Glorious Giving
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Claim - Financial giving serves the church, is true worship of God and is spiritual investment that God will repay richly in Christ
Focus - Give: Gospel ministry needs it; God delights in it; You will reap abundantly becasue of it.
Function - to give financially with joyful expectant hearts becasue their eyes are fixed on the glory of God in Christ Jesus.
Finance update, ignite
Finance update, ignite
Pray
As we reach the end of Philippians, Paul wants to finish on a note of encouragement.
But it might not be the kind of encouragement we expect.
He doesn’t say, “Well done for your spiritual growth.”
He doesn’t say, “I’m proud of your doctrinal clarity.”
He doesn’t even say, “Thank you for standing firm under pressure.”
Instead, he thanks them for their giving.
For their financial support.
For the way they stood with him materially when he was in need.
Which might feel slightly awkward for us.
Because money is one of the hardest areas of the Christian life to talk about honestly.
And perhaps this is timely for us as a church, as we seek to strengthen our finances together.
But before this becomes about budgets or targets, Paul wants us to see something deeper.
He wants us to understand what Christian giving actually is.
Because most of us already have complicated relationships with money.
Some of us give automatically — a standing order goes out each month, and we rarely think about it.
Some give reactively — when there’s a need or when we feel prompted.
Some struggle to give much at all — because finances are tight, or a spouse isn’t a believer, or life just feels expensive.
Others feel the sting when money leaves the account — and we start thinking about the holiday, the car, the home improvements that could have been.
And then we read verses like:
“God loves a cheerful giver.”
And we think:
Well… sometimes I’m not very cheerful.
As someone once said,
our wallets are often the last thing to be converted.
But none of this is new.
Paul reminds the Philippians that from the very beginning, they were the only church who supported him financially.
Most the churches didn’t give like this.
Giving has always been a challenge to Christians…
They stood with him when others didn’t.
And so Paul wants them — and us — to understand what that really means.
So in these final verses, he shows us three things about Christian giving:
It is how we love one another.
It is how we worship God.
And it is how we learn to trust our Father.
1. Giving is Loving – Partnership in the Gospel (vv14–16)
1. Giving is Loving – Partnership in the Gospel (vv14–16)
Paul begins by thanking them for what they have done.
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
Notice that phrase: share in my troubles.
Their giving wasn’t a mindless standing order each month.
It wasn’t from a traditional mindset.
It wasn’t simply paying for a service.
They entered into Paul’s hardship.
They didn’t just say, “We’re praying for you.”
They put their money where their prayers were.
And no doubt at very real sacrifice to their own comfort in order to love Paul by sharing in his troubles.
And Paul reminds them:
Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.
They were the only church to help him, to love him - and they did it regularly, consistently.
In these 3 verses Paul talks about the very first time he came to Phillipi to share the gospel with them.
It’s actually all recorded in Acts 16 and and 17 - and if you’re free this afternoon,
then the 4.30 service have reached exactly chapter 16 of Acts,
and we’re looking at Paul arriving in Phillipi, among the Phillipians the very first time.
Paul travelled to Macedonia following a vision from God.
This is all part of Paul’s second missionary journey.
He arrives in Philippi (part of Macedonia) — Lydia is converted - the first european to follow Jesus, the jailer is saved, the church is born — and then Paul is forced to leave the city.
From there he travels on to Thessalonica.
And it’s there, in those early fragile days of gospel work, that the Philippians step in.
They send financial help.
Not once.
More than once.
They support Paul while he’s preaching, planting, suffering opposition, and often living hand-to-mouth.
In other words, this isn’t Paul writing a theology of giving.
He’s remembering real people, real hardship, real generosity.
He Is seeing that his gospel work amoung them had fruit.
And he’s overjoyed by the love they then continued to show him, in supporting him as he moves on.
Paul on the frontline of mission,
and the Philippians in love, standing behind him, holding the rope.
Partners - both crucial to gospel ministry.
When he had nothing.
They sent help.
In other words: Paul deliberately frames giving as relationship, not obligation.
He uses accounting language:
“giving and receiving.”
But this isn’t a business plan
It’s gospel partnership.
They weren’t funding a project.
They were supporting a gospel person.
They were standing with Paul in mission.
This is how Christians love gospel workers.
Not just emotionally.
Practically.
Sacrificially.
Giving is one of the most tangible ways we say:
“You are not alone.”
“We share this work.”
“We carry this burden together.”
.
Giving is never just about keeping the programs running, and Sunday Services happening.
It is about loving real people - it’s about sharing in the work.
Please do not think my role is more important than your role in the church.
Different yes, more frontline perhaps, but not more valuable or essential:
Of course preaching the Word is essential
- but Paul’s point is giving is what makes preaching possible!
We Share the troubles and the rewards - we are partners.
I ought to teach and work out of love for you under Christ
- and you share in that through your practical support, out of love for the church staff under Christ.
This same principle is what ought to fuel our mission giving as well.
Do you love those who go where you can’t to speak of Jesus?
Or do you just feel it’s your duty to fund their project - becasue the bible says to do that?
Love will enable us to be generous, and not to give out of compulsion.
So if you feel the lack of those things in your giving to the church or to missions,
remind yourself.
I love my brothers and sister in Christ - and I would love the gospel to keep being procliamed here and everywhere -
So I give becasue I love those who do that - and I delight to share in thier work.
Giving says:
“I am invested in this body.”
“I care about this mission.”
“I love those who I am funding.”
It is love with a standing order.
So if we think of giving merely as a financial obligation,
Paul would say: what a shame.
You’ve missed what it really is.
Giving is loving.
2. Giving is Worship – A Fragrant Offering (vv17–18)
2. Giving is Worship – A Fragrant Offering (vv17–18)
Then Paul shifts the focus.
He doesn’t want them thinking he’s motivated by personal gain.
Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
Paul isn’t chasing money - he’s grateful for it, and often needs it for effective gospel ministry,
But ultimately he’s not chasing it.
His desire for them to give is not actually his own comfort or needs
His desire that they continue to give is their own spiritual fruit.
He wants their generosity to count before God. We;ll come back to the ‘credit to your account in our next point,
but first he says something remarkable:
I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
That language comes straight from the Old Testament sacrificial system.
A “fragrant offering” was worship language.
Which means: what Paul revieced in practical support, God received as true worship of himself.
Have you considered that your regular bank transfer rises to heaven like the pleaseing aroma of a grain or animal sacrifice. In which the Lord delights!
Who knew finances could be so delicious in our worship of God!
It Turns out worship is certainly not just singing songs,
We ought to know worship is to do all things for our Lord, at all times in all ways.
But giving ought to feature high on our priorities if we love God.
This’s why Jesus says money reveals the heart.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
‘No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Our giving exposes what we truly worship.
And that’s also why giving often hurts.
Because worship always costs - just as it cost the OT israelites to sacrifice an animal.
So giving is not just part of worship - it is worship.
a real sacrifice
placed on God’s altar
received by God himself
pleasing to Him
They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
Financial generosity is an act of praise.
Perhaps this completely reframes giving for us?
It is not primarily helping the church budget.
It is worship.
Every time you give,
you are saying something about your love for God.
You are saying:
“You are worthy.”
“You are greater than my comfort.”
“You matter more than my holidays.”
“You are my security. and hope”
So when you feel that twinge as money leaves your account —
that is the moment worship is happening.
You are declaring:
“God is better.”
Look up - 1 chronicle 29 - page number
Here is a prayer to add to your prayer diary, to your todolist on atleast a monthly reoccurring reminder as your standing order drops:
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honour come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. ‘But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
Giving is worship.
Fianlly, and related:
3. Giving is Trusting – Confident in God’s Provision (vv19–20)
3. Giving is Trusting – Confident in God’s Provision (vv19–20)
Finally, Paul gives them this astonishing promise:
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Notice carefully what Paul does not say.
He does not promise luxury.
He does not promise comfort.
He does not promise financial prosperity.
As so many wolves in sheeps clothing do in our world today.
There are many evil ‘prosperity gospel’ teachers that promise the more you give the more you’ll get back in this life materially.
So what is he saying?
Paul promises needs.
And he grounds that promise not in their generosity to God,
but in God’s character.
Their, our, generosity, will show who we worship,
but God’s responsive provision is based on himself in Christ.
Pause
Paul says “My God.”
The same God who saved you.
The same God who called you.
The same God who raised Christ from the dead.
That God.
The one to whom I belong - and you belong.,
Not a God, not God removed from us.
My God.
He will supply what you truly need.
And where does My God go fishing for resources to help us?
Is it the same resource pool as Elon Must, or a middle eastern Prince?
I mean that would be quite a resource!
No God has much better resources than that,
not just in quantity, but in quality.
They have alot of Money
But God has infinite glory in his hand! And he’s willing to share it!
“according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
That is an infinite supply of glory, that in Christ Jesus is made available to us.
Which means sometimes God meets our needs by changing our circumstances.
And sometimes by changing us.
Sometimes through money.
Sometimes through endurance.
Sometimes through contentment.
Sometimes through suffering.
Sometimes even through death as Paul is about to find out.
But always through Christ.
Always what we need.
Always leading us into his glory.
And what we need is not more money when we have given money - we need more of Christ Jesus.
Giving, then, becomes an act of faith.
You are entrusting your future to God.
You are saying:
“I don’t ultimately provide for myself.”
“The Lord is my shepherd.”
I can give sacrificially and geenrously to God of my money, becasue I know I don’t ulitmately need it!
What I need is more of Jesus.
I trust God will provide what I need to entre eternal glory with him!
I trust his glory is infinite and that in Christ JEsus he is willing to eternally share it with me.
What i need now is to be sure of that glory with Jesus,
and moeny wont help us be sure of our eternal salvation - in fact often it’s a hinderance.
So give - becasue God has you - you can trust him -
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Giving shows we truely trust God.
Withhold it and you are missing out, not just now, but if you truely love momey more than God, then you are going to miss out eternally.
Pause
Jesus the son of God did not come to earth in riches.
He gave up even the glory of heaven.
Such is is love for us, and his trust in God the Father.
He even sacrifices his life as a pleasing offering to God in worship, for the sins of those who repent and believe in him.
Don’t hold onto your money like an idol.
Give - as Jesus gave himself for you.
Becaue it shows that you trust the sacrifice Jesus made, and the glory that now awaits you.
Apply
If you’re not giving - please don’t give becasue the church has asked.
If that’s the only reason you want to give - then turn to Jesus - you need him far more than than gospel workers need your money.
But if you don’t give, or you’ve felt you might be holding back in generosity - don’t miss out says Paul in what is an incredible joy.
So why do Christians give?
Not out of guilt.
Not under compulsion.
Not because the church needs cash.
We give because:
It is how we love one another.
It is how we worship God. who is worthy
It is how we trust our Father.
And ultimately, because Christ first gave himself for us.
The Son of God did not cling to his riches.
He became poor for our sake.
He gave everything —
so that we might be rich in grace.
Once you see that,
generosity stops feeling like loss.
It starts to feel like gratitude and joy.
If you are missing out on sharing in our gospel work - don’t delay.
repent for your lack of worship in this area and go home and pray and set-up a stangin order. It’s all the church website.
If you give but are lacking generosity - we can do the same.
If you can only afford £10pm and you think it wont make a diffference - remeber the amount is literally not the point!
Your own worship and trust in God is the issue. So samll or large - give for your own sake - so that it may be crediited to your eternal account.
Igniters. If you get pocket money, set a monthly reminder to take out some and ask your parents to give it to the church
Or finally,
If you are a genrous giver according to your means - well then don’t forget to pray about your giving each month or week.
Remind yourselve how worthy God is,
Fill your heart with the joy of the riches God has givne you in Christ.
Pray that prayer from 1 Chronicles 29 11.
Pray
Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns.’
