The Early Days. Philippians 4:15. “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.” In the early days of the Lord's work in Philippi during Paul’s second missionary journey, and when they were first introduced to the Gospel, people were saved. When Paul left to go to Thessalonica and other places, they provided him with financial support to meet the needs they knew he would have. By doing this, they participated in the work he was doing. This was not merely because they felt he needed their help, as in debt or credit, but because a relationship had developed between them. Paul cared for them, and they cared for him. That motivated them to show their concern and gratitude through the sacrifice of their gifts.
Money reflects the value of our labor and shows how much effort we invest in providing security and fulfilling the needs of those we are responsible for. In any meaningful relationship between people, the importance and concern of that relationship depend on how much we are willing to sacrifice ourselves to meet the needs of others involved.
This is especially true in marriage, family life, extended family, community gatherings, and even at the national level. When we value those relationships, we don’t hold back from meeting their demands. For some, giving to meet needs is a duty; for others, it's a privilege. Some give reluctantly, while others give joyfully. Some give generously and happily; others give only what they think is necessary, and some are thankful for the chance to demonstrate their fellowship and support in a tangible way.
I have experienced, in past times, what some are going through now. The blessing of giving and receiving gifts from others allows us to express fellowship and show Christian love. That love has endearingly brought many sisters and brothers into our lives over the years. Some have supplied meat when we needed something to eat. Others have come and asked how they could help during times of sickness. Many years have gone by, but when we meet and greet them after a long separation, our conversations turn to memories of times when we had empty shelves. Over the years, we carry indelible memories of how God provided when we were in need.
Those days were days of faith, and I’m afraid that may have passed as prosperity has arrived. We have less to endure as material things grow, and our prayers for survival stop. We had become more dependent on our money compared to the early days of need when we trusted God alone and felt at peace knowing everything would turn out alright. We tend to want more when we already have more than when we have nothing.
Lord, help me remember the early days when still warm embers burst into a flame that poverty could not extinguish. If I can be trusted with the Gospel now that I am older, please ignite once again that fire which years have dulled with more than I need. Open my heart wide and bring out what is inside so that I might have ready words of life from Thee to share with those who need to hear Thy truth. I still want to be fruitful and abide in the Vine while continually seeking God's blessings for others, “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
God's promises and power enable us to be content when we lack and grateful when He supplies our needs through the financial support of His people. He supplies or withholds as He sees best. Paul didn't complain about shortages or even make them known. What God gives us is up to Him. We can be content when the desire for riches is gone. If our stomach, wallet, and pantry are empty, we still look to our heavenly Father and trust Him to give or not give as He sees fit. Whether full or empty, when we see things from God's view, we will know that God's will is best.