God Loves a Cheerful Giver (1 Corinthians 16:1–4)
1 UEB Concerning the ministry for the believers, it is not necessary for me to write to you. BSB BSB: Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you.
2 UEB I know about your desire, which I boasted about to the people of Macedonia. I told them that Achaia has been getting ready since last year. Your eagerness has motivated most of them to action. BSB BSB: For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.
3 UEB Now I have sent the brothers so that our boasting about you may not be futile, and so that you would be ready, as I said you would be. BSB BSB: But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said.
4 UEB Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we would be ashamed—I say nothing about you—for being so confident in you. BSB BSB: Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.
5 UEB So I thought it was necessary to urge the brothers to come to you and to make arrangements in advance for the gift you have promised. This is so that it might be ready as a blessing, and not as something extorted. BSB BSB: So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.
6 UEB The point is this: The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows for the purpose of a blessing will also reap a blessing. BSB BSB: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
7 UEB Let each one give as he has planned in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. BSB BSB: Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.
8 UEB And God is able to make all grace overflow for you, so that, always, in all things, you may have all you need. This will be so that you may multiply every good deed. BSB BSB: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
9 UEB It is as it is written: "He has distributed his riches and given them to the poor. His righteousness lasts forever." BSB BSB: As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
10 UEB He who supplies seed to the farmer who sows and bread for food, will also supply and multiply your seed for sowing. He will increase the harvest of your righteousness. BSB BSB: Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness.
11 UEB You will be enriched in every way so you can be generous. This will bring about thanksgiving to God through us. BSB BSB: You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will produce thanksgiving to God.
12 UEB For carrying out this service not only meets the needs of the saints but is also overflowing into many acts of thanksgiving to God. BSB BSB: For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.
13 UEB Because of your being tested and proved by this service, you will also glorify God by obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ. You will also glorify God by the generosity of your gift to them and to everyone. BSB BSB: Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others.
14 UEB They long for you, and they are praying for you. They do this because of the very great grace of God that is on you. BSB BSB: And their prayers for you will express their affection for you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
15 UEB May thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! BSB BSB: Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.