“1 Corinthians 16:1-4”

Thursday, May 10, 2018

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.”

---End of Scripture Verses---

Paul had written in the previous verse that our “work” or “toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Giving money to the congregational collection to carry out the work of the Lord’s church is a most very important work indeed! A need had arisen within the church in Jerusalem (Romans 15:25-27; 2 Corinthians 8-9), and Paul had “directed” the churches in Corinth and the regions of Galatia to take up a “collection” to be forwarded to the needy “saints” living there.

This was a collection for a specific purpose, but it still amounts to a pattern for all churches of Christ forever to follow, because this is the only New Testament command (and approved example) given for collecting money, and Paul had given this same command to several other congregations. Raffles, bingos, fairs, auctions and other kinds of “fund raisers” are very popular today but not authorized by the New Testament (the divine standard) as legitimate ways for churches to collect monies.

Notice that Paul is not saying to put aside some money at HOME like many people claim that he is. That would make no sense in the context because Paul told the brethren to “put aside and save” the money so that “no collections be made when I come” (verse 2). If they saved it at home until his arrival then they would still have to make the collection when he got there! Obviously he was telling them to take this collection when they were gathered together and to accumulate it and save it for him to receive at a later date.

This collection was to be made “on the first day of every week” (verse 2). This only makes sense because this was the day that the Lord’s disciples regularly gathered together to worship and praise God (John 20:19, 26; Acts 20:7). This was the day of the week that the Jesus arose from the grave and defeated death for us (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1). This is the “Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10) when the disciples gathered together as a church to take the “Lord’s Supper” (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:20), and the perfect time to take up a collection. This is the perfect and authorized day and place for all churches of Christ (in all places and for all times) to take up their collections as well.

The command to contribute to the collection was for “each one” of the brethren in Corinth (verse 2). It is every Christian’s God-given privilege and responsibility to “sacrifice” a portion of their God-given blessings to the work of the church of the Lord. Surely there can be no more important endeavor than to support the church that Jesus died in order to purchase (Acts 20:28). If He considered it worth dying for then we should deem it worth sacrificing for. Teaching the Gospel, saving the lost and helping support needy Christians are the vital works that God has assigned to congregations of His people (Ephesians 4:12)

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The portion of the collect that goes to “benevolence” that a church takes up should be earmarked “for the saints” (verse 1). The word “saint” is the Greek word “hagios” and means “holy one”. A “saint” is a “sanctified” child of God who lives in a covenant relationship with Him (1 Corinthians 1:2). In other words, a saint is a (living) Christian! The New Testament only authorizes congregations to give “benevolence” to Christians who are in need (Acts 2:45; 4:34-37; 6:1-8; 11:26-30; Romans 15:25-28; 2 Corinthians 8:1-6; 9:1; 1 Timothy 5:5-16). An individual Christian CAN and SHOULD help any person they are able to when a need arises. But the authorized work of a local church is limited to “needy saints”.

Is this much ado about nothing or taking the New Testament pattern very seriously? Is this splitting hairs or trying our best to obey the pattern of the divine standard that God has given to us? Ultimately we each have to make that determination for ourselves and act accordingly. I personally am going to give serious heed to the command given in God’s word to obey the pattern! “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13 {Philippians 3:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:9}). The commands that the Apostles give to us in the New Testament are the commandments of God (1 Corinthians 14:37)!

Please read 1 Corinthians 16:5-9 for tomorrow.

Hope you have a blessed day!

- Louie Taylor

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