The Joy of Giving to God
We have come to the end of our series on “How to Really Enjoy Life”. Today I want us to discover – how to Experience the Joy of a Giving God.
The book of Philippians was written for two reasons. First of all it was written as a letter of Paul’s expression of joy. The Christian life is to be filled with joy. In this letter Paul expressed joy in numerous situations. Second the book of Philippians is a thank you letter for the gift – the offering that the Philippians gave – as they supported Paul’s ministry. Paul wrote to the Philippians to thank them for the gift they had sent him. Follow along as I read our text for today:
“Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:15-19 (NKJV)
In this passage of Philippians is found – perhaps – the greatest promise in the Bible. It is so all encompassing that almost any other promise will fit under its umbrella. It is found in verse nineteen:
“My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
God has made us a promise to meet our needs. God says, "I will meet all your needs. I will take care of you."
Why then, do people still have needs? Why aren’t the needs being met? Is God a liar? Is His promise not valid?
The answer to the question is simple – many of God’s promises are conditional. You see – with many promises there is a condition that you must meet – before you can claim the promise. In other words – God says, "If you do this – I will do that." The Bible is full of conditional promises. Take for example the promise found in Second Chronicles chapter seven:
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
God makes the promise that He will hear them from heaven – forgive them – and heal their land – "if" they humble themselves – pray – and seek God’s face. Or what of the promise found in Romans chapter ten:
“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (NKJV)
God promises salvation – but only to those who confess and believe in the resurrection of Jesus – that is a conditional promise. Some conditions are clearly seen as in the two examples that I just gave you – some conditions are not quit so clear. In Philippians chapter four we find that Paul praises them for their generosity. They gave and gave to the efforts of spreading the gospel. Paul commends them for their giving – then he says:
“My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
What Paul is saying is: “Because you gave – God will give to you.”
Let’s look at this in more detail.
I. The CONDITON – I must be GENEROUS
The Bible tells us:
“The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.” Proverbs 11:25 (NKJV)
The New Testament tells us:
“Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV)
Jesus said:
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:38 (NKJV)
The principle is this: When you are generous to others – God is going to be generous with you. This is the principle of sowing and reaping. If you are generous – God will generous to you. You will reap what you sow.
In our text today – Paul is praising the Philippians for their generosity – then he says:
“My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
Paul gives us three reasons for being generous:
1. Giving is an ENCOURAGEMENT
Look at verse fourteen:
“Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.” Philippians 4:14 (NKJV)
Paul is telling the Philippian church that they helped him when he was in time of need.
The Message Bible puts it this way:
“I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.” Philippians 4:14 (MSG)
The Philippians church was not a wealthy church. In fact they were quite poor. Yet they were big hearted – generous in their giving. Paul said their gift encouraged him – it helped him. When you give – both the giver and the receiver get a blessing. Both of them are encouraged by giving.
Here are two results of giving:
A. Giving widens my ministry.
In Philippians chapter one, Paul says they are: "partners in ministry". They were supporting him financially. Whatever you support you’re partners with. Not all of us can go to the mission field – but we can support them. We can become partners with them. We can pray for them and support them by giving to their efforts. Giving allows me to be involved in somebody else’s ministry.
B. Giving makes me become more like Christ.
Jesus was a great giver. Look at Second Corinthians chapter eight with me:
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJV)
The most Christ-like thing you can do is give. Jesus was a giver – He was sacrificial. To give is to become more Christ-like.
Another reason to give:
2. Giving is an INVESTMENT
When the Philippian church gave Paul said:
“No church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.” Philippians 4:15 (NKJV)
Go ahead and circle the words “giving and receiving”. Giving brings a blessing to both the giver and the receiver. When you give you receive a blessing from God. Giving is a heavenly investment.
Folks here is a word of caution: When you give financially it does not mean that God will bless you financially in this world. Don’t think that because you give money – God will bless you with money. Could God bless you with money – yes. Will He bless you with money – that is up to God – but I do know that He expects us to be cheerful givers. I also know that God pays attention to your giving. The Bible has a story in Mark I want us to look at:
“Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." Mark 12:41-44 (NKJV)
God pays attention to what we do. He is recording anything and everything. Every-time you give something it is recorded in heaven. A cup of cold water given in Jesus’ name is written down. Every time you’re generous with your family, your church, your friends, unbelievers, anybody – God knows it. He sees it all – and God will bless you because of your giving. First Timothy says:
“Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.” 1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NLT)
God keeps track of what you give – it is an investment in a heavenly future.
3. Giving is a SACRIFICE
Paul said:
“Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.” Philippians 4:18 (NKJV)
The most pleasing thing you can do for God is to give sacrificially. Jesus was a total sacrificial giver. When you are most like Christ, you are sacrificial in your giving. You are generous and it pleases God. A sacrificial giver is a beautiful person. They view giving as an act of worship. They give to honor God. God loves it when we give as an act of worship. Matthew says:
“Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward." Matthew 10:42 (NKJV)
Every act of generosity in your life can be done as a sacrifice to God. Anytime you have a spirit of generosity – the spirit of giving – it is an encouragement to others – it is an investment in eternity – it is a sacrifice pleasing to God. That’s why Paul said it’s so important to become a giver. Happy people are giving people. Philippians is about joy and giving.
We have looked at the condition now let’s look at the promise.
II. THE PROMISE – God will supply all my needs
Paul says:
“My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
Let’s look first of all at:
The Source: GOD
God is not a force – He is a person – who can have a personal relationship with you. Paul calls God – “My God”. Paul had a personal relationship with God – just as you and I can have a personal relationship with Him. Jesus said that that relationship can become quite intimate. Jesus told us that when we pray we should pray saying: “Our Father”. God is a caring – consistent – capable. He cares for His children. Our Heavenly Father assumes responsibility for His children’s needs. He is the source of having all our needs met.
The Scope: ALL
“All” includes everything. Verse nineteen doesn’t say that God might meet “some” of your needs – but that He will meet “all” your needs. It is a guarantee. If you met the condition – you can count on the promise – God will meet all your needs.
Folks let me tell you – there may be a big difference between your “needs” and your “wants”. God does not promise to give you everything you “want”. He does promise to give you what you “need”. James says:
“When you pray for things, you don’t get them because you want them for the wrong reason—for your own pleasure.” James 4:3 (GW)
God has not guaranteed you to provide you with all your luxuries. He is not going to promote your selfishness – but He has promised to give you what you need. The Bible does not say, “My God shall supply all your greeds.”
What has God promised? What is covered in this verse? All legitimate needs. That covers a lot of material needs. It covers physical needs – health needs – relational needs – emotional needs. God promises to meet our needs.
The Supply: HIS RICHES IN CHRIST JESUS
Let’s look at verse nineteen again:
“My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
How wealthy is God? The Bible tells us that our father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. That heaven is paved with gold. God is rich beyond imagination. God’s bank will never go bankrupt. He has unlimited resources. He has an inexhaustible supply as exhibited in many of His miracles. Second Corinthians tells us:
“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. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NKJV)
The principle is this: If you become a cheerful giver – God will take care of your needs. That principle is taught all through the Scripture. Giving guarantees God’s provision. Become a generous person – helps those in need. See a need – fill it. Find a hurt – heal it. Share with those around you. Become a cheerful giver and experience the Joy of giving.
(I want to thank Richard Warren for the sermon starter ideas.)
