Resurrection People and Their Money

1 Cor 16:1-4

Ex 35:4-9; 21

Ex 36:4-7

Matt 6:21

2 Cor 9:6-7

2 Cor 8:20-21

2 Cor 8:9

1. GIVING IS NORMAL FOR FOLLOWERS OF JESUS (v.1)

• 1 Cor 16:1
• Now about the collection for the saints: Do the same as I instructed the Galatian churches.
• COLLECTION: a gift of money for a religious purpose, but not related to the regular tax
• And Paul says:
• Do the same as I instructed the Galatian churches (this is plural.
• From the beginning, God’s people have been givers.
• Under the Law, Israel gave structured tithes (Leviticus 27:30) and cared for the poor (Deuteronomy 15:7–8).
• What most people don’t realize is that it wasn’t one tithe.
• There were multiple REQUIRED contributions
• A Levitical Tithe (Num. 18:21)
• To support the priests
• A Festival Tithe (Deut 14:22-27)
• A POOR Tithe every third year (Deut 14:28-29)
• THIS WAS COVENANTAL LAW TIED SPECIFICALLY TO ISRAEL AS A THEOCRATIC NATION (A nation ruled by God)
• BUT even beyond required tithes, there were ALSO moments of heart-stirred generosity.
• Ex. 35:4-9
• Then Moses said to the entire Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: 5 Take up an offering among you for the Lord. Let everyone WHOSE HEART IS WILLING bring this as the Lord’s offering: 
• Ex. 35:21
• Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments.
• They gave so much Moses had to tell them to stop.
• Ex. 36:4-7
• Then all the artisans who were doing all the work for the sanctuary came one by one from the work they were doing 5 and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than is needed for the construction of the work the Lord commanded to be done.” 
• That wasn’t taxation.
• THIS WAS WORSHIP WITH A RESPONSE
• And when Jesus comes, He says in 
• Matthew 6:21:
• FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO.
• And Paul assumes:
• If Jesus is Lord of your life,
• He is Lord of your FINANCES

1. GIVING SHOULD BE REGULAR AND INTENTIONAL (v.2a)

• 1 Cor 16:2
• On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come. 
• ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK
• SET SOMETHING ASIDE.
• Planned generosity.
• 2 Cor 9:6-7
• The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each person should do AS HE HAS DECIDED in his heart - not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.
• THIS IS WORSHIP built into rhythm.
• Resurrection people don’t give randomly.
• They give intentionally.

1. GIVING IS PROPORTIONAL, NOT COMPETITIVE (v.2b)

• 1 Cor 16:2b
• …set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering
• This is not equal giving.
• It’s proportional giving.
• Jesus affirmed this thinking in Mark 12 when He praised the widow who gave two small coins.
• THIS FREES US
• THE CALL IS THE SAME
• Faithful proportion.
• Under the Old Covenant, 
• Israel had structured tithes.
• Under the New Covenant, 
• Not a fixed percentage
• Proportional, grace-shaped generosity.
• Are we shaped more by consumer culture…
• Or kingdom culture?
• Acts 2:45 says the early believers were selling possessions to meet needs.
• Why?
• BECAUSE THE RESURRECTION LOOSENED THEIR GRIP
• QUESTION MANY HAVE
• SO DOES THE TITHE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY TO US TODAY?
• We are NOT bound to the tithe
• If the tithe was important in the OT, it is a good STARTING POINT in the NT.

1. GIVING REQUIRES INTEGRITY (v.3–4)

• 1 Cor 16:3-4
• When I arrive, I will send with letters those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it is suitable for me to go as well, they will travel with me.
• This is ACCOUNTABILITY.
• TRANSPARENCY.
• Paul protects the mission by protecting the process.
• GENEROSITY THRIVES IN TRUST.
• Paul reinforces this in 2 Corinthians 8:20-21:
• We are taking this precaution so that no one will criticize us about this large sum that we are administering. 21 Indeed, we are giving careful thought to do what is right, not only before the Lord but also before people.
• RESURRECTION PEOPLE GIVE
• AND THE LEADERS STEWARD THOSE RESOURCES FAITHFULLY

1. WHY ALL OF THIS MATTERS NOW

• Why does Paul move from resurrection to money?
• Because the resurrection changes what you value.
• 2 Corinthians 8:9 says:
• For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
• GOD GAVE HIS SON
• JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE
• IF JESUS ISN’T LORD OF YOUR MONEY
• HE ISN’T LORD OF EVERYTHING
• Resurrection people don’t cling.
• They open their hands.

8 STRONG REFLECTION / APPLICATION QUESTIONS

1. What does your current giving pattern reveal about what you truly value?
2. Is your generosity intentional and pre-decided, or primarily emotional and reactive?
3. When you think about giving, do you feel joy, resistance, fear, or indifference? What does that reveal about your trust in God?
4. Have you ever connected your financial giving directly to the mission of God, or do you view it merely as institutional support?
5. In what ways has consumer culture shaped your financial priorities more than resurrection hope?
6. What would proportional generosity look like in your current season of life - honestly and prayerfully?
7. If someone examined your budget, would they see evidence that Jesus is Lord?
8. How does remembering that Christ gave everything for you reshape the way you hold your resources?

QUESTIONS TO ASK WHILE READING SCRIPTURE

What does this reveal about God?

What does this reveal about you in relation to God?

What do you need to do about it?