If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have

2 Corinthians  8:1-24

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.

Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.

Now that confidence is restored. It is possible to raise the matter of the relief fund for the poor in Jerusalem. Titus had helped the Corinthians make a start, following Paul's instructions in his earlier letter. Now his is to return and supervise the completion of the collection., accompanied by delegates from the Macedonian churches as a safeguard against any charge that Paul was embezzling the fund.

Why?

Paul encouraged Corinthians may excel in this grace of giving. There are excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love.

More important is the willingness in our hearts to love others, and to share what we have.

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奉獻是恩典，馬其頓教會願意奉獻，沒有人向他們募款，他們主動要求的，他們是不僅按著力量而且超過他們能承擔的。不是為了要給別人看，而是現把自己奉獻給主，全然的願意。奉獻財物以前先把自己奉獻出去。俗語有錢出錢，有力出力。聖經沒有說有錢可以不出力，也沒有出力可以不出錢。從奉獻中也可以看見人的生命如何。

保羅勉勵他們不要擔心奉獻夠不夠多。神不會要求人奉獻人不能的事情。人若有願做的心必蒙悅納，但是也要辦成。保羅要求他們奉獻為了均富，奉獻是借給神，神必償還。

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How?

May my life is a life of sharing for the Lord is rich and gave me rich in everything.