1 Mēs jums, brāļi, aizrādām uz Dieva žēlastību, kas ir izpaudusies Maķedonijas draudzēs, 2 jo tur, lai gan bēdu smagi pārbaudīti un paši dzīvodami lielā nabadzībā, viņu prieks izpaudies lielā sirsnībā; 3 tie ir labprātīgi ziedojuši pēc savām spējām, pat pāri spējām, to es apliecinu; 4 ar lielu sirsnību tie piedāvāja savu kalpošanu svētajiem mīlestībā 5 un ziedoja vairāk, kā cerējām, - sevi papriekš Dievam un pēc Dieva prāta arī mums. 6 Tad mēs lūdzām Titu, lai viņš, kā jau iesācis mūsu vidū šo ziedojumu lietu, novestu to līdz galam. 7 Bet, tā kā jūs esat sekmēm bagāti visās lietās: ticībā, vārdā, atziņā, visādos centienos un savā mīlestībā uz mums, tad esiet bagāti arī šinī labdarības lietā. 8 To es nesaku pavēlēdams, bet ar centību, kas redzama pie citiem, gribēdams pārbaudīt jūsu mīlestību, vai tā ir īsta. 9 Jo jūs zināt mūsu Kunga Jēzus Kristus žēlastību, ka Viņš, bagāts būdams, ir tapis nabags jūsu dēļ, lai Viņa nabadzība kļūtu jums par bagātību. 10 Un šinī lietā mans padoms ir tāds: tas jums ir par labu, ka jūs pērn lietu iesākuši ne vien ar darbu, bet arī ar labo gribu, 11 tagad pabeidziet iesākto darbu, lai labajai gribai seko arī izpildīšana pēc iespējas. 12 Jo, kur ir laba griba, tā ir apsveicama ar to, cik tā spēj, vairāk nevar sagaidīt, 13 jo nevar prasīt, lai citu atvieglošana jūs novestu grūtībās; bet lai notiktu izlīdzināšana: 14 jūsu pārpalikums tagad lai nāk par labu viņu trūkumam, un arī viņu pārpalikums lai nāktu jums par labu, lai tā notiktu izlīdzināšana, kā ir rakstīts: 15 kam bija daudz, netapa bagāts; kam bija maz, netapa nabags. - 16 Bet paldies Dievam, kas Titam devis sirdī tādu pašu rūpību par jums. 17 Viņš sekoja manam aicinājumam un, būdams uzcītīgs, pats labprātīgi nogāja pie jums. 18 Mēs esam viņam līdzi nosūtījuši brāli, kam visās draudzēs ir laba slava evaņģēlija lietā; 19 un ne tādēļ vien, bet viņš ir mūsu draudžu izraudzītais pavadonis šinī mīlestības darbā, ko mēs strādājam, lai paustu Tā Kunga godu un savu labo gribu. 20 Tā mēs nodrošināmies, ka neviens mums neceltu neslavu bagāto dāvanu dēļ, ko esam savākuši. 21 Jo mēs dzenamies pēc tā, kas labs, ne tik vien Tā Kunga, bet arī cilvēku priekšā. 22 Tiem līdzi mēs nosūtījām mūsu brāli, par kura centību vairākkārt dažādos gadījumos esam pārliecinājušies. Tagad viņa centība ir vēl lielāka pilnīgā paļāvībā uz jums. 23 Kas attiecas uz Titu, tad viņš ir mans biedrs un līdzstrādnieks jūsu vidū; kas attiecas uz mūsu brāļiem, tie ir draudžu sūtņi Kristum par godu. 24 Tad nu parādiet viņiem savu mīlestību un attaisnojiet mūsu labo atsauksmi par jums viņu un draudžu priekšā.
Generous Giving
1 My friends, we want you to know that the churches in Macedonia have shown others God's gift of undeserved grace. 2 Although they were going through hard times and were very poor, they were glad to give generously. 3 They gave as much as they could afford and even more, simply because they wanted to. 4 They even asked and begged us to let them have the joy of giving their money for God's people. 5 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.
6 Titus was the one who got you started doing this good thing, so we begged him to help you finish what you had begun. 7 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.
8 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. 9 You know our Lord Jesus Christ treated us with undeserved grace by giving up all his riches, so you could become rich.
10 A year ago you were the first ones to give, and you gave because you wanted to. So listen to my advice. 11 I think you should finish what you started. If you give according to what you have, you will prove you are as eager to give as you were to think about giving. 12 It doesn't matter how much you have. What matters is how much you are willing to give from what you have.
13 I am not trying to make life easier for others by making life harder for you. But it is only fair 14 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, 15 just as the Scriptures say,
“Those who gathered
too much
had nothing left.
Those who gathered
only a little
had all they needed.”
Titus and His Friends
16 I am grateful that God made Titus care as much about you as we do. 17 When we begged Titus to visit you, he said he would. He wanted to because he cared so much for you. 18 With Titus we are also sending one of the Lord's followers who is well known in every church for spreading the good news. 19 The churches chose this follower to travel with us while we carry this gift that will bring praise to the Lord and show how much we hope to help. 20 We don't want anyone to find fault with the way we handle your generous gift. 21 But we want to do what pleases the Lord and what people think is right.
22 We are also sending someone else with Titus and the other follower. We approve of this man. In fact, he has already shown us many times that he wants to help. And now he wants to help even more than ever, because he trusts you so much. 23 Titus is my partner, who works with me to serve you. The other two followers are sent by the churches, and they bring honor to Christ. 24 Treat them in such a way that the churches will see your love and will know why we bragged about you.
