Pleased to Make a Certain Contribution Romans 15:26

Paul the apostle told the believers in Rome, “Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-five of Romans, Paul told the believers how “Macedonia and Achaia” were “pleased” “to make a certain contribution for the poor saints” where we read:

For it has pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia

to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

The verse begins, “For it has pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia ...” Paul began with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “it has pleased them” or “it seemed good for the believers to choose, determine, decide and do willing as well as be ready, prefer and choose” “of Macedonia” which refers to “a country bounded on the south by Thessaly and Epirus, on the east by Thrace and the Aegean Sea, on the west by Illyria, and on the North by Dardania and Moesia whose name means extended land” “and Achaia” which means “a Roman province embracing all Greece except Thessaly whose name means trouble”. Paul referred to the “pleasure and determined will” of “Macedonia and Achaia”.

The verse goes on to say, “... to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.”. Paul added the words, “to make” which means “to fashion and form” “a certain contribution” or “”a particular fellowship, association, community, communion and joint participation” “for the poor saints” which refers to “on behalf of the the believers who are lowly, afflicted, destitute of Christian virtues and eternal riches who are reduced to beggary, begging and asking alms” “which are at Jerusalem” or “who live in the city of Jerusalem which means set double peace”. Paul shared how “Macedonia and Achaia” desired to give an offering to the “poor saints” who were in “Jerusalem”.

When we think through these words of Paul, we note the care of the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. They received a collection for the “poor saints” who were in the city of Jerusalem. When Jesus Christ comes into a person's life through belief and trust in Him, they begin to care for the other believers who may not even live in their own city. The example of the believers in Macedonia and Achaia is one for all believers to emulate, and when they realize the “gift” God has given to them, every other believer will be their concern.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome, “it has pleased them verily” (of Macedonia and Achaia), and their debtors they are”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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