The King will reply, 'I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!'

I have shown you in all things that by working hard in this way we must help the weak, remembering the words that the Lord Jesus himself said, 'There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.' "

if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.

So I thought it was necessary to urge these believers to go to you ahead of me and get ready in advance the gift you promised to make. Then it will be ready when I arrive, and it will show that you give because you want to, not because you have to.

You should each give, then, as you have decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly.

Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share with others.

In this way they will store up for themselves a treasure which will be a solid foundation for the future. And then they will be able to win the life which is true life.

Those who preach must preach God's messages; those who serve must serve with the strength that God gives them, so that in all things praise may be given to God through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

"The LORD your God will bless you in the land that he is giving you. Not one of your people will be poor

"All winged insects are unclean; do not eat them.

This food is for the Levites, since they own no property, and for the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns. They are to come and get all they need. Do this, and the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.

"When you gather your crops and fail to bring in some of the grain that you have cut, do not go back for it; it is to be left for the foreigners, orphans, and widows, so that the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.

Happy are those who are concerned for the poor; the LORD will help them when they are in trouble.

The LORD will protect them and preserve their lives; he will make them happy in the land; he will not abandon them to the power of their enemies.

Some people spend their money freely and still grow richer. Others are cautious, and yet grow poorer.

Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped.

Be generous and share your food with the poor. You will be blessed for it.

But an honorable person acts honestly and stands firm for what is right.

if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon.

And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause.

And God, who supplies seed for the sower and bread to eat, will also supply you with all the seed you need and will make it grow and produce a rich harvest from your generosity.

Here, then, is my receipt for everything you have given me---and it has been more than enough! I have all I need now that Epaphroditus has brought me all your gifts. They are like a sweet-smelling offering to God, a sacrifice which is acceptable and pleasing to him.

And with all his abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all your needs.

Do not forget to do good and to help one another, because these are the sacrifices that please God.