God Loves a Cheerful Giver
(1 Corinthians 16:1–4)

1Of the ministryng to the saintes, it is but superfluous for me to write vnto you: 2For I knowe the redinesse of your mynde, whereof I boast my selfe of you, vnto them of Macedonia, that Achaia was prepared a yere a go: and your zeale hath prouoked many. 3Yet haue I sent the brethren, lest our boastyng which I make of you, should be in vayne in this behalfe, that ye (as I haue sayde) may prepare your selues. 4Lest yf they of Macedonia come with me, and fynde you vnprepared, we (I wyll not say you) shoulde be ashamed in this matter of boastyng. 5Therfore, I thought it necessarie to exhort the brethren, to come beforehand vnto you, and to prepare your good blessyng promised afore, that it myght be redy, so that it be as a blessyng, and not a defraudyng.

6This yet I say he which soweth litle, shall reape litle: and he that soweth in geuyng largely and freely, shall reape plenteouslie. 7Let euery man do, accordyng as he hath purposed in his heart, not grudgyngly, or of necessitie: For God loueth a chearefull geuer. 8God is able to make you riche in all grace, that ye in all thynges hauyng sufficient vnto the vtmost, may be riche vnto all maner of good workes,

9As it is written: He hath sparsed abrode, and hath geuen to the poore, his ryghteousnesse remayneth for euer.

10He that ministreth seede vnto ye sower, ministreth bread also for foode, and multiplieth your seede, and encreaseth the fruites of your ryghteousnesse: 11That in all thynges ye may be made riche into all singlenesse, which causeth through vs, that thankes are geuen vnto God. 12For the administration of this seruice, not only supplieth ye neede of the saintes: but also is aboundaunt by the thankes geuyng of many vnto God, 13Which by the experiment of this ministration, prayse God for the obedience of your consentyng to the Gospell of Christe, and for your singlenesse in distributyng to them, and to all men: 14And by their prayers for you, which long after you, for the aboundaunt grace of God in you. 15Thankes be vnto God, for his vnspeakeable gyft.