Romans 15:26-29

For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem. Yes, it has been their good pleasure, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to serve them in fleshly things. When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain. I know that, when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Good News of Christ.

It’s easy for some to forget that it was because of the Jewish Christians that the Gentiles learned about salvation in Christ Jesus. The early Gentile Christians knew this and put together a financial gift. Evidently, the persecution from non-Christian Jews had robbed the church members in Jerusalem of much of their wealth. Since many of the Gentile Christians were doing well, they willingly offered to help.

We read in Acts that some of the Gentile Christians tried to stop Paul from going to Jerusalem because they were told by the Holy Spirit that Paul was to be arrested there, but Paul would not change his mind. I am pretty sure that someone else could have taken the gift to them, but I believe he wanted to bring the offering to the church himself because he loved the Jews so much as we read about earlier. I think he wanted to represent the Gentile believers because that was his ministry.

All of us, as Gentile believers, should recognize our roots. We follow a Jewish Messiah that brought a message of hope from the Jews to us. This is the way that God wanted to do it and it is not strange for us to be thankful. In fact, it makes a lot of sense.