Giving Your Money for Greater Joy (Phil 4.14-18)

Philippians 4:14-18

GBCCR 11/3/24

Introduction

We have heroes in the Christian world.. good heroes

Like William Tyndale

In 12525 an Englishman named William Tyndale wanted to translate the Bible from the original Greek and Hebrew into English.

For 1,000 years the Bible had been locked in Latin, but most Englishmen couldn't read Latin and therefore did not know the Bible.

He met with local priests shocked by their ignorance of the Bible.

To one such cleric he declared: “If God spare my life, ere many years pass, I will cause a boy that driveth the plow shall know more of the Scripture than thou dost.”

The religious leadership opposed him

Instead, Tyndale found a home with a godly merchant named Humphrey Monmouth.

 Monmouth was a kind, wealthy, Christ-like man who had heard Tyndale preach. He gladly welcomed Tyndale as his guest and supported him while he began working on his translation of the Bible.

With the backing of Monmouth and other merchants, Tyndale resolved to leave the country in order to engage in the work of translation.

So in 1524 he sailed for Germany, never to return.

Monmouth even used his merchant ships to smuggle the first English New Testaments throughout England.

Very few people have ever heard of Monmouth, but his financial and physical partnership with Tyndale changed the world

In the same way, every christian can partner to serve God together

Review

Too often Paul had issues with people thinking he was just after their money, like people do today

He made clear he was content in any situation

His contentment came from God’s work in other people,

from what God had taught him,

and from realizing that he was completely dependent upon God.

Paul is writing to them now to emphasize his point from v10 that he knew they’ve wanted to help him but couldn’t and that even though he is content, their gift was a great help.

He wants them to know They are the richer for their generosity, not just Paul. As Jesus said, they have been laying up for themselves treasures in heaven by being generous to the needy

So let’s see

You should Give your money to help others and honor God for your good

We give financially to help others (14-16)

To share means to participate in something with someone, to be their partner or teammate.

So, in verse 14 we see:

Helping others is worthwhile (14)

Expla- To understand how they shared, we need to first understand Paul’s need

Do you remember where Paul is right now?

Philippians 1:14- and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.

He is in prison right now & The Romans did not consider imprisonment itself a form of punishment—prisons were used to hold those awaiting trial or the death penalty and often served as places of execution

Yet this gift didn’t just start when he was in dire need

Paul is thanking them because helped him financially during his missionary journeys to pay for everything he needed.

In Acts 17 Paul and Silas left Philippi and headed to Thessalonica

As he did his normal missionary work there

But Paul needed help

Look down in v14 at the word affliction = to crush, press, squeeze. Used to describe pressure from evils, affliction, distress

Used to describe pressure from evils, affliction, distress

Turn to

Acts 17:5–6- But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also;

Before this Paul had made sure to work hard as a tent maker, bringing in his own money on the side

2 Thessalonians 3:7–8- For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.

There is something almost rugged about the hard work he put in as he didn’t rely upon anyone

But as Mobs formed against him in the city and he had to leave it was hard to get jobs done

It was the Philippians generosity that allowed him to minister without asking any of the people in Thessalonica

even though he worked hard, he needed their help to minister best

Now Paul is writing from being under house arrest where he cannot work at all and their financial help was once again a great blessing.

The Philippians then choose to meet Paul’s need, a term used as one who owes a debt or how lacks ability to pay for something, strictly financial.

This financial gift allowed Paul to Pay for what he needed to leave and support all his energy to proclaiming the gospel to a people who had never heard it

Illus

Helping others is a worthwhile effort

I think we all know George Whitfield,

but do you know Selina, Countess of Huntingdon?

At 39 years old with 4 children, her husband died from a stroke,

Though wealthy, her life was not easy, two of her sons died when small

She used her wealth to support George Whitfield’s evangelistic preaching

Up to 4/5 of Americans heard him preach before his death

And when he died, he left everything to her‌

Her response was “to serve all gospel ministries is our highest honor and happiness.”

She funded seminary student’s clothes, food, and ministry trips who planted new churches and took the good news all of England

And few people know who she is

But God considers it a job done well to meet the financial needs of others.

App

So brothers and sisters… does your heart rejoice at a chance to give?

There may be wisdom to give or not to give to someone based on true need and true love

but it is good to have the desire to help!

1 John 3:17- But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

Think of it this way, Jesus said where your treasure is your heart will be also

so if you are praying that you would have a heart for evangelism,

It may be wise to start by giving and watch where your money leads your heart.

But who should get your money?

According to quick google search, there are 1.5 million different non profit organizations

Read 3 John 6–8 You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.

There are some people we have a moral obligation to support… we are commanded to care for them.

Last week we heard Jeremy say we ask you all to give to our missionaries to meet the $300 gap rather than other good things

But If you want to support any other ministries remember, Paul sets the standard… are they partners in the gospel

Are they investing in something that transcends a life, a nation, a millennium?

There are organizations that do good earthly in seeking political ends

May I challenge ask to ask do they connect heavenly good in some way?

Trans: Note one other thing about this sharing

Giving thanks back is worthwhile (15-16)

Paul here is thanking them.

He thanked God in 1:3 for them

But here he thanks them directly for being the only church that supported his ministry.

So don’t be afraid to just thank people for what they do.

Give them thanks as Paul did here

because Christians are partners together in the same mission

When someone gives something to you, thank them, and thank God for them.

Trans: so we give to help each other, creating thanks and The 2nd reason to give of your finances to other is:

We give financially to worship God (17-18)

3 ways we worship with our giving

Giving shows God is working in you (17)

The LSB translates this

“Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the fruit which increases to your account.”

It is the same term used of the fruit of the spirit in Galatians

Paul reminds them in verse 17 that the gift is not his excitement, but what is occurring in them, the fruit.

Fruit has many meaning

Here it is a financial term used to describe profit or interested gained.

I was sitting in a coffee shop once where this one guy was slickly giving a sales pitch about the huge investment return they would get… so good that it was too good to be true right?

And that is so often the case with manBut

But They are putting their money into God’s hands that would profit them not just in this life but in all eternity

Philippians 2:16- holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

Paul sees their giving now and knows he will be proud of what God did in them.

Their gift was evidence that their relationship with Christ is strong and is continuing to grow

Do you want to know if your faith is real, ask where do you want your money to go?

Jesus spoke about the evidence of our fruit producing faith

John 15:8- By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

It is not the only fruit…

some of you know where to look in your Bibles,

some of you serve with your time, others a prayer warriors,

and some of you are extravagant givers…

All are fruit of God’s work in your life

They showed their faith as they gave of needed resources

its easy to assume they gave out of their abundance, what was over after they had what they wanted

But Paul the Philippians were poor people in 2 Corinthians 8

2 Corinthians 8:1–4- Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,

V2- In their extreme poverty they were generous

V3- They were giving beyond their means

This giving was not just for Paul either,

v4 says it was for the relief of all the saints

Why did they do this? V1- The grace of God had been given to them

They gave greatly because they knew the grace of God was given to them.

Trans: a giving heart reflect God’s work in that heart, Secondly Giving is worship because

giving is commanded by God

I think we all get this, but our world loves money so much and it can blind us easily

Scripture blitz about giving money

Hebrews 13:16- Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Malachi 3:8- Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.

Galatians 6:6- Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

1 Timothy 6:6–9- But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

Matthew 10:40–42- “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

The Bible says money is to be given because it shows our trust in The lord

Trans: which leads us to the 3rd reason giving is worship is that

Giving shows God is worthy of our trust (18)

Paul states that his needs were meet by this sweet smelling sacrifice.

In the OT the Israelites had to give up the very best of their crops or flocks. (

Deuteronomy 18:4- “You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, your new wine, and your oil, and the first shearing of your sheep.

these were the ones that would bring in the most money

So it was a true sacrifice to give it up to God

Thus sacrifices were considered sweet

Exodus 30:1- “You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood.

Isaiah 56:7- these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

We do not offer animals in the New Covenant,

but our sacrifices show what we value most.

They reveal whether we trust God to provide what we need and tell us what is best.

Let me make a brief comment about tithing

We’re supposed to give 10%, right?

Israel had to give a tithe, right?

Well, not exactly.

Israel had 3 tithes under Moses that were really taxes

Numbers 18:25-30… 10% was given to help run the temple and pay the levites

Deuteronomy 12:10-11, 17-18 an additional 10% was required of all their crops so that they could eat together at the feasts in Jerusalem, building national unity.

Deut 14:28-29. A 3rd tithe was required to help the poor, the strangers, the fatherless, and the widowed. (This one wa only about 3%)

In addition, they were commanded to give up working the land once every 7 years, so they lost the money from that.

=a total of about 25% was required

And in addition they had freewill offerings!

Exodus 36 has the people being told to stop giving freely to the temple because they had all the money they needed.

The people were just so thankful to God, they gave whatever they could!

The 10% idea helps, since its an good even #

So the point isn’t tithing, but generosity

2 Cor. 9:6- ‘Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously’

The New Testament call for joyful giving

Illustration point-We worship God with our giving

Christians have often seen this like CS Lewis who said

“ I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditures exclude them.”

Transition to audience= how we connect to illustration

Restate the point

Application

So, do you give anything to the church, do you give anything to missionaries in need?

It doesn’t have to be a lot,

but it is important to give something as a sacrifice.

If you do not have much, then do not need to give much

The command is simply you decide now that you must give

2 Corinthians 9:7- Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Make up in your mind what you will give beforehand, generally (7a)

Be joyful about it (v7)

Give with what you are able (8:14)

2 Corinthians 8:14- at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;

But always remember your giving without joyful trust in Jesus earns you nothing

Hebrews 11:6- And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Faith just means trust

You cannot impress God with your money, but you can trust God with your money

Therefore

Since we have seen (Cohesion)-

We give our finances to help believers do the work of the ministry like the Philippians helped Paul…

because their work is worthy of our support

And they are blessed by it

And we give to worship God because He is worthy of our sacrifice

As we trust him with our money, he is glorified

We know we must (Resolution)-

If we wanted a happily ever after fairy tale, we would not look to the church history

The London merchant Humphrey Monmouth was later imprisoned in the Tower of London for aiding and abetting Tyndale, and he confessed to boarding Tyndale for half a year and to forwarding him money in Hamburg.

But his reward was far worth it

Hebrews 11:35–38- Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

The Puritan Thomas Adams said

Our gold is only good to the grave.

“To part with what we cannot keep, that we may get that we cannot lose, is a good bargain. Wealth can do us no good, unless it help us toward heaven.”

So let us invest in gospel work that will last forever.

Closing prayer

Lord, we confess that too often we look at money as the source of our security

But the prayers of the puritians remind us that

With thee as the blessed pilot of my future as of my past.

I bless thee that thou hast veiled my eyes to the waters ahead.

If thou hast appointed storms of tribulation, thou wilt be with me in them;

If I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation,

I shall not drown;

If 1 am to die,

I shall see thy face the sooner;

If a painful end is to be my lot, grant me grace that my faith fail not;

If I am to be cast aside from the service I love, I can make no stipulation;

Only glorify thyself in me whether in comfort or trial, as a chosen vessel meet always for thy use.

So, may we pray today, Lord, may we trust you with our money and may it glorify you