1Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province.
2Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts.
3I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could--far more than they could afford!--
4pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.
5This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives.
6That's what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up.
7You do so well in so many things--you trust God, you're articulate, you're insightful, you're passionate, you love us--now, do your best in this, too.
8I'm not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians' enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you.
9You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us--in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.
10So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale.
11Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it.
12Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands.
13This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way,
14your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even.
15As it is written, Nothing left over to the one with the most, Nothing lacking to the one with the least.
16I thank God for giving Titus the same devoted concern for you that I have.
17He was most considerate of how we felt, but his eagerness to go to you and help out with this relief offering is his own idea.
18We're sending a companion along with him, someone very popular in the churches for his preaching of the Message.
19But there's far more to him than popularity. He's rock-solid trustworthy. The churches handpicked him to go with us as we travel about doing this work of sharing God's gifts to honor God as well as we can,
20taking every precaution against scandal. We don't want anyone suspecting us of taking one penny of this money for ourselves.
21We're being as careful in our reputation with the public as in our reputation with God.
22That's why we're sending another trusted friend along. He's proved his dependability many times over, and carries on as energetically as the day he started. He's heard much about you, and liked what he's heard--so much so that he can't wait to get there.
23I don't need to say anything further about Titus. We've been close associates in this work of serving you for a long time. The brothers who travel with him are delegates from churches, a real credit to Christ.
24Show them what you're made of, the love I've been talking up in the churches. Let them see it for themselves!
<< 2 Korintus 8 >>
Bahan Renungan: SH - RH - ROC
Download
Alkitab ANDROID
Kamus Alkitab
Kamus Bahasa
Kidung Jemaat
Nyanyikanlah Kidung Baru
Pelengkap Kidung Jemaat
Alkitab.mobi
Copyright
Alkitab.SABDA.org
Android.SABDA.org
SABDA.APP
BaDeNo
Bantuan
Single Panel