06/10/2024
2 Corinthians: Blessed to Bless
A few weeks after he wrote his fundraising letter to the Corinthian church, Paul wrote them a follow-up letter (hand- carried by another messenger) while Titus and his two companions (carrying the first letter) were already on their way to Corinth to collect the generous gift from the church that was intended to help the poor Jewish Christians in Palestine and Syria.
Why did Paul write and send another fundraising letter to Corinth? Nakuwangan dagway sija sa ijang unang gisuwat, sano. He had something more in mind to say to the Corinthian church. Did he have a change of heart? Did he think the Corinthians might not welcome Titus and his companions?
Paul intended to make a trip to Corinth with some Macedonian Christians. He wanted to make sure that when he himself went to Corinth everything was in order-- the promised gift from the church was already in the bag (so to speak) ready for pick-up to bring to Jerusalem.
Paul wanted to show to his Macedonian guests that the contribution of the Corinthian Christians to his fundraising ministry was not demanded and obtained by force (sapilitan) but was really a gift from their hearts (kusang-loob). Puring-puri pa naman nya sila. Ayaw nyang mapahiya sa harap ng mga Macedonians. Magmumukha syang sinungaling kung di maayos ang pagkolekta ng perang laan para sa ayuda.
Paul laid out in writing a common-sense principle of giving, couched in agricultural (planting) language. He spelled out to the Corinthians what they already probably knew: "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." Kapag may itinanim, may aanihin, ika nga. To harvest more, plant more.
To Paul, this principle of giving must be done with all one's heart to be meaningful and beneficial. He wrote: "Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." God loves those who give with a smile. Mahal ng Diyos ang taong masayang nagbibigay.
In practical terms, how would God show His love to cheerful givers? Paul assured the Corinthians that God could give them more blessings than they needed, and they would always have plenty of everything. And because they would always have everything in excess, they would have enough to give to charitable ministries (pagkakawanggawa), like his fundraising project.
Paul was open and honest to the Corinthians. He had to, given his strained relationship with them in the recent past. He could not afford to write them empty rhetoric. He was not pulling their legs. For Scriptures would attest to his claim. He quoted David who said in one of his psalms, "They were unselfish and gave to the poor. The good thing they did will last forever."
So, if any one in Corinth should think that he would become poor by giving to the indigent brothers and sisters in Jerusalem, he was mistaken. Because he could never outgive God. Referring to God, Paul said, "The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness." If there was any motivation to give to his fundraising ministry, this was it.
Paul promised the Corinthians that by participating in his fundraising ministry, God would make them rich in every way so that they could always give freely.
"You are being enriched in every way for all generosity," he said. They would be blessed to become a blessing.
No Christian has become poor for being generous. When a Christian opens his hands to give, God puts in his open hands blessings in return that would be more than he needs. God always blesses a generous giver, never the selfish hoarder.
Lord God, You have blessed us abundantly more than we will ever know or acknowledge. Make us a blessing to someone who needs Your blessing today. Amen.
