2 Corinthians 8:5

and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God. [The apostle here sets forth the liberality of the Macedonians, and shows that of their own accord, and without any entreaty on his part, they gave, not only according to their means, but even beyond their means. When he, recognizing that they were giving beyond their means, sought to restrain them, they laid siege to him with persistent entreaty, both that they might be allowed to exercise the grace of liberality which God had put in their hearts, and that they might have fellowship in so worthy a work as ministering to the needs of God's people. The apostle, knowing their poverty, had hoped for but little from them, but they had exceeded all his expectations, for (and here was the secret of their liberality) they had surrendered their will to the will of God, so that before attempting to give their money they had first given themselves to the Lord, and to the apostle as the Lord's servant.]