A Special Offering

I Corinthians 16:1-4

“When I go to a revival, I take everything out of my purse, then put in two dollar bills and some change,” a lady told my mom. When Mom asked why, she said “ they will take up an offering during the service, and I put in the two dollars. When the service is over they will announce that there wasn’t enough given and they will pass the plate again, telling all the men to empty their wallets, and the women to empty their purses. All I have left is some change so I don’t have to give more than I can afford. Some of the others end up giving their whole paycheck.”

This is standard practice of “Evangelists” on the Navajo Reservation, according to people who go to the revivals. At one point, a Navajo Tribal officer visited my Dad, asking if this was legitimate, as one “Evangelist” had cashed $70,000 in tribal paychecks one weekend. Unfortunately, I have been in a couple of churches who did almost the same thing, taking up a second offering to get what they wanted. Paul gives the church at Corinth the same directions he has given all the churches.

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 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. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.” (I Corinthians 16:1-4)

Paul, led of the Spirit, directs them that even their special offerings to help the poor should be a systematic giving on a weekly basis. The amount given was to be based on what God had given them that week, and it was to be taken in such a way that there would not need to be a special offering taken when Paul came to the church. Though people come from a public offering with a great feeling of pleasure, my experience over the years is that systematic giving always produces more, and ultimately, the givers receive greater blessings. Paul expresses that concept in 1II Corinthians 9.

“Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up before hand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men.” (II Corinthians 9:4-13)

Giving in such a manner results in more cheerful givers, as they are not under pressure to supply at this time, and can give out of their bounty without worrying about giving too much. They don’t feel obligated to put into the offering. It is up to the individual what he chooses to give. As a result, people give more than would otherwise be given, and the leaders do not risk being embarrassed by the lack of giving. The people also receive larger blessings from God because of their consistent and increased giving, and the recipients have more to be thankful for, and are not made to feel like beggars. The church should choose someone they trust to distribute the money, and not leave it to Paul to do.

Shouldn’t we do it the way God has directed, rather than the traditional way? Something you might want to consider is that although no directives as to how the offering is to be collected are given, there are no examples of passing the plate in either Old or New Testament, yet offerings were taken. Is it really the proper way?