1 Corinthians 16 - Who Should I Give Money To As A Christian?
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.
As Paul concludes his first letter, he addresses a very practical question. How should the church give to the needy and the poor? Paul had asked the early church to collect money to be delivered to the mother church in Jerusalem. We are not exactly sure what the need was, but most likely it was because of the famine there, and the persecution of the believers.
Paul taught them a systematic way to collect this special offering for them to give to the church in Jerusalem. The principles he lays out are good for all time and provide insights into how we give from both the right motive and practically.
Note the intentionality of giving. They were to set aside a certain amount of money on the first day of the week, which was Sunday (the day of the Resurrection). It was to be a weekly setting aside in keeping with their income. I.e. Some could give more and some less. We are accountable to God for our own giving and no one else's. The more money God has blessed us with, the greater responsibility to help those in need, especially in this case brothers and sisters in Christ outside our own church.
Note this is also what the bible calls a "special offering", which is not to replace our "tithe" which we should give to support our local church. A tinth is one tenth of what we bring into our household Although the concept of the "tithe" comes from the Old Testament! Again the principle is one of generosity and for most people the tithe is a good place to start or work toward.
Here are some good principles from other places in the bible about giving to those in need. Note the bible guidelines give us boundaries to us. We need to have compassion WITH discernment. Here is what that discernment process might look like.
Benevolence distribution is a potential source of conflict and division, and it is the job of deacons to prevent such problems by their wise, Spirit-led actions (Acts 6:1-7).
ii. The church has an obligation to help the truly needy (James 1:27).
iii. The church must discern who the truly needy are (1 Timothy 5:3).
iv. If one can work to support himself, he is not truly needy and must provide for his own needs (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, 1 Timothy 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:11).
v. If one can be supported by their family, he is not truly needy and should not be supported by the church (1 Timothy 5:3-4).
vi. Those who are supported by the church must make some return to the church body (1 Timothy 5:5, 5:10).
vii. It is right for the church to examine moral conduct before giving support (1 Timothy 5:9-13).
viii. The support of the church should be for the most basic necessities of living (1 Timothy 6:8).
This is so important that we steward God's resources wisely. There are many manipulative people out there that prey on churches expecting them to give just because they are a church. Having been a pastor for 30 years, I have countless examples were I have had to discern whether this person is the kind of person we should support.
A lot of churches have boundaries about how much you can support someone. The concern here is that we develop a "co-dependent" relationship where a person starts relying on the church to pay their bills and take care of them. This is not healthy.
But at the same time we should not get legalistic about these guidelines. We need to have grace and be open to helping those who God sends our way. So you can see their is a balance here. In this light we reminded of Jesus' sobering words about helping someone in need.
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
How do you decide who to give to as you come across people in need? If you were to meet God today do you think you will feel good about your generosity to the church and those in need?
I always use the saying, "You can't outgive God!" This means that as we are faithful to give God generously of what God has given us, God will often increase our means to give even more. This is a principle which comes from scriptures like,
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” - Luke 6:38
Jesus, thank you for giving to us the indescribable gift which has no pricetag. We know the cost to you was your innocent suffering and blood poured out on the cross. As we think of what you have done for us, help us to be generous to Your mission on earth and also to those who need help with the resources you have blessed us with. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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