May 15, 2022
We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has
been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a
severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme
poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
3 For they gave according to their means, as I can
testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,4
begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of
the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they
gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to
us.6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started,
so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But
as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in
all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this
act of grace also.
8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the
earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was
rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty
might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my
judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do
this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish
doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be
matched by your completing it out of what
you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is
acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he
does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should
be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of
fairness14 your abundance at the present time should
supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need,
that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written,
“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered
little had no lack.”
Key Words: Grace, Bestowed, Abundance, Poverty,
Beyond, Complete, Abound, Rich
Keystone Verse: We want to make known to you the
grace of God bestowed upon the churches of Macedonia. (2
Corinthians 8:1)