2 Corinthians 8

8 ¹ Now we want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of our Father that has been given among the churches of Macedonia. ² Though severely tested by affliction, their overflowing joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity. ³ For I testify that they gave according to their means, and beyond their means, entirely on their own, ⁴ begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in this ministry to the holy ones. ⁵ And this was not what we had expected — they first gave themselves to the Lord, then to us, by the will of our Father. ⁶ So we urged Titus that, since he had already made a start, he would also complete this generous offering among you. ⁷ But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in the love we have for you—see that you also excel in this generous offering. ⁸ I say this not as a command, but to prove the genuineness of your love by 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 in this matter I give my judgment: it benefits you who began a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. ¹¹ So now finish doing it as well, so that your eagerness to desire it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. ¹² For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. ¹³ For I do not mean that others should be relieved while you are burdened, but that there should be fairness. ¹⁴ At the present time your abundance should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, and so there may be fairness. ¹⁵ As it is written: "The one who gathered much had nothing left over, and the one who gathered little had no lack."

Titus Sent With Earnest Care

¹⁶ But thanks be to our Father, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. ¹⁷ For he not only welcomed our appeal, but, being very earnest, he is going to you of his own accord. ¹⁸ With him we are sending the brother who is praised among all the churches for his work in the gospel. ¹⁹ And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this generous offering, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our eagerness. ²⁰ We are taking this care so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that we are administering, ²¹ for we aim at what is honorable not only before the Lord but also before people. ²² And we are sending with them our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now even more earnest because of his great confidence in you. ²³ As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you; and as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. ²⁴ So show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you, before the churches.