2 Corinthians 8
1Now we want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the act of grace God has given among the churches of Macedonia. 2Even under a severe ordeal of affliction, the overflow of their joy and their deep, down-to-the-bottom poverty overflowed into the wealth of their sincere generosity. 3I testify that they gave according to their ability—and even beyond their ability. Entirely of their own accord, 4they begged us with much pleading for the favor of participating in this service to the holy ones. 5And this was not merely as we had hoped; rather, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us through the will of God. 6This led us to urge Titus that, just as he had started this work before, he should also complete this act of grace among you.
7But just as you excel in everything—in trust, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in the love we have sparked in you—see that you also excel in this act of grace. 8I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the earnestness of others. 9For you know the generosity of our Lord Jesus Christ: that for your sake he became poor, though he was wealthy, so that through his poverty you might become wealthy.
10I am giving my opinion on this matter because it is to your advantage—you who began a year ago not only the doing but also the desiring. 11Now, finish the doing as well, so that your readiness to desire it may be matched by the completion of it, based on what you have. 12For if the readiness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. 13This is not so that others may have relief while you have hardship, but as a matter of equity. 14At the present time, your abundance meets their need, so that their abundance may also meet your need, so that there may be equity. 15As it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
16But thanks be to God, who put the same earnestness for you into the heart of Titus. 17For he not only welcomed our appeal, but being even more earnest, he is going out to you of his own accord. 18And we have sent with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is known through all the churches. 19Not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to be our traveling companion in this act of grace which we are administering for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness. 20We are taking this precaution so that no one will find fault with us regarding this bountiful gift we are administering. 21For we take thought for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of people.
22We have also sent with them our brother whom we have often tested and found to be earnest in many things, but who is now much more earnest because of his great confidence in you. 23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are envoys of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24Therefore, show them the proof of your love and of our boasting about you, in the presence of the churches.