Investing in God’s Work
Notes
Transcript
Handout
22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; 24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. 25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. 27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. 28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. 29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. 30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; 31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; 32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Introduction:
Everyone invests in something. Some put money into retirement accounts, hoping one day it will provide security. Others invest in businesses, expecting growth. Still others invest their time and energy into hobbies, careers, or relationships. We all invest, because we all believe in the principle of sowing and reaping: what you put in today, you hope to reap tomorrow.
But here’s the question: Are we investing in what truly lasts? Jesus gave us a sobering reminder in Matthew 6:19–20: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” Earthly investments rise and fall. Fortunes are made and lost overnight. But the returns on heavenly investments never diminish, never decay, and never disappear.
That’s exactly what Paul demonstrates in Romans 15:22–33. As he prepares to conclude his letter to the Romans, Paul opens his heart. He speaks not only of his travel plans but also of his ministry priorities. He shows them what it looks like to invest in God’s work.
And what stands out is this: Paul doesn’t talk about personal gain, comfort, or ease. He talks about fellowship with God’s people, financial support for the saints, and fervent prayer for the mission. In other words, Paul reveals three timeless ways we can still invest in God’s work today.
Think about this: when you give time to fellowship with believers, you are investing in God’s work. When you open your hand to meet a need or support Gospel ministry, you are investing in God’s work. And when you fall on your knees in prayer, interceding for missionaries, pastors, and fellow Christians, you are investing in God’s work.
So let me ask you — where are you putting your treasure? Where are you putting your time? Where are you putting your trust? Because as Jesus said, “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
This morning, let’s look at Paul’s words and see how we can invest in God’s work for an eternal return.
I. Investing Through Fellowship (vv.22–24)
I. Investing Through Fellowship (vv.22–24)
Paul begins with a personal note: “For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you…”
Paul longed to see the believers in Rome, not because he was lonely, but because fellowship strengthens God’s people.
A. Hindered in the Past — He says, “I have been much hindered.” - (Vs. 22)
Why has the Apostle Paul been so hindered from coming to Rome? He wrote this long letter to them, he has made mention many times of wanting to go and see them. What has been the problem?
I have so much to do in gospel preaching, and with so many people along the way toward Rome as the gospel advanced westward there were many people who had not heard the gospel, and so it was not right for me to skip over them to get to you.
Ex. The excuses we come up with for being late… I love the heart of the Apostle Paul here… (his transparency, his authenticity, and ultimately his testimony.)
It was his great desire to do pioneer work that hindered him from coming to the Romans, though he did desire to see them.
“The apostle sought the things of Christ more than his own will, and would not leave his work of planting churches to go to Rome.” - Matthew Henry
Ministry had kept him from Rome, but the delay did not lessen his desire. Sometimes God closes doors for a season so that He can open them at the right time. God’s delays are not God’s denials…
B. Hopeful for the Future — Paul says, “I shall come to you.” - (Vs. 23-24a)
We get the sense here of Paul’s duty… Duty will only take you so far, but rather his desire… Not only to get to Rome, but beyond Rome to Spain…
“God is not so much interested in whether we reach our destination as in how we try to get there. To us arrival is everything, but to God the journey is most important, for it is in the journey that we are perfected, and it is in hardships that he is glorified as we trust him.” - Kent Hughes
It is refreshing to see how his desire motivated Him…
He made plans with faith. He didn’t say, “If everything works out.” He said, “I will come.” That’s confidence rooted in God’s leading.
It is of greatest importance that we have hearts with dreams, great visions of what God can do with us. We need our “castles in the sky”—our Spains. We need to see “spires away on the world’s rim,” to dream of victories and accomplishments for God. Not all of us will meet our dream’s end, but that is all right because God is more interested in the process than the prize, in the journey than the road’s end.
May we learn to travel as Paul did. Someday we will stand before God and will possibly say, “God, this is the dream you gave me. I did not make it. I’m sorry.” And he will say, “Yes, but that was in my hands. You were a magnificent traveler. Enter the joy that I have prepared for you before the foundation of the world!”
C. Help for the Journey — “…to be brought on my way thitherward by you.” - (Vs. 24b)
This is just going to be a stopping place…
The first reminder the Apostle Paul gives them is when I stop by I will need financial resources to continue helping the gospel go forward.
Paul may have been the greatest missionary of his—or any—generation, but he knew he needed help. Even the strongest saints need each other, to enjoy the company of other believers for a while
The second reminder Paul desired to stop by Rome was to be filled with the company of these likeminded Christians.
A good reminder for us this morning is the primary purpose of church… We help each other on our journey (Spiritually, sometimes physically.) But that also we are filled with each others company.
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Paul expected their fellowship to refresh and strengthen him. The word “brought” suggests supplying provisions and encouragement.
💡 Application: One of the greatest investments you can make in God’s work is simply showing up—being present with God’s people. Fellowship is not wasted time; it is spiritual investment.
II. Investing Through Finances (vv.25–29)
II. Investing Through Finances (vv.25–29)
Paul then shares his immediate plans: “But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.” Paul’s third missionary journey much of it was raising money for the poor saints.
Paul is gathering money he is getting some people to travel with him to help vet out the large amount of money that churches everywhere have given… So Paul is saying, “I’ve collected all the money.” He is in Corinth now as he is writing, and he is about to deliver this letter to Phoebe who is from the Church of Santria right near Corinth and she is by a place where she could sail right off to Rome.
Paul is going to come to Rome on his way to Spain, but first he was going to make a pit stop in Jerusalem.
A. The Example of the Macedonians — “It hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution” (v.26).
Macedonia is the region in which churches like Berea, most notably Thessalonica, and even Phillipi are located. These were people by the standards of the day very poor, and yet they had given so richly and sacrificially.
1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Notice the Bible says they gave out of “deep poverty.” That’s true investment—giving when it costs.
Achaia - Referred to the Church at Corinth and even the church at Sentria these were other churches that had given money toward this funding for the poor saints.
(Vs. 27a) This is one aspect of giving we strive to model as we continue to invest into the work of God. The only way in which you truly give is willingly… True giving is willing giving.
(Vs. 27a1) Whose debtors? What Paul is saying is, these churches in Macedonia and Achaia would not even be churches if not for these poor saints back in Jerusalem who were the early christians who made the initial sacrifices not only to send people to the mission field, but also to finance and fund missions work. So now that these churches were giving an offering back to them it made a lot of sense because they were really debtors to them were it not for those Jerusalem saints there would be no gospel.
We need to keep that in mind as well, and remember, “Hey it was because someone made a sacrifice that I was able to hear the gospel, there were people that left their home, that left their comfort. There were people who were willing to be bold and make sacrifices so that you and I could hear the gospel. Paul is saying there is a sense of indebtedness here…
B. The Equality of the Saints — “For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things” (v.27).
They got the gospel now they are tasked with ministering to the needs of people. Obviously we see someone who has a spiritual defficiency so the answer to their needs is that we give them the gospel. Sometimes the need is physical in that case you have some money you can help someone out so you give it to them. (Meal Ministry, food pantries, Gas money)
The idea of Paul here really serves as a reminder once again to us as modern day Christians… Be a need filler!
The Gentiles had received the riches of the Gospel from the Jews. Now they could repay with material help.
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.
(Vs. 28) Paul has a promise he was committed to, and it was a good plan not so much that we would think to utilize today…
It was a plan that emphasized the gospel, it emphasized his heart for people… Living with Christ at the center, Leading people to christ, and Loving our community.
While this was a good plan and while Paul had a list of things he wanted to happen… That’s exactly what didn’t happen…
C. The Expectation of Blessing — “I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ” (v.29).
Perhaps Paul anticipated the events that would transpire, but he is still optimistic that, “Hey when I come to you it’s going to be great. We are going to have a wonderful season together celebrating the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Paul believed that giving produces spiritual blessing.
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
💡 Application: When you give to God’s work, you are not losing—it’s not charity, it’s investment.
Every dollar given to missions, every offering placed in the plate, every act of generosity is recorded in heaven’s ledger.
III. Investing Through Fervent Prayer (vv.30–33)
III. Investing Through Fervent Prayer (vv.30–33)
Paul closes with a plea: “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.”
Sensing that danger awaited him in Jerusalem (having been warned several times as recorded in Acts 20:22-23 and Acts 21:10-14), Paul knew he needed the prayers of God’s people to see him through the difficulty promised him.
Notice how urgent this is.
A. The Appeal of Prayer — (Vs. 30)
You can be apart of this work… I know at times we have lists that are several pages long when comes to prayer for ourself or our family, but Paul was telling them, Hey it’s ok to pray in fact we covet your prayers.
A girl prayed, “Lord, I am not going to pray for myself today; I’m going to pray for others.” But at the end of her prayer she added, “And give my mother a handsome son-in-law.”
Anonymous
Paul “beseeches” them. He urges them. Prayer is not optional—it is essential. And he says, “strive together.” The word comes from, “Agonize together”, meaning to struggle side by side. Prayer is partnering in the battle.
This is the only place in the New Testament where this specific word is used.
iv. Yet, this same root word for agony is used of Jesus’ anguished prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus asked His disciples to agonize with Him in prayer. They failed at that critical moment and left Jesus to struggle alone. We must not leave our ministers and leaders to struggle alone.
“It reminds us of Carey, who says, when he goes to India, ‘I will go down into the pit, but brother Fuller and the rest of you must hold the rope.’ Can we refuse the request? Would it not be treachery?” (Spurgeon)
The wonderful reminder is that many times we can shhare in gospel ministry work simply by praying.
B. The Aims of Prayer — He asks for three things: - (Vs. 31)
He asked for two things: 1) “that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea” and, 2) that his service in Jerusalem “may be acceptable.” Both prayers were answered.
Acts 21:17–20 records his offering’s joyous reception and the resulting solidarity of the churches. In addition, Paul was granted a spectacular deliverance that could only be attributed to God, as Acts 21–23 makes so clear.
The prayers of the Roman church brought great power to bear in Paul’s life! Paul had called them “to join me in my struggle” in prayer—literally “to agonize together with me”—and that is what they did.
Ex. We could easily conclude that God did not deliver Paul from this group of people…
The goal of prayer is the ear of God.
Charles Spurgeon
God did deliver his life… There was a vow that people were taking… Not in the way that Paul and the believers at Rome had envisioned…
Just know that when you pray for Jesus sake that God knows better than you do.
C. The Answer of Prayer — He ends with a blessing: “Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” (Vs. 32-33)
Prayer invites God’s peace into every situation.
What peace can they have who are not at peace with God?
Matthew Henry (Nonconformist Biblical Exegete)
💡 Application: Prayer is the greatest partnership in God’s work. You may not go where Paul went, you may not preach like Paul preached, but you can pray. And when you pray, you strive together in the work. Missions advances on the prayers of God’s people.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Paul shows us three ways to invest in God’s work:
Fellowship — encouraging one another in the Gospel.
Finances — giving generously to meet needs.
Fervent Prayer — striving together for God’s blessing.
These are investments with eternal dividends. The stock market may crash, businesses may fail, banks may close—but what you invest in God’s kingdom will last forever.
Invitation
Invitation
Are you investing your presence in fellowship, or treating church like an option?
Are you investing your resources in God’s work, or keeping them for yourself?
Are you investing your prayers for others, or neglecting this greatest partnership?
Will you put your treasure, your time, and your trust into God’s eternal kingdom?
Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” If your investments are in heaven, your heart will be there too.
