The Collection
The first time we see the command for a collection is found in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”
This passage indicates that the Apostle Paul had previously given a command for this activity, the collecting of money. Paul tells the Corinthians that he has already given the order to the congregations in another region, namely Galatia. His command was NOT optional because he plainly says, “So you must also do.”
Then Paul proceeds to give the order as to when this collection must take place, specifically, “On the first day of the week.” Also, we can deduce from this passage that EVERY person, who was at all prosperous, was responsible to give a portion toward this collection. As well, the idea was reinforced that small increments were to be saved at a time so that there was neither a great burden put upon them nor a scrambled effort to gather the funds at the last minute (Decently and in order 1 Cor 14:40).
The “storing up as he may prosper,” or “lay by him in store”-KJV literally means to place the funds into a treasury in order to amass the wealth for future use. It also stands to reason that this collection was done weekly during the normal assembly every first day of the week.
We can see from New Testament history that the early church had a giving nature to assist those in need. For example:
Acts 2:44-45 “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”
Acts 4:32-37 relates that the believers seemed eager to help those in need and did some drastic things such as sell their homes and lands.In Acts 11:28-30 the brethren sent relief to the saints of Judea that were facing famine during the reign of Claudius Caesar. Paul set this generosity into order by giving the command for a weekly collection as he explains in 2 Corinthians 8:13-14:
“For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.”
The first and obvious need for this collection is for “poor and needy saints.”We have seen previous examples of this and it seems that what qualifies as poor and needy is determined by the “normal” standards of living for that region. (Wages that render one homeless in one region might be considered ample wealth in another based upon the economic climate.)
"Honor Widows"
Another example of the collection’s use is to provide for the widows. Paul is quite explicit as to the rules of the widow’s qualifications if she is to be given a regular supporting income from the church (“taken into the number”). 1 Timothy 5:3-10 “Honor widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. And these things command, that they may be blameless. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.”
Yet another example of the collection’s use is to support the elders. 1 Timothy 5:17-18 “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE AN OX WHILE IT TREADS OUT THE GRAIN,” and, “THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HIS WAGES.” Here Paul stresses that theelders were to receive compensation for their effortsas well as high respect for their work. He even quotes a passage from Deuteronomy 25:4 to leave no doubt that he is referring to financial support.
Last, but not least, is the use of the collection to spread the gospel. If an elder is to be considered a gospel laborer and to be financially supported, it stands to reason that a man who devotes his life laboring as a preacher should also be supported. “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”-1 Timothy 5:18. The command to go and preach the gospel necessitates the preacher. Romans 10:14-15 shows that it was necessary for God to send preachers that His word might be heard, believed and obeyed in nations around the world. This preaching cannot be done without a means of support. At times we find Paul himself laboring with his own hands as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3) until such time as he was relieved by the brethren that he might devote his time to teaching the gospel (2 Corinthians 1:11-16). Though the implication to support the preacher is enough, Paul was inspired to pen the explicit command of the Lord here in 1 Corinthians 9:14, “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.”
As to the frequency of collecting, it is duly noted that every first day of the week was required. Let us pose another question: “How long shall we continue to have collections?” The answer is: as long as the gospel is preached, as long as elders continue to lead the congregations, as long as widows are widows in deed and as long as there are poor and needy saints, to which Jesus said, “For you have the poor with you always…” Matthew 26:11.
As for distributing funds to the world, we have no commands for the collective body of the church to do so, we do however have a word from James to show a personal responsibility to “visit” the affliction of widows and orphans (James 1:27). Paul also implies this personal responsibility in Galatians 6:10, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Since the church has no “Para-church” organizations, for example, soup kitchens, hospitals, schools etc. there is no authorized funding of these or any other worldly institutions. To support any work that is not a work of the church would be in total violation of the collection’s purpose. –
Sean S. McCallister, duke5457@yahoo.com.