Paul wasn’t raising funds for himself, but rather for the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem who were in need. To encourage the Corinthian believers to give, he upholds the churches of Macedonia who gave out of their severe poverty and hardship. Yet it was their joy to give. First to the work, and then even to Paul.
Paul reminds the Corinthians that the previous year they were the first to give. They were eager to do so and Paul honored them for that.
He further reminds them that Christ became poor that we might become rich.
Lastly he tells them that he is not commanding them to give, just encouraging them as an expression of their love for Christ.
His desire was not that they become poor in their giving, but rather that they send to others so that there is equality. This was not just for everyday matters, but because the church in Jerusalem was going through a difficult time.
Generosity should be the language of every believer. It should mark the Christians and churches in every place. This isn’t government distributed communism or socialism. It is generous people of their own free will, not under coercion, helping one another. We all have need at different times.
Do we practice the art of generosity to those who work hard, but are just struggling? Do we let other people make the sacrifices? Or condemn the rich for not giving when it is the poor people in 2 Cor 8 who were most generous?