Scripture Introduction
In his bestselling book, How To Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie explains that when he met a businessman for the first time, he asked which sign of the Zodiac he was born under. Almost none of the guys knew, so Carnegie would ask the day of his birth so he could tell the man. All of the Zodiac stuff was simply a ploy; Carnegie wanted the man’s birthday. Then, every year, he sent this business acquaintance a birthday card. Carnegie observes that the resulting good will was staggering, because (as he later learned), other than the immediate family, he was usually the only person who remembered the man’s birthday.
Paul’s experience was similar; his friends in Philippi were the only ones who partnered in his work. Unlike Carnegie, however, their interest was not a business gimmick; it was genuine care and concern. Their faith in God, combined with love for their pastor and commitment to missions, prompted them to give joyfully and generously to the work. Let’s read of their service and see how God would apply it to us.
[Read Philippians 4.14-23. Pray.]
Introduction
People attending church sometimes feel nervous when we talk about their money. It is a very personal subject; plus, it seems so self-serving to ask you to give to the church when my salary depends completely on your generosity. In spite of the dangers, however, pastoral care requires that I teach on this subject. God insists that we carefully consider the connection between the hold we have on our wallets and the hold grace has on our souls. Jesus spoke about this often; Luke 16 records one of the more intriguing parables he told.
Jesus said, There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, “What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.”
And the manager said to himself, “What shall I do, since my master is taking my job away? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.” So he decided on some “creative accounting” for those who owed money to his master. To the first one he said, “How much do you owe my master?”
The man responded, “A hundred [barrels] of oil.”
He said to him, “Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.”
Then he said to another, “And how much do you owe?”
“A hundred [bushels] of wheat.”
He said to him, “Take your bill, and write eighty.”
That story does not seem to fit in the Bible! But wait until you hear Jesus’ moral: “The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness….” Then Jesus applies the parable to us: “I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches…? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
There is an old saying, “If you throw a rock at a pack of dogs, how do you tell which one you hit? The one who yelps.” That story hit the Pharisees hard, for right after Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and money,” Luke records what happened: “The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed Jesus.”
Whatever conclusions we reach about interpreting this story, Jesus clearly commends to us shrewdness in handling wealth. We are not to love money in this life, nor can we take it with us to the next. So the faithful Christian uses money here and now to purchase that which is valuable in the life to come. The Philippians did just that. They did not love money, so they invested it in the kingdom. These folks were not wealthy. So my question is, Why did they give? Why risk doing without?
This text answers those questions. Every true believer feels the tension: the fantastic rewards for faithful giving urge us to radically generosity. But wise stewardship and care for the future calls us to save our money. How much do we keep, and how much do we give? To begin to answer that, first notice…
1. We Give Generously, Knowing We Partner in God’s Work (Philippians 4.14-16)
The Bible tells us that those who preach and teach the gospel are to be paid for their labor.
1Corinthians 9.9-10, 14: For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned...? [Rhetorical question, answer, “no.”] It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop…. In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
1Timothy 5.17-18: Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
Those who preach are to be paid. At the same time, because of some cultural sensitivity over the use of rhetorical skills to shake people out of their money, Paul himself refused support from churches he started. Instead, he worked part-time making tents (hence a “tent-maker” describes a person who has a job on the side to pay for what he or she really wants to do).
Now, in spite of the fact that Paul refused pay from the new churches that he was starting, he did, as a missionary, gladly receive gifts from other churches to support his church planting work. So when he started a new church, he taught them from day one the grace of generosity. The Philippians “got it,” because soon after he left their town, they sent gifts after him. Their church was only a few months old, but they already practiced faithful giving.
Two things to note:
First, this is not a new law. Nowhere does the New Testament connect giving to missionaries with obedience to the Old Testament tithe. All of this conversation is about “free-will offerings”—giving from a heart burning with love for God, compassion for the lost, and care for their pastor. Paul does not condemn as sin the lack of support from some churches, nor does he call the Philippians’ attention to an Old Testament text on tithing. So what is the motivation?
Second, the key words are “gospel” and “partnership.” Paul is not after their money; he is after their heart. And those who love God and care about their lost neighbors, are motivated to help spread the gospel. Not everyone can go, nor can all of us preach; but everyone here is critical to the ministry.
Charles Spurgeon was invited by a wealthy man to help his small, country church raise funds to pay off a debt. The man wrote and offered Spurgeon the use of either his country house, his town house, or his seaside home—just come and preach and the people give to pay off the debt. Spurgeon wrote back and said, “Sell one of the places and pay the debt yourself.”
We could see that story as Spurgeon rebuking the man’s wealth. But consider, instead, how this man will be involved in the ministry when he personally gives so greatly to it.
Paul was advancing the Gospel through church planting and evangelism, and the Philippians partnered in it. Those are the two principles to guide where we give: to advance the gospel as partners in the ministry.
2. We Give Generously, Knowing We Reap the Rewards (Philippians 4.17-18)
Last week in godly men training, George pointed out that giving should always include the three Ts: Time, Talent, Tithe. Partnering in the gospel does not simply mean giving money; it pleads with us to be involved in ministry by using our unique gifts and skills. And that is one level of motivation. Spreading the gospel is of such lofty and grand value that we desire to be part of it. But if that were the only motivation, then Paul would be seeking the gift. The more they give, the more he has, the more gospel work he can do. But he does not seek money; he seeks “the fruit that increases to your credit.” What is that? What fruit is credited to us when we give to God’s work?
I saw Sears’ new advertising campaign this week. Three women gather outside a neighbor’s house, shocked that their friend purchased beautiful, brand-new appliances. So they ask the delivery man how she can afford to them, since she just remodeled her home last month. The delivery man says, “It’s all about smart buying. Anyone can purchase using the Sears Layaway plan.” A layaway plan requires you to pay now, monthly, with the seller keeping the product until you have paid in full. Buying on debt gives you the product now and you pay later. Layaway keeps the product for the future while you pay now.
Jesus describes the rewards of heaven similarly: “Do not lay up treasures on earth, or someone will steal them. [Layaway treasures, definitely; but also shrewdly.] Spend now to lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 5.19-20). And in Luke 12 he says, “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail” (Luke 12.33-34).
John Piper (Desiring God, 193) correctly summarizes the teaching of Jesus: “So the answer to how to lay up treasures in heaven is to spend your earthly treasures for merciful purposes in Christ’s name here on earth. Give alms—that is, provide yourself with purses in heaven. Notice carefully that Jesus does not merely say that treasure in heaven will be the unexpected result of generosity on earth. No, he says we should pursue treasure in heaven. Lay it up!”
It sounds like I am after your money, and my motives are surely mixed. I cannot ask you to give without wondering how much my salary will be cut next year. But as much as I am able, I seek what is best for your soul. The average church attender gives less than 3% of their income. I know you give more, but can have a little heart-to-heart?
I know that I am expected to say that Christians must tithe—that giving 10% of our income pleases God. But, honestly, is it not easy for some of us to give just 10%? If this church stays open next year, we will give 10% here; if the churches closes, we will give 10% somewhere else. For some of us, 10% is so routine and so little that we are not vested in success. We run a great risk of doing a duty without touching the heart.
What if, for the next 15 months, you gave twice as much as you currently give? How would that change how you are involved in making this church a success? Would we not, with so much money, be involved in many ways to reach out and build up this congregation? When we really believe in the rewards promised by Jesus, we will strategize ways to maximize my giving of all three Ts: time, talent, tithes.
In the Old Covenant, God gave rules to tell his people how much to give. They could not be trusted otherwise. In the New Covenant, God offers something better. He gives us his Spirit and the promise of reward, and says, “Do you really need a rule to check off a list? Aren’t my promises sufficient to motivate radical generosity?”
We no longer worship God with bloody animal sacrifices; now we honor him, and praise him, and bless his name by proving our faith in his promises. When we give to the work of the Gospel, we give directly to God, not the church or the pastor or a missionary: “a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.” As if Jesus himself walked the aisles with the offering plates, receiving our worship and laying away our rewards, and he comes up with his nail-pierced hands and hands the plate to you. You turn your eyes to him and say, “How much, Lord? How much should I give?” He will say, “As much as you want. Layaway whatever rewards in heaven you desire.”
3. We Give Generously, Knowing We Are Provided For by Our God (Philippians 4.19-20)
When Dr. James Boice was in France and he met an elderly lady who told him this story. When she was young, she made a little box to hold Bible verses with her favorite promises from God. She wrote each verse on a small slip of paper and then rolled them up like a scroll. She had about 50, all neatly lined up. Each morning she took one scroll out and read it. As she grew older, she forgot the box, until one day, during World War II, when she was terribly anxious and depressed. She opened a drawer and found the old promise box. Her heart thrilled, and she quickly prayed, “Lord, you know how discouraged I am; is there not a promise in her which would help me?” As she finished praying, she picked up the box and stepped toward the window where the light was better. Suddenly she tripped over a loose edge of the carpet, and dumped the 50 scrolls on the floor. And in that moment, God reminded her, there is not one promise for you, but all of God’s promises are spread out for you in Christ Jesus.
The tension we feel over trusting God’s promises and giving generously to God’s work can come from our fear that we will not be able to take care of our own family or ourselves. So note well the promise God makes for “our now,” after calling us to give for the future: “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Every promise of God comes to us because of our relationship with Jesus. Paul teaches this throughout Philippians:
He begins by describing himself as a servant of Christ Jesus: his job description, personhood, and standing in life are all related to his position in Jesus.
But this is true for more than the apostle: the Philippians are saints in Christ Jesus: their standing before God and spiritual condition depends entirely on who they are in Jesus.
Paul then remind us that his imprisonment is for Christ: he has chosen what to do because of his faith in Jesus. In fact, he goes on to say, to live is Christ. Jesus gives life meaning and direction, purpose and significance. “And when I die,” says Paul, “it will be better because I will be with Jesus. Both my present and my eternity find their meaning in relation to Jesus.”
Suffering is for the sake of Christ. Righteousness comes by faith in Christ. Out thinking is to be the same as Jesus, and our behavior is to follow his example of humility. We will be rewarded with Christ, raised into the heavens to enjoy knowing him and the pleasures of God’s presence forever.
So how do we answer the doubt we feel about our own care and provision when we think about giving generously to the work of the Gospel? We remember the promises God makes to his adopted children. When the Spirit draws our hearts out to praise of God, then we will know that our God will supply every need, according to his riches in glory.
4. Conclusion
Once upon a time, a sailor was shipwrecked on a South Sea island. The natives seized him, carried him to their village, and set him on a crude throne. They treated him as royalty. Soon he learned that their custom was make stranded men king for a year. He thought this great; then began wondering what happened to the former kings. He found out that after one year, the king was banished to a deserted island to starve to death.
That worried him! But he was king, so he put his carpenters to work building a nice home, and his gardeners to work transplanting fruit trees and other crops to the island where he would be banished. When his year of being king was over, he was banished to an island of abundance.
God says, “You have a year or so to live. Use your money however you want. But whatever you invest in the kingdom will purchase a treat that will thrill you, body and soul, forever and ever. Whatever you purchase for your enjoyment now, will die with you and disappoint you forever.” Would you spend your money any differently?
