Philippians 4:10-20 – “10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength. 14Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 18I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 20To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Philippians is one of four books known as the “Prison Epistles” (Prison Letters), the other are Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon. They were written around the same time, when the Apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome awaiting his “appeal to Caesar.” (Acts 25:11)
The theme of Philippians is summed up in one word, “Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4 reads, “4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Followers of Jesus have everything to rejoice about. A believer’s lifestyle is designed for rejoicing. Yet people wonder, “How can you rejoice when so many situations are sad? How can you rejoice when life has become more stressful? How can you rejoice when human misery is increasing?”
Paul reveals the possibility of such a lifestyle is achieved by being content in every circumstance and faithfully serving in every situation. He concludes by declaring, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
Failing to have a lifestyle of rejoicing is not about “ability” but about “desire;” not about “I can’t” but “I won’t.” Rejoicing is a matter of choice.
Just as rejoicing is a choice, another decision needs to be made. What am I going to do with finances? The answer impacts the ability to have a rejoicing lifestyle. A direct connection exists between joy and giving, between rejoicing and financial stewardship.
When going to a doctor for a check-up, they poke, prod and press various places, all the while asking, “Does this hurt? How about this?” If you cry out in pain, one of two things has happened. Either the doctor pushed too hard, or, more likely, there’s something wrong. The doctor says, “We’d better do some tests; it’s not suppose to hurt there!”
The same thing is true when talking about money, either too much pressure is applied or, more likely, something is wrong. You may need to go to the Great Physician; it is not suppose to hurt when financial stewardship is given attention.
A friend asked in a Sunday gathering for everyone to write down a current struggle. He compiled the responses and developed a list of ten top things people are wrestling with. In a weekly series he gave a Biblical response, starting from the last and going to the first. The tenth struggle was “discouragement,” the ninth was “worry.” In his unscientific survey the greatest strain was “finances.”
As it pertains to the provisions of life; “… my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) Note the key elements to having a life in which God meets needs.
Needs being met is provisional.
The believers in Philippi gained a “renewed” interest in Paul’s situation. Their concern for Paul was revived. This gave them an opportunity to help. Would they respond to his needs? Would they join his efforts? Since they were sensitive to God’s work and made an effort to meet the need, God would give special attention to their needs.
Reviving speaks of a heart condition, not a financial situation. Failing to give is not about money but about attitude. You can always give something, great or small, according to what you have. Giving is a decision each individual must make.
Luke 6:38 is a great promise: “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.” This is not about “give” to “get.” Stewardship is not a heavenly get rich quick plan. Biblical giving is not the Believers way to earthly wealth. If you give out of what you have then an abundant reaping will follow. You cannot give what you do not have.
A poor woman gave a small amount of money and, yet, gave more than others who had wealth. (Luke 21: 1-4) Jesus gave only a little attention to the amount and more attention to what was available. Are offerings measured by how much is given or by how much is left? People generally measure by what is given. God may measure by the proportion of available funds.
Offerings come from the resources entrusted to you by God. You can never be overly generous. No one can ever out-give Him.
God watches over your interests. When giving as unto the Lord expect great dividends, one of which is a rejoicing heart. The Bible speaks of being a “cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7), which translates “giving like you are crazy.”Ask yourself, “Can friends, relatives, bankers and the IRS accuse me of being crazy by the way I give?”
God’s attention to your needs corresponds to your treatment of His work. God provides funds for ministry through His people. When you become a joint-participate in the work of the Kingdom, God notices.
Everyone should faithfully and regularly add to their heavenly depository. God will recompense far better than anyone. His resources are limitless and He does everything in a “glorious” way.
What is the intent of your giving?
Are you giving to get or getting to give?
What are you doing with His tithe, the first 10% of all income? Do you tip or tithe?
Statistics show the average church attendee gives 2%. In other words, a token! It is like giving gratuity, without paying the bill.
King David, the great worshiper, said, “I will not give to the Lord that which cost me nothing.” Is there something lacking in your worship experience? It could be connected to your giving habit.
What is worship costing you? When was the last time you went without something, you sacrificed, to advance the Lord’s work? Sacrificial giving is part of spiritual living.
Most churches live below their giving potential. This harms both the individual believer and the faith community. His tithe is given out of obedience, as a testimony of Lordship. Offerings are given out of love, as a testimony of devotion.
The tithe belongs to the Lord. This is the minimum that should be given. Offerings demonstrate an additional commitment to spreading His story.
The tithe goes to the general work of the Kingdom (undesignated). What is given to a specific work of the Kingdom (designated) comes out of passion and burden. Glen Cole, one of my early mentors, used to say, “We need a revival of love that impacts our loot.”
A benefit of faithfulness is blessing and provision. “7The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.” (Deuteronomy 2:7)
How does God supply?
God provides the best way. Given the situation, what is best for you and for everyone concerned?
One thing is consistent: God will not raise lazy children. “10For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’ 11We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12)
God causes everything to work together for good. (Romans 8:28) If we do not attempt to prescribe a solution to God, if we do not try to box Him in, He meets needs in a variety of ways. In one or another or a combination of ways, God will supply.
Three major avenues are regularly used when He helps people in their financial situation.
Through opportunities! The way most financial problems are solved is by work. We feel best when we have earned money instead of received money. We have divinely-given skills that, among other reasons, take care of personal needs.
Through people! The Lord sometimes places a need upon someone’s heart and they generously help you. This is a humbling experience. We are to graciously accept gifts as coming from the Lord. He blesses them as they act in obedience to His leading.
Through the supernatural! The Lord is a God of miracles. He supernaturally meets needs. Scriptures reveal some divine healing occurred because the recipient could not afford medical treatment. God also miraculously prolongs the usefulness of equipment that should have given up the ghost a longtime ago. His hands are on possessions we dedicate to Him.
When God supplies a need it will always be honest. Finding stolen money is not God’s provision. This is a test of character. Receiving too much change from a cashier is a test of character. Finding a billfold full of money in a parking lot is a test of character.
In many small towns people commonly leave their car engine running while checking their mail in the Post Office. If someone needed a car and came upon a vehicle with its engine running, would this be God supplying the need? Of course not! The idea sounds foolish but, unfortunately, some think this way. His supply will always be honest and respectable in order that He might be glorified. All provisions will be able to bring glory to God.
Philippians give a tremendous promise: If responsive to the needs of His Kingdom, if believe it is more blessed to give then receive, if not trying to obligate God to do something in return, then there will be no deficiency of provisions. God will supply through opportunity, through people and through the supernatural any need, according to His glorious riches.
