1 Corinthians 16

1 Now about the collection for the Lord's people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 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. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

5 After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. 6 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. 7 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. 8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
10 When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. 11 No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.
12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord's people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. 20 All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! Come, Lord !
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Questions to consider:

• Do you fulfill your responsibility to God and to others in the area of giving? In what ways?
• About what things in other people is Paul concerned?
• What does Paul desire to see accomplished in other Christians as he works for and with them?

Possibilities for prayer:

One of the things that I notice about this passage is the way that Paul makes plans, careful to acknowledge God’s ultimate control over them. He hopes to spend some time with the Corinthian church, but he also is quick to add the phrase, “if the Lord permits.” Sometimes I think we get caught up in the details of trying to plan our own lives without acknowledging the reality that we should be constantly handing those plans over to God. Today, let’s hand our plans over to God--the big things and the small things--and let God know that we want to be in His will above all else. If that seems like a hard prayer to offer, ask that God would be changing your heart to desire that will above your own--and we can all ask that God would help us to live lives where our hopes, dreams, and desires for ourselves naturally line up with God’s.