Paul informs the church in Corinth his plans to visit after Titus and the two “brothers.” His idea is that a personal appeal would serve as further motivation to complete the collection for the struggling saints—the poor and persecuted—in Jerusalem.

This relational approach and appeal takes generous giving from the realm of going through the motions or sheer drudgery into the realm of delight and devotion to God.

It is a challenge for us today: everything we do in worship as a group and as individuals ought to be seen as relational (and transformational); not simply occasional.