Book of Common Prayer

9 Of course, I really do not need to write to you about the money to be given to God's people.

² I know that you wanted to help. I am proud to tell the people of Macedonia about you. I tell them, `The people in Greece have been ready for a year.' And what you did has made most of them want to do something too.

³ But I am sending these brothers so that what we have said about you will be true in this way. I want you to be really ready with the gift, just as I said you would be.

⁴ If some men from Macedonia come with me and see that you are not ready, then we will be ashamed, and you too. We will be ashamed that we were so sure.

⁵ So I thought it would be good to send these brothers to you first. They will get this gift ready which you promised. Then it will be ready like a gift, and not as if you were forced to give it.

⁶ Here is something to remember. `The man who plants a little bit will get only a little from it. The man who plants much will get much from it.'

⁷ Everyone should give what he wants in his heart to give. He should be glad to give it, and should not give it because he was forced to give. `God loves a person who gives gladly.'

⁸ God is able to give you even more blessings than you need. In all things you will always have all you need for yourselves, and you will have enough to help all others.

⁹ The holy writings say, `A good man gives away many things. He gives to the poor people. He will always be a good man in the sight of God.'

¹⁰ God is the one who gives seed to plant and bread to eat. He will give you enough to give away and will make it become more and more. Of the good things you do he will give you a big harvest.

¹¹ You will become rich in every way. And then you will have enough to give plenty to all people. And many people will thank God for your gifts which we will bring them.

¹² This gift of money will help to give God's people what they need. It will also make many people thank God.

¹³ This gift will prove something to them. They will praise God because you obey the good news of Christ. They will praise God because you have given this gift to help them and all the others.

¹⁴ They will love you and talk to God about you, because God has blessed you very much.

¹⁵ Thank God for his gift so great that no words can ever tell it all!

¹⁵ People brought even small children to Jesus. They wanted him to put his hands on them. When the disciples saw it, they tried to stop the people.

¹⁶ But Jesus called them to him and said, `Let the children come to me. Do not try to stop them. The kingdom of God belongs to people like them.

¹⁷ I tell you the truth. If anyone does not believe in the kingdom of God like a child, he will never go in.'

¹⁸ A ruler asked Jesus, `Good Teacher, what must I do so that I will live for ever?'

¹⁹ Jesus answered him, `Why do you call me good? Only one is good, and that is God.

²⁰ `You know the laws, "Do not commit adultery. [Do not take a man or woman who is not your husband or wife.] Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not tell lies. Respect your father and your mother." '

²¹ The man said, `I have kept all these laws since I was a boy.'

²² When Jesus heard that, he said to him, `You need one thing more. Sell everything you have. Give the money to poor people. You will be rich in heaven. Then come and go with me.'

²³ When the man heard that, he was sad because he was very rich.

²⁴ Jesus looked at him and said, `It is very hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God!

²⁵ It is easier for a big animal like a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'

²⁶ Those who heard it asked, `Then who can be saved?'

²⁷ But Jesus said, `God can do what men cannot do.'

²⁸ Peter said, `See, we have left all things and have come with you.'

³⁰ Jesus said to them, `I tell you the truth. If any man has left his house, or his wife, or his brothers, or his father, or his mother, or his children for the sake of the kingdom of God, he will receive many times as much as he has left. He will receive that in this world. And in the next world he will live for ever.'