“Living a Joy-full Life: Make Good Investments”
Phil 4:14-23
So how are your investments doing? It’s more than likely that you immediately thought about your financial investments. And why not? Investment advice is everywhere – radio, television, newspapers, magazine stands, banks, brokerage firms, and even in our mailboxes. The question, of course, is always “Which source is the most trustworthy? Which investment will, over the course of time, prove to be the wisest investment?”
But there is an investment that is much more important than our financial ones – and that’s our investment in the cause of Jesus Christ. As he closes out his letter to his beloved Philippians, Paul commends them for making good investments and in doing so gives us some sound investment strategy. He begins by stating that GOOD INVESTMENTS ARE SATISFYING. (17-18a) “Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.” Paul states that investments are satisfying when they lead to ADDITIONAL CREDIT. “…what I desire is that more be credited to your account.” Paul measures the Philippians’ investment not so much by what it did for him as by what it did for them. In verses 14-16 he commends them for being constant in their support of him, even when they themselves did not have much to give. Every time they gave to his ministry it was credited to their account and has been accumulating interest. This account is STORED IN THE BANK OF HEAVEN. Paul also told Timothy about the existence and importance of this heavenly account. (1 Tim. 6:18-19 GNT) “Command them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share with others. In this way they will store up for themselves a treasure which will be a solid foundation for the future. And then they will be able to win the life which is true life.”
God’s Word consistently teaches that we cannot give freely and willingly without energizing and blessing our own lives. (Prov. 11:25) “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (Mt. 5:7 NLT) “God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.” (Lk. 6:38 NLT) “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”Viktor Frankl spent years in a Nazi prison camp where persons were subjected to subhuman and antihuman treatment that threatened annihilation of decency, of the worth and dignity of persons, as well as physical being. Out of that experience Frankl wrote an inspiring and insightful book entitled Man’s Search For Meaning. From his death camp observations, he documented the amazing coping powers of humans to retain inner freedom. He wrote: “We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last pieces of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Those who gave blessed others but blessed themselves even more. They found satisfaction in their investments.
Good investments are satisfying when they lead to additional credit – and when they lead to ADEQUATE CONTRIBUTION. (18a) “I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.” Because of the Philippians’ gift, which was apparently more than he had anticipated, Paul was financially set and had no more need. They had given above and beyond their means an amount that only God knew would so overwhelmingly satisfy Paul’s needs. God knows what His servants need. WE DO THE INVESTING AND GOD DOES THE SATISFYING.
I recall a time in a previous congregation when we decided to change our fiscal and budget year from January – December to July – June. To transition to this we had one 6-month budget. It impacted what our missionaries would receive and when they would receive it. So as we sent out the payments that were out of the normal scheduled I attached a letter explaining what we were doing. I received more than one letter in return stating how that particular contribution at that particular unexpected time had met a specific need that would not otherwise have been met in a timely manner. God knows what His servants need. Our investments, when made in good faith, are good because God makes sure they are satisfying – to the giver and receiver. As Paul wrote the Corinthians (2 Cor. 9:10-14): “Remember that the person who plants few seeds will have a small crop; the one who plants many seeds will have a large crop. You should each give, then, as you have decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly. And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause…And God, who supplies seed for the sower and bread to eat, will also supply you with all the seed you need and will make it grow and produce a rich harvest from your generosity. He will always make you rich enough to be generous at all times, so that many will thank God for your gifts which they receive from us. For this service you perform not only meets the needs of God's people, but also produces an outpouring of gratitude to God. And because of the proof which this service of yours brings, many will give glory to God for your loyalty to the gospel of Christ, which you profess, and for your generosity in sharing with them and everyone else. And so with deep affection they will pray for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown you.” Satisfying for the giver and receiver.
Good investments are satisfying and THEY ARE SACRIFICIAL. “They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” The offerings were sacrificial because, first, they were A FRAGRANT OFFERING. The concept of fragrant offerings is frequent throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament it occurs in Noah’s offering (Gen. 8:21 NLT) “And the LORD was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things.” It is common in the system of sacrifices God established for the Israelites. (Ex. 29:18 NLT) “…then burn the entire animal on the altar. This is a burnt offering to the LORD; it is a pleasing aroma, a special gift presented to the LORD.” In the New Testament the aroma comes from Jesus offering up Himself (Eph. 5:2) “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” In the same way the Philippians offerings were fragrant in the nostrils of God.
Their offerings were sacrificial as well because they REQUIRED FAITH. They gave beyond their means, trusting that God would take care of them. It brings to mind God’s instructions to Abraham to offer his heir and only son Isaac up for sacrifice. The only way Abraham could make such an offering was to believe that God would supply the heir – someway, somehow. It required faith. The entire Old Testament sacrificial system is based, in fact upon faith. The Israelites were to give the first of their herds and flocks, the first of their flocks and produce to the Lord. They did so trusting God to provide an abundant harvest. It’s what Paul was referring to when he wrote the Corinthians (2 Cor. 8:5 GNT): “It was more than we could have hoped for! First they gave themselves to the Lord; and then, by God's will they gave themselves to us as well.”
There was a knock on the door of the hut occupied by a missionary in Africa. Answering it, the missionary found one of the native boys holding a large fish in his hands. The boy said, “Reverend, you taught us what tithing is, so here – I’ve brought you my tithe.” As the missionary gratefully took the fish, he asked the boy, “If this is your tithe, where are the other nine fish?” The boy beamed and said, “Oh, they’re still back in the river. I’m going back to catch them now.” (i) The Philippians’ offering was given in faith.
Offerings are sacrificial, thirdly, when they PLEASE GOD. “…an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” There is a difference between obeying the commandments of God and doing those things that are pleasing in His sight The former are required, but the latter go beyond the call of duty.(ii) As the Apostle John wrote (1 John 3:22): “…and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.” That’s why, to the Romans Paul wrote (Rom. 12:1), “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Similarly Peter wrote (1 Pt. 2:5) “…you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” So Paul was pleased with their gift because God was pleased with it.
In giving Paul their gift the Philippians performed an action that was acceptable and pleasing to God. Even the little offerings we make to others ARE SACRAMENTAL. As John Killinger noted, “The world may not have noticed what Epaphroditus and his friends in Philippi did. It didn’t get into the papers in Rome. But God knew.” (iii) He goes on to point out that when we die and come into the presence of Jesus what will count and be mentioned will not be our accomplishments or achievements, but, rather, our little offerings that were big in His sight. It won’t be, “She was a great surgeon.” Or “He broke 9 records on his way to the Hall of Fame.” Or “He authored 21 books. “It will be “He mowed my lawn when I was sick. She cared for my children so I could rest up and heal. He wrote me notes of encouragement when I needed them most. She befriended me when no one else would.” It was in this spirit that the author of the letter to the Hebrews encourages us (13:15-16 NLT) “Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.”
Good investments are satisfying and sacrificial. And they are also SUSTAINING. (19) “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Paul makes a tremendous promise. Note his PREMISE: “My God.” The value of a promise depends entirely upon the effectiveness and fidelity of the thing or person believed. The God of Philippians 4:19 is the God who called Abraham out of Mesopotamia when he was an idol worshiper like his contemporaries and sent him on his way to a new land promising that he would be blessed and there would be greater blessing to all people through his descendants. The God of Philippians 4:19 is the God who called Israel out of Egypt, who took her through the Red Sea, who preserved her for forty years in the wilderness, and who finally enabled her to conquer the land of Canaan. He is the God of David, of Elijah, of Jeremiah, of all the prophets. He is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who died for our salvation and then triumphed over the tomb. (iv) This God stands behind his promises. This was Paul’s God – so he could make a bold promise.
The promise was based on a PRINCIPLE: GOD PROVIDES. “…my God will meet all your needs…” He told the Philippians that they met his one need in abundance so now God will meet all their needs in abundance. He gave the same promise to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 9:6-8 NLT): “Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” If we give for the purpose of getting a reward, the promise is null and void. Paul is talking about sacrificial offerings. Those who give sacrificially, for the cause of and out of the love of Jesus Christ, will discover that all their needs will be supplied – often in ways we could never expect or define.
And notice the PROVISION by which God gives: ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES. “…my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” If a millionaire gives you $10.00 in your time of need, he’s given to you ‘out of’ his riches. If He gives you millions he’s given ‘according to’ his riches. God gives according to – according to His glorious riches! And He has inexhaustible resources! His bank never goes bankrupt. I wonder HOW OFTEN WE STOP TO REFLECT ON THE WEALTH AND ABUNDANCE OF GOD’S PROMISES. James Boice wrote of an old French woman who told him a story from her own life that illustrates this principle. In her youth in France she had been taught to make a little box of Bible verses containing a selection of the promises of God from Scripture. Each verse was written on a small piece of paper about the size of a piece of chewing gum, and each was then rolled up to make a miniature scroll. After there were forty or fifty of these small scrolls they were placed on end in a tiny open box. This was the promise box. She had been encouraged as a child to pull out one verse each morning and read it. One day during World War II (when she was much older) she was feeling terribly discouraged by many things that had happened. In her depression her mind turned to the little box of promises that had been long since forgotten. She went to the drawer of the dresser where she kept the box and took it out. She prayed, “Lord, you know how depressed I am. You know that I need a word of encouragement. Isn’t there a promise here somewhere that can help me?” She finished praying and stepped over to the window where the light was better for reading. As she did she tripped over a loose edge of the rug and all the promises spilled out onto the carpet. She immediately got the point and prayed again, joyfully, “Lord, how foolish I have been to ask for one promise when there are so many glorious promises in your Word!” (v)
I am moved and challenged by the way F. B. Meyer writes about the impact of making satisfying, sacrificial, sustaining investments. “Lend you boat for a whole afternoon to Christ that it may be his floating pulpit, and He will return it to you laden with fish. Place your upper room as His disposal for a single meal, and He will fill it and the whole house with the Holy Spirit of Pentecost. Place in His hands your barley loaves and fish, and He will not only satisfy your hunger, but add twelve baskets full of fragments.” (vi)
Are you ready to make a good investment? Are you ready to be caught up in an adventure that’s larger than you; to claim a vision that didn’t begin with you, doesn’t end with you, yet gives you life – a vision that’s worth living for, and dying for? The adventure is investing your life in Jesus Christ – and it’s an adventure of overwhelming joy.
(i) Adapted from Joan Winmill Brown and Bill Brown, Together Each Day, Revell – as reported in Christian Communication Laboratory
(ii) Twenty-First Century Biblical Commentary Series - Twenty-First Century Biblical Commentary Series – The Books of Philippians and Colossians: Joy and Completeness in Christ.
(iii) John Killinger, The Great Importance of Little Deeds, Preaching, March-April 1989, p. 8
(iv) Boice, J. M. (2000). Philippians: an expositional commentary (pp. 257–258). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
(v) Ibid, p. 256-257
(vi) F. B. Meyer, The Epistle to the Philippians, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1952
