Introduction
Today is my fifth and last talk from Philippians. In the passage we’re looking at, Paul reflects on the Philippians’ support for him. He has some slightly complicated things to say, along the lines of, ‘I didn’t actually need your gifts, but I’m rejoicing that you gave them’!
I’m going to look at some characteristics of the Philippians’ giving and see what we can learn from them.
Paul mentions the Philippians’ giving in a couple of places in his letter to the Philippians and also in some of his other letters. So, I’m going to scoot around a bit. But our main focus will be the passage Rosemary read for us, Philippians 4:10-20.
1. The Philippians gave REALLY GENEROUSLY
To make this point we need to go to another passage.
Philippi is in Greece, and specifically, Macedonia. It was the first big city which Paul and his companions came to when they crossed to Europe, and it was here where Paul first founded a church in Europe. Later Paul founded at least two other churches in Macedonia – one in a place called Berea, and one in Thessalonica.
You need to know that because Paul talks about the churches in Macedonia several times and the church in Philippi was one of them.
Listen to Paul’s description of the Macedonian churches’ giving:
‘We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favour of taking part in the relief of the saints’ [2 Corinthians 8:1-5].
What do you think of that?! The Macedonian churches’ giving was on another level! Facing severe affliction and extreme poverty, they gave according to their means, and beyond it.
The Macedonian Christians were the New Testament church’s equivalent of the widow who put two small copper coins – all she had to live on – into the temple treasury, or Mary of Bethany who poured out a jar of pure nard on Jesus’ feet. The nard was worth, in today’s terms, about £30,000.
When we give, we may think, ‘Oh, no, we have to give 10%! Well, let’s do it and put a tick in that box.’
That is NOT how the Macedonian Christians gave. There was no sense that they would just give 10%, or give grudgingly. The Macedonian Christians’ generosity and attitude seriously challenge me!
2. The Philippians gave to MINISTRY RATHER THAN NEED
At the beginning of his letter, Paul writes, ‘I thank my God in all my remembrance of you … because of your partnership IN THE GOSPEL from the first day until now’ [1:3,5].
The Philippians didn’t send Paul money to buy food. They wanted to support his MINISTRY in proclaiming the gospel.
This is also a challenge to me. I tend to hear of a pressing need and then give. There are any number of people around the world suffering from famines and wars and natural disasters. We SHOULD help such people and I believe we should especially help our Christian brothers and sisters. But the Macedonian Christians’ giving for the gospel reminds us that the gospel is REALLY, REALLY important. The gospel gives eternal life. Food and medicine don’t do that.
We should take note of the Macedonian Christians’ example and make sure that at least some of our giving goes to support gospel ministry.
3. The Philippians saw their giving as PARTNERSHIP
I just mentioned what Paul wrote at the beginning of his letter: ‘I thank my God in all my remembrance of you … because of YOUR PARTNERSHIP in the gospel from the first day until now’ [1:3,5].
Paul saw the Philippians’ giving as a form of PARTNERSHIP.
My father was a solicitor and a partner in the firm he was in. As a partner he liaised closely with the other partners and they made decisions together. If Paul says the Philippians were in partnership with him it means they were working together. Paul had a role to play in going out and preaching. The Philippians had a role to play in supporting him.
The partnership went beyond sending money. For example, we know that the Philippians also prayed for Paul.
Giving can build relationships with people. When we give to people it’s a statement that we care about them. It then opens doors for us to ask how they are doing and pray for them or send them a letter of encouragement.
Let’s follow the Philippians’ example in this. Let us see our giving as an expression of a bigger goal and look for ways in which our giving can grow into partnership.
4. The Philippians gave FROM THE FIRST DAY
At the start of the letter, Paul tells the Philippians that he prayed for them with joy, ‘because of your partnership in the gospel FROM THE FIRST DAY until now’ [1:5].
The Philippians got on with giving QUICKLY. This is significant and commendable for two reasons.
Let me try to explain it with an analogy. Suppose John wants to open a company in Bournemouth to provide English-language courses. John needs to find premises and do them up. He needs to advertise. Until the company has built a reputation, it will probably make a loss. So, it’s when the business is starting that John probably most needs financial support.
John goes to the bank to get a loan. The bank then says to itself, ‘John has no track record. His business may fail. Lending to him is risky.’
Something similar applies to Christian ministries and to missionaries. It’s when a ministry is starting that it most needs support. But until a ministry is established, givers may think, ‘Supporting this ministry is risky!’
Paul wasn’t a newbie. But it was still early days in his ministry. The church in Philippi was the first church he’d planted in Europe and his time in Philippi was full of difficulties. Paul and Silas were beaten, put in prison, and during the night there was a great earthquake. Who knew what would happen to Paul in the future!? But the Philippians decided to support Paul even though there was no certainty as to what would happen. Did an angel appear to them in a dream and tell them their money would be well used? Not as far as we know. It looks as though the Philippians were willing to take a risk.
Let’s go back to our business analogy. People starting up businesses take risks. They put money and time and effort into something. They don’t know what will happen. But without taking a risk, the business will never get started.
In my view, one of the most valuable things we can give to is new ministries or to missionaries going out for the first time. Yes, it’s risky. But this is when support is most needed.
In recent decades there have been some amazingly successful Christian initiatives.
The Bible App reached one billion installs in late 2025. On peak days it has more than 19 million users. The Jesus film has been translated into more than 2,200 languages. The Alpha Course has been hugely successful. We can say the same for the Bible Society’s ‘Bible Course.’
We could support those ministries. There’s nothing wrong with that. But they are up and running. It’s the small ministries, the ministries which are just getting going, which most need the help. That’s what the Philippians did for Paul. They helped him FROM THE FIRST DAY. They are a good example for us.
5. The Philippians were the only church to give
Look at Philippians 4:15. Paul writes, ‘When I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, EXCEPT YOU ONLY’ [4:15].
The Philippians were the only church to support Paul. That must have been significant, or Paul wouldn’t have mentioned it. Why was it significant?
There are ministries which Christians and Christian organization LIKE to support.
There are about 1,900 churches in the Baptist Union of Great Britain. I suppose most of them give to the Baptist Union’s Home Mission Fund. Giving to the Baptist Union of Great Britain is a very safe choice. BUGB is a well-known, reputable organization. What would have happened if we hadn’t given to the Home Mission Fund? Probably not very much. (Don’t worry – I’m not suggesting that!)
Last year, we also gave to a small church in a refugee camp in north-west Kenya called Harvest Center. Harvest Center is not at all well-known. As far as I know, we are the only western church which has given to Harvest Center.
What would have happened if we hadn’t given to Harvest Center? It would have had a big impact on that church.
When you are one giver out of 1,900, you’re not all that significant. But when you are the only giver, you’re very significant! That was the situation Paul was in with the Philippians.
We now know Paul as an amazing apostle. But Paul wasn’t as well known in about 50 A.D. when he visited Philippi. He was a bit like Harvest Centre church. We might imagine the Christians in Philippi thinking, ‘Who is this Paul?! He’ll no doubt taken our money and get himself a nice villa somewhere!’
But the Philippians took a chance – and Paul was clearly very happy about it. We sometimes think of money as rather dirty stuff. The Bible tells us that it’s a root of all kinds of evil. But it doesn’t have to be. Paul describes the Philippians’ gift as ‘a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God’ [4:18].
6. The Philippians’ own needs would be met
Paul is overjoyed at the Philippians’ generous and sacrificial giving. He concludes by assuring the Philippians that they wouldn’t lose out as a result. In fact, the opposite is true!
Paul tells them, ‘And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus’ [4:19]. This isn’t a general promise to everyone. The promise starts with the word ‘And.’ It connects the promise to the Philippians’ generous giving. The word ‘And’ is there in the English and it’s there in the Greek.
Those who, like the Philippians, are generous in giving, will discover that God meets their needs.
That is exactly what Jesus said: ‘Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you’ [Luke 6:38].
Conclusion
The Philippians’ example challenges us in many ways. Their generosity, their focus on gospel ministry, their willingness to take risks, and their sense of partnership all show us how God can use our giving to further his kingdom. Let us give in the same spirit, trusting that God will supply all our needs as we do.
TALK GIVEN AT ROSEBERY PARK BAPTIST CHURCH, BOURNEMOUTH, UK, 1ST MARCH 2026.
