Introduction
The church in Philippi had taken up an offering to give to Paul,
in prison because of his faith. Paul wrote back to the church and expressed his
joy (see verse 10). Joy, or its derivative, occurs almost 20 times in this
letter.
Have you discovered the joy of giving? Perhaps too many of us
view giving as an occasion for grief or dread rather than an occasion for joy.
In what ways can giving make you a joyful person?
Paul starts by indicating that in the beginning of the gospel no
church communicated with him in giving as the church in Philippi (vs 15). Even
though what they gave was nothing compared to what they have received from
Paul, he was grateful and acknowledged what they did so much. The church in
Philippi did not ask what the other churches were doing to Paul but they were
keeping the flames of giving and making sure that Paul had his necessities to
do ministry. Today many people ask what others have done before they can decide
on what to do. That was not the case with these people. Even when others were
not giving they kept giving.
Listen to the reasons. Paul says in verse 17“Not because I desire a gift: but I
desire fruit that may abound to your account.”. Giving is a fruit of
their spiritual growth that is counted on the account of the believers who give
not the receiver.
See:
1.
It
was but little which they sent. They sent only to his necessity, just such
things as he had need of perhaps it was according to their ability, and he did
not desire superfluities.
2.
It
is an excellent thing to see those to whom God has given the grace abounding
in grateful returns to his people and ministers, according to their own
ability and their necessity: You sent once and again. Many people make it an excuse for their charity that they
have given once why should the charge come upon them again? But the
Philippians sent once and again they often relieved and refreshed him in his
necessities. He makes this mention of their former kindness, not only out of
gratitude, but for their encouragement.
3.
He
excuses their neglect of late. It seems, for some time they had not sent to
enquire after him, or sent him any assistance but now at the last their care of
him flourished again vs 10
1. Giving revives our concern (v.
10)
The word renewed in verse 10 pictures something that was dead
now coming to life. The word sometimes is translated as revived. The word
pictures a tree or plant that is barren in the winter, but when spring comes,
the tree or plant blossoms with new shoots and flowers. The Philippian
Christians had been barren in expressing their concern for Paul, but now, with
the gift of money they sent him, they were blossoming anew with concern for
Paul's welfare. Are you in a blossom in your giving in church or you are like a
dead tree that is still in it’s winter? Even when it’s spring you are still in
your winter. There are some people who continue to live in the dry season even
when God has brought rainy days in their lives. The church in Philippi realized
that they need to change and move. Make an account of your giving, make and
account of your tithing and see if you are still in the dry season or the
raining days and make a change.
See, Paul makes an excuse for them: Wherein
you were also careful, but you lacked opportunity. How could they lack
opportunity, if they were resolved upon it? Paul was not angry with them and
like Paul I want to say you lacked the opportunity to show gratefulness to God
and now there is an opportunity to give your tithe, your offering and for
thanksgiving and for the completion of this church building. What a wonderful
opportunity you have.
As we focus on the needs of others, and give to help meet those
needs, we experience joy. Giving revives our concern for people. The Philippian
church experienced that.
2. Giving teaches us contentment
(v. 11)
Paul did not want this church to think that his joy rested on
whether he had money. Paul had schooled himself to be satisfied with whatever
he had. He had joy in his life, not because his purse was full, but because he
had learned contentment. The Greek Stoics used the word content to describe
self-sufficiency. Paul believed his sufficiency was in Christ (Read Hebrews
13:5). Paul believed that whether you were naked or clothed, hungry or
filled, rich or poor, if you had the Lord in your life, you had everything you
needed.
Our consumer-oriented society pressures us to place too much
value on material things, to the point that our joy is based on how much we
have. This approach to life results in chronic dissatisfaction. We never seem
to have enough.
How do you define contentment? Contentment is not trimming down
your desires. Contentment means living with a sense of God's adequacy, a
conviction that God is adequate for any need we face. Therefore, we can give
joyfully, knowing God will supply our needs.
Can a Christian really attain joyful contentment, especially in
our materialistic world? Yes (Read verse 13). From our union with Jesus
comes the strength to learn contentment.
3. Giving makes us partners in
ministry (v. 14)
Paul said about this gift of money sent by the church at
Philippi (Read verse 14). The word share is the same word often
translated as "fellowship." The word denotes partnership. Each time
we give to the Lord's work, we partner with other Christians to help advance
the kingdom. That exciting thought puts joy in our hearts.
4. Giving pays spiritual dividends (vv. 17-18)
Paul made clear he was not looking for monetary gifts for his
own benefit. Giving blesses the one who gives more than the one who receives
the gift. The phrase "credited to your account" implies
that giving to the Lord is like investing in kingdom matters. Kingdom work pays
spiritual dividends (bonuses,shares,etc). Paul is like saying; I welcome your
kindness, not because it adds to my enjoyments, but because it adds to your
account. It is not any design to draw more from you but to encourage you to
exercise beneficence that meets with a glorious reward hereafter.
Giving from the right motives and for the right reasons becomes
in God's sight, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to
God. (Read v.18). This language from the Old
Testament shows that our giving becomes an act of worship and devotion to
God. Sacrifices to God fill our hearts with great joy (see Ps.
4:5, 7). It is not a sacrifice of atonement. That is done only by Jesus
Christ. But it is a sacrifice of acknowledgement, well-pleasing to God because
it was a fruit of their grace (Hebrews 13:16).
A study of the giving patterns in churches revealed that
Seventy-five
percent of the money given to churches comes from 25 percent of the
people.
Mount Zion Baptist church are giving a little more than 3
percent of their incomes.
These figures show just how many people are missing the
blessings that result from giving. Some leaders are also missing in churches as
far as giving is concerned.
5. Giving grows our faith in God
(v. 19)
Perhaps some of the members of the church at Philippi had given
to Paul's ministry but were worried they might not have enough money left to
meet their own needs. Paul gave them a great promise to stand upon. “But my God shall supply
all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” vs
19
Many Christians sit at the kitchen table or at a desk each month
with their bills, and they conclude they have no or little money to give to the
church. Paying for college tuition, buying new tires for the car, buying food,
paying rents and repairing their houses as larger priorities than faithful
financial stewardship.
Verse 19 encourages us to take the step of faith and to give,
trusting God to meet our needs.
God meets our needs personally ("my God").
He meets our needs liberally ("all your needs").
He meets our needs gloriously ("according to his glorious
riches in Christ Jesus").
Paul says my God not your God. My God who takes what is done
to me as what is done to him. You supplied my needs according to your poverty,
but he will supply your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
That is grace because you don’t merit either.
Conclusion
As we give financially to the Lord's work, we become keepers of
the flame. We help spread the gospel message. We meet people's needs. We assist
people in growing spiritually. We enable our churches to shine as God's lights
in the world. Such privileges fill our hearts with joy. Keep the flame and
Shalom!
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