11 – THE SUBJECT CHURCH GOERS HATE MOSTJanuary 13, 1974
PASTOR HENRY KULP
I Corinthians 16: 1 - 3 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
NOW CONCERNING THE COLLECTION
What a contrast we have here. In Chapter 15 we have been in the heavenlies, and we have been transported into the future. We have been taken to the Rapture, and the believer will be with Christ and like Christ. Now, suddenly, we come crashing back down to earth and into the present.
1/ Sooner or later money gets into every picture. Just take marriage. It causes a great deal of problems in marriage. Or, just in every day life—you can’t exist without money. And neither can the local assembly. How many people hate the thought of the preacher asking for money—how many cry, All he ever does is preach money. Yet to show you how inconsistent people can be, look at the United Fund, Cancer, Heart Fund, March of Dimes, or we can have a walk for some good purpose, and people will go many miles to raise money and think nothing of it. But let the church say anything about money, and immediately they are accused of only being interested in money.
2/ The collection here was for a special purpose. Verse 1 says it is for the saints, that means, believers, and remember there is not an earthly organization that can make anyone a saint—it is belief in Christ. Then in verse 3 we are told it was for the saints at Jerusalem.
3/ Romans 15: 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
These saints, which are at Jerusalem are poverty-stricken. The adjective indicates ABSOLUTE POVERTY. They were a penniless crowd at Jerusalem. As far as the world’s goods are concerned there wasn’t a rich man among them.
4/ The reason for their poverty was two-fold.
#1 There had been a famine about that time.
#2 Persecution. So believers in Jerusalem were the poorest folks living there, and they needed help from other believers.
5/ In verse 1 we have a principle that is the same for all local assemblies, large or small, no matter what problems they have. All are to operate under this principle.
6/ The word, collections, is a Greek word, a Koina word. It used to be used mean to take a collection in the heathen temple for their idols, but God uses it here.
7/ He says He had given orders to the church of Galatia and they were to have the same instructions. The instructions are given in Galatians 2: 10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
We are to remember the poor—that is poor believers. It does not mean that the church is responsible for all the poor people in the area. How many times I get calls from folks who are destitute and they think the Altoona Bible Church should meet their needs, this is not true. We are responsible to believers and those who are part of our ministry.
Galatians 6: 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Let us remember that Church is not an agency that has been organized to get rid of poverty. We would spend all our time at this and never accomplish our end. But we do have a responsibility to our own.
8/ Now the principle that is important here and throughout Paul’s writings is that there is to be no pressure. We are to have no gimmicks. A preacher should never get up and say Mr. Brown has given $50, wouldn’t you like to raise your hand and give $100. Nor does God approve that someone with money would say, “I’ll give a dollar for every dollar the church raises.” This is contrary for God loves a cheerful giver. He doesn’t want your money if you must be talked into it.
9/ Let me show you another principle that I am sure God despises. These folks who say they have tithed, and since they have tithed God has blessed them financially and materially. And these divine healers who say God will never be in debt to you—you give them money and God will bless you financially. Never give money to God to get money.
10/ THIS ATTITUDE IS A GENIE SYSTEM
If you give 10% of your income, you can get whatever you want from God. His going price is 10% of your income. I’ve heard many, many glowing testimonies by folks who said, “I started to give 10%, now I’m rich, I have need of nothing.” This is fake, a phony.
11/ So to clean up this mess, let us understand the doctrine of Jewish giving.
12/ Tithing under the Mosaic Law was a system of income tax. It was for the entire nation, not just believers. Actually, every Jew gave two tithes every year out of their income. This was for maintenance.
Numbers 18: 21, 24 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die. But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance. But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
Leviticus 27: 30 - 33 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord. And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. We shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
Secondly, they gave a tithe for all the feasts and sacrifices. The expense was tremendous.
Deuteronomy 14: 22 - 24 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee:
Deuteronomy 12: 18 But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.
Then every third year they paid another tenth. This was for the poor, the destitute.
Deuteronomy 14: 28, 29 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
I WANT TO STRESS A PRINCIPLE HERE—THIS WAS INCOME TAX—NOT SPIRITUAL GIVING
You will notice that all pay the same amount. It is not a graduated income tax. The Bible recognizes one who uses his ability and works hard deserves to be successful. The way we are doing things in the United States, we take initiative away from our people.
13/ SPIRITUAL GIVING IS FOR THE BELIEVER ONLY
Malachi 3: 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings?
That is why here in the Old Testament, we have the phrase, tithes and offerings. Tithes are for all who are citizens of the nation, offerings for believers only. Under the law, there was a principle.
Proverbs 11: 24 - 25 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Here there is not one word as to the amount, because this is above the tithe. And God promises to reward the giver materially. He will make the Jew rich who gives in spiritual giving.
14/ I Corinthians 16: 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK
This is Sunday so they must have met for worship and Bible Study on Sunday, not Saturday. This also suggests THEY WERE SYSTEMATIC IN THEIR GIVING. Giving was a part of their worship service. But, of course, no pressure, no gimmicks.
15/ LAY BY HIM IN STORE
This means, that which you have saved to give. In other words, setting aside a certain amount to give to the Lord. This means they were not HAPHAZARD IN THEIR GIVING. They thought out the amount. And it was as God had prospered him. The exact amount was not stated—it was left between the believer and his Lord, so the amount you give will indicate what you think of God’s prospering you. Many tip God, and how dreadful that is. God doesn’t want your tips, He wants you to give as you recognize He has prospered you. You must recognize you have nothing without Him.
16/ That, introduces the result clause. There will be no collecting of money when Paul is there. I am convinced that most evangelistic services are run contrary to God’s will. We have what we call evangelistic services, invite the unsaved, and then harangue them for money. We don’t need their money, we have something to give them.
17/ I Corinthians 16: 3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GIVING
Who should handle the money? Not the preacher—not because he is crooked, or a thief, or not because he doesn’t have the ability to handle it—but he has been called to study and teach. The administration should be in the hands of others. Whomsoever ye shall approve. These are men with ability—administrative ability. And by letters, means they are highly recommended. We must always be careful of the ones we select to handle the money.
18/ Then will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
This committee that well be chosen will take the money to Jerusalem to see that it is given to those who are in need.
God loves a cheerful giver.
AMEN
Ref: 01/13/1974 / 11 – THE SUBJECT CHURCH GOERS HATE MOST / 01/15/2021
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