17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter! 1 Corinthians 11:17-22

Class warfare – even in the church – goes back a long way. Jesus taught about it in the Parable of the Banquet in Matthew 22:1-14. The rich have always had the best seats in the house. And some do what it takes to get there. Jesus spoke not against being wealthy but against lording it over those who had little.

The church in Corinth had a similar problem. The wealthy must have brought lavish dishes to their meeting place, but didn’t share it with those around them. So he was speaking out against their arrogance and lack of compassion.

How does the church in the wealthiest nation in the world keep from getting conceited and lofty about our socio-economic standing? Each church is different, and most have a few super wealthy people, and a few fairly poor people. The rest, probably 90%, is the middle class.

The rich, poor, and middle class can all be generous with what they have. That generosity extends past physical money and things, but time, talents, and giftings. It’s all about making the most of those things in the allotted time we have on earth.

Plus it’s how we treat others how we would want to be treated.