A Cheerful Giver
Philippians 4:16-19 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Paul is closing out his letter to the Philippians. Their gift brought to him by Epaphroditus had been well received by Paul; this thank you letter was penned to encourage all of history to come. The encouragements Paul had penned throughout the letter had most likely stemmed through his heart to thank them for the gift. They had done so much for him, continued to support him when none of the other churches did. They were always there when he needed them most. Paul loved them, loved their service, loved their hearts for Christ that he saw in them. He knew that they possessed the love of Christ that he spent so much of his time teaching about. The spine of Paul’s letter is the joy of serving Christ, and the ability to do so in all situations.
I am seeing a small group of people exemplify this type of joy in serving at Hoskins church. Small groups that come in on Sundays, to a core group tirelessly committed to accomplishing the tasks required. All these people are doing this to show their love for Christ. A heart desiring to present a warm loving church, with warm loving people, to a community that needs Christ’s love and the examples of it. Taking your heart and gifts into the service of the Lord is what it all is about. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Matthew Henry put it well; “that you may be enabled to make such a good use of your worldly possessions that you may give an account of them with joy.’ It is not with any design to draw more from you, but to encourage you to such an exercise of beneficence as will meet with a glorious reward hereafter.”
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Have you ever considered that the more you do “for God”, the more you are indebted to Him? You can never out-give God; it will not happen. You do not give to God to expect to receive from God; he knows your heart and will not reward a deceitful one. You give out of the heart that desires to express your love for Him; you are drawn to service as a act of thanksgiving. 2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
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