1 Corinthians 16:1-4

"Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me."

Beginning to wrap his letter up, Paul moves from the subject of the resurrection to some final, practical considerations. The first of these is a voluntary collection of funds for the struggling saints in Jerusalem. The believers in Corinth were instructed (probably because they asked about it) to systematically prepare a gift that could be delivered to the believers in Jerusalem. The Corinthians were to gather everything together and have it ready to go to Jerusalem before Paul arrived at Corinth. The gift was to be delivered by trustworthy believers of Corinth. Paul had not yet decided if he would accompany them on the journey to Jerusale or have them go on without him.

There are several potential lessons in these directions for those who have oversight over fellow believers' giving.

• Do not resort to emotional or heavy handed tactics when collecting money. Paul wanted everything taken care of before he arrived. Perhaps this was so that people did not feel pressured to give by an apostle.
• The farther a spiritual leader can be from the actual control and handling of the funds, the better. Paul was considering going to Jerusalem, but he was not going to take the collection himself. Whether or not he went, several trustworthy laymen were to make the delivery.
• Each believer was to personally decide what God would have him give. There is no call for a certain amount. They were simply to set "something aside . . . as he may prosper." While percentages are helpful guides, the important thing is that we are giving and that we are sensitive to what God wants us to give.