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Generosity Commended
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
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.
For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving.
Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
Christ's Example
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it.
And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have.
Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.
For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.
But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
Titus and His Companions
But thank God! He has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have.
Titus Commended
But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
Titus welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was very eager to go and see you.
For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
We are also sending another brother with Titus. All the churches praise him as a preacher of the Good News.
And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
We are traveling together to guard against any criticism for the way we are handling this generous gift.
Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.
Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
We are also sending with them another of our brothers who has proven himself many times and has shown on many occasions how eager he is. He is now even more enthusiastic because of his great confidence in you.
And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.