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Do you have any missionary newsletters lying on your desk or sitting in your e-mail inbox? How about missionary prayer photos on your refrigerator? Are you faithful in reading these letters, praying for the ministries, families, and spiritual lives of the missionaries, and keeping in touch with those whom you also count as personal friends? We encourage you to support God's work in these ways.
Did you know Paul's epistle to the Philippians is a missionary newsletter? In today's reading, he wrote to them specifically about their missionary support. Overall, he rejoiced that they had started giving again after a period of time in which they hadn't done so (v. 10). He was even more grateful that this had come not through a check (or the ancient equivalent of one) but through a personal emissary, Epaphroditus. The Philippian church had sent one of their own members to bring their gift and support Paul personally (see 2:25-30).
As important as gratitude is, however, the Apostle focused more on explaining the meaning of their gift and exhorting them to simplicity and humility. The significance of their gift did not lie in how it had helped him (though it had done so), but rather in being an act of worship. It was a “fragrant offering” to the Lord first, before any sense in which it was for him (vv. 17-18).
Paul also encouraged the
Philippians to find contentment in simple
trust, lest they be tempted to take pride in
their giving. Contentment is not about circumstances,
for Paul had known the highs
and lows of those (vv. 11-12). Instead,
contentment is found in faith (v. 13). With
God, all things are possible and all needs
are met (v. 19). That's why, ultimately,
Paul put his faith in God and not in his
supporters. This seems a strange thing to
write to a church that had just sent him
money, but at all times in all ways Paul
was zealous for the glory of God alone.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Memorizing Scripture is a wonderful spiritual habit and discipline. But it is also a challenge for many people—some who believe in its value and try their best just can't seem to get the words to stay in their heads! Even if this is the case for you, we encourage you to try to memorize the first four verses of today's Bible passage (vv. 10-13). Ask the Lord to assist you as you work on it. He's the Author—He'll be glad to help! Even if you find committing it to memory a challenge, the process of review will be a blessing.
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