Giving & Receiving

Introduction

Background to Book

-Today we are finishing up our study in the book of Philippians.

-We have seen what it looks like for a church to be empowered by Jesus Christ.

-In last week’s message we were challenged in the area of peace, both internally and externally.

-Paul addressed the church and division that was happening between two ladies. And he challenged them to be of the same mind. To put their focus on Jesus Christ.

-Then Paul talked to the church about rejoicing in all things. And the reason we can rejoice always, is b/c if we are a child of God then we can rejoice in our secured future in heaven.

-Then Paul talked about internal peace. He addressed the subject of anxiety and our thinking.

-The prescription that Paul gives to this church and to us to combat anxiety and worry is prayer and right thinking.

-Now we are entering into this last group of verses in the book and Paul is going to talk about the subject of giving and receiving.

TITLE: Giving and Receiving

PRAY

-In 2018, Harvard Business School undertook a first-of-it's-kind study of over 4000 millionaires in the United States asking them about how much money it would take to make them happy. Each millionaire was asked to report how much they currently had. How happy they were on a scale of 1-10.

-And then how much money they thought they would need to get to a "10" on the happiness scale. Shockingly, 26%, the largest response was assigned to "10x more," the largest possible option given. 24% chose "5x more" followed by 23% at "2x mores." Only 13% of respondents said they "currently have enough to be happy."

Perhaps most surprising of all, this answer was consistent no matter how much money a person had. This means that someone with 100 million was just as likely as the person with 10 million to select they needed "10x" the amount of money they had to be truly happy.

-In an interview with The Atlantic, lead researcher Michael Norton suggested that the problem for so many millionaires is comparison. So the question of happiness is not so much "Do I have enough?" but "Do I have more than those around me?"

-Norton concluded, "If a family amasses $50 million dollars but moves into a neighborhood where everyone has more money, they still won't be happy. All the way up the spectrum of wealth, basically everyone says [they’d need] two or three times as much to be perfectly happy."

When John D. Rockefeller was asked, "How much money is enough," He replied, "Just a little bit more."

Many have bought into a lie that more money and stuff is going to quench their thirst in their discontented lives, but it's never enough.

In this passage Paul is going to really challenge us in this area of giving and receiving.

He's going to encourage extravagant giving, and contentment in the Lord.

TRANSITION

This morning I want us to look at FOUR TRUTHS from this passage that teaches us about our relationship with material gain in regards to giving and receiving.

We Should Display Gratitude in What We Are Given

Philippians 4:10 KJV 1900

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

Paul is recalling how this church gave to his need at one point in his ministry. Evidently it was such a blessing to Paul that he wanted this church to know his sincere gratitude for it.

Here’s the interesting thing about Paul’s thank you note. He doesn’t write it in a way that would make this church feel obligated that they should give to his work again.

He points out the fact that they were in a position where they lacked opportunity. They lacked the means to give at that certain time.

So he wanted them to know that he understood that their heart was that his ministry would thrive and flourish even though they may not have been able to help like in the past.

It wasn’t like Paul was hinting to the church that he wanted more money. His note was genuine and authentic.

TRANSITION

This is a good reminder for us as well to be thankful when we are on the receiving end of giving.

To not just take for granted when someone shows us kindness or in this case gives to a need we have, but to display gratitude.

Time and again you see Paul writing to churches, and one of the first things he’ll do in his epistles is open up with thanksgiving.

Gratitude is humility on display. Paul gives a good example to follow when it comes to being thankful.

We Should Be Content with What We Already Have

Philippians 4:11–12 KJV 1900

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Paul expounds on what he mentions at the end of verse 10 how the church lacked resources to give him, and talks about how in whatever situation he found himself in, he could be content with what he had.

He could be content with plenty. No doubt as the Apostle Paul traveled, he would at times meet with wealthy believers, like Lydia in this church.

He would have times where people laid out the finest meal, and gave him the best bed to sleep in, and provided luxury in his travels.

But then Paul mentions the other extreme how he knew how to be content w/ little.

There were times he didn’t have much to eat. Times where the funds were low, and the bed was in a prison cell.

In both extremes Paul said he learned to be content. This is important to point out in what Paul says. He “learned” contentment.

We aren’t naturally born as content beings. We are born with desire and appetite for more and more.

We aren’t bent toward contentment. Society teaches us to be discontent. It’s something we can hardly escape.

When you’re driving you see billboards that scream for your attention. When you look at your phone there’s some new item that’s trying to grab your attention with every swipe.

If you turn on the tv, you’re met with more advertising. Even the places you visit every day have advertising.

While advertising isn’t evil itself, it does create within us a longing and desire for things that will never fully satisfy our longings.

The more you live this life, the more you hopefully learn that the things of this world will never create contentment within us.

Sometimes in order to learn that lesson, you have to walk through some pretty dark places that lead to emptiness.

-When we were in Jacksonville, we had moved from a situation that was adverse and difficult.

-Our church had some division going on and we were not in unity regarding the future of the church, so I felt it best to leave the church.

-While that was part of the reason I left, another part was trouble in my own soul in this area of discontentment.

-I wanted a bigger church. I wanted a bigger city. I wanted to be in a better spot financially. I wanted notoriety and recognition.

-Needless to say, I was discontent. So I moved to Jacksonville thinking that my pastor there was going to set me up with a church where I could have all those things I wanted.

-When I got there, my family and I lived in worse conditions than we had left. We traded a nice 6 bedroom parsonage for a 2 bedroom apartment in the hood.

-There our occupancy was in the thousands as our apartment complex was overrun with cockroaches.

-My wife was teaching online at the time and her office was the bathroom, b/c there was nowhere else in our tiny apartment.

-We only had one vehicle and one phone at the time so my wife was stuck at home while I went to work as a janitor.

-I had a nice home stripped away. A nice job stripped away. Comfort stripped away. And I thought, “what in the world did I do?”

-But in my discontentment, the Lord started to teach me. I would have never learned contentment, had I not been in a roach infested, hood life cleaning toilets and vomit all day.

-I read a book entitled “Awe” and it changed my outlook. Created things were never meant to be our pursuit, they are supposed to point us to the one who is Creator of all.

-Instead of finding contentment in things and people, I started viewing the things and people I did have as a way to worship God for His goodness in my life for what I already had.

Here’s the interesting thing, people who are discontent, often are anxious, the subject we talked about last week.

Because when you are discontent, you are constantly searching and seeking for something to bring lasting fulfillment and joy to your soul.

And you try to use people and things to soothe the war that’s going on in your mind, but nothing seems to help.

You turn to temporal things to bring temporary relief to your soul; you have to have more and more, like a drug.

It’s like you’re digging for treasure that has an eternal hole that never ends, and you never find what you’re looking for.

When you get that point of great disappointment with your discontentment you have a couple choices to make.

You can keep on doing the same thing expecting different results. Go can go down a different avenue you’ve never tried before, but it’ll end in the same disappointment.

Or, you can learn the key of contentment, like Paul is talking about here.

The key to contentment is found in a verse that we often don’t associate with contentment, but this is the direct application to the verse:

Philippians 4:13 KJV 1900

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

“All things” is in reference to those times of plenty and times of little, and everything in-between.

Christ is the one who gives us strength to be content in all things. The key to contentment is to find it in Jesus Christ.

The Greek word for strengtheneth in v. 13 is the word endynamuo. You can almost see the word dynamite there.

When we think of dynamite, we think of explosive power. So when we turn to Christ instead of finding contentment in this world, He gives us power. Strength.

The reason Paul could be content with plenty or with little, was because Paul was looking for contentment outside of those things.

Paul could care less about earthly possessions. His contentment was found in someone who never changes.

He found his contentment in the Lord.

Psalm 23:1 KJV 1900

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

God gives us exactly what we need. What you have right now in life, you can learn to be content with.

You don’t need a new relationship to be happy. You don’t need a new house to be happy. You don’t need a new vehicle to be happy.

You don’t need a new job to be happy. You don’t need more money to be happy. You don’t need more friends to be happy and contentment.

YOU NEED JESUS! If you have Him, and He has you, you can learn to be content.

Hebrews 13:5 KJV 1900

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Discontentment comes from covetousness. Contentment comes from Christ.

Where are you trying to find contentment today? Are you looking for people and things to do for you what only Jesus can do for you?

Have you bought into this lie that more stuff can bring fulfillment and joy?

It’s not bad to have stuff, but it is dangerous when stuff has a hold of you. Is your life wrapped up in the temporal or in the eternal?

We should display gratitude in what we are given.

We should be content with what we already have.

We Should Use What We Have to Worship the Lord

The things that God has given to us should be used in a way to worship Him, and minister to others.

This is evidenced in the giving of the Philippian church. They used their resources in a way that furthered the gospel.

As they gave, this was an act of worship that was well-pleasing to the Lord.

God Blesses Our Giving

Philippians 4:14–17 KJV 1900

Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

The motive Paul had in talking to this church about their giving of resources to his ministry wasn’t so he could get more money or to make the church feel guilty. In v. 17 he says his desire is that their would be fruit to their account.

That because they gave, that giving would produce something.

Now, some people get this misconception of a prosperity gospel here thinking that if they give to the church then they’re going to end up being rich. If you sow $20 then it’s going to turn into $200. That’s not at all what Pauls teaching.

He’s speaking of spiritual blessing. As they gave to the work of the ministry, Paul’s work could move forward and souls could be changed and transformed by the gospel. Their physical money went far in meeting spiritual needs.

In v. 10 Paul, recognizes the fact that their gift that they gave is something that continues to flourish even though the resources had probably been spent up by that point.

Here’s one of the cool things about giving to the Lord’s work. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.

When you invest in God’s work, the amount you give has no limitations on how far it can reach.

It can help a missionary in a remote part of the world. It can help keep a light bill paid so we can have church and people can hear about Jesus.

What you give can be used in outreach and people can come to know Jesus and spend eternity in heaven because you gave.

People’s lives can be turned around and family’s restored because you give. When you give, that giving flourishes.

It’s like a seed in the ground that sprouts up and produces fruit. When you give to God’s work, there’s no telling how God can use it. That’s exciting!

To know that we can use things that we have physically and give them so that we can make an impact spiritually.

So as we give in this act of worship, God blesses that giving.

God Is Pleased with Our Giving

Philippians 4:18 KJV 1900

But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

As these Philippians gave to the Lord’s work, it was like the aroma of sweet perfume rising to the heavens. God looked at the giving of His people and He was pleased by it.

It’s neat to think, that when we give to the Lord, be it our money, our time, other resources, He can be pleased with what we are giving.

2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV 1900

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

God loves it when we give to His work from a cheerful heart. Not because we have to or feel obligated to, but because we get to. Because we understand the significance of giving and how God can use it.

Let me just take a moment and commend our church in this area. We have a very giving church. We’re planning on having a quick business meeting next Sunday to just catch you up to speed with the finances, and in the last few months our church has increased in its giving.

Here’s the really cool thing about that, this is the first time I’ve preached on the subject of giving in a long time. If you’ve been here a while you know we’re not up here every week begging for money.

When a church is giving consistently without having to be told to, that shows it’s in your heart. And where your treasure is there your heart will be also.

So thank you for showing where your heart is and investing in the work of God in this place. God is pleased with that and so keep it up!

When you start to give, you’ll find that really it is a great benefit for you. You can see the people being reached and lives being changed because of your direct contribution.

We should use what we have to worship the Lord.

We Should Trust in God to Provide What We Need

Philippians 4:19–20 KJV 1900

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Here is yet again another verse that can be isolated and taken out of context. This verse does not promise a life of ease and comfort. It doesn’t mean God is going to give you everything you want.

Remember, the one writing this just said that at times in his life he had little to nothing to be content with.

This verse says that God will provide for all your needs, not necessarily all your greeds. You may consider something a need, while actually it’s a want.

When it comes to things like that we need to run back to this verse and remember that God will provide what we need. While the direct context of this verse is in regards to giving and receiving, be reminded and encouraged that God will provide more than just financial means.

He will provide strength, joy, encouragement, what you need He will supply and it’s by the glorious riches of Christ.

I’ve found this to be true, and this is something that helps when it comes to contentment, a lot of the things we are searching for in this world, we already have in Jesus.

If you need a friend, He’s a friend that’s closer than a brother. If you need encouragement, He’s the lifter of our head. If you need riches, He’s the pearl of great price. If you need forgiveness, He’s our Savior.

If you need comfort, He’s given us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. If you need someone to listen to you, He’s a counselor. If you need strength, He’s the one who gives us strength.

All you need is found in the riches of Christ. When we look at Philippians 4:19 I think sometimes we miss out on the bigger picture. Sure He can make sure we have food in our bellies and a house over our heads.

But we leave out that last little part, according to His riches in glory by Christ. These are Christ’s riches. These are spiritual blessings. These are riches that will give us the strength to be content.

When you experience what this passage is talking about, and you give gratitude for what you have, you are content in the Lord, you are giving to the Lord, and your needs are supplied.

Your focus isn’t going to be on monetary gain or temporal things, your focus is going to be on eternal things. Glorious riches that only come from Christ. Those are far greater than any greed you might have.

TRANSITION

Then Paul closes out the book with this conclusion:

Philippians 4:21–23 KJV 1900

Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Paul inserts subtly for this church to continue living and giving the gospel. To salute the saints that are of Caesar’s household. Those Romans who are now converted. They are a reminder that God is at work in hearts and that He can continue that work if they will faithfully give the gospel.

Conclusion

-Imagine an eight-year-old boy playing with a toy truck and then it breaks. He is disconsolate and cries out to his parents to fix it. Yet as he's crying, his father says to him, "A distant relative you've never met has just died and left you one hundred million dollars."

-What will the child's reaction be? He will just cry louder until his truck is fixed. He does not have enough cognitive capacity to realize his true condition and be consoled.

There's a lot of Christians same way. They lack spiritual capacity to realize all they have in Jesus.

They have such a discontented, disappointed life, while at the same time trying to seek pleasures from world.

And the Scriptures are calling out today saying, "you have innumerable blessings found in Christ. Find what you've been longing for right here."

The main theme of Philippians is Jesus. This is what a Jesus-empowered church looks like. May we stay focused on Him.