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9 Really, though, I do not need to say anything to you about how we are serving God’s people in Jerusalem. 2 That is because I recognize how eager you are to give. In fact, I say great things about you to the believers in Macedonia province. I tell them that you believers in Achaia province were already preparing to give last year. How eager you were to give has encouraged most of them to give also. 3 However, although we know that you are eager, we have chosen these three fellow believers to visit you to make sure that the great things we say about how you are eager to give prove true. They are visiting you so that you can finish preparing to give and in this way match what I have told the Macedonians about you. 4 On the other hand, think about what would happen were some believers from Macedonia province to visit you with me and discover that you had not finished preparing to give. How you had acted would shame even us, and it would most definitely shame you. 5 Because of that, I decided that I needed to ask these three fellow believers to visit you before I do and help you with what you said you would give. That way, you will have already prepared what you are giving, and you will offer it because you want to and not because we are making you do it.
6 Here is an example that illustrates how you should give. When farmers plant only a few seeds, they harvest only a little food. When farmers plant many seeds, they harvest much food. Much like that, when you help other people, someone will help you in return. 7 Each of you should choose for yourself how much to give. Do not choose how much to give because you feel hurt or because you have to. I say that because God cares for people who give gladly. 8 God can graciously give you more than you need. That way, because you always have everything you need in every situation, you can always do everything that is right. 9 You can tell that is true because someone wrote about this kind of person in the Scriptures,
“They give to many people.
Yes, they help those who have very little.
They will do what is right forever.”
10 God provides the seeds for the one who plants them, and he provides food for people to eat. So, he will also provide what you need and give you more of it. Further, when you do what is right, he will use that to accomplish good things. 11 God consistently gives you more than you need so that you can always generously give to others. When you give generously and we send your gifts to fellow believers, they thank God.
12 In fact, when you serve God’s people in Jerusalem by giving to them, it provides what they need. Even more, though, it causes them to thank God very much. 13 You prove yourselves by serving God’s people in Jerusalem. So then, they will honor God because you actually do what the good news about the Messiah requires, which is the same good news that you say you believe. They will honor God also because you generously share what you have with them and with all believers. 14 Further, they will want to see you as they pray for you, since you give very graciously as God enables you to. 15 We thank God for giving us these things that are more wonderful than we can say!