GIVING IN THE CHURCH

1 CORINTHIANS 16:1-4

      In 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, Paul answered the last in a series of questions asked to him by the church (1 Cor. 7:1-25, 8:1, 12:1). The church in Corinth asked Paul about giving.

      Paul answered the question about giving immediately after explaining the doctrine of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15). Robertson and Plummer wrote, “Paul descends from very lofty heights to matters of ordinary experience.” In the Christian life doctrine and duty go together.

      Paul referred to an offering mentioned in several New Testament letters and the Acts. Paul took a collection on the third missionary journey for the poor “saints” in Jerusalem. The church in Jerusalem suffered financially (Acts 4:35). The suffering resulted from persecution (Acts 8:1; 1 Th. 2:14), famine (Acts 11:29), and boycott (Jas. 2:6).

      Paul collected the offering from the Gentile churches to give to the Jewish church. Paul began in Galatia (1 Cor. 16:1; Gal. 2:10), then moved through Macedonia (1 Cor. 16:5; 2 Cor. 8:1), Berea, Thessalonica, and Phillipi (Acts 20:4). He completed the offering in Achaia (Rom. 15:26). The offering performed a duty (Gal. 2:10), illustrated a principle (Rom. 15:27), and united the churches (Acts 24:17).

      The slow response of the Corinthians to giving only indicated the poverty of their spiritual condition in several other areas. Sluggishness in giving corrupted the spirit of the church. God wants the believers to give with the spirit of Abel not Cain. Generous churches become growing churches.

      The Corinthians needed to learn the principle of partnership with other members of the body of Christ as far away as Jerusalem in fulfilling the Great Commission. This particular offering went above the needs of the local church in compassion for those suffering in Jerusalem.

      These instructions on giving contain concise and clear Biblical principles of giving. Churches ought to give according to these principles.

Phil. 4:17 [NIV]. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.

  I. Give obediently (16:1)

      Paul gave order to all the churches concerning the collection. Christians ought to give obediently, just do it (2 Cor. 8:11).

Lev. 27:30 [NIV]. A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.

      Paul instructed the church in Corinth on giving just as he had the church in Galatia. After teaching the biblical truth concerning giving, Paul expected the church in Corinth to receive the Word and “do” the Word (Jas. 1:22).

 II. Give regularly (16:2a)

      Christians give as an act of worship on the Lord’s day (Acts 20:7; every first day ). Paul did not want his presence to produce hasty, emotional giving. Giving ought to be systematic, disciplined, and timely.

      Paul anticipated the day when he would teach the Word in Corinth again. Giving on Sunday represented an integral part of worship just as much as teaching, preaching, praying, reading, or singing.

      Vincent said, “Christian beneficence is to be the outcome of a settled principle not of an occasional impulse.”

      Christians give the first fruit to God on the first day of the week. The discipline of giving first to God “off the top” keeps Christians from giving to God “whatever is left.” Consistent giving accumulates far more than “hit and miss” or “lump-sum ” giving.

Prov. 3:9 [GW]. Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first and best part of all your income.

III. Give personally (16:2b)

      Each Christian ought to participate in giving. God measures the genuine worth of each person’s gift (Mk. 12:43-44).

      Each Christian must share in the responsibilities of the church. Those who receive free grace also give freely. Consumer-minded Christians cannot take from the benefits of the faithfulness of other believers without contributing as a partner in this grace.

Ex. 35:21 [ESV]. And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.

 IV. Give cheerfully (16:2c)

      This special mission offering for Jerusalem above the local needs for Corinth allowed each believer to hear from God and give from the heart. Christian giving arises from a higher calling than conscription or demand for a certain amount.

      Paul taught “no flat rate.” Christians give from a heart of gratitude.

2 Cor. 9:7 [MSG]. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

 V. Give congregationally (16:2d)

Mal. 3:10 [NIV]. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

      God instructed Israel to give three tithes (about 23% per year).

•          Work (Levites; Num. 18:21)

•          Worship (feasts, sanctuary; Dt. 14:22-26)

•          Welfare (third year; Dt. 14:28-29; Jos. Ant. IV, iv, 3; viii, 8; viii, 22)

      Old Testament saints brought the tithe to the storehouse, the temple (1 Kg. 7:51; 2 Kg. 24:13; 1 Chr. 9:26; Neh. 10:38-39, 12:44, 13:12; Jer. 15:13, 20:5; Mal. 3:10). New Testament Christians bring the tithe to the storehouse, the church (Mt. 6:19-20-21, 19:21). Tithing by every member to the local church will meet every need plus expand missions and ministries beyond.

      Researcher George Barna discovered that more Americans claim to tithe than actually do (17% to 6%). Of those surveyed who claimed a personal commitment to Jesus Christ , who believed they would experience eternal life because of confession of sins and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior, the outcome showed just 7% tithed to their church.

 VI. Give proportionately (16:2e)

      The tithe serves as a tool for proportionate giving (Acts 11:29; 2 Cor. 8:12). Tithing is a good tool to begin giving but a poor place to end.

      God instructed believers to bring the whole ten percent–“all the tithe.” Disobedience in giving the portion that rightly belongs to God takes His blessing, protection, and favor off of the whole.

Hag. 1:9 [GNB]. You hoped for large harvests, but they turned out to be small. And when you brought the harvest home, I blew it away. Why did I do that? Because my Temple lies in ruins while every one of you is busy working on your own house.

      The tithe rightly belongs to the Lord as a duty to repay.

•          Many justify payment of debts piled up to man with money robbed from a debt to God.

•          Many plan to give in the future out of what they hope to have instead of giving now out of what they hold in their hand.

•          Many who think they cannot afford to tithe will never think they can afford to tithe.

•          Many withhold tithes from large incomes because they believe it belongs to them to decide where to put it instead of releasing it because it all belongs to God.

•          Many do not tithe out of their poverty because they consider it too small to matter instead of remembering that Jesus counts the true value of a gift.

      When church members experience repentance and revival, they will return the tithe to God’s house (2 Chr. 31:12; Neh. 10:37-38).

VII. Give quietly (16:2f)

Mk. 12:41-42 [NIV]. Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

      The church in Corinth needed to learn systematic, obedient giving to God instead of responding in giving only with the arrival of a person such as Paul. When present, charlatans can extract large, emotional gifts from churches while faithful ministries often suffer. Corinth experienced its share of those who merchandised on the flock instead of feeding the flock (1 Cor. 9:18).

      If Christians give obediently, regularly, personally, cheerfully, congregationally, and proportionately, then a church will not make embarrassing public appeals for giving. A need for money ought not to hinder public preaching.

VIII. Give honestly (16:3)

      Paul instructed the church in Corinth to approve honest men to account for the offering. Churches ought to manage finances carefully (2 Kg. 12:15, 22:7; 2 Cor. 8:20-21). Ironside noted that Paul would not receive an offering without “proper accounting.”

      Paul insisted on accurate accounting of this special offering. When ministries mishandle money, they bring reproach on the gospel and affect the reputation of all other ministers.

2 Cor. 8:21 [GNB]. Our purpose is to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of others.

 IX. Give worthily (16:4a)

2 Cor. 8:9 [NIV]. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

      Christians ought to give in a manner worthy of Jesus Christ (Rev. 4:11). Robertson and Plummer translated verse 4, “If the amount collected makes it worthwhile for me to go on this business.” Paul did not want to associate with miserly or stingy contributions unworthy of the Master.

  X. Give comparatively (16:4b)

      Paul compared the response of the Galatians and Macedonians to the offering with the response of the Corinthians. Paul considered the significance of the Macedonians’ gifts in light of their suffering. Christians can stir or inspire one another to good works.

Heb. 10:24 [NIV]. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

      Giving affects the spirit of a Christian. Growth in the grace of giving causes growth in other graces of the Christian life as well and demonstrates the growth of faith (2 Cor. 8:7).

      The church in Corinth never rose in generosity to the place of the church in Philippi and thus never experienced the spirit of joy as that congregation (Phil. 4:15). Not every believer will enjoy the same reward in heaven since Christ will compare what they did with their treasures on earth.

      Just do it. Launch out in obedience and faith even if it does not add up.