Concerning collections: is it a good practice supported by Scripture to set aside “Special Giving Days” for specific purposes on the first day of the week in addition to the regular collection? This practice seems to contradict what a treasury is for in the work of the church. I respect your knowledge and work in the Word in that you can shed some more light or knowledge on this subject.<\/p>\n\t
“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come<\/em>” (I Corinthians 16:1-2).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The typical purpose of multiple, special collections is to get more funds than would normally be collected. A person gives his usual amount to the general collection (which always comes first so that it is not compromised by the special collections). Then a variety of special collections are taken up, each with its own plea and the peer pressure to give because others are also giving. This method changes the nature of giving from a voluntary, pre-planned gift to an impulsive decision based on pressure. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver<\/em>” (II Corinthians 9:7).<\/p>\n
Using multiple collections also changes the decision-making process. Instead of a single treasury where the church, as a whole, decides how to accomplish the work God has laid out for the church, multiple collections have each individual deciding what activities will get funding. Thus popular activities become easier to fund rather than considering what is needful to accomplish.<\/p>\n
This doesn’t mean that a church cannot announce a desire to do a special task, such as the churches in Galatia, Macedonia, and Achaia wanting to help the needy saints in Judea, so that members might give additionally if they are able toward that purpose. Such can still be done with a single collection of what each member has decided in advance to give.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Concerning collections: is it a good practice supported by Scripture to set aside “Special Giving Days” for specific purposes on the first day of the week in addition to the regular collection? This practice seems to contradict what a treasury is for in the work of the church. I respect your knowledge and work…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[679,157,159],"class_list":["post-27927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-collections","tag-contributions","tag-giving"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3821,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-there-liberty-in-how-we-give\/","url_meta":{"origin":27927,"position":0},"title":"Is there liberty in how we give?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have a question concerning worship. Is there liberty when it comes to some parts of worship? For example when it comes to giving, does one have to give during worship service or can someone give any time just long as it\u2019s on a Sunday. Can a congregation decide\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24320,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/were-collections-taken-before-and-after-the-collection-for-the-needy-in-judea\/","url_meta":{"origin":27927,"position":1},"title":"Were collections taken before and after the collection for the needy in Judea?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 3, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear Jeffrey, I have a question: did the church at Corinth collect offering every first day of the week before Paul wrote to them. After Paul and his team picked what the Corinthian church donated, did they continue to take collection every first day of the week?\u00a0 If so,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":92382,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-should-be-done-about-contributions-while-traveling\/","url_meta":{"origin":27927,"position":2},"title":"What should be done about contributions while traveling?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello preacher, Our congregation has recently been studying Christian giving, especially from I Corinthians 16. We understand that if a member misses a Sunday service, they should try to make up their contribution the following week. A question has come up: If a brother or sister misses service because\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35415,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-automatic-withdrawals-for-contributions-biblical\/","url_meta":{"origin":27927,"position":3},"title":"Are automatic withdrawals for contributions biblical?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 29, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Would you help me understand if automatic withdrawals from your bank account for the first day of the week collection are biblical? Seeing people place money in the tray that is passed around, I think, incites others, especially children. I love seeing a child place some money in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":20196,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-i-arrange-to-give-funds-to-a-church-from-my-life-insurance\/","url_meta":{"origin":27927,"position":4},"title":"Can I arrange to give funds to a church from my life insurance?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 21, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have a question about giving. I have arranged to give funds to my church from my life insurance. I was wondering if this acceptable from a biblical standpoint. I understand, that God requires us to give as we have been blessed and since this is a special giving\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":46284,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-handle-my-contributions-when-i-rotate-between-three-congregations\/","url_meta":{"origin":27927,"position":5},"title":"How do I handle my contributions when I rotate between three congregations?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 17, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Greetings, I have a question regarding the weekly contribution (I Corinthians 16:1-2). In my city, there are three local churches of Christ that I attend regularly. Normally I'll attend one on a certain week, the next on the following week, and the third the week after that. 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