1 Corinthians 16:1-12

 1 Corinthians 16:1-12

Paul moves from the marvel of the resurrection to the practical ministry of the church with such ease that you see how closely they are related. For Christians the high, holy, and lofty ideas of our theology motivate and integrate perfectly with the practical functionality of our faith.

In verse one Paul says “as I directed” that Greek word means to “give authoritative commands in detail”.  Paul’s call to give for the needs of poor Christians was no suggestion. Generosity is as much a part of the Christian life as is love, prayer, worship, or community life. This is not a command to be tight fisted in giving. Actually the language of, “as he may prosper” is in an ongoing tense, and there is a strong sense of our giving growing as our income grows. Not just in terms of net giving but in terms of proportion as well. In other words as your income goes up so should your percentage of giving. If you have once made 10 drachmas and you gave 1 drachma and lived on 9 what is to keep you, when you make 20 drachmas, instead of giving 2 give 5 and live on 15. We need to work for growing in our giving as much as we need to grow in other kinds of Christian disciplines.

It is worth noting that a short term mission team mentioned in vs 3-4 are taking a generous gift to the Christians in Jerusalem in response to the critical need. The radical giving of the very early church in Acts 4-6 could not be sustained indefinitely. It is interesting to note the giving pattern of the early church especially in major capital campaigns. The early church gave support to relief efforts for their brothers in Christ. This relief effort of Gentile Christians to aid the Jerusalem church is the first time in world history there was an intentional relief effort not tied to race or political affiliations.  In addition to relief the early church gave for mission efforts and to support church leaders who served in ministry roles. (1 Cor 9:9) Oftentimes our giving is tied to much lesser things.  Perhaps the reason we are less generous is because we don’t give to the great things of God. If we give to the great things of God  we are more apt to become great givers.

“Lord, let my theology shape the generosity of my life. AMEN”