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Enjoying Life In A (Mostly)
Joyless World
Enjoy Life By Counting On God To Meet Your Needs
Philippians 4:14-20
Introduction: Tax Time
It’s everyone’s favorite
time of the year—Tax Time! There are some positive parts to
the tax preparation period. Whether you have carefully documented
your records during the year or have to work through the piles
of receipts stored in a shoebox, it is a great opportunity
to review your finances from the previous year and plan adjustments
as you move ahead. Some people even make the delightful discovery
they have a refund coming.
I have also found that it is a good time to celebrate
God’s faithfulness in His provision. You may have times during
any given year when you wonder how you are going to make ends
meet. As you look back you find that, for the most part, somehow,
they have.
We finish our series in Philippians today. We have
spent several weeks investigating how to enjoy life in a very
joy-challenged world. Paul wrote to the church in Philippi
to express his thanks to them. It seems he was motivated to
write to acknowledge receiving a special gift from them. He
certainly didn’t have a shoe box into which he had tossed
the receipt when he received the gift. But, his memory of
the gift spurs him into action as he expresses his thanks
to them and celebrates God’s faithful provision. The key verse
for this morning is,
And my God will meet all your needs according
to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 NIV
This may be the greatest promise in the Bible.
Every other promise can be placed in a category
that fits under God’s promise to meet all our needs. This
includes spiritual, emotional and relational needs as well
as physical and financial. Why then do Christians
still have needs? Why do needs go on unfulfilled
and unmet? Is Paul wrong? Is God misleading us? Is God lying
to us? These are serious questions (charges) deserving sincere
answers.
The answer begins to take shape when we see this
isn’t a universal, unconditional promise. It
is a promise that comes with a premise. There are conditions
to be met as God says, “If you do this, then I will do that.”
We would love to take the promise of verse 19 while ignoring
the premise found in verses 14-18. As it is applies specifically
to the Philippians in the area of finances, Paul assures them
that God is going to honor their sacrificial giving by meeting
their needs. Without the sacrifice they aren’t going to receive
the blessing of God taking care of their needs.
I want to be crystal clear. This is not a prosperity
gospel message promising you that God will reward you in miraculous
ways because you give a seed-faith gift to this church. My hope is that this will be a clear explanation of what it means to express
our love, sometimes sacrificially, to God and in the process
become the joy-filled recipients of God fulfilling His promise
to provide for our needs.
The Premise: I Must Be Generous To Others (vv. 14-18)
The premise to God’s promise of provision is that
I must first be generous. This premise if presented in other
places in the Bible.
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes
others will himself be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25 NIV
Give, and it will be given to you. A
good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over,
will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use,
it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38
NIV
Paul reminds us that God isn’t obligated to meet our needs. In no way are we entitled to receive God’s blessing. Just because God
has it, He isn’t required to give it. What we find is that
when we obey God in the matter of giving God promises to meet
our needs. That means we can short circuit God’s work in our
lives. We can restrict the flow of God’s blessing by being
stingy.
God values generosity. Paul presents three reasons
for being generous.
1st Reason: My Giving Is An Encouragement To
Others (vv. 14-16)
The Philippian church had a special place in Paul’s
heart because of how they had encouraged him through their
generosity.
Yet it was good of you to share in my
troubles. 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 again and again when
I was in need. Philippians
4:14-16 NIV
The church at Philippi wasn’t a wealthy church.
That was far from the case. They experienced a deep level
of poverty. Yet, in their poverty, they were big-hearted and
generous in their giving. Their giving encouraged him. Giving
encourages the recipient and makes the giver available for
God’s blessing. Think about two practical results of giving.
1st Result: Giving
Provides A Wider Ministry Than We Normally Would Have
Early in this letter Paul thanked them for their
partnership in the gospel (Philippians 1:5). Supporting Paul
financially extended their influence for the gospel far beyond
their city.
We understand this. We help in providing support for Paul and Jennie Minter
to go to Papua New Guinea and are part of translating the
New Testament into the language of the people. We provide
financial assistance to help in reaching a previously unreached
group of people and are part of the team making their initial
contacts with people. Listen to this note from the ministry
leader to you (text of letter not included here out of security
concerns for the team). We help to make 15,000 Wordless Book
Bracelets and serve as part of the team that will gather to
assist Mike Silva in San Pedro Sula, Honduras in a few weeks.
When we give we become partners with those who
are directly involved with the ministry.
2nd Result: Giving
Makes Us Like Jesus
Jesus was a giver. He was sacrificial in His giving.
Giving is one of the most Christ-like things you can do. The
Philippian church had a reputation for giving. We will see
more about this before we finish. Paul pointed to them as
an example for others. They gave out of poverty. They gave
more than they ever could have been expected to give. Centuries
later their reputation testifies to an example that honors
the giving nature of our gracious God.
2nd Reason: My Giving Is An Investment In The
Future (v. 17)
Paul makes it clear that he isn’t fishing for another
gift.
Not that I am looking for a gift, but
I am looking for what may be credited to your account. Philippians
4:17 NIV
Paul wants them to know that giving benefits the
giver, too. He wants to make sure they receive what has been
credited to their account. This is a banking term referring
to accumulated interest.
The gifts they had given were the investment, but
it’s important to note that God pays interest. How much interest?
In the Parable of the Sower Jesus said the seed
returned a crop that was 30, 60 or even 100 times what was
planted. I think I have the interest calculated correctly
when I tell you that 100 times as much is 10,000% interest.
Would you invest some money if you knew that you could earn
that much interest?
Let’s be clear: Paul isn’t a first-century Bernie
Madoff scamming people with a Ponzi scheme. Paul doesn’t deal with financial investments for this life; he deals with
spiritual investments in heaven. What you give is noted
in heaven. It may be a cup of cold water for someone who is
thirsty. It may be a coat you no longer need but the person
receiving it rejoices as he wears it. Every time you are generous
with people you know and people you don’t, it is recorded
and rewarded. It is an investment upon which the Bank of Heaven
pays interest.
There is only one problem: if you don’t make the investment ,you don’t receive any interest.
Look at what Paul wrote to Timothy.
Command those who are rich in this present
world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,
which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly
provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them
to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for
themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that
they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy
6:17-19 NIV
Invest in the sure thing. God’s bank never goes
bankrupt.
3rd Reason: My Giving Is A Sacrifice To God
(v. 18)
Paul celebrated the gift they had sent to him.
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. Philippians 4:18 NIV
God is pleased when we give. Paul says it is a
fragrant offering.
This refers back to the Old Testament system of sacrifices. When the offering
was found to be acceptable it was placed on the altar. As
it burned it produced an aroma the people could smell. When
you give, God is pleased with the sacrifice you offer to Him.
Like the smell of popcorn popping or cookies baking, we enjoy
the fragrance of pleasing God.
It is beautiful to be one who offers an acceptable
sacrifice to God.
That’s the premise. The premise comes before the
promise. You can’t claim the assurance of verse 19 without
the obedience explained in verses 14-18. God loves a generous
giver and, in return, promises to be generous.
The Promise: God Will Meet All Our Needs (v. 19)
This is the ultimate insurance policy for followers
of Jesus. It’s God’s warranty assuring us we will receive
what is promised.
And my God will meet all your needs according
to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 NIV
Consider The Source Of The
Promise
God Himself is the source of the blessing. God
is far more than an invisible force. He is a person. He is
a personal God. That’s why Jesus told us that when we pray
we can come to Him saying, “Our Father.” As the heavenly Father
He is aware of your needs. He has a vantage point where nothing
escapes His awareness. He knows and understands and cares
about your needs. He assumes the responsibility for the needs
of His children.
Consider The Scope Of The
Promise
God will meet all your needs. All means everything.
And there is no doubt that God fulfills His promise. He doesn’t
say that God might consider possibly checking into what He
might be able to do to meet your needs. The promise is simple
and clear: God will meet all your needs. If the premise has been satisfied, you
can count on the promise. If you are a consistent, generous
giver, God promises His provision.
This verse has been twisted in a couple of ways trying to make it say something it was
never meant to say.
The Promise Doesn’t Overrule The Consequences Of Laziness
This verse was never intended as an excuse to sit
with your hands folded waiting for God to miraculously provide
for your needs. People will claim this promise and settle
back saying, “I’m just waiting for God to meet my needs.”
That’s not contentment
in the provision of God. That’s complacency that presumes
upon the grace of God. God never promised to meet your
needs if you sit around and do nothing. Look at Paul’s advice
on this subject. Citing his own example he wrote,
When we were with you, we gave you this
rule: "Anyone who refuses to work should not eat." 2 Thessalonians
3:10 NCV
The Promise Doesn’t Include Wants
There is
a big difference between needs and wants.
In 1890 Americans were asked what they thought were the basic needs for life.
16 items were identified as necessary for living. About 100
years later the survey was taken again. This time Americans
identified 98 items that were necessary to survive. Ironically,
as life became easier the items thought necessary for survival
increased.
Our wants turn into needs far too easily. As we
have more, we want more. Not wanting to appear selfish or
greedy we convince ourselves that our wants are actually needs.
God doesn’t overrule laziness and He doesn’t promise to satisfy
our wants.
There are also two false ideas about money and what God wants us to have.
God Doesn’t Promise To Make Everyone Rich
It would be great to be able to stand here and
tell you, “Do this and God will make you rich.” The only problem
with that one is that it isn’t true. The prosperity gospel
is a false gospel.
God Doesn’t Prefer That Everyone Be Poor
At the other extreme are those who preach that
it is never God’s will for anyone to be rich. What God really
wants is for everyone to take a vow of poverty, give everything
away and live on the bare minimum. That extreme is equally
false.
God promises to take care of your legitimate needs. That covers a lot of territory. It covers financial needs but it also
covers physical, relational and emotional needs. God’s promise
to you is, “I promise to take responsibility to meet the needs
of my children.” If that’s true, there is nothing that needs
to worry you.
Consider The Supply For The
Promise
God’s supplies our needs according to His glorious
riches in Christ Jesus. God never goes bankrupt. His resources
never run short. He never cuts His supply because He’s concerned
about running short. He has unlimited resources drawn from
an inexhaustible supply.
There is a big difference between God giving to us out of His resources or
according to His resources. Let’s suppose that you have a
need and Bill Gates just happens to be one of your best friends.
He finds out you have a need and calls to say he will help.
It would be great to receive a gift out of his resources.
He might send you a check for a few thousand dollars. It would
be even better to receive a gift according to his resources
where he tells you that he is sending a signed check. All
you need to do is fill in the amount. Even though he lost
$18 billion last year, he returned to the top of the list
as the richest person in the world.
God gives you a blank check. Philippians 4:19
is the check that is yours to cash. A blank check is worthless
without a signature. This check is signed by Jesus. He guarantees
the payment.
A parallel passage teaches this same truth.
Remember this—a farmer who plants only
a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants
generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide
in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly
or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives
cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need.
Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left
over to share with others.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NLT
When the truth of this passage takes root, it will
revolutionize your life. When
you become a giver, God promises to take care of you.
The problem is we still want to find a way to give what can fit in this small
basket and then expect God to give us back what goes in this
large basket, pressed down and spilling out of the basket
for good measure. Remember the promise has a premise. Your generosity results in God’s
generosity.
Conclusion: Joy And Giving Go Together
The book of Philippians teaches us how to enjoy
life. One sure way to enjoy life is by being a cheerful giver.
Joy and giving go together. When you give your offering it
certainly shouldn’t be viewed as being like tax time. When
it comes to the joy of giving the Philippians were example
number 1. Listen to how Paul pointed to their example as a
challenge for the church in Corinth to follow through on their
good intentions.
And now, brothers, we want you to know
about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their
extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify
that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond
their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded
with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the
saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave
themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with
God's will. So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a
beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on
your part. But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in
speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your
love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
I am not commanding you, but I
want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with
the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes
he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become
rich.
And here is my advice about what is best
for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only
to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the
work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched
by your completion of it, according to your means. For if
the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according
to what one has, not according to what he does not have. 2 Corinthians 8:1-12 NIV
Here is a good principle to summarize the main
thought. Giving is
a matter of willingness; it is not a matter of wealth.
It’s not about what you have or what you give. It’s how you
give. What God cares about is the attitude of giving. It's
the willingness not the wealth.
Some of you haven't learned the joy of giving yet.
You give but you don't get any joy out of it. It’s fun to
give because you can never out give God. His blessing overflows.
Do you want to enjoy life? Become a faithful, generous person and watch
what God is able to do.
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