2 Corinthians 8:1-15 - Generosity In Giving

¹ We would remind you, Brothers, of the love that God has shown to the Churches in Macedonia-- ² How, tired though they were by many a trouble, their overflowing happiness, and even their deep poverty, resulted in a flood of generosity. ³ I can bear witness that to the full extent of their power, and even beyond their power, spontaneously, ⁴ And with many an appeal to us for permission, they showed their love, and contributed their share towards the fund for their fellow-Christians. ⁵ And that, not only in the way we had expected; but first they gave themselves to the Lord, and to us also, in accordance with God's will. ⁶ And this led us to urge upon Titus that, as he had started the work for you, he should also see to the completion of this expression of your love. ⁷ And, remembering how you excel in everything--in faith, in teaching, in knowledge, in unfailing earnestness, and in the affection that we have awakened in you--I ask you to excel also in this expression of your love.

⁸ I am not laying a command upon you, but I am making use of the earnestness shown by others to test the genuineness of your affection. ⁹ For you do not forget the loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ--how that for your sakes, although he was rich, he became poor, so that you also might become rich through his poverty. ¹⁰ I am only making suggestions on this matter; for this is the best course for you, since you were a year before others, not only in taking action, but also in showing your readiness to do so. ¹¹ And now I want you to complete the work, so that its completion may correspond with your willing readiness--in proportion, of course, to your means. ¹² For, where there is willingness, a man's gift is valued by its comparison with what he has, and not with what he has not. ¹³ For our object is not to give relief to others and bring distress on you, but, by equalizing matters, to secure that, ¹⁴ On the present occasion, what you can spare may supply their need, so that at another time what they can spare may supply your need, and thus matters may be equalized. ¹⁵ As Scripture says--'The man who had much had nothing over, and the man who had little did not lack!'