Giving Brings Joy

October 27, 2024

FBC Baxley

am service

Lawanna Johnson, Special offering this morn., JOY group____________________________________

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Sermon: Giving Brings Joy

Text: Philippians 4:10-20

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.

15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

-Pray

Five Points:

Giving Revives Our Care

Giving Cultivates Contentment

Giving Creates a Partnership in Ministry

Giving Produces Spiritual Rewards

Giving Grows Our Confidence in God

The Cooperative Program is the financial fuel Southern Baptists use to fulfill the Great Commission.

As each church gives what they can, added together, the missions and ministries of the Southern Baptist Convention and respective state conventions are able to accomplish big things for God.

It’s easy to teach about missions by using our missionaries and what they do — it’s concrete, has a face, and we can even practice it in our own communities. It’s easily relatable to children.

But the Cooperative Program is the way Southern Baptist churches advance the gospel at home and around the world.

If our children are not taught why it works, how it works, and how their church is part of it, there is a risk it could become obsolete. And missions will suffer for it.

Introduction:

In Philippians 4, Paul shares the secret of joyful giving.

The Philippians, having generously supported Paul while he was imprisoned, demonstrated how giving can be a source of great joy.

Throughout this letter, Paul mentions joy nearly 20 times, showing how giving is intricately linked to Christian happiness.

Have you discovered the joy in giving?

Many view giving as a burden, but when done with a joyful heart, it transforms both the giver and the recipient.

We will see this morning how giving brings joy, rooted in Scripture, as we look at Paul's message.

1. Giving Revives Our Care (v. 10)

“10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.”

Paul commends the Philippians for their renewed concern for him.

The word translated “renewed” (Greek: anathallo) paints the picture of a plant that was once barren, springing back to life with fresh growth.

Their giving was not just financial; it was a demonstration of their revived care and love for Paul.

When we give, it shifts our focus from ourselves to others.

Generosity revives our concern for the needs of those around us.

It’s a tangible way to show that we care.

Illustration:

A wealthy man sought advice from a wise counselor. The counselor pointed to a window and asked, “What do you see?”

The man replied, “I see people.” The counselor then showed him a mirror and asked again, “What do you see?”

The man replied, “I see myself.”

The counselor explained, “Both are made of glass, but once silver is added, you only see yourself.”

Giving removes the “silver” and lets us see others.

2. Giving Cultivates Contentment (v. 11)

“11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”

Paul clarifies that his joy wasn’t tied to their gift itself, but to the sufficiency he found in Christ.

The Greek word for “content” (Greek: autarkeia) was used by Stoics to describe self-sufficiency, but Paul’s sufficiency was in Christ alone.

He had learned to be content, whether in abundance or in need.

In a world that pressures us to accumulate more, giving helps us learn to be content with what we have.

Joyful giving comes from the confidence that God is sufficient for every need.

Illustration:

An elderly man watched his new neighbor move in with numerous expensive belongings.

He leaned over the fence and said, “If you ever find you lack anything, let me know, and I’ll show you how to live without it.”

True contentment doesn’t come from having more, but from relying on God’s adequacy.

…”Happiness is not having what you want, It is wanting what you have!”

3. Giving Creates a Partnership in Ministry (v. 14)

“14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.”

Paul describes the Philippians' support as sharing in his troubles.

The word "share" (Greek: koinonia) means fellowship or partnership.

Their gift wasn’t just a transaction; it made them partners in Paul’s ministry, joining him in advancing the gospel.

Every time we give, we are partnering with others in God’s work.

Whether it’s supporting missions or contributing to church ministries, giving is a way we actively participate in kingdom work.

Illustration:

When we give through mission programs like the Cooperative Program, we’re maximizing our impact.

Just like buying the best value for our money in a store, through collective giving, we get the most impact for God's kingdom.

4. Giving Produces Spiritual Rewards (vv. 17-18)

“17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.”

Paul emphasizes that their giving was not just a blessing to him, but a credit to their spiritual account.

The phrase “credited to your account” reflects the idea that giving to the Lord’s work yields eternal dividends.

Paul uses sacrificial language (Greek: osmen euodias, “a fragrant offering”) to describe how their gift was pleasing to God.

When we give for the right reasons, it becomes an act of worship.

Our generosity is like a fragrant offering, rising before God and bringing Him joy.

And in return, God blesses us, not just materially, but spiritually.

5. Giving Grows Our Confidence in God (v. 19)

“19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Paul reassures the Philippians that God will supply all their needs according to His riches in glory.

He had no doubt that their generosity would be met with God’s abundant provision.

The phrase “my God will supply” emphasizes personal care, and “according to His riches” points to the limitless nature of God’s provision.

Many of us hesitate to give because we’re worried we won’t have enough.

But giving teaches us to trust God’s promise that He will provide for our needs, often in ways we could never imagine.

Illustration:

In a South American jungle, a primitive tribe has a "keeper of the flame"—one person is tasked with maintaining the fire throughout the night.

Without fire, the tribe cannot cook, warm themselves, or ward off wild animals.

Just like the keeper of the flame, when we give to God's work, we help keep the light of the gospel burning bright in the world.

Conclusion:

Giving brings joy because it revives our concern, cultivates contentment, creates partnerships, produces spiritual rewards, and grows our confidence in God’s provision.

Each time we give, we are doing more than meeting a physical need—we are impacting lives for eternity and glorifying God through our worship.

Life Applications:

Redirect Your Focus: This week, seek an opportunity to give—whether financially, with your time, or by offering your talents.

Watch how your care for others blossoms.

Practice Contentment: Take inventory of what you have and thank God for His sufficiency. Contentment is the seed of joyful giving.

Trust God’s Provision: Step out in faith by giving sacrificially and trust that God will supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.

There was a man called J. C. Penney. He was born on September 16, 1875, and died on February 12, 1971 at the age of 95 years.

J. C Penney was taught by his mother how to pay tithe. He practised the principles of tithing that he learnt from his mother. Every dollar that he got, he paid the tithe of it. He was so consistent in tithing to the point that his business exploded.

But when he became rich, he stopped tithing. Then he crashed down to zero point and became bankrupt.

One day, he went to God and enquired why his business went bankrupt.

God told him, “Remember from whence thou art fallen.”

And he remembered and said: “Oh! It was the tithing of my organization’s income that brought me to this level.” So, he returned and tithed every income he got.

Within a short while, his business exploded financially again.

Today, J. C Penney stores, a multibillion dollar corporation, is scattered all over America. It took just a godly man, who learnt Kingdom principles of tithing from his mother, to experience such explosive trans-generational wealth.

J. C. Penney was a major influence on Sam Walton, the owner of Wal-Mart stores that spread around the whole of America.

Sam Walton’s family has the largest number of billionaires in the world today, and this Sam Walton was influenced by J. C. Penney, a devoted child of God.

The truth is, you cannot talk about the stability of the economy of America without mentioning the contributions of J. C. Penney stores or the Wal-Mart stores. And all these happened because of a man who was raised by God on the basis of Kingdom principles to be the head and not the tail, above only and never beneath.

REMEMBER THIS: Tithing is a ladder that godly men climb to access Kingdom wealth.

-PRAY

-INVITATION