•I Corinthians 16:1-4
•Thoughts on Collection and Other Things
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 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. 3 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.
(I Corinthians 16:1-4, ESV)
•Main Point
• These verses begin to close out the letter by discussing some other questions
• It is straightforward and to the point
• We see some wisdom in the Corinthians choosing who is worthy
• As well as whether Paul himself should be advised to go
Application Points
• Thoughts on Collection and Other Things
• It can be hard to apply what is being stated
• Still, there are some things to glean
• One such thing is to consider something I’ve thought on off and on
• Why the first day of the week?
• When did the early Christians gather?
• We have a hint here, that it would be the first day of the week, but even then it would be reading into the text
• “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.” (Acts 20:7, ESV)
• “I was in the Spirit on the Lords day…” (Revelation 1:10, ESV)
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Application Points
• Thoughts on Collection and Other Things (2)
• What happened to Saturday being the Sabbath?
• There came a desire within the Church to differentiate itself from certain Jewish practices
• The question is when it “officially” became the “new” sabbath to the Church
• We could ask two questions and come up with two answers
• When did the early Christians gather?
• What did they consider the Sabbath?
• We could understand them gathering on Sunday, but still maintained the Saturday as Sabbath
Application Points
• Thoughts on Collection and Other Things (3)
• We could see how the early Christians would be encouraged to meet on Sunday based upon Jesus’ resurrection
• One could also just as easily go to the Synagogue and hear Moses being taught on Sabbath
• Then go to a meeting on Sunday to hear about Christ fulfills what Moses had spoken of
• I could encourage us to best understand it from both perspectives and consider a few realities that are equally true
• First: there were meetings on Sunday
• Second: the “Lord’s Day” became known as Sunday
• Third: The word “Sabbath” is never associated with “Sunday” but always Saturday when describing a day of the week, or simply “rest” when not considered a day of the week, such as Hebrews 4:9 “9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God…”
Application Points
• Thoughts on Collection and Other Things (4)
• “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27, ESV)
• We should celebrate the rest we are given in God
• We often allow ourselves to run ragged
• Perhaps, we should reemphasize the truth that God is ultimately in control
• When we rest we willingly acknowledge this to be the case, putting our trust and cares in Him above all else
Application Points
• Thoughts on Collection and Other Things (5)
• The second thing to discuss is concerning collections
• First, it shows just how rarely these things are talked about in the Scripture
• Second, there are far too many congregations who are money focused
• A coworker visited a congregation for the first time
• While there the pastor spent 15-30 minutes speaking about the necessity of tithing
• Then went on to preach his sermon
• There has been a guilt placed on people to give
• Not only guilt but false assurance
• “Give us 20 dollars and all your desires will be fulfilled!”
Application Points
• Thoughts on Collection and Other Things (6)
• Am I saying that giving is not a good thing? No.
• I am not going to tell you how much to give or what you need to give
• Does Paul say “set aside x amount?”
• No, “each of you is to put something aside and store up, as he may prosper”
• He leaves it in the hands of the giver
• This should be the case not only with “special” collections but all collections
• It is not about how much one gives, but how faithful we are
• If a millionaire gives a million dollars to the congregation, praise the Lord for their faithfulness
• If another gives a penny, praise the Lord for their faithfulness
Application Points
• Thoughts on Collection and Other Things (7)
• In the end, we are to simply trust God will provide through the generosity of others whom He prospers
• No, better to put our faith in God that He will place on the hearts of those whom He has blessed
• How much should you give? No idea.
• Consider how much God is providing for you, and to ask the Spirit to provide you wisdom as to how much from that you can give
• We will all then be trusting in the same Spirit and same Lord to provide for the needs of the congregation
Application Points
• Thoughts on Collection and Other Things (8)
• The Lord knows our situations
• He knows about all the debts, all the inflation
• In the end, in both things we have discussed, we can see how it comes down to this
• Trusting in the Lord
• In taking a day of rest we trust that the Lord will accomplish what He has set out to do
• When it comes to giving, knowing how much He has prospered us prospered us and from the prospering give as He leads
• In both cases, faithfulness and trust are the keys
• Go out and be faithful and know the peace of God
• Do not be guilted by anything, but instead be encouraged and led in the love found in the Spirit of God for each of us
Application Points
• The Gospel of Christ
• Origins
• Fall
• Redemption
• Glorification
