Now about the collection for the
Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of
every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with
your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be
made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you
approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me
to go also, they will accompany me. After I go through Macedonia, I will come
to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. Perhaps I will stay with you for
a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey,
wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit;
I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay on at
Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to
me, and there are many who oppose me. I Corinthians 16:1-9
If you have attended church for
very long you have undoubtedly witnessed the visit of a visiting pastor or
missionary requesting support from your congregation. Often the visit includes
opportunities to hear stories of the work they are doing and the people they
are ministering to. Sometimes the visitor is in need of financial support for
their work, but often the need goes deeper than that.
As Paul says in this passage,
they often just need our time. God uses these opportunities to not only give
the home congregation a chance to contribute in something beyond their city,
but He also uses the folks at home to encourage, refresh and recharge the
visitor so they can return to their work with new energy.
God also uses visits to sow
vision in the hearts of future global workers. When I was a young girl I
remember our pastor’s son coming home from his missionary work in Africa and
how much that influenced my heart for mission work. This influence continued in
my life for the next 30 years and affected my choice of college, career and church
ministry involvement.
Visiting pastors and missionaries
also give a focus to the offerings of the church. Often churches in the West
want to help, but don’t know who needs help the most or what the money will be
used for once it’s sent. A visitor can often talk about the areas of greatest
needs and explain how the money will be spent. This is God’s way of providing
the home church with guidance for planning their financial giving oversees.
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for
thou shalt find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11:1
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