Sunday School at 9 am | worship at 10 am

The Most Controversial Issue of All

We’re about to wrap up our series on 1 Corinthians. I chose to preach a series of sermons from this particular book because it addresses just about every problem a church could have. Everything from misunderstandings about baptism to abuses of the communion service to immoral behavior such as incest in the church to speaking in tongues to doubts about the resurrection plagued the Corinthians. These folks had a lot of lifestyle issues and they had a lot of theological problems. Actually, their lifestyle issues could be traced to their theological errors. Suffice it to say, Paul dealt with just about every controversial subject a church is likely to face. And now, as he wraps up his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul deals with one last controversial issue—the issue that some might consider to be the most controversial of all. It’s the matter of giving.

This is not a fundraising letter, and the sermon on Sunday will not be a fundraising speech. I am not a fundraiser. But I am a pastor, so therefore I feel an obligation to provide you with some scriptural principles for giving. Here are a few such principles from 1 Corinthians 16:1-22.

First, we are commanded to give some of our money to God

"Each one of you should set aside a sum of money…." Not just the wealthy among you, not just the middle class, but all of you.

Second, be prepared to give as special needs arise

In the context that 1 Corinthians was written, one part of the world-wide church was suffering. When the need arose, churches not suffering pooled their money together to help out. We do the same through several means: the benevolence/missions portion of our church budget takes our regular donations and portions them out to various needs and ministries beyond our church. At Thanksgiving and Easter we receive special offerings to help with missions we do not normally support on a monthly basis.

Third, we should give regularly

Prayerfully determine what you are able to give, and then do it regularly and consistently. As often as you receive your pay, set aside a consistent percentage and give it on a regular basis.

And finally, biblical giving should not be motivated by pressure

Looking again at 16:2 we see that the apostle is asking that the collection be made each week so that there doesn’t have to be a fund drive when he arrives. He is in Ephesus as he writes this letter, and he has plans to come to visit Corinth in the future. He knows that his credibility and charisma is such that he could generate a huge offering with his personal presence. But he doesn’t want them to give under that kind of pressure. He says in effect, “Do what you’re going to do before I arrive.” Pressure, of course, works. Countless churches and ministries have funded vast building projects through high-pressure fund-raising efforts. But just because something works doesn’t necessarily make it right.