Bible Verses About Emulation

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia;

how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:

and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.

But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.

For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up very many of them.

But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared:

lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence.

I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion.