2 Corinthians 8:1-24
“And
now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about THE GRACE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN the
Macedonian churches.
2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and
their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and
even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,
4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in
this service to THE
LORD’s people.
5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of
all to THE LORD,
and then by the will of GOD
also to us.
6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a
beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.
7 But since you excel in everything—in FAITH, in speech, in knowledge, in
complete earnestness and in the LOVE we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this
grace of giving.
8 I am not commanding you, but
I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness
of others.
9 For you know THE GRACE of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, that
though HE WAS RICH, YET
FOR YOUR SAKE HE BECAME POOR, so that you through his poverty
might become rich.
10 And here is my judgment about
what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to
give but also to have the desire to do so.
11 Now finish the work, so that your
eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it,
according to your means.
12 For if the willingness is there,
the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what
one does not have.
13 Our desire is not that others
might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
14 At the present time your plenty
will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what
you need. The goal is equality,
15 as it is written: “The one who
gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not
have too little.”
16 Thanks be to GOD, who put
into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.
17 For Titus not only welcomed our
appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.
18 And we are sending along with him
the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to THE GOSPEL.
19 What is more, he was chosen by the
churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in
order to honor THE LORD
HIMSELF and to show our eagerness to help.
20 We want to avoid any criticism of
the way we administer this liberal gift.
21 For we are taking pains to do what
is right, not only in the eyes of THE LORD but also in the eyes of man.
22 In addition, we are sending with
them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous,
and now even more so because of his great confidence in you.
23 As for Titus, he is my
partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are
representatives of the churches and an honor to CHRIST.
24 Therefore show these men the proof
of YOUR LOVE
and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.”
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