2 Corinthians 8:1-15 - Generosity In Giving

¹ Moreover, brethren, we declare to you the grace of God, bestowed on the churches in Macedonia, ² That in a great trial of affliction, their overflowing joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality: ³ That to their power, I testify, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves, ⁴ Praying us with much intreaty, to receive the gift and take a part in ministring it to the saints. ⁵ And this they did, not as we hoped; but first gave themselves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God: ⁶ So that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also compleat this gift among you. ⁷ Therefore as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

⁸ I speak not by way of command, but that by the diligence of others, I may prove the sincerity of your love. ⁹ For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. ¹⁰ And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun a year ago, not only to do, but also to do it willingly. ¹¹ Now therefore compleat the work, that as there was a ready will, so there may be also a performance, in proportion to what ye have. ¹² For if there be first a ready mind, a man is accepted, according to what he hath, not according to what he hath not. ¹³ For I do not mean, that others should be eased, and you burthened; But by an equality, ¹⁴ let your abundance be at this time a supply to their want; that their abundance also may be a supply to your want, that there may be an equality, ¹⁵ As it is written, He that had gathered the most, had nothing over; and he that had gathered the least, did not lack.