Philippians 4:14-20

Passage

Yet, it was good of you to do while sharing in my affliction.  And even you all know, Philippians, that in the beginning of telling the good news when I went out of Macedonia (Northern Greece) no church entered into fellowship with me in the matters of giving and receiving except you only.  Even in Thessalonica once and again you sent into my need.  I am not seeking the gift, but I am seeking after the fruit that is in abundance in your credit.  And in all things I have received in full and I am in abundance.  I have been provided for completely after receiving from Epaphroditus the things from you – a fragrant smell, an acceptable sacrifice, and a thing well-pleasing to God.  And my God will fulfill every need of yours according to His riches of glory in Christ Jesus.  And to God our Father be glory into the ages of ages, amen.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul takes a small amount of time at the end of the letter to remind the Philippians of their faithfulness.  They were the first and only Macedonian people to join with him.  They have supported him a few times when he moved on to Thessalonica.  They have now supported him again through Epaphroditus.  Sometimes it is nice to do a review of our faithfulness as it helps us remember how God actually is working in our life.  It is easy to forget all the good things God is doing through us.

If you were to review your spiritual life in the past year, what can you say God has done through you?  How do you feel after looking at what God has done through you?

Second Thought:

Note that Paul brings attention to the credit given by God with respect to our fellowship with other followers.  Because the Philippians are supporting Paul, God will increase their credit.  The fruit they bear has an earthly element to it as well as a spiritual element to it.  In many respects, what Paul is reminding the Philippians in these verses is what Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:20.  When we are obedient to God, we lay up treasure in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy.  I love this concept.  First, it embraces delayed gratification.  Second, it reminds us about perspective.  In life, perspective is everything.  When our perspective is with God, life just goes along better even in the midst of persecution.

Where are your treasures?  How can you learn to look more for “God’s credit” than your own “stuff?”  What does it mean to you that we have credit with God according to our fruit?

Third Thought:

Paul declares that God will fulfill every need of the Philippians.  That is a bold comment.  After all, God isn’t in the business of making His followers the biggest and brightest according to the world’s standards.  Instead, God is about making His followers the biggest and brightest according to His standards.  So what Paul is saying here is that when you are doing what God has asked you to do then He will indeed give you everything that you need to accomplish it.  It’s really that simple.  Abide in God’s will and He will provide without question.

How often do you abide in God’s will?  How often do you abide in your own will?  In which of these two do you experience more frustration and shortcoming?  In which of these two do you experience more abundance and fulfillment?

Passage for Tomorrow: Philippians 4:21-23