Contribution

To Give As We Have Been Prospered

God asks us in I Cor. 16:2 to give back a portion of what we have prospered to Him as a personal responsibility: "On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come." It is the same selfless attitude demonstrated by those early Christians that we are called upon to have when making our offering.

Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians to put something aside on the first day of the week based on what they have prospered provided the means for funds to be collected and used for benevolence. The money collected also was used to support the preaching of the gospel in other areas.

This is evident when Paul includes the church at Philippi in his prayers of joy because of its liberality in contributing to the support of the gospel by having fellowship with him -- in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now (Philippians 1:5).