²² And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’

¹² For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.^(A)

⁷ Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you^[a]—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.^[b](A)

⁸ I do not say this as a command, but I am, by mentioning the eagerness of others, testing the genuineness of your love.^(B)

Encouragement to Be Generous

8 We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia, ² for during a severe ordeal of affliction their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. ³ For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means and even beyond their means,

⁶ We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith;^{(A) 7} ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching;^{(B) 8} the encourager, in encouragement; the giver, in sincerity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.^(C)

¹⁸ Then the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ ¹⁹ He said to him, ‘And you, rule over five cities.’