The Apostle Paul was taking up a collection for a mission project in Jerusalem. The Christians in Jerusalem were experiencing great hardship because of a drought. The wealthy church in Corinth had made a big financial pledge but so far had not followed through. To encourage them, Paul tells them what the Macedonian church has done. The Macedonians were experiencing poverty and hardship. They were not a rich congregation like Corinth. Yet they were giving generously, even beyond their means and as a result God had blessed them with an abundance of joy.