150215 Fruit That Increases

Philippians 4:14-20 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. ¹⁵ And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. ¹⁶ Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. ¹⁸ I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

In some ways the letter to the Philippians is the most “happy” letter in the New Testament. The Philippians have been firm supporters of the apostle Paul in his missionary journeys. The church in Philippi was only a few weeks old when Paul left there and went to Thessalonica. The Philippians helped to support Paul as he went on his way in service to the Lord Jesus. He commended them for their giving heart. Not because he wanted more from them but because he wanted them to be blessed. Remember, according to Jesus, it is more blessed to give than to receive.

We forget sometimes that when we give of our finances, or resources, that we are giving to God not to man. My father had the gift of giving. I have no idea how much money he gave to ministries and missionaries during his life. One day I asked him if he ever made an effort to find out exactly how the money he gave is being used. He replied that he was much more concerned about what he kept than what he gave. He told me that once he had given a gift the responsibility for the money was transferred from him to the person or ministry that received it. He said that he gave what he believed God wanted him to and from that point forward it was God’s problem. Paul could see that the Philippian church, in supplying his needs, was really giving to the Lord himself. He saw that…

Their gift to Paul — a sacrifice to God. Turn with me to Hebrews 13:16.  Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

The writer of Hebrews understood exactly what Paul was talking about. He commended the recipients of his letter to be careful to do good and share what they had. They could not give what they did not have but they could give out of what they have. And when a person gives according to what they have it is pleasing to God. I usually connect the word sacrifice with giving more than we seem to be able to afford. But the truth is everything offered to God is a sacrifice. Just as the Old Testament saint would bring a lamb, or a goat, to the priest it was offered to God and burned in the flames of the altar. In fact we are to give more than our material resources. We are to give ourselves “as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,” (Romans 12:1) and when we do our needs become God’s problem and…

God will supply. Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 9:10-11. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

Everything that we have comes from God. In this passage “seed” is God’s provision for our maintenance. In our modern world the “seed” is usually in the form of money. We get confused sometimes and think that somehow we produced that money and of course we did work for it but we must remember that God supplied it. It matters very little who signed your check. It is God who provides it. And he supplies it for a particular purpose. God will supply all our needs so that we have food on the table (and we should offer thanks for it) and housing and clothing as well as the little extras in life that might make us more comfortable. Then God says that he would provide this for us and multiply it so that we can sow it into the lives of others. He says that we will be enriched in every way so that we can be generous in every way. God doesn’t have a printing press in heaven that turns out money which he drops on his people. If he did it would be counterfeit! His “printing press” is the paychecks of his people who are able to give to the needs of others and that will cause them to praise God for their supply. When we face a need we need to seek God’s way of providing it. We should not be anxious or troubled about our needs because God has promised to meet…

Every need of ours. Turn with me to Matthew 6:31-33.  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

In this beautiful passage from the Sermon on the Mount Jesus shows us the path to provision. Someone who has put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ should not be anxious about the everyday things that are needed. One of the things that should separate the church from the world is the ability to trust God for our resources. Our responsibility is to seek the kingdom of God first. If you are born again you have his righteousness that is part of his grace gift to his children. Since we have the kingdom and his righteousness he will give us all things that we need. He will do this, not according to our ability but…

According to his riches. Turn with me to Colossians 1:16. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

We must remember that he is the creator of all things. There is nothing in heaven, the heavens, or the earth that is not the result of God’s creative force. He has the right of ownership of everything. Even the resources of the ungodly belong to God. Everything was created by him and everything was created for him! When we talk about his riches we are talking about wealth beyond the imagination. Resources that are more than we can ever consider. Through the psalmist God said that he was not in need of anything because every beast of the forest belong to him and the cattle on a thousand hills are his. Not only that, but he said that everything that moves in the fields is his. (Psalm 50:10-11) God has all the resources necessary to meet all the needs of his people.

One problem is that we get confused about what our needs are! He promises to provide our needs not our greeds. The next time you have a need that is not being met spend a little time with God in prayer about whether or not you really need it. If it is a real need then it will be provided in God’s time and God’s way. All of the resources that we need God has…

In glory in Christ Jesus. Turn with me to 1 Peter 1:3-5. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Our salvation includes an ownership of an inheritance that is reserved for us in heaven. I believe that God’s heavenly resources include our financial needs. No, I’m not saying that God has money in heaven I’m saying that he has, in Christ Jesus, people who will provide our resources. Usually we look to the wealthy and forget that everybody can give something. When Paul wrote to the Philippians he was commending them for their giving to him. They were sharing in his trouble. In fact from the very beginning of his ministry in Europe the Philippians had been giving to his needs.

They were not a wealthy people! They did not hold back because of that instead they deprived themselves in order to get the gospel to the rest of Greece. They were so grateful to God for their salvation that they gave more than they could afford. Now God is going to supply every need of theirs according to his riches in Christ Jesus…

Because they gave out of their poverty. Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 8:1-7. We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, ² for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. ³ For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, ⁴ begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— ⁵ and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. ⁶ Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. ⁷ But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

The churches of Macedonia include, but may not be limited to, the Philippian church. They had two things going for them. They had an abundance of joy and extreme poverty. That combination is something that God is able to use for his glory. When Paul went to Thessalonica, and on to Corinth and Athens, he was being supplied with funds from Macedonia. It seems from this passage of Scripture that Paul had tried to turn aside their giving because they had such great need of their own. So they begged him earnestly for the favor of allowing them to give.

I remember once when I was a young child at church with a nickel that I had brought for the offering. I was sitting in the back of the church and when the ushers passed the plate they did not come to me. I still recall the pain I felt at not being able to participate in that offering. I wanted to give. I am sure that my five cents would not affect the ability of the church to minister. After the service I took the money and put it in the offering plate. No one wants to be ignored or rejected. Every gift is of value and often the accumulated “small gifts” will make up the need meeting. It is not just the rich who give. God gives resources to the poor so that they can give as well and be blessed. And when we give according to our ability it is God who should get the glory not us.

Too often people seem to think that the ability to give for the needs of others is reserved for the rich. Paul wants the Philippians to know that giving out of their poverty always results in God taking responsibility for their needs. Today we need to apply these truths to our own lives. Since God gave us his Son we should be willing to give back to him all that we have. Tithing is a good beginning but legalistic tithing is not what God wants. God wants everything we have to belong to him. We are simply caretakers and need to recognize God’s ownership of all things. As we practice a giving heart God will meet our needs. Do you have a need? In the words of our Lord Jesus, “Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38) Let God supply your needs! Don’t keep struggling in your own strength! Put your faith in God for salvation and then for all your needs!

All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.