Serving and Giving

Paul's desire to gather an offering from Gentile churches to relieve the persecuted, famine-stricken believers in Jerusalem is a very strong theme in the NT. Paul addressed churches that had could serve by giving. He did utilize manipulation or guilt-trips. He appealed to the compassion of brothers and sisters for other brothers and sisters. He didn't detail the suffering of the Jewish believers. He simply pointed up the obligation we all have to minister material things to those who provide for our spiritual needs. But where are the churches in Macedonia and Achaia? They are in places like Thessalonica, Berea, and Philippi. These Gentile churches exemplify two very important characteristics when it comes to giving: Generosity and Genuineness.