severe test of affliction

USCCB - (NAB) - June 16, 2009:

"We want you to know, brothers and sisters, of the grace of God
that has been given to the churches of Macedonia,
for in a severe test of affliction,
the abundance of their joy and their profound poverty
overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
For according to their means, I can testify,
and beyond their means, spontaneously,
they begged us insistently for the favor of taking part
in the service to the holy ones,
and this, not as we expected,
but they gave themselves first to the Lord
and to us through the will of God,"

This reminds me of the passage where Jesus heals Peter's mother in law and then first thing she does is gets up and serves the others there.

There are many graces that come through suffering...and we can glorify God by allowing those abundant graces to flow from us to others as it was intended. The main thing is to give yourself to the Lord first and then be obedient to His will as you give of yourself to others according to your means.