True Generosity: Gleaning from the Philippians

“And you, Philippians, know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times” Philippians 4:15-16

Wow. I read these verses this morning in my quiet time and couldn’t go any further. The Holy Spirit was drawing my attention to something here and I felt a tug at my heart as I re-read… “No church” shared with Paul in the matter of giving and receiving as the Philippian church. NO church. Not a single one! During the early days of the gospel when financial support was likely underdeveloped. Likely a time when Paul needed such support the most.

We read some evidence of Paul’s suffering from the following passage: In 2 Corinthians 7:5 Paul says, “For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within.” How encouraging for Paul to receive help from the Philippians at his very hour of need. Paul goes on to say that the Philippian church did not stop supporting.

“Even in Thessalonica”. Even when Paul was in a place where wealthy people lived and could have easily supported Paul, the Philippians continued to support Paul several times. Perhaps this has you curious like me: who were these Philippians anyway? Why was Paul full of praise? Don’t get me wrong: they did seem to financially support him at every moment he needed help in the ministry. But why was Paul mentioning them in particular?

We learn more about the Macedonian churches (the Philippians) from 2 Corinthians 8:1-6:

“And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.”

Severe trial. Overflowing joy. Extreme poverty. Rich generosity. So many contrasts right here!! How can one have overflowing joy in the midst of severe trial? How can one be generous when faced with extreme poverty? How can one exceed in giving? Even beyond one’s ability? I believe the answer lies in verse 5: They gave themselves FIRST OF ALL to the Lord. God came above all else. They looked to Him to provide. They looked to Him as the Giver and Maker of all things. Therefore their hearts were joyful despite severe trials. Therefore they exceeded in generosity even in the midst of poverty.

I am certain we are all familiar with Philippians 4:19: “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” I learned this verse as a Sunday school kid many years ago. We teach it to our children. We often quote this to anyone looking to God to meet their needs. Yet I must admit I have never really bothered to read the verse in context to understand it more clearly.

I invite you today to see this verse in a whole new light with me. The Philippian church looked to God FIRST above all else. And Paul was drawing their attention back to Him as well. Paul encouraged them that the very God they placed above all else was able to exceedingly and abundantly meet every need of theirs. According to His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus. Now what does Paul mean by riches in Glory? Let’s look at Ephesians 3:16-21 to understand the depth and magnitude of this short phrase:

 ^“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!”

God supplies us not just with every need. But from His glorious riches, He also strengthens us with power by means of the Holy Spirit. Christ dwells in our hearts as we put our faith in God. As we begin to grasp the magnitude of His glorious riches, we receive power to understand the magnitude of His love for us and are filled with His fullness. We begin to understand how God is able to supply without measure. So much more than we can ever ask or imagine for ourselves. I urge you, please don’t merely read my interpretation of the above verses. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you and let the gravity and depth of the above verses sink into you. Chew on the above verses. Reflect and meditate on them.

Think with me for a moment. We often believe that we can only give financially when we have made provisions for it from the limited income that we earn. We give from what we see with our physical eyes, right? When there are many bills to pay, when jobs are being lost during the corona crisis, when lives are being lost, we tend to look at our bank balances, tighten our purse strings, cut costs, do everything we can to increase our financial security.

Yet the Philippian church reflects the kind of giving I believe God would want us to emulate. One that does not look with physical eyes on what is at hand but looks beyond these numbers to the glorious riches we have in Christ. When we truly give the way the Philippian church did, God opens to us His treasure house of abundance that no amount of money can buy us. We are FILLED with the FULLNESS of Christ. For He gives us MORE than we ask. More than we can imagine for ourselves.

Can Christ find in us such faith to exceed in our generosity? If He were to look deep within us, would He find our affections for Him as towards our FIRST love? Or would He just be an aside? I believe that in the passages in Philippians and Ephesians, Paul is encouraging us to have unadulterated, radical faith.

Will Jesus find such faith, such generosity, such joy in us?

Despite trials. Despite poverty. Despite the corona crisis. Despite job losses. Despite depleting bank balances. Despite crashing economies.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I come before Your throne of grace and ask that You search within my heart and dethrone every idol I have made of my financial securities or insecurities. Help me to be exceedingly joyful despite circumstances and to be a generous giver. You have given freely so I may do likewise. Help me not to hold back, dear Father. Help me take hold of You in whom, through whom, from whom and by whom are all things. Train my eyes on You Jesus. Open my eyes that I may grasp and truly know and understand and take hold of the truth that Your grace is sufficient at all times. In Jesus’ Most Precious Name, Amen.