February 17
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GIVING FROM THE HEART
15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone; 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. 17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the profit which increases to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. – Philippians 4:15-18
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In this letter, Paul commends the Philippian church for partnering with him in ministry by their giving. He is grateful to them that even when he was in Thessalonica, they continued to give out of their generosity. Paul clearly explained that he wasn’t thankful for the gift itself, but for the gain that it will bring to their faith. He calls it a fragrant aroma, which is an acceptable sacrifice that is pleasing to God. In Acts 16:6-10, Paul travelled to Macedonia as the first leg of his ministry to spread the gospel. Verse 15 gives reference to this first preaching of the gospel after he left Macedonia. Paul claimed that no other church partnered with him in spreading the gospel, only the Philippian church did. The Philippians supported and provided Paul’s needs more than once. How often do we partner with kingdom work so that the gospel may be preached? The Philippians gives us an example of giving from the heart. It probably wasn’t important how big or small the gift was, but it was done in an attitude of generosity, which is one of God’s trait. God loves a cheerful giver and he doesn’t want us to give just out of compulsion or obligation, but out of love. He likens the gain of the act of giving as a sacrifice to God, just like in the Old testament when they offer animal sacrifices and burnt them becomes a pleasing aroma to God because they honored him with these sacrifices, wanting to please their God. Exodus 29:18 says “It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the LORD” which also alludes to Christ’s love for us when He gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God in Ephesians 5:2. In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul tells this church that they should follow the example of the Philippians in terms of giving. Paul testifies to the generosity of the Philippians. In verse 2, Paul commends them that in the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important that your giving be from the heart and not out of compulsion?