The Contribution of the Saints

‌Intro:‌

Final Chapter

Not a rebuke but final instructions for the Church

1. Financial Contributions (1-3)

A. Do so Readily

The first thing that Paul instructs the Corinthians to do is to be people who are ready to give where there is a need. Paul is commanding them to be contributors Of other believers of Jesus Christ who have needs. Paul is not talking about being charitable to the lost world, although I think this is also what God calls the church to be involved with. Here he is specifically talking about Christians meeting the needs of other Christians. Paul clarifies that he has also asked the churches of Galatia to contribute to the needs of other churches.

Paul introduces, “now concerning the collection for the saints” and he does so in a way that we can assume that this was familiar to the church there. I would like to think of it as if Paul laid out a system of giving for the churches, like for saints in general in need as one category. 1 Timothy 5 reminds us that widows who qualified as honorable and needing assistance, were also those whom the church assisted financially.

Paul makes clear in verse 3 that the gift that they will be collecting will specifically go to the Christians in the city of Jerusalem. We are not told what the problem is in Jerusalem that requires such financial support but those details do not matter. We have already seen examples in the book of acts where the church gather together resources to help the church in Jerusalem during a great famine.

Acts 11:28–30 NASB95

28 One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. 29 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea. 30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.

In this particular case, the needs grew out of a lack of food because of the famine and therefore other churches stepped in to help the churches in Judea most particularly in Jerusalem.

So regardless of why Jerusalem needed help, we see that Paul has rallied the churches to begin collections in order to help the believers there. This challenge for us requires all believers to have a willing and ready mindset that if needs arise in believers and their lives, you will step in to help them financially. These needs could come from a crisis in the lives of others, or they could come from an opportunity for others to be blessed.

I know that our family was extremely blessed during the time when we were raising money for our adoption. Those believers in our lives were faithful to donate to that cause and in doing so the Lord raised the money that we needed and our faith to trust him in these moments.

One reason that a Christian would not be willing to help others in times of need is simply they do not understand the aspect of community in the body of Christ. As we are wed together in Christ, we are called to give aid and help to one another because we are one body.

In

Acts 2:42–47 NASB95

42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

This is such an amazing summary of verses about the sharing of life in the community of gathered early church. They are learning together, eating together, praying together, and gathering their assets so that whenever someone had needs in the body of Christ, they would be able to meet them. This is our spiritual family, and I am so thankful as one of your pastors to see the ways that the Lord Jesus uses you to meet the needs of others in this body. I have seen gifts been given anonymously, without need for appreciation and accolades, that have helped families greatly. My family has been a recipient of this and I know others have as well. I praise the Lord for you all!

B. Do so Proportionally

Secondly Paul says that we should give proportionally. In verse two he states that on the first day of every week each of us should put aside and save as he may prosper. That phrase “as he may prosper” is Paul stating that financial contributions and gifts to other believers Should be based upon a financial surplus that we have. Paul is not asking for believers to starve themselves or their families in order to help others in need. Instead Paul wants believers to understand that they are to give from the abundance that God has given them.Any financial contribution is a sacrifice and therefore an abundance of money in our bank accounts could be used for our own fanAny financial contribution is a sacrifice and therefore an abundance of money in our bank accounts could be used for our own family pleasures and joys, but we instead can give that money away, as we have an abundance.

Somebody ask “well Pastor, what is an abundance, your definition of abundance may be different than mine.” I have seen over the years the culmination numerous small gifts bring about God’s plan for missions in the same way that one big might accomplish the same effect. It does not matter how much you give of that surplus, as long as in your heart you are giving with a purpose to serve the Lord and his church.

Call gives more detailed instruction in 2 Cor chapters 8-9 regarding financial giving. Turn to:

2 Corinthians 9:6–11 NASB95

6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written, “He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.

Paul gives more greater detail about the mystery of our generosity. On one hand, God tells us to give as we may prosper, but on the other hand, he tells us that as we give towards others prosperity, he prospers us with more so we can prosper other. Our financial blessings from God are proportionate to how we give towards others. Be aware of the great danger here of greed…God is not a magic Jeanie who grants your wish if you just grant someone elses wish. This process first starts in the heart, which is where Paul goes in v 7. This type of blessing from God starts in hearts that do not cling to the material things of this world. Its just money, perishable currency that has no eternal value.

But as God prospers you, you give towards helping the church and he will continue to “multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of righteousness.”

C. Do so Strategically

Therefore from this truth we get to the third point about giving financially and that requires us to do so strategically. Another words we have to plan to be a blessing to others. As Paul says back in first Corinthians chapter 16 we have to put aside and save. Paul wanted the Corinthian's to be strategic about their collection of the money so that when he arrived

To be with him, he would not have to worry about collecting money himself for the church in Jerusalem. Therefore for us to be faithful with our finances, we have to be strategic and plan accordingly to be a blessing with what God gives us in abundance.

This may mean that if you give to the poor, you always pull out cash This may mean that if you give to the poor, you always pull out cash to hand to the beggar on the street out of the bank to hand to the beggar on the street. If you preferred to give them gift cards for food or groceries, you would prepare before hand to purchase those gift cards and have them on the ready. This also means that in your monthly budget you set aside a percentage that enables you to give and contribute to ministries Where there are needs.

Being strategic with saving is also a heart issue. You are setting aside money and being strategic with how that money is placed in the hands of those in need.

Back in first Corinthians 16, Paul Identifies that the collection of the financial gift for Jerusalem should be on the first day of every week. We know this to be the Lords day, when the church gathers to worship the risen Savior Jesus Christ. This means then that Paul is identifying Strategic processes for collecting money for those in need. In other words there are individual and there are corporate collections for those believers in the church. Paul is not talking about a consistent tiesStrategic processes for collecting money for those in need. In other words there are individual and there are corporate collections for those believers in the church. Paul is not talking about a consistent tithe to the church. The tithe would be considered your regularly gift back to God that comes from the first fruits of our labors. This tithe money goes back to your local church in order to fund its operation and ministries.

Paul is actually talking about special offerings as we have come to understand them. These can be collected corporately, if for example, RCC wanted to meet a certain need for Casey and Guily Kidd in Peru. But this collection can also be done individually, as you save and meet the needs of other believers and ministries that you want to support.

Let me encourage you to find reputable and faithful ministries to support outside of the local church. This support does not replace your tithe to your local church, it is in addition to. There are so many ministries to consider that need the help and generosity and frankly, they are always asking for money. Do not be labored by their efforts for their asking you for money is their testimony of faith in God to supply their needs.

I watched my brother and sister in law raise 150K many years ago when they wanted to travel to Spain. As Presbyterians, they do not have a lump sum bank account like the cooperative program of the Southern Baptist convention to draw from. Instead they planned dinners at the homes of friends and family and invited others to come and listen to their plea for financial and prayerful support.It was a difficult and challenging process, one that destroys any human pride, and there please wear a testimony of their faith that God was going to provide. And he did granting them all the money they needed to leave the states and Proclaim the gospel in the dark country of Spain.

D. Do so Cheerfully

The fourth aspect of our financial contribution is that we should do so cheerfully. Paul does not really mention this in first Corinthians so let's go back to second Corinthians chapter 9 again, looking at verse 6

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 NASB95

6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

To be a cheerful giver to have the heart to give towards othes without grief or sorrow. If you are like Lot’s wife, looking back at that which you left behind, you are not giving with a cheerful heart. If you struggle with grief in giving, understand that grief comes from a lack of faith, which is fear or the unknown, or it is covetousness, which is the love of the material over the immaterial.

Look with me at 2 Cor 9:5

2 Corinthians 9:5 NASB95

5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness.

Paul makes the connection that planning ahead and putting the money aside for the churches in need actually helps us identify and fight covetousness. Its like that viral social experiment where the parents would set their kids in a room in front of a camera, put candy in front of them and tell them not to eat it until they got back. You watched the human nature take control as the urges to eat that sweet delicious candy that was only an arm’s reach away. It was child abuse.

Seriously, setting the money aside, actually helps us fight the urge to spend it on material things that are not needed. It helps us fight covetousness so we can be generous to others.

Being a cheerful giver also means that we are not being a legalistic one. This means that we are not giving under compulsion. “Well, they pass that plate every Sunday and I don’t want to look like a cheapskate or a fool, so I put money in.” The point is that a cheerful giver is one who finds joy in helping others with what God has given them. To give under compulsion is to live by some rigid rule that only exposes the true nature of a person.

Matthew 5:23–24 NASB95

23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

Notice the focus that Jesus give to the heart of a man in relationship to his offering. The gift was to be laid aside so that the heart of the man could be reconciled to a friend. Without the proper heart, the offering would have been given with improper motives and with improper meaning.

Being cheerful with your giving is understanding the role that one plays in giving towards others and how God uses your obedience as a blessing to others. It brings you joy because God loves it. When we do what God loves, we are blessed with the joy from Him.

E. Do so Worshipfully

Let me give you one more. #5 in relationship to giving, and I could say alot more, but back to 2 Cor 8:1-9

2 Corinthians 8:1–9 NASB95

1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, 4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, 5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. 7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. 8 I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

This is where Paul begins 2 chapters on out stewardship and our giving. Notice that as Paul states the gracious gifts of the churches in Macedonia, he gives the reason that they also desired earnestly to give. They gave out of an act of worship and love for God. When we give then, we do so to honor the Lord, to worship Him. As a cheerful giver, we give because God love it and as a worshipful giver, we give because we love God. They are one in the same!

So we look at the gift of salvation by grace alone through faith alone that we have in Jesus. It is a gift that took the greatest sacrifice to accomplish. Paul reminds them that Christ was rich in every way. He as the Son of God in heaven was worshipped and adored. He had all things and yet he made the sacrifice, giving up the riches of his glory, to put on human flesh, to live among his enemies so that He could offer up his life and bring about the greatest gift ever given on this earth—the gift of new life in Him.

As the church understands this, then we don’t give to others for the tax write off. We don’t give to others to show how wealthy we are. We don’t give because we will feel shamed if we don’t. We give because in light of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we want to reflect his loving and grace in the world out of love for Him.

2. Hospitable Contributions (4-7)

A. Be Available

B. Be Sacrificial (Give up)

C. Be Beneficial (Give to)

3. Spiritual Contributions (8-9)

A. Strengthen the disciples

B. Fight the Battles