1 Corinthians 16:1

1 Corinthians 16:1 says, Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.  Paul told the church at Corinth that they needed to be ready to help the church at Jerusalem by sharing their material blessings with them.  We as God's church today should always be ready to help those churches that are in need financially.  We cannot afford to look only to our own local body of believers.  Verse two adds, 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 instructed them to make this collection on the first day of the week, which is the Lord's Day.  I believe if we put off doing the work of God until later or a more convenient time, we will never get anything done.  Of course, just because we gather to worship on the first day of the week does not mean that we can forget God for the rest of the week.  We need to realize also that God is the One Who prospers us.  We are to share with those less fortunate than us because we owe everything to God anyway if we are His followers.  Verse three continues, And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.  Paul restated his plan to come to them, but he wasn't going to take their collection personally.  Paul asked them to approve people by letter to send the collection by.  I believe we can learn from this.  If we are dealing with money, it is best to select people who we know we can trust to take care of it, especially if it relates to the church.  In verse four Paul states, And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.  Paul said that if it was best at that time, those selected would accompany him to deliver the gift.  He never said he would just take it himself if he could with no one else along.  I believe he did this to prevent any possibility of people saying that he was just using the gospel for his benefit.  There would be no perception of any misuse of this collection for others being used by Paul himself.  We need to be as accountable today.  Verse five adds, Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.  I believe Paul was telling them an approximate time when he would be there so they could have everything ready.  I believe that we today need to be organized in the way we serve God.  Many people say that they don't believe in organized religion, but I believe that God expects His followers to be organized in what they do.  This doesn't mean everything has to be determined beforehand, but as a rule we need to worship and serve God in an organized manner.  Paul did not say he knew exactly what he was going to do, but he did know that the collection that he had asked them to make needed to go to where it was needed.  No follower of Christ can make everything contingent on him or her alone, and neither can any church. Verse six continues, And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.  Paul said he might winter with them.  He was not talking about taking a vacation but about having a time to fellowship with and edify them as they helped him strengthen his faith and rest his body before continuing to go to other places to witness.  We need the fellowship of other believers to strengthen our faith as we witness for Christ.  Verse seven says, For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.  Paul said that his desire was to spend some time in fellowship with them, but that depended on the leadership of Christ.  We today may make plans for how we are going to serve God, but those plans need to be based on following the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse eight adds, But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.  Paul had told them to have everything ready for when he got there, but that he wasn't coming immediately.  Verse nine continues, For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.  I believe that when God opens a great door of opportunity to witness for Him that we like Paul can expect opposition from those who would deny the existence of God, but we need to be ready to witness when God opens that door, no matter the opposition.