Paul reminds the congregation at Corinth that their congregation began due to the financial support of congregations to their north in the Roman province of Macedonia. (9) Acts records that Paul had been in that area before arriving in Athens and Corinth, both in the Roman province of Achaia. (Acts 18:1-11) Paul was a tent maker. Still, the northern congregations repeatedly sent support to supplement whatever else he needed so he could dedicate as much time as possible to the young congregation during a time of persecution.
Since the beginning of the church, one of the ways the message of the gospel has spread is when people are willing to financially support a missionary to go to another region as a full-time missionary. Just as in Paul’s case, this allows the missionary full dedication to sharing the gospel and building up people in the word and work.
Supporting missions financially goes beyond tithing. It is not part of tithing. Tithing is for supporting the local congregation. Missions giving is a sacrifice in participating in Jesus’ command to go into all the world to preach the good news.
