11-29-18 Today in the Word

The Church and Its Ministries
SUPPORTING THE CHURCH
Thursday, November 29, 2018 | 1 Corinthians 16:1–24

In an article in CT Pastors, Karl Vaters describes his initial reluctance to talk about money with his church. As the economy grew more challenging and giving fell at his church, he decided that he needed to do a series on stewardship. “As I was preparing for it through study and prayer, I paused to think about some of the other recent challenges our church had faced. Why I was able to address other challenges with a motivating sense of urgency, but talking about a financial need was filling me with dread?” He then realized that the difference had to do with his assumptions about the church. “In each of the previous challenges, I assumed that the people in our church wanted the need to be met, wanted to help out, and wanted to know what the plan was to get us there.”
Paul approached the issue of stewardship with that positive assumption. As he made preparations for his third missionary journey, he instructed churches to participate in the offering he was collecting to help the impoverished believers in Jerusalem (v. 1). He also expected the Corinthians to help with the expenses of his trip (v. 6) and to support Timothy (vv. 10–11).
Paul’s directions were practical. The money should be collected on the first day of the week when the church met for worship. The amount that each was expected to contribute was to be in proportion with their ability. Paul told the church what the funds were to be used for. He outlined measures that would reassure the church that their money was being handled with integrity by promising to send the funds to Jerusalem by approved representatives from the church (v. 3). He also let the Corinthians know their gifts would be joined with others (v. 17).
APPLY THE WORD
Giving financially is a way to be part of God’s work through the church. Paul’s directives are still good: Plan ahead. Give in proportion to your income. Expect those who receive your funds to give an account of how it is being used. Review your budget this weekend to see whether you need to make changes in your giving to the Lord’s work.

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