(Chap. 16:1-4)
Vss. 1-4—The Apostle deals with one more thing that needed to be set in order at Corinth—“the collection.” Apparently, the Corinthians didn’t have a regular weekly collection. What he was about to tell them in regards to this was not something specific to them alone. He had taught the same to “the churches of Galatia.”
The collections of the saints should be used for the needs of the Lord’s people. It could be for His servants from whom we receive spiritual help (Phil. 4:14-18), or for special needs of the poor of the flock (2 Cor. 8-9). On this occasion Paul was not speaking of a collection for those who ministered the Word, but for “the poor saints which are at Jerusalem” (Rom. 15:25-26). We see the wisdom of the Apostle here in addressing the saints on this subject. Had the collection to which he refers been for labourers, it could have been construed that he really wanted a gift from them after all, even though he said he wouldn’t take one from them (chap. 9). But that was definitely not his intention (2 Cor. 12:17). He tactfully waited for this moment when there was a need for others. Then he would speak about the collection and the dispersing of it without anyone thinking that he wanted it for himself.
The saints at Jerusalem were poor for a number of reasons. Their faith in the Lord Jesus had brought them into severe “persecution” (Acts 8:1), and many of them had their earthly possessions confiscated (Heb. 10:34). Some of them were killed and thus left behind widows and orphans who needed support. There was also a “great dearth” (famine) in that area, and this stressed the saints beyond measure (Acts 11:28-30). What made matters worse was that the saints at Jerusalem, in their zeal for the Lord, had sold their possessions and their lands and houses (Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-35). When the trouble came, it magnified their problem, for they had nowhere to turn for food and shelter.
Our all-wise God had His good reasons behind allowing the need to arise in Jerusalem and Judea. It became an occasion for the Gentile Christians to have fellowship with the Jewish believers, thus bonding them together in a very practical way. The Jewish saints may have had thoughts of not needing the Gentile believers, or that the Gentiles were in a class beneath them, but this gift from the Gentile saints to the poor Jewish saints at Jerusalem helped to dispel that. It caused the Jewish believers to lift up their hearts in thanksgiving in genuine appreciation for their Gentile brethren (2 Cor. 9:11-13). If there had been any reserve toward the converted Gentiles, prior to this trial, this expression of love and fellowship dispelled it.
Paul told them that they should take care to have a regular collection “upon the first day of the week.” This was the day when the saints universally came together to break bread (Acts 20:7). Hebrews 13:15-16 connects this kind of giving with “the sacrifice of praise to God.” Both are a priestly function. In fact, both are said to be a “sacrifice” to God. All such monetary gifts are given to the Lord as part of our worship. Since this passage in 1 Corinthians 16 synchronizes with Acts 20:7 when the saints were gathered together to break bread, it is fair to assume that both offerings to God would be given at the same time at the remembrance feast.
Paul said that “everyone” in fellowship ought to give in the collection. Some have mistakenly thought that the husband who is the head of the house (and the one who usually brings the money into the home) ought to give on behalf of his household. Therefore, there is no need for the wife to contribute too. This is what was done in Judaism (Num. 7:2), and it was right and proper for Jews in a natural religion. However, Christianity is a direct contrast to Judaism (John 4:21-24). To practise such in Christianity is to confuse natural relationships with the new spiritual relationships that we have been brought into in the body of Christ. In Christianity, we don’t worship God as members of a family, but as members of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 10:17). The wife is a member of the body of Christ as much as her husband and should participate in this aspect of worship. This mistaken idea may have been borrowed inadvertently from Christian denominationalism. Such organizations approach God in what they call “Family Worship,” but it is a misunderstanding of true Christian worship. Since both brothers and sisters are priests, none should be hindered in this priestly function (Heb. 13:15-16). A single sister gives in the collection, and when she gets married, this priestly function shouldn’t be taken from her because she has married.
The funds were to be stored until such time that someone who was travelling to Jerusalem could take the gift to them. Note that everything having to do with handling the Lord’s money is to be done above suspicion. Since they would know the character of those in that assembly best, Paul said that they should choose “whomsoever” they thought best to carry the funds (vs. 3; 2 Cor. 8:19). In this way, they would be “providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2 Cor. 8:21).