1 Corinthians 16

The giving of our tithes and offerings to the Lord in worship is a very spiritual exercise when it is done truly from the heart. The portion that we set aside is a testimony of something larger then what is collected. Not only is the Lord the owner of all of our financial resources. He is also the Master over our time, our bodies, and over everything that we think of as ours. Our giving of a portion as an act of worship is a commitment of the fullness of love, for we know what it is to be on the receiving end of an amazing gift.

Here we see the church in God gathering together on the day of our Lord’s resurrection, the first day of the week. On the day when we mark our new life in our resurrected Lord, it is fitting for us to lay down our lives in Christian giving as an act of worship. That giving is not just a pragmatic plan to help support the needs of a local assembly. In the case of the Corinthian church, as Paul writes this letter he does not even address their care for those in need in their own number, although there can be no doubt that this was an important matter to him. The collection he urges them to assemble little by little each Lord’s Day is for the church in Jerusalem that is suffering some kind of economic distress. But there is something more going on in this collection beyond their need. There is something here that signals the end of the ages. The Gentiles in Christ are giving the blessing of the nations to the Jews in Christ in Judea.

They will give not only their money, but they will choose some representatives to take their collection directly to Jerusalem. This is a happy moment in the history of God’s saving plan, as the blessings of the nations are pouring into Jerusalem in the hands of those who are willing givers. Paul’s work is continuing for the moment in Ephesus. He may visit Corinth, and then they will have the privilege of helping Paul on his journey, wherever his destination may be. Here we have a man who has set an example of loving ministry for the flock. He is willing to offer up his body daily as a whole burnt offering to the Lord, a living sacrifice, to give himself to the work of God according to the Word of Jesus Christ. This is everything that he has been writing about in this letter, now displayed in love before them in His own life. This is the love of Christ for them to see with their own eyes, and then to imitate.

This gospel of love is being lived out in a world where there are adversaries of Christ and His church. Paul knows all about this. He used to be in their number. He was a captain in the fight against the church. Now he is a servant-leader with men like Timothy, Apollos, and Stephanas who have seen what it is to live in love and who are fruitful in the service of the King who loved us with His life and with His death. The rule that He has laid out for us is plain. Even though we live in a dangerous world, let all that we do be done in love. Let us devote ourselves to the service of the saints.

The work of the Lord is moving forward through the region of Macedonia, Achaia, and Galatia. The love of Christ is preached everywhere. The Scriptures of the Jews are being opened up to the Gentiles. The message of first importance, that of one death and one resurrection that has a meaning for all who are in covenant relationship with God through Christ, that message is touching many lives. The church is moving forward in great love and service. It is very exciting to serve such a powerful and gracious God. It is such a privilege to give to a God who has given so much to us. It is such a joy to love the children of a Lord who has loved our children so well. It is such an honor to be courageous in a battle of love in the name of One who faced a Roman cross and the just wrath of God for our salvation.

It was something of a new idea for so many Jews in Paul’s day to have a covenant community of both Jews and Gentiles all considered one household of faith. Paul has been captivated by that mystery that has now been revealed to him and through him now to so many others. We are the recipients of this message, a message that after so many centuries should be quite obvious to us.

As we close this letter to the church in Corinth, greetings are expressed from the churches of the Roman province of Asia. Money is being collected for a gift to the brothers in the land of Judea. Who can say how far the message has already travelled at this early date in the history of the church? What we can say is that it would be a horrible mistake for us to decide today that our only concern should be with those who look like us or speak our language. Surely our common bond in Christ is what has united us to Jews and Gentiles throughout the world who have heard the message that is of first importance and have surrendered to our King. And one day, as God revealed in Habakkuk 2:14, “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” Our Lord will come, and we will know the fullness of His love and grace, but those who have no love for our Lord will be cut off and accursed. Until that day, may the love of God be with us all in Christ Jesus, and may we love His servants as those who know how good it feels to have others care for our children. Amen.