Wasaidieni Wakristo Wenzenu
19:1 1The 4:9; Mdo 24; 17; 9:13Hakuna haja yangu kuwaandikia kuhusu huduma hii itolewayo kwa ajili ya watakatifu. 29:2 2Kor 8:11-19; 7:4, 14; 8:10, 24; Mdo 18:12Kwa kuwa ninajua mlivyo na shauku ya kusaidia, nami nimekuwa nikijivuna kwa ajili ya jambo hilo kwa watu wa Makedonia, nikiwaambia kuwa ninyi wa Akaya mmekuwa tayari kutoa tangu mwaka jana na shauku yenu imewachochea wengi wao katika kutoa. 39:3 2Kor 8:23; 1Kor 16:2Lakini sasa nawatuma hawa ndugu ili kujivuna kwetu kuhusu mchango wenu kusiwe maneno matupu, bali mpate kuwa tayari kama nilivyosema mngekuwa tayari. 49:4 Rum 15:26Kwa maana kama nikija na Mmakedonia yeyote na kuwakuta hamjawa tayari, tutaona aibu kusema chochote juu yenu katika matoleo. 59:5 Flp 4:17; 2Kor 12:17-18Kwa hivyo niliona ni muhimu niwahimize hawa ndugu watangulie kuja huko kwenu kabla yangu, wafanye mipango ya hayo matoleo ya ukarimu mliyokuwa mmeahidi, ili yawe tayari kama matoleo ya hiari wala si kama ya kutozwa kwa nguvu.
Kupanda Kwa Ukarimu
69:6 Mit 11:24-25; 22:9; Gal 6:7-9Kumbukeni kwamba: Yeyote apandaye kwa uchache pia atavuna kwa uchache, naye apandaye kwa ukarimu pia atavuna kwa ukarimu. 79:7 Kut 25:2; 2Kor 8:12; Kum 15:10; Rum 12:8Kila mtu atoe kama anavyokusudia moyoni mwake, si kwa uchoyo au kwa kulazimishwa, kwa maana Mungu humpenda yeye atoaye kwa moyo mkunjufu. 89:8 Efe 3:20; Flp 4:19Naye Mungu aweza kuwapa kila baraka kwa wingi, ili katika mambo yote kila wakati, mwe na kila kitu mnachohitaji, ili mweze kushiriki kwa wingi katika kila kazi njema. 99:9 Mal 3:10; Za 112:9Kama ilivyoandikwa:
“Ametawanya vipawa vyake kwa ukarimu
akawapa maskini;
haki yake hudumu milele.”
109:10 Isa 55:10; Hos 10:12Yeye ampaye mpanzi mbegu kwa ajili ya kupanda na mkate kuwa chakula, atawapa na kuzizidisha mbegu zenu za kupanda na kuongeza mavuno ya haki yenu. 119:11 1Kor 1:5; 2Kor 1:11; 4:15Mtatajirishwa kwa kila namna ili mpate kuwa wakarimu kila wakati, na kupitia kwetu, ukarimu wenu utamletea Mungu shukrani.
129:12 2Kor 8:12; 1:11Huduma hii mnayofanya si tu kwa ajili ya kukidhi mahitaji ya watakatifu, bali huzidi sana kwa shukrani nyingi apewazo Mungu. 13Kwa sababu ya huduma ambayo mmejithibitisha wenyewe, watu watamtukuza Mungu kwa ajili ya utiifu ufuatanao na ukiri wenu wa Injili ya Kristo, na kwa ukarimu wenu wa kushiriki pamoja nao na pia wengine wote. 149:14 2Kor 8:1Nao katika maombi yao kwenu mioyo yao itawaonea shauku kwa sababu ya neema ipitayo kiasi mliyopewa na Mungu. 159:15 2Kor 2:14; Rum 5:15-16Ashukuriwe Mungu kwa karama yake isiyoelezeka.
1There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. 2For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
Generosity Encouraged
6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”9:9 Psalm 112:9
10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
