2 Corinthians 8

1Now we want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been given to the churches of Macedonia.

2In a severe test of affliction, their abundant joy and their deep poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability, of their own accord,

4begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints.

5They went beyond what we had hoped: they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, by the will of God.

6So we urged Titus that, just as he had begun it, he should also bring this act of grace to completion among you.

7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in the love from us that is 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 comparing it with the earnestness of others.

9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

10And in this matter I give my opinion: this is best for you, since last year you were the first not only to do something but also to want to do it.

11So now finish doing it, so that your eagerness to want it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.

12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

13For I do not mean that others should have relief while you are burdened,

14but that there should be fairness. At the present time your abundance will supply what they lack, so that their abundance may also supply what you lack. In this way there may be fairness,

15as it is written, “The one who gathered much had nothing left over, and the one who gathered little had no shortage.”

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 very earnest, he is going to you of his own accord.

18With him we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel.

19And not only that, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our eagerness.

20We are taking this precaution so that no one will blame us about the way we handle this generous gift.

21For we intend to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of people.

22And with them we are sending our brother, whom we have often tested in many ways and found earnest, and who is now much more earnest because of his great confidence in you.

23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.

24So show them the proof of your love and of our boasting about you, openly before the churches.