo yokulala. (Jobe 31:32; Fil. 22) Nanamuhla, kuyenzeka kudingeke senze okufanayo. Ngokuvamile ababonisi besigodi badinga indawo  yokuhlala emabandleni abawahambelayo. Abafundi ezikoleni ezingokwasezulwini kanye nalabo abakha izakhiwo zenhlangano bangase badinge izindawo zokuhlala. Ngenxa yezinhlekelele zemvelo eminye imindeni ingase idinge indawo yokuhlala kuze kube yilapho imizi yayo ilungiswa. Akufanele sicabange ukuthi yilabo abanamakhaya angcono kuphela abangasiza, kungenzeka sebesize izikhathi eziningi. Nawe ungalunikeza usizo ngendawo yokuhlala ngisho noma ungenayo imali eningi.

¹⁰ Umzalwane waseSouth Korea ukhumbula ngesikhathi enika abafundi ababeze ezikoleni ezingokwasezulwini indawo yokuhlala. Uthi: “Ekuqaleni ngangingabaza ngenxa yokuthi sasisanda kushada futhi sihlala endlini encane. Nokho ukwamukela abafundi kwasijabulisa ngempela. Njengoba sasisanda kushada, sakwazi ukubona indlela indoda nomkayo abangajabula ngayo uma bekhonza uJehova futhi belwela ukufinyelela imigomo engokomoya ndawonye.”

11. Kungani labo abafikayo ebandleni lenu bedinga ukumenywa?

¹¹ Abasanda kufika ebandleni: Abantu bangase bathuthele endaweni yangakini. Abanye bangeza endaweni yangakini ngoba inesidingo esikhulu sabamemezeli. Amaphayona angase acelwe ukuba azosiza ebandleni lenu. Bonke laba bantu basuke besendaweni entsha abangayijwayele—phakathi kwabantu abangabazi, ebandleni elisha mhlawumbe nasendaweni okukhulunywa kuyo ulimi oluhlukile noma enesiko elihlukile. Ukubamema ukuze ubaphe okuphuzwayo, ukudla noma ubakhiphe kuyobasiza bakhe abangane abasha futhi bajwayelane nezimo zabo esezishintshile.

12. Yini ebonisa ukuthi ukungenisa izihambi akufanele kube yinkimbinkimbi?

¹² Ukwamukela abanye akufanele kube yinto eyinkimbinkimbi. (Funda uLuka 10:41, 42.) Ekhumbula esaqala ukuba yisithunywa sevangeli, umzalwane wathi: “Sasisebancane, singakabhekani nezinto eziningi futhi sikhumbula ekhaya. Ngobunye ubusuku umkami wayekhumbule kakhulu ekhaya futhi yonke imizamo yami ayizange isize. Kwathi ngo-07:30 ntambama, sezwa kungqongqoza umuntu emnyango. Kwakungomunye wabafundi beBhayibheli futhi wayesiphathele amawolintshi amathathu. Wayezokwamukela izithunywa zevangeli ezintsha. Sathi akangene sabe sesimnika amanzi okuphuza, ngemva kwalokho samenzela itiye. Ngaleso sikhathi sasingakasazi isiSwahili, naye engasazi isiNgisi. Nokho, lokho kwaba yisiqalo esihle sokwakha ubungane nabazalwane basendaweni.”

13. Kuzuzisa ngani ukumema noma ukwamukela abanye?

¹³ Ingabe wake wanqena ukumema othile? Uma kunjalo, kungenzeka usulahlekelwe amathuba okuba nobudlelwane obuhle nobokwakha ubungane obuhlala njalo. Ukumema noma ukwamukela abanye kuyikhambi elingcono kakhulu lokunqoba umzwangedwa. Kodwa ungase uzibuze, ‘Yini engenza sikwenqene ukumema othile?’ Ziningi izizathu ezingasenza senqene.

14. Yini ongayenza uma ungenaso isikhathi namandla anele ukuze wamukele isimemo noma umeme abanye?

¹⁴ Isikhathi namandla: Izinceku zikaJehova zihlala zimatasa. Ezinye zingase zibe nomuzwa wokuthi azinaso isikhathi noma amandla okumema noma okwamukela abantu. Uma uzizwa ngale ndlela, kungase kudingeke ukuba uhlole uhlelo lwezinto ozenzayo. Ungalwenza yini ushintsho ukuze ube nesikhathi namandla okwamukela isimemo noma okumema  abanye? ImiBhalo inxusa amaKristu ukuba ameme noma amukele abanye. (Heb. 13:2) Akukubi neze ukuhlela isikhathi sokwenza lokhu, empeleni, kuyinto okufanele uyenze. Yiqiniso, kungase kube nezinto okudingeka unciphise noma uyeke ukuzenza.

15. Yikuphi ukukhathazeka abanye abangase babe nakho lapho becabanga ngokumema abathile?

¹⁵ Indlela ozibheka ngayo: Wake wafisa yini ukumema abathile kodwa wazibona ungafaneleki? Abanye banamahloni futhi besaba ukuthi izingxoxo ngeke zishelele noma labo ababamemile ngeke bajabule. Abanye banemali encane futhi bakholelwa ukuthi ngeke bakwazi ukwenza izinto ezenziwa abantu abanemali eningi ebandleni. Khumbula, ukuthi into ebaluleke kakhulu ngekhaya, akusibo ubukhazikhazi kodwa ukuhleleka, ukuhlanzeka nokuba nemfudumalo.

16, 17. Yini engaqeda ukukhathazeka ngokumema abanye?

¹⁶ Uma kukukhathaza ukumema abanye, awuwedwa. Umdala waseBrithani uyavuma: “Ungase wethuke uma uhlela ukumema othile. Nokho, njenganoma yini ehlobene nokukhonza uJehova, kuba nezinzuzo nokwaneliseka okukhulu kunokukhathazeka. Ngiye ngajabulela ukuhlala nengibamemile sixoxe siphuze nje ikhofi.” Khumbula ukuthi ukubonisa ukuthi uyazikhathalela izimenywa kuyasiza ngaso sonke isikhathi. (Fil. 2:4) Cishe sonke siyakujabulela ukuxoxa ngesiye sabhekana nakho ekuphileni. Imibuthano ingase ibe ukuphela kwethuba abanye abangase babenalo lokuzwa ngesiye sabhekana nakho. Omunye umdala wabhala: “Ukuba nabafowethu nodadewethu basebandleni ekhaya lami kungisiza ngibaqonde kahle kunginika nesikhathi sokubazi, ikakhulukazi indlela abathola ngayo iqiniso.” Ukukhathalela abanye ngothando kungenza noma yisiphi isenzakalo sijabulise.

¹⁷ Udade oyiphayona owayamukele abafundi ababeze ezikoleni ezihlukahlukene ezingokwasezulwini uyavuma: “Ekuqaleni ngangikhathazekile ngoba nginomuzi ovamile onefenisha endala. Inkosikazi yomunye wothisha yangisiza ngayeka ukukhathazeka. Le nkosikazi yathi lapho yona nomyeni wayo bejikeleza, amasonto amnandi kakhulu yilawo abawachitha nabantu abanobuhlobo obuqinile noJehova abangenazo izinto eziningi ezibonakalayo kodwa abanombono ofana nowabo—wokukhonza uJehova futhi bagcine ukuphila kulula. Lokhu kwangikhumbuza okwakuvame ukushiwo umama siseyizingane: ‘Singcono isidlo semifino lapho kukhona khona uthando.’” (IzAga 15:17) Akudingeki ukhathazeke, vumela uthando lukwenze umeme abanye.

18, 19. Ukumema nokwamukela abanye kungasisiza kanjani sinqobe ukungezwani nabanye?

¹⁸ Indlela ozizwa ngayo ngabanye: Ingabe ukhona okwenza ucikeke ebandleni lenu? Indlela ozizwa ngayo ekuqaleni ngalowo muntu ingase ingabi yinhle futhi ingahlala injalo uma ungenzi lutho ukuyilungisa. Ubuntu obungafani bungathiya izisusa zakho ezinhle zokumema abanye. Noma kungenzeka othile wakulimaza esikhathini esidlule futhi ukuthola kunzima ukukukhohlwa lokho akwenza.

¹⁹ Ukuze sithuthukise ubuhlobo bethu nabanye, ngisho nabantu abayizitha, iBhayibheli lisikhuthaza ukuba sibameme. (Funda izAga 25:21, 22.) Ukumema othile kunganciphisa ukungezwani futhi kuthambise nezinhliziyo. Kungasenza sibone ubuntu obuhle balowo muntu; ubuntu obenza uJehova wamdonsela eqinisweni. (Joh. 6:44) Lapho ubamema ngothando, isenzo esinjalo esingalindelekile singaba yisiqalo sobuhlobo obuhle. Yini ongayenza ukuze uqikelele ukuthi isisusa sokwenza lokho uthando? Enye indlela ukulalela  isikhuthazo esitholakala kweyabaseFilipi 2:3: “Ngokuthobeka kwengqondo nibheka abanye njengabakhulu kunani.” Ukuthola izinto ezenza abafowethu nodadewethu babe bakhulu kunathi—kungaba ukholo lwabo, ukukhuthazela, isibindi noma obunye ubuntu bobuKristu—kuzojulisa uthando lwethu ngabo futhi kuvule indlela yokumemana nokwamukelana ngobuqotho.

20. Kungani kumelwe sisihloniphe isimemo uma sisamukelile?

²⁰ Umhubi uDavide wabuza: “O Jehova, ngubani oyoba yisimenywa etendeni lakho?” (IHu. 15:1) Ngemva kombuzo wakhe waxoxa ngobuntu uNkulunkulu abulindele kubantu abayizimenywa zaKhe. Enye yezinto uNkulunkulu azilindele, ukufeza lokho esikushilo: “Wenzé isifungo entweni embi kuye, nokho akaguquki.” (IHu. 15:4) Uma samukela isimemo, akufanele sikhansele ngenxa yezinto ezingathi shu. Kungenzeka osimemile usewenzile amalungiselelo, uma sikhansela kungazelelwe, imizamo yakhe ingase ibe yize. (Math. 5:37) Abanye ngezinye izikhathi baye bathi ngeke baphumelele ngoba sebethole isimemo esibukeka singcono. Ingabe lokho kuwukubonisa uthando nenhlonipho? Kunalokho, kufanele samukele isimemo ngokwazisa okuqotho kungakhathaliseki ukuthi yini osimemile asilungiselele yona. (Luka 10:7) Uma izimo ezingenakugwemeka zisiphoqa ukuba singaphumeleli, kuzoba ukubonisa uthando nokucabangela ukwazisa osimemile ngokushesha.

21. Ukuhlonipha amasiko endawo kungasisiza kanjani sibe izimenywa ezinhle?

²¹ Kubalulekile nokuhlonipha amasiko endawo. Kwamanye amasiko, izimenywa ezingalindelekile ziyamukelwa, kwamanye kudingeka kuhlelwe kusengaphambili. Kwezinye izindawo, umuntu omema abanye upha izimenywa zakhe okuhle kakhulu, bese kulandela umndeni, kugcine bonke abanye; kwezinye wonke umuntu uthola okufanayo. Kanti kwezinye izindawo, izimenywa ngokuvamile ziphatha okuthile kokusekela isenzakalo kanti kwamanye amasiko akulindelekile ukuba umuntu aphathe okuthile. Kwamanye amasiko kulindelekile ukuba isimenywa sithi ngeke siphumelele lapho simenywa okokuqala nalapho simenywa okwesibili; kanti kwamanye ukwenqaba isimemo kubonakala kuwukungakwazisi ukumenywa. Masenze konke esingakwenza ukuze sijabulise umuntu osimemile.

22. Kungani kubalulekile ukumemana?

²² “Ukuphela kwezinto zonke sekusondele.” (1 Pet. 4:7) Sizobhekana nosizi olukhulu olungakaze lubonwe emhlabeni. Njengoba izingcindezi zikhula, kuzodingeka sibathande ngokujulile abafowethu nodadewethu. Iseluleko sikaPetru sibalulekile kumaKristu namuhla: “Ngenisanani,” lena yinkambo enhle nedingekayo eyohlala ikhona.​—1 Pet. 4:9.