2 Corinthians 8 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the generous favor God has given to the gathered communities in Macedonia.

In the middle of a severe trial of hardship, their overwhelming joy and their deep poverty overflowed into an abundance of generosity.

I can testify that they gave as much as they could afford, and even beyond what they could afford, entirely on their own initiative.

They urgently begged us for the privilege of sharing in this act of service for God's people who are set apart.

And they didn't just do what we expected — they first gave themselves to the Lord and then to us, because that's what God wanted.

So we urged Titus — since he had already started this work of generous favor among you — to also bring it to completion.

But since you overflow in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete dedication, and in your love for us — make sure you also overflow in this act of generous favor.

I'm not saying this as a command. I'm using the dedication of others to test whether your love is genuine.

You already know the generous favor of our Lord Jesus, The One — that although he was rich, he made himself poor for your sake, so that through his poverty you could become rich.

And here's my advice on the matter: This is in your best interest, since you were not only the first to give but also the first to want to give, starting a year ago.

Now finish what you started, so that your eagerness to begin is matched by completing it according to what you have.

Because if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable based on what a person has, not on what they don't have.

I don't want this to be a burden on you while giving relief to others. The goal is equality.

Right now your abundance can meet their need, so that in turn their abundance can meet your need. That's how equality works.

As it is written: "The one who gathered a lot didn't have too much, and the one who gathered a little didn't have too little."

But thanks be to God, who put the same dedication for you into the heart of Titus.

He not only responded to our appeal, but being so dedicated himself, he's coming to you on his own initiative.

And we're sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the gathered communities for his work in spreading the good news.

And more than that, he was chosen by the gathered communities to travel with us as we carry out this act of generous favor — which we're doing to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.

We're taking this precaution so that no one can criticize us about how we handle this generous gift.

Because we're committed to doing what's right — not only in the Lord's eyes but also in the eyes of everyone watching.

And we're also sending with them our brother who has proven his dedication many times over in many situations, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you.

As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you. As for our brothers, they are representatives of the gathered communities, an honor to The One.

So show them the proof of your love and the reason we're so proud of you — and do it where all the gathered communities can see.