Receiving Gracefully

Reading: Philippians 4:10-20
Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. Philippians 4:17 (NIV)

I.   A loving Exchange

     A.  We all need to love and Be Loved

           1.  God made us in such a way that we can’t live without love.

           2.  We need to love and be loved.

                 a.  Paul rejoices greatly in the Lord (v.10) for the expression of love from Philippi

           3.  Sometimes we’d rather be independent.

     B.  Sharing each other’s Troubles

           1.  Paul commends the Philippians for sharing in his troubles (v.14).

           2.  As a spiritual family we are supposed to share in each other’s troubles.

           3.  That means sometime I share in your troubles, sometimes you share in mine.

     C.  On the Receiving end (sometimes)

           1.  There is no such thing as giving, unless there is someone on the receiving end!

           2.  Sometimes we will be on the receiving end.

           3.  Sometimes this makes us uncomfortable.

                 a.  Paul recognizes that he didn’t really need the generosity of the Philippians. (vv. 11, 17)

                 b.  Paul accepts the gift anyway, recognizing that he has the opportunity to be the object of their sacrificial love, which will help deepen their relationship with God and enhance their eternal reward.

II.  Humble enough to receive

     A.  Lonely self-sufficiency

           1.  We admire and make heroes out of the lone ranger,

                 a.  We like “do-it-all-by-myself” bravery, courage and independence.

           2.  The trouble with complete self-sufficiency is that it is lonely.

                 a.  Both the path and the achievement are lonesome.

                 b.  But God did not make us to be self-sufficient “It is not good to be alone.”

           3.  Financial, social and personal independence is not an ideal but a disease.

                 a.  As much as we deem each other unnecessary, or obstacles to maturity, that’s how much we’re lonely, foolish and vulnerable to our own smallness.

                 b.  Our word “idiot” comes from a Greek word meaning “on one’s own” or “by yourself.”

     B.  That Ego thing

           1.  “I don’t take charity” we spit out in fierce refusal of help.

                 a.  It’s arrogant pride that refuses a loving gesture.

           2.  We assume that if we need or accept help it will diminish our self-worth somehow.

                 a.  We value independence over love.

           3.  We brush aside the expressions of someone else’s love as if they were an offense.

                 a.  But when we turn down someone’s gift, we turn down their love.

                 b.  At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality,” 2Cor.8:14

     C.  Carrots and Balloon animals

           1.  This week I was on the receiving end of not only a lot of hospitality, but of several special gifts.

                 a.  One of them was a beautiful, finely crafted Christmas wreath for our family from our Ladies Aid.

                 b.  We received it as an expression of love, not as a statement about our ability to decorate our own home!

           2.  Two more gifts:

                 a.  A bag of carrots (We aren’t short on food!)

                 b.  A balloon animal (What’s this for?!)

           3.  Stale rice and tough chicken.

                 a.  Eating at a poor family’s table.

III. Thanks and Joy

     A.  Thanks for the Gift

           1.  Just say “thanks” (not “no”)

                 a.  Even if you don’t think you need it! (v.11)

                 b.  Receiving a gift is an opportunity to affirm someone’s act of love.

           2.  Don’t rob others of the joy of giving.

                 a.  v.17 Glad to be a part of your blessing!

                 b.  What the Philippians gave Paul received as a gift to God (v.18)!

           3.  Say thanks to the person giving, but also to God who gives through them.

     B.  Rejoice in the Love

           1.  Look past the gift to the love and concern behind it (v.10).

           2.  Love is an interchange. Paul rejoices in the fact that he can be a part of someone else’s loving expression.

           3.  In receiving what God gives through people, we receive God’s love too.

     C.  Enjoy God’s Creative providence

           1.  As the flood waters rose a man prayed that God would rescue him.

                 a.  A canoe came by . . .No I’ll wait. A rescue boat came by . . .No I’ll wait. A helicopter came by. . .No I’ll wait.

                 b.  The man drowned and went to heaven and asked God why he didn’t rescue him. “I sent a canoe a boat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?

           2.  We can expect God to provide in creative ways — usually through His people.

           3.  Sometimes, like with carrots and balloon animals, he provides what we don’t need, or know we need — just for the fun of it!

The Bottom Line:

.