But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially. Romans 15:25-27 NLT
Follow the money! Paul mentions this collection of free-will offerings among the churches he started. Here in Romans, he mentions that he will be able to visit Rome and connect with the churches and believers.
Jerusalem was in horrible turmoil because of mass persecution and riots targeting Christians. As the hub of both Judaism and Christianity, it left many poor and hungry. The “mission” here was to encourage churches all over the Roman empire to give as they can to provide money for believers basic needs, namely food.
Paul has been bold in asking, and he has a real gift of encouraging people to be generous. Just the fact that he mentions these areas of Macedonia (modern-day Greece) and Achaia (southern Greece), is a way to let the believers in Rome know that some of the poorest of communities and also under persecution from their Jewish brothers, are already deeply committed to giving and have already sent their money in for the cause. This “leveraged” giving was also used to encourage believers in Corinth, a quiet wealthy city. Paul, himself a missionary, would not take money for his work, because he chose to make and repair tents to earn his personal and travel expenses. Paul did not want anyone to compare him to the common “itinerate” preachers “fleecing the flock,” just to make money.
One of the jobs of trusted, early church deacons, was to carry cash to Jerusalem. Giving is one of the greatest themes of the New Testament churches. Remember in Acts 2, the proof of the Holy Spirit moving in a church community was giving – ”And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.” They also “shared their meals with great joy and generosity” (Acts 2:44-46). This was the pattern that permeated the church and set a high bar of generosity for believers everywhere.
Still today, churches that are healthy and growing are generous in local causes, feeding the poor and helping the needy as well as distributing money for the gospel to be preached in all nations. And, also today, when there is an overwhelming need, either in the United States or anywhere in the world, churches come together to extravagantly give to support that cause. This is the ethos of true Christianity! We freely give because God has freely given to us. We can thank the Apostle Paul for this challenge and model of generosity.
Prayer
Dad.
What a wonderful lesson on being generous. I believe in extravagant, radical giving because you did so for us! As you know, I did not learn this until I was in my forties, but have continued to exceed our giving each year since. I am grateful for mature believers as well as thriving churches who are generous. Thank for the encouragement and the challenge to not be able to out-give you!