Rejoicing in Generosity
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INTRODUCTION
We come to our final lesson in the book of Philippians. Hopefully it has been helpful to you as we have studied Paul’s example and teachings within this book so we can better learn to obey what Paul says in , “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” We have examined a lot of hard things that hopefully challenged each one of us as we reach forward to the prize before us. Paul has shown us what a Christ-like mind is like, showing humility and concern for others and working out his salvation with all his strength.
In our final lesson, we will look at what many refer to as “Paul’s thank you note to the Philippians” in . Hopefully we will be challenged as we close this series to look at generosity with joy and see it from a heavenly perspective while we examine our own hearts and level of generosity.
BODY
Paul opened up his epistle by sharing his joy for the brethren who in Philippi who had wanted to get involved in Paul’s work and do what they could do to help him from the beginning. In 1:4-5, he said that He gave thanks to God for them with great joy “for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.” As we talked about in our lesson dealing with this passage, this would include in general the spiritual relationship that they have in Christ, but even more specifically the fellowship that they had with Paul in supporting His work. These brethren had shown their love for Paul and his work from the very beginning of his work in Philippi. Both Lydia and the Philippian jailor opened up their homes to Paul (,,), and the brethren there continued to show their support for Paul’s work after he left by sending him money through men such as Epaphroditus, who brought the gift that Paul is going to give thanks for in this section. Let’s begin by reading verses 10-11a:
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need,
When Paul received the gift from the Philippians, he says that he rejoiced in the Lord greatly for their generosity towards him. They had been hindered in some way before this in giving to meet Paul’s needs, but now that they have the opportunity, they are doing all they can to help Paul. Paul says that their care for him in this instance had revived (NASB) flourished towards him again (NKJV). The verb that Paul uses here means to “put forth new shoots, to sprout again, to grow green again, to flourish again.”[1] The image the word brings to mind is the coming of spring after the cold and dead winter. Their love towards Paul; their concern towards him, had been given new life because they had the resources to send to him now. They brought forth fruit in this season and offered it to Paul as a gift.
In verse 11, Paul makes a clarification on what he said in verse 10 regarding why he was joyful. Paul tells us that the reason why he was joyful when receiving the gift was not because his needs were being met. Paul’s concern was not his improvement in his personal circumstances and his relief from want or having to make money by making tents, but his joy was “in the Lord” and was based on what the gift showed about the Philippians. Verse 11 is an overview of what we see in the rest of this section (12-20). In verses 12-13 he talks about his own personal circumstances of abundance and need, and in verses 14-20, he talks in more detail about the reasons for the joy he had in receiving the gift. Let’s read this next section dealing with Paul’s view of his circumstances:
“11 Not that I speak in regard to need…for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
At the end of verse 11, Paul says that no matter what the circumstance may be in his life, he learned the importance of being content. This is something that didn’t come automatically to Paul, just as it is usually the case with us. He had to learn it. He had learned to all of the circumstances of life from a Heavenly perspective, even when it came to financial needs. He learned to see how God was providing for him. And seeing things this way helped him to be content. It helped him not to give his heart over to seeking more or complaining about his lot in life. He was not self-seeking, but humble in how he approached earthly things. This idea of contentment is challenging for us. As we face all of life’s circumstances, we need to understand that we truly have all that we need in Christ. All that we have been given by God is enough. We have no need for anything because we see that God is caring for us as He has promised.
Then in verse 12, Paul shares that he learned the secret of contentment in humble circumstances and in prosperous circumstances; whether he had little or a lot. The physical circumstances didn’t affect Paul’s contentment. Paul understood that the lot he had in life was given to him by God, and he didn’t complain or become covetous for more. Elsewhere in the New Testament, Paul contrasts contentment with covetousness. In , Paul contrasts the contentment that we need to have for the necessary things with the “desire to get rich” or the “love of money.” For Paul, one who was able to say, “For me, to live is Christ,” he learned that money is not something worth living for. He had everything he needed in His relationship with Christ whether he had a lot or very little in life. We see a valuable lesson here; it is possible to not have contentment in both circumstances. We must know how to have a right mindset towards God and what he gives us whether we are rich or poor. Some think that only the rich have a problem with being content and giving themselves over to their possessions. This is not the case. In both circumstances we are in danger of giving our hearts to our possessions, money, and a desire for more. In both circumstances we can complain about what we have or don’t have. No matter what our lot in life may be, we need to guard ourselves from idolatry and to see that no matter how much we may have, all we truly need in life is Christ. Any other thing is icing on the cake and is nothing in comparison.
Then in verse 13, Paul shares with us who empowered him to deal with both his humble and abundant circumstances. The Lord helped Paul to have the strength to look rightly at this worlds things. Just as it is in Christ where Paul found joy, it was in Christ that he found strength to have a right mindset towards his circumstances and to not be led by them to become self-sufficient or complain.
Let’s now read verses 14-19:
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.
After what Paul says in verses 11-13, he makes sure the Philippians understand that the did a good thing in sending money to aid him. Surely it was an encouragement to him while he was in such dire circumstances. The way Paul talks, it seems that it was as though they were there with him joining in his work and his imprisonment. As I stated earlier about this section, I think we see clearly that Paul’s main reason for rejoicing in this text is that this gift showed some important things about the devotions of the Philippians. First, it showed their love and concern for him and his work in the gospel. Their gift showed their love and concern for him even though they were so far away. And second, it showed their consistency in wanting to help the work of God. This is something that they have been doing from the beginning. They were asking Paul about ways in which they could help God’s work financially. Paul says that they met his needs “once and again” (NKJV). when they had an opportunity, they were consistent in doing what they could to meet the need! Here is a key point about the Philippians: They understood that they were saved by God’s generosity to be generous themselves in offering help to Paul so other souls can hear the Gospel that saved them.
Then in verse 17, Paul makes it clear. He is not seeking the gift for his welfare, but for THEIR welfare! Even though it was Paul receiving the benefits of the funds, he understood very well that the Philippians were not merely giving him money, but were offering sacrifices to God in their giving. Their works of love were sacrifices that were pleasing to God and added to their spiritual bank account. They were rich spiritually, even if it meant they would be poorer physically. Paul abounds because of their gift, but he says that it is their accounts that abound at the end of verse 17. They are reaping spiritual benefits when they humble themselves to make such offerings to God. And Paul shows in verse 19 that they are going to reap what they sowed. Just as they were willing to meet the needs of others, they were going to be taken care of by God. Paul may not have been able to repay the Philippians at any point, but Paul served a God who sure was able to bless them for their love of His work. Paul says, “my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” God is rich. He will never have a deficiency. He will never be unable to deliver on what He promises. His treasury is never depleted!
It is no surprise that after saying these things that Paul is moved to write what he does in verse 20:
Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen
God is deserving of praise for His work among the Philippians and the great immeasurable riches that He has in store for His people!
CONCLUSION
This will be the final time for the time being that you will hear this verse, and hopefully you have been impacted by looking at it within the original context it was given as I have been- - “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Paul gives us some valuable lessons about how we think about our needs being met and how we should think about our offerings for God’s work. Are you content in any situation that you find yourself in, or does your property and desire for more keep you from looking for opportunities to serve and being content? What kind of offerings have you been giving to God? Do you think He is pleased with them? Are you richer spiritually or physically? And for those who have been privileged with receiving support from God’s people, as a few here have, how do we view the gifts that have been given to us as we do the Lord’s work? Do you look at it merely from the perspective of your needs being met, or do you look at it from a heavenly perspective; seeing what those gifts teach you about the givers and how God views them? All of these questions I leave with you to examine yourself as we bring this lesson to a close.
[1] LA Mott, Thinking Through Philippians, pg108