Daily Bread - 1 Corinthians 16
The Collection for God's People
1Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.
As Paul ends his letter to the Corinthians, he ends with practical instructions on how the Corinthian church can help the mother church in Jerusalem. He instructs them on how they can give generously and consistently by setting aside a certain amount of money in keeping with their income.
This is why a strict tithing message can often be unhelpful and un-motivating. While the tithe is the bible standard in the Old Testament, here Paul describes giving in proportion to one’s means or income. For some, tithing would not be a big stretch. For others, it could be extremely difficult, especially in our current economic environment.
But the principle Paul uplifts here and in his other letter to the Corinthians is consistent and generous giving in proportion to one’s income. In another letter, he also stresses being a cheerful giver. There are times in life where some areas of God’s church may have more means than another. In this letter, we see the church as one body of Christ. The church in Galatia and Corinth looked out for and sacrificially gave (ie. this is a special offering) to the church in Jerusalem.
Do you give consistently and generously according to your income? In our church we take 10% of our offering and give to a myriad of local and global benevolences. Hopefully the church can be a model of caring for others outside its own four walls.
There are churches, like the church of Jerusalem in the First Century that cannot continue without our help. And one day we might need someone else’s help too.
God promises us in Matthew 6 that as we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness that all the things we need in this life will be provided for us in abundance(6:33). As we are generous and consistent in our giving financially and otherwise, we can put our faith into action and be blessing to others.
Jesus thank you for the indescribable gift you have given to us, help us to use the gifts we have been given to be a blessing to others, in Your Name, Amen.
1Now about the collection for God's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.
As Paul ends his letter to the Corinthians, he ends with practical instructions on how the Corinthian church can help the mother church in Jerusalem. He instructs them on how they can give generously and consistently by setting aside a certain amount of money in keeping with their income.
This is why a strict tithing message can often be unhelpful and un-motivating. While the tithe is the bible standard in the Old Testament, here Paul describes giving in proportion to one’s means or income. For some, tithing would not be a big stretch. For others, it could be extremely difficult, especially in our current economic environment.
But the principle Paul uplifts here and in his other letter to the Corinthians is consistent and generous giving in proportion to one’s income. In another letter, he also stresses being a cheerful giver. There are times in life where some areas of God’s church may have more means than another. In this letter, we see the church as one body of Christ. The church in Galatia and Corinth looked out for and sacrificially gave (ie. this is a special offering) to the church in Jerusalem.
Do you give consistently and generously according to your income? In our church we take 10% of our offering and give to a myriad of local and global benevolences. Hopefully the church can be a model of caring for others outside its own four walls.
There are churches, like the church of Jerusalem in the First Century that cannot continue without our help. And one day we might need someone else’s help too.
God promises us in Matthew 6 that as we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness that all the things we need in this life will be provided for us in abundance(6:33). As we are generous and consistent in our giving financially and otherwise, we can put our faith into action and be blessing to others.
Jesus thank you for the indescribable gift you have given to us, help us to use the gifts we have been given to be a blessing to others, in Your Name, Amen.
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