Paul is a Partaker of the Philippian's Gift

Philippians 4:10-19

If one were to combine the first and last sections of the book of Philippians and choose a text for the combination, I Cor. 9:11 would be most appropriate.

"If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?"

The Philippians had come into the fellowship because they had partaken of Paul's grace (1:7), that is, they had received from him those spiritual truths which he had received through the grace of God.

That this is God's plan for His workers is made plain by a series of references from the Old Testament. The law forbad the muzzling of the ox that treads the corn; the plowman and the thresher were to be partakers of their labor and the soldier did not go to war at his own expense. The laborer, even the preacher, is worthy of his hire.

One Sunday morning after church the writer picked up a bulletin which had been left in the pew. Evidently it had been used as a means of communication between two members of the congregation during the service. Upon it was written this question: "Do you prefer the preachers who preach without salary to those who are salaried?" The question set me wondering. Did the preacher lack enthusiasm in his preaching? Were the so called "faith preachers" more glamorous? Was there some question about the preacher's salary? Did not these folk know God's plan for His workers? We will not find the answer to those questions in this discussion but we feel that this book of Philippians does set forth God's great plan.

Perhaps more than any other church the Philippians had shown their love in meeting Paul's needs as he served in the gospel. He says concerning them, "But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity." And in verse 15, he says, "Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving but ye only." How different was the story in connection with the church at Corinth where Paul's apostleship was somewhat questioned! It is in a letter to them that Paul argues his right to their support and then points out that he has sacrificed this right. The Philippians had not felt as the Corinthians had. The only time they had not sent to him was when they had had no opportunity.

Their giving cheered him. He rejoiced in receiving from them the things they had sent. More than in the gifts themselves, he rejoices in the fact they had given. For them to send gifts meant love for him on their part. It meant too that they were meeting their God-given responsibility, thus it was a sign of their growth in grace. It meant that his labor among them had not been in vain and that they would continue on in other things. Doubtless he did find need of the things they had sent" but he wants their giving to be upon a higher plane than that of his selfish desire. Doubtless he could have survived their failure better than they. Their failure would have affected him physically but it would have affected them spiritually. He says that he had learned, in whatsoever state he was, therewith to be content. He knew how to abound when he was abased; he knew how to enjoy fulness and how to be hungry without complaint; he knew how to suffer need and yet abound in Christ. He could say, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." He knew the joy of Christian victory but his victory was not a license for their neglect. They needed to give.

"But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" (1 John 3:17). To give means to love. The love of God dwells in the man who gives where he sees need. Then they needed to give lest they become ungrateful. The awful story is told by the Saviour of the rich farmer who laid up for himself alone until God had to call him as a fool from this life. To get out of the habit of giving is most dangerous for one is apt not to give when he should if a shabby habit plagues his life.

This is one of the great lessons of the book. Christian graces are dying through lack of practice and lack of opportunity. The writer was talking to a woman on one occasion who had lost her husband. During the days surrounding her bereavement there had been many many offers of hospitality and tokens of sympathy in the way of others wanting to perform many menial tasks about her home. She refused them all. Then I happened to ask her about her meals — if she were being cared for. "Oh," she said, "I've had so many offers but I've said, 'no,' I just can't let them do all this for me." I replied, "my dear woman, how will God's people ever learn to practice the Christian graces if they are refused opportunity?" Then she replied, "they can do it for others, but not for me — I would just rather they didn't." As kindly as I could, I said, "Sister, God means for you to learn the grace of receiving as well as the grace of giving. You mustn't rob God of the opportunity of developing these lives."

There are two other reasons why Paul allowed these folk to assume the obligation of his needs. First, he wanted fruit to abound to their account. Too often we lose sight of the fact that God is laying up rewards for His children. Many have said that just to be in heaven will be reward enough for them but we feel that after they are there awhile they will change their minds. How happy the prodigal son was to be home again. His father's house with all its comforts — how blessed! But we recall that that father said to the elder son, "all that I have is thine." The prodical son had his food, clothing, shelter, and a father's love in that home but none of the heirlooms and possessions were his. We doubt not that he was happy to be home again but we cannot help but feel that after he had been home for awhile and the comforts of home had again become commonplace he would begin to be dissatisfied with his portion and wish that he had earned some of those rewards instead of spending his opportunities in riotous living.

Second, he wanted them to hold God as the source of their supply. God would supply their need as they supplied his. "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Some one has said that if a tramp met John D. Rockefeller and asked him for something to eat and Mr. Rockefeller gave him a dime for coffee and doughnuts, he would be supplying the man's need "out of" his riches, not "according" to them. God is supplying the needs of His children "according to" His riches. We are abundantly cared for.

This brings to a close these studies on the book of Philippians. From every point of view the book is wonderful. As a peace of literature it is most pleasing. It closes just as it opens — with fellowship based upon loving gifts to meet another's need. It presents clearly every matter vital to fellowship. May God give you, dear reader, a happy experience in the fellowship of the Gospel.

"Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6).