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God Gives Most

¹ Now ^(C1)it is unnecessary for me to write to you about the ^(C2)offering that is to be made for the saints in Jerusalem;² for I know your eagerness to promote this cause, and I have proudly ^(C1)boasted to the ^(C2)people of Macedonia about it, telling them that ^(F1)(C3)Achaia has been prepared since ^(C4)last year for this contribution, and your enthusiasm has inspired the majority of them to respond.³ Still, I am sending the brothers on to you, so that our ^(C1)pride in you may not be an empty boast in this case, and so that you may be prepared, just ^(C2)as I told them you would be;⁴ otherwise, if any ^(C1)Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of yourselves—will be humiliated for being so confident.⁵ That is why I thought it necessary to urge these ^(C1)brothers to go to you before I come and make arrangements in advance for this ^(C2)generous, previously promised gift of yours, so that it would be ready, not as ^(C3)something extorted or wrung out of you, but as a voluntary and ^(C4)generous gift.

⁶ Now remember this: ^(C1)he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows ^(F1)generously that blessings may come to others will also reap ^(F1)generously and be blessed.⁷ Let each one give thoughtfully and with purpose just as he has decided in his heart, not ^(C1)grudgingly or under compulsion, for ^(C2)God loves a cheerful giver and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift. ^(VR1)8 And ^(C1)God is able to make all grace every favor and earthly blessing come in abundance to you, so that you may always under all circumstances, regardless of the need have complete sufficiency in everything being completely self-sufficient in Him, and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.⁹ As it is written and forever remains written,

"^(C1)HE the benevolent and generous person SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR,
HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER!" ^(VR1)