“On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper.”

What is that a direction to do?

It’s not a direction to submit a tithe to your local church each Sunday. There is no Biblical direction about tithing to your local church.

The church was going to send a gift to help the believers in Jerusalem. Paul doesn’t want to make a collection when he comes. He’s giving them the decent and orderly thing to do: put something aside each week and store it up. Then they are going to give it all away to other Christians, to the church in another city.

Paul makes plans for visiting, but knows it will only happen if the Lord permits it. He doesn’t know ahead of time, most of the time, what’s going to happen.

At the time, Paul was staying in Ephesus because God opened the door. “Effective work” was going on. There were many against him, but that didn’t decide for him if he was going to stay or not.

We have responsibilities in Christ. We don’t say, “We’re saved, so now we get to live a life of ease and comfort and fleshly pleasure since we’re secure in heaven.” You are going to hell if that’s your attitude. You aren’t saved. A saved person loves God and others. A saved person has given their life to God and doesn’t want to live for self.

We’re told to be watchful, to stand firm, to be strong. But everything must be done in love. Without love, nothing is anything.

Honor the brethren who give their lives to serving the Body. Listen to them. They are working for your good.