Read the Bible

¹ For indeed concerning the ministry to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you.² For I know your eagerness, of which I boast to Macedonia on your behalf, that Achaia has made ready from last year, and your zeal arouses the greater number.³ But I sent the brothers that our boasting which is on your behalf should not be in vain in this respect, that as I said, you were ready;⁴ lest if Macedonians come with me and find you not ready, that we (we do not say you) should be ashamed in this assurance of boasting.⁵ Therefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brothers, that they go forward to you and arrange beforehand your promised blessing, this to be ready, thus as a blessing and not as by greediness.

⁶ And this: the one sowing sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one sowing on hope of blessings will also reap on blessings.⁷ Each one as he purposes in his heart, not out of grief or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. Prov. 22:8 ⁸ And God is able to make all grace to abound toward you, that in everything, always having all self sufficiency, you may abound to every good work;⁹ even as it has been written, "He scattered, he gave to the poor, his righteousness abides forever." Psa. 112:9 ¹⁰ Now He that supplies seed to the sower and bread for eating, may He supply and multiply your seed and increase the fruits of your righteousness,¹¹ in everything you being enriched to all sincerity, which works out thanksgiving to God through us.¹² Because the ministry of this service is not only making up the things lacking of the saints, but also multiplying through many thanksgivings to God,¹³ through the proof of this service, they glorifying God by your freely expressed submission to the gospel of Christ, and the sincerity of the fellowship toward them and toward all;¹⁴ and with their petition for you, a longing after you, because of the overflowing grace of God on you.¹⁵ But thanks be to God for His unspeakable free gift.