Is Giving on Sunday Commanded of Christians?

Is Giving on Sunday Commanded of Christians?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Many people have probably grown up hearing, “And that concludes the Lord’s Supper. Now we are to give back of ourselves financially, as we are commanded to do upon the first day of the week.”

To be honest, I loathe the practice of passing a plate. I much prefer a drop-box. What I dislike is the statement, “as we are commanded,” though. Check out what God says in comparison:

“Now about the collection for the saints: you should do the same as I instructed the Galatian churches. On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save to the extent that he prospers, so that no collections will need to be made when I come. […] I am NOT speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.”

1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:8

You can see that our giving is more of a GREAT tradition than a perpetual mandate. As a precept—that is, a rule—we know that giving was very specific in the New Covenant. As a principle, of course, you’d want to help out your family in building things up and doing good works, so why wouldn’t you give? The graphic I used below is a slight modification of what Kent West ofWesting Peacefully made and once shared on Facebook. It helps to show some of the differences between what the Bible says and what we often assume it says.

It can be hard for people to give when the only part they have in the process is writing the check or dumping the cash in the plate. That isn’t rewarding and doesn’t build much of a bond. In fact, it disconnects you from what the money might do to help others, which can even be discouraging. Some people might wonder, “What did I give money for, anyway? Where’s it going?”

The excitement that is incurred through involvement, through making a difference; through each person seeing the fruits of their own labor, is incredibly important. From doing projects to benefit the saints and the community, seeing things being accomplished—especially when one is personally involved—is encouraging and motivating. Involvement increases investment. We should be helping people get a sense of what they are doing, and if they aren’t doing much, we should help them start doing things. Their lives will be more rewarding as servants who build up the community of God, which is what God wants each person to do. (Ephesians 4:12)

In the above respect, the early assemblies seemed to really excel. They were notable for having feasts (1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Jude 1:12-13), for having EVERY person involved and visible instead of warming a bench (1 Corinthians 14:26), and for ‘the daily ministration” to those in need. (Acts 6:1-4)

The topic of giving is not a comfortable subject for many saints. We often find it unimaginable to see any possible distinction between our traditions and God’s ordinances. The biggest thing, though, is that change is difficult. It makes becoming all things to all people, so that we may by every possible means save some (1 Corinthians 9:19-22), perhaps the most difficult of tasks. One thing you can do to change your own life is to find somewhere that you can be personally involved. Having skin in the game makes all the difference in the world.

“Those who talk should do and only those who do should talk.”

―Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Skin in the Game: The Hidden Asymmetries in Daily Life

Thanks to Adam Akola for spurring me to make this post.


5 thoughts on “Is Giving on Sunday Commanded of Christians?

  1. I have thought the Macedonian example was useful for showing this was not a message to all churches,per verse 3&4 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, 4 BEGGING us with much URGING for the favor of participation in the support of the [fn]saints, Looks like they were not included and ask permission to be involved.

  2. Separate and apart…at this convenient time. Shall we pray?
    Most “commands” are based on tradition.
    Once you stray from love God and people, tradition reigns supreme.

  3. “ But the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor” Galatians 6:6..one must decide what good things he is talking about ..at that time they shared spices, clothing, livestock, grains, precious metals etc; people were selling their land sharing specifically in book of Acts 4:34…

    11Corinthians 9:7 let each one give (thoughtfully and with purpose ) just as he decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

    The Lord sees our heart..so thankful for the people who have spoken God’s truth to us… Rein and Kate

  4. The Corinthians were instructed to give on the first day of the week “that there be no gatherings when I come”. Why do we totally ignore those words? Because it does not fit our agenda! The Corinthians had promised to give to meet a SPECIFIC, PARTICULAR need. Paul was coming to town and didn’t want to have to go all over Corinth to gather up individual saints’ money. There is no evidence anywhere else that the first century church had regular offerings or a treasury. Yet, we’ve made a hundred rules based on what we can or cannot use the “Lord’s treasury” for. Pizza for youth group? NO! Money to pay for someone to clean the building? ABSOLUTELY!

Leave a Reply to NatalieCancel reply