Weekly Collections

Acts 18:23 Paul goes to Galatia and Phrygia. It was on this visitation that he ordained the weekly collection (1 Cor. 16:1, 2), which has been since adopted generally, and converted into a public usage throughout Christendom. “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.” I never noticed that before Paul started it a Christian weekly collection. Not a collection for the church or their leaders. It was to be a charitable collection for the distresses and poverty of Believers in Judea, which at this time were extraordinary, partly through the general calamities of that nation and partly through the particular sufferings to which they were exposed. It is the meaning is that we should lay by as we could spare from time to time, and by this means make up a sum for this charitable purpose, a stock for the poor as well as for ourselves. By this means we will be ready to every good work as the opportunity offers; and many who labor with their own hands for a livelihood should so work that they may have to give to him that needs. (Those who do not work should not eat). Indeed all our charity and benevolence should be free and cheerful, and for that reason should be made as easy to ourselves as may be. We may cheerfully give when we know that we can spare, and that we have been lying by in store that we may give. Our prosperity and success are from G-d and not from ourselves; and he is to be owned in all and honored with all. It is his bounty and blessing to which we owe all we have; and whatever we have is to be used, and employed, and improved, for Him. When G-d blesses and prospers us, we should be ready to relieve and comfort His needy servants; when His bounty flows forth upon us, we should not confine it to ourselves, but let it stream out to others that have a need. Remember when one part of the body hurts the whole body hurts. The good we receive from Him should stir us up to do good to others, to resemble Him in our beneficence; and therefore the more good we receive from G-d the more we should do good to others. When Paul came, as to the disposal of it, he would leave it much to themselves. The charity was theirs, and it was fit they should dispose of it in their own way; he would not meddle with their contributions without their consent. We should not only charitably relieve our poor fellow-believers but do it in such a way as will best signify our compassion to them and care of them. It appears from the whole that the first day of the week, which is the Christian Sabbath, (now separated from the instructions of G-d) was the day on which their principal religious meetings were held on a Sunday. Paul follows here the rule of the Synagogue; it was a regular custom among the Jews to make their collections for the poor on the Sabbath day, (Saturday, the end of the week to rest) that they might not be without the necessaries of life, and might not be prevented from coming to the Synagogue. let him put it in the alms' purse. It was a maxim also with them that, if they found any money, they were not to put it in their private purse, but in that which belonged to the poor. The pious Jews believed that as salt seasoned food, so did alms, riches; and that he who did not give alms of what he had, his riches should be dispersed. The moth would corrupt the bags, and the canker corrodes the money, unless the mass was sanctified by giving a part to the poor. Do you have an Alms purse? Or do you bury your treasures, to keep for yourself? Do you care for the hurting believers and reach out a hand to help where you can? This is one of the most interesting and suggestive incidental narratives in this precious history. What history are you making?