Messages
from the Bible
A Sermon by Dr. Neil Chadwick
One day in the Asia Minor city of Ephesus, the Apostle Paul received three visitors, Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus. These three Christian leaders had been sent by the church we know as the Corinthian Church, and they brought with them a letter which itemized a number of concerns about church matters. During the next couple of days, while they rested from their journey and prepared to return, Paul sat down to write out answers which could be read to the congregation once they arrived back home.
Working through the list of questions and concerns, Paul carefully wrote out his responses to each one. First, the Apostle chided the members for the divisions that had developed among them, the sexual immorality that had gone unchecked, and the lawsuits they were filing against one another. He went on to provide guidance concerning topics related to marriage, food offered to idols, conduct at the Lord's Supper, and the use of Spiritual Gifts in their worship services, and finally a lofty treatment of the value of the resurrection of Jesus. Paul closed with the now familiar exhortation, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
Looking back down the list of questions, Paul noticed that there was one item left, the question about the collection of the offering.
This is interesting because we probably would also want to place this item last on the list. Because of notable abuses, and not wanting to be identified with religious leaders who appear to be getting wealthy off the sacrificial offerings of devout Christians, we shy away from dealing with this subject at all.
Last Tuesday afternoon, as Jack Kinard, Harry Payne and I sat together finalizing all the details related to the mission to India, I told them that I wanted them to ask the leadership of each Seminar to receive an offering from the delegate Pastors. When this thought first came to mind, I felt it was of the Lord, but it nonetheless seemed a bit strange to do this. After all, we were providing for all of the expenses for these seminars. However, what was impressed on me was the need to give these Pastors an opportunity to express their appreciation for the blessings they received during the Seminar by giving so that Pastors in Vietnam and Cambodia would have a similar opportunity. Realistically, all of these offerings combined would probably only provide for two or three Pastors at the very most. But I wanted them to also receive the blessing that comes to those who give to bless others.
However, we also want to pay attention to what Paul did not do in his efforts to get people to give in this offering.
So in the first three verses of I Corinthians 16, there are several points to be made concerning this collection.
1) First, it is a collection that is to be made for the benefit of "God's people."
This may sound like a rather narrow-minded, selfish approach, as though to say that we only care for our own, and not for the rest of the world. It really has to do with setting priorities, giving for the benefit of Christian brothers and sisters, knowing that as they are encouraged and strengthened, they in turn will pass on the blessing.
It's the same idea as conveyed in I Timothy 5:8, "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
Consequently the offering Paul is calling for is not for general "disaster relief," but for "Christian relief" in a time of need.
Paul made it clear that he wanted no collections to be taken up when he arrived. He apparently didn't want to establish a practice of impulse giving, nor did he want offering-time to be show-off time, unlike contemporary churches that announce publicly what wealthy donors give.
By the way, following a practice of regular, periodic giving such as in the weekly worship service, helps to develop the practice of budgeting. When people begin to set aside a portion for the Lord, they have begun to plan ahead for the use of their money, and soon it will extend to all areas of their finances - invariably this means that they will be more intentional, and more careful with the use of their money, and certainly that's one reasonable explanation as to why it is that Christians prosper.
A member of the church in Michigan, a husband and father of 3 teenagers, told how he was at the point of bankruptcy when he got the idea that he should begin tithing. At the time it seemed like an impossibility, but he was faithful to his commitment, week after week bringing his offering and presenting it to the Lord. One year later he reported that he was not only out of debt, but now had $500.00 in the bank!
This is what we call "proportionate" giving, and note that although we follow the tithing tradition of the Old Testament, the size of the proportion is not dictated. Sometimes it's less, and sometimes it's more. To this we should add Paul's note in II Corinthians 9:7, that giving should be according to what a man "purposes in his heart," and is given "not reluctantly or under compulsion." Christian giving was never intended to be a burden, or a legal demand imposed by the law. It is always voluntary, cheerful , and full of faith that God will faithfully provide for His own.
To provide oversight, and the safety of the transporting of the offering; and,
To demonstrate a measure of accountability.
Again, as I was preparing to send off Jack and Harry to fulfill the ministry in India, I specifically asked them to inform those who attended the Seminars that this ministry came about because there are many believers in the USA who loved them and sacrificed to bring them these gifts of teaching, encouragement and refreshment. Our missionaries are not only bringing helpful and inspiring messages, they are also representing us and extending to our brothers and sisters the love of the Father.
(2) All churches everywhere are to provide opportunities for the saints to give;
(3) Offerings are to be brought when believers gather on the Lord's Day for worship;
(4) Giving should be in accordance to however much the Lord has blessed;
(5) Offerings are to be brought to the Lord's House; and,
(6) The funds collected are to be handled in a responsible and accountable manner.
After this argument went on for a moment or two, the man waiting in the line in front of us turned around. Actually, he was sitting in a wheel chair, and just twisted his chair enough so he could look at Greg and say, "Don't rob him of his blessing." Then he turned back to place his order.
My friend and I thought that was an unusual interruption, but went on talking.
A few minutes later, I noticed that the man in the wheel chair was taking out his money to pay for the three large glasses of lemonade he had bought. Just as I was about to offer to help him carry the three glasses, he took one in his hand and started rolling away. Calling over his shoulder, and nodding his head toward the two remaining lemonade glasses sitting on the counter, he said, "And don't rob me of my blessing."
Discussion Questions
1. Who were the Corinthian church leaders who visited Paul in Ephesus, and what were the questions they brought with them?
2. After teaching about the resurrection, and before going on to the last item, what exhortation did the Apostle give? (I Cor 15:58)
3. Why are many Christian leaders today reluctant to deal with the subject of giving?
4. What are some methods we would find to be unacceptable when it comes to encouraging people to give to the Lord's work?
5. Why is it that we can say that, in the church, giving is often related to the quality of one's relationship with God?
6. Why would Paul probably advise sending offering to the Jerusalem churches instead of the "United Fund?"
7. Some of Paul's teachings seem to have been intended for the specific church he's writing to at the time. Why do we think this teaching about collections is universal?
8. What value is there in bringing offerings to church on the Lord's Day?
9. That offerings given should be "in keeping with [one's] income," is not exactly the same as tithing. Does that mean tithing is no longer a legal requirement in the New Testament?
10. What are some reasonable explanations as to why Christian giving should be administered through the local church?
11. Why did Paul coach the church to send along representatives with the offering to Jerusalem?
12. What are some blessings that come to those who give?
The Collection
I Corinthians 15:58-16:3
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How well I remember the conversation that took place between me and the Senior Pastor at Parkway Assembly of God. As a very young minister just out of Bible College, I was planning a special event and had decided not to take up an offering. The Pastor kindly reminded me that not to receive an offering would, in fact, deprive people of an opportunity to give, and also the opportunity to receive the blessing that comes from the Lord when they do give.
So, even though it's last on the list, if talking about the collection was good enough for Paul, it's good enough for me!
He did not tell them this was required by the Law and that God would not bless them if they didn't give;
Rather, Paul had the naiveté to think that all the Saints at Corinth would need was a brief reminder, because true Christians just do it - true Christians are generous at heart. It's also possible that he believed in the idea that the quality of one's relationship with God would be measured by their liberality - if they were as devout and spiritual as they claimed to be, they would be ready to put their treasure where their heart was.
He did not demand, or manipulate by shaming them or laying on a guilt trip;
He didn't use an emotional tear-jerking story or tell a joke to loosen them up;
He didn't give them a goal to shoot for or tell them how much they should give; and
Obviously he didn't coach them how to set up Bingo!
None of these methods were employed by the Apostle.
This corresponds to what Paul wrote near the end of his letter to the Galatians, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." (Galatians 6:10)
2) Second, this instruction is intended to extend beyond the Corinthian church - it has a universal application.
We know this because Paul notes that this same instruction was given to the Galatian churches (v.1), and we also know that the Macedonians were commended for their giving (II Corinthians 8:1ff). In this instruction, Paul was following the tradition of the Jewish Synagogue, as it was also their custom to receive weekly collections.
3) That brings us to the next point, bringing offerings to the weekly worship gathering; the difference between the Jewish and Christian practice being that Christians would bring their offering on the first day of the week, the Lord's Day.
By calling for a weekly offering rather than a one-time collection, Paul evidently wanted them to get into the good habit of bringing their offering every week instead of waiting the several months until he would arrive, and then collect one offering. He was wise enough to understand that for most people, even back then, money in the pocket is money to spend. The lesson is simply this - responsible giving is planned, periodic giving. When he said "each one," I'm not sure who might be included, but for us, because our culture is so money driven, it should also include the children. Wise parents begin very early to train their children to take a little out of their allowance, set it aside, and bring it to church to give in the offering.
4) The next point is that the offering given would be "in keeping with his income." (NIV) Actually the KJV has a better rendering, "as God hath prospered" - literally, "as God has helped you along the way."
The understanding is very clear - whatever we have received has come as blessings from God. Even what we have earned is due to the strengths and skills with which the Creator has endowed us.
5) When Paul instructed the Corinthian Christians to "set aside" their offering, he clearly meant that they would bring it to the church "treasury."
In the KJV the word is "store" (Greek: thesaurizo), and certainly corresponds to the Old Testament "storehouse." Turning to that Malachi 3:10 passage, we see that it says to bring "the whole tithe." The fact is, there are a very many places where one may put money, and for really good causes. Through the modern media of direct mail, magazines, radio, television, telephone and now the internet, Christian believers receive many appeals each week to give to worthy causes. However, the Bible makes the priority quite clear, the tithes and offerings are to be brought to the place where Christians gather for teaching and worship, and from there funds are distributed according to the plan prescribed by the leadership of the church.
6) There was one last point briefly made by Paul. When the gifts would be taken to Jerusalem, the church would send along representatives.
Why was this necessary? Perhaps for three reasons:
So, in three brief sentences, the Apostle provides six important teachings about the collection of funds:
To demonstrate, in a personal way, the partnership that existed between the Christians of Corinth and Jerusalem;
Paul wanted to insure that funds would actually fulfill their intended purpose, and that no charge of impropriety could be leveled against him. He also wanted to provide the human contact that would affirm the fellowship that existed throughout the larger Body of Christ.
(1) The money is to be collected for the benefit of "God's people;"
A number of years ago, a small group of men from our Michigan church were attending the Promise Keeper's Rally at the Pontiac Silver Dome. During one break, Greg and I went to the concession area to get something to drink. As we stood waiting in line, I informed my friend that I would like to pay for the lemonade. He said, "No, no, that's all right - let me pay for yours."
I Corinthians 15:58-16:3
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