Christian Giving

GOLDEN TEXT: “Let all your things be done with charity.” —I Corinthians 16:14

I CORINTHIANS 16:1-14

THE Golden Text for this lesson sets forth the only motive that is acceptable to God for Christian activity on behalf of others. In our service for God the motive, of course, should be love for him and to glorify his name. These two motives are perfectly harmonious with each other. Indeed, the exercise of charity, or love, as it is in the Greek text, does glorify God, for God is love.

With many scholars, love is considered a better translation of the Greek word agape used in this text than “charity.” Perhaps the basic meaning of charity comes nearer to expressing the thought Paul had in mind than does the word love, that meaning being to bestow benefits upon others with no expectation of repayment. In God himself we find the greatest of all examples of the exercise of this principle of unselfishness, for he gave his own beloved Son that both the church and the world might live.

Every unselfish service for others, therefore, brings glory to God, for it is a display of the great principle of love which motivates his every act. Surely, then, it is important that all things be done with charity, or love. Otherwise, although we might “speak with the tongues of men and of angels,” bestow all our goods “to feed the poor,” and give our bodies “to be burned,” it would profit us “nothing.”—I Cor. 13:1-3

In our lesson the principle of love is seen active in helping needy brethren at Jerusalem. Paul refers to it as “the collection for the saints.” Evidently he was calling the attention of the brethren in various places to the need that existed, and suggesting that they make a united effort to do what they could to help. He suggested an orderly manner for saving what they could for this purpose; that is, a setting aside for the purpose on the first day of the week according as the Lord had prospered them.

He asked that this be done, and the matter taken care of before he arrived, “that there be no gatherings when I come.” (vs. 2) Paul felt that his presence was not needed in connection with the taking of these “collections,” which certainly reveals that he was by no means overruling them in the matter. He knew that when he arrived there would be more important matters to take care of than raising funds for the needy brethren in Jerusalem, important though this surely was.

And Paul made sure that no one could in any way suspect him of using these charitable funds for his own benefit. He asked the brethren at Corinth to write to him and let him know whom they approved as messengers to take their gifts to Jerusalem, so that when he arrived he could turn over the money to them. He explained that if he decided to go to Jerusalem himself, he would simply accompany their chosen messengers; implying, of course, that the responsibility of the funds would remain with them.

Paul asked the brethren to accept Timotheus, or Timothy, “without fear.” In other words, Paul was placing his stamp of approval upon the ministry of Timothy, “for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.” Timothy was much younger than Paul, but he was very loyal to the apostle, and Paul knew that he could trust him under any circumstances to serve the brethren with the truth, and to use his influence against the spirit of carnality in the Corinthian church which was so manifested in their divided allegiances to human leaders.

In warning these brethren against the evils of a partisan spirit, he reveals that some in the church were saying, I am “of Apollos.” Evidently Paul did not feel that Apollos was responsible for this; for in today’s lesson Paul reveals that he desired Apollos to visit the church at Corinth again, and indicates that he was disappointed that Apollos did not find it convenient to do so at the time. Perhaps Paul thought Apollos could help them to see the error of their carnality.

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong,” Paul wrote. (vs. 13) Every follower of the Master should be watchful—of his own conduct; of the providences of the Lord in his life; and for opportunities to sacrifice himself in the Lord’s service. He should also “stand fast in the faith,” and not be blown about by every wind of doctrine. The expression “quit you like men,” simply means to “act manly,” not like children. Paul admonished the brethren to be “strong,” strong, that is, in the Lord and in the power of his might.

QUESTIONS

What are the two basic motives for all true Christian activity?

Explain Paul’s instructions to the brethren in Corinth concerning “collections.”

Why may Paul have wanted Apollos to visit the Corinthian brethren?

Explain verse 13 of the lesson.

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