2 Corinthians 8:1-15 - Generosity In Giving

¹ And, brothers, we declare to you the grace of God that has been given in the congregations of Macedonia, ² that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy, even from the depth of their poverty, abounded for the wealth of their generosity, ³ so that according to their ability, I testify, and beyond their ability, willingly, ⁴ with much exhortation, begging of us the favor, even the fellowship of service for the sanctified. ⁵ And it was not as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us through the will of God, ⁶ for us to urge Titus that, as he earlier began this kindness, so he would even finish it for you also. ⁷ But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, be that ye may also abound in this kindness.

⁸ I speak not from commandment, but because of the zeal of others, also examining the genuineness of your love. ⁹ For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich he became poor for your sakes, so that by that man's poverty ye might become rich. ¹⁰ And in this I give judgment, for this is expedient for you who earlier began, from a year ago, not only the doing but also the intending. ¹¹ And now also finish the doing, so that just as was the willingness of the intending, so also to finish from the having. ¹² For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable to the extent if some man has, not to the extent he does not have. ¹³ For it is not, so that ease is for others and stress for you, but out of parity your abundance at the present time is for the need of those men. ¹⁴ So that the abundance of those men may also happen for your need, so that there may become equity, ¹⁵ as it is written, he of much did not abound, and he of little did not lack.