Giving Freely to Others

8 Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given to the churches in Macedonia. 2They have suffered a great deal. But their joy was more than full. Even though they were very poor, they gave very freely.

3I give witness that they gave as much as they could. In fact, they gave even more than they could. Completely on their own, 4they begged us for the chance to share in serving God’s people in that way. 5They did more than we expected. First they gave themselves to the Lord. Then they gave themselves to us in keeping with what God wanted.

6Titus had already started collecting money from you. So we asked him to get you to finish making your kind gift.

7You do well in everything else. You do well in faith and in speaking. You do well in knowledge and in complete commitment. And you do well in your love for us. So make sure that you also do well in the grace of giving to others.

8I am not commanding you to do it. But I want to put you to the test. I want to find out if you really love God. I want to compare your love with that of others.

9You know the grace shown by our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though he was rich, he became poor to help you. Because he became poor, you can become rich.

10Here is my advice about what is best for you in that matter. Last year you were the first to give. You were also the first to want to give. 11So finish the work. Then your longing to do it will be matched by your finishing it. Give on the basis of what you have.

12Do you really want to give? Then the gift is received in keeping with what you have, not with what you don’t have.

13We don’t want others to have it easy at your expense. We want things to be equal. 14Right now you have plenty in order to take care of what they need. Then they will have plenty to take care of what you need. That will make things equal. 15It is written, “Those who gathered a lot didn’t have too much. And those who gathered a little had enough.” (Exodus 16:18)

Paul Sends Titus to Corinth

16God put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. I am thankful to God for this. 17Titus welcomed our appeal. He is also excited about coming to you. It was his own idea.

18Along with Titus, we are sending another brother. All the churches praise him for his service in telling the good news. 19He was also chosen by the churches to go with us as we bring the offering. We are in charge of it. We want to honor the Lord himself. We want to show how ready we are to help.

20We want to keep anyone from blaming us for how we take care of that large gift. 21We are trying hard to do what is right in the Lord’s eyes and in the eyes of people.

22We are also sending another one of our brothers with them. He has often proved to us in many ways that he is very committed. He is now even more committed because he has great faith in you.

23Titus is my helper. He and I work together among you. Our brothers are messengers from the churches. They honor Christ. 24So show them that you really love them. Show them why we are proud of you. Then the churches can see it.

9 I don’t need to write to you about giving to God’s people. 2I know how much you want to help. I have been bragging about it to the people in Macedonia. I have been telling them that since last year you who live in Achaia were ready to give. You are so excited that it has stirred up most of them to take action.

3But I am sending the brothers. Then our bragging about you in this matter will have a good reason. You will be ready, just as I said you would be.

4Suppose people from Macedonia come with me and find out that you are not prepared. Then we, as well as you, would be ashamed of being so certain.

5So I thought I should try to get the brothers to visit you ahead of time. They will finish the plans for the large gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a gift that is freely given. It will not be given by force.

Planting Many Seeds

6Here is something to remember. The one who plants only a little will gather only a little. And the one who plants a lot will gather a lot. 7You should each give what you have decided in your heart to give. You shouldn’t give if you don’t want to. You shouldn’t give because you are forced to. God loves a cheerful giver.

8And God is able to shower all kinds of blessings on you. In all things and at all times you will have everything you need. You will do more and more good works. 9It is written,

“They have spread their gifts around to poor people.

Their good works continue forever.” (Psalm 112:9)

10God supplies seed to the planter. He supplies bread for food. God will also supply and increase the amount of your seed. He will increase the results of your good works. 11You will be made rich in every way. Then you can always give freely. We will take your many gifts to the people who need them. And they will give thanks to God.

12Your gifts meet the needs of God’s people. And that’s not all. Your gifts also cause many people to thank God.

13You have shown yourselves to be worthy by what you have given. So people will praise God because you obey him. That proves that you really believe the good news about Christ. They will also praise God because you share freely with them and with everyone else. 14Their hearts will be filled with longing for you when they pray for you. God has given you grace that is better than anything.

15Let us give thanks to God for his gift. It is so great that no one can tell how wonderful it really is!