The Blessing of Giving

Intro

This is the second week in a row we’re talking about money. Last week, we covered how Paul chose to be content regardless of his financial status. It is God’s strength that enabled him to do such a thing.

This week we turn our attention over to those who give to Paul’s ministry, and before we ever get there, I want to start out with a word of thanks. Thank you, church body, for your generous giving. I am so grateful that you give to the mission of Cassville Baptist Church. I’m thankful to have a salary so I can care for my family. I’m thankful to be able to dedicate all of my work hours to the local church.

Now, it’s not your money I’m after. It’s your partnership in the Gospel. I don’t say this as if I would be incomplete if I didn’t get a full-time salary. You remember when I began just over a year ago, you chose me to be your pastor. And you’ve made ministry possible since even before my time.

But again, let me state… This isn’t about the money. I don’t seek the money you give, but rather, I want to see you, Cassville Baptist Church, to be full and mature disciples. All of us need to learn how to trust God with our finances. And when we do so, I know God will care for our every need.

Now, if you’re paying attention, I used Paul’s framework to say what I want to say to you, brothers and sisters.

ETS: Paul thanked the Philippians for their gift of support for his ministry, demonstrating that giving is an act that benefits spiritual health and that in so doing, God would care for their every need.

Let’s break down this Scripture together. First, we must:

Give When You See a Need

Philippians 4:14 (ESV)

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.

Philippians 4:16 (ESV)

Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.

The first piece we see here is Paul’s acknowledgment of the Philippians’ care for Paul in his need. As Paul is experiencing a real need in his ministry, as he spends his time under house arrest, it’s a very good thing that Paul received support from the Philippians.

And we see also in v. 15, that this partnership had lasted quite a while. If you go back and read Acts 16 and 17, you’ll see the point in history that Paul is referring to. He also mentions this pattern of support in 2 Corinthians 11.

Paul points out this pattern of giving in the Philippians, and as he does, he is exposing an attitude in the Philippians that all of us should aspire toward: Giving at the hint of a need! Remember Paul’s qualifiers. He didn’t have a great need as some do. He wasn’t starving or anything like that. He had what he needed to be content. But the way he puts it, as soon as the Philippians heard that there was even the possibility that Paul was in need (namely, that Paul was under house arrest) they took up a collection and sent it to Paul.

This is the standard for Church Giving. And I am very glad to report that our church is a very kind and giving church! Each time I have asked our church body to consider giving to a love offering or asked that we use church funds toward certain efforts, we have had a fantastic attitude, and a generous response. I rejoice that God has blessed our hearts with generosity.

I would also like to point out an area where we may need some work: It’s real easy to turn a blind eye to those struggling to pay bills. How are we doing at giving money to those in dire need?

We are not to ignore poverty! Whether in our own lives or in a brother’s or sister’s. For Paul, he spoke of times where he was in need, and he had no problem relying upon his brothers and sisters in Christ for receiving their help. It’s not like Paul was lazy. He was a tent-maker and would often fall back on that for extra income. But he also took support from the church. And even commanded the church to support those who could not provide for themselves.

I encourage you, church, let us not be unwilling to care for those in need. And let us not be afraid to ask if we are in need.

How do we determine if someone is truly in need? That’s another great question, and one that goes beyond the scope of what we can talk about today, but what I will say is there can be times in which giving to a person who will squander money is wrong, but there are times which we are also not called to worry about that question, but to be sincerely obedient.

Let us be known for our generosity. Develop discernment, yes, but don’t use discernment as an excuse to never give to someone in need.

Someone might ask about giving to the homeless. Listen, if you’ve got issues worrying about how someone will spend the money you give them, here’s what I want you to do right after the service: Go to McDonald’s and order a bunch of $5 Gift Cards. If you feel like you’re enabling someone with an addiction problem by giving cash, then get a McDonald’s card and practice care for those who can’t eat.

Another way you can actively help? Some of you work off a budget. Consider building into your budget not only your church giving, but consider how you can set aside a fund that is there strictly to help others in need. You just put that in its own special account, and pray to God to show you how to use that fund. You may build up that fund to be $1600 someday and still be wondering, “What does God want me to do with this money?” And then you hear of someone struggling to pay bills has a car problem that’s gonna cost $1600 to fix. And all of a sudden, that’s when you know what God had you saving that money for.

I don’t know! Why don’t you think about setting money aside, asking God, “How would You like to see this used, Father?”

Let us be known as generous people, willing to care for those in need. That’s one aspect of what we should give to. The next is:

Give for Kingdom Growth

Philippians 4:15 (ESV)

And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.

PAUSE: Let’s consider who the Philippian Church is: Reminder that the first converts in Philippi were a formerly demon-possessed slave, a business woman, and a jailer. This church, which began with such small means, is now able to collect enough to send for Paul’s wellbeing. We don’t know the state of the Church at Philippi, how big it is, or anything along those lines, but we know that they had a heart for generosity toward the advancement of the Kingdom through Paul.

I believe God blessed this church for their generosity. Even when no other church was partnering with Paul in his journeys, the Philippians saw the need Paul had, and stepped out in faith, believing God could use their money to further His Kingdom.

We should look to the Kingdom with open and generous hearts. Whether that be missionaries or church planters… You know, at this stage in my life, I’ve begun thinking about investment opportunities and all that boring financial stuff. I look at successful investments and I think, “Well, why didn’t I get in on that sooner? Anyone could’ve seen that coming!”

We should look at missionaries and church planters with those same eyes: “How can I get in on that? Kingdom success is on the horizon. I want in on supporting that!!” There is no investment that grows like Kingdom investment. Today’s investments will leave you when you die. Today’s investments are loss. Kingdom investments are eternal.

I heard the other day of a Sunday school class talking about how we can give MORE as a church body to missions! One asked about how much we give to the Cooperative Program. Look, at our next Church Conference, I’m going to ask our church to consider getting on a budget plan to increase our giving to missions through the SBC Cooperative Program, year-by-year, up to a goal of 10% of giving toward missions, local, national, and international. More to come on that.

The second verse in this point is vital for us to get right. One piece on me and other pastors, any leader in the church, really. The other point on those who give.

Philippians 4:17 (ESV)

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

This first part: “Not that I seek the gift...” How many times does Paul have to qualify his thankfulness to the Philippians?

The answer? As many times as he needs to. This is the kind of heart you need to see in those you consider spiritual leaders. Paul wants to make absolutely clear that it’s not the money that he is so concerned with.

And it needs to be a point that I make, because look, I take a salary from the church. Those of you who have been around the church for a while likely take this as a given, but not everyone has experience with the church. I am asked often by people unfamiliar with church life “what I do.” Yeah, I’m a pastor. “Yeah, but like, don’t you have a job?”

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The second portion has to do with what happens after the church gives: their “credit increases.”

So they can buy a better house at a lower interest rate now, right?

No. Spiritual credit! Meaning growth as disciples. Christian, the more you tear yourself from the love of this world and its riches and pleasures, the more you grow in Christlikeness. When you give, it does something to affect your holiness. When you give, it does something to grow you in Christ. Paul loves their partnership because he knows it’s good for them!

This just sounds like a scandal, right? I’m one of those guys who doesn’t trust salesmen. I’m ALWAYS looking for “how they get you.” So when I hear a sentence like that, I have to check myself! Because it sounds like that point where the salesman says, “Oh, look, at the rate I’m selling this to you, I’ve lost all my profit, I’m just doing this out of the goodness of my heart.”

Yeah… If you need financial advice this morning, 9 times out of 10, that salesman is lying to you.

So if you’re like me and you’re thinking when you read this verse, “how am I getting swindled?” You’re not alone. Let me help you with that. This book was written well before modern sales tricks were invented. Paul is trustworthy on so many other accounts, you can trust him here. The early disciples were not living lavish lives off of the backs of church givers… They were poor, itinerant preachers, seeking to make Jesus known. They were not grifters. They called out grifters. That should help. This is a side point, but I know there are those of you out there like me, who have trouble trusting people with money.

We haven’t even gotten to the most hope-filled part of this passage yet… Here we go.

Give Because God will Care for your Every Need

Philippians 4:19–20 (ESV)

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul’s words here… Look, some of us have never tried a regular pattern of giving before. Some have never put this verse into practice. Look, our family practices giving. Yeah, I take a salary, but Katie and I give 10% right back to the church. I’m not saying this to brag, brothers and sisters, I’m saying this as an act of accountability before you. We practice the Old Testament pattern of tithing, which is the tenth of what you get goes to the Lord. The tithe is never renewed in the New Testament, so I’m not legalistic about it, but I think we all ought to consider it, and whether we *can’t* tithe or we *won’t* tithe. And if can’t or won’t, what *can* or *will* you do? I don’t say that as if tithing is morally superior. I say it simply as a starting place to guide you to what you can and want to give.

The best summation of New Testament giving I can find happen in two places. The first is

2 Corinthians 9:6–8 (ESV)

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

You heard the phrase, “You can’t outgive God?” I’m not gonna pick on this one. This is a good phrase. Keep it, use it, set it right in your heart.

The second is the story of Ananias and Saphira.

Remember the story of Ananias and Sapphira… TELL THE STORY… They found it difficult to surrender their stuff and it cost them their lives.

The problem is not that they didn’t give the whole of their proceeds to the church. The problem is that they lied about it and kept some back for themselves.

One final statistic before I bring it back around to the main thing:

Giving in the Great Depression was 3.3% of income per churchgoer.

Studies show that giving today is 2.5% of income per churchgoer.

What’s wrong with this picture?

All of that in view, when you consider giving, consider the One who gave it all for you. Is He worth all of that?