Day By Day - 1 Corinthians 16

By Leanne Rich

Opening Thoughts:
In this chapter, Paul gives some advice about serving and those in service.
Firstly, he gives advice about how the church could contribute and bless others: to manage collections for the needy persecuted Christians in Jerusalem. The church in Corinth seemed to have more resources than other churches and were encouraged to share their material resources.
Secondly he mentions certain people by name. It is worth looking at those he mentioned.

1. Priscilla and Aquilla.
Priscilla and Aquilla were originally from Rome in Italy, but had moved to Corinth in Greece, when Christians Jews had been expelled.
Aquilla was a tentmaker, as was Paul. They invited Paul to stay with them and they became fellow evangelists and church growers. Paul counted on them to establish some of the newer churches he had started. So they moved around to achieve their selfless service.

They are an example to us today, of how married people can serve together in ministry to the church. They willingly gave of their substance: a room in their home and work to Paul, as well as giving up their comforts to follow Paul wherever he needed their input. They truly lived by faith to serve the Christ they had come to know and love. I so look forward to meeting this couple!

2. Timothy
Timothy, a very young had been recruited by Paul. He had been a disciple, learning from Paul during his missionary journeys. (1 Corinthians 4:17, "That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ.")

Timothy later became the pastor of the church at Ephesus. He was still quite young when he took on that role. As a younger man he may have been looked down upon by the older men, who regarded themselves as more knowledgable in all things. They were warned not to give Timothy any grief when he visited the Corinthians on Paul's behalf.

This challenge is to all of us who are planted in churches with younger leaders: to accord them the respect and co-operation they deserve according to their calling.

3. Apollos
Apollos had been a teacher, greatly admired in the carnal Corinthian church, to the point where the church was split into those who revered Paul and those who revered Apollos. It seems that Apollos wanted no part of being involved in this faction and had left Corinth (1 Cor 1:12). After he had left, the church requested Paul to send him back to them but Apollos was reluctant to return when asked by Paul. He said he would return when 'it was convenient'.

When Apollos said he would return when it was convenient, he wasn't talking about his own convenience or comfort. We can see how Paul has great regard for Apollos and respected his decision to not go back to the Corinthians at that time. He was working, as Priscilla and Aquilla did: building up churches in other places as he was needed.

Another thought in some commentaries was that Apollos may have also been reluctant to return and inadvertently feed the faction that desired to revere him. In any case, we see a man who served the needs of the church above his own comfort.

Here is an example of a man who saw danger in popularity. He had an opportunity to build up for himself a denomination but to do so would have fallen into Satan's trap of pride. He ran from the temptation and refused to go back until they had dealt with their misplaced admiration.

Final Thoughts:
What mighty examples of church leadership in action here.
What common attributes did they have?
Are these attributes we who desire to be in ministry, have or are developing?