월드미션프론티어

In this final chapter Paul gives instructions concerning the offering for the poor saints in Jerusalem, and also exhortations to the believers in Corinth concerning their church life.

I. How to Take the Offering ( 16:14 )

A local church gets its financial instructions from the Word ("as I have given order") and not from the world. How sad it is when churches reject the biblical method of financing and adopt worldly methods. All the churches in Paul"s day followed the same biblical pattern; there were to be no exceptions. While these instructions deal with a "missionary relief offering" the principles apply to Christian giving in general?; see 2 Cor. 89 .

A. Giving was church-centered.

Otherwise, why would Paul mention "the first day of the week"?? The churches gathered on the Lord's Day, and this was when they brought their offerings to the Lord. Paul did not encourage the members to send their offerings to him personally. He wanted the church to give an expression of its love for the needy Jewish believers in Judea. Note in Phil. 4:1516 that Paul was grateful for churches that shared with him. A church member owes it to the Lord and to his church to bring his or her tithes and offerings to the church. This does not mean that it is wrong to give personal support to workers ( 2 Tim. 1:1618 ), but giving to persons must not take the place of our faithfulness to the church.

B. Giving was regular.

Paul encouraged them to bring the money weekly, if possible. Some people are paid weekly, others by the month. Paul is saying, "Don't let your tithes and offerings accumulate at home."

C. Giving was for everyone.

Giving was not just for the rich, but rich and poor alike. In fact, in 2 Cor. 89 , Paul tells us that the poor saints in Macedonia gave liberally out of their poverty. Here is the biblical model for giving. The church member who is able to give but does not give faithfully is a thief: he is robbing God ( Mal. 3:712 ); he is robbing other Christians, for they pay the bills while he gets the blessings; moreover, he is robbing himself of blessings.

D. Giving was proportionate: (v.2)

The tithe was the minimum standard for giving in the OT, and there is no reason why this standard should not apply to the NT Christian as well. Tithing was practiced long before the Law was given ( Gen. 14:20 ; 28:22 ), so it cannot be argued that tithing is a legalistic practice.

E. Giving was carefully handled.

Paul was always careful about the handling of money. He wanted church-appointed representatives to assist him, lest anyone accuse him of stealing money for himself. It is right for a church to have a financial system that includes receipts and records. The church's financial status should always be the best possible as a testimony to the lost, and it will be, if the members are faithful to give and if the funds are carefully, prayerfully dispersed.