7. You are rich in everything—in faith, in speaking ability, in knowledge, in the willingness to help, and in the love you learned from us. So now we want you to be rich in this work of giving too.
8. I am not ordering you to give, but I want to see how real your love is by comparing you with others who have been so ready and willing to help.
9. You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that he gave up his heavenly riches for you. He gave up everything so that you could be richly blessed.
10. This is what I think you should do: Last year you were the first to want to give, and you were the first who gave.
11. So now finish the work you started. Then your “doing” will be equal to your “wanting to do.” Give from what you have.
12. If you want to give, your gift will be accepted. Your gift will be judged by what you have, not by what you don’t have.
13. We don’t want you to have troubles while others are comforted. We want everything to be equal.