2. They have been tested by great troubles, and they are very poor. But they gave much because of their great joy.
3. I can tell you that they gave as much as they were able and even more than they could afford. No one told them to do it.
4. But they begged and pleaded with us to let them share in this service for God’s people.
5. And they gave in a way we did not expect: They first gave themselves to the Lord and to us. This is what God wants.
6. So we asked Titus to help you finish this special work of grace since he is the one who started it.
7. You are rich in everything—in faith, in speaking, in knowledge, in truly wanting to help, and in the love you learned from us. In the same way, be strong also in the grace of giving.
8. I am not commanding you to give. But I want to see if your love is true by comparing you with others that really want to help.
9. You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that Christ was rich, but for you he became poor so that by his becoming poor you might become rich.