Give As God As Prospered You
1 Corinthians 16:2 (KJV)
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Paul instructs the Christians at Corinth to set aside money on the first day of the week (Sunday) for a collection to be sent to Jerusalem, in proportion to their prosperity. Paul raises money within the church, with the intention for the “saints in Jerusalem” who are likely facing persecution. The verse emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and generosity as God as prospered them.
Paul expects everybody to give in this church because he addressed everyone in this epistle “let everyone of you”. There is no one that lacks, either in little or much, either in a handful or abundance, everyone has something to give; no one should have a reason not to give to God or to the cause of God.
The Living Bible puts it in a better rendering…
1 Corinthians 16:2 (TLB)
On every Lord’s Day each of you should put aside something from what you have earned during the week, and use it for this offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.
The idea is to set aside something from what you have earned to give to God as an offering, tithes or support for the gospel. There’s no one that lacks; either little or much, there’s no one that shouldn’t give. No one should be left behind.
Jesus gave us a situation where everyone gave from their abundance, the rich folks came and put their gifts into treasury, but a certain widow gave her only two mites, and Jesus recognized her as the one that gave the most because she gave all she had. Someone who gives all they have, has given sacrificially.
Luke 21: 3 – 4 (NKJV)
3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all;
4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”
Some people often think that their “giving” has no impact because they are not giving in hundreds of thousands and millions, so nobody would recognize them; that’s a wrong thinking; in as much as sowing and giving large amount of money helps to do more for the gospel, but ultimately God looks and honours the heart and motives of giving.
Nobody should be despised because they gave little or respected because they gave much. No one can’t outgive God! Giving to God is an honour and a privilege!
In another thought, some others have also mastered the art of NOT giving at all; the truth is, not responding or refusing to be generous will cut the flow of God’s financial blessing in your life.
The law of giving, sowing and reaping will forever remain. Don’t be too need conscious that you forget to honour the Lord first with your substance. Your duty is first to the Lord, if the first fruit be holy, so shall the rest be.
Exodus 23:15 (NIV) – “Nobody is to appear before me empty-handed.”
God expects to you to give as He has prospered you; give on the basis of how the Lord has helped you so far financially, and as you’re faithful in that capacity, He’ll give grace for more. Give big, give happily, give cheerfully and give as God has prospered you. Glory to God!
DECLARATION
God has blessed me, God has prospered me and I give on that basis. I do not lack, I have and I have abundantly, I am blessed and highly favoured; the supply of God has met every need in my life. I am a giver and a happy giver. I give cheerfully. Glory to God!
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
Ecclesiastes 11: 1; 2 Corinthians 9 : 7 – 8
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