Yes, the Gentile believers gave because God laid it on their hearts to support the poor Jewish believers in Jerusalem, acknowledging their spiritual debt.
According to Les Feldick, the Jewish believers in Jerusalem had become destitute after pooling their resources, expecting the Kingdom to come. God, in turn, used the offerings of Gentile believers to care for them, as they recognized they owed the Jews spiritual things and were their debtors.
Romans 15:26-27 — Directly states that Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor saints in Jerusalem and that they were debtors to them.
Paul writes in Romans 15:26-27 that it pleased the believers in Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints in Jerusalem. He explains that they were debtors to them, for if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. Additionally, Acts 11:27-30 records that during a great dearth, the disciples in Antioch, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judea, sending it by Barnabas and Saul.
Les Feldick explains that the Jewish believers in Jerusalem had pooled all their resources into a common 'kitty' (Acts 2 and 3) because they expected the Kingdom to come imminently. When the Kingdom didn't come, their funds ran dry, leaving them destitute. God, being gracious, recognized their good intentions and provided for them through the offerings of Paul's Gentile converts. Les emphasizes that these Gentile believers, though poverty-stricken themselves, willingly gave to support the Jewish believers, acknowledging their spiritual debt. He points out that this was God's means of caring for those who had sacrificed everything for their faith.
Les Feldick teaches that the Gentiles owed the Jews because the Jews had been entrusted with the spiritual things—God's Word, the promises, and the Messiah. As the Gentiles received these spiritual blessings through Israel, they were obligated to share their material blessings in return. This is why Paul stressed that the Jews were worthy of material gifts because of all the spiritual things given to them.
Les explains that after Pentecost, the Jewish believers sold their possessions and put everything into a common fund, believing the Kingdom was just around the corner. When the Kingdom didn't come, the money ran out, and they became poor. He notes that once you've given away all your wealth, it's hard to start over, leaving them destitute.
Paul was commanded by the apostles at Jerusalem to remember the poor, and he was forward to do so. Throughout his missionary journeys, he collected offerings from the Gentile churches to bring to the poor saints in Jerusalem, as seen in I Corinthians 16 and II Corinthians 8-9. This was part of God's plan to care for the needy Jewish believers.
Collection for the Saints
Paul instructed the churches in Galatia and Corinth to take up a collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem, showing God's intent for Gentile believers to support Jewish believers.
Gentile Generosity
Despite being poverty-stricken, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia eagerly gave to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem, demonstrating their spiritual maturity and new outlook.
Jewish Believers' Destitution
The Jewish believers had exhausted their resources waiting for the Kingdom, and God used Gentile offerings to care for them because they were worthy of material support.
Poverty-Stricken Givers
The Gentile believers in rural Greece were intensely poor, yet they gave sacrificially so Paul could take the offering to the poor saints in Jerusalem.
Macedonian Support
Paul was supported by the poverty-stricken believers from Macedonia, showing their generosity even though they had little.
Jerusalem's Poverty
The Jewish believers became poor because they sold everything expecting the Kingdom, and God provided for them through Paul's Gentile converts.
Remember the Poor
Paul was instructed to remember the poor, which he did, referencing the Jerusalem believers who had pooled their resources.
Relief for Judea
Gentile believers in Antioch sent relief to the brethren in Judea during a famine, acting on the same principle of supporting Jewish believers.
Romans 15:26-27: For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
Directly answers why the Gentiles gave—they were debtors and acknowledged their spiritual debt.
1 Corinthians 16:1-2: Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Shows Paul's instruction for collecting offerings for the saints in Jerusalem.
Acts 11:29-30: Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Illustrates the same principle—Gentile believers sending relief to Jewish believers.
No, the opposite was true. As Les Feldick notes, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia were poverty-stricken, yet they gave sacrificially out of their love for God and their sense of spiritual debt to the Jews.
In Acts 2 and 3, the Jewish believers sold their possessions and pooled the money, expecting the Kingdom to come soon. When it didn't, the funds ran out, leaving them destitute.
Les teaches that because they acted with good intentions, God graciously provided for them through the offerings of Gentile believers, fulfilling His care for them.
Watch the Teaching: Why Poor Churches Begged to Give - 2 Corinthians 8:1-6