Romans 15:24-27 (ESV)
I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
Paul had a passion to visit the church at Rome. He wanted to minister to them and encourage them. But, at the moment he was on a mission of another sort. We all know Paul as the deep theologian that he was. But, he also was a servant. He and his team had been given a charge by the leadership in Jerusalem to travel to the many churches he and others started to gather money for the churches in Jerusalem. We are not told as to why the saints in Jerusalem need support, but with the persecution of the religious Jews toward the Church, they needed material help. This is what 1 Corinthians 16 is all about, as well. Paul was collecting funds to support those saints in Jerusalem who may have lost financial gain, jobs and homes due to their desire to become Christians. It should be noted that Paul did not judge or spend time analyzing why they need money. He just went to work to collect it.
It should be noted how this occupied his thoughts. He was writing to the Roman Christians from Corinth. He wants to go to Spain. But, he has to make a stop in Jerusalem to care for others. Paul’s theology was consumed by his servanthood. He indeed practiced his faith with love and good works. Paul’s own words to the Corinthian believers about this collection was a demonstration of his life:
2 Corinthians 8:7 (ESV)
7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.
He is referring to giving money to the needs of the saints when he writes, “... that you excel in this act of grace also.”
Not only does he walk the talk but Paul also wanted to teach the Romans the reason for this act of giving. He could have gone to a Old Testament passage about giving a tenth of what you make to God. He could have gone to the passage that say giving to God can had spiritual blessing. Instead, not his reasoning for this giving to the saints in Jerusalem:
Romans 15:27 (ESV)
For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
He didn’t count their funds a gift. He didn’t consider them charity. He considered them a debt to pay. Note what Vine says about this word for “owe” it to them:
ὀφειλέτης opheiletēs; from 3784; an ower, i.e. person indebted; figuratively, a delinquent; morally, a transgressor (against God): — debtor, which owed, sinner.
Used 7x in the authorized version - debtor 5, sinner 1, which owed 1;
one who owes another, a debtor; one held by some obligation, bound by some duty, one who has not yet made amends to whom he has injured: one who owes God penalty or whom God can demand punishment as something due, i.e. a sinner
This giving on Sunday morning takes on an entirely new thought process when we read Paul’s words. Our giving is often thought of (and at times, rightly so) as a “gift” and “act of charity.” The giving should be out of love. But, as Gentiles we need realize that God has giving us a gift and we have a service to render in obligation for receiving the gift of salvation. It is not to earn salvation. It is to recognize the great gift God gave us and in return we give to others.
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