4. they begged us for the chance to share in serving God's people in that way.
5. They did more than we expected. First they gave themselves to the Lord. Then they gave themselves to us in keeping with what God wanted.
6. Titus had already started collecting money from you. So we asked him to get you to finish making your kind gift.
7. You do well in everything else. You do well in faith and in speaking. You do well in knowledge and in complete commitment. And you do well in your love for us. So make sure that you also do well in the grace of giving to others.
8. I am not commanding you to do it. But I want to put you to the test. I want to find out if you really love God. I want to compare your love with that of others.
9. You know the grace shown by our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though he was rich, he became poor to help you. Because he became poor, you can become rich.
10. Here is my advice about what is best for you in that matter. Last year you were the first to give. You were also the first to want to give.
11. So finish the work. Then your longing to do it will be matched by your finishing it. Give on the basis of what you have.
12. Do you really want to give? Then the gift is received in keeping with what you have, not with what you don't have.
13. We don't want others to have it easy at your expense. We want things to be equal.
14. Right now you have plenty in order to take care of what they need. Then they will have plenty to take care of what you need. That will make things equal.
15. It is written, "Those who gathered a lot didn't have too much. And those who gathered a little had enough." (Exodus 16:18)