As we come into our last Sunday in our series about the identification of the local church, we come to the subject of giving. The local church is identified - in part - in the way that we participate financially in the spread of the gospel. Some people (particularly pastors) have difficulty in approaching this subject because we live in a culture that seems to hold some aspects of life more privately than others. In our culture, our wallets have sometimes become the sacred ground whereby no other person should dare to tread. It seems that the Apostle Paul didn't have that problem. He seemed to have no hesitation when it came to asking for churches to financially give. Why? Paul's letter to Corinth sheds lights on two areas.
1 Corinthian 16:1-4 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.
1. We should have no concern in asking the church to financially support ministry because it's a normality in our gathering.
We should note that Paul had established a habitual practice for the church. When Paul mentions the first day of the week, he is talking about the day that the church has traditionally chosen to gather. For two thousand years the church has gathered on resurrection day (first day of the week) to meet together, hear the preaching of God's word, fellowship, break bread, pray and serve each other in various ways. As part of this gathering, Paul seems to widely encourage churches to use the time to collect funds for ministry.
Paul also suggests something about the amount that should be given - "as he may prosper." Prospering individually varies and the Apostle is suggesting that each person will give generously according to capacity. Some are able to be more generous than others. Prosperity is a gift of God and should be displayed in a generous heart. Note that Paul does not say the reverse statement that if you give, you will financially prosper. The prosperous are expected to be generous according to means for giving, not getting.
We should see our gathering together as a normal opportunity to give generously to ministry according to what the Lord has given us. The church is a place for gospel generosity and our gathering is a normal collecting ground.
2. We should have no concern in asking the church to financial support ministry because we all want the gospel of the kingdom to spread.
The way Paul speaks is if he is partly a delivery man for the financial support of gospel ministry. The church in Corinth were going to store up a collection for the good of the church in Jerusalem. Sometimes we give because of the hardships others are going through, and this could well have been the motivation for collecting for the Jerusalem church. At other times we are giving for the sake of the expansion of ministry as the gospel spreads around our church and across the world. Either way, the assistance Paul is requesting is for the church, not just anyone. He is concerned with the gospel mission of the church as it seeks to fulfill the great commission of Christ. If Christians are at all concerned with the great commission and the health of the church across the world, we will be generous toward gospel ministry as our church collects, stores, uses and sends the money God has given us.
Bottom line, the church is identified by the way we believe in and live in and support the ongoing mission of the gospel. The church's giving should reflect our very identity and calling. Every week it should identify what and Who is most important to us. If we are all on the same page when it comes to the gospel, we should have no trouble asking each other for gospel purposed money.