DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GIVING

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – GIVING

"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also. 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." (I Corinthians 16:1-2)

One final word of instruction for the church at Corinth was regarding the practice of giving.

Paul does not mandate how each individual or family should give, only that it should be in proportion to how God had prospered them. Richer people would give more and less fortunate could give less. It was a personal decision. He was not laying down a law, but giving them guidelines for opportunity to participate in God's work.

In the follow-up letter to the church at Corinth, Paul gives the instruction, "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver" (II Corinthians 9:7). They were not under compulsion to give, but their offerings should be cheerfully from their hearts.

Paul's instruction was that the collection was to be on the first day of the week. That would be Sunday, the day when the church came together for worship and instruction. They would set aside whatever they purposed in their hearts and then bring it to the assembly.

We follow much the same pattern. We often bring our offerings to church on Sunday to be given to the Lord. We make a point of our gifts being given in secret so that there will be no comparisons between those who give much and those who give little. This practice avoids the temptation to brag about how much we give and also frees the person who is not able to give as much from humiliation. This also follows Jesus' instructions when He said, "When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what our right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly" (Matthew 6:3-4). I think we must remember that we answer to God about how we observe this area of our stewardship.

It is a privilege to be a part of God's work. We miss the joy if we do it for the praise of others or for other motivations. God will reward.

Love, Dad