Why did Paul have to tell the Corinthians to get busy and finish the collection?
Paul urged the Corinthians to finish because a year had passed and they still had not completed the collection for the saints in Jerusalem. He wanted it done before he arrived so their giving would not be motivated by his personal presence or a sense of obligation.
Les explains that Paul had spent about a year encouraging the churches in Greece to prepare their offerings to be taken to Jerusalem. But human nature is such that people may say they will give, yet very few actually follow through. Paul told the Corinthians that for a whole year they had been talking about getting the collections ready for the saints in Jerusalem, but they still had not done it. So he said, let us get busy and complete it, because he wanted it all finished before he arrived. That way they would not give merely because he was personally present and they felt obligated. The context also notes this is about Christian giving in general, with no mention of a tithe or ten percent.
And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
More Questions
What does Paul tell the Corinthians to put into practice in 2 Corinthians 8:10?
In 2 Corinthians 8:10 Paul tells the Corinthians that since they already have the other virtues, the next thing to put into practice is their giving.