2 Corinthians 9
9
1Now about this service to the kedoshim, it is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you—
2for I know your eagerness. I boast about it to the Macedonians, that Achaia has been preparing for a year already; and your zeal has stirred up most of them.
3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you may not be in vain in this case, so that you may be prepared, just as I kept saying.
4Otherwise, if any Macedonians were to come and find you unprepared, we—not to mention you—would be put to shame in this undertaking.
5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on to you and arrange ahead of time your generous gift that had been promised beforehand, so that it would be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.
Sowing and Reaping Generosity
6The point is this: whoever sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully.
7Let each one give as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion—for God loves a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that by always having enough of everything, you may overflow in every good work.
9As it is written, “He scattered widely, He gave to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
10Now the One who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
11You will be enriched in everything for all generosity, which through us brings about thanksgiving to God.
12For this service of giving is not only supplying the needs of the kedoshim, but is also overflowing with many thanksgivings to God.
13Because of the evidence of this service, they praise God for the obedience of your affirmation of the Good News of Messiah and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to everyone.
14And in their prayer for you, they long for you because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
2 Corinthians 9
9
1I don’t need to write to you about giving to the Lord’s people. 2I know how much you want to help. I have been bragging about it to the people in Macedonia. I have been telling them that since last year you who live in Achaia were ready to give. You are so excited that it has stirred up most of them to take action. 3But I am sending the brothers. Then our bragging about you in this matter will have a good reason. You will be ready, just as I said you would be. 4Suppose people from Macedonia come with me and find out that you are not prepared. Then we, as well as you, would be ashamed of being so certain. 5So I thought I should try to get the brothers to visit you ahead of time. They will finish the plans for the large gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a gift freely given. It will not be given by force.
Paul’s Advice to Give Freely
6Here is something to remember. The one who plants only a little will gather only a little. And the one who plants a lot will gather a lot. 7Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. You shouldn’t give if you don’t want to. You shouldn’t give because you are forced to. God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to shower all kinds of blessings on you. So in all things and at all times you will have everything you need. You will do more and more good works. 9It is written,
“They have spread their gifts around to poor people.
Their good works continue forever.” (Psalm 112:9)
10God supplies seed for the person who plants. He supplies bread for food. God will also supply and increase the amount of your seed. He will increase the results of your good works. 11You will be made rich in every way. Then you can always give freely. We will take your many gifts to the people who need them. And they will give thanks to God.
12Your gifts meet the needs of the Lord’s people. And that’s not all. Your gifts also cause many people to thank God. 13You have shown yourselves to be worthy by what you have given. So other people will praise God because you obey him. That proves that you really believe the good news about Christ. They will also praise God because you share freely with them and with everyone else. 14Their hearts will be filled with love for you when they pray for you. God has given you grace that is better than anything. 15Let us give thanks to God for his gift. It is so great that no one can tell how wonderful it really is!
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