What did the poor Macedonian believers do about giving to the Jerusalem saints?
The poor Macedonian believers begged Paul for the opportunity to give to the Jerusalem saints, giving beyond their power and with much entreaty that their gift be received. They first gave themselves to the Lord and then contributed to the fellowship of ministering to the saints in Jerusalem.
Les teaches that Paul and Titus did not go in and do a bunch of promoting or arm twisting; they simply expressed the need the Lord was laying on them to give, to help the poor saints in Jerusalem. The Macedonian believers, though poor, begged Paul for the opportunity to give and urged him with much entreaty that their gift be received. They did this not as hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and then took upon them the fellowship of ministering to the saints in Jerusalem. Les contrasts this with today's telethons and arm-twisting to get people to give, noting it was quite the opposite.
Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
More Questions
Why is giving today so different from the giving of the poor Macedonian churches?
Today's giving is the opposite of the Macedonians' — people have to have their arms twisted and churches must run telethons to get people to give.
Who begged Paul for the opportunity to give to the poor saints in Jerusalem?
Even though the believers in Greece were poor, they begged Paul for the opportunity to give to the saints in Jerusalem, entreating him to receive their gift.