Philippians 4:14-23
These verses can be challenging when we remember Paul’s circumstances of being in his prison but all the while, he is expressing thanks and gratitude towards God, the Philippine church and his friends / partners in the gospel movement.
What Paul loved, even more than the gift of generosity that the church gave him, was knowing the gift was a response - not to everything Paul had done for them - but in response to everything God had done for them.
Throughout the letter, Paul has used the word ‘joy’ numerous times; based upon your translation, he has used rejoice 6x, joy 4x.
He prays with joy (1:4) instructs the church to rejoice in the lord (3:1) rejoice in the lord always (4:4)
TBD
When we are generous - we don’t give what we don’t have, we give what God has called us to give; generosity is out of the overflow of our relationship with Christ Jesus.
When we are generous - we are fulfilling the law of Christ which is to carry each others burdens; when we give, we alleviate the burdens of others.
When we are generous - we display how the body of Christ works in tangible ways.
We can be generous because God is the one who provides for us.
When we are generous - our faith in God grows.
Hebrews 13:16
“But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Proverbs 19:17
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”
