2Cor.8.1

Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province.

2Cor.8.1

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.

2Cor.8.1

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:

2Cor.8.1

Now I want to tell you, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done for the churches in Macedonia.

2Cor.8.2

Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts.

2Cor.8.2

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

2Cor.8.2

that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.

2Cor.8.2

Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity.

2Cor.8.3

I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could--far more than they could afford!-

2Cor.8.3

For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,

2Cor.8.3

For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,

2Cor.8.3

For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their own free will.

2Cor.8.4

pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.

2Cor.8.4

they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

2Cor.8.4

imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

2Cor.8.4

They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift for the Christians in Jerusalem.

2Cor.8.5

This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives.

2Cor.8.5

And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

2Cor.8.5

And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

2Cor.8.5

Best of all, they went beyond our highest hopes, for their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to us for whatever directions God might give them.

2Cor.8.6

That's what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up.

2Cor.8.6

So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.

2Cor.8.6

So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.

2Cor.8.6

So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to complete your share in this ministry of giving.

2Cor.8.7

You do so well in so many things--you trust God, you're articulate, you're insightful, you're passionate, you love us--now, do your best in this, too.

2Cor.8.7

But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

2Cor.8.7

But as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also.

2Cor.8.7

Since you excel in so many ways--you have so much faith, such gifted speakers, such knowledge, such enthusiasm, and such love for us--now I want you to excel also in this gracious ministry of giving.

2Cor.8.8

I'm not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians' enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you.

2Cor.8.8

I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

2Cor.8.8

I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

2Cor.8.8

I am not saying you must do it, even though the other churches are eager to do it. This is one way to prove your love is real.

2Cor.8.9

You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us--in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.

2Cor.8.9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

2Cor.8.9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

2Cor.8.9

You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus Christ was. Though he was very rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

2Cor.8.10

So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale.

2Cor.8.10

And here is my advice 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.

2Cor.8.10

And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;

2Cor.8.10

I suggest that you finish what you started a year ago, for you were the first to propose this idea, and you were the first to begin doing something about it.

2Cor.8.11

Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it.

2Cor.8.11

Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

2Cor.8.11

but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.

2Cor.8.11

Now you should carry this project through to completion just as enthusiastically as you began it. Give whatever you can according to what you have.

2Cor.8.12

Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands.

2Cor.8.12

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

2Cor.8.12

For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

2Cor.8.12

If you are really eager to give, it isn't important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don't have.

2Cor.8.13

This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way,

2Cor.8.13

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.

2Cor.8.13

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;

2Cor.8.13

Of course, I don't mean you should give so much that you suffer from having too little. I only mean that there should be some equality.

2Cor.8.14

your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even.

2Cor.8.14

At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality,

2Cor.8.14

but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack--that there may be equality.

2Cor.8.14

Right now you have plenty and can help them. Then at some other time they can share with you when you need it. In this way, everyone's needs will be met.

2Cor.8.15

As it is written, Nothing left over to the one with the most, Nothing lacking to the one with the least.

2Cor.8.15

as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

2Cor.8.15

As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

2Cor.8.15

Do you remember what the Scriptures say about this? "Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough."