38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For xwith the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
The Cheerful Giver
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and mwhoever sows bountifully1 will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give nas he has decided in his heart, onot reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a pcheerful giver. 8 And qGod is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency2 in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,
r“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies sseed 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 tneeds of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, uthey3 will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your vconfession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your wcontribution 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 xgift!
The Widow’s Offering
41 aAnd he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the boffering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.1 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
