⁹ And so, ^(A)from the day we heard, ^(B)we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that ^(C)you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all ^(D)spiritual wisdom and understanding, ¹⁰ so as ^(E)to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, ^(F)fully pleasing to him: ^(G)bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ^11 (H)being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for ^(I)all endurance and patience ^(J)with joy; ^12 (K)giving thanks^[a] to the Father, who has qualified you^[b] to share in ^(L)the inheritance of the saints in light.

⁵ So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the ^(A)gift^[a] you have promised, so that it may be ready ^(B)as a willing gift, ^(C)not as an exaction.^[b]

The Cheerful Giver

⁶ The point is this: ^(D)whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully^[c] will also reap bountifully. ⁷ Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, ^(E)not reluctantly or under compulsion, for ^(F)God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And ^(G)God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency^[d] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written,

¹⁰ He who supplies ^(I)seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and ^(J)increase the harvest of your righteousness. ^11 (K)You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which ^(L)through us will produce thanksgiving to God. ¹² For the ministry of this service is not only supplying ^(M)the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. ¹³ By their approval of this service, ^(N)they^[e] will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your ^(O)confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, ¹⁴ while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. ^15 (P)Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Gifts of Grace

³ For ^(A)by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you ^(B)not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, ^(C)each according to ^(D)the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴ For ^(E)as in one body we have many members,^[a] and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so we, ^(F)though many, ^(G)are one body in Christ, and individually ^(H)members one of another. ^6 (I)Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if ^(J)prophecy, ^(K)in proportion to our faith; ⁷ if ^(L)service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; ^(M)the one who leads,^[b] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with ^(N)cheerfulness.

¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, ^(A)“All authority ^(B)in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ^19 (C)Go therefore and ^(D)make disciples of ^(E)all nations, ^(F)baptizing them ^(G)in^{[a] (H)}the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them ^(I)to observe all that ^(J)I have commanded you. And behold, ^(K)I am with you always, to ^(L)the end of the age.”

⁸ But you will receive ^(A)power ^(B)when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and ^(C)you will be ^(D)my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and ^(E)Samaria, and ^(F)to the end of the earth.”