2 Corinthians 8:1-15 - Generosity In Giving

¹ NOW we inform you, brethren, of the grace of God which hath been bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; ² that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, hath more abounded to the riches of their liberality. ³ For unto their power, I bear them witness, and above their power, they were voluntarily ready [to give]: ⁴ with much entreaty praying us that we would receive the gift, and [undertake] the communication of the contribution for the saints. ⁵ And not [merely] as we hoped, but gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us according to the will of God. ⁶ So that we exhorted Titus, that as he had been active before, so also he would perfect in you this grace also. ⁷ So as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and elocution, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

⁸ I speak not by commandment, but because of the forwardness of others, and to prove the genuineness of your love. ⁹ For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor though he was rich, that ye by his poverty should be made rich. ¹⁰ And in this I give my opinion: for this is expedient for you, who have before begun not only to do, but also to be willing a year ago. ¹¹ Now then accomplish also the doing it, that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be also to perform out of that which ye have. ¹² For if there is first a ready mind, a man is acceptable according to what he hath, and not according to what he hath not. ¹³ For I mean not that there should be ease for others and a burden on you; ¹⁴ but that according to equality, your abundance on the present occasion should afford a supply for their deficiency, that their abundance also may supply your deficiency, that there may be equality. ¹⁵ According as it is written, "He that [gathered] much had no more than others, and he who [gathered] little, had no less."