| We are all familiar with one-way streets or roads where all the traffic only flows in one direction. They serve a definite purpose in the overall traffic pattern. Most missionary effort is a one-way street. Personnel and resources all come from the home countries at least in the beginning. But here Paul turned things around. He wanted to organize financial help for the "sending" churches. The Jerusalem Christians had a very great need brought on by a prolonged famine. Paul asked the Macedonian churches in northern Greece and the churches in Achaia in southern Greece to recognize their indebtedness to the original "sending" church. In verse 27 Paul said, "They owed it to them." Imagine what it meant to the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem as Paul and others laid the bags of money on the table and said, "Your Gentile brothers and sisters want to help you." The other principle here for us is to recognize the world-wide (and local) fellowship of believers. If one group suffers, we need to share with them. If another group is rejoicing, then we are to rejoice with them. We are all one in Christ. Another two-way street is the avenue of prayer. Paul had prayed often for the Roman church (see 1:9, 10). He was asking that they should pray for him (vv.30,32). They had needed his prayers. Here he needed theirs. Paul had three specific requests in verses 31, 32. So often our prayers are too general. We don't take time to go into details. "Lord, bless the missionaries" is still often heard. But what are their needs? What family do they have? What are the conditions in the place where they are working? How should we pray for them? Missionaries pray for their home churches. Don't forget prayer on the human level is a two-way street. | 
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