Bible Study 1 Corinthians 16:1-4

1 Corinthians 16:1–4 NKJV

1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 4 But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.

When Paul says “now”, He is introducing a new subject. We looked at the topic of the resurrection and as you know Paul made an apologetical argument. If the resurrection was not real, all we have done to this point is for naught.

Tonight, He states “now concerning the collection for the saints.”

Several times He used the word “now” to change subjects.

1 Corinthians 7:1 “1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.”

1 Corinthians 8:1 “1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.”

1 Corinthians 12:1 “1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:”

The Principle of Giving V. 1

1 Corinthians 16:1 “1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also:”

Paul is proceeding to the final topic of his letter. The next four verses are brief so I must fill in some background from Acts, Romans, & 2 Corinthians.

The collection Paul is referring to was missional in scope. Paul was on his third missionary journey and on this particular mission trip, the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem were impoverished.

Romans 15:26 “26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.”

Paul spent much time and effort raising funds from various Gentile churches in Asia and Europe to help meet their needs. The aim was to avoid physical suffering.

In Acts 20:4 “4 And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.”

We have discussed numerous times in this study that there was strained relationships between the Jewish and Gentile believers and this offering gave opportunity to bring unity between the churches of Jewish and Gentile backgrounds.

There was a time in the Jewish Christians not so far past history that they had monies and sent monies to minister to the Gentile churches.

Romans 15:27 “27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.” Furthermore, by the fact these Gentile churches gave this offering it acted as a demonstration of genuineness of heart to skeptical Jewish Christians.

2 Corinthians 9:12–15 “12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, (necessities) but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, (sign of thanksgiving to God) 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ (trust), and for your liberal sharing (generosity) with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. (Instrument of God’s grace) 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

Yes, this particular occasion was to take up an offering from a missional standpoint. They were taking up a love offering to fund the hurting mother church in Jerusalem.

But we can read this as well that it is assumed that you will take care of the saints at your home church.

Firstly, dearly beloved may we all understand that giving to God’s church is an act of worship.

Let’s look at some various words to understand this act of worship.

Gift

1 Corinthians 16:3 “3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem.”

When we offer a gift, we offer it from various standpoints. We give someone a gift because we love them, we appreciate them. Gifts are voluntary acts of expression.

Sharing

2 Corinthians 8:4 “4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.”

We share with each other in meeting the needs of the saints. In other words, we all pitch in.

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We are both owners of Coca Cola. We contribute by the amounts we can afford to invest in the company. Both owners, both contributors, different amounts based on asset levels.

Equal sacrifice-not equal amounts.

Generous

2 Corinthians 9:5 “5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.”

Giving is an expression of an attitude of gratitude.

Generous

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 2129. εὐλογία

2129. εὐλογία ĕulŏgia, yoo-log-ee´-ah; from the same as 2127; fine speaking, i.e. elegance of language; commendation (“eulogy”), i.e. (reverentially) adoration; religiously, benediction; by impl. consecration; by extens. benefit or largess:—blessing (a matter of) bounty (× -tifully), fair speech.

Providing your best. Stretching your abilities to make the offering.

Other words “offering, service”, etc.

Service

2 Corinthians 9:1 “1 Now concerning the ministering (service) to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;”

Offering

Acts 24:17 “17 “Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation,”

Historically, the church at Corinth had given liberally and now they were lagging behind. The problem continued but was handled by the time Paul addressed the matter in greater detail in 2 Corinthians.

The Plan for Giving V. 2

1 Corinthians 16:2 “2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”

A. Priority

Giving is one of the first acts we prepare for before we even get to church on the Lord’s Day. This text is a guide to the reasoning behind our manner of giving a weekly offering at church. It is a priority and it takes forethought. Set aside a sum of money.

Weekly giving builds in systematic, self disciplined, consistent generosity.

-weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, annual.

1 Corinthians Bridging Contexts

stewardship is as much a part of obedience and devotion to God as prayer, praise, fellowship, instruction, and the like. It also makes it less likely that Christian leaders will have to issue special calls or initiate additional campaigns to reduce regular budget deficits.

Home mortgage -25% of net take home income or 20% of gross income. Car Payment-10-15% of those same incomes. Conservative financial thinking is 10% of take home.

I am fearful that many people do not give because they do not have anything to give. They have never managed money, money has ruled them.

Let’s think about this a moment. Money can be stored up or saved as stated.

Ill. Dead Sea

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Spent

Shared-Lord, yourself, your other needs,

-have a prepared sum to share with a central fund.

-Little boy-2 fish, 5 barley loaves-he gave what he had, where he was, for the glory of God and it was enough.

We bring our offering on the day of worship.

Acts 20:7 “7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.”

B. Proportional

“lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper”

“To whatever extent one is prospered.”

2 Corinthians 8:13–15 “13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.””

C. Put aside

The Partnership in Giving VV. 3-4

1 Corinthians 16:3–4 “3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 4 But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.”

-We see the birthing of the cooperative program.

We are a cooperative program within the church. These details are details of financial integrity and accountability.

-Always two deacons count the money. They photocopy the checks. They prepare the deposit and Jackie in turn carries the deposit to the check. They are accountable to each other. The Pastor has no involvement with the money. In those rare cases that some of us spend something for the church, it is within budget or policies that are in place again for financial integrity and accountability. $250-me, $500 me and another committee member, over $500 the committee has to decide. If the expenditure exceeds the budget item allocation the decision has to be carried to a business meeting. Why this extremism? This is not my money, this is not your money, this is the Lord’s money.

“whomever you approve.” Church, you are a part of that process. You choose the positions through the nominating committee, you elect Deacons, you call a Pastor, you vote on the annual budget, etc. You share in the partnership of giving.

Partnership is ministering to the needs of the saints, and those less fortunate.

2 Corinthians 8:16–24 NKJV

16 But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. 18 And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, 19 and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, 20 avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—21 providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22 And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. 23 If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 Therefore show to them, and before the churches the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.

1 Corinthians Bridging Contexts

He wants to be sure the collection is free of any opportunity for mismanagement or even of the accusation of mishandling of funds. Jesus’ famous words about not letting “your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (

1 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary (Schreiner) G. Collection for the Believers in Jerusalem (16:1–4)

It was imperative, then, that men of the highest character should transport the gift, and the gift must not be sent via only one person. A number of men would be entrusted with the gift, and they would take every precaution to handle the money in a way that spared them from criticism

In closing, understand that your giving is an act of worship. It’s a gift, its an offering, its a service, it is God’s grace administered through you. In order to give we must plan, we must do some budgeting and use forethought and pray about our giving.

Dearly beloved as rich as Western Christians are, if we were honest, we could all get along with much less. Live in smaller homes, buying less expensive cars, eating less, eating out less, buying fewer clothes, conserving, recycling, avoiding cable TV and the list goes on.

The truth is that when our giving is planned and prayed over, those things we value and use to find important are not so important.