Giving to the Needy

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.^(A) If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^(B)

² On the first day of every week,^(A) each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.^(B)

¹¹ Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness^(A) to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

¹² For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,^(A) not according to what one does not have.

¹⁴ At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,^(A) so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality,

Generosity Encouraged

⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.^(A)

⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,^(A) not reluctantly or under compulsion,^(B) for God loves a cheerful giver.^(C)