Accept the Challenge: Philippians 4:14-16
“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.” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭
Ministry takes money. Food, travel, lodging and facility cost can add up. When these verses are examined, the people and church in Philippi became a consistent financial support for Paul and his ministry team.
if you go back and look at the historical record in Acts 16-17, Paul and his team left Philippi as a new church and headed to Thessalonica. They were in Thessalonica for only three weeks preaching the gospel. There was no time to find jobs or create an income to become self supportive. So how did they survive? Philippians 4:16 says those new believers back in Philippi sent regular gifts to help underwrite the spread of the gospel. That’s amazing!
Think about this, the new believers in the church back in Philippi stepped up and made giving and mission support a priority! They supported Paul and his team as they went to Thessalonica.
But wait, as Paul wrote this text, it was now at least ten years later and they were still underwriting Paul and the spread of the gospel even though he was in prison. Let me make two observations.
First, giving and stewardship should start right away in the spiritual journey of every believer. Don’t wait. You will never connect with the giving heart of God until you become a giver to His work.
I became a believer at age 16. I had a great work ethic and God led me to start giving right away. I made giving tithes and offerings a spiritual discipline immediately. Even after getting married and raising a family, we maintained the priority. We have discovered the faithfulness of God in taking care of us and our needs for over fifty years.
Why have I made giving such a priority in my walk with God? It is partly because I want Jesus to be my first passion. He taught that where your money is there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:20-21) I want Jesus Christ to be absolutely # 1 in my heart and life.
But we have been faithful Givers because Malachi 3:8-12 talks about robbing God by not giving. Then, in the context, God invites His people to test Him through faithful and consistent giving. He promises to be the abundant supplier for them. We accepted the challenge! For over fifty years God has been so faithful and good to us!
Second, gifts should be consistent and regular. Ten years later Paul was still receiving regular and faithful support from the church in Philippi. That enabled him and his growing team to devote full time to ministry. This may be part of the reason the church in Philippi was baptized in joy! Nothing compares to the joy of giving.
Let me encourage you to become a consistent giver to your church and to mission endeavors dedicated to the spread of the gospel around the world. Find a ministry that God is using and join them by faithfully giving and thereby make an impact for the glory of God. Accept the challenge!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone