Intro: In this chapter we will find a potpourri, of thoughts
presented by the apostle Paul – last minute instruction.
A) First Paul
discusses the collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem, but then he goes on
to discuss other things.
B) He will talk
about opportunities and opposition, about watching and praying, about
the conduct of the church,
1)
The total church is in view here.
A) The Chapter
NEATLY DIVIDES INTO 3 SECTIONS Verses 1-4 concern the collection/ TITHEING /
1)
verses 5-9 are personal -- Paul discusses his personal plans;
A) Verses 10-24
deal with personalities, those in the Church at Corinth who walked down those streets of corrupt
Corinth and lived for Christ.
16:1 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.
One of the most important
ministries Paul had during his 3rd missionary journey was the
gathering of a special “relief offering” for the poor believers in Jerusalem.
A)
the
Gentiles owed material help to the Jews in return for the spiritual blessings
the Jews had given them (Romans 15:25-27).
25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.
26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain
contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.
27 It pleased them indeed of, 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.
A)
Why were things so tough in Jerusalem. / Several
reasons
1)
When Church was born at Pentecost – People from all
over – many who stayed – no employment – communal living
2) Second reason was there was a great famine
2)
Great Persecution –
many the believers had lost their Jobs
A)
At
the Jerusalem Conference years before, Paul had agreed to “remember the poor,”
so he was keeping his pledge (Gal. 2:10).
1)
Paul not only preached the Gospel, but he
also tried to assist those who had physical and material needs.
A)
Good
model – Preach & minister to physical needs / Mexico ministry – both are
vitally important
1)
To
only preach & not minister to physical needs is to be insensitive &
taints the preaching of the gospel
A)
But
on the other hand to only minister to a persons physical needs is to neglect
the greatest need of all – Spiritual
1)
What
good would it be to feed & clothe someone & yet have them end up in
Hell?
Now Even though this was a special missionary offering,
from Paul’s instructions we may learn some basic principles that relate to
Christian stewardship & Giving – note 4 things
A) Giving should be systematic.
B)
Each member was to come on the 1st day of the week – also called the
Lord’s day.
1)
The
early church met on the first day of the week
( SUNDAY) in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
C)
Each
person was to come prepared to give his share for that week. On the first day of the week let each one of
you lay something aside
D)
So
it was to be systematic / Giving weekly
is good practice / We used to give on
pay days - until read – this
1)
Helps
to not forget or hold back when a crisis comes
E)
When it comes – OK LORD WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO!!!!
A)
IT was to be a part of the worship service on
that 1st day of the week
one reason we receive the
offering during worship.
B) In 2 Corinthians 9:7 God loves a cheerful giver.
1)
Giving
in response to what God has done for us !!!!
Heart of Love & gratitude / heart of thankfulness
Pause here for a minute to answer Question WHY DO WE GIVE? /
Isn’t TITHING
associated w/ the Mosaic Law – we are no longer
under
the Law ? DOES GOD NEED OUR
MONEY
The answer to the first question as to why do we give is – simply because God – instructs us to .
C) The answer to the 2nd question isn’t – tithing ( part of the Mosaic
Law ? is no
1)
First seen in Gen. 14 Abe
after the Battle w/ the Kings who had
captured SODOM - ( Rehash story )
After the Lord
gives Abe the Victory we read that the King of Sodom comes seeking to reward
Him V.17 17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of
Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley), after his return from the defeat of
Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out
bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
19 And he blessed him and said: "Blessed
be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has
delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.
21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, and
take the goods for yourself."
A) Notice that the King of
Sodom comes & says to Abe give me the people - take what you want no
strings attached
B) Lie always strings attached - but we read in v.
22
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I
have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and
earth,
23 "that I will take nothing, from a
thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest
you should say, 'I have made Abram rich';
24 "except only what the young men have
eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre;
let them take their portion."
His trust was in the Lord – So this is where
tithing is first seen in Gen. 14 / before the Law
1) Also Gen. 28 / Jacob – promised to give a tenth ?
Then in Matt. 6:3 Jesus makes ref. To the
giving of alms – putting his stamp of approval on giving .
1)
So
we see that this idea of giving is very much a N.T. concept .
A)
In
the law of Moses the Lord prescribed that the people were to give a tenth of
all they brought in .
B)
But
he also declared in Deuteronomy 14 that a second 10 percent, was to be used to
support the national feasts and holidays.
C)
And
Each third year another 10 percent was to be given in supporting “the Levite, … the alien, the orphan and the widow”
(Deuteronomy. 14:28–29).
1)
As
you study those & related texts carefully it becomes evident that the
amount paid annually to the theocracy of Israel was between 23 -30% / much more
than 10% /
So How much
are we to give – Paul answers that question in 1Cor.16 / 3rd thing
we want to note GIVING IS TO BE PROPORTIONATE
V.2 storing up as he may prosper,
B) As long as you are giving as an act of worship - & Cheerfully
If Can’t then
don’t give / better not to until heart is right
C) But why does God want us to give anyway ? Does He need money ? No
A) Not way of
raising Cash – God’s way of raising Kids
Giving remodels you!
A.) All of
us are extremely greedy and selfish by nature! True? God has a cure for
covetousness - called "giving"
B.) Every
time I give I am being cured a little bit more of my selfishness, my covetousness, my greediness
1.) Lord
says Rob, I want to remodel you
C.) So each
week given opportunity to give in doing so - part of my covetousness,
selfishness, greediness - goes away
1.) God is a giver! John 3:16 - Gave his Son -
He gives grace!
D.) God
wants to remodel me in making me a giver!
1.)
So tithing not God's way raising funds - He doesn’t need it - It is God's way
of raising kids!
#3 Reveals
me!
A.) Giving
can really reveal where my heart is and my interests are!
1.) Where I am investing is where my heart will
be?
B.) Jesus
said store up treasure in heaven! Where
treasure is - heart
will be there also
1.) Stocks?
or some investment Follow it -
until sell it - no interest!
C.) First
dating - me - $700 a month gross - rent was $425.00 - but I found a way to
take her out! It was love! I wanted to invest
D.) If I am truly in love with the Lord and
excited about the Lord's
work - I will give! Reveals me!
Take Abraham/
He had taken in this great
plunder and the first thing he does - is
give to the Lord.
A.) Revealed where his heart was at!
3rd - Giving Protects me – Again w/ Abe /
A.)
The
implication in that story is powerful - the King of Sodom comes
out
Sodom = perversity - King of Perversity - world
1)
"Take the goods Abe- it is yours "
that is what the world seeks to
do entice us w/ toys & trinkets
A) Note Abraham's response v22 "
I have lifted my hand to the Lord - God most
High , possessor
of heaven & earth
1) I will take
nothing from you !"
C) The
implication is this because Abe had given to the Lord his heart followed &
he was protected from the ensnarement of the world
The temptation of the world in this day & age is strong ,
but as we invest in the things of the kingdom hearts
follow
4th
Last - Giving Prepares you !
A) One of the
principles that we see continually mentioned in scripture is if faithful in
little things exalted in much
B) Luke 16 Jesus gives teaching of the unjust
steward - illustrating
how
giving prepares us !
1) In this teaching said this: " The
man who is unfaithful w/
unrighteous
mammon will not be entrusted w/ true
rich
C) In 2Cor. 9:6,7 But this I say: He who sows sparingly
will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully
So From Paul we learn to give – systematically / as an act of WORSHIP / IN PROPORTION TO WHAT WE TAKE IN !!!!
PERSONAL COMMENTS (16:5-9) 5 Now I will come to you when I pass through
Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia).
6 And it may be that I will remain, or even
spend the winter with you, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go.
7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way;
but I hope to stay a while with you,
if the Lord permits.
8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.
9 For a great and
effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.