Well Done Giving | Philippians 4:14-20

Opening Remarks:

Last week we focused on Philippians 4:13 where Paul writes about doing all things through Christ which strengtheneth us. As God’s people, we can know that there’s nothing we face that He doesn’t have the strength for.

It's a promise. One person said it this way, "Some say that God will never call us to do anything that He won't help us to do. But in reality, God never calls us to do something we can do. He will only call you to do what you can't do without Him."

That keeps us wholly dependent on God. So we saw last week what we ought to do in order to have the strength of Christ:

When things are going well, thank God. Be thankful if it’s a time of abounding.

But when things are hard, trust God. Submit to Him even if it’s difficult. Lean on Him even when it doesn’t make sense

If we will depend on God to be thankful when it’s good and trust when it’s hard, we’ll have His strength for every situation, no matter how extreme.

Today’s message is a continuation of Paul’s emphasis of gratitude to the church in Philippi. Remember, they had provided for him by giving generously when he had needs.

READ Vs. 10-20

Look one more time at verse 14.

Ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

Paul was in need. In prison. Very little support. Facing a trial of life.

And the Philippian church “communicated,” which is a word we looked at a couple of weeks ago that means “fellowship (koinonia).” To share together. Partnership. When we fellowship, we do it together. But the concept is the same in giving.

We share the burden. We support each other. Fellowship. Partnership. They communicated by giving.

And Paul uses two words to describe how they gave, “Well Done.”

TITLE Well Done Giving

PRAY

INTRODUCTION

One thing that many people have in common is the love for a good steak.

If you came hungry tonight, I apologize in advance for speaking about things that cause discontentment in your heart.

I know it’s not universal, but most people enjoy steak. You might say most people “share a partnership - fellowship - koinonia” when it comes to steak.

At the same time, while enjoying a steak is a commonality, how we eat our steak is harder to navigate.

Some eat it with steak sauce. Some just like S&P. By the way, if you eat it with ketchup, I’m not sure we can remain friends.

Even more controversial is how well different people like it cooked.

RARE and MOOING…to…WELL DONE and CHARRED

Wide range of opinions from still moving to burnt beyond recognition

And while I’m not a still mooing guy, I also don’t have a desire to turn that beautiful piece of meat into beef jerky.

I heard someone say, “Well done is for good and faithful servants, not steak.”

If you like your steak well done, that’s between you and the Lord. We just won’t be able to “koinonia” with you at Texas Roadhouse.

Now, as a balance, I was trying to see which way is more biblical. And I must be transparent, there’s more about eating meat with blood than eating it too done.

I even started looking at the phrase “Well Done” in the Bible and discovered that it occurs four times while the word “rare” is only found once.

Take that how you will. The “Well Done” people just sat up a little taller.

It’s used twice in Matthew 25:21 and 23 the same way:

Matthew 25:21 “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Matthew 25:23 “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant…”

Cornelius uses it when referring to Peter coming to help him in Acts 10:33. He says, “Thou hast well done that thou art come.”

And the last time it’s used is in Philippians 4:14 when Paul writes to the Philippians about their generous giving to him. “Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.”

“Well Done” is a small phrase, but anytime it’s found in Scripture, it’s a big deal. In fact, it might be the most important phrase we ever hear. If we hear those two words when we stand before Christ, we have lived the life God expected of us.

Well Done is the stamp from God of the Christian life Well-Lived.

And Paul uses it in Philippians 4 to describe how we ought to give.

TRANSITION

Speaking on the subject of giving can be somewhat perilous. I don’t do it often. As I mentioned this morning, I typically only deal with giving for two reasons:

#1 - Around Missions Revival

#2 - When It Comes Up In The Text

Since I usually preach expositionally through the Bible, that means God’s Word determines when we look at certain subjects. If it’s there, we deal with it.

But sometimes I wonder if it needs to spoken about more, because the Bible definitely does not shy away from it.

Jesus talked about money regularly: 16 of His 38 parables deal with how to handle money and possessions.

In the Gospels alone, one out of ten verses (288 in all) deal directly with money.

The Bible includes around 500 verses on prayer and around 500 verses on faith, but more than 2,000 deal with money and possessions (Howard L. Dayton, Jr., Leadership, Spring, 1981, p. 62).

Two more Disclaimers:

#1 - I’m Thankful For The Strength Of Our Giving

Our giving is very strong. We gave more last year than Eastside ever has. Our tithes and general are strong. Our missions is good and we’re staying on track.

#2 - I Don’t Know How Much You Give

I wouldn’t know who does or doesn’t give. Just smile and look happy and I’ll assume you’re the biggest giver in the church.

But, even if I never know, there’s One that does know. And since we will all one day answer to Him, my prayer is that every member of Eastside will hear a “Well Done” when it comes to giving.

Here’s why, from this text (we’ll look at this truth later): If our giving is well done, God promises that our needs will be well taken care of.

VERSE 14

Notwithstanding - It points to a contrast. It means “even though that’s true.” (What?)

Well, even though it’s true that Christ gives us strength to face every situation, and even though Paul had all he needed in Christ, the Philippians were still right to give like they did. The church had done well in giving generously and sacrificially to support him.

Can God supply someone’s needs without me? Sure. But that doesn’t mean we have no obligation to be givers.

And Paul looked at their giving and said…

I. This is Giving WELL DONE

So tonight I want to look at what Paul describes as Giving Well Done.

#1 - Give First 

Vs 15 - “In the beginning”

The church at Philippi didn’t wait for others to give to start giving themselves

After Paul had come through Philippi and led them to the Lord and helped them establish their faith, they started giving right away

They were new Christians when he departed where they were in Macedonia and went to places like Corinth and he mentions Thessalonica

But these new Christians were already giving and supporting him. Taking care of the man who had invested so much in their spiritual lives.

Giving ought to be one of the first Christian habits we practice

You need the ability to carry a tune to be in the choir

You need to have some Bible knowledge before you can teach

But you don’t need any training to give. According to this, a baby Christian can do it.

We’ve always encouraged our kids to give any time they receive a gift. God gets 10%, no matter what.

If children can do it, then every adult who claims to know Christ ought to be involved in giving.

I’ll just tell you what we do:

Weekly, we give 10% of our gross income (not net, gross)

An additional weekly amount on top of that toward missions (some people go by percentage, we pray about a certain number)

We also give a certain weekly amount in addition to tithe and missions toward a building fund (it’s not much, but if every family at Eastside gave a certain amount to take care of our properties, we could really make some progress on our debt and projects)

Be a giver:

Even if you’re a young Christian. The Philippians were newly saved and they gave.

Even if no one else is doing it. Vs. 15 - “But ye only.” The Philippians weren’t asking around to see who else was giving before they gave.

Not even for return. The Philippians weren’t counting on ever getting a return on their investment.

Give consistently. Vs. 16 - “Once and again.” This church was consistent. It wasn’t a one-time deal.

If you want to be involved in Giving Well Done, make giving one of your first and most basic Christian habits.

#2 - Give To Gospel Efforts

Vs. 15 - “In the beginning of the Gospel”

The church at Philippi were fresh off of being saved. They had recently seen the difference that the Gospel could make in someone’s life.

They were passionate about giving to Gospel efforts because of the difference Gospel efforts had made in their lives.

And if we value the difference the Gospel has made in our lives, then it should not be difficult to give so that others can enjoy the same impact in theirs. That’s our Missions giving.

Vs. 17 - Giving toward the Gospel is not just a gift to the person who receives. It’s a gift to your own spiritual account.

It is fruit getting added to the eternal account of the person giving.

If the Gospel results in souls, that is a gift you get to enjoy for eternity.

I wonder if we’ll know, when we get to Heaven, who’s there in part because of something we were involved in.

If you’ve given for years to Missions, do you realize there are people right now people in Heaven enjoying the presence of God in part because you gave something for a missionary to give them the Gospel.

Giving is a gift you give yourself. Not for earthly gain, but for heavenly fruit.

Giving Well Done starts with Doing It Early and Giving To Gospel Efforts.

If you want to be involved in Giving Well Done, then…

#3 - Give As An Act Of Worship To God

Vs. 18 - Giving is not just an outward act of obedience. It ought to include the heart.

2 Corinthians 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

Engaging the heart means there’s something more going on than just putting money in a plate.According to Paul, when we give, it’s an act of worship to God.

Vs. 18 says their gift was an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. Not Paul.

When we give, it may produce fruit to our account. It may result in souls won. It may be an encouragement to the person receiving the gift.

But even if none of that happens. If we never get fruit. If a soul is never won. And even if the person we give to takes the money and runs, our motivation for giving is to worship God in what we give.

We give because God deserves it.

Paul says, "I have been blessed by your giving, but know this, the One who matters most has been extra blessed by your giving.”

It doesn’t just check off a box for God. He receives those sacrifices like an offering of incense, a sweet smelling perfume that is so pleasing to Him.

And when we give - that’s our primary motive. To please God as an act of worship because He deserves it.

Giving Well Done.

If you give and just go through the act without thinking about God, that’s not giving Well Done.

The only reason we have anything is because God gave it to us. He’s the One we’re giving to.

One more truth to Give Well Done. Vs. 19-20

#4 - Give By Faith In God's Promise

Paul says, “My God”

He had a personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ.

You can’t practice Giving Well Done until you know the Lord. That’s step one.

“Shall supply all your need”

That means everything. All of it. every need you have will be impacted by Giving Well Done.

In the same way that Paul’s needs were met through Christ as the recipient of giving, all of their needs would be met through Christ as the givers.

So Paul makes it clear, God is the One who meets our needs. We just need to get involved in the process.

If we’re the recipients, God meets our needs.

If we’re the givers, God meets our needs.

The point is - get involved by faith and then enjoy God’s promises to provide.

Illustration: When kids were little they would buy each other Christmas presents. Guess where they got the money? Mom and dad. But they got involved in the process and we got to sit back and watch it.

The same thing is true for God. All the resources come from Him. All He asks is that we get involved in the process. And He meets all of our needs in return.

How do we know He’ll provide?

“According to his riches in glory”

God has an endless supply to meet our needs.

Notice, Paul doesn’t say,"out of" His supply, but in proportion to His supply. “According to his riches”

God wants to give based on what God has.

How much does He have? Everything. So how much does that mean He has to give? Everything.

He has everything to give. A supply that never runs out.

And He doesn’t want to give according to what we give. He gives according to what He has. Which means there’s a limitless resource.

This is much different than what He asks of us.

He asks us to give based on what we have. And it’s a small percentage. 10% is not much.

But He gives in accordance to what He has. Which is much more than what He asks of us.

And in return, He will take care of all our basic needs. Whatever we need, He’ll provide. That’s the promise.

So have Faith in God’s promise that He will supply all of our needs. And get involved in Giving Well Done.

How?

Give Early. One of the first steps in following Christ. No matter if others give. No matter the return. Just do it consistently.

Give to the Gospel. That’s eternal fruit to our account. If we’ve benefitted from the Gospel, we ought to give to the Gospel.

Give as Worship to God. If you do it for Him, no matter the results, He’s pleased. It is a sweet sacrifice to Him.

Give by Faith in His Promise. He promises to take care of our needs according to His supply. Faith means giving what we could use today because we believe God will take care of all of our needs.

Illustration: Man struggling to give 10 percent to church. Told pastor “Can’t pay my bills.” Pastor “If I promise to take care of any shortage will you tithe for one month.” Man “Yes.” Pastor “So you’d be willing to trust in a man like me with limited resources, but you can’t trust your Heavenly Father who owns the entire universe?”

That is, I believe, why most people won’t hear a Well Done. They haven’t learned to have Faith in God’s promises. They haven’t put themselves in the position to allow God to come through for them. But when we do, there’s nothing like it.

My wife and I have spent most of our marriage not being able to figure out on paper how our finances all work.

When we look ahead, we have usually said, “I don’t know how this is going to work.”

But when we look back, we’re always say, “I don’t know how God did it, but He did.”

And you know why it’s not always easy to figure out? Because we give. By faith. No matter what. But I truly believe what I’m preaching tonight that our giving initiates a process in which God’s endless resources get poured out on us in return.

I’m not saying we’ve done it perfectly, but I do pray that we’ve Done It Well, according to what God desires.

That’s what I want to hear when I stand before Him and answer for giving. “Well Done.”

Depending on your preferences, that may not be good for steak. But according to Paul, it’s good for giving.

Would your giving be considered “Well Done?”

Is it one of the first things you do? Or have you not started?

Are you giving toward the Gospel and missions? Or do you have no fruit to your account?

Do you give in worship to God? Or do you just go through the motions without considering God?

Are you giving by faith in God’s promises? Believing He’ll provide? Or are you giving based on the math?

If we want to be a church like Philippi that gets a “Well Done” in giving, then every person, from young to old, ought to consider how to get involved in Giving. Giving Well Done.