2 Corinthians 9

The Reason to Give to the Christians in Jerusalem

1 I don’t need to write anything further to you about helping the Christians in Jerusalem.2 I know how willing you are to help, and I brag about you to the believers in the province of Macedonia. I tell them, “The people of Greece have been ready to send their collection since last year,” and your enthusiasm has moved most of them to act.3 I’ve sent my coworkers so that when we brag that you’re ready, we can back it up.4 Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me, they might find out that you’re not ready after all. This would embarrass us for feeling so confident as much as it would embarrass you.

5 So I thought that I should encourage our coworkers to visit you before I do and make arrangements for this gift that you had already promised to give. Then it will be the blessing it was intended to be, and it won’t be something you’re forced to do.
6 Remember this: The farmer who plants a few seeds will have a very small harvest. But the farmer who plants because he has received God’s blessings will receive a harvest of God’s blessings in return.7 Each of you should give whatever you have decided. You shouldn’t be sorry that you gave or feel forced to give, since God loves a cheerful giver.8 Besides, God will give you his constantly overflowing kindness.t Then, when you always have everything you need, you can do more and more good things.

9 Scripture says,
“The righteous person gives freely to the poor.His righteousness continues forever.”10 God gives seed to the farmer and food to those who need to eat. God will also give you seed and multiply it. In your lives he will increase the things you do that have his approval.11 God will make you rich enough so that you can always be generous. Your generosity will produce thanksgiving to God because of us.12 What you do to serve others not only provides for the needs of God’s people, but also produces more and more prayers of thanksgiving to God.13 You will honor God through this genuine act of service because of your commitment to spread the Good News of Christ and because of your generosity in sharing with them and everyone else.14 With deep affection they will pray for you because of the extreme kindness that God has shown you.

15 I thank God for his gift that words cannot describe.

2 Corinthians 9

Preparing the Gift

1 For it is not necessaryt for me to write you about this servicet to the saints,2 because I know your eagerness to help.t I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours,t that Achaia has been ready to givet since last year, and your zeal to participatet has stirred up most of them.s3 But I am sendingt these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be readyt just as I kept telling them.4 For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliatedt (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you.t5 Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contributiont you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous giftt and not as something you feel forced to do.t6 My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generouslyt will also reap generously.7 Each one of you should givet just as he has decided in his heart,t not reluctantlyt or under compulsion,t because God loves a cheerful giver.8 And God is able to make all grace overflowt to you so that because you have enought of everything in every way at all times, you will overflowt in every good work.9 Just as it is written, “Heshas scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.”s10 Now Godt who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow.11 You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion,t which is producing through us thanksgiving to God,12 because the service of this ministry is not only providing fort the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God.13 Through the evidencet of this servicet they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharingt with them and with everyone.14 And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you.t

15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!t