Giving For Love - Philippians 4:10-14 Series

Philippians 4:10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.

17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.

18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Contentment as the Foundation for Giving

Paul Teaches Them What is Good about What They Did

Sometimes we need to be taught about things we’re doing wrong. We need some preacher to come along and straighten us out – teach us how to get back on track. But other times we need to be taught about things we are doing right. You’re doing something good, but you need to be taught the full significance of that good thing you’re doing so you can be greatly encouraged. You’re doing a good thing, but you don’t have the joy you could have if you knew more about the significance of what you’re doing. That’s what’s happening here. Most of Paul’s books end with a string of commands and exhortations. But the end of Philippians doesn’t have any commands. This whole section he’s just saying, “Hey, let me show you what’s really beautiful about what you guys did in sending me that gift.”

Contentment as the Foundation for Giving

So the topic here is giving. But he starts with a whole paragraph about contentment (vv.10-13) to lay the foundation... , because it’s a waste of time to teach about giving to a discontented person. He won’t be able to hear it. Discontented people have an attitude about money and possessions and comfort that forms a hard shell around their heart so that teaching about generosity just ricochets off and never penetrates. They might understand it, but their heart won’t accept it. They just walk away thinking, Yeah, I should give more…, but the willingness won’t be there. So before trying to plant seeds of generosity, Paul first plows the hard ground of our discontented hearts so we can be receptive.

Contentment Independent from Circumstances

And the biggest thing he impressed on us about contentment was that it is independent of circumstances. If you got everything you wanted tomorrow, you wouldn’t be any more contented than you are right now. If you won the lottery, lost weight, got a better house, a different spouse, whatever – you wouldn’t be any more satisfied than you are now, because contentment is an issue of your heart, not what you have. That’s why Paul uses this word that means to be to be independent of earthly things. Most of us are the opposite of that – we are codependent on earthly things. We’re not just dependent; we have an obsessive, codependent relationship with money, and good food, comfort, the approval of men, and a hundred other things.

Needs

I use the word codependent, because it’s not just a matter of wanting a lot of earthly things – we feel like we need them. Our culture has bought into Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, where everything from food and water to love and self-esteem and self-actualization (whatever that is) are all considered needs. So everything in life becomes a need and life becomes all about getting all my needs met – getting the money I need, the love I need, the attention I need, etc. And that thinking has leaked into the church. The Christianized version is, “Let’s use Jesus to get us all those things.” Jesus wants me to be happy and fulfilled and to have earthly treasures and so I’ll use positive confession, I’ll claim things, I’ll use the word of faith to get health, wealth, and prosperity, because I need all that.” Paul says, “No, contentment has nothing to do with what you have.”