Philippians 4:10
I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me. (Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.) (Phil. 4:10)
I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me. (Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.)
Paul appreciated this church's contribution to him. They thought about him. They were concerned about him. They did their part to help Paul materially, just as he has helped them spiritually.
Similarly, we see some women whose lives were impacted by Jesus, contributing their materials.
Sometime afterward he went on through towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and disabilities: Mary (called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Cuza (Herod’s household manager), Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources. (Luke 8:1-3)
When it comes to God, He gives us everything. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him (James 1:17), and we respond with gratitude.
He even said, if I were hungry, I would not tell you because the world and all it contains belongs to me (Psalm 50:12).
The conclusion that we come to from this verse is that the church did a good thing and brought great joy to Paul.
But Paul did not just have a great joy; he had great joy in the Lord.
What happened meant more to him than the details of the contribution. The contribution was indicative of something more profound, of the work of God in them (Philippians 1:6).
This Philippian church had a concern, and they did something about it when they had the opportunity.
Elsewhere, John warned against the opposite attitude.
We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians. But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth. (1 John 3:16-18)
Both Jesus and Paul spoke about the benefits of giving.
- Jesus said Give, and it will be given to you (Luke 6:38). This means that certain things you receive would be as a result of your giving.
- And Paul quoted Jesus as saying that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). In other words, giving is inherently a blessing.
While the giving in those two passages can mean more than material, it definitely includes it.
But what we do not see is the compulsion to give. And even regarding the church in Corinth, Paul preferred to work with his own hands while he was among them (2 Corinthians 11:8-12).
Paul said he chose that path so as not to hinder the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:12).
That puts the issue of money into perspective, even as Jesus warned us not to be lovers of money.
No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” The Pharisees (who loved money) heard all this and ridiculed him. But Jesus said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in men’s eyes, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly prized among men is utterly detestable in God’s sight. (Luke 16: 13-16)
So the Pharisees clearly exhibited the love of money, but they justified themselves before men. That means they make it seem as if whatever they were doing was the right thing. But Jesus said that what God, who knows the heart, thinks is more important, not what man thinks.
Did the Pharisees equate or justify serving money with serving God? Maybe.
But the church in Philippi had a different heart.
Their motivation for sending things to Paul was pure. It was because they were concerned.
It was not a gimmick.
People with true knowledge of God do not use giving as a gimmick; they give because the opportunity presents itself to express their concern.
But it is not good when people fan the flame of greed/covetousness in people so that they can give.
Then someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But Jesus said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator between you two?” Then he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:13-15)
Jesus said greed is a lurking temptation.
And next, he told a parable about a man who was rich in material possessions but not towards God, to show the need to keep things in perspective.
From Addiction to Freedom by Favour Oyinloye
