Philippians is considered the epistle of joy. That is because there are so many references to joy and rejoicing (over 15). There are so many references that are so prominent that Joy is considered the theme of the letter. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)
The context of this passage is one of those joy references. Paul rejoiced greatly because of the gift all God’s holy people in Christ at Philippi gave to him. The point to note is that Paul is rejoicing greatly not because he needed the money or because he received money. He is content in Christ with or without their gift. He is rejoicing because of what giving does in the life of the giver.
Maybe if you think back, you can remember when someone gave you a gift that really blessed you. I recently have been thinking back on different occasions when I was blessed by a gift. In Philippians 4:14-19 Paul says that he was blessed by a gift. In this case he is rejoicing because of the spiritual blessing to the giver. When you receive your next gift, you can rejoice in the work God is doing in the giver.
The book of Philippians is, to a large extent, a thank you note from Paul to the church for their financial gift. How much they gave to Paul we don’t know. But Paul expresses something very encouraging about giving. It is not only the one who receives the gift who is blessed, but the ones who gives the gift are greatly blessed.
The matter of giving and receiving
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15Moreover, 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; (Philippians 4:14-15)
The Philippians shared with Paul to relieve his suffering. This church had considerations for Paul’s needs. Starting with verse 14 Paul builds on his words he shared about contentment. He is content without the gift, yet the gift still meant a great deal to him.
God is pleased and blesses and provides for the giver. In this passage Paul tells of his profound thanks. It is so amazing because Philippians is one of the poorest churches in the New Testament, but they were one of the greatest giving churches.
The church gave materially to Paul, but they received spiritually from the Lord. The Philippians were the one who received the greater blessing. Philippians is the epistle of joy, and this joy is connected to them being a giving people. Joy and giving go hand in hand.
Giving to meet needs.
for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. (Philippians 4:16)
Thessalonica is considered the place were Paul established the church in the least amount of time. Yet, despite his work there being so short, somehow the Philippians gave to him again and again when he was there. Paul valued the gift, but his greatest joy was how it blessed them before God. This is encouraging when I think of all the people who have given me gifts. That God will bless them.
There is such a joy in giving, a freedom and a blessing. Giving is a barometer of your spiritual condition. Paul’s words remind us of what Paul said in his farewell sermon to the leaders of Ephesus when he Remembered the words of the Lord Jesus himself: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
In his book The Journey Home: Finishing With Joy Bill Bright expressed this joy of giving well and the stewardship we have. Here is the statement about the book as found on Amazon:
"I have been asked if I have any last words before God calls me to a new assignment, and I do" Bill Bright said months before his death. At the time, facing an incurable disease, pulmonary fibrosis, his initial response was, "Thank you, Lord." His doctor believed he was in denial, but Bright's determination to declare the faithfulness and sovereignty of God for the rest of his days remained firm. His preparation for leaving this earth is chronicled in this surprisingly optimistic, encouraging book. Despite great suffering, Dr. Bright displayed unflinching courage and wrestled along with readers over troubling questions and intensifying his gaze on eternity. And as he experienced the nearness of death, Bright was able to write with unswerving confidence, "Four realities are more clear than ever: God is real, His promises are true, life is an exciting though brief adventure, and heaven is our home." (from The Journey Home: Finishing With Joy Bill Bright)
In 1996 Bill Bright was awarded the $1.1 million Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, and donated the money to promote the spiritual benefits of fasting and prayer. He gave everything and he lived and died with the joy giving brings.
In Matthew 10:8 Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” The whole issue of giving is putting our lives in perspective. We need to remember that everything is God’s. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Not only that he owns everything, but he also made us, and our purpose is to glorify him. We are stewards of everything we have, and all is a tool to honor him.
Giving Pleases God 17-18
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. (Philippians 4:17-18)
In verse 17 Paul says, Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.
Is it possible to be more concerned with the giving than with the actual gift itself? Think of the parent that receives a Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift from their child. That parent is thrilled with the gift even if it has no material value. There is joy to the parent that their child gave them a gift.
That is Paul’s reaction here. He started this church, and it blesses him that they have a giving heart. It is no wonder that Paul is pleased. Giving and freedom go together. Those who are a giving people have a freedom in all their areas of life.
Giving is more than a physical act it is a spiritual exercise. It is a joy to Paul who started this church to find them obedient in the area of giving. They will be greatly used by the Lord. In Vs 18 Paul’s heart overflows. He was content before but now he is blessed and overflowing.
He received in full and nothing more is due him. He made it clear that this was a thank you note and not a subtle hint to send him more funds. He described their gift as sweet-smelling incense offered to the Lord.
The gift is comparable to the whole burnt offering which the Israelites brought to God and that is described in Leviticus 1:9 9 “an aroma pleasing to the LORD.”
Philippians is possibly the poorest church, but they did not want to be robbed of their opportunity to share in God’s ministry.
God will meet your needs.
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
The Macedonian churches pleaded with Paul for an opportunity to give to his work.
2 Corinthians 8:4, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service (giving) to the saints.
Jesus had no home, no real material possessions to speak of, but He was the richest person that ever lived, He shared in God’s resources. And so will the person who lives totally for God. Giving opens us to God’s gifts. In 4:15 he refers to giving as a matter of giving and receiving. True
Christian giving does not seek to get blessing for their giving, but they end up receiving them.
This is not the prosperity gospel that says to get things you give to get. You should give out of a grateful heart, freely you received freely give. But when you give to God, he meets your needs as he did for Paul.
Paul did not have a fancy car (or the first century equivalent) or live in luxury. But God met Paul’s need. He met the Philippians needs. He will meet your needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus.
God Provides for the giver. Whenever we give any gift, we could always find some reason not to give it. We could have used the money to meet our own physical needs. There are always needs pressing in from every direction. But read verse 19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
God would care for the needs of the Philippians even if they were poor. All Paul could do was thank them for the gift, but God could supply all their needs. No gift given with Christ like motivation to God’s work has ever made a person poorer.
How can we give to the Lord’s work in a bad economy? I can say give generously, give sacrificially and joy will abound, and God will provide your needs. This goes for your physical needs and spiritual needs. This is not off the top of my head but right out of verses 18-19.
Giving stretches your faith. It is like an extreme sport for living by faith. God bountifully blesses those who give graciously according to God’s purposes. Go on give and give boldly! You will experience the joy of giving.
