Saints Alive! Living Generously ~ Lesson Four

A Legacy of Giving

Prayer: O God of our past, present and future, we have had a good walk together. You have blessed us with Christ before us, a loving congregation around us, and inspired companions beside us. May this be our legacy as faithful stewards of the wealth of our lives and the joy of the gospel. Amen.

Scripture: "Now concerning the collection for the saints: you should follow the directions I gave to the churches of Galatia. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come. And when I arrive, I will send any whom you approve with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me." ~1 Corinthians 16:1-3, NRSV

Lesson: Reading the verses following this passage it is evident that Paul will take a long, slow route to get to Corinth. His plan is for a course through Macedonia. Ephesus is also on his itinerary, as there Paul sees challenges as well as opportunities to witness to the resurrection of Christ. When he does visit Corinth, he doesn't want it to be in passing; he would like to linger with believers there. Here, and in other accounts of the collection for the saints, there is an absence of urgency. This may indicate that the poverty in Jerusalem is a chronic issue for which there is no quick fix or easy relief.

In this endeavor, Paul takes time to build relationships with the congregations, connect one congregation to another, give individuals occasion to participate fully, and place this in the context of his evangelistic mission to take Christ to the Gentiles. 

At this time in the life of the infant church, there is little in the way of formal structure or offices. Yet, Paul recognizes the leadership and authority that has grown with the congregation. Respecting their participation in this undertaking, Paul acknowledges there is more than one way to get these offerings to Jerusalem and to those in need. 

Paul may have had reservations of his own regarding the delivery of the offering to the poor in the church at Jerusalem (Romans 15:30-32). Questions must have arisen in his mind about whether the poor would receive the offering, for it was more than just an offering. It was an offering connected to personalities, to issues, and to future relationships. Would the poor see this as a way the Gentile Christians were buying favor? Could it be that Paul would be seen as making amends for the evil he had done to them before his conversion?

Either by letter or by personally accompanying those chosen by the congregation, Paul is their companion in this care of brothers and sisters in Christ. Either way, Paul introduces one part of the church to another. While tensions between Jewish and Gentile Christians remain, Paul guides new generations of leaders to a fuller understanding of the one church in Christ.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Sometimes urgency in giving occurs following a natural disaster. Sometimes it happens when there is a crisis within the congregation. Sometimes giving takes on urgency when people are presented with a new opportunity for ministry and mission. When has your congregation experienced urgency in giving?

2. When has your congregation experienced giving that is unhurried, yet deliberate and purposeful?

3. Where in the invitation to giving within the congregation is there an intentional building of relationships? Is there a building of relationships with and among members? Are relationships with the recipients of giving nurtured? Is a relationship with God in Christ at the heart of the invitation to giving? If so, how are all these relationships built and nurtured? Could this be done more effectively? If so, how?

4. Trace giving from households through the congregation and into ministry and mission. What is connected? Who is connected? Who are the ultimate recipients of your giving?

5. How is your congregation growing stewards?

6. What legacy does your congregation leave in teaching generosity? What is your personal legacy as an example of generosity?