God's People Must Be United and Growing in Holiness
1 Corinthians 16:1-11[1]
As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, August 19th, 2012
As we're going through 1 Corinthians I hope you are seeing this truth; God's People Must Be United and Growing in Holiness. It is a constant drumbeat, bass and snare, throughout this book. Unity. Holiness. Unity. Holiness. So far that has involved being unified in Christ over commitment to leaders, brokenness over sin and holiness in moral purity, unity in working out differences, holiness in marriage, holiness and unity against idolatry, unity in worship of God, holiness and unity concerning the resurrection of Christ.
Today, in chapter 16, we will see that God's people must be united and growing in holiness in another area of our lives… Christian Generosity. I'm gonna change things up from my normal routine of reading the text then outlining it; I want to give you the message statement, then go through the text itself in two portions. Here is the message of 1 Corinthians 16:1-11: Since God has been so generous to us, let us intentionally be generous to believers in need and ministers of the gospel. We will examine verses 1-4 on Christian Generosity to Believers in Need, and then verses 5-11 on Christian Generosity to Ministers of the Gospel. I warn you ahead of time that point one is much longer than point two, so don't get nervous when you see me finish point one late in the game, OK? Let's pray.
1 Corinthians 16:1-4 Christian Generosity to Believers in Need
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.
2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
3 And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
4 If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.
What drove this offering: Christians in need, blessing those who bless us. A little history will help us get the context of these rather direct words.
Acts 11:27-30; Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Antioch heard of a coming need in Judea, and they by faith determined to send help to those saints in Jerusalem. Done. Paul will spell out to the Romans why Antioch did this.
Later on Paul decided to take another offering to Jerusalem, this time from the churches in Macedonia and Achaia. It seems the saints in Jerusalem were unusually poor; we don't know why. But we do know Paul's response.
Romans 15:25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you.
Principle of giving: it is good for believers to share material goods with those from whom they receive spiritual goods. From the Jews came Jesus; from Jerusalem to Macedonia came the gospel. The call for help wasn't "You owe them!", but rather, "Let's help them while they're in need." Humility, gratitude, and unity were on display, weren't they? From 1 Cor 16 we know that Paul called the Corinthian church to give. Evidently it didn't get done, for we learn more in 2 Corinthians 8 about this offering.
8:1-4 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints-- and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
Paul is telling Corinth of the gracious, joyful generosity of the Macedonian churches. He has a reason; Corinth had yet to follow through on their giving.
8:10-11 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.
Corinth had talked giving, had good intentions, but had not followed through. He is motivating them to do it. But lest they get to grumbling at their loss for Judea's gain…
8:13-15 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, "Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack."
You see, Corinth was rich; Judea was poor. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:4 If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.
He showed both accountability and his intention to go on to Jerusalem himself. This he did; when this offering came to Judea, Paul was taken into custody. This eventually led to him being imprisoned in Rome, then, as I believe, beheaded there.
Acts 24:17 Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.
So we can look at this text, consider the context, and learn this; we should give generously out of our abundance to meet the needs of believers. With humility, gratitude, and unity. Jesus and James would question our love if we had the means to help a brother and did not. Jesus humbles us in the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), about helping those you'd naturally disdain. Folks, the poor in our day and area are often poor out of laziness or some unhealthy dependence on alcohol or drugs. Often – not always. They are easy to naturally disdain. May God help us be supernaturally sensitive, and willing to err on the side of generosity. I try to verify the story and the need before I help someone with the church funds; and I check with other churches to see if they're hitting us all up. Sometimes I'll get played, even when I try to be diligent. Oh well; we err on the side of generosity. We don't give to support laziness and irresponsibility, but we humble ourselves, and give to those in true need. Let us do the same personally. James (2:14-17) warned us against telling a brother in need to "go, be warm, be filled", while doing nothing to help him do so. Do you remember who is the least of these that we help in Matt 25? Jesus. So we see Christian generosity to believers in need in verses 1-4.
1 Corinthians 16:5-11 Christian Generosity to Ministers of the Gospel
5 I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia,
6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go.
7 For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
10 When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am.
11 So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.
Listen to these phrases: "so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go", "Help him on his way in peace". To us this may sound a bit arrogant when Paul says "perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter". As I hope you've seen time after time in this book, Paul was not arrogant at all. In those days pastors, teachers, evangelists, and church starters traveled a good deal. People also traveled with messages or letters, as we see often in Paul's writings. These people were walking, camping, or staying with whoever would open their home to them in order to advance the gospel. Paul expected the church to show hospitality, and to fund their work of preaching Christ. It was normal.
You do well to support your gospel minister in this church; I am well blessed and very grateful; make sure you know that. Sincerely, I thank you.
Because we believe Jesus, and believe in a Christ-less eternity in hell is real as well, we would want others to hear that, right? That is right. It is why we budget the first portion of our church giving to missions – local, national, and international. We give faithfully as a church family, and I am grateful; I have a holy pride about your generosity.
This is also why we pray for missions weekly, and hear reports from those who have gone. Many of us give faithfully to the church, and then give above that to other gospel ministers, helping poor children, and various other gospel-sending works. God has given so much to us – how could we spend all that we earn on ourselves? Especially when we are so wealthy in America. By any standard, in any time, in any place – we are wealthy. And we are Christians. So in supporting gospel ministers in their labors, I say to you that you excel. With Paul's words to the Thessalonians on loving one another, I say to us all – may we excel still more! Generosity shows gratitude, humility, and promotes unity. It also shows that we believe God; we give out of faith. Are you a giver? Are you grateful for those who have told you of Christ? Are you living on less than you earn so you can support others in need, and in gospel ministry? Are you intentional?
Since God has been so generous to us, let us intentionally be generous to believers in need and ministers of the gospel.
Of course your generosity might be contingent upon one simple thing; have you repented of your sin, and received the grace, the forgiveness, the new life that comes through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Savior of all who believe? Let's pray.
[1] All Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (via E-Sword Software) © 2001 Crossway Publishing. All Rights Reserved. I paste them in red for distinction.
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