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that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
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For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,
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imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
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And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
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So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
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But as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also.
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I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
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For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
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And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;
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but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.
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For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.