1-3. (a) UJehova wayemthandelani uSolomoni njalo wambusisa njani? (b) Yiphi imibuzo esizaxoxa ngayo esihlokweni lesi?

USOLOMONI waba yinkosi yako-Israyeli eseselijaha. Wathi eqalisa ukubusa, uJehova wabonakala kuye ephutsheni wathi: “Cela loba yini ofuna ukuba ngikunike yona.” USolomoni wamphendula wathi: “Ngingumntwana ongakwaziyo ukuthwala enze umsebenzi awuphiweyo. . . Phana inceku yakho inhliziyo [“elalelayo,” NW] ukuze ibuse abantu bakho.” (1 AmaKho. 3:5-10) Isicelo leso sasitshengisa ukuthi uthobekile. Yikho uJehova wayemthanda uSolomoni! (2 Sam. 12:24) Wathokoza kakhulu esizwa impendulo yakhe njalo wamnika “inhliziyo yenhlakanipho kanye lobubelo.”​—1 AmaKho. 3:12.

² USolomoni wathola izibusiso ezinengi kakhulu ngesikhathi esathembekile kuJehova. Wakhela ‘ibizo likaJehova uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli’ ithempeli. (1 AmaKho. 8:20) Kanti njalo wayebatshazwa ngenxa yenhlakanipho ayeyiphiwe nguNkulunkulu. Amazwi akhe aphefumulelweyo alotshwe emabhukwini amathathu aseBhayibhilini. Elinye lakhona libhuku leZaga.

³ Ku-New World Translation ibala elithi inhliziyo litholakala izikhathi ezingaba yi-100 ebhukwini leZaga. Ngokwesibonelo, iZaga 4:23 zithi: “Phezu kwakho konke, gcina inhliziyo yakho.” Litshoni ibala elithi “inhliziyo” elisevesini le? USathane angazingcolisa njani izinhliziyo zethu? Ungenzani ukuze ugcine inhliziyo yakho? Imibuzo le sizaxoxa ngayo esihlokweni lesi ngoba ukuzwisisa izimpendulo zayo kuzasinceda ukuthi sihlale sithembekile kuNkulunkulu.

4-5. (a) IHubo 51:6 litshengisa ukuthi ibala elithi “inhliziyo” litshoni? (b) Inhliziyo ifanana njani lomzimba?

⁴ Ibala elithi “inhliziyo” elikuZaga 4:23 litsho lokho umuntu ayikho “ngaphakathi,” “emibilini” yakhe. (Bala iHubo 51:6.) “Inhliziyo” igoqela imicabango, imizwa, inhloso kanye lezifiso. Zonke izinto lezi zingaphakathi komuntu futhi ngeke zibonwe ngabanye.

⁵ Ngakho kuqakathekile ukuthi sinanzelele lokho esiyikho ngaphakathi. Phela inhliziyo singayifanisa lomzimba. Njani? Okokuqala, nxa umuntu efuna ukugcina umzimba wakhe uqinile kufanele adle ukudla okwakha umzimba futhi ahlale ewuqeqetsha. Lathi nxa sifuna ukugcina izinhliziyo zethu kumele sihlale sibala iBhayibhili kanye lamabhuku esiwaphiwa yinhlanganiso. Kanti njalo kumele sitshengise ukuthi silokholo ngokuhlala sisebenzisa esikufundayo futhi sikutshele abanye. (Rom. 10:8-10; Jak. 2:26) Okwesibili, umuntu angakhanya angathi uqinile nxa umkhangele kanti ngaphakathi umkhuhlane uyamudla. Lathi singacabanga ukuthi silokholo oluqinileyo ngenxa yokuthi sikhanya sikhuthele ekukhonzeni kanti ngaphakathi sifukamele izifiso ezimbi. (1 Khor. 10:12; Jak. 1:14, 15) Akumelanga sikhohlwe ukuthi uSathane ufuna ukusintshintsha sibe lemicabango enjengeyakhe. Angakwenza njani lokho futhi thina singenzani ukuze sizivikele?

6. Kuyini uSathane akufunayo futhi yiphi indlela ayisebenzisayo?

⁶ USathane ungumhlamuki futhi kalandaba labanye abantu. Ufuna lathi sihlamukele uJehova njalo sizenzele esikufunayo. Kodwa ngeke asibambe ngamandla ukuthi sicabange loba senze njengaye. Manje yiziphi izindlela azisebenzisayo? Kwezinye izikhathi angazama ukusiyenga esebenzisa abantu esiphila labo ngoba abanengi babo balandela lokho akufunayo. (1 Joh. 5:19) Uyabe elethemba lokuthi sizakuba lobudlelwano labantu abanjalo lanxa sikwazi ukuthi abangane ababi ‘bangona’ indlela esicabanga ngayo lesenza ngayo. (1 Khor. 15:33) Lokhu yikho kanye okwenzakala kuSolomoni. Wathatha abafazi abanengi ababengamkhonzi uNkulunkulu futhi kancane  kancane baphambula inhliziyo yakhe wacina ‘eselahlekile.’​—1 AmaKho. 11:3.

7. Yikuphi okunye uSathane akusebenzisayo ukuze amemethekise imicabango yakhe njalo kungani kumele sinanzelele?

⁷ Okunye okusetshenziswa nguSathane ukuze amemethekise imicabango yakhe ngezokuzilibazisa. Uyakwazi ukuthi izindaba eziyabe zilandiswa kumafilimu lakunhlelo ze-TV azisilibazisi nje kuphela kodwa zingantshintsha izenzo zethu, imizwa kanye lendlela esicabanga ngayo. UJesu wayelandisela abantu izindaba ezithile ukuze bazwisise lokho ayebafundisa khona. Ngokwesibonelo, wake wabatshela umzekeliso womSamariya olomusa kanye lowendodana yolahleko. (Mat. 13:34; Luk. 10:29-37; 15:11-32) Kodwa abantu abalandela imicabango kaSathane bona bangasebenzisa izindaba ezikhutshwa kwezokuzilibazisa ukuze bangcolise imicabango yethu. Yikho kumele sinanzelele futhi sikhethe kuhle. Lokhu kuzasisiza ukuthi sizilibazise ngezinhlelo kanye lamafilimu ahlanzekileyo. Ngakho nxa sikhetha ezokuzilibazisa kumele sizibuze umbuzo lo: ‘Ifilimu le loba uhlelo lolu lungenza ngilandele izifiso zemvelo yesono yini?’ (Gal. 5:19-21; Efe. 2:1-3) Nxa singabona ukuthi uhlelo esilubukeleyo lungasenza sibe lemicabango kaSathane, kumele sihle silucitshe masinyane futhi sizivikele ngendlela ebesingazivikela ngayo emkhuhlaneni oyingozi.

8. Abazali kufanele benzeni ukuze bavikele izinhliziyo zabantwababo?

⁸ Umzali olothando wenza konke okusemandleni akhe ukuze avikele abantwabakhe emikhuhlaneni. Ugcina umuzi wakhe uhlanzekile futhi ulahla yonke ingcekeza engabangela ukuthi yena labantwabakhe bagule. Ngakho lasezindabeni zokuzilibazisa abazali kufanele bavikele abantwababo ukuze izinhliziyo zabo zingangcoliswa nguSathane. Kumele babe leqiniso lokuthi kabazilibazisi ngezinto ezingenza babe lemicabango kaSathane. Lokhu kugoqela amafilimu, inhlelo ze-TV, imidlalo yamavidiyo  kanye lamawebhusayithi ayingozi. UJehova nguye onike abazali umlandu wokuncedisa abantwababo ukuthi babe ngabangane bakhe. (Zaga. 1:8; Efe. 6:1, 4) Yikho bazali lingesabi ukubabekela imithetho esekelwe eBhayibhilini kusiya ngokuthi banganani. Nxa besesebancane batsheleni ukuthi kuyini abangakubukela lalokho okungamelanga bakubukele futhi libachasisele ukuthi kungani lisitsho njalo. (Mat. 5:37) Nxa sebekhulakhulile bafundiseni ukusebenzisa izimiso zeBhayibhili ukuze benelise ukwehlukanisa okuhle lokubi. (Heb. 5:14) Kanti njalo lingapheleli ekukhulumeni kuphela ngoba abantwana balandela kakhulu lokho ababona abazali babo bekwenza.​—Dute. 6:6, 7; Rom. 2:21.

9. USathane uzama njani ukungcolisa izinhliziyo zethu njalo kungani akwenzayo kuyingozi?

⁹ USathane uphinda azame ukungcolisa izinhliziyo zethu ngokusenza sithembe inhlakanipho yabantu kulokuthemba uJehova. (Kol. 2:8) Ngokwesibonelo, ukhuthaza abantu ukuthi baphilele ukugijimisa imali. Abantu abenza njalo bangayithola inotho kumbe bangayitholi. Kodwa lokhu abakwenzayo kuyingozi ngoba ukugijimisa inotho kubangela ukuthi bacine sebegula njalo sebechithekelwe yimizi loba bengasamkhonzi uNkulunkulu. (1 Tim. 6:10) Thina siyambonga uBaba wethu osezulwini ngoba uyasifundisa ukuthi singagijimisi imali lenotho kodwa sisuthiseke ngalokho esilakho.​—UmTshu. 7:12; Luk. 12:15.

10-11. (a) Nxa sifuna ukuphumelela ukugcina izinhliziyo zethu kumele senzeni? (b) Yiwuphi umsebenzi owawusenziwa ngabalindi endulo futhi umzwangedwa wethu usebenza njani njengomlindi?

¹⁰ Nxa sifuna ukuphumelela ukugcina izinhliziyo zethu kumele sinanzelele izinto ezingasingcolisa besesizibalekela masinyane. Ibala elihunyutshwe ngokuthi “gcina” kuZaga 4:23 lisikhumbuza umsebenzi owawusenziwa ngumuntu owayelinda. Endulo abalindi babesima phezu komduli wedolobho ukuze baxwayise abantu nxa bengabona ingozi isiza. Lathi kumele senze njengabalindi nxa sifuna ukuvikela izinhliziyo zethu ukuthi zingangcoliswa nguSathane.

¹¹ Abalindi babencedisana lamadoda ayelinda esangweni ledolobho. (2 Sam. 18:24-26) Babesithi bangabona isitha sisiza bamemeze amadoda la ukuze avale amasango. Lokhu kwakusenza ukuthi idolobho livikeleke. (Neh. 7:1-3) Umzwangedwa * oqeqetshwe ngeBhayibhili lawo usebenza njengomlindi. Uyasixwayisa nxa uSathane esehlasela izinhliziyo zethu ezama ukungcolisa imicabango, imizwa, inhloso kanye lezifiso zethu. Yikho nxa umzwangedwa wethu ungasixwayisa kumele siwulalele sihle sivale zonke intuba uSathane angangena ngazo.

12-13. Singehlelwa yisiphi isilingo nxa sisemsebenzini loba esikolo kodwa kuyini okumele sikwenze?

¹² Kuqakathekile ukuthi sinanzelele izinto ezingacina zisenza ukuthi singcoliswe yimicabango kaSathane. Ngokwesibonelo, uJehova uthi ‘singaqali ukuxoxa ngokuziphatha okubi kwezemacansini langayo yonke imihlobo yokungcola.’ (Efe. 5:3) Manje kumele senzeni nxa abanye emsebenzini loba esikolo bengaqalisa ukuxoxa ngezindaba zemacansini? Siyakwazi ukuthi kumele “silahle konke ukungamesabi uNkulunkulu lezifiso zomhlaba.” (Tit. 2:12) Yikho umzwangedwa wethu ungasixwayisa njengomlindi  olimukisa abantu ngengozi esisiza. (Rom. 2:15) Kuyabe sekumele sikhethe ukuthi sizalalela wona yini kumbe sizalalela abantu labo futhi sikhangele amapikitsha abawabukayo. Nxa sihlakaniphile sizantshintsha ingxoxo loba sisuke kubo ukuze sivikele izinhliziyo zethu.

¹³ Lanxa lokho kungaba nzima kumele sibe lesibindi sokufulathela loba yini engangcolisa izingqondo zethu njalo isenze siziphathe kubi. Singenza njalo, uJehova uzasinika amandla lokuhlakanipha ukuze senelise ukubalekela imicabango kaSathane. (2 ImiLan. 16:9; Isaya. 40:29; Jak. 1:5) Kodwa kukhona okunye okumele sikwenze ukuze sigcine izinhliziyo zethu.

14-15. (a) Kungani kumele sivule izinhliziyo zethu futhi singakwenza njani lokhu? (b) Umbhalo kaZaga 4:20-22 ungasinceda njani ukuthi sizwisise okunengi nxa sibala iBhayibhili? (Khangela lebhokisi elithi “ Ongakwenza Nxa Ucabangisisa.”)

¹⁴ Sesibonile ukuthi nxa sifuna ukugcina izinhliziyo zethu kumele sivimbele loba yini engasingcolisa. Kodwa kumele siphinde sivule izinhliziyo zethu ukuze samukele izinto ezinhle ezingasenza sibe lemicabango kaJehova. Ake sibuyele emzekelisweni wabalindi ukuze sikuzwisise lokhu. Amadoda ayelinda esangweni ayevala amasango ukuze avimbele isitha ukuthi singangeni kodwa kwezinye izikhathi ayewavula ukuze kungeniswe ukudla kanye lezinye izinto eziqakathekileyo. Nxa amasango edolobho ayengahlala evaliwe abantu babengabulawa yindlala. Lathi kumele sivikele izinhliziyo zethu ezintweni ezingasingcolisa njalo sizivule ukuze samukele imicabango kaNkulunkulu.

¹⁵ Lokhu singakwenza ngokubala iBhayibhili ngoba lilemicabango kaJehova. Nxa silibala siyabe simvumela ukuthi aqondise indlela esicabanga ngayo lesenza ngayo. Manje singenzani ukuze sizwisise okunengi nxa sibala iBhayibhili? Kumele siqale ngokuthandaza. Omunye udadewethu uthi: “Ngingakabali iBhayibhili ngiqala ngithandaze kuJehova ngimcela ukuthi angisize ‘ngibone izinto ezimangalisayo’ eziseLizwini lakhe.” (Hubo. 119:18) Okunye okungasinceda yikucabangisisa ngalokho esikubalayo. Nxa singathandaza, sibale iBhayibhili futhi sicabangisise ngalokho esikubalayo, ‘sizawagcina enhliziyweni’ amazwi kaNkulunkulu njalo sizayithanda imithetho yakhe.​—Bala iZaga 4:20-22; Hubo. 119:97.

16. Ukubukela i-JW Broadcasting kubancede njani abanye?

¹⁶ Okunye okungasinceda ukuthi sibe lemicabango kaNkulunkulu yikubukela izinto ezitholakala ku-JW Broadcasting^®. Omunye umzalwane lomkakhe bathi: “Inhlelo eziphuma nyanga zonke ziyasisiza kakhulu. Siyakubona ukuthi uJehova uyayiphendula imithandazo yethu. Ziyasiqinisa futhi zisikhuthaze nxa sidanile loba silesizungu. Izingoma ze-Broadcasting sihlala sizilalela nxa sisendlini. Sizitshaya nxa sipheka, siklina kumbe sizikwejisela nje.” Kuyakhanya-ke ukuthi izinto eziphuma ku-JW Broadcasting^® ziyasinceda ukuthi sigcine izinhliziyo zethu. Zisifundisa ukuthi sibe lemicabango kaJehova futhi sibalekele imicabango kaSathane.

17-18. (a) U-1 AmaKhosi 8:61 utshengisa ukuthi kuyini okuzakwenzakala kithi nxa singasebenzisa lokho esikufundiswa nguJehova? (b) Sifundani esibonelweni seNkosi uHezekhiya? (c) Umthandazo kaDavida okuHubo 139:23, 24 uveza ukuthi kuyini okumele sikuthandazele?

¹⁷ Ukholo lwethu luyaqina kakhulu nxa singananzelela ukuthi ukwenza izinto ezilungileyo kuyasinceda. (Jak. 1:2, 3) Kanti njalo siyajabula ngoba siyabe sikwazi ukuthi sithokozisa uBaba wethu osezulwini.  (Zaga. 27:11) Ukwazi lokhu kwenza sibe lesifiso esikhulu sokuhlala sisenza okuhle. Kungelani lokuthi sihlangana lasiphi isilingo sifuna ukutshengisa ukuthi sizimisele ukukhonza uBaba wethu olothando. (Hubo. 119:113) Nxa singenza njalo, kuzakhanya ukuthi simthanda ngenhliziyo yonke uJehova futhi sizimisele ukulalela imilayo yakhe lokwenza intando yakhe.​—Bala u-1 AmaKhosi 8:61.

¹⁸ Lokhu akutsho ukuthi kasisoze siphambanise ngoba sonke silesono. Khumbula okwenziwa yiNkosi uHezekhiya. Lanxa yaphambanisa yaphenduka futhi yaqhubeka ikhonza uJehova ‘ngenhliziyo yonke.’ (Isaya. 38:3-6; 2 ImiLan. 29:1, 2; 32:25, 26) Ngakho kasizimiseleni ukubalekela imicabango kaSathane njalo sithandazele ukuthi uJehova asinike inhliziyo elalelayo. (1 AmaKho. 3:9, NW; bala iHubo 139:23, 24.) Singenelisa sibili ukuhlala sithembekile kuJehova nxa singagcina izinhliziyo zethu.