The willingness to sacrifice on the part of the Macedonian believers came as a result of wholehearted consecration. Moved by the Spirit of God, they "first gave their own selves to the Lord" (2 Corinthians 8:5), then they were willing to give freely of their means for the support of the gospel. It was not necessary to urge them to give; rather, they rejoiced in the privilege of denying themselves even of necessary things in order to supply the needs of others. When the apostle would have restrained them, they importuned him to accept their offering. In their simplicity and integrity, 344 and in their love for the brethren, they gladly denied self, and thus abounded in the fruit of benevolence.

Denne villighed til at ofre fra de makedoniske troendes side stammede fra helhjertet overgivelse. Tilskyndet af Guds Ånd "gav de sig selv først og fremmest til Herren", (2Kor. 8,5) og derpå var de villige til at give rigeligt af deres penge til støtte for evangeliet. Det var ikke nødvendigt at opfordre dem til at give; de glædede sig snarere over det privilegium at måtte nægte sig selv endog det nødvendige for at kunne imødekomme andres nød. Da apostlen ville holde dem tilbage, bønfaldt de ham om at modtage deres gave. I deres enfold og retskaffenhed og i deres kærlighed til brødrene fornægtede de med glæde sig selv og bar således rigeligt af barmhjertighedens frugt.