What did the believers do before they gave to Paul's ministry?
Before giving to Paul's ministry, believers first gave themselves to the Lord. They stepped into God's saving grace, and only then did they open themselves up to the Apostle Paul and his ministry. Their giving followed heart-led grace, not legal rules or regulations.
Les teaches that giving is not under legal binding or legal ramifications. The saints give as God leads, as God has prospered them, and as the Lord lays it on their heart, not according to a set of rules and regulations. But before they gave to Paul's ministry, they gave first themselves to the Lord; they stepped into God's saving grace, and then they opened themselves up to the Apostle Paul and his ministry. Later, Titus was desired to finish the same grace by gathering these offerings for the poor saints in person.
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.