GIVING ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK (1 COR. 16:2)

Ron Halbrook, 3505 Horse Run Ct., Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954 (halbrook@twc.com)

GIVING ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK (1 COR. 16:2)

Introduction:
1. Sacrificial, unselfish, cheerful giving–vital part of our faith & Christian life
2. 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:7 God’s plan for giving:  Bring in hand what is in heart!
3. Acts 2:41-45; 4:32-37; 5:1-11; 6:1-7 Fellowship of giving part of worship from beginning

  I. How the New Testament Church Was Taught to Give (1 Cor. 16:1-2)
   A. “Upon the first day of the week:” Periodic, Regular
     1. As Ex. 20:8 & Acts 20:7, observed every time that day came
     2. “On the first day of every week” (Marshall’s Interlinear Greek-English New Testament), “every Sunday” (New English Bible)
     3. Word translated “upon” (kata) in 1 Cor. 16:2 used by Greeks with measures of time to indicate regularity & repetition:
        a. With day: every day, daily (Lk. 16:19; Acts 17:11)
        b. With month: every month (Rev. 22:2)
        c. With year: every year (Lk. 2:41)
        d. With Sabbath: every Sabbath (Acts 18:4)
        e. With the first day of the week: every first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:2)
   B. “Each one of you:” Personal, Individual
     1. Salvation & worship personal
     2. Acts 5:1-2, 9 Man & wife may agree, give together
     3. Remember to teach our children to give
   C. “Lay by him in store:” Provident, Providing for the Needs of the Church
     1. “In store,” in the general fund or common treasury of the church:
        a. Tithes put in “treasuries,” storehouses (Neh. 13:12)
        b. Gifts put in temple “treasury” (Matt. 27:6; Mk. 12:41)                       
        c. Disciples with Jesus had common “bag” (Jn. 13:29)                                                               
        d. Believers laid in store at “the apostles’ feet” (Acts 4:35; 5:2)
     2. “That there be no gatherings when I come:”
        a. Common fund result of “collection,” “gathering,” “liberality” (1 Cor. 16:1-3)
        b. Not private funds held at home (which would require collections when Paul arrived)
   D. Church Dependent on Love & Sacrifice of Members, NOT Carnality:
     1. Entertainment: concert, play, dance, movie, carnival, alcohol
     2. Solicit from sinners
     3. Auction, yard sale
     4. Gambling: raffle, bingo, casino night
     5. Sell meals, candy, trinkets, etc.
     6. Business investments

 II. What Was the Money Used For?
   A. Mission of Local Church Ordained by God:
     1. Evangelism to lost world (2 Cor. 11:8; Phil. 4:15-19; 1 Thess. 1:7-8)
     2. Worship & edification by saints (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 14:26)
     3. Benevolence to needy saints (Acts 6:1-7)
   B. “Let Not the Church be Charged” (1 Tim. 5:16)
     1. Social functions, social welfare services: parties, showers, psychology, day-care, job training, legal services, adoption agency,
         social meal after funeral sermon or reception after wedding sermon
     2. Secular education: K-12, college, G.E.D.
     3. Recreation: picnic, ball team, youth center, gym, puppet show, movies, camp, sight-seeing trips, “fellowship hall”
     4. Medical services
     5. Economic, social, or political reform

III. How Should We Give?
   A. Measured by Spirit of Love for God
     1. 2 Cor. 8:1-5 Macedonians “first gave their own selves to the Lord”–exceeded normal expectation
     2. 2 Cor. 9:6-10 What we bring in our heart, we bring in our hand
     3. Lk. 21:1-4 Poor widow gave her heart, sacrificed “more than they all”
   B. What Standard or Percentage Required?
     1. 1 Cor. 16:2 Personal decision: “as God hath prospered”
     2. 2 Cor. 9:7 “As he purposeth in his heart”
   C. Consider How the Law of Moses Taught the Spirit of Giving
     1. Lev. 27:30-33 Tithe (10%) of all fruit & flocks–Levites & poor shared in this bounty–
         if we made a personal decision to use this standard as an average, a benchmark, a starting place, or a goal, how much money would it be? 
        a. If 400 pesos income per week, give 40 pesos; if 500 pesos income per week, give 50 pesos; 
            If 1,000 pesos income per week, give 100 pesos.
     2. Ex. 13:1-2; 23:19  First fruits, firstborn male of everything (some of latter could be redeemed with money; Num. 18:12-18)
     3. Book of Lev. Many sacrifices & offerings of animals, food, & drink: some daily, annual, & freewill
     4. Lev. 27; 1 Sam. 1:11 Vow special gifts for use of sanctuary–persons, animals, houses, land
     5. Deut. 15:1-2 7^th year release all debts
     6. Lev. 25:1-13 50^th year release all debts, slaves, & land back to original owner
     7. 1 Kgs. 17:8-9; 2 Kgs. 4:8-10 Support prophets on freewill basis
     8. Deut. 15:7-11 Care for destitute, widow, orphan
     9. Ex. 25:1-7; 30:11-16; 2 Chron. 24:4-10 Voluntary gifts plus atonement tax to build & maintain tabernacle, temple
    10. Estimated total: 25-30 % of income
   D. With a Better Covenant & Better Promises (Heb. 8:6), What Is Our Spirit of Giving?
     1. If sacrificed to give to false religion before, what is our decision now that God opened a door for us to find the true Savior,
         true gospel, true baptism, true church, true way of salvation???
   E. Whatever We Give, Let Us Determine to Grow!
     1. Jn. 3:16 God’s perfect love: Provided plan, sacrifice, & revelation of salvation
     2. 1 Thess. 1:8 What the church can do to spread the gospel to a lost world: Limited or expanded by our giving
     3. 2 Cor. 8:7 Should set individual & church goals: “grow in this grace also”
   F. Our Giving: Rob God (Mal. 3:8) OR Lay Up Treasures in Heaven (Matt. 6:19-21)?

Invitation:
1. Sacrificial, unselfish, cheerful giving by Christ (2 Cor. 8:9)–truly he seeks to make us rich: promise of sins forgiven, fellowship with God, heaven.
2. To receive his riches:
  a. Acts 2:38 Alien sinner, obey gospel
  b. Acts 8:22 Erring saint, repent & pray