The Collection

WORSHIP/DEVOTIONAL ARTICLE | Jim Mickells | Lewisburg, Tennessee

“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” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

There are a great number of things that you and I can learn from these two verses about giving. Let me share a few of them with you so we may be more aware of what God has said and how important our giving is to the work of the church. The Lord depends on us to carry out His work.

There is a collection to be made. Thayer defines the word “collection” as “of money gathered for the relief of the poor” (Thayer’s, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament). This word is used in both verses and is the same Greek word. Giving is required by God. Notice – “as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia.” Are these orders in Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia? Not that I can find. Yet, at some point, he gave them the command to collect funds. Not only was it required of those churches in Galatia, he said, “so you must do also.” Paul commanded the church at Corinth, and likewise, such is required of the Lord’s church today.

The funds spoken of being collected in these verses was “for the saints.” These saints would have been Christians had needs they could not supply. Consider these verses as well Acts 11:28-30; 24:17; Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 8:4; 9:1, 12. There is no command or example of a New Testament church using funds collected to help those in poverty who were not Christians. Helping those in need who are not saints would be our individual responsibility (Matthew 19:16-22; Luke 10:25-37). Yet this is not the only reason funds are to be collected. Any work given to the church by the Lord, which requires resources, authorizes the collection of such and their use in doing the work. Paul said, “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14). He received funds from the church at Philippi, aiding him while preaching the gospel (Philippians 4:14-16). The church collected and sent those funds for such an effort.

The day when the collection is to be taken – “on the first day of the week.” When he said the first day of the week, then it would eliminate any other day. When God told Noah to build the ark out of gopher wood that excluded every other kind of wood (Genesis 6:14). He did not have to make an exhaustive list of what not to use when He specified what to use. The same is true of when the collection is taken. The New Testament church came together on the first day of the week to worship. Two of those acts are unique to the first day of the week assembly — the collection and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7). The expression “first day of the week” is defined as “the first day of the week; on the first day of every week, every Sunday” (A Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament). So when we come together as a body of God’s people on Sunday, a collection is taken. We also partake of the Lord’s Supper, along with preaching/teaching, singing, and praying (Acts 2:42; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).

A collection means we are to “lay something aside.” In Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament and Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament, both say to lay something aside refers to what one sets aside at home. I find this strange, particularly when it is to be done on the first day of the week. If one were simply to put something at home, why the first day of the week? Couldn’t you do such at any time? And secondly, if one stored such at home, would that not defeat the very purpose for Paul’s command that there be no gathering when I come? The answer to this question is obviously yes! Notice this comment,

“The usual view is that every one was directed to set aside something on the Lord’s day and keep it until Paul came. This view is sanctioned by the translations and most of the commentators. Macknight renders: “On the first day of the week, let each one of you lay somewhat by itself, putting it into the treasury.” I believe Macknight is right; for (1) there were to be no collections when Paul came. That implies that the money was to be placed in the treasury. Otherwise, it would have to be collected. (2) Thesaurizoon, rendered in the Common Version “in store,” is a present participle, meaning literally, “treasury.” (3) All church history testifies that the early church took up weekly collections on the first day of the week. See Pliny’s Letter to Emperor Trajan. (4) We know, from Acts 20:7, and all early church history, that the church met on the first day of the week” (Johnson’s Notes on the New Testament, p. 126).

Our giving is to be as “he may prosper.” In his second epistle to the Corinthians, the apostle says our giving should not be sparingly, but bountifully. As we purpose and plan our giving, we should not give grudgingly nor out of necessity; instead, we should give out of a heart filled with love and devotion for the Lord. Knowing He loves the cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Mike Willis said,

“The Christian should not determine how much to give to the Lord on the basis of the law of tithing (a tenth of all that is earned); rather, the gift should be in proportion to how much he has been prospered with no percentage having been legislated. Therefore, one who makes a large sum is expected to give more than he who makes a little” (Truth Commentary, 1 Corinthians, p. 492).

May God help us to understand and to appreciate the privilege given to us to return a small portion of what He has blessed us with to help in His great work of saving the souls of men, women, and children.

______________________________
October 2020 | GROW magazine