THE HANDS THAT GIVES RECEIVES MORE

THE HANDS THAT GIVES RECEIVES MORE

By Fr. Felix (African Times Guest Writer)

The reading is part of Paul’s generalised appeal

to the Roman province of Achaea, that is,

southern Greece, asking them to be generous in

their response to his collection for the

Jerusalem community.

It must be independent of the previous chapter,

read previously , since it uses the generosity of

the Macedonians to stir up the Achaeans, just

as the previous letter used the generosity of the

other Churches to encourage the Churches of

Macedonia.

Paul writes warmly of the joy of giving

cheerfully, and of the thanksgiving to God which

overflows from such giving. It is, however, also

clear from slight hints that he was worried

about the outcome (Romans 15.31b), and that

there were some who were not happy with the

way the collection was made (2 Corinthians

12.17-18).

Nevertheless, he carries on with this service

from the gentile Churches to the mother-Church

in Jerusalem.

So important did he see it to be that the

Churches should remain united and should

serve one another in the hour of need – a

message which the modern Church needs to re-

learn.