Contentment and Investment
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2 - Put Your Money Where Your ‘Hope’ Is - v14-18
2 - Put Your Money Where Your ‘Hope’ Is - v14-18
3 - Prosperity Gospel - v19
3 - Prosperity Gospel - v19
4 -
This last little section of Philippians is really a bit of a
1 - The Secret of Contentment - Rejoice in the Lord
1 - The Secret of Contentment - Rejoice in the Lord
2 - Return on Investments
2 - Return on Investments
thank you letter
3 - Prosperity Gospel
3 - Prosperity Gospel
v12 - Circumstances are the arean of spiritual growth
v12 - Circumstances are the arean of spiritual growth
to the Philippian church from Paul,
thanking them for their finacial support of his minisrty needs.
But it wouldn’t really be Paul if he didn’t take the oppertunity
to apply the theology he’s been teaching in the letter, to the situation at hand.
After all, that is the purpose of theology.
To apply our understanding of God and faith, to real life.
So there are a 3 main things Paul will teach us in this last part of his letter.
and you can find them on the back of the service sheet
if you’d like to take notes or jot down anything you’d like to ask me later or think about this week.
1 - The Secrect of Contentment.
2 - Put your Money Where Your Hope is
3 - The Prosperity Gospel
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
1 - The Secret of Contentment v10-13
1 - The Secret of Contentment v10-13
v10-13 is basically Paul saying
Thank you for your finaical support,
and even though I appretiate it,
don’t think money is the be all and end all of my life!
I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
He’s not implying they have ‘at last’ renewed their concern,
what he means is ‘at last you have had the opertunity to’ renew your concern.
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
And that is a good thing for me and you, as we’ll see in our second point.
But before he gets there, he encourages them in a lesson of contentment. v11
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
phil 4 11-
I’m in prision,
I’m having a tought time,
I didn’t have enough money until you sent me some,
and boy has it been tough.
BUT - says Paul - I’ve learnt the hard way, that I can be content in good and bad times!
It’s a bit like he’s keen to thank them for their support,
but doesn’t want them to then reflect of their own times of need and think God has forgotten them.
As we’ve seen all through Philippians,
our circumstances should not impact negatively on our faith
And as such they should not impact negatively on our faith in our salavtion through Jesus Christ our Lord.
in our salavtion through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Circumstances are the areana for spiritual growth
Use what happens ‘to you’ to grow in faith, to grow in contenetment in Christ.
, to grow contentment.
And so, circumstances are our areana for dpiritual growth, to grow contentment.
To learn the secret of contentlmetn.
Try not to dispair of God,
to begrudge Him,
or to doubt him when times are tough is Paul’s point.
But equally, do not forget him,
ignore him
or need him less
when times are good.
middle of v12
The New International Version Chapter 4
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
And how does he develop this contenment?
Well he’s told us all the way through Philippians.
It’s to know we are made right before God,
Righteous is the big word we’ve talked about lots.
Through Jesus alone.
Through his sufferings, his death on the cross,
Where Jesus took the just punishment of God upon himself on our behalf,
So that, just as Christ rose from the dead,
We too may rise to new life eternally with God,
Free and righteous before him.
We refer to these verses most weeks at the moment, but they are key to help us get this right.
It is Christ who saves us, not anything we can do!
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
It is Christ who saves us, not anythign we can do!
And to remmeber that stops us thinking our circumstances are negatively related to faith.
If you haven;t understood that before, and are still thinking that in some way you must ‘do’ somehting to be saved.
Think again!
The secret to contentment, to righteousness, to etenral life,
is to know you are save in and through the Lord Jesus, and Him alone.
Look how Paul sandwiches v11 to 12 about contentment,
with his demonstration of ‘how to remain content’.
Is it by striving harder to obey Jesus - as good as that is,
Is it by loving your neighbour more - as good as that is?
no.
I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
And
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
It’s through the continual rejocing in Christ,
And it’s through continual remembrance that it is the strength of Christ
- what he’s done -
that means we can move forward.
Be content in every situation.
In short - we need to preach the gospel to ourselves in any and every situation!
If we’re in need and someone has given us a gift to help!
Praise God - Of course thank the person who helped you, but primarily Rejoice in Christ!
And know that even in your poverty or sadness,
you have His strength for salvation,
meaning you have his strengtht to serve him all the more.
Or,
life is relaly comfortable for you,
Rejoice in Christ - for your wealth or comfort are meaningless compared to the riches of knowing Christ.
remind yourself that any good you can do for God and his church in your comfort
is still done in the strength of Christ!
say ironically
I’m wealthy, so I’m amazing becasue I can give more to the church!
Well, no not really says Paul!
God’s amazing, for in His strength you have found Christ,
and received salavtion,
And if that’s you’re attitute
- one of self-amazingness (that is a word I’m sure)
- then you’ve not learnt the secret of contentment at all!
You’ve learnt the secrect of prideful wealth!
The secret of contentment,
Whether in good or bad times, rich or poor, well or sick,
is to keep reminding yourself of the gospel.
Perhaps verse 1 of ‘amazing grace’ can help us learn this secret.
It lifts our rejoicing and strenght in Christ when we’re down,
And it lowers our pride and self-amazingness when we’re up!
Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
T'was blind but now I see
2 - Put Your Money Where Your ‘Hope’ Is - v14-18
2 - Put Your Money Where Your ‘Hope’ Is - v14-18
The New American Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (3) Adaptability (4:12)
3) Adaptability (4:12)
4:12 Circumstances were the arena of spiritual growth, and through them Paul developed adaptability. In this verse Paul presented three contrasts that provided the occasion for learning and explained the nature of contentment. The first and last speak to physical needs in general, while the middle refers to food. In these varied experiences, Paul displayed spiritual equilibrium. He was equally unaffected by poverty and riches. This knowledge is learned by walking with Christ, who is the sufficient one, and by developing a solid theology of material things. Things ultimately do not matter. Relationships matter. Paul’s attitude contrasted with the false teachers’. They were preoccupied with food and other earthly matters; Paul could rise above any set of circumstances.
Now, Paul probably feels slightly awkward that he’s tried to say thank you for their finacial support, and then told them that actually he’d have been content without their money.
In fact he’d have been contect either way really is his point!
But he really is thankful, so he says that again now!
But he really is thankful, so he says that again now!
But, he also can’t help himslef getting onto another really important point!
Have a listen.
Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
Oh, good, we did do the right thing, we sent him some money...
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.
-
Good, we are to give to him and help his spread the great news of Jesus.
In fact, it’s rather extraordianry Paul points out,
that given he was trying to take the amazing news of savaltion to other places,
you would think that all the churches that had accepted this amazing news,
would be keen to also support him as he went on!
But no - embarrissingly for all the others, it’s only Philippie that help!
Does that mean Philipie have somehow wasted their time supporting Paul.
None of the others did it, why should we.
They are now all better off than us, for they didn’t give money to gospel minisrties!
Well, no says Paul, Far from it.
In fact,
Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
Your giving is less about my needs is his point, although he did need what they sent;
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.
What you have given to gospel work is not a waste.
It is not like you have missed out comapred to others who haven’t given.
Sure you might not drive a new car,
or have as nice a house,
But you have something better.
You were prepared to put your money where your ‘hope’ is.
v17 again,
Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.
With language borrowed from the business world at the time this literally means this is a good business investment.
You’re not waseting your moeny, your return will be a good one!
And logically, those that havne;t given wont receive a return!
The Philipians are so thankful for the saving work of Jesus,
and have their hope firmly set on an eternal citizenship in heaven with Jesus,
that they put their money where that hope is!
And it’s a great investment say Paul.
GIving to gospel work out of a heart of thankfulness, generousity and hope - is, v18
The New International Version Chapter 4
a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
In a throw back to the OT sacrifices required of God’s people to pay for their sin,
Our NT modern eqivenlent is if you like, giving money!
God loves a cheerful giver.
We’ll look in a second at what the credit back to us looks like in our 3rd point.
But I want this to sink in.
I think there are 2 things to say here.
1 - Many people here do give very genrously to gospel work.
Thank you.
Church finances are doing well, and what’s the result?
As a church our finances are doing well, and what’s the result?
We have an assitiant pastor and familiy
Tim and Mary,
coming in Spetember,
We’re going to ask Tim to work really hard
to get us more involved in our community
so that many will hear the wonderful news of Jesus!
Many who never will otherwise!
Isn’t that extraodianry!
What a great return for your investment!
What a pleaseing sacrifice and offering that will be to God!
Thank you.
We aslo have a Pastor in Training, Adam and Lorna, also joining us in Septemenr!
Ee’ll be asking him to particularily think about how we establish newer chirstinas to be firm in their faith.
But, Not only will he extend ‘our’ gospel work in his part-time role here at GC,
But your giving will mean he is enabled to go to Bible college and have a lifetime of taking the gospel to wherever God puts him!
What a great return for your investment!
What a pleaseing sacrifice and offering that will be to God!
What a pleaseing sacrifice and offering that will be to God!
Thank you.
But
2ndly - Some of us are not giving generoulsy,
Which is a shame, because -
The more you give to gospel work the more God is glorifeid, and the more people are saved!
The more will be credited to your account!
I’m not going to guilt you into giving more - for that is not the point,
I want us to realise that giving to gospel work,
If it is done based on where our hipe truely is, and not just to look good, or feel good about oursleevs,
Then the return is great!
If you want to start giving,
please grab one of the giving leaflets from the welcome table,
Or if you want to increase your giving, then please, just adjust your Direct debit.
Over the next year, we’ll have various ways we can glorify God further as a church through our giving.
Rick and Esther will need support as they go to church plant in East London.
Mission partners across the world are always in need for valuable support for them or projects they are doing.
There may be local church plants we can get involved with,
We may need to reveiw Adam’s support as he trains with with us for 4 years.
Perhpas even our own building will be a Gospel serving idea in the next few years as we continue to outgrow this hall!
Perhpas even our own building will be a Gospel serving idea in the next few years as we continue to outgrow this hall!
What a great return for our investment!
What a great return all these things will be for your investement!
What a pleaseing sacrifice and offering they will be to God!
I nearly called this point simply - Put your money where your mouth is.
I nearly called this point simply - Put your money where your mouth is.
But there is an important reason I didn’t.
And that I think is because people love to talk about what they believe - becasue, certainly in our church circles, it makes us look good doesn’t it!
But do you know, what. If you are all talk about faith, and how committed you are, and it’s all for show, then you’re welcome to keep your money, becasue it
What a pleaseing sacrifice and offering that will be to God!
And finally,
3 - Prosperity Gospel - v19
3 - Prosperity Gospel - v19
Many misuse this passage to say,
as I have in fact,
Give the chruch your money!
and you’ll get more back in return,
v11-13 - Alwasy content in the Lord
The issue though is what does Paul mean by getting credit back, and what does he mean by v19.
Paul is amply supplied (his attiutde allows him to feel this - the situation isn’t great!). And so can we be content - not from our circustance but despite our circumstance.
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
What will God do for those that are finacially generous towards gospel work?
He will ‘meet all their needs’/
‘All’ is a big word,
And many TV (so called) evangelisst/healers, will promise every material blessing in return for your money!
Many churches will also promise material belssings inexchange for your money!
Many
Sure it’s all wrapped up in spiritual, language!
But health and wealth and comfort, the prosperity gosepl as it’s known,
is a false and evil teaching.
The ‘all’ Paul uses has to be taken in the context in which he gives it!
And Paul certainly isn’t expecting health, wealth or comfort from God!
He’s in prison,
he has just said he’s often in financial need,
he has ‘good’ times and ‘bad times’!
The ‘all’ Paul is talking about,
is the ‘all’ that we need to live the life God wants us to life.
And in Philippians, that is a life ‘worthy of the gospel that we have recieved’.
A life that is content in every situation.
A Life that loves others before ourselves.
A life that enables us to give genrously.
A life that is pressing on towards obediecne to Christ.
A life that remains faithful to our Faithful Christ, who alone saves us.
There is a true prosperity Gospel - but it’s so much better than health and wealth and comfort!
So much better than riches and fame.
So much better than any other lie and deceptions this world has to offer!
So much better than any amount of hard work you can do to acheive something!
This prosperity Gospel is an eternal and gloruous life with Christ,
who saves us freely when we did not deserve it.
A Prospertiy that encapsulates all we’ve been reminded of in Philippians:
A Prosperity that wakes you up everyday full of rejoicing in Christ,
A prosperity that gives us peace when we’re in danger,
A prosperity that gives Contenment when we’re poor,
A prosperity that gives Hope when we’re dying,
A prosperity that gives Joy when we’re mourning
A prosperity that gives forgiveness when backsliding
A prosperity that gives assurance when we’re doubting
A prosperity that gives righetousness to the wicked
A prosperity that gives us love towards an enemy
A prosperity that gives access to the full riches of Christs glory
A prosperity that gives access to the full riches of Christs glory
A prosperity that gives us the strength of Christ, to do what we’re called to do,
A prosperity that gives us, well, ALL we need.
v14-19 - Putting your money where your mouth is, earns crdit in heaven. - payment according to Christ’s riches v19
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Every Need
A prosperity that gives us, well, ‘ALL’ we need.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter to the Philippians VIII. Thanks for Gifts from Partners (4:10–20)
And yet, Paul’s prayer for the Philippians and his pastoral instruction demonstrate that the needs of the Philippians include more than their material needs. Paul prays that their love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight (1:9). He urges them to be like-minded (2:2), to have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had (2:5), to rejoice in the Lord (3:1; 4:4), and to let [their] gentleness be evident to all (4:5). These prayers and challenges point to the spiritual needs of the Philippians. By stressing that God would meet all their needs, Paul is including the whole spectrum of needs, both material and spiritual.
Every need
So, I don’t think there could be more fiititng way to end our series in Philippians
The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Epistle to the Philippians VIII. Paul’s Thanks for the Philippians’ Gift (4:10–20)
Paul had earlier prayed that the readers’ ‘love might abound more and more’ and that they might ‘be filled (πεπληρωμένοι) with the fruit (καρπόν) of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ (διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ)—to the glory and praise of God (εἰς δόξαν καὶ ἔπαινον θεοῦ)’ (1:9–11). Now in 4:17–20, where he ‘seeks the fruit (καρπόν) that increases to [their] credit’ and looks to God to fill (πληρώσει) their every need, there are linguistic and thematic links (e.g., riches, glory, and the mediation of Jesus Christ) with 1:9–11, while the affirmation (v. 19) and its doxology (v. 20) seem to correspond to the movement of that earlier passage and provide the answer to the intercessory prayer. The prayer report of 1:9–11 anticipates ‘rather fully the concerns and exhortations’ that follow; the second unit (4:19–20) helps to bracket the main part of the letter. It forms a climax and completes those concerns ‘in a soaring utterance of trust and praise, that would leave the readers with a sense of incalculable blessings still ahead’.
than simply to say.
Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, Rejoice.
PRAY