2 Corinthians 9

Motivations for Giving

¹Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you. ²For I know your eagerness, and I boast about you to the Macedonians, ^a “Achaia ^b has been ready since last year,” and your zeal ^c has stirred up most of them. ^{d 3}But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter would not prove empty, and so that you would be ready just as I said. ⁴Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be put to shame in that situation. ^{e 5}Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift ^f you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion. ^g

⁶The point is this: ^h The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷Each person should do as he has decided in his heart #— #not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves ⁱ a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able ^j to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. ⁹As it is written:

He distributed freely;^k

he gave to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever.^l,^m

¹⁰Now the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. ^{n 11}You will be enriched ^o in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. ¹²For the ministry of this service ^p is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ¹³Because of the proof provided by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity ^q in sharing with them and with everyone. ¹⁴And as they pray on your behalf, they will have deep affection for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. ¹⁵Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!