Podcasts about give generously

In this week's Blooming Podcast episode, we uncover one of the most misunderstood dynamics in relationships: why loving a man isn't enough to inspire his masculinity, leadership, and commitment. If you're a woman who desires a secure, masculine man who protects, provides, and leads, this episode is your blueprint.What You'll Learn:- The real reason your love isn't making him step up—and what will.- The critical difference between what men and women need in relationships.- Why trust and respect are the fuel that power a man's masculine energy.- How your subconscious beliefs about masculine energy may be sabotaging your love life.- The biggest mistake women make: choosing men based on potential instead of present character.Click here for the full show notesClick here to watch the podcast on YOUTUBE!RESOURCES FOR YOUWant his love? Open your heart! Discover how to unlock any man's masculine instinctive drive to adore you, be generous, and make you a priority in his life - all without risking getting rejected, wasting your time, losing your independence, or ever lowering your standards. Because when you open your heart, YOU become the woman he'll do anything for. Click here to secure your free seat to the free upcoming masterclass, Available For Love: The Key To Unlock His Masculine Drive To Protect, Love, Give Generously & Make You A Priority Join the Marriage Material membership community HERE for only $27 a month. This is the membership community of women who love & respect men and are committed to creating the relationship of their dreams. Want to take the first step towards creating the relationship of your dreams? You need to get crystal clear on the marriage you need and the role you play. Watch the free workshop, Marriage-Focused Goals: A Free Workshop, and join me as I guide you through my relationship goal process that actually works to create the marriage of your dreams! Watch this workshop that hundreds of women paid for, and it's yours free now. Click here to ...

Today's guest gives back to her community and the result is huge- she even has her photos on beers cans! But until a couple of year ago she was shooting too much for too little and so she engaged a business coach to help her increase her annual profit. As part of that process, she as encouraged to dig deep into her why- and what she discovered lead her to implementing an incredibly beautiful and profitable project. I'm talking about Emily Allen who has increased her average sale four fold by following the advice of Karinda K. We discussed all that in members half of this interview- but in the first half, among other things, you'll hear how and why Emily made the move into a shares studio space and how she keeps paying rent year round even though she doesn't go in summer. As you can tell, we covered a lot in this interview, so no matter what stage of your business you're in, there's sure to be a take away for you. WE COVEREDWhat is Emily's area like How sharing a studio works and why Emily opted to go that routeManaging client expectations when changing their booked outdoor session to in-studio due to weatherHow Emily's clients find out about her How Emily's photos ended up on beer cans- and how it helps her business!Justifying pricing IN THE MEMBERS-ONLY EXTENDED EPISODEHow and why Emily increased her prices when her average was already $750 Working with a coachThe impact of increasing her sale by 4xWhat people buy, and what the cost of goods are Changes to Emily's website to avoid phone calls - and if it's helpedStorytelling: A Dog's Life, A Woman's StoryLinks in the show notes: https://thepetphotographersclub.com/podcast/1707

January 12, 2025Pastor Scott PolingOther Scripture used: 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Ephesians 3:20; Ephesians 2:8-9; Psalm 37:25-26; Ephesians 2:10; Psalm 112:1b, 3a, 9; Proverbs 11:24; Matthew 6:19-21; Deuteronomy 8:17-18a; Proverbs 10:22; Romans 12:6-8; Luke 19:8-9a; Matthew 5:16; John 3:16; Ephesians 1:7a; Romans 6:6; Romans 6:23; John 14:27; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 15:20-21; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:5-6; Romans 8:38-39; John 15:16b; 1 Corinthians 1:30a; Colossians 2:2b-3; Matthew 1:23b; Matthew 28:20b; John 16:7b; John 14:17b; Romans 5:9; John 10:28-29; Ephesians 1:3 Main Points: HOW TO OVERCOME GENEROSAPHOBIA…and LIVE GENEROUSLY…and GIVE GENEROUSLY Trust in God's Amazing Grace Focus on Eternal, Rewarded Righteousness Remember Giving Generates Gratitude Remember Giving Generates Glory Remember Giving Develops Relationships Remember Giving is When We are Most Like God

As we head into the giving season, that feeling of burnout can start to creep in. We feel an obligation to give even if it is outside our means. Let's discuss how to give in a way that doesn't deplete us and instead gives us more life!  Here's more of what we talk about in this episode: Is giving the key to happiness? Is giving also causing burnout? Spoon Theory and how it relates Energetic currency that can come from giving Giving from obligation vs giving from overflow How to find energy leaks and plug them up Giving in alignment with who you are Where can you delegate tasks to conserve your mental energy   Related Resources: Ep. 107 - Opting Out of Family Gatherings Ep. 104 - You Don't Need Time Management, You Need Energy Management! Essentialism by Greg McKeown   Additional Resources:

[Luke 21:1-4, Monday of the 34th Week in the Ordinary Time]

Message by Mike Laughrun.

Recorded at the 9am Traditional Service

Istrouma Baptist Church (BR) Oct 27, 2024 ========== October 27 | Welcome! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org. We glorify God by making disciples of all nations. ========== Connection Card https://istrouma.org/myinfo October 27, 2024 - Tim Keith ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬-‭15‬‬ How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. Let's go to those we can... and help send others to those we cannot. 1. Every person needs Jesus. ‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬‬ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬‬ But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬, ‭13‬‬ If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? (Romans 10:14) 2. Every Christian has a mission. And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? (Romans 10:14-15) John 17:18, Jesus said, "As you sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world." John 20:21, Jesus said, "As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you." Acts 1:8, Jesus said, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 3. Every mission of every Christian is to tell every person about the good news of Jesus. And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. (Romans 10:15) Acts 20:24, Paul says, "my purpose/mission is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God's grace.” Why haven't they heard? > Do Nothing > Give Generously > Go Courageously > Pray Constantly Let's go to those we can... and help send others to those we cannot. Want to receive weekly announcements in your inbox each week? https://istrouma.org/email Give Online Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to: https://istrouma.org/give Our Website https://istrouma.org

DOWNLOAD Speaker: Darren Sanderson Passage: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Give Generously Part 2 (2 Corinthians 9:6-15) Daniel Nealon October 6 2024 by Deer Creek Church

Give Generously (2 Corinthians 8 - 1-15) Daniel Nealon September 29, 2024 by Deer Creek Church

"Are We to Give Generously So God Will Give Us More?" Luke 6:38; Malachi 3:10

How should Christians handle money? Does scripture talk much about pursuing wealth? John talks about this in the challenging lesson on giving generously. Thanks for listening!

Psalm 106:1-15, Isaiah 14:1-16:14, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. I want to be like Mick I long for the church of Jesus Christ to be full of people like him because, as we see in today's passage, grace, thanksgiving and generosity are very closely connected

Psalm 106:1-10, Isaiah 14:1-15, 16:4-5, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. I want to be like Mick I long for the church of Jesus Christ to be full of people like him because, as we see in today's passage, grace, thanksgiving and generosity are very closely connected

Psalm 106:1-10, Isaiah 14:1-15, 16:4-5, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. I want to be like Mick I long for the church of Jesus Christ to be full of people like him because, as we see in today's passage, grace, thanksgiving and generosity are very closely connected

Brian Becker, The Rising Tide, week 4: Give Generously

Dave Ramsey's 7 baby steps have helped millions of families. Do they work for military families? Today, we discuss each of the 7 baby steps and how they can work for military families. Both Spencer and Jamie started on the Dave Ramsey plan. We highly recommend the Total Money Makeoever book (check your base library- many have it for free), Financial Peace University, and the Ramsey podcast or YouTube. Military families can get 50% off FPU too! If you need help, for a limited time, Spencer is offering one-on-one Military Money Coaching sessions! Get your personal military money and investing questions answered in a confidential coaching call. Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE! If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual or email podcast@militarymoneymanual.com. If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5-star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com. I also offer a 100% free course on military travel hacking and getting annual fee waived credit cards, like The Platinum Card® from American Express, the American Express® Gold Card, and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card in my Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3. The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card waive the annual fee for active duty military servicemembers, including Guard and Reserve on active orders over 30 days. The annual fees on all personal Amex cards are also waived for military spouses married to active duty troops.

Giving, for many Christians, is founded on legalistic obligation based on the Old Testament tithe. It is doubtful, however, that a strong case can be made in the New Testament for the perpetuation of the tithe as commonly taught.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Message by Mike Laughrun.

General Theme for the Week: Believers are connected to one another. Today's Lesson: Believers Connect with Others Through Giving. On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell and Wendy Korbusieski discuss the following questions: Do you believe that Christ is manifested (incarnated) in the lives of other people when believers give generously? Why do you think Paul suggests that receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ (i.e. “Jesus became poor”) should be followed by generosity? The reading for the day is 2 Corinthians 8.

Matthew 6:212 Corinthians 8:7-122 Corinthians 9:6-7Philippians 4:18

Matthew 6:19-21; 19:16-30 

In this week of "At the Core" we are looking at what it means to give generously with Mark Lail from the Nazarene Foundation.

Pastor Jamey wraps up our "We are Family" series with a message titled: Give Generously. Pastor reminds us that we need to steward the gifts that God has given us! We can't make excuses to diminish the things that God has asked us to steward! Listen in for a great message. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook or YouTube.

Grace Given to Give Generously 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 Jeff Hwang

In this episode, Tom and Ruth navigate through the nuances of generosity, emphasizing its connection to kindness, compassion, and thriving mentality. Drawing from philosophical insights and personal anecdotes, they unravel the hidden beauty inherent in acts of generosity, highlighting its cryptic nature that transcends mere selflessness. They delve into the significance of integrity and virtue, underscoring how generosity fosters a sense of well-being, purpose, and deeper connections with others and oneself.Thanks for listening!You can follow us onFacebook Instagram Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts Check out the Autonomic Healing Website We appreciate you!

Because of their commitment to Jesus, disciples bring His Kingdom to earth by offering what they have to make earth more like heaven. Money is an incredible resource God has entrusted to us for this purpose. For a disciple, giving begins with the church because it represents God's presence and purpose on earth. Generosity is also expressed by responding to needs and showing kindness so more will experience the renewal of God's Kingdom on earth.*Related Resources*- Use the button above for a message from our Seeing Green series, "The King's Portion" regarding tithing- Book: "Fields of Gold" by Andy Stanley

Because of their commitment to Jesus, disciples bring His Kingdom to earth by offering what they have to make earth more like heaven. Money is an incredible resource God has entrusted to us for this purpose. For a disciple, giving begins with the church because it represents God's presence and purpose on earth. Generosity is also expressed by responding to needs and showing kindness so more will experience the renewal of God's Kingdom on earth.*Related Resources*- Use the button above for a message from our Seeing Green series, "The King's Portion" regarding tithing- Book: "Fields of Gold" by Andy Stanley

From the series, "Realign." Mark wraps up the series with a message on generosity from 2 Corinthians 8:1-15.

Part 3 of our Series Double Dog Dare

The Crossing Church

Giving Back, Giving Gifts and Getting Paid

2 Corinthians 5–9 2 Corinthians 5–9 (Listen) Our Heavenly Dwelling 5 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on1 we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. The Ministry of Reconciliation 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.2 The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling3 the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 6 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,   “In a favorable time I listened to you,    and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken freely to you,4 Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. The Temple of the Living God 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial?5 Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,   “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,    and I will be their God,    and they shall be my people.17   Therefore go out from their midst,    and be separate from them, says the Lord,  and touch no unclean thing;    then I will welcome you,18   and I will be a father to you,    and you shall be sons and daughters to me,  says the Lord Almighty.” 7 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body6 and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. Paul's Joy 2 Make room in your hearts7 for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. 5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you. Encouragement to Give Generously 8 We want you to know, brothers,8 about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor9 of taking part in the relief of the saints—5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you10—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 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 by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” Commendation of Titus 16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going11 to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending12 the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers13 of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men. The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem 9 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending14 the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift15 you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.16 The Cheerful Giver 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully17 will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency18 in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,   “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;    his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they19 will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! Footnotes [1] 5:3 Some manuscripts putting it off [2] 5:17 Or creature [3] 5:19 Or God was in Christ, reconciling [4] 6:11 Greek Our mouth is open to you [5] 6:15 Greek Beliar [6] 7:1 Greek flesh [7] 7:2 Greek lacks in your hearts [8] 8:1 Or brothers and sisters [9] 8:4 The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context [10] 8:7 Some manuscripts in your love for us [11] 8:17 Or he went [12] 8:18 Or we sent; also verse 22 [13] 8:23 Greek apostles [14] 9:3 Or I have sent [15] 9:5 Greek blessing; twice in this verse [16] 9:5 Or a gift expecting something in return; Greek greed [17] 9:6 Greek with blessings; twice in this verse [18] 9:8 Or all contentment [19] 9:13 Or you (ESV)

Today, Evan and Anne talk about the holidays and why it's a time when most people choose to give. Anne and Evan talk about why expressing generosity doesn't just have to be through giving money. Evan explains some of the ways that an advisor can work with you if you do choose to express your values through giving financially without hurting your financial plan. Later in the episode, Evan shares an article trying to convince investors that real estate investments will help investors beat inflation.    For more information about what we do or how we can help you, schedule a 15-minute call with us here: paulwinkler.com/call.

2 Corinthians 5–9 2 Corinthians 5–9 (Listen) Our Heavenly Dwelling 5 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on1 we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. The Ministry of Reconciliation 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.2 The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling3 the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 6 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,   “In a favorable time I listened to you,    and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken freely to you,4 Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. The Temple of the Living God 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial?5 Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,   “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,    and I will be their God,    and they shall be my people.17   Therefore go out from their midst,    and be separate from them, says the Lord,  and touch no unclean thing;    then I will welcome you,18   and I will be a father to you,    and you shall be sons and daughters to me,  says the Lord Almighty.” 7 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body6 and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. Paul's Joy 2 Make room in your hearts7 for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. 5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you. Encouragement to Give Generously 8 We want you to know, brothers,8 about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor9 of taking part in the relief of the saints—5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you10—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 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 by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” Commendation of Titus 16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going11 to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending12 the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers13 of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men. The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem 9 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending14 the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift15 you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.16 The Cheerful Giver 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully17 will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency18 in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,   “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;    his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they19 will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! Footnotes [1] 5:3 Some manuscripts putting it off [2] 5:17 Or creature [3] 5:19 Or God was in Christ, reconciling [4] 6:11 Greek Our mouth is open to you [5] 6:15 Greek Beliar [6] 7:1 Greek flesh [7] 7:2 Greek lacks in your hearts [8] 8:1 Or brothers and sisters [9] 8:4 The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context [10] 8:7 Some manuscripts in your love for us [11] 8:17 Or he went [12] 8:18 Or we sent; also verse 22 [13] 8:23 Greek apostles [14] 9:3 Or I have sent [15] 9:5 Greek blessing; twice in this verse [16] 9:5 Or a gift expecting something in return; Greek greed [17] 9:6 Greek with blessings; twice in this verse [18] 9:8 Or all contentment [19] 9:13 Or you (ESV)

2 Corinthians 8:1–15 Encouragement to Give Generously [1] We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, [2] for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. [3] For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, [4] begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—[5] and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. [6] Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. [7] But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. [8] I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. [9] 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 by his poverty might become rich. [10] And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. [11] So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. [12] For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. [13] For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness [14] your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. [15] As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” (ESV) 2 Corinthians 9 [1] Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, [2] for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. [3] But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. [4] Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. [5] So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. The Cheerful Giver [6] The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. [7] Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. [8] And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. [9] As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” [10] He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. [11] You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. [12] For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. [13] By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, [14] while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. [15] Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! (ESV)

Old Testament: Jeremiah 51–52 Jeremiah 51–52 (Listen) The Utter Destruction of Babylon 51   Thus says the LORD:  “Behold, I will stir up the spirit of a destroyer    against Babylon,    against the inhabitants of Leb-kamai,12   and I will send to Babylon winnowers,    and they shall winnow her,  and they shall empty her land,    when they come against her from every side    on the day of trouble.3   Let not the archer bend his bow,    and let him not stand up in his armor.  Spare not her young men;    devote to destruction2 all her army.4   They shall fall down slain in the land of the Chaldeans,    and wounded in her streets.5   For Israel and Judah have not been forsaken    by their God, the LORD of hosts,  but the land of the Chaldeans3 is full of guilt    against the Holy One of Israel. 6   “Flee from the midst of Babylon;    let every one save his life!  Be not cut off in her punishment,    for this is the time of the LORD's vengeance,    the repayment he is rendering her.7   Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD's hand,    making all the earth drunken;  the nations drank of her wine;    therefore the nations went mad.8   Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken;    wail for her!  Take balm for her pain;    perhaps she may be healed.9   We would have healed Babylon,    but she was not healed.  Forsake her, and let us go    each to his own country,  for her judgment has reached up to heaven    and has been lifted up even to the skies.10   The LORD has brought about our vindication;    come, let us declare in Zion    the work of the LORD our God. 11   “Sharpen the arrows!    Take up the shields! The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it, for that is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance for his temple. 12   “Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon;    make the watch strong;  set up watchmen;    prepare the ambushes;  for the LORD has both planned and done    what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.13   O you who dwell by many waters,    rich in treasures,  your end has come;    the thread of your life is cut.14   The LORD of hosts has sworn by himself:  Surely I will fill you with men, as many as locusts,    and they shall raise the shout of victory over you. 15   “It is he who made the earth by his power,    who established the world by his wisdom,  and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.16   When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,    and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.  He makes lightning for the rain,    and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.17   Every man is stupid and without knowledge;    every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols,  for his images are false,    and there is no breath in them.18   They are worthless, a work of delusion;    at the time of their punishment they shall perish.19   Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob,    for he is the one who formed all things,  and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;    the LORD of hosts is his name. 20   “You are my hammer and weapon of war:  with you I break nations in pieces;    with you I destroy kingdoms;21   with you I break in pieces the horse and his rider;    with you I break in pieces the chariot and the charioteer;22   with you I break in pieces man and woman;    with you I break in pieces the old man and the youth;  with you I break in pieces the young man and the young woman;23     with you I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock;  with you I break in pieces the farmer and his team;    with you I break in pieces governors and commanders. 24 “I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea before your very eyes for all the evil that they have done in Zion, declares the LORD. 25   “Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain,      declares the LORD,    which destroys the whole earth;  I will stretch out my hand against you,    and roll you down from the crags,    and make you a burnt mountain.26   No stone shall be taken from you for a corner    and no stone for a foundation,  but you shall be a perpetual waste,    declares the LORD. 27   “Set up a standard on the earth;    blow the trumpet among the nations;  prepare the nations for war against her;    summon against her the kingdoms,    Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz;  appoint a marshal against her;    bring up horses like bristling locusts.28   Prepare the nations for war against her,    the kings of the Medes, with their governors and deputies,    and every land under their dominion.29   The land trembles and writhes in pain,    for the LORD's purposes against Babylon stand,  to make the land of Babylon a desolation,    without inhabitant.30   The warriors of Babylon have ceased fighting;    they remain in their strongholds;  their strength has failed;    they have become women;  her dwellings are on fire;    her bars are broken.31   One runner runs to meet another,    and one messenger to meet another,  to tell the king of Babylon    that his city is taken on every side;32   the fords have been seized,    the marshes are burned with fire,    and the soldiers are in panic.33   For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:  The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor    at the time when it is trodden;  yet a little while    and the time of her harvest will come.” 34   “Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me;    he has crushed me;  he has made me an empty vessel;    he has swallowed me like a monster;  he has filled his stomach with my delicacies;    he has rinsed me out.435   The violence done to me and to my kinsmen be upon Babylon,”    let the inhabitant of Zion say.  “My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea,”    let Jerusalem say.36   Therefore thus says the LORD:  “Behold, I will plead your cause    and take vengeance for you.  I will dry up her sea    and make her fountain dry,37   and Babylon shall become a heap of ruins,    the haunt of jackals,  a horror and a hissing,    without inhabitant. 38   “They shall roar together like lions;    they shall growl like lions' cubs.39   While they are inflamed I will prepare them a feast    and make them drunk, that they may become merry,  then sleep a perpetual sleep    and not wake, declares the LORD.40   I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter,    like rams and male goats. 41   “How Babylon5 is taken,    the praise of the whole earth seized!  How Babylon has become    a horror among the nations!42   The sea has come up on Babylon;    she is covered with its tumultuous waves.43   Her cities have become a horror,    a land of drought and a desert,  a land in which no one dwells,    and through which no son of man passes.44   And I will punish Bel in Babylon,    and take out of his mouth what he has swallowed.  The nations shall no longer flow to him;    the wall of Babylon has fallen. 45   “Go out of the midst of her, my people!    Let every one save his life    from the fierce anger of the LORD!46   Let not your heart faint, and be not fearful    at the report heard in the land,  when a report comes in one year    and afterward a report in another year,  and violence is in the land,    and ruler is against ruler. 47   “Therefore, behold, the days are coming    when I will punish the images of Babylon;  her whole land shall be put to shame,    and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.48   Then the heavens and the earth,    and all that is in them,  shall sing for joy over Babylon,    for the destroyers shall come against them out of the north,      declares the LORD.49   Babylon must fall for the slain of Israel,    just as for Babylon have fallen the slain of all the earth. 50   “You who have escaped from the sword,    go, do not stand still!  Remember the LORD from far away,    and let Jerusalem come into your mind:51   ‘We are put to shame, for we have heard reproach;    dishonor has covered our face,  for foreigners have come    into the holy places of the LORD's house.' 52   “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD,    when I will execute judgment upon her images,  and through all her land    the wounded shall groan.53   Though Babylon should mount up to heaven,    and though she should fortify her strong height,  yet destroyers would come from me against her,    declares the LORD. 54   “A voice! A cry from Babylon!    The noise of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!55   For the LORD is laying Babylon waste    and stilling her mighty voice.  Their waves roar like many waters;    the noise of their voice is raised,56   for a destroyer has come upon her,    upon Babylon;  her warriors are taken;    their bows are broken in pieces,  for the LORD is a God of recompense;    he will surely repay.57   I will make drunk her officials and her wise men,    her governors, her commanders, and her warriors;  they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake,    declares the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts. 58   “Thus says the LORD of hosts:  The broad wall of Babylon    shall be leveled to the ground,  and her high gates    shall be burned with fire.  The peoples labor for nothing,    and the nations weary themselves only for fire.” 59 The word that Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah king of Judah to Babylon, in the fourth year of his reign. Seraiah was the quartermaster. 60 Jeremiah wrote in a book all the disaster that should come upon Babylon, all these words that are written concerning Babylon. 61 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: “When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words, 62 and say, ‘O LORD, you have said concerning this place that you will cut it off, so that nothing shall dwell in it, neither man nor beast, and it shall be desolate forever.' 63 When you finish reading this book, tie a stone to it and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates, 64 and say, ‘Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, and they shall become exhausted.'” Thus far are the words of Jeremiah. The Fall of Jerusalem Recounted 52 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 2 And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 3 For because of the anger of the LORD it came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. 4 And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem, and laid siege to it. And they built siegeworks all around it. 5 So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. 6 On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. 7 Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled and went out from the city by night by the way of a gate between the two walls, by the king's garden, and the Chaldeans were around the city. And they went in the direction of the Arabah. 8 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him. 9 Then they captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he passed sentence on him. 10 The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and also slaughtered all the officials of Judah at Riblah. 11 He put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in chains, and the king of Babylon took him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death. The Temple Burned 12 In the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month—that was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard, who served the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. 13 And he burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. 14 And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls around Jerusalem. 15 And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive some of the poorest of the people and the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had deserted to the king of Babylon, together with the rest of the artisans. 16 But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen. 17 And the pillars of bronze that were in the house of the LORD, and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried all the bronze to Babylon. 18 And they took away the pots and the shovels and the snuffers and the basins and the dishes for incense and all the vessels of bronze used in the temple service; 19 also the small bowls and the fire pans and the basins and the pots and the lampstands and the dishes for incense and the bowls for drink offerings. What was of gold the captain of the guard took away as gold, and what was of silver, as silver. 20 As for the two pillars, the one sea, the twelve bronze bulls that were under the sea,6 and the stands, which Solomon the king had made for the house of the LORD, the bronze of all these things was beyond weight. 21 As for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits,7 its circumference was twelve cubits, and its thickness was four fingers, and it was hollow. 22 On it was a capital of bronze. The height of the one capital was five cubits. A network and pomegranates, all of bronze, were around the capital. And the second pillar had the same, with pomegranates. 23 There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates were a hundred upon the network all around. The People Exiled to Babylon 24 And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest and the three keepers of the threshold; 25 and from the city he took an officer who had been in command of the men of war, and seven men of the king's council, who were found in the city; and the secretary of the commander of the army, who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the midst of the city. 26 And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. 27 And the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was taken into exile out of

Whether you're still working on your budgets for the year ahead or have those all done, our guest today has advice for what it will take to succeed over the year ahead. Bill Walshe is the former CEO of Viceroy Hotel Group, and today, he's helping others in hospitality as a board member, strategic advisor, and keynote speaker. In this episode, you'll learn the two titles Bill wants you to have - as well as how you need to think about balancing bold pricing with generosity.Follow Bill on LinkedInVisit Bill's websiteWatch Bill's Ted talk: A Roadmap of PrideWhat did you think about this episode? Join the Hospitality Daily community on LinkedIn and share your thoughts. If you care about hospitality, check out the Masters of Moments podcast where Jake Wurzak interviews top leaders in hospitality. His conversations with Bashar Wali and Matt Marquis are a great place to start, but also check out his solo episodes such as how he underwrites investment deals and a deep dive into GP fees you know about. Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

How often do we actually talk to friends and neighbors about Jesus? If we have this eternal hope, why do we keep it to ourselves? In the final week of our series, Lead Pastor Jason Gore urges us to share willingly about the hope we have in Jesus.#sharewillingly #kingandakingdom #allin--Message Notes:What does it mean to willingly share the hope that we have in Jesus?   What would you do if it depended on you? The Bible tells us to prepare for spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:11-12 (NLT) Take notice. Take a side. How do we live out God's Kingdom? Live Obediently. Connect Intentionally. Serve Selflessly.  Give Generously. Share Willingly the hope that we have in Jesus. Share Willingly: Matthew 28:18 (NLT) Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT) We need more Evangelism in our church. John 20:21 (NLT) What would you do if it depended on you? Share willingly the hope that we have in Jesus. Who is your one?---Give to Hope Where You Are Campaign here: https://www.gethope.net/hwya/Subscribe to Family Conversations for weekly prompts and resources: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnePageReg/2451Get connected with a small group: https://gethope.net/smallgroups/If you'd like to receive regular updates on what's happening around Hope, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://gethope.net/enews/If you'd like to view our message notes, click here: https://gethope.net/message-notes/If you're new to Hope or looking to get connected, click here: https://gethope.net/next/If you've just made a decision for Christ, please respond here: https://touchpoint.gethope.net/OnlineReg/2048To support this ministry financially to help us continue to love people where they are and encourage them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, click here: https://gethope.net/give/Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2XBbBxqStay Connected with Hope:Website: https://gethope.net/Hope Community Church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gethopecommunitychurchHope Community Church Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_hope/Hope Community Church Twitter: https://twitter.com/get_hopeHope Community Church YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/HopeCommunityChurchSubscribe to Our PodcastHope In Real Life YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HopeInRealLifeHope In Real Life Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7eifzI0r9uY8rUaBMGs7q1Hope In Real Life Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hope-in-real-life-with-jason-gore/id1691710678?uo=4

With family: 2 Samuel 15; 2 Corinthians 8 2 Samuel 15 (Listen) Absalom's Conspiracy 15 After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,” 3 Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.” 4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.” 5 And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 7 And at the end of four1 years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the LORD will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to2 the LORD.'” 9 The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. 10 But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron!'” 11 With Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem who were invited guests, and they went in their innocence and knew nothing. 12 And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for3 Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing. David Flees Jerusalem 13 And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” 14 Then David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or else there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go quickly, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down ruin on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15 And the king's servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.” 16 So the king went out, and all his household after him. And the king left ten concubines to keep the house. 17 And the king went out, and all the people after him. And they halted at the last house. 18 And all his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Go back and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile from your home. 20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, since I go I know not where? Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the LORD show4 steadfast love and faithfulness to you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, there also will your servant be.” 22 And David said to Ittai, “Go then, pass on.” So Ittai the Gittite passed on with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 23 And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the king crossed the brook Kidron, and all the people passed on toward the wilderness. 24 And Abiathar came up, and behold, Zadok came also with all the Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God until the people had all passed out of the city. 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. 26 But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,' behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.” 27 The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Go back5 to the city in peace, with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 28 See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 29 So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there. 30 But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went. 31 And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” 32 While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and dirt on his head. 33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me. 34 But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,' then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. 35 Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So whatever you hear from the king's house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 36 Behold, their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son, and by them you shall send to me everything you hear.” 37 So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem. Footnotes [1] 15:7 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew forty [2] 15:8 Or will serve [3] 15:12 Or sent [4] 15:20 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks may the Lord show [5] 15:27 Septuagint The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Look, go back (ESV) 2 Corinthians 8 (Listen) Encouragement to Give Generously 8 We want you to know, brothers,1 about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor2 of taking part in the relief of the saints—5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you3—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 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 by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” Commendation of Titus 16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going4 to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending5 the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers6 of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men. Footnotes [1] 8:1 Or brothers and sisters [2] 8:4 The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context [3] 8:7 Some manuscripts in your love for us [4] 8:17 Or he went [5] 8:18 Or we sent; also verse 22 [6] 8:23 Greek apostles (ESV) In private: Psalm 69; Ezekiel 22 Psalm 69 (Listen) Save Me, O God To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. Of David. 69   Save me, O God!    For the waters have come up to my neck.12   I sink in deep mire,    where there is no foothold;  I have come into deep waters,    and the flood sweeps over me.3   I am weary with my crying out;    my throat is parched.  My eyes grow dim    with waiting for my God. 4   More in number than the hairs of my head    are those who hate me without cause;  mighty are those who would destroy me,    those who attack me with lies.  What I did not steal    must I now restore?5   O God, you know my folly;    the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. 6   Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,    O Lord GOD of hosts;  let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me,    O God of Israel.7   For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach,    that dishonor has covered my face.8   I have become a stranger to my brothers,    an alien to my mother's sons. 9   For zeal for your house has consumed me,    and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.10   When I wept and humbled2 my soul with fasting,    it became my reproach.11   When I made sackcloth my clothing,    I became a byword to them.12   I am the talk of those who sit in the gate,    and the drunkards make songs about me. 13   But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD.    At an acceptable time, O God,    in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.14   Deliver me    from sinking in the mire;  let me be delivered from my enemies    and from the deep waters.15   Let not the flood sweep over me,    or the deep swallow me up,    or the pit close its mouth over me. 16   Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good;    according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.17   Hide not your face from your servant,    for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.18   Draw near to my soul, redeem me;    ransom me because of my enemies! 19   You know my reproach,    and my shame and my dishonor;    my foes are all known to you.20   Reproaches have broken my heart,    so that I am in despair.  I looked for pity, but there was none,    and for comforters, but I found none.21   They gave me poison for food,    and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. 22   Let their own table before them become a snare;    and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.323   Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see,    and make their loins tremble continually.24   Pour out your indignation upon them,    and let your burning anger overtake them.25   May their camp be a desolation;    let no one dwell in their tents.26   For they persecute him whom you have struck down,    and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.27   Add to them punishment upon punishment;    may they have no acquittal from you.428   Let them be blotted out of the book of the living;    let them not be enrolled among the righteous. 29   But I am afflicted and in pain;    let your salvation, O God, set me on high! 30   I will praise the name of God with a song;    I will magnify him with thanksgiving.31   This will please the LORD more than an ox    or a bull with horns and hoofs.32   When the humble see it they will be glad;    you who seek God, let your hearts revive.33   For the LORD hears the needy    and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. 34   Let heaven and earth praise him,    the seas and everything that moves in them.35   For God will save Zion    and build up the cities of Judah,  and people shall dwell there and possess it;36     the offspring of his servants shall inherit it,    and those who love his name shall dwell in it. Footnotes [1] 69:1 Or waters threaten my life [2] 69:10 Hebrew lacks and humbled [3] 69:22 Hebrew; a slight revocalization yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Jerome) a snare, and retribution and a trap [4] 69:27 Hebrew may they not come into your righteousness (ESV) Ezekiel 22 (Listen) Israel's Shedding of Blood 22 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “And you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Then declare to her all her abominations. 3 You shall say, Thus says the Lord GOD: A city that sheds blood in her midst, so that her time may come, and that makes idols to defile herself! 4 You have become guilty by the blood that you have shed, and defiled by the idols that you have made, and you have brought your days near, the appointed time of1 your years has come. Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all the countries. 5 Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you; your name is defiled; you are full of tumult. 6 “Behold, the princes of Israel in you, every one according to his power, have been bent on shedding blood. 7 Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the sojourner suffers extortion in your midst; the fatherless and the widow are wronged in you. 8 You have despised my holy things and profaned my Sabbaths. 9 There are men in you who slander to shed blood, and people in you who eat on the mountains; they commit lewdness in your midst. 10 In you men uncover their fathers' nakedness; in you they violate women who are unclean in their menstrual impurity. 11 One commits abomination with his neighbor's wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; another in you violates his sister, his father's daughter. 12 In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit2 and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD. 13 “Behold, I strike my hand at the dishonest gain that you have made, and at the blood that has been in your midst. 14 Can your courage endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with you? I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it. 15 I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you through the countries, and I will consume your uncleanness out of you. 16 And you shall be profaned by your own doing in the sight of the nations, and you shall know that I am the LORD.” 17 And the word of the LORD came to me: 18 “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me; all of them are bronze and tin and iron and lead in the furnace; they are dross of silver. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. 20 As one gathers silver and bronze and iron and lead and tin into a furnace, to blow the fire on it in order to melt it, so I will gather you in my anger and in my wrath, and I will put you in and melt you. 21 I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of my wrath, and you shall be melted in the midst of it. 22 As silver is melted in a furnace, so you shall be melted in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the LORD; I have poured out my wrath upon you.” 23 And the word of the LORD came to me: 24 “Son of man, say to her, You are a land that is not cleansed or rained upon in the day of indignation. 25 The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. 26 Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. 28 And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken. 29 The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. 30 And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. 31 Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord GOD.” Footnotes [1] 22:4 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate, Targum; most Hebrew manuscripts until [2] 22:12 That is, profit that comes from charging interest to the poor (compare Leviticus 25:36) (ESV)

Morning: Proverbs 30–31 Proverbs 30–31 (Listen) The Words of Agur 30 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.1   The man declares, I am weary, O God;    I am weary, O God, and worn out.22   Surely I am too stupid to be a man.    I have not the understanding of a man.3   I have not learned wisdom,    nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.4   Who has ascended to heaven and come down?    Who has gathered the wind in his fists?  Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?    Who has established all the ends of the earth?  What is his name, and what is his son's name?    Surely you know! 5   Every word of God proves true;    he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.6   Do not add to his words,    lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. 7   Two things I ask of you;    deny them not to me before I die:8   Remove far from me falsehood and lying;    give me neither poverty nor riches;    feed me with the food that is needful for me,9   lest I be full and deny you    and say, “Who is the LORD?”  or lest I be poor and steal    and profane the name of my God. 10   Do not slander a servant to his master,    lest he curse you, and you be held guilty. 11   There are those3 who curse their fathers    and do not bless their mothers.12   There are those who are clean in their own eyes    but are not washed of their filth.13   There are those—how lofty are their eyes,    how high their eyelids lift!14   There are those whose teeth are swords,    whose fangs are knives,  to devour the poor from off the earth,    the needy from among mankind. 15   The leech has two daughters:    Give and Give.4  Three things are never satisfied;    four never say, “Enough”:16   Sheol, the barren womb,    the land never satisfied with water,    and the fire that never says, “Enough.” 17   The eye that mocks a father    and scorns to obey a mother  will be picked out by the ravens of the valley    and eaten by the vultures. 18   Three things are too wonderful for me;    four I do not understand:19   the way of an eagle in the sky,    the way of a serpent on a rock,  the way of a ship on the high seas,    and the way of a man with a virgin. 20   This is the way of an adulteress:    she eats and wipes her mouth    and says, “I have done no wrong.” 21   Under three things the earth trembles;    under four it cannot bear up:22   a slave when he becomes king,    and a fool when he is filled with food;23   an unloved woman when she gets a husband,    and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress. 24   Four things on earth are small,    but they are exceedingly wise:25   the ants are a people not strong,    yet they provide their food in the summer;26   the rock badgers are a people not mighty,    yet they make their homes in the cliffs;27   the locusts have no king,    yet all of them march in rank;28   the lizard you can take in your hands,    yet it is in kings' palaces. 29   Three things are stately in their tread;    four are stately in their stride:30   the lion, which is mightiest among beasts    and does not turn back before any;31   the strutting rooster,5 the he-goat,    and a king whose army is with him.6 32   If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,    or if you have been devising evil,    put your hand on your mouth.33   For pressing milk produces curds,    pressing the nose produces blood,    and pressing anger produces strife. The Words of King Lemuel 31 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: 2   What are you doing, my son?7 What are you doing, son of my womb?    What are you doing, son of my vows?3   Do not give your strength to women,    your ways to those who destroy kings.4   It is not for kings, O Lemuel,    it is not for kings to drink wine,    or for rulers to take strong drink,5   lest they drink and forget what has been decreed    and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.6   Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,    and wine to those in bitter distress;87   let them drink and forget their poverty    and remember their misery no more.8   Open your mouth for the mute,    for the rights of all who are destitute.99   Open your mouth, judge righteously,    defend the rights of the poor and needy. The Woman Who Fears the Lord 10   10 An excellent wife who can find?    She is far more precious than jewels.11   The heart of her husband trusts in her,    and he will have no lack of gain.12   She does him good, and not harm,    all the days of her life.13   She seeks wool and flax,    and works with willing hands.14   She is like the ships of the merchant;    she brings her food from afar.15   She rises while it is yet night    and provides food for her household    and portions for her maidens.16   She considers a field and buys it;    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.17   She dresses herself11 with strength    and makes her arms strong.18   She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.    Her lamp does not go out at night.19   She puts her hands to the distaff,    and her hands hold the spindle.20   She opens her hand to the poor    and reaches out her hands to the needy.21   She is not afraid of snow for her household,    for all her household are clothed in scarlet.1222   She makes bed coverings for herself;    her clothing is fine linen and purple.23   Her husband is known in the gates    when he sits among the elders of the land.24   She makes linen garments and sells them;    she delivers sashes to the merchant.25   Strength and dignity are her clothing,    and she laughs at the time to come.26   She opens her mouth with wisdom,    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.27   She looks well to the ways of her household    and does not eat the bread of idleness.28   Her children rise up and call her blessed;    her husband also, and he praises her:29   “Many women have done excellently,    but you surpass them all.”30   Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,    but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.31   Give her of the fruit of her hands,    and let her works praise her in the gates. Footnotes [1] 30:1 Or Jakeh, the man of Massa [2] 30:1 Revocalization; Hebrew The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal [3] 30:11 Hebrew There is a generation; also verses 12, 13, 14 [4] 30:15 Or “Give, give,” they cry [5] 30:31 Or the magpie, or the greyhound; Hebrew girt-of-loins [6] 30:31 Or against whom there is no rising up [7] 31:2 Hebrew What, my son? [8] 31:6 Hebrew those bitter in soul [9] 31:8 Hebrew are sons of passing away [10] 31:10 Verses 10–31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet [11] 31:17 Hebrew She girds her loins [12] 31:21 Or in double thickness (ESV) Evening: 2 Corinthians 8 2 Corinthians 8 (Listen) Encouragement to Give Generously 8 We want you to know, brothers,1 about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor2 of taking part in the relief of the saints—5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you3—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 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 by his poverty might become rich. 10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” Commendation of Titus 16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going4 to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending5 the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19 And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers6 of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men. Footnotes [1] 8:1 Or brothers and sisters [2] 8:4 The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context [3] 8:7 Some manuscripts in your love for us [4] 8:17 Or he went [5] 8:18 Or we sent; also verse 22 [6] 8:23 Greek apostles (ESV)