Supply & Sacrifice
Devotions for Growing Christians
Supply & Sacrifice
Philippians 4:14-19 - “Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 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; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and even more; 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. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Introduction
In the last section of the apostle Paul’s letter to the Christians at Philippi, we have one of the great promises of Scripture for the believer: “My God will meet [supply] all your needs.” Wow! That’s a wonderful promise! Can I claim that promise for healing when I’m sick? Can I claim it for financial prosperity? Can I claim it for extra strength I need to win an athletic contest? Are there limits to this promise? Are there any exceptions?
Right from the start, we should notice that God doesn’t promise to supply all our wants - but all our needs! Even so, that’s a huge promise, especially if I define my “needs” by American standard of living! It’s obvious that we need to look more closely at the context to properly interpret this verse, define the limits of the promise, and see the connection between supply and sacrifice.
Background Notes
There were several reasons why Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians. He wrote to encourage the believers in their faith. In addition, a rift had developed in the congregation, so he also wrote to encourage them to find a solution to the problem. Another important purpose was to thank the believers for the financial help they had sent him. Epaphroditus had been entrusted with the gift, and he had traveled all the way from Philippi to Rome to bring it to Paul. At this time Paul was under house arrest in Rome. Accused of being a Christian and disturbing the peace in Jerusalem, he was awaiting his trial before Caesar.
During this imprisonment Paul was allowed to live in his own rented house, but a Roman soldier was chained to the apostle at all times. How long do you think you could be chained to the apostle Paul before hearing the gospel?! As a result, the whole Praetorian Guard heard of Christ (Philippians 1:13)! This reminds me of my seminary days, when President Ford’s son, Mike, was studying at the same seminary. Like the Roman guards assigned to Paul, Mike’s Secret Service “guards” had no choice - they had to sit in with him in the seminary classes, and as a result they heard solid Christian teaching and doctrine!
Paul thanked the Philippian believers for sharing with him in his time of distress. He remembered that they were the only group of believers who had shared with him in earlier days. Not one other church had given to meet his needs (4:15)!
When Paul said “in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel” (v15),he was referring to his visit to Philippi on his second missionary journey, about 10 years earlier. Paul was staying in Troas, on the coast of what is now Turkey, and he received a special message from the Lord to cross the Aegean Sea and bring the gospel to Macedonia. Paul didn’t delay. He set out immediately, and arrived at Philippi, “a Roman colony and the chief city of that district of Macedonia” (Acts 16:11-12). And it was at Philippi that the gospel was proclaimed in Europe for the first time! (See Acts 16.)
When Paul left Philippi he went on to Thessalonica, where he stayed for 2 or 3 weeks (Acts 17). During this time the Philippians sent financial help to Paul - on more than one occasion (v17). And when Paul moved on to Corinth, the Philippian church continued to support him (2 Corinthians 11:9).
Verses 20-23 are the conclusion to the letter. “To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” Verse 20 is a wonderful doxology!
In the closing salutation (v21-22), notice that Paul said, “Greet everyone...” Paul did not play favorites! He wanted every believer in the Philippian church to receive his greetings and his benediction (v23). “The brothers who are with me send greetings.” These brothers would include Timothy, Epaphroditus and other members of Paul’s team. From verse 22 we learn that the gospel had penetrated into Caesar’s household, perhaps through the guards who were “forced” to listen to the gospel while chained to the apostle Paul!
Doctrinal/Teaching Points:
1. God is pleased with all the sacrifices of generous Christians.
“The gifts you sent...are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God” (v18). Notice that the generosity of the Philippian believers, and their giving to the work of the Lord, was regarded as worship. Just as the bringing of sacrifices in the Old Testament was the way of worship, so giving to the Lord’s work today is not just an act of service - it is an act of worship. It’s worship that pleases the Lord! This is also mentioned in Hebrews 13:16: “Do not forget to... share with others, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
But our giving can’t be a “sacrifice” if it doesn’t cost us anything! If we only give “what’s left over” to the Lord, the language of sacrifice loses its meaning. We know that the Philippian believers gave sacrificially, because Paul used them as a model for Christian giving when he wrote to the church at Corinth. “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given to the Macedonian churches [Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea]. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and theextreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability” (2 Corinthians 8:1-3).
They gave as much as they were able - and then they gave even more! No wonder God blessed them! And God will bless us, too, if we give sacrificially, because God is well pleased with this kind of sacrifice.
Notice that Paul said he was glad they had sent the gift to him - not just so his needs would be met, but because of the fruit that would be “credited to their account” (v17). Are you wondering why you’re not experiencing God’s blessing and fruit in your life? Well, ask yourself, How’s my record of giving to the Lord? Am I stingy -- or am I generous? This passage teaches us that fruitful Christians give willingly and sacrificially to the work of the Lord. God is pleased with all the sacrifices of generous Christians.
2. God will supply all the needs of generous Christians.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (v19). Now there’s a great promise! Can believers always claim this promise? Yes - but notice the context!
What do we mean, “context”? When we want to discover the meaning of a verse, we shouldn’t just take that single verse out of its setting and decide what we think it should mean! Scripture was not given to us in single sentences. It was given in a “context” - in the surrounding verses, and in entire books. So when we want to interpret a single verse, we should look at the setting - the surrounding verses, and the chapter, and the book. The surrounding verses are the background, or the context, of any verse we want to interpret.
The promise of Philippians 4:19 is given in the context of sacrificial giving to the Lord’s work.
A few years ago a couple of my former Bible College students, now married, called me and told me that God was not fulfilling His promises to them. When I asked what they meant, they said that they were having financial trouble, and couldn’t pay their bills. They said they had claimed the promise of Philippians 4:19 - in fact, they had written out the promise and fastened it to their refrigerator. But every time they went to their empty refrigerator they were reminded that God was not keeping His promise to meet their needs!
What do you think I said to them? You might think that I said, “God doesn’t say He’ll meet all our wants, but all our needs.” No, I didn’t say that, because of course food is a basic need. Rather, I told this couple that they couldn’t claim the promise of Philippians 4:19! What?! I could almost hear their gasps of amazement over the phone. You see, I knew this couple pretty well. As students they had been very active in Christian service. They both had leadership abilities and other spiritual gifts, and they generously used their time and gifts for the Lord. But once they were married, their generous giving of themselves came to a standstill - in fact, even their church attendance had become sporadic.
So I explained the context of Philippians 4:19 to this young couple. This wonderful promise was made to believers who were giving sacrificially to the Lord! This promise was not made to selfish Christians - it was made to giving Christians! So Christians who are selfish or unconcerned about others can’t claim this promise! When Christians give nothing of themselves to the Lord, they’re not eligible to claim the promise.
This couple didn’t have much money to give, but they could give time and talent. They could give time and use their spiritual gifts for leading youth or teaching Sunday School. I challenged them to get involved again, and to start giving of themselves.
Are you a giving Christian, or are you a selfish believer? Are you giving nothing at all to the Lord, or maybe giving just whatever money you can easily spare? Are you selfishly hoarding the time and gifts you could use in your church fellowship, or in a home Bible study, or in helping a sick or elderly believer or neighbor? Are you unconcerned about the needs of hurting believers in other countries, or the needs of fellow-believers who have gone to other lands to share the gospel?
The Old Testament prophet Malachi told the Lord’s people that they were “robbing” the Lord. They asked the Lord, “How do we rob You?” And the Lord replied, “In tithes and in offerings.... Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it’” (Malachi 3:8-9)!
The apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Corinth that if they gave generously to the Lord, He would richly reward them. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). What an amazing, comprehensive promise: all grace - all things - at all times - all that you need!
Try proving the Lord in this area! What will the result be, if we give generously, and in return receive “all that we need” from the Lord? The end of the verse tells us. The result will be that we “will abound in every good work”! And thus we’ll bring further joy and glory to our Lord! God will supply the needs of generous believers.
Practical Applications
1. Remember the little prepositions of Scripture!
Notice that verse 19 does not say that God will supply our needs “out of” His riches in Christ Jesus. He promises that He will supply our needs “according to” His riches in Christ Jesus. There’s a big difference, and it’s based on the little Greek preposition.
An illustration will help us see the meaning. If I were a multimillionaire, and I gave you a gift “out of” my riches, that gift amount might only be a single dollar! But if I were to give a gift to you “according to” - or in relation to - my riches, you’re going to get a very large amount of money!
If you’re a giving believer, you can be sure that God is going to bless you - not just “out of” His riches, but “according to” His glorious riches in Christ Jesus! Remember the little prepositions in Scripture!
2. Have you signed up for the best pension plan yet?
As people get older, they begin to get concerned about financial security for their senior years. Some people lose sleep over the situation - even Christians! Well, I’ve got good news for you. You can sign up right now for the best pension plan available. What are we talking about? Philippians 4:19, of course! If you’re a ”giving Christian,” you’ll have the best “benefit package” available.
When I left my career as a research scientist to work full time in Christian ministry, I realized that I no longer had a pension plan, a 401K, or retirement benefits, so the promise of Philippians 4:19 was very encouraging. I was signed up for the very best pension plan! “God will meet all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus!”
You don‘t have to leave your job and go into full time ministry to get into this pension plan - but you do have to be a Christian who gives. Have you signed up for the best pension plan yet?
- Dave Reid