1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Let me say first, my experience is about to be shown here, not yours, mine. Please do not receive this as a chastening. It is how I have felt about the burdens placed upon me by men who had good intentions but who burdened me nonetheless.

Paul is acknowledging the importance of support which has been given by the Christians in Corinth. It is his desire not to place a burden upon the people when he comes. What he is asking of these people is an important issue with me as to support, that we do not leave the Lord out of it.

Often times we put our fellowship on the spot, we burden them with the need which can and sometimes does raise up emotional decisions. What we should do is ask them to look at the blessings which the Lord has provided, as God hath prospered. Getting God involved early in provision through prayer and thoughtful consideration will allow people to respond with gladness.

I have limited income but I can plan a budget and evaluate needs. The needs of others is part of that plan but the sudden burden of announced needs places many of us in a place of reacting emotionally rather than in stewardship. Stewards always obeys his Lord’s commands without emotional consideration. So why do we ask people to react without considering the Lord first?

I think Paul’s approach here is valid. Prayerful consideration of the Lord’s provisions should come first. In that way we do not burden others with anything more that seeking God’s will and answering as a good steward would.

Once again, that has been my past experience. Yours may vary.

Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Do you ever get one of those “Not available at this time!” messages? Perhaps you are only trying to see what’s new and you are responding to advertisements.  Perhaps you are trying to use GPS on your phone or doing a Google Search. Maybe you called a service too early or too late and now is not within their hours of operation.

I guarantee you that you have never gotten that message while seeking the Lord. That is true at this moment, it will not always be the case.  I say at this moment as I write this. There is no guarantee that He will still be available when you read this. I can say that because I am still here writing. After I post this message and send it out for any and all to read, well that availability isn’t within my control.

For those of my readers who know the Lord, they understand what I mean. If these words are viewed by anyone who does not know the Lord, let me explain. I belong to the Lord and I have His promise to me, and He keeps His promises.

1 Corinthians 15:51 I will explain a mystery to you. Not every one of us will die, but we will all be changed. (CEV)

You see we who belong to the Lord and are alive at the moment of calling out His Bride, the church, will be translated in a moment, into that heavenly realm. I cannot tell you when that will be. No one knows when that will be, not even Jesus, for it is only for the Father to say when.

So if you have not accepted Jesus as Lord, you have two deadlines. When you die, or when He calls out His Bride. Since you have no control over either event, I would say to you, stop shopping and make that decision, now while you can.

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Christ is life, choose Him.