The passage in Paul's letter to the Corinthians focuses on the collection of money. The intended beneficiaries of the collection are the Christians living in Jerusalem who were, at that time, suffering from the effects of persecution and poverty. In his letter, Paul tries to help the Corinthians understand the significance of the collection.

To Paul, the collection was an important part of his ministry. It was more than just donating money. The collection, to him, was among other things, an act of grace, a sign of fellowship, a ministry of service and a work of love for the saints. The act of donating and collecting money was part of a Christian's service of God for the Church. Most importantly, it is an essential part of the Gospel. According to Paul, when one believes in the Gospel, one becomes responsible for others.

In his letter, Paul also mentions the example of Macedonians who were generous with their money even in the midst of their own trials and deprivation. They had actively searched for an opportunity to reach into their own experience of poverty and had graciously donated to the Christian community in Jerusalem. In doing so, they testified to their dependence on God and their joy of being Christians. Paul is appealing to the Corinthians to do the same.

Paul's appeal to the Corinthians should also be aimed at us.