Giving To Please God Series

Giving to Please God

Philippians 4:14-23

Rev. Brian Bill

April 12-13, 2025

When I was growing up, my mom insisted that my sisters and I had to write thank you notes whenever we would receive a gift. To reinforce this, she would tell us we couldn’t use the gift we were given until the note was written, the envelope addressed, a stamp was put on it, and it was in the mail. I remember teaching our daughters to do the same, emphasizing the note didn’t need to be long and simply needed to express their thankfulness.

Now, when I receive a gift from one of our daughters, I often go overboard in my expression of thankfulness. Here’s an example of a recent note I sent to our daughter Emily and her husband Matt: “I am thankfully thankful with a thankful attitude of gratitude for the shirt you gave me. It’s very comfortable, for which I am thankful. Thanks can’t fully express how thankful I am. Thankfully, Pa. P.S. Thanks again.”

It could be argued that the whole Book of Philippians is a thank you letter. We see this attitude at the very beginning in 1:3: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.” Paul’s over-the-top gratitude is especially evident in the closing passage, which is our text for today.

Listen to Philippians 4:14-23: “Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

Here’s a summary of the sermon: Because we’re partakers of grace and partners in the gospel, we’re to participate in giving to God’s work by practicing joyful generosity.

While some pastors get nervous when preaching about money matters, I don’t because the Bible has a lot to say about it. I’ve not chosen this topic because of a budget shortfall (our offerings are up) or because I know what people give (I don’t). This is simply the next text in Philippians as we’ve been going verse-by-verse through this wonderful book. If you’re our guest today, please know I’m not here to coax you out of your cash or guilt you into giving. I do want us to see how generosity leads to joy and how our giving enables others to go with the gospel.

Are you aware almost half the parables Jesus told are about money or possessions? There are 40 verses on baptism in the Bible, 275 verses on prayer, 350 verses on faith, 650 verses on love, and over 2,000 verses which deal with finances or material possessions.

In a church in the south, where it was common for the congregation to verbally respond during the sermon, the pastor attempted to get the congregation excited about the future. He began by saying, “This church needs to get up and walk under the power of Jesus.” The congregation replied, “Let it walk preacher, let it walk.” The pastor continued, “This church, like Elijah has to get up and run.” The congregation replied, “Let it run preacher, let it run.” Then the preacher said, “This church has to mount up on wings like eagles and fly.” The congregation replied with enthusiasm, “Let it fly preacher, let it fly.” The pastor amped up his voice and added, “Now if this church is going to fly it’s going to take some MONEY.” There was a long pause before the congregation replied with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm, “Let it walk preacher, let it walk.”

We’ll see in our passage how Paul expressed his thankfulness to the Philippians for how they were flying to give their finances to enable Paul to go with the gospel. Let’s consider six principles which will guide us in our giving.

1. The partnership of giving. Look at verse 14: “Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.” The word “yet” means, “over and above,” while “share” refers to “fellowship or participation.” As we learned in 1:5, Paul considered them “partners in the gospel” and in 1:7, he referred to them as “partakers of grace.” Here in verse 14, he thanked them for sharing in his “trouble,” which means, “tribulation and hardships.”