1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 16.
Concluding Admonitions. 1 Corinthians 16, 1–24.
Regarding the collection for Jerusalem: V. 1. Now, concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. V. 2. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
That God is by no means indifferent to the manner in which the business end of a congregation's work is carried on is seen from this paragraph. While Paul was on his third missionary journey, he was busily engaged with the task of collecting money for the poor brethren at Jerusalem, as the references in his letters show, Gal. 2, 10; 2 Cor. 8 and 9; Rom. 15, 25. 26. It was the apostle's ambition to bring a rich thank-offering from the Christians of the heathen lands to the congregation at Jerusalem. And so he here reminds the Corinthians of this "collection" which was being made for the saints (Cobern, The New Archeological Discoveries, 35. 125).
On his journey of visitation through Southern Galatia, Acts 18, 23, a short time before, he had given orders to the congregations of that section, he had set the matter before them and secured their willing assent to the plan. And this same plan he wanted the Corinas his urgent words indicate.
The apostle's plan was: On every first of the week let each of you by himself lay up a definite sum (making a store of it), whatever he has been prospered in, in accordance with his income, so that the collection may not have to be made when I come.
We have here the earliest mention of the Christian Sunday as an appropriate day for deeds of charity, though not the exclusive day for church services, and not set aside by divine appointment. Every one of the Christians was to take part in this work of charity, as the context shows, every one that had an income of his own in any form; the apostle did not confine his instructions to the adult men.
There was no compulsion in any form, but the obligation was all the more emphatic for a willing offering. Each one should decide the amount for himself, as his heart told him that he could afford it; and the size of his gift should be measured by the blessing which God has given him in his work or business. In this way a Lord's treasure would accumulate in time, and the total amount should be paid over when Paul came.
By assenting to this plan, the Corinthians would avoid the necessity of making collections upon Paul's arrival, since there might be difficulty about raising a large amount of money suddenly, aside from the fact that Paul preferred to devote his time to the matters of his teaching office.
Note: Regular, systematic giving according to this plan of Paul has the sanction of the Lord Himself, and has been found to be the most effective method of raising funds for the Lord's work.