SM 040614 The Joy of Giving Message Series Enjoying the Journey Subseries of Messages from Paul s Letter to the Philippians The Joy of Faith Text Philippians 4:10-23 Congregational Reading Philippians 4:10-13 Theme for 2014 Enjoying the Journey "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." (Psalms 100:1-5) Read the text before the message Introduction In this final section of Philippians, Paul will thank the Philippian church for its care for him expressed through the gifts that they gave to him that helped provide for his needs. Paul was a preacher, not a hireling, and he was willing to do whatever was necessary in order to fulfill the ministry that God had given him. There were times when he had to work as a tentmaker in order to provide for his necessities and perhaps even for the support of the ministry. Thankfully, however, there were people like the people at this Church at Philippi that gave to the Apostle Paul, and thereby partnered with him in the ministry. 1 Corinthians chapter nine deals extensively with this subject of giving to support the ministry, but I will share here only one verse: "If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?" (1 Corinthians 9:11) This church had given to provide for Paul s carnal (physical) needs, and Paul was expressing his appreciation to them here in this last portion of his letter. God wants us to be givers. Giving with the right heart produces joy.
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful (ἱλαρός - hilaros) giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7) "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35) "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:19-21) I Their Giving was a Source of Rejoicing (vs. 10 14) "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity." (Philippians 4:10) A Paul learned contentment. "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Philippians 4:11) One of the keys to enjoying the gifts that God gives you is to be content without them. If you are satisfied with what you already possess then when God gives the increase your satisfaction can increase, and your appreciation will be easily expressed. However, if you are complaining and dissatisfied with what God has already given you, He will likely not give you more, and you will have to find some other means to acquire the things that you desire. " I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." (Philippians 4:12) Abasement and abounding are both part of the Christian life. We need to learn to be satisfied with Christ, and whatever He chooses to give us. Christ is all I truly need. If I have Christ, I have everything. If I don t have
Christ, then I have nothing. B Paul was strengthened by Christ. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13) Christ provides the grace to endure every situation that we may face in life both good times and bad times. The things that we face will strengthen us, if we endure them and even enjoy them, good and bad, through Christ. C Paul expressed his appreciation. "Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction." (Philippians 4:14) Paul thanked this church for their care for him. We need to do a better job of expressing our appreciation to others for what they do for us. II Their Giving was a Stipulation for Reward (vs. 15 19) "Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only." (Philippians 4:15) "For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity." (Philippians 4:16) "Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account." (Philippians 4:17) Paul states plainly here that the gift given by the Philippians to him was of more benefit to them than it was to him. He appreciated the gift, and used it for God s glory, but the reward for the gift would belong to the Philippians. God keeps records. "But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God." (Philippians 4:18)
Notice that God was well pleased with their gift. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) This verse is one of the most quoted and claimed verses in all of the Bible, but we must be careful to observe that Paul had given this promise to a group of people that were giving back to the Lord. Turn to Matthew 6:25-34 "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:38) "Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.... Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit." (Haggai 1:6, 9-10) "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts." (Malachi 3:8-12) Illustrations
J.L. Kraft, head of the Kraft Cheese Corporation, who had given approximately 25% of his enormous income to Christian causes for many years, said, "The only investment I ever made which has paid consistently increasing dividends is the money I have given to the Lord." J.D. Rockefeller said, "I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 per week." W.A. Criswell tells of an ambitious young man who told his pastor he'd promised God a tithe of his income. They prayed for God to bless his career. At that time he was making $40.00 per week and tithing $4.00. In a few years his income increased and he was tithing $500.00 per week. He called on the pastor to see if he could be released from his tithing promise, it was too costly now. The pastor replied, "I don't see how you can be released from your promise, but we can ask God to reduce your income to $40.00 a week, then you'd have no problem tithing $4.00." Captain Levy, a believer from Philadelphia, was once asked how he could give so much to the Lord's work and still possess great wealth. The Captain replied, "Oh, as I shovel it out, He shovels it in, and the Lord has a bigger shovel." A 16- year- old named William left home to seek his fortune. His earthly possessions were tied in a bundle carried in his hand. One day he met an elderly canal- boat captain who listened to his story that his family was too poor to keep him, and the only skill he had was making candles and soap. The old captain knelt and prayed for the boy s future and afterward gave him some advice. William, someone will be the leading soap- maker in New York. It could be you. Be a good man, give your heart to Christ, pay the Lord all that belongs to Him, make an honest soap, give a full pound, and I m certain you ll be a prosperous and rich man. The 16- year- old who listened to godly counsel was William Colgate, who not only prospered beyond his wildest dreams but was able to give millions of dollars to the Lord s cause.
III Their Giving Provided a Standing (Reputation) that was Remembered (vs. 20 23) "Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Philippians 4:20) "Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you." (Philippians 4:21) "All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household." (Philippians 4:22) "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." (Philippians 4:23) Your giving should be kept between you and the Lord, and your motivation in giving should not be recognition, but those that are givers to the Lord will be rewarded openly by God, and recognized by people. Far more important than your reputation in front of men, however, is the fact that God will remember you. "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (Hebrews 6:10) You are under grace. There is no New Testament Law requiring you to give. God is not going to revoke your salvation because you don t give. According to 2 Corinthians 8:7, giving is a grace. It is an expression of both your trust in God and your love for Him. I will not tell you what to give for that is between you and the Lord, but I know that God will bless you if you give, and I know that if you give with the right spirit, God will give you joy. Closing Illustration A preacher I know once counseled a depressed woman to bake cookies and give them to some of the patients in a nursing home in order to help her depression. At first she thought the idea ludicrous, but she heeded his advice anyway. The woman was overcome with joy as she saw her gift produce joy in the lives of others. Giving produces joy.