Generosity and Grace

1Now brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2that in a great testing by affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the richness of their [†]generosity. 3For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, 4begging us with much urging for the grace [†]of sharing in the ministry to the saints, 5and this, not as we had [†]expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 6So we encouraged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.

7But just as you abound in everything, in faith and word and knowledge and in all earnestness and in [†]the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. 8I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though being rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 10And I give my opinion in this matter, for this is profitable for you, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. 11But now complete [†]doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it from what you have. 12For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13For this is not for the relief of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality— 14at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality. 15As it is written, “HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK.”

16But [†]thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. 17For he not only accepted our plea, but being himself very earnest, he has gone out to you of his own accord. 18And we have sent along with him the brother whose praise in the things of the gospel is throughout all the churches. 19And not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work that is being ministered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness, 20[†]taking precaution lest anyone discredits us in our ministering of this generous gift, 21for we respect what is good, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found earnest in many things, but now even 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 [†]messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. 24Therefore [†]openly before the churches, [†]show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.