And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 2 Corinthians 8:5
This chapter focuses on generosity and describes how by the grace of God and despite their own poverty and suffering, Macedonian churches financially supported the suffering Christians in Jerusalem. Macedonian churches gave generously and gave even beyond their means. Paul had not expected this. Paul says here that the Macedonian churches had given themselves to the Lord and then, by God's will, had also given themselves to Paul.
We all give to our churches and support various ministries. The question here is what made Macedonian giving so special. It was not how much they gave. It was that they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to suffering fellowmen by the will of God. When we give, the issue is not giving money. It is giving ourselves to the Lord. If we really give ourselves to the Lord, then the right kind of material giving will naturally follow.