1 Corinthians 16:1-4

                                                             1 Corinthians 16:1-4

Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.  And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.  If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.

 

Money is one of the most controversial, misunderstood, and abused subjects in the church.  It is gratifying to see Paul give such clear and direct teaching on this subject.  He doesn’t make excuses or qualify his remarks, he simply tells them what is expected of them and what they can expect of him.

 

GIVING REQUIRES INTENTIONALITY:  If we are not intentional about giving, we will not give.  Paul asks for the member of the church to set aside part of their money each week that would be designated as their giving and not just take up a general collection after he arrived.  This reveals that giving was expected.  It demonstrates that regularity was expected as well as generosity.  They were to give of their resources not just out of whatever might be left over.  He didn’t want them to take us a last-minute collection that would have likely been much smaller and done out of obligation instead of intentionality.  

 

GIVING REQUIRES INTEGRITY:  Paul also made it clear about how the funds would be handled.  He wasn’t planning to take the money himself and just ask them to trust him to get it to the right place.  He wanted them to authorize a couple of people that they would entrust so take the funds to Jerusalem.  Only if it seemed wise and necessary, would he accompany them to Jerusalem.  Transparency about how money is invested and handled is an important lesson for churches and missions to understand.

 

APPLICATION: Be generous with the funds with which we are entrusted, making sure to set aside funds for giving on a regular basis.  When funds are received, make sure to be clear about how the funds were spent and that they were used for the intended purpose.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than any of the other people of his
Read more

1 Timothy 1:3-7

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not   to teach any different doctrine,   nor   to devote themselves to myths and endless   genealogies, which promote   speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.    The aim of our charge is love   that issues from a pure heart and   a good conscience and   a sincere faith.    Certain persons, by   swerving from these, have wandered away into   vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law,   without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.   There will always be false teachers that come into the church attempting to distract people from the truth and destroy people’s faith.  When this happens, it is the job of spiritually mature leaders to confront these false teachers and correct their teachings.  However, it is important that this correction be accomplished with the right motives and methods. 
Read more

1 Timothy 2:11-15

Let a woman learn quietly   with all submissiveness.    I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.    For Adam was formed first,   then Eve;   and Adam was not deceived, but   the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.    Yet she will be saved through   childbearing—if they continue in   faith and love and holiness, with self-control. There is certainly controversy and confusion about this passage in many churches today.  The idea of a distinction between men and women and their roles in the family and church certainly goes against the flow of many cultures around the world.  Some would argue that the literal and plain teaching of this passage is no longer applicable to today’s culture.  However, it is always dangerous to discard biblical teaching or try to interpret Scripture based on the cultures in which we live.  Certainly, the Spirit who inspired this text was aware of the many changes that would occur in future cul
Read more