Thematic Bible: In stimulating benevolent giving

Likewise, brethren, we make known unto you the grace of God bestowed on the congregations of Macedonia, how that in a great trial of tribulation the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, and even beyond their power they were willing of themselves, read more.
praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the grace and take upon us the fellowship of the ministry to the saints. 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. Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete among you the same grace also. 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. I speak not as commanding, but by occasion of the diligence of others and to prove the sincerity of your charity.

For regarding the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: For I know your ready desire, for which I gloried of you to those of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago, and your zeal has provoked many. Yet I have sent the brethren lest our glorying of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready, read more.
lest haply if those of Macedonia come with me and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed of this our confidence. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would first go unto you and prepare beforehand your blessing, of which ye had given notice before that the same might be ready as a blessing, and not as of covetousness.