2 Corinthians 7:5-8:15.
2 Corinthians 7:5-8:15
After we came to Macedonia, we didn't have any chance to rest. We were
faced with all kinds of problems. We were troubled by enemies and
troubled by fears. But God cheers up people in need, and that is what
he did when he sent Titus to us. Of course, we were glad to see
Titus, but what really made us glad is the way you cheered him up. He
told how sorry you were and how concerned you were about me. And this
made me even happier. I don't feel bad anymore, even though my letter
hurt your feelings. I did feel bad at first, but I don't now. I know
that the letter hurt you for a while. Now I am happy, but not because
I hurt your feelings. It is because God used your hurt feelings to
make you turn back to him, and none of you were harmed by us. When
God makes you feel sorry enough to turn to him and be saved, you don't
have anything to feel bad about. But when this world makes you feel
sorry, it can cause your death. Just look what God has done by making
you feel sorry! You sincerely want to prove that you are innocent. You
are angry. You are shocked. You are eager to see that justice is done.
You have proved that you were completely right in this matter. When I
wrote you, it wasn't to accuse the one who was wrong or to take up for
the one who was hurt. I wrote, so that God would show you how much you
do care for us. And we were greatly encouraged. Although we were
encouraged, we felt even better when we saw how happy Titus was,
because you had shown that he had nothing to worry about. We had told
him how much we thought of you, and you did not disappoint us. Just as
we have always told you the truth, so everything we told him about you
has also proved to be true. Titus loves all of you very much,
especially when he remembers how you obeyed him and how you trembled
with fear when you welcomed him. It makes me really glad to know that
I can depend on you.
Generous Giving
My friends, we want you to know that the churches in Macedonia have
shown others how kind God is. Although they were going through hard
times and were very poor, they were glad to give generously. They
gave as much as they could afford and even more, simply because they
wanted to. They even asked and begged us to let them have the joy of
giving their money for God's people. And they did more than we had
hoped. They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, just as
God wanted them to do. Titus was the one who got you started doing
this good thing, so we begged him to have you finish what you had
begun. You do everything better than anyone else. You have stronger
faith. You speak better and know more. You are eager to give, and you
love us better. Now you must give more generously than anyone else. I
am not ordering you to do this. I am simply testing how real your love
is by comparing it with the concern that others have shown. You know
that our Lord Jesus Christ was kind enough to give up all his riches
and become poor, so that you could become rich. A year ago you were
the first ones to give, and you gave because you wanted to. So listen
to my advice. I think you should finish what you started. If you give
according to what you have, you will prove that you are as eager to
give as you were to think about giving. It doesn't matter how much
you have. What matters is how much you are willing to give from what
you have. I am not trying to make life easier for others by making
life harder for you. But it is only fair for you to share with them
when you have so much, and they have so little. Later, when they have
more than enough, and you are in need, they can share with you. Then
everyone will have a fair share, just as the Scriptures say, "Those
who gathered too much had nothing left. Those who gathered only a
little had all they needed."
God bless you.
After we came to Macedonia, we didn't have any chance to rest. We were
faced with all kinds of problems. We were troubled by enemies and
troubled by fears. But God cheers up people in need, and that is what
he did when he sent Titus to us. Of course, we were glad to see
Titus, but what really made us glad is the way you cheered him up. He
told how sorry you were and how concerned you were about me. And this
made me even happier. I don't feel bad anymore, even though my letter
hurt your feelings. I did feel bad at first, but I don't now. I know
that the letter hurt you for a while. Now I am happy, but not because
I hurt your feelings. It is because God used your hurt feelings to
make you turn back to him, and none of you were harmed by us. When
God makes you feel sorry enough to turn to him and be saved, you don't
have anything to feel bad about. But when this world makes you feel
sorry, it can cause your death. Just look what God has done by making
you feel sorry! You sincerely want to prove that you are innocent. You
are angry. You are shocked. You are eager to see that justice is done.
You have proved that you were completely right in this matter. When I
wrote you, it wasn't to accuse the one who was wrong or to take up for
the one who was hurt. I wrote, so that God would show you how much you
do care for us. And we were greatly encouraged. Although we were
encouraged, we felt even better when we saw how happy Titus was,
because you had shown that he had nothing to worry about. We had told
him how much we thought of you, and you did not disappoint us. Just as
we have always told you the truth, so everything we told him about you
has also proved to be true. Titus loves all of you very much,
especially when he remembers how you obeyed him and how you trembled
with fear when you welcomed him. It makes me really glad to know that
I can depend on you.
Generous Giving
My friends, we want you to know that the churches in Macedonia have
shown others how kind God is. Although they were going through hard
times and were very poor, they were glad to give generously. They
gave as much as they could afford and even more, simply because they
wanted to. They even asked and begged us to let them have the joy of
giving their money for God's people. And they did more than we had
hoped. They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, just as
God wanted them to do. Titus was the one who got you started doing
this good thing, so we begged him to have you finish what you had
begun. You do everything better than anyone else. You have stronger
faith. You speak better and know more. You are eager to give, and you
love us better. Now you must give more generously than anyone else. I
am not ordering you to do this. I am simply testing how real your love
is by comparing it with the concern that others have shown. You know
that our Lord Jesus Christ was kind enough to give up all his riches
and become poor, so that you could become rich. A year ago you were
the first ones to give, and you gave because you wanted to. So listen
to my advice. I think you should finish what you started. If you give
according to what you have, you will prove that you are as eager to
give as you were to think about giving. It doesn't matter how much
you have. What matters is how much you are willing to give from what
you have. I am not trying to make life easier for others by making
life harder for you. But it is only fair for you to share with them
when you have so much, and they have so little. Later, when they have
more than enough, and you are in need, they can share with you. Then
everyone will have a fair share, just as the Scriptures say, "Those
who gathered too much had nothing left. Those who gathered only a
little had all they needed."
God bless you.
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