November Passage: Philippians 4:10-20
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
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. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs again and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
I have received full payment and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 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. (ESV)
If you are new to this reading plan, follow the instructions on the right side of this page or click here to read the "Why Just One Letter" introduction article.
Throughout each month, we will post short articles to give some depth of understanding regarding our text. Today we will discuss...
God Provides
We will end this section by glorifying God for His provision to us. We will also give Him the glory for the times when we can provide for others.
Paul writes in 4:18
“I have received full payment and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.”
It would be easy to praise the Philippians for providing for Paul. It would be easy and it wouldn’t be wrong. But, we are careful to keep going and allow what the Christians at Philippi did for Paul to lead us to worship Christ who has done so much more. We will get to that, but let us first look at the gifts.
“I have received full payment and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent…”
As we said in another article, Paul is mainly talking about financial and material provision. Epaphroditus likely brought a collection of funds from the church, but it is also likely that he brought other items that the church family knew would be a comfort or would be helpful to the Apostle. In another letter, to his pupil, Timothy, Paul asks to have a warm cloak and his books and parchments sent to him (2 Timothy 4:13). The churches who cared for Paul took care of his physical needs and also gave him the writings - probably scriptures - that aided him spiritually, intellectually and evangelistically.
I may be reaching here but when Paul writes that he has received full payment AND MORE, I think it is safe to think that the “and more” may include the lifting of his spirits that came as he saw that he had not been forgotten by the church family that he so dearly loved. Many of us who are reading this article, are reading it as the Christmas season approaches, it might be a good idea to take some inspiration form the Philippians and lift the spirits of some of our homebound seniors from the church with a visit this month, and to send a card of encouragement to former members or pastors from the church who have moved away from the area.
Why are the Philippian gifts “a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God”?
Whenever you get to an odd or unfamiliar wording like this in the Bible, it is good to compare it with other passages that share the language. You can do so by using most bible apps or an old-school concordance.
The fragrant offering points us back to the Old Testament, where God’s people had a series of sacrifices and offerings that they made to cover their sin debt and as acts of worship to God. Specifically, burnt offerings sent up - in their smoke - a pleasing aroma to God.
Exodus 29:18 says:
“…burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the LORD.”
And, Numbers 15:3 tells the people to:
“…present to the LORD food offerings from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the LORD--whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings…”
These sacrifices are only pleasing to God when they are done with a heart of humble obedience and joy. But, the pleasing aroma didn’t stop when the sacrificial system was fulfilled in Jesus. Now, because we give ourselves and our stuff to others as a picture of what Jesus did for us, our provision to others becomes a picture of sacrifice, which is pleasing and acceptable to God.
In the New Testament, it is stated like this:
The angel answered, “(Cornelius) Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” (Acts 10:4)
The prayers were offered in humility and the gifts to the poor reflected Christ’s gift of salvation to us poor sinners.
Further, The aroma is not only noticeable to God, but to all people, 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 says,
“…We are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life.”
With all of that background, Paul writes that the Philippian provision to him, which was sacrificial, is a fragrant offering, a sacrifice pleasing to God.
Just to chase this rabbit a little bit more through the Scriptures, Paul writes to the Romans that a Christian’s generous giving should not be the ONLY thing that embodies the offering to God. Truly, our whole life - lived as worship - should point to the fact that we have been changed by Jesus.
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)
So the gifts from the Philippians are good on a few different theological and personal levels. And ultimately, God gets the glory.
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.
If you had only read this portion of the letter, it would seem that Paul is saying that, since the Philippians gave to Paul, then God will give to them. Many crooked false teachers have taught this way. They say things like, “Support my ministry and every dollar you sew here will reap you a hundredfold financial harvest.”
Sometimes
they teach in a way that makes it sound like God is obligated to give
to us, like He owes us.
Don’t listen to that. It’s bunk. It’s bogus.
First, Paul says God will supply every NEED of yours. Jesus promises food and clothing, not a luxury car and fat bank account.
Second, we have a lot more than this verse to go by. Paul started the letter by telling us that God has provided for our true need of grace and peace by salvation through Jesus Christ. Then we see that the Philippians provided for Paul as a response to God’s grace and generosity. Paul then simply reminds them of the fact that already enlivens the church and keeps the church’s hands open to generously give.
The fact is, you can’t out-give God. Remember that.
- God has given to all people, believers and not-yet-believers, through common grace.
- God is giving not-yet-believers time to repent and believer right now, before the coming judgement.
- God has given us, His former enemies, salvation by His grace through faith in Jesus’ perfect life and sacrificial death in our place.
- God gives believers continual guidance and empowerment and helps us overcome sin in this life.
- God is preparing to give a place of eternal joy with Him.
- God will come and give us a future that is completely free of the power and presence of sin (free of our sins and the sins of others against us).
- God will give provision for our every need in this life and the life to come.
Praise His name.
