The Reason to Give to the Christians in Jerusalem

9 I don’t need to write anything further to you about helping the Christians ⌞in Jerusalem⌟. ² I know how willing you are to help, and I brag about you to the believers in the province of Macedonia. I tell them, “The people of Greece have been ready ⌞to send their collection⌟ since last year,” and your enthusiasm has moved most of them ⌞to act⌟. ³ I’ve sent my coworkers so that when we brag that you’re ready, we can back it up. ⁴ Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me, they might find out that you’re not ready after all. This would embarrass us for feeling so confident as much as it would embarrass you. ⁵ So I thought that I should encourage our coworkers to visit you before I do and make arrangements for this gift that you had already promised to give. Then it will be the blessing it was intended to be, and it won’t be something you’re forced to do.