Paul said to gather the collections on the first day of the week.
What really Was This COLLECTION on first day?
this is the eighth and last place where the term
“first day of the week” occurs in the Bible.
8) 1 Corinthians 16:2: “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you
lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.…”
Often we see this text printed on the little offering envelopes in the pews of popular
churches, and we have been told that this text sets the first day of the week as the time
for taking up the church collection for the carrying on of God’s work, paying the minister, etc.
Let us begin with the first verse and really catch the true intended meaning of this verse.
“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.”
This speaks of a collection—but for whom—for what? Note it! Not for the preacher
—not for evangelism—but “the collection for the saints.” The poor saints at Jerusalem
were suffering from drought and famine. They needed, not money, but food.
Notice Paul had given similar instruction to other churches.
Now observe his instruction to the Romans:
“But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them
of Macedonia and Achaia [where the Corinthian church was located] to make a certain
contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit,
I will come by you into Spain” (Romans 15:25-28).
Ah! Did you catch it? It was not money, but fruit that was being sealed for shipment to
the poor saints at Jerusalem! (The Greek word can also refer to grain, wine, and other
produce which can be stored a long time without spoiling.)
Now turn back to 1?Corinthians 16. Paul is speaking concerning a collection for the saints.
Upon the first day of the week each one of them is instructed to do what? Look at it!
Does it say drop a coin in the collection plate at a church service? Not at all!
It says, “[L]et every one of you lay by him in STORE.” Note it! Lay by! Store up!
Store up by himself—at home! Not lay by at the church house—lay by him—at home.
Now why? “[T]hat there be no gatherings when I come.” Men gather fruit out of the orchard
—they gather vegetables out of the ground, to be stored up. But putting coins in a collection
plate at church, or handing in your tithe envelope could not be called a gathering,
but an offering or collection.
Notice further: “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 [more than one] shall go with me” (verses 3-4).
Apparently it was going to require several men to carry this collection, gathered and stored up,
to Jerusalem. If it were tithe or offering for the minister or the spread of the gospel,
Paul could have carried the money alone.
the eighth place where we find “the first day of the week” mentioned, it is a workday
—a day for gathering fruit and food out of the orchards and the fields and gardens,
and storing it up. It was to be the first labor of the week, hence the first day of the week,
as soon as the Sabbath was past!
