Nearly all the Macedonian believers were poor in this world's goods, but their hearts were overflowing with love for God and His truth, and they gladly gave for the support of the gospel. When general collections were taken up in the Gentile churches for the relief of the Jewish believers, the liberality of the converts in Macedonia was held up as an example to other churches. Writing to the Corinthian believers, the apostle called their attention to "the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, . . . yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints." 2 Corinthians 8:1-4.

Næsten alle de makedoniske troende var fattige på denne verdens gods, men deres hjerter strømmede over af kærlighed til Gud og hans sandhed og de gav med glæde til evangeliets fremme. Når der blev foretaget almindelige indsamlinger i de hedningekristne menigheder til hjælp for de jødiske troende, blev de makedoniske troendes godgørenhed fremhævet som et eksempel for andre menigheder. Da apostlen skrev til de kristne i Korint, bad han dem lægge mærke til "den Guds nåde, som er givet Makedoniens menigheder, at samtidig med, at de stod deres prøve i megen trængsel er der af deres overvældende glæde og deres dybe fattigdom vældet frem en rigdom af gavmildhed. Thi det kan jeg vidne: de gav efter evne, ja, over evne og det uopfordret! Indtrængende bad de os om den nåde at måtte være med i hjælpen til de hellige." 2Kor. 8,1-4.