Start Your Year, Start Your Day



January 30, 2010
Philippians 4:14-18

14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 

15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;

16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.

17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.

18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Philippians 4:14-18 (NIV)


We know from the Bible that Paul was not in the habit of requiring anybody to support his ministry. When anyone supported him it was because they did so on a voluntary basis. This passage tells us that sadly some of the churches that Paul influenced chose not to support him. The church at Philippi not only supported him, they did it multiple times when he was in need.

This leads Paul to uncover for us an explosive truth about when we give to support the ministry of Christ. Paul says in verse 17 that when they gave to him because of their love for Christ, it was "credited to their account."

What's Paul talking about? When you give away money that debits your account. Right?

Paul is reminding these believers that when they gave to him they were investing in the work of Christ. We can invest in a lot of things here on earth that are temporary and that we will eventually leave here--eventually we take a loss on those investments. Instead, through investing in the work of Christ we can invest in things that are permanent.

Christ himself told us:
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." (Mark 6:19-21)

Paul reminds us when you invest in the work of Christ it's not a debit... it's a credit.
 

A Thankful Thought


It amazes me listening or watching people on the History or Discovery channel discussing the topic of God and whether He exists or not... What amazes me about it is that they will point out nature and explain how something works scientifically, and when they finish explaining it, to me they've just proven God exists!

I'm just so thankful for everything God has given us that proves He exists. From the complexity of our minds to the simplicity of a flower blooming (which apparently is still complex). He is everywhere and I delight in finding God in my everyday life.

A NewSpring Staff Member
 



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