2 Corinthians 8:5-15

5and this, not as we had 1expected, but they first 2gave themselves to the Lord and to us by 3the will of God. 6So we 4urged 5Titus that as he had previously 6made a beginning, so he would also complete in you 7this gracious work as well.

7But just as you 8excel 9in everything, in faith, speaking, knowledge, and in all earnestness and in the 10love we inspired in you, see that you also 11excel in this gracious work. 8I 12am not saying this as a command, but as proving, through the earnestness of others, the sincerity of your love as well. 9For you know 13the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that 14though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 10I 15give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin 16a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. 11But now finish 17doing it also, so that just as there was the 18willingness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. 12For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable 19according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13For this is not for the relief of others and for your hardship, but by way of equality-- 14at this present time your abundance will serve as assistance for 20their need, so that their abundance also may 21serve as assistance for 22your need, so that there may be equality; 15as it is written: “23The one who had gathered much did not have too much, and the one who had gathered little did not have too little.”