2 Corinthians 8:1-15 - Generosity In Giving

¹ Likewise, brethren, we make known unto you the grace of God bestowed on the congregations of Macedonia, ² how that in a great trial of tribulation the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. ³ For to their power, I bear record, and even beyond their power they were willing of themselves, ⁴ praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the grace and take upon us the fellowship of the ministry to the saints. ⁵ And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord and then unto us by the will of God. ⁶ Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete among you the same grace also. ⁷ Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all diligence and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

⁸ I speak not as commanding, but by occasion of the diligence of others and to prove the sincerity of your charity. ⁹ For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be enriched. ¹⁰ And in this I give my advice, for this is expedient for you, who began not only to do, but also to be diligent a year ago. ¹¹ Now therefore finish the doing of it that as there was a readiness to will, so there may also be a performance out of that which ye have. ¹² For if there is first a willing desire, it is accepted according to what a person has and not according to what they do not have. ¹³ For I mean not that others be eased and ye burdened, ¹⁴ but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want that their abundance also may be a supply for your want, that there may be equality: ¹⁵ As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over, and he that had gathered little had no lack.