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The Grace of Giving (Philippians 4:14-20)
It was a great evening and I met some friends I haven't seen for a long
time. A local church had been involved in some practical work for a children's
charity in Kenya. The evening was organised to show us with pictures and
words what two teams of Christians had achieved over four weeks. You can
learn more about the project
here. We were all impressed, entertained and challenged and we learned
three things about giving.
Giving Affects Others
Paul writes:
"It was good of you to share in my troubles.
Moreover, 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; for even
when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was
in need."
The gratitude of the orphaned children in Kenya was obvious and their
joy inspirational. Their lives were so much better, all for the efforts
of a handful of Christians who stood with them in their plight. Their
joy reflected the joy of Paul in his opening lines to the Philippians:
"I thank God every time I remember you.
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your
partnership in the gospel from the first day until now..." (1:3-5)
As we partner others in the gospel we help and encourage, enable and equip.
Giving Affects the Giver
Writes Paul:
"Not that I am looking for a gift, but
I am looking for what may be credited to your account."
Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
"Remember this: whoever sows sparingly,
will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously"
(2 Cor.9:6, c.f. Gal.6:7-10)
Paul is not implying a direct quid pro quo here (this is not prosperity
teaching), but giving does have a direct bearing on spiritual growth.
Paul has already written about giving as a two-way process, "the
matter of giving and receiving". He knows
that when a gift is given both the giver and the receiver are blessed.
Jesus spoke of, "storing up treasures in
heaven" (Mt.6:19-24) and, "It is more blessed to give than to receive",
and my Christian friends had clearly realised the truth of it.
Giving Affects God
"I am fully supplied, now that I have received
from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an
acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God"
We often call our giving in church the offering and here Paul uses the
language of the temple to describe the Philippian's gifts as, "a
fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God".
Like incense burnt on the altar, or an animal brought as a sacrificial
gift, so our practical service in giving is "a
pleasing sacrifice to God". God is served
by our service to others and giving is our acceptable sacrifice.
Finally, Paul promises, "My God will meet
all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus",
and so giving comes full circle as God supplies our needs according to
his wisdom. God is as concerned for our needs as we are for others and
them for us. Could we imagine for a moment that we know how to give and
God not know?
Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, writes of "the
grace of giving"(2 Cor.8:7). Our giving is not just financial,
although that is important, but includes friendship, time, hospitality,
encouragement, prayer, practical help etc. Perhaps we should reflect this
week on the far-reaching effect of even the smallest kindnesses and resolve
to give with a cheerful heart in big ways and small.