APRIL 30 – PHILIPPIANS 4:14-20
GOSPEL GENEROSITY
Today, we continue our reading plan by looking at the Philippians generosity. Paul looked on their missionary gift as an investment that would pay them rich spiritual dividends. The church entered into an arrangement of “giving and receiving”; the church gave materially to Paul, and received spiritually from the Lord. The Lord keeps the books and will never fail to pay one spiritual dividend!
Paul looked on their gift as a spiritual sacrifice, laid on the altar to the glory of God. There are such things as “spiritual sacrifices” in the Christian life (see 1 Peter 2:5). We are to yield our bodies as spiritual sacrifices (Rom. 12:1–2), as well as the praise of our lips (Heb. 13:15). Good works are a sacrifice to the Lord (Heb. 13:16), and so are the lost souls that we are privileged to win to Christ (Rom. 15:16; it is God doing the work, we are just a vessel He is using). Here, Paul sees the Philippian believers as priests, giving their offering as a sacrifice to the Lord. In the light of Malachi 1:6–14, we need to present the very finest that we have to the Lord
Contentment comes from adequate resources. Our resources are the providence of God, the power of God, and the promises of God. These resources made Paul sufficient for every demand of life, and they can make us sufficient too.
14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. 15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. 17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (NASB)
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Find contentment in Christ, not in material things.
- Trust God with your worries, trials, and tribulations. He will meet your needs.
- When God gives to His obedient children, He gives according to His infinite riches in glory
CLOSER LOOK:
Verses 14-16: Though Paul was content no matter what the circumstances, he was nevertheless grateful for the help the Philippians sent with Epaphroditus. Sometimes the Lord works through his redeemed people to meet human needs. Contentment did not do away with troubling circumstances. Paul knew operating from a Roman jail cell, chained to a Roman soldier, was not operating from a position of power. He was in trouble. The present Epaphroditus brought from Philippi helped. Paul wants the Philippians to know this and to know how commendable he considered their loving action to be.
Because they gave of their means they shared with the apostle in his troubles and afflictions; they did something about his problem. Though Paul relied on Christ to sustain him, he wanted the Philippians to know that their gift was appreciated.
At the very beginning of their Christian experience (Acts 16) when Paul left Macedonia they alone shared with him “in the matter of giving and receiving.” And again when Paul was in Thessalonica on his second missionary journey (Acts 17:1) and experienced definite need, the Philippians sent him aid twice. Paul considers the relationship between himself and the Philippians to be a two-way street, with both parties actively involved in the sharing of both material and spiritual gifts.[1]
In verse 16, we are reminded that even the great apostle had needs, and God used others to meet them. Two things come to mind. One, because we are Christians, it does not mean we will live a life full of blessings and riches and wealth. Many false teachers today will say “you do not have because you do not ask or do not have enough faith. If you just have faith, then God will bless you greatly with riches.” Paul had plenty of faith and will have exponentially more faith than I could ever hope for. Yet, he had more struggles than anyone. There were times when he had plenty and times he did not have food and was hungry. We just read about this in the previous verses of Philippians. We will have struggles and we will have times of need, but we have a God that cares for us, knows our needs, and will provide how He sees fit. That may look different than what we want or desire, but God will provide. Secondly, it is also ok to ask for help and to let others know of your situation. You do not have to do this alone. Pray to God about the struggles for sure. And pray often. But also pray not just for the need, but for dependence on Him and a focus on Him and not the problems (think back to verses 6-9). Also, be willing to share your concerns and troubles with others. At the very least, you are inviting them into your situation and they can pray for you. They may help as well, but you show the depth of your relationship with them as you trust them with your vulnerabilities. Paul let the Philippians know of his need and they helped and showed their concern and love for him. We can do the same by sharing with those close to us (or the people we feel comfortable with or those we feel led to share with) our problems and struggles. Allow others to be a blessing to you or share in your journey. This is hard I know as I do not like to do this.
Verses 17-20: Others were always uppermost in Paul’s mind. He was not looking for a gift simply to satisfy his own needs. He wanted credit to come to the account of the Philippians. In verse 17, Paul has in mind the material gift that the Philippians sent to him. By using the word “account,” Paul utilizes business terminology.[2] The Philippians’ gift was producing spiritual profit just as money deposited in a bank account accrues interest. But Paul was not as concerned with their gift as with the development in the Philippians of the spiritual ability to give.
Paul’s commendation (vv. 15-17) led him to speak of how the Philippians benefited from supporting him. He understood well that genuine giving seeks no personal benefits. He lived that way, and so did they. Nevertheless, giving brings blessings to both the giver and the receiver. First, Paul stated what he received from their gifts. Further, using financial language, Paul stated that his need was met. He had sufficient resources to carry on God’s work. Any obligation they had to him had been paid in full. Their responsibility was satisfied. The gift brought by Epaphroditus exceeded what Paul might have expected, and they were to feel no obligation to give more.
Since these people had already helped him so much, Paul did not want them to think he was still looking for more from them. He had received from the Philippians full payment, all the money they had sent, so he was then abounding and was amply supplied. What they had sent with Epaphroditus (2:25–30) had an effect on both him and God, for the gifts were a “fragrant aroma (or offering), an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.” The term “fragrant aroma” was used in Leviticus (in the LXX) for an offering that pleased God. It also was used in Ephesians 5:2 of Christ’s offering of Himself. So, Paul cherishes the gift that the Philippians sent him because he sees it as more of an offering to God than as a gift to him. By giving to Paul, the Philippians had offered themselves as a gift to God (Rom 12:1-2).
In verse 18, Paul says that he is full because they gave. In verse 19, he writes that God will supply all their needs. God would reciprocate to the Philippians. They had met Paul’s needs and now God would meet theirs. God would not only bless them out of or from His bounty but also in accordance with (kata) it: according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Out of His abundant wealth, God will more than amply take care of the Philippians.
“To our God”—Paul’s heavenly Father and theirs—the apostle gave thanks and praise. The Jewish practice of closing prayers with the word “Amen” carried over to the Christian church as well. When found at the end of a sentence as it is here, the word can be translated “so be it,” or “may it be fulfilled.” At the beginning of a sentence, it means “surely,” “truly,” or “most assuredly.”[3] The section closes with a doxology to God the Father. The thought of the glorious nature of what the Lord supplies no doubt prompted Paul to think of the ultimate purpose of life: to bring glory to God forever. The doxology expresses a prayer concerning all the affairs discussed in the epistle. Through whatever means, in every age, and through all creatures, may God be glorified. Once again, Paul’s thoughts moved beyond the present to the future, or, as in other places in the epistle, he consciously remembered the ultimate purpose of life.[4] It is to bring glory to God now and forever. In so doing, the believer will join a great host of creation glorifying God for eternity.
Aside from verse 14: As a summary of this section, Paul reminded the readers that their share in his work was good. Two important terms indicate the significance of their contribution to Paul. First, they participated with him. The Greek sygkoinoneō emphasizes that participation. The basic translation, “fellowship,” means a deep partnership of two going the same direction. This is heightened by the preposition “with” (syn), which has a perfective force here (this means it stresses the meaning of the verb).[5] Second, Paul identified their partnership specifically as with his “troubles” (thlipsis). The term naturally implies hardships of any kind, but it had a deeper significance for Paul. In Col 1:24 he spoke of suffering the “tribulations of the Christ” (the same Greek word) so that his difficulties in spreading the gospel actually related to the Messiah. In reflecting on his tribulations, Paul realized the eschatological significance of his ministry and that those who supported him participated in that themselves. Their gifts evidenced their willingness to identify with the new era inaugurated by Jesus.
This expression contains a hint at the significance of Christian giving. It also explains something of Paul’s hesitancy in expressing his own needs to them. The Philippians recognized Paul’s strategic place in the spread of the gospel, the mystery revealed to him (Eph 3:1–13). Others, particularly the Jewish Christians, had difficulty accepting Paul’s ministry. The gifts from Philippi meant that the church eagerly participated in the work of God and that their gifts were, in reality, contributions to the spread of the gospel to other Gentiles. Paul knew he would suffer because of his distinctive apostolic calling. He accepted this suffering joyfully and learned the secret of triumph over any circumstance. Paul’s ministry simply provided an occasion for sharing in the gospel. He knew that he handled sacred resources when they came from the people of God (see 4:18). Their gift was good because it demonstrated that they understood God’s working in the world and that they willingly supported it through God’s servants.
[1] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, H. Wayne House, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: Nelson, 1999), 1557.
[2] λόγος (logos), ου (ou), ὁ (ho). DBL Greek: “record of assets and liabilities.” Also, computation or reckoning. Strong’s 3056. “Logon” in 4:17.
[3] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, H. Wayne House, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: Nelson, 1999), 1557.
[4] Melick, Richard R. The New American Commentary. 32, 32. Nashville, Tenn: Broadman Press, 1991.
[5] Melick, Richard R. The New American Commentary. 32, 32. Nashville, Tenn: Broadman Press, 1991.