Date: 6/23/12
Read
15 Now you also know, Philippians, that at the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone, 16 because even in Thessalonica⌊on more than one occasion⌋g you sent for my need. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek for the profit that increases to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; ⌊I am well supplied⌋h because* I received from Epaphroditus ⌊what you had sent⌋i, a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 19 And my God will fulfill your every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be the glory ⌊forever and ever⌋j. Amen.Record
… what you had sent, a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God will fulfill ...Reflect
- Our perspective of giving to ministry can be many different things: duty, privilege, necessity, seeking merit, pride, legalism, pragmatism. The perspective here is of an offering to God that pleases him.
- How can our giving be framed this way, that when I write the check, it’s an offering to God that pleases him?
- First, our attitude in giving needs to be right - we can give him a pleasing sacrifice if we’re giving legalistically, for example.
- It would help greatly if we actually prayed when we penned the check (or clicked the button). Without prayer, it can feel like every other bill we pay. The OT sacrifices (as well as the cross sacrifice) were given with prayer, and were prescribed as such. We look down on the direct instructions in Leviticus, and yet fail to pray when we write our checks.
- Picturing the sacrifice when writing the check, not as covering for sin, but the sacrifices of worship and incense, can help. We are offering this up to the Lord for his pleasure.
- Paul is, from prison, confident that God will provide their every need.
- Is this because of their giving attitude (suggesting that the stingy ought not to expect this kind of promise)?
- What exactly does Paul have in mind, here, considering the physical wants he and others experienced?
- Or, he is saying something a little different than how we read it, such as, “Everything you have for your needs, God will supply”?
Respond
- All we have that is good has come from you.
- Forgive me for the attitude that I need to cling to what you have already given as if you are not going to give in the future.
- Thank you that we can offer to you something that pleases you. It is not because we or our gifts are sufficiently pleasing. You take pleasure in your children becoming more like your Son. Help us to give in a way that conforms us to his image.
- CR: When writing the offering check, pray with the incense of the sacrifice and its pleasing nature to God firmly in mind. Don’t submit any check to the church or ministry without doing so.
