"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." (1 Cor. 16:2)

One Sunday morning, the preacher encouraged the congregation to consider the potential of the church. He told them, "With God's help we can see the day when this church will go from crawling to walking." The people responded, "Let the church walk, preacher, let the church walk." He continued, "And when the church begins to walk, next the church can begin to run." The people shouted, "Let the church run, preacher, let the church run!" The preacher continued, "And finally the church can move from running to flying. Oh, the church can fly! But of course, that's going to take lots of money for that to happen!" The congregation grew quiet, and from the back, someone mumbled, "Let the church crawl, preacher, let the church crawl!"

Paul said, "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Cor. 9:6-7)