Entering into Partnership

Scripture:

Phil. 4:15   You Philippians indeed 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. ¹⁶ For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that accumulates to your account. ¹⁸ I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Observation:

Just as Paul finishes telling the Philippians that he has learned to be content in every and any state in which he finds himself, he then thanks them for their generous support. Other churches were not helping him, but they were. He wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t soliciting money from them, but through their generosity they had become partners in his work. He graciously accepted the gifts because he knew that this would be helpful to the faith of the believers in Philippi. By generously partnering with Paul, the Philippian church learned dependence upon God to supply their needs as well. It created a network of interdependence within the community of faith and this made them all stronger. The result — God was glorified. 

Application:

I have been chairing district assemblies for the last two weeks. Many people dislike the part where we talk about money! Who wants to talk about money when things may be tight? I don’t think that Paul really wanted to talk about money but he understood a very important principle was in play. Generosity and support of others results in great commission partnerships that become transformative to the giver and the receiver. If that is the case, then maybe talking about money isn’t such a bad thing! 

When we fail to teach our children to be generous tithers and givers, they lose out on what it means to become partners of something much larger than themselves. Instead we teach them to be concerned about their own good and welfare, and to place this above the needs of others. Just imagine this on a larger scale. When we refuse to encourage a church to be a part of something larger than themselves they miss out on transformational partnership. Instead of seeing giving to others as a “tax,” it should be seen as a joyful partnership in which we get to see the other succeed. When we give to global mission enterprises we get to partner with believers on the other side of the globe who are ministering to those whom we cannot reach. Yet, we do reach them and they become a part of our mission, because we have generously supported the work. 

Even when we pay into things like pension and education funds, we become a part of something so much larger than ourselves. None of us would be able to support thousands of pastors in retirement — and yet, we can! Individually none of us could build a Christian university — and yet, we can! This is the joy of entering into partnerships with a joyful and generous heart. God takes our little amount and transforms it into something much larger than ourselves.

Sometimes people are generous toward me and it makes me uncomfortable. I certainly don’t feel worthy of their kindness and generosity, but I also realize that if I do not receive the gift, I rob them of the joy of giving. You see, it is all a partnership and one in which God wants to help all of us develop a heart of giving and receiving, sharing and partnering, so more can be accomplished than we could ever imagine!

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for the opportunities you provide to be generous. Amen.