2 Corinthians 8:5-19
English Standard Version
Chapter 8
5and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7But as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you — see that you excel in this act of grace also.
8I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.
9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
10And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it.
11So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.
12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness
14your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.
15As it is written, "Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack."
16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you.
17For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord.
18With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.
19And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will.