God Loves a Cheerful Giver (1 Corinthians 16:1–4)
1 UST Really, though, I do not need to say anything to you about how we are serving God’ s people{ in Jerusalem}. BSB BSB: Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you.
2 UST { That is} because I recognize how eager you are{ to give}. In fact, I say great things about you to the believers in Macedonia province.{ I tell them} that you believers in Achaia province were already preparing{ to give} last year. How eager you were{ to give} has encouraged most of them{ to give also}. 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 UST However,{ although we know that you are eager}, we have chosen these{ three} fellow believers to visit you to make sure that the great things we say about how you are eager{ to give} prove true.{ They are visiting you} so that you can finish preparing{ to give} and in this way match what I have told{ the Macedonians about you}. 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 UST On the other hand,{ think about what would happen} were some believers from Macedonia province to visit you with me and discover that you had not finished preparing{ to give}. How you had acted would shame even us, and{ it would} most definitely{ shame} 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 UST Because of that, I decided that I needed to ask these{ three} fellow believers to visit you before{ I do} and help you with what you said you would give. That way, you will have already prepared what you are giving, and{ you will offer it} because you want to and not because we are making you do it. 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 UST Here is an example{ that illustrates how you should give}. When farmers plant only a few seeds, they harvest only a little food. When farmers plant many seeds, they harvest much food. Much like that, when you help other people, someone will help you in return. BSB BSB: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
7 UST Each of you should choose for yourself{ how much to give}. Do not{ choose how much to give} because you feel hurt or because you have to.{ I say that} because God cares for people who give gladly. 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 UST God can graciously give you more than you need. That way, because you always have everything you need in every situation, you can always do everything that is right. 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 UST { You can tell that is true} because someone wrote{ about this kind of person} in the Scriptures,“They give to many people. Yes, they help those who have very little. They will do what is right forever.” BSB BSB: As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
10 UST God provides the seeds for the one who plants them, and{ he provides} food for people to eat. So, he will also provide what you need and give you more of it. Further, when you do what is right, he will use that to accomplish good things. 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 UST God consistently gives you more than you need so that you can always generously{ give to others}. When you give generously and we send your gifts{ to fellow believers}, they thank God. 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 UST In fact, when you serve God’ s people{ in Jerusalem} by giving{ to them}, it provides what they need. Even more, though, it causes them to thank God very much. 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 UST You prove yourselves by serving God’ s people{ in Jerusalem}. So then, they will honor God because you actually do what the good news about the Messiah requires,{ which is the same good news} that you say you believe.{ They will honor God} also because you generously share{ what you have} with them and with all{ believers}. 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 UST Further, they will want{ to see} you as they pray for you, since you give very graciously as God enables you to. BSB BSB: And their prayers for you will express their affection for you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
15 UST We thank God for giving us these things that are more wonderful than we can say! BSB BSB: Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.