Daily Reading: 1 Corinthians 16:1-3, 13-14:
"Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 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. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love."
So, Corinthians about the collection (special offering) taken up to support struggling Christians in other places- don’t become weary in doing good. There is an opportunity right now, we are called to do good to all people, especially brothers and sisters in Christ (1 Corinthians 16:1, Galatians 6:9-10).
As they view their possessions properly, they will recognize the divine opportunity before them to give freely to help those in need (1 Corinthians 16:3).
The paradox of law is that it provides the strongest possible incentive for you to work (God will punish you if you don’t), yet little gets done (widows died). And the wonder of grace is that there are no sticks and carrots (God loves you regardless of what you do), yet much gets done (widows provided for) and the world is changed.
Now, to the intriguing portion of text that stands out from the rest that is written. You could drop this almost into any text and would fit.
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.”
The more I studied these instructions that just seem to be dropped almost out of nowhere, the better I understood these instructions tie into helping those in need.
5 Spiritual Ways to be Prepared to Give
#1 Be on Your Guard… of what? One thing would be the failure of love of the brethren.
#2 Be persistent in trusting God. God gave you what you have so continue to trust Him as you give.
#3 Be Courageous. Use spiritual maturity in a physical drought to be brave. Another way to look at this, is the famine provides the opportunity to display courage in the Lord. How? By giving to help other believers.
#4 Be Strong or to increase in strength. In the midst of a famine it is possible in the Lord to increase in your strength, increase in your health, and I believe it is a byproduct of giving.
#5 Do Everything in Love
The practical physical way to be prepared to give:- “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.” The spiritual way to be prepared to give, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.”