Saints Alive! Living Generously ~ Lesson One

Shaped for Generous Giving

Prayer: O God, our guide in generous and faithful lives, teach us again what it means to be set apart in the world for your way of loving and giving. 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: The apostle Paul's letter to the community of faith in Corinth is drawing to a close. Throughout he has been giving attention to divisions, quarrel, and concerns reported to him by Chloe's people. It is possible Chloe was a businesswoman whose agents, servants, or family traveled through Corinth, returning to her with news of the Corinthian congregation.

Though Paul recognized the reports as secondhand information, he addressed some of the issues reported by Chloe's people, and also questions posed by the Corinthians themselves about authority, sexual immorality (7:1), food sacrificed to idols (8:1), spiritual gifts (12:1), the collection for the saints (16:1), and Apollos' visit (16:12).

In each of four sections in the letter to the Corinthians, Paul begins "Now concerning…" While Paul addresses the divisions and potential divisions, he also gives attention to themes of unity and the building up of the community of faith. 

With the adverb now, Paul offers a bridge between the previous topic and a new consideration. Here, Paul moves to a specific example of what he means by the "work of the Lord" or "in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (15:58) that is, the collection for the saints.

Here, we focus on the collection for the saints. Most of those gathered around these words can recall images of collections ~ clothes for the community closet, food for the area food pantry, toys for a Christmas outreach, school supplies for area children, or monies for those who have lost their homes to fire. The collection to which Paul refers here is most likely money.

There is much about this collection we do not know for certain. However there are pieces we can bring together to create a clearer picture. 1) Acts 11:27-30 During the reign of Claudius (A.D. 41-54) there was a famine over all the world. Disciples determined to offer relief "according to their ability" to the believers in Judea. Paul (Saul) and Barnabas were to deliver the collection to the elders in Jerusalem. 2) Galatians 2:10 Paul, as an apostle of Jesus Christ, was recognized by the church in Jerusalem. Given the right hand of fellowship, his ministry among the Gentiles was affirmed. Paul noted that the leaders in Jerusalem asked "only one thing, that we remember the poor…" For Paul, it was important to note that in this matter he was not reluctant, but eager. 3) Romans 15:25 Paul always seemed eager to go into new areas with the gospel. However, he did not forget the commitment he made. He delayed his plans and explained, "At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem in a ministry to the saints;…"

Piecing together portions of the accounts in other passages, it is evident the collection of money Paul gathered was for the poor or the saints in and around the Jerusalem church. Their poverty may have been a result of famine. Their discipleship and the resulting persecution may also have placed them at the edges of their families, the religious community, and the economic life of Jerusalem. Paul may use "saints" rather than the "poor" to identify the recipients as part of the family of Christ's followers. These saints, these who have been set apart in Christ, make up the church. Here it is apart of the church, part of their extended faith family, that is suffering.

Here Paul uses collection as a unifying act. Paul does not ask a few, but invites all. He does not appear to see this as a collection of individual acts, but as the unified action of whole congregations. Further, the collection ties together Gentile Christians and Jewish Christians. And there may be a personal reconciling element for Paul. In Acts 9:13, just after Paul's conversion, a cautious Ananias said, "…I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem…" These are the same saints for whom Paul seeds to bring relief. 

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. In what collections has your congregation participated? Where have you joined with other congregations? What was your connection to those who received that which was collected?

2. What concerns can become a barrier to giving as generously as you would like?

3. What circumstances contribute to poverty and need in your community?

4. What distinctions or differences were there between the Gentile Christians among whom Paul was collecting the offering and the Jewish Christians who would receive the offering? What did they have in common?

5. How have you experienced offerings as unifying or community building?