Restoring the Joy

A Study of the Book of Philippians

Sermon # 13 

“The Secret of Joyful Giving”

Philippians 4:10, 14-19 

        Today we are going to finish a series that we have been calling “Restoring the Joy.” This study has taken us through the book of Philippians and I hope that it has helped you to better understand how to live a live of real joy. We are going to finish this series by looking at “The Secret of Joyful Giving.” I know that some you wish that we would never talk about money in the church, but unless you live a life of generosity you will not have the joy that God wants you to have in life. Most of us when we think about joy in connection with money, think about the joy that it will bring when we get it, but the greatest joy of money is when we give it away for a greater purpose.

        And although I may not like to talk about money and some of you may not like to hear about money in church, an examination of the New Testament will reveal that in Matthew, Mark, and Luke - 1 out of every 6 verses deals with money. Of the 29 parables Christ told, 16 deal with a person and his money. Someone has counted over 2,300 references to money and possessions in the Word of God.

What I want to share with you this morning is not rocket science, anyone can understand these truths. You may not like it, but you can understand it. Buildings cannot be built and paid for without money. Facilities cannot be maintained without money. The utilities can not be paid without money. Staff can not be hired and supported without money.

It takes money to sustain a ministry and when his people are faithful and obedient, it is sufficient to meet the financial needs of the church. And if every church member gave according to God’s plan there would be nothing we could not accomplish for the lack of money. But alas, that is where the difficulty lies.

George Barna in his research on giving in churches today (2000) found some interesting things, some may surprise and some may not.

• More people claim to tithe than actually do!
• Of all the people who claim to be born-again Christians one-fourth of them give no money to the church in 2000.
• Of all people who give donations only 3-5% gave a tithe of their income.
• The average donation by adults per week to a local church is $12.50 or $648.00 a year.

[George Barna. Stewardship. Barna Online Research. - www.barnaorg]

        Yet God has a perfect plan for the funding of His ministry here on earth – it is called the tithe.

We are called upon to demonstrate our trust regularly by giving God 10% of our income each time we receive our paycheck. We need to recognize that God does not need our income. When we prepare our tithe, whether weekly or monthly (depending on how often you get paid), we prepare for worshipping God. Our tithe is an expression of our trust in God’s provision and our total surrender to God.

The last book of the Old Testament God gives a command and a promise (Malachi 3:10): “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there will be food in My house And try me now in this, Says the Lord of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out such a blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.”  You can test God in this area whether you have been a Christian for many years or only a few days.

John Haggai in his book, "Winning Over Worry" says, "There are those who would try to brainwash people into believing that the responsibility of the tithe was only in force during the days of the (O.T.) law …. They will tell you that Malachi 3:10 has no relevance for today because it is in the Old Testament…..The same people who say that tithing was for those under the law turn to (O.T.) Psalm 23 for comfort, to Psalm 32 for guidance, to Job for wisdom and comfort in trials and tribulation, to Elijah for a pattern of prayer, and to other Old Testament passages for leadership…To be consistent, these people who would throw out Malachi 3:10 ought to also throw out John 3:16 because it, too, was spoken prior to the time that redemption was completed by our Lord on the Cross of Calvary. Tithing predated the law. Abraham tithed. The law of the tithe is not an Israelite law. It is a fundamental and unalterable law of God. It is still in force. That is why tithing is commended by Jesus in Matthew 23:23 ... God never repealed the fundamental law of tithing; grace has not annulled it, time has not altered it.”

        Now I want to turn to Paul letter to the Philippians 4:10 and see what Paul says about “The Joy of Giving.”  

“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity….(14) Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. (15) Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. (16) 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.” 

        The Philippians gift which reached Paul cheered his heart. He “rejoiced.... greatly” that their care for him has “flourished again” the word “flourished” literally means “bloomed or blossomed.” He thanks the Philippians enthusiastically for their financial gift, but he does so without hinting that he’d really like them to send more.

We know from Phil. 2:25 that the church in Philippi sent one of their members, a man named Epaphroditus, to Paul’s prison in Rome with a gift of money. Paul was suffering. They wanted to help him.  When Epaphroditus arrived, carrying into Paul’s cell that bag of Roman coins, a token of the Phllippian’s love - and this was not the first time they had surprised Paul with financial support - he was deeply touched.  And now he writes a “thank you” to these good-hearted people.  But he’s put the subject of the money off until last. He didn’t want to give the impression, grateful as he was, that he perceived these people with dollar signs in his eyes. So finally, he gets round to his thanks here at the close of the letter.

When Paul speaks of their “sharing” in verse fourteen it suggests sharing or the giving of financial support. Paul wanted to thank the people of the church at Philippi for their generous giving, and as  he does so he mentions a problem that the people had. The problem was a lack of opportunity. Perhaps they did not know where Paul was for a time, or they did not have a way to get the gift to Paul. But whatever the reason, Paul says they lacked opportunity (v. 13). We however, don’t lack opportunity this morning. We are not at a loss as to how to get the money to right place. Nor do we lack opportunity because of our great poverty. No matter how grave your financial condition may seem this morning none of us has experienced the kind of poverty that the early Christian’s faced.

After acknowledging their lack of opportunity to give he accepts that receiving their gift has given him a sense of accountability. He acknowledged that he had previously received their support in Thessalonica (v. 16). As Charles Swindoll says, “The whole subject of finances and fund raising and remaining pure, humble and grateful in the handling of money is a heavy weight hanging on the thin wires of integrity and accountability.”  [Charles Swindoll. Laugh Again. (Dallas: Word, 1991) p. 222]

Some people are reticent about their giving because some ministries have failed make themselves accountable. That the books are always open at First Baptist for any one to examine, and why there is a quarter financial report made available to everyone.

Now I want to really get down to business because in verses 17-19 Paul sets forth a theology of Christian giving in three remarkable statements.  

First, Paul Says, Our Giving Bears Interest! (v. 17)

In verse seventeen Paul lays out what should be the spirit of every Christian fund-raiser: “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.” When he say he seeks “fruit” for their account the term translated “fruit” literally means “interest.” “I seek interest that will accrue to you.” They were investing in the work of God through the Apostle Paul and they would receive a return on their investment. In other words, Paul’s real heart-interest was not what he could get from them but what advantage they would realize from their giving.  Paul rejoices in their generosity, because they’re laying up treasures in heaven for themselves.      

J.L. Kraft the founder of Kraft Cheese Corporation who gave approximately 25% of his enormous income to Christian causes for many years said, “The only investment I ever made which has paid consistently increasing dividends is the money that I have given to the Lord.” 

        Paul says your Giving Bears Interest you can count on it and…. 

Second, Paul says Our Giving Is Worship!  (v. 18)     

           The end of verse eighteen interprets the ultimate significance of the Philippians’ financial gift.  It was “a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. He uses the imagery of the Old Testament sacrifices to show the Philippians the real value of their gift.  It was worship.   Their money did not merely travel from Philippi to Rome; it rose from earth to heaven, and God was pleased. Here is the essence of Christian giving.  Beyond the supply of human need, more than “supporting the church,” Christian giving is worship, offered up as a pleasing aroma in his presence. When you give your offering to God through First Baptist Church you are not primarily giving to First Baptist or to the pastor. You are giving an offering of worship that Paul says is “pleasing to God.” Giving through the local church can be one of the most rewarding parts of being a part of a church family, but many people don’t know the joy that can come from sacrificing time and money for a higher cause.

        We really need to consider that what we offer to God is an expression of who we are and what we value most in life. If you want to know what I truly believe and what I am most committed to, you do not have to ask me – just examine my calendar. Notice where I spend my time and take a look at my check book, look at where my money is going, look at what I am investing my money in. John Piper in his book “Desiring God” writes, “Money is the currency of the kingdom of God. What you do with it – desire to do with it – can make or break your happiness forever.”

          Paul says that Your Giving Is Worship and ….. 

Third, Paul says As We Give We Can Trust God to Supply All Our Needs. (v. 19)

 Verse nineteen promises, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  We often quote this verse, but how many times have you heard it taught that this promise is given in the context of our giving to God.  

Paul gives us a strong assurance, of God’s matching-gift plan.   In other words, “I can’t pay you back, but my God will. You have met my every need out of your poverty, and my God will meet your every need out of his riches.”  

God is giving us a glorious promise here, but it can be misunderstood. 

First, Paul is not saying that generous Christians will never suffer need. After all, he’s just told us that sometimes he has to go without (verse 12). If you give $100 to the offering today, God may not give you $1000 next week. The truth is that you may have to live on $100 less, but God will meet your needs and supply you with joy and contentment.  

We need to change our thinking from the idea that, “This dollar I’m going to spend on some earthly thing - I’ll end up with something to show for that.  But this other dollar I’m giving to God - this is the last I’ll ever see of it!”  No, that’s the only dollar you ever will see again. God recycles our giving into his rewards, as he sees fit.

Second, Paul is not saying that it is just any god that will supply your needs, because he did not say “a god” nor did he say “the god in whom you happen to believe.” He is not referring to Allah or gods of the the New Age Movement. Paul is referring to the One true God, the God of the Old Testament who revealed himself in the person of Jesus Christ. That is “the” God that will provide for your needs. All other “gods” are imaginary, they are nothing.

Allan Gardner, missionary to Tierra del Fuego, was sailing to his work there when the ship had to anchor for the whole winter in a cold and bitter bay.  The supply vessel never arrived, and everyone on board his ship, Gardner included, perished in that desolate place.  And yet, the last entry in his journal, written only hours before he died, tells us, “This ship is a very Bethel to my soul.  I am beyond all power of description happy.”  But let me ask you a question today, “What if your supply ship never arrives?  What if your circumstances continue just as they are now for the rest of your earthly days?  What if you never get that check in the mail, or that apology, or release from your physical affliction, or that better life?  

In Closing Let Me Ask You Just Three Questions. 

1. How Well Is Your Giving Bearing Interest? 

2. How Well Does Your Giving Reflect Your Worship?