Christians should joyfully support those who faithfully teach them Scripture. Those who receive that support should do so with thanksgiving. Together, the giver and the receiver reflect God s sanctifying work among His people a work which establishes the Church as His representative on earth. The Apostle Paul s letter to the church in Philippi is an acknowledgment of their willingness to be faithful to Christ. Likewise, it emphasizes their spiritual maturity as those who are set apart as holy (i.e. sanctified) to serve the Lord. With the exception of an appeal to quickly settle a mild disagreement within the congregation (4:2-3), Paul s epistle to the Philippians is largely instruction and encouragement in sanctification. The Philippians were a fellowship of believers dedicated to fulfilling their role as the Lord s ambassadors to the world, and Paul deeply loved them for that reason. They realized that consistent, sound, biblical teaching was the key to their success individually and collectively. Therefore, they dearly loved Paul as their Christian brother and teacher. This mutual Christian love is especially seen in the closing of this letter. Here Paul speaks of their care and support for him in his ministry, and he rejoices in this expression of their sanctification. In 4:10-13, we began to consider the matter of Christian generosity. In particular, we looked at the opportunity of the giver and the attitude of the receiver. Paul concludes with a word about the commitment of the giver and the praise of the receiver. He closes the entire letter with a greeting and a blessing for the saints in Philippi. 1
Christian Generosity Part II (4:14-23) The Commitment of the Giver (vv. 14-16) True Christians realize that their effectiveness in serving God depends on knowing His will, and they desire to understand all they can about it. That is why they instinctively seek it and are able to discern those who sincerely teach it from Scripture (1 Jn. 2:27; 4:4-6). Jesus made it very clear that His sheep hear His voice, and having heard it, they follow Him (Jn. 10:14-16, 27). Those who follow Him benefit from the teaching of Scripture, and they naturally develop a love for those who teach them along with a concern for the teacher s wellbeing. This concern produces a commitment to care for their teacher s material needs. The apostle says in First Corinthians 9:11-14, that he and other teachers of God s Word sowed spiritual things, and (by God s command) they had a right to reap material things. The Philippians recognized this and gladly supported Paul, but it was a mutual commitment. That is, they appreciated his care for their spiritual needs, and he appreciated their care for his material needs. Paul had rejoiced at the opportunity the Philippians took to generously provide for his necessities while in prison (v. 10). He had not complained about his needs (vv. 11-12), but the Christians in Philippi were always looking for ways to support his ministry. When they finally located him in a Roman prison, they immediately sent Ephaphroditus with a gift (2:25-30; 4:18). And, having received it, the apostle acknowledges their loving commitment to him. 2
He says in verse 14, Nevertheless, you have done well that you shared in my distress. Even though he was content in whatever condition he encountered whether abundance or need (4:11) their commitment to care for him was pleasing to God. It was the proper, loving response to the teaching of God s Word and a response that only sanctified believers can have. The Philippian church was evidently one of only a few that supported Paul on a consistent basis. Rampant fraud within the early church on the part of false teachers made many Christians skeptical about material generosity toward teachers. Also, many professing to be Christians were simply inclined to withhold support from those who clearly preached the Scripture. They preferred those who would tickle their ears with watered-down truth so as to avoid guilt (1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 4:3). Tragically, it is the same today, since false believers do not like the rebuke of Scripture or the one who delivers that rebuke. But true believers will not allow faithful pastors and teachers to suffer need if they can help it. They will provide what they can because they are committed to the work of God s kingdom. And they know this work requires obedience which is possible only through knowledge of the truth. And without question, that knowledge comes through the teaching of God s Word (Eph. 4:11ff). 3
The Philippians were committed to obedience and to giving from the beginning of the gospel (v. 15a). That is, they had lived by and supported the apostle s preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ among the Gentiles in the Roman province of Macedonia (part of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe) from the very start. While passing through that region, he established churches in Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea (Acts 16:6-17:14). However, the Philippian church was the only one that continued to support Paul in a tangible way. Even when he went to the Thessalonians to preach, it was Philippi who sent aid once and again for [his] necessities (v. 16). Paul uses accounting terms here to describe their ongoing support. The word, concerning, can be translated as account. The words giving and receiving identify expenditures and receipts. Paul is simply saying that, because he was a faithful steward, he kept records of what he received and what he spent in his ministry, and he knew well what the Philippians had done for him. This commitment is a glowing example of how Christians should support the work of ministry. A love for God s Word and the work of His kingdom should move believers to meet the needs of those who teach them. As we learned in last week s study, this giving is voluntary and discretionary, but every believer has the same opportunity to give and should share the same commitment. 4
The Praise of the Receiver (vv. 17-20) Paul rejoices in the support and commitment of the Philippians. However, he does not simply praise God because he received the things he needed. He certainly did that, but he also praised the Lord because the Philippians generosity was a result of their sanctification. It was one proof that these Christians were citizens of heaven (4:20). They were putting their money where there heart truly was storing up for themselves treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:20). Therefore, Paul says, Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account (v. 17). The fruit of which he speaks is the spiritual profit the Philippians gained by supporting the teaching of Scripture. Their willingness to supply Paul s material needs ensured that they could keep receiving the truth they needed to continue in sanctification. And their life of holy service to Christ would, in turn, produce a reward for them in heaven from the Lord (e.g. Matt. 5:12; 2 Cor. 5:9-10; 2 Jn. 8). Christians, by no means, give their support to their pastors/teachers in order to earn salvation or maintain it. Instead, they give to support the ministry of the Word which maintains their sanctification i.e. it leads them to holy living for the glory of God and His kingdom. 5
The Lord s glory should be the ultimate objective in all that Christians do. In this case, giving money and supplies to God s messenger, Paul, was an act of worship toward God. Paul was glad for all he received, and indeed, it was more than enough. For he says, I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you (v. 18a). His need was met, and he was glad. But of more significance to him was that God was worshipped in the act of giving and receiving, and this evoked his praise to God. The Philippians gift was like a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God (v. 18b). The Old Testament sacrificial system was, in part, designed by God to symbolize sincere obedience to His will. Paul s reference here is to the meat and fat of the sacrifice on the burning altar which produced a pleasant aroma. But God was not concerned simply with the smell of cooking meat, however pleasant it may be to us. Infinitely more significant than the aroma which rose from the altar was the obedience of the one making the sacrifice. It was pleasing and acceptable to Him. He emphasizes the aroma of the animal sacrifice to help us understand how pleasing obedience is to Him. The Old Testament saints sacrificed the animal to symbolically represent the sacrifice of God s promised Savior, the Christ. However, the burning of the sacrifice represented their pure worship from a sincere heart. 6
What the Philippians had given was sacrificial. That is, they could have kept it for themselves and used it in some other way (Acts 5:4), but they voluntarily chose to give it for the work of God s kingdom. However, even though they generously gave up their resources, Paul knew that God had supplied it and would also meet their needs. They would not go without just so that he could have plenty. So he assures them in verse 19: And my God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. In other words, as they did not withhold from their resources, God would not withhold from His. Throughout Scripture, the Lord promises to meet the needs of those who help meet the needs of others and to replenish their resources that they may give again. His resupply is commensurate with what is given (e.g. Lk. 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6; cf. Prov. 11:24-25; 19:17). As the apostle says in Second Corinthians 9:10: Now may He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness. Their righteousness was their act of generous giving. The fruit of their righteousness was what God replenished. In this way the generosity of believers perpetually glorifies the Lord. Though their resources were limited and this gift depleted those resources, God s resources are infinite. His riches in[the] glory of His kingdom are more than enough to fund His work through His people. For, in Christ, we have access to our Father s limitless supply, since all things belong to Him anyway (Ps. 24:1). 7
That is not a promise for earthly health, wealth and prosperity but a rock-solid assurance that God will meet all our needs when we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). We are not to give with the motivation of God making us rich. We are to give to glorify Him, and we must understand that any abundance He supplies is left to our discretion to help others. As Paul told Timothy, Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life (1 Tim. 6:17-19). You do not earn salvation by philanthropy, but cheerful generosity is a sign of genuine saving faith (2 Cor. 9:7). And believers are assured that they have eternal treasure in heaven. Therefore, Paul praises the Lord that He has brought glory to Himself through the generosity of His people. He says in verse 20: Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. This is the apostle s reaction to the truth that God, who is faithful, provides for the saints. He provides the ability to get wealth (Deut. 8:18) and directs some of that to support the ministry of the Word. 8
The Apostle s Greeting and Blessing (vv. 21-23) Paul closes his letter with a greeting and a blessing to every saint in Christ Jesus that was in Philippi. The word, saint (Gr. hagios) is the word often translated as holy. And, of course, that is precisely what it means to be sanctified -- we are set apart as holy for the Lord s service. Every true Christian is being sanctified by God. Sanctification is a process and not a level of holiness. It is God daily setting us apart as holy for His use in this world. With His Word, as revealed in Scripture, He convicts us of sin, rebukes us and exhorts us as His children (2 Tim. 4:1). And by this He enables us to work out His salvation for the world to see (2:12-13). So Paul and the brethren with [him] greeted every saint in the Philippian church. Like the Philippians, those in the church at Rome were saints (v. 22). He especially makes mention of those who [were] of Caesar s household likely meaning some of the Emperor s own family, but certainly many of those who worked within the palace in Rome. While the Church was already established in Rome before Paul arrived, some would have been led to Christ by Paul personally. Among these were some of the soldiers to whom he was chained on a daily basis (1:13). Paul desired that The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all in Philippi. And his closing word is, Amen or so be it. For, apart from God s grace through Christ, redemption and sanctification is impossible. 9
The Letter to the Philippians is a tremendous insight into the doctrine of sanctification. It is a snapshot of a church set apart for the work of Christ on earth revealing the attitudes and activities of those who are holy in the Lord. Although certainly not perfect, such a church nonetheless honors the Lord and is an example that every fellowship of Christians should follow. Paul s encouragement and exhortation found here in this letter is a handbook for spiritual success in sanctification. Christians living for Christ with humility and unity, regardless of the circumstances, make the Church a bright light of truth for the world to see. Those who teach Christians the Word of God are, by the Lord s design, an indispensable part of His Church. They defend believers from false doctrine and encourage the faithful to press toward the goal of heaven. All who recognize this will generously supply the need of those whose ministry it is to communicate the Word of God. And in it all, God is glorified. That is a general overview of this letter. Are you receiving a generous spiritual supply of God s Word necessary to live a holy life for Christ? Are you committed to give and generously supply the material need of those who teach you? Do you trust God to supply both and to use His Church for His glory? Do you praise Him for this? 10