1, 2. Kungani indoda eyayike yaba nesizotha yalahlwa uNkulunkulu? (Bheka isithombe esisekuqaleni.)

USAWULE, inkosi yakwa-Israyeli wasendulo, waqala ukubusa eyindoda enesizotha nehloniphekile. (1 Sam. 9:1, 2, 21; 10:20-24) Kodwa ngokushesha ngemva kokumiswa njengenkosi, waqala ukwenza izenzo zokugabadela eziningana. Lapho umprofethi kaNkulunkulu uSamuweli engafiki ngesikhathi esimisiwe eGiligali, uSawule waphelelwa isineke. Njengoba amaFilisti ayehlomela impi, ama-Israyeli ayehlamuka uSawule. Kumelwe ukuba wacabanga, ‘Kumelwe ngenze okuthile—futhi ngokushesha.’ Ngakho wenza umhlatshelo kuNkulunkulu, ayengagunyaziwe ukuba awenze. Akumjabulisanga lokho uJehova.—1 Sam. 13:5-9.

² Lapho uSamuweli efika eGiligali, wamthethisa uSawule. Kunokuba avumele ukulungiswa, uSawule wabeka izaba, wazama ukusola abantu futhi wazithethelela ngalokho ayekwenzile. (1 Sam. 13:10-14) Lokhu kwaba isiqalo sochungechunge lwezenzakalo ezimbi ezenza uSawule walahlekelwa ubukhosi bakhe futhi okubi nakakhulu walahlekelwa ubuhlobo obuhle noJehova. (1 Sam. 15:22, 23) Naphezu kwesiqalo esihle,  ukuphila kukaSawule kwaphela ngendlela edabukisayo.—1 Sam. 31:1-6.

3. (a) Uyini umbono wabantu abaningi ngesizotha? (b) Yimiphi imibuzo okudingeka iphendulwe?

³ Kuleli zwe elinomoya wokuncintisana, abaningi banomuzwa wokuthi kufanele bavelele ukuze baphumelele. Ngokwenza kanjalo, bangase balahlekelwe isizotha. Ngokwesibonelo, usaziwayo ongumlingiswa kuma-movie, manje osengene kwezombusazwe, wake wathi: “Igama elithi isizotha alisebenzi nhlobo kimi—angifisi ukuba lisebenze.” Pho, kungani isizotha sisabalulekile nanamuhla? Siyini isizotha futhi yini esingeyona? Singahlala kanjani sinesizotha naphezu kwezimo ezivivinyayo noma ukucindezelwa abanye? Kulesi sihloko, sizophendula imibuzo emibili yokuqala. Sizoxoxa ngombuzo wesithathu esihlokweni esilandelayo.

4. Ziyini izenzo zokugabadela?

⁴ IBhayibheli libonisa umehluko phakathi kokuba nesizotha nokugabadela. (Funda izAga 11:2.) Ngokuhlakanipha, uDavide wacela uJehova ukuba ‘amnqande ezenzweni zokugabadela.’ (IHu. 19:13) Ziyini ‘izenzo zokugabadela’? Ziwukwenza okuthile ngamawala noma ngokwedelela ube ungenalo igunya lokukwenza. Ngenxa yesono esasizuza njengefa, sonke siyagabadela ngezinye izikhathi. Kodwa njengoba sibona esibonelweni seNkosi uSawule, uma siqala ukuba nomkhuba wokwenza izinto esingenalo igunya lokuzenza, ngokuhamba kwesikhathi sizolahlekelwa ubuhlobo bethu noNkulunkulu. IHubo 119:21 lithi uJehova “ubakhuzile abagabadelayo.” Kungani?

5. Kungani izenzo zokugabadela zizimbi kakhulu?

⁵ Izenzo zokugabadela zimbi kakhulu kunamaphutha esiwenza singahlosile. Okokuqala, lapho singasibonisi isizotha asimdumisi uJehova njengoMbusi ofanele wendawo yonke. Okwesibili, uma seqela ngale kwegunya esilinikeziwe, singase sixabane nabanye. (IzAga 13:10) Okwesithathu, lapho kuba sobala ukuthi siye sagabadela, singase silulazeke noma sihlazeke. (Luka 14:8, 9) Izenzo zokugabadela azibi nesiphetho esihle. Njengoba imiBhalo ibonisa, ukuba nesizotha kuhlale kuzuzisa.

6, 7. Kuyini ukuthobeka, futhi isizotha sihlobene kanjani nakho?

⁶ Isizotha nokuthobeka kuyizimfanelo ezihlobene kakhulu. EBhayibhelini ukuthobeka kuchazwa ngokuthi ukungazazisi noma ukungaqhoshi. Kuchazwa ‘njengokuthobeka kwengqondo.’ (Fil. 2:3) Umuntu othobekile ngokuvamile uba nesizotha, uyawazi amakhono akhe nalokho angakwenza, uyakwazi ukuvuma amaphutha akhe futhi uyakwazi ukwamukela imibono yabanye. Ukuthobeka kumjabulisa kakhulu uJehova.

⁷ IBhayibheli libonisa ukuthi umuntu onesizotha uyazazi futhi uyaqaphela ukuthi kunezinto angeke akwazi ukuzenza noma angenalo igunya lokuzenza. Olimini lokuqala, isizotha sigcizelela indlela ukuzazi okufanele k usithinte ngayo nendlela okufanele kuthinte ngayo indlela esiphatha ngayo abanye.

8. Yiziphi ezinye zezimpawu eziyisixwayiso zokungabi nesizotha?

⁸ Singabona kanjani ukuthi sesiqala ukucabanga noma ukwenza ngendlela engenasizotha? Singabona ngalezi zimpawu ezimbalwa eziyisixwayiso. Singase sizibone sibaluleke kakhulu noma sibone amalungelo ethu ebaluleke kakhulu. (Roma 12:16) Kungenzeka sithande  ukunakwa ngezindlela ezingafanele. (1 Thim. 2:9, 10) Kungenzeka sigqugquzele imibono yethu ngenxa yesikhundla esinaso, abantu esibajwayele abasezikhundleni noma ngenxa yalokho esikucabangayo. (1 Kor. 4:6) Ngokuvamile, lapho siziphatha ngale ndlela kungenza sisuke singaboni ukuthi sesiyagabadela.

9. Yini eye yaholela abanye ukuba bagabadele? Nikeza isibonelo esiseBhayibhelini.

⁹ Noma ubani angenza ngokugabadela uma evumela ukunqotshwa izifiso zenyama. Izifiso zobugovu, umona nesifuthefuthe sentukuthelo kuye kwaholela abaningi ezenzweni zokugabadela. Abantu okukhulunywa ngabo eBhayibhelini abanjengo-Absalomu, u-Uziya noNebukhadinezari banqotshwa yimisebenzi yenyama futhi uJehova wabathobisa ngenxa yokugabadela.—2 Sam. 15:1-6; 18:9-17; 2 IziKr. 26:16-21; Dan. 5:18-21.

10. Kungani kufanele sigweme ukusola izisusa zabanye? Nikeza isibonelo esiseBhayibhelini.

¹⁰ Nokho, zikhona ezinye izizathu ezingase zibangele ukuba umuntu enze ngokungenasizotha. Ngokwesibonelo, cabanga ngalokhu kulandisa kweBhayibheli okukuGenesise 20:2-7 nakuMathewu 26:31-35. Ingabe izenzo ezibonakala ziwukugabadela ezenziwa u-Abhimeleki noPetru zazishukunyiswa izifiso zenyama? Noma ingabe u-Abhimeleki noPetru babengawazi wonke amaqiniso ahilelekile? Njengoba singakwazi ukufunda izinhliziyo, kuwukuhlakanipha nokubonisa uthando ukungasheshi ukufinyelela iziphetho ngezisusa zabanye.—Funda uJakobe 4:12.

11. Ukuba nesizotha kuhlobene kanjani nokwazi indawo yethu elungiselelweni likaNkulunkulu?

¹¹ Ukuba nesizotha kuqala ngokwazi indawo yethu elungiselelweni likaNkulunkulu. NjengoNkulunkulu wokuhleleka, uJehova unika ngamunye wethu indawo efanele endlini yakhe. Wonke umuntu unendima ehlukile ebandleni, nokho sonke siyadingeka. Ngomusa wakhe ongafanelwe uJehova unike ngamunye wethu izipho, amakhono noma amathalente athile. Singawasebenzisa ukuze simdumise futhi sizuzise nabanye. (Roma 12:4-8) UJehova usenze saba abaphathi okuyisikhundla esiza nodumo, ukwethenjelwa nomsebenzi owengeziwe.—Funda eyoku-1 Petru 4:10.

12, 13. Kungani kungafanele simangale lapho indawo yethu elungiselelweni likaNkulunkulu ishintsha ngezinye izikhathi?

¹² Nokho, indawo yethu elungiselelweni likaNkulunkulu ingashintsha ngokuhamba kwesikhathi. Cabanga ngesibonelo sikaJesu. Ekuqaleni, kwakukhona yena noJehova kuphela. (IzAga 8:22) Wabe esesiza ekudaleni ezinye izidalwa zomoya, amazulu nomhlaba esikubonayo futhi ekugcineni wasiza ekudalweni kwabantu. (Kol. 1:16) Kamuva uJesu wamukela isabelo esisha emhlabeni, okokuqala engusana olungenakuzisiza futhi kamuva waba umuntu omdala. (Fil. 2:7) Ngemva kokufa kwakhe okungumhlatshelo, uJesu wabuyela ekuphileni kwasezulwini njengesidalwa somoya, ukuze abe iNkosi yoMbuso kaNkulunkulu ngo-1914. (Heb. 2:9) Akugcini lapho, uyophinde athole esinye isabelo. Ngemva kokuBusa Iminyaka Eyinkulunkwane, uyobusiyela uMbuso wakhe kuJehova ukuze “uNkulunkulu abe yikho konke kuwo wonke umuntu.”—1 Kor. 15:28.

¹³ Nathi singalindela ukuba izabelo zethu zishintshe njengoba isikhathi siqhubeka, ngokuvamile ngenxa yezinqumo esizenzayo. Ngokwesibonelo, ingabe ubungashadile kodwa manje usushadile?  Ingabe usanda kuqala ukukhulisa izingane? Njengoba usukhulile, ingabe uye wenza ukuphila kwakho kwaba lula ukuze ungenele inkonzo yesikhathi esigcwele? Zonke lezi zinqumo zihambisana namalungelo nemithwalo ethile. Izimo zethu ezishintshayo zingandisa noma zinciphise lokho esingakwenza. Ingabe usemusha noma usukhulile? Ingabe unempilo enhle noma ebuthaka? UJehova uhlale ecabanga ngendlela ngamunye wethu angasetshenziswa ngayo ngokugcwele enkonzweni yakhe. Ulindele kithi lokho esingakwenza futhi ukwazisa kakhulu lokho esikwenzayo.—Heb. 6:10.

14. Ukuba nesizotha kungasisiza kanjani sithole ukwaneliseka futhi silondoloze injabulo kunoma yisiphi isimo?

¹⁴ UJesu wathola injabulo kuzo zonke izabelo zakhe, nathi singayithola injabulo kwezethu. (IzAga 8:30, 31) Umuntu onesizotha akazizwa ecindezelwa izabelo zakhe anazo ebandleni. Akumkhathazi ukuthi uzowathola yini amalungelo noma ukuthi abanye bathola maphi amalungelo. Kunalokho ugxilisa amandla akhe ekufezeni indima yakhe nokuthola injabulo kuyo ngoba uyibheka njengevela kuJehova. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, uyihlonipha ngobuqotho indima noma indawo uJehova ayinikeza abanye. Ukuba nesizotha kusisiza sijabulele ukusekela nokubonisa abanye udumo olubafanele.—Roma 12:10.

15. Yini esingayifunda ngesizotha sikaGideyoni?

¹⁵ UGideyoni uyisibonelo esihle kakhulu sokuba nesizotha. Lapho ingelosi  kaJehova ibonakala kuye okokuqala, washeshe wayichazela ukuthi yena ungomncane kunabo bonke endlini kayise. (AbaHl. 6:15) Ngemva kokwamukela isabelo ayesinikwe uJehova, uGideyoni waqikelela ukuthi ukuqonda ngokugcwele okwakudingeka akwenze futhi wafuna isiqondiso sikaJehova. (AbaHl. 6:36-40) UGideyoni wayenesibindi. Noma kunjalo, wenza ngokuqonda futhi wayeqaphile. (AbaHl. 6:11, 27) Akasamukelanga isabelo sakhe ngenjongo yokuthola udumo. Kunalokho, ngemva nje kokufeza isabelo sakhe wabuyela endlini yakhe.—AbaHl. 8:22, 23, 29.

16, 17. Yini umuntu onesizotha azibuza yona lapho ecabanga ngokwamukela isabelo esisha?

¹⁶ Ukuba nesizotha akusho ukuthi akufanele sifune noma samukele amalungelo engeziwe enkonzo. ImiBhalo isikhuthaza sonke ukuba sithuthuke. (1 Thim. 4:13-15) Nokho, ingabe lokhu kuhlale kudinga ukuba sishintshe isabelo? Cha akunjalo. Ngesibusiso sikaJehova, singathuthuka ngokomoya kunoma yisiphi isabelo esisenzayo njengamanje. Singaqhubeka sihlakulela amakhono ethu esiwaphiwe uNkulunkulu futhi siqhubeke senza imisebenzi emihle.

¹⁷ Ngaphambi kokwamukela isabelo esisha, umuntu onesizotha uzoqale athole ukuthi yini elindeleke kuye. Angabe esehlola izimo zakhe ngokwethembeka. Ngokwesibonelo, ingabe uzokwazi ukwenza imisebenzi eyengeziwe ngaphandle kokudebeselela ezinye izinto ezibalulekile? Angakwazi yini ukunika abanye imisebenzi anayo manje ukuze akwazi ukuthwala imithwalo emisha? Uma impendulo yale mibuzo ingu-cha, mhlawumbe kunomuntu osesimweni esingcono sokwenza leso sabelo esisha. Ukuzihlola ngomthandazo nangobuqotho kuzosisiza sigweme ukufuna ukwenza okungaphezu kwamandla namakhono ethu. Isizotha singenza ukuba sithi cha.

18. (a) Isizotha siyosishukumisela ukuba senzeni esabelweni sethu esisha? (b) EyabaseRoma 12:3 isebenza kanjani kumuntu onesizotha?

¹⁸ Lapho samukela isabelo esisha, isibonelo sikaGideyoni sisikhumbuza ukuthi asisoze saphumelela ngaphandle kwesiqondiso nesibusiso sikaJehova. Sikhuthazwa ukuba ‘sibe nesizotha ekuhambeni noNkulunkulu wethu.’ (Mika 6:8) Ngakho, noma nini lapho samukela izabelo ezintsha, kudingeka sithandaze futhi sizindle nganoma yini uJehova asitshela yona ngeZwi nangenhlangano yakhe. Kumelwe sivumelanise izimo zethu nokuhola kukaJehova. Masikhumbule ukuthi ukuthobeka kukaJehova ‘okusenza sibe bakhulu,’ hhayi amakhono ethu. (IHu. 18:35) Ukukhetha ukuhamba ngesizotha noNkulunkulu, kuyosisiza singaziboni sibakhulu noma sizibone singelutho.—Funda eyabaseRoma 12:3.

19. Kungani kufanele sihlakulele isizotha?

¹⁹ Umuntu onesizotha unika uJehova udumo olumfanele, njengoba enguMdali wethu noMbusi Wendawo Yonke. (IsAm. 4:11) Isizotha sisisiza saneliseke futhi sizikhandle esabelweni esisinikiwe elungiselelweni likaNkulunkulu. Isizotha senza ukuba sithembeke futhi sithuthukisa ubunye phakathi kwabantu baJehova. Isizotha sisishukumisela ukuba sicabangele abanye kunokuba sizicabangele thina futhi sisisiza ukuba siqaphe, ngaleyo ndlela sigwema amaphutha amakhulu. Ngenxa yalezi zizathu, isizotha sisabalulekile nanamuhla kubo bonke abantu bakaNkulunkulu futhi uJehova uyabazisa labo abalwela ukuba naso. Kodwa kuthiwani uma sicindezelekile? Isihloko esilandelayo sizosibonisa indlela esingahlala ngayo sinesizotha lapho sicindezelekile.