Kingdom-minded Planning
Do you have plans that align with God’s purpose and God’s agenda for your life? Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). When He said, "all these things will be added to you," He’s talking about things in the future that people worry about, like whether they will have enough resources to take care of their basic needs. Interestingly, there are Christians that wrongly equate worry with planning for the future.
Jesus didn’t say it’s wrong to make plans for the future, rather He taught that we should not worry about our future. We should not neglect to fulfill God’s kingdom agenda for our lives, like spreading the gospel, because we are more preoccupied with achieving earthly security.
Plan with Deliberate Intention
To fulfill God’s purpose for our lives, we must plan with deliberate intention. With God’s power and purpose for the church clearly in view, Paul writes: “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” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
Keep in mind that for much of Paul’s letter to the church of Corinth, he was dealing with factions in the church that were competing for prominence and prestige. As a result, there was division, strife and jealousy in the church. And because the church was so preoccupied with internal conflict, they lost sight of their mission to the outside world. Likewise, many churches today are divided over the political and social matters of our day. And as a result, factions in the church are not only at odds with one another, but are so narrow-minded that they’ve become oblivious to where God is working in the world, much less joining Him in that work.
After admonishing the church of Corinth throughout his letter for their self-centeredness and calling them to pursue love, Paul turns their attention to the needs of the saints outside of their local church. As one Bible teacher explained, “When the members of a church begin looking up from their problems to see the great needs in the world around them, they gain some perspective on their own pettiness.” Swindoll
Having exhorted the Corinthians to abound in the work of the Lord, (1 Corinthians 15:58), Paul transitions into some practical ways they can plan to do so by reminding them of the physical needs in the church of Jerusalem. Paul exhorts the Corinthians to systematically set aside additional funds over a period of time for a specific cause outside of their own needs. He gives thoughtful and careful instructions for how the Corinthians are to give, which includes principles that we ought to apply today. Again, Paul begins by instructing the Corinthians to give systematically. We see this in verse 2 when he gives direction for all the believers in the church to set aside funds every Sunday and store it up until his arrival.
The reason he designates the first day of the week to set aside funds for a special cause could be that he’s referring to the weekly gathering of the church for worship on Sunday (Acts 20:7). But Paul’s instructions also indicate thoughtful planning—setting aside funds at the beginning of the week. This was not to be a spur of the moment thing.
In addition to a careful and systematic way of giving, Paul instructs the Corinthians to give in accordance with each one’s individual capacity to do so (v.2). Although each individual's giving capacity varied, everyone was to give with a generous and cheerful heart of gratitude from the blessings that God has bestowed on each one (2 Corinthians 9:7-8).
I often get asked by Christians who want to be more intentional with their giving, “are Christians required to tithe,” which means to give ten percent of their income to their local church? My biblical answer to that question is that although tithing was required under the Old Covenant, it is not mandated under the New Covenant.
However, because tithing was actually practiced by the Jewish people before the law was given, many Christians today use it as a guideline or a starting point, which I believe is a good practice. The principle is that we don’t just give God whatever we have left over. Rather, we give prayerfully, proportionately and systematically a predetermined percentage of what He blesses us with. And the rest we continue to manage as God leads and directs.
It’s important to emphasize that although tithing is not required today, but can be a good guideline, the New Testament doesn’t lower the bar when it comes to giving. Rather, the New Testament, which teaches that we are under grace and emphasizes the law of love, raises the bar when it comes to generosity. In other words, the grace of God is not a license to be stingy, but the motivation and the means to give supernaturally, sacrificially, and with overflowing joy (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Paul not only gives instructions to the church about how to be thoughtful and deliberate in their giving, he also lays out his intended travels plans. He writes: “I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go” (1 Corinthians 16:6). He shares his travel plans with kingdom-minded purpose. He needs help when he travels to Corinth and beyond on his missionary journey. But in addition to needing their help, Paul expresses his desire to spend meaningful time in person with the church of Corinth. Paul continues, “For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you...” (1 Corinthians 16:7).
There is no substitute for being physically present with those we love and care for. Like Paul, we must plan with deliberate intent to connect with people to share the saving love of Christ with our words and actions. We must look away from our problems and focus on the great needs in the world around us so that we might realize how petty and self-centered we can be.
When you’re seeking first the kingdom of God, you can trust that a difficult set back to your plans can be a divine set up to bring you into a season of greater spiritual fruitfulness for the kingdom of God.
Prepare for Divine Interruptions
After sharing his travel plans with the Corinthians, along with his intentions to spend meaningful time ministering to them, Paul adds at the end of verse seven, “if the Lord permits” (1 Corinthians 16:7). Paul was called by God to take the gospel to unreached people groups and plant churches. And knowing his explicit purpose, he made plans accordingly.
Although there were times when Paul received divine revelation, the plans that he made were not always the result of direct revelation from God. No doubt he prayed about his travel plans. And he set out to go where he believed there were people with needs that he could minister to by the power of the Holy Spirit. But no matter how good he thought his own plans were, Paul’s confidence was not in his planning, but in the sovereignty of God. In other words, he trusted that if his plans didn’t work out the way he hoped they would, that God had a better plan. Paul’s ultimate hope and security was not found in his plans or in fulfilling his expectations, but in the Lord his God.
While in prison in Rome, he wrote: “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear” (Philippians 1:12-14).
Because Paul’s ultimate hope and expectations were from the Lord, who rules over the affairs of man, he did not lose heart when things didn’t go as planned. Because he knew that God was in control, he viewed interruptions to his plans as divine opportunities to grow in dependence upon God and as divine appointments to advance the kingdom of God.
How do you respond when things in your life do not go as planned? The way you respond can reveal where your ultimate hope, identity, and security are found. If God is just a means to fulfill your own plans, you will miss the greater blessings that God can bring through divine interruptions. But if your hope, identity, and security are found in who you are in Christ and His Lordship, you will see divine interruptions as divine opportunities to realign your heart to the will of God and look for open doors to serve Him.
Expect Demonic Opposition
Although Paul was resolved to travel to Corinth, he did not have the green light to leave Ephesus yet. He writes in verse 9: “for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” Notice that Paul did not use the many adversaries he encountered in Ephesus as an excuse to leave the ministry. He stayed there.
How does a Christian decide what ministry to serve in or when it’s time to leave a church or ministry? There are often good reasons to move on, but sadly many Christians today jump from one church to another because of petty disagreements or because another ministry or church offers more programs that will serve them or their families. Very few Christians decide to join a ministry or church because they see a door of opportunity to use their time, talents, and treasure to serve the cause of Christ and build others up in the Lord.
Remember that the church of Corinth had many problems, but Paul didn’t give up on the church. He longed to return to Corinth and spend meaningful time with his fellow believers even though he knew he would encounter opposition. What compelled Paul to serve others so selflessly, even in times of adversity? Paul exhorted the Corinthians, who earnestly desired spiritual gifts, to make the pursuit of love their first priority (1 Corinthian 14:1). His first pursuit was not ministry, but to know Christ and His great love (2 Corinthian 5:14-15). As Pastor Vance Pitman explained, “I use to think that I was called to ministry. But now I realize I am called to intimacy. Ministry is the overflow of intimacy.”
Have you discovered that it is more blessed to give than to receive? When we know the love of Christ, who gave His all on the cross to save us from our sin, we will know the greater joy of giving. Although we can expect demonic opposition when we are serving the Lord, we can trust that where man and demons rule, God overrules. When we are seeking first the kingdom of God, we can trust that a difficult disruption to our plans can be a divine opportunity to bring us into a season of greater spiritual fruitfulness for the kingdom of God.
In your service,
Pastor Marco
Jesus didn’t say it’s wrong to make plans for the future, rather He taught that we should not worry about our future. We should not neglect to fulfill God’s kingdom agenda for our lives, like spreading the gospel, because we are more preoccupied with achieving earthly security.
Plan with Deliberate Intention
To fulfill God’s purpose for our lives, we must plan with deliberate intention. With God’s power and purpose for the church clearly in view, Paul writes: “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” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).
Keep in mind that for much of Paul’s letter to the church of Corinth, he was dealing with factions in the church that were competing for prominence and prestige. As a result, there was division, strife and jealousy in the church. And because the church was so preoccupied with internal conflict, they lost sight of their mission to the outside world. Likewise, many churches today are divided over the political and social matters of our day. And as a result, factions in the church are not only at odds with one another, but are so narrow-minded that they’ve become oblivious to where God is working in the world, much less joining Him in that work.
After admonishing the church of Corinth throughout his letter for their self-centeredness and calling them to pursue love, Paul turns their attention to the needs of the saints outside of their local church. As one Bible teacher explained, “When the members of a church begin looking up from their problems to see the great needs in the world around them, they gain some perspective on their own pettiness.” Swindoll
Having exhorted the Corinthians to abound in the work of the Lord, (1 Corinthians 15:58), Paul transitions into some practical ways they can plan to do so by reminding them of the physical needs in the church of Jerusalem. Paul exhorts the Corinthians to systematically set aside additional funds over a period of time for a specific cause outside of their own needs. He gives thoughtful and careful instructions for how the Corinthians are to give, which includes principles that we ought to apply today. Again, Paul begins by instructing the Corinthians to give systematically. We see this in verse 2 when he gives direction for all the believers in the church to set aside funds every Sunday and store it up until his arrival.
The reason he designates the first day of the week to set aside funds for a special cause could be that he’s referring to the weekly gathering of the church for worship on Sunday (Acts 20:7). But Paul’s instructions also indicate thoughtful planning—setting aside funds at the beginning of the week. This was not to be a spur of the moment thing.
In addition to a careful and systematic way of giving, Paul instructs the Corinthians to give in accordance with each one’s individual capacity to do so (v.2). Although each individual's giving capacity varied, everyone was to give with a generous and cheerful heart of gratitude from the blessings that God has bestowed on each one (2 Corinthians 9:7-8).
I often get asked by Christians who want to be more intentional with their giving, “are Christians required to tithe,” which means to give ten percent of their income to their local church? My biblical answer to that question is that although tithing was required under the Old Covenant, it is not mandated under the New Covenant.
However, because tithing was actually practiced by the Jewish people before the law was given, many Christians today use it as a guideline or a starting point, which I believe is a good practice. The principle is that we don’t just give God whatever we have left over. Rather, we give prayerfully, proportionately and systematically a predetermined percentage of what He blesses us with. And the rest we continue to manage as God leads and directs.
It’s important to emphasize that although tithing is not required today, but can be a good guideline, the New Testament doesn’t lower the bar when it comes to giving. Rather, the New Testament, which teaches that we are under grace and emphasizes the law of love, raises the bar when it comes to generosity. In other words, the grace of God is not a license to be stingy, but the motivation and the means to give supernaturally, sacrificially, and with overflowing joy (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Paul not only gives instructions to the church about how to be thoughtful and deliberate in their giving, he also lays out his intended travels plans. He writes: “I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go” (1 Corinthians 16:6). He shares his travel plans with kingdom-minded purpose. He needs help when he travels to Corinth and beyond on his missionary journey. But in addition to needing their help, Paul expresses his desire to spend meaningful time in person with the church of Corinth. Paul continues, “For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you...” (1 Corinthians 16:7).
There is no substitute for being physically present with those we love and care for. Like Paul, we must plan with deliberate intent to connect with people to share the saving love of Christ with our words and actions. We must look away from our problems and focus on the great needs in the world around us so that we might realize how petty and self-centered we can be.
When you’re seeking first the kingdom of God, you can trust that a difficult set back to your plans can be a divine set up to bring you into a season of greater spiritual fruitfulness for the kingdom of God.
Prepare for Divine Interruptions
After sharing his travel plans with the Corinthians, along with his intentions to spend meaningful time ministering to them, Paul adds at the end of verse seven, “if the Lord permits” (1 Corinthians 16:7). Paul was called by God to take the gospel to unreached people groups and plant churches. And knowing his explicit purpose, he made plans accordingly.
Although there were times when Paul received divine revelation, the plans that he made were not always the result of direct revelation from God. No doubt he prayed about his travel plans. And he set out to go where he believed there were people with needs that he could minister to by the power of the Holy Spirit. But no matter how good he thought his own plans were, Paul’s confidence was not in his planning, but in the sovereignty of God. In other words, he trusted that if his plans didn’t work out the way he hoped they would, that God had a better plan. Paul’s ultimate hope and security was not found in his plans or in fulfilling his expectations, but in the Lord his God.
While in prison in Rome, he wrote: “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear” (Philippians 1:12-14).
Because Paul’s ultimate hope and expectations were from the Lord, who rules over the affairs of man, he did not lose heart when things didn’t go as planned. Because he knew that God was in control, he viewed interruptions to his plans as divine opportunities to grow in dependence upon God and as divine appointments to advance the kingdom of God.
How do you respond when things in your life do not go as planned? The way you respond can reveal where your ultimate hope, identity, and security are found. If God is just a means to fulfill your own plans, you will miss the greater blessings that God can bring through divine interruptions. But if your hope, identity, and security are found in who you are in Christ and His Lordship, you will see divine interruptions as divine opportunities to realign your heart to the will of God and look for open doors to serve Him.
Expect Demonic Opposition
Although Paul was resolved to travel to Corinth, he did not have the green light to leave Ephesus yet. He writes in verse 9: “for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” Notice that Paul did not use the many adversaries he encountered in Ephesus as an excuse to leave the ministry. He stayed there.
How does a Christian decide what ministry to serve in or when it’s time to leave a church or ministry? There are often good reasons to move on, but sadly many Christians today jump from one church to another because of petty disagreements or because another ministry or church offers more programs that will serve them or their families. Very few Christians decide to join a ministry or church because they see a door of opportunity to use their time, talents, and treasure to serve the cause of Christ and build others up in the Lord.
Remember that the church of Corinth had many problems, but Paul didn’t give up on the church. He longed to return to Corinth and spend meaningful time with his fellow believers even though he knew he would encounter opposition. What compelled Paul to serve others so selflessly, even in times of adversity? Paul exhorted the Corinthians, who earnestly desired spiritual gifts, to make the pursuit of love their first priority (1 Corinthian 14:1). His first pursuit was not ministry, but to know Christ and His great love (2 Corinthian 5:14-15). As Pastor Vance Pitman explained, “I use to think that I was called to ministry. But now I realize I am called to intimacy. Ministry is the overflow of intimacy.”
Have you discovered that it is more blessed to give than to receive? When we know the love of Christ, who gave His all on the cross to save us from our sin, we will know the greater joy of giving. Although we can expect demonic opposition when we are serving the Lord, we can trust that where man and demons rule, God overrules. When we are seeking first the kingdom of God, we can trust that a difficult disruption to our plans can be a divine opportunity to bring us into a season of greater spiritual fruitfulness for the kingdom of God.
In your service,
Pastor Marco