Essentials of Collecting Offering in the Church for Ministry, Rev Dr John Kwasi Fosu

Amazing Grace Baptist Church, Hamburg Bible Study Material on 1 Cor. 16:1-12

Introduction

In the final chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul gives instructions concerning the offering for the poor saints in Jerusalem.  He also exhorts the believers in Corinth concerning their church life.

        1.  How to Take the Offering (16:1-4)

A local church gets its financial instructions from the Word and not from the world. Churches are not to reject the biblical method of financing and instead 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 “famine relief offering,” the principles apply to believer’s giving in general.  See 2 Corinthians    8-9. The following are some essential ways of financial giving in the Church:

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 Philippians 4:15-16,  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 Timothy 1:16-18), but giving to persons must not take the place of our faithfulness to the church.

Giving was regular

Paul encouraged them to bring the money weekly, if possible. Some people are paid weekly, others the month. Paul is saying, “Don’t let your tithes and offerings accumulate at home.” Systematic, regular giving makes for spiritual growth.

Giving was for everyone

Giving was not just for the rich, but rich and poor alike. In fact, in 2 Corinthians    8-9, 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 (Malachi 3:7-12).  He is robbing other believers.  Moreover, he is robbing himself of blessings.

Giving was proportionate: “as he may prosper” (verse 2).

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

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 a good testimony if the members are faithful to give and if the funds are carefully and prayerfully dispersed.  It is also good to have 2 or 3 people count the offerings each Lord’s day.

   2.  How to Help the Servants (16:5-12)

Paul outlined his future plans, trusting that the church would want to share in his ministry. He was then at Ephesus where there were both battles and blessings.

Paul dearly loved young Timothy but knew his timidity and fears. Paul encouraged the saints to receive and assist Timothy because the youth was doing God’s work. We should never despise a worker because he is not another Apostle Paul!

Apollos followed Paul at Corinth (Acts 18:24-28), and he and Paul had good fellowship. Both Paul and Apollos were implicated in the church divisions (1:12), but they were careful to show themselves one in the work.

It is important that churches receive the Lord’s servants and treat them right. It is wrong to compare one person with another.  This behaviour is carnal. The teaching of Scripture is clear on this point. If these servants do the work of the Lord, we should assist them as much as possible.