Today Paul moves on to the subject of the collection for the poor believers at Jerusalem. We first learned of this collection in Acts 11:27-30, "During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul." This collection for the poor at Jerusalem appears to be an ongoing thing, because the offering mentioned in today's passage is not the same money that Paul and Barnabas took to Jerusalem. The offering Paul and Barnabas took to Jerusalem was evidently the first of many that were given to the poor.
Paul begins by reminding them that the work they do for the Lord and for the Lord's people has eternal significance, "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58)
"Now about the collection for the Lord's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do." (1 Corinthians 16:16) Many of the Apostle Paul's letters have no doubt been lost in antiquity. In our current letter he references a previous letter he wrote to the Corinthians, but we have no record of it today. In the only surviving letter we have to the Galatians, Paul's specific instructions are not included regarding the collection for the poor, so we must assume there were other letters he wrote to the believers at Galatia. He does mention to the Galatians that at the Jerusalem Council he and Barnabas were urged to continue to remember the poor at Jerusalem even though they were taking the gospel to the Gentiles. (Galatians 2:9-10) He says that this is "the very thing I had been eager to do all along". Paul never forgot his own nation. Though God chose him as an apostle to the Gentiles, his heart deeply desired to help his own people.
He instructs the believers at Corinth how to lay aside extra money for the offering to the poor at Jerusalem. "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made." (1 Corinthians 16:2) Paul is a practical person and he knows we have to be deliberate and consistent when setting aside money for an offering. If we don't get ourselves in a habit of setting aside this money, it will be easy for us to gradually stop giving altogether. So he instructs the people of Corinth to go ahead and put the money aside on the first day of the week, before they have time to spend it on anything else. But he does not ask anyone to give more than he is able according to his income. He doesn't say, like many unscrupulous television evangelists have said, "The more you send, the more the Lord will bless you! Give everything you can. Sell your house and your cars. Send your children's college funds. The Lord will replace it!" The Bible warns us not to be foolish with money. Paul doesn't say, "Don't worry about the bills coming due this week. Put all that money aside for the poor at Jerusalem." He knows the people of Corinth have families to support, so he says to set aside a sum "in keeping with your income".
"Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me." (1 Corinthians 16:3-4) The church at Corinth is to choose men who are to convey the offering to Jerusalem. Paul intends to send letters to the elders at Jerusalem to introduce these men from Corinth and to ask the elders to extend their love and hospitality to them. If it is the Lord's will, and if these men from Corinth wish him to, Paul with go with them. We can easily understand that these Gentile believers from Corinth might feel a bit shy about meeting face to face with the Jewish-Christian leaders of the church at Jerusalem. The Gentiles come from a vastly different background and they are probably going to feel like a fish out of water at Jerusalem. If it makes them feel more comfortable about going, Paul is willing to make the journey with them. Paul, a Jew, probably felt like a fish out of water when he first started ministering to the Gentiles, so he understands that the people of Corinth might be a bit hesitant about going to Jerusalem without him. He's so kind to these believers! Though the tone of this letter has largely been that of a father scolding his children for misbehavior, the scolding has come from a heart full of love.
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