Bringing Gifts
| Secondary Keywords | bringing gifts Hosea Malachi minor old prophets testament |
|---|---|
| Scriptures | 2 Corinthians 8 Malachi 3 |
2 Corinthians 81 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 fairness14 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.”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 going to you of his own accord.18 With him we are sending 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 messengers 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. Malachi 31 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.6 “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts.12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.13 “Your words have been hard against me, says the LORD. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts?15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.17 “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him. | |
