Happy Halloween! Halloween seems like such an odd holiday to make it into the mix of the current American celebration pattern. The Halloween we will observe today goes back 2,000 years to the Celtics who would dress up in costumes in order to scare off evil spirits and ghosts. Through the years much has been added to it like the giving out of treats to kids. In fact, did you know that ¼ of all candy sold in the US is at Halloween? That’s a lot of tasty candy eating today!
Today we will finish the book of 1 Corinthians by looking at chapter 16. We’ve seen so much in Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth and tomorrow we will start 2 Corinthians, which as I’m sure you guessed, is the second letter that Paul wrote to them. We’ve had a somewhat in depth study of 1 Corinthians in only about 3 weeks. It’s amazing how quickly you can move through the Bible if you commit to read it daily!
Chapter 16 is a potpourri of topics as Paul is closing out the letter and wrapping everything up. Just as if you and I were writing a long email or letter, when we get to the end we would find the need to come to some kind of logical conclusion. We need to constantly remind ourselves that Paul was a real guy and he sat down with parchment and ink and physically wrote these letters by his own hand. “I Paul write this greeting with my own hand.” (1 Cor 16:21) Real words, real thoughts and real emotions, written by a real guy with his own hands. What a gift we have in preservation and presentation of God’s Word!
So what does Paul start out his closing comments with? An offering from the church. Directly after discussing the importance and critical relevance of the resurrection, he goes straight to the needs of the church. No church can operate and support the gospel without money. It’s true today and it was true in 54AD.
The church has gotten a real black eye today when it comes to money and giving. There’s probably not a person in America today if asked about the church and money that wouldn’t go straight to the latest scandal story that’s in the news. Or the latest mention of a pastor’s mansion or business jet. All sad but true. So, because a few selfish, criminals have infiltrated the church should we all stop giving to God? This is a tool used by Satan to halt giving to God’s church and it works. Many today will not give to a church because of something they read in the news 5 or even 10 years ago. It could be a trust issue or it could just be an excuse to not give up their money.
Paul is instructing the church at Corinth to take up an offering for the church in Jerusalem that was under greater persecution and in great need of aid. Paul instructs them to give “as God has prospered him. (1 Cor. 16:2 KJV) Notice Paul does not use the word tithe here. The tithe or “tenth” was an old testament instruction given to the Israelites. Here Paul uses the word gift. “I will send those whom you appoint to carry your GIFT to Jerusalem” (1 Cor 16:3) This means that you should give as God has prospered you. It’s a “grace giving.” Paul says we should give according to the way that God has chosen to prosper us financially. It all comes from God in the first place, so if you call Him the Lord of your life, don’t stop honoring Him when it comes to your money. I’ve heard people say that a pastor shouldn’t preach about tithing, only about spiritual matters. It’s kinda funny, those people don’t want it talked about because the subject might be a little embarrassing for them. I’ve seen the Holy Spirit work on people about the coveting of their own money and it’s really hard for them to sit through a sermon about God’s Word and giving back to Him. I wish I could say that I haven't personally eperienced this as well, but I have.
Paul goes on to mention some good common sense business principals in dealing with the church’s money. Paul tells them to select several people to carry the gift to Jerusalem. Common sense says don’t trust the money to be in the presence of just one person. I’ve seen many an honest person become dishonest in the presence of a lot of cash. The funny thing is ‘a lot of cash’ is different to everybody. I’ve seen people lose their jobs that paid $30k a year because they stole a few hundred bucks. This has always been the practice in every church I have served in. A minimum of 2 people will count and deposit the Sunday morning offerings and it’s usually even more than 2 people. When you’re dealing with money it’s just good business and Paul says so here.
Paul goes on to tell them that he hopes to come see them soon but he’s just not sure. Lets look at verses 5-7 closer.
“I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I may go.”
Notice the words Paul uses when talking about his future plans. “I intend to”, meaning ‘I aim to’ or ‘propose to.’ “Perhaps” meaning ‘to express uncertainty. “Or even” meaning ‘a possibility’. And my favorite “wherever I my go.” Paul had no idea where he would go tomorrow, and his words here tell it clearly.
Do you mean to tell me that the greatest missionary that has possibly ever lived has no perfect plan carefully plotted out on graph paper for his next 5 years? That he has not carefully lined out his journey with all lodging, food, and funding perfectly in place? No. Paul, the great missionary and obedient servant of God is in the position of being ‘gloriously unsettled.’ He is not sure what he is to do and where he is to go tomorrow. How utterly comforting that is to me today. To see that Paul was waiting on the Lord daily for his instructions. The last few years has been quite trying for Margie and me as we have waited on the Lord for His instructions. Some people have a plan. Their plan is to be at so and so church for 25 year as they live in the same house, work the same job and watch the same TV shows every night. That may be, but we must make sure that our plan is from God and not from ourselves. We should walk this life journey in obedience to the Lord and in a way that tells the world, I will serve “wherever I may go.”
May God bless each step in your walk and may your personal time in His Word today empower you to see the path clearly.
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