Why Should I Give Money to the Church? - 1 Corinthians 16

 

The Collection for the Lord’s People

16 Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

Paul addresses another matter the Corinthians were concerned about. The collection for the believers in Jerusalem.  Paul had also asked other churches to collect an offering for the Jerusalem church because they were so poor.  Why were they poor?  There were a large number of widows, and also they were in the midst of the famine.  We see that the sense of the church was not just one church, but each church had a moral duty to help the other churches in need. Just like there are no lone ranger Christians, there should be no lone ranger churches.  

Note Paul is very practical. He asks everyone to set aside a sum on money on the first day of the week, which was Sunday.  Who is to give?  Everyone! He is realistic, asking them to set aside an amount which is in keeping with their income.  And he urges them to be consistent doing every week.  This model still works today as we give to our church and beyond to the great cause of God's kingdom.  

In other passages like 1 Timothy, Paul command the church to not only help the poor, but also widows, and to give a double portion to ministers of the gospel.  Paul urges them to collect the money and then give it to men who they approve.  This helped Paul be above approach and separated him from the disbursement of funds.  This is why churches have specific trustworthy people to handle the offerings of the church.  

Paul uses the word "charis" for gift, which is where we get the word "grace".  When we give to support the church, it's ministers, and others in need we are offering a grace gift.  A grace gift is freely given.  As we have freely received God's gift of salvation, we freely give of our time, talents and treasures.  Giving is an opportunity to exercise faith and also gratitude for what God has done for you.  Giving shouldn't be done under pressure, manipulation or obligation.  Paul says in another chapter, "Freely give, because God loves a cheerful giver!"  

Do you give to the church and others in need?  Why or why not?  Do you set aside a certain amount of money in keeping with your income?  Is giving a joy for you or a burden?  What might this tell you?  Remember: we can never out give God! 

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