Sermon Recap | Give

Philippians 4:15-23

Some Christians are joyless due to an ingrown wallet. They need to give.

The Philippian church had a good track record of giving to support God's work. Paul encourages their giving, but he's quick to add disclaimers: "Not that I speak from want..." (4:11) "Not that I seek the gift itself..." (4:17)

If he isn't motivated by need or greed, why does he encourage their giving?

"I seek for the profit which increases to your account." (4:17)

1. Give because it's profitable.
Some teach that if you give $1 for God's work, He'll give you $2. It's like a money market account in the GCU (God's Credit Union). But this isn't the profit to which Paul is referring. His teaching springs from Jesus' teaching; so let's take a look at what Jesus had to say about it in Matthew 6:19-21:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and where theives do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Don't store up treasures on earth. Store up treasures in heaven. These are the two treasury options, presented as opposites. Giving away earth treasures is storing up heaven treasures. Storing up earth treasures is giving away heaven treasures.

Like a gob of peanut butter, this is simple yet hard to swallow. Let's wash it down with some other things Jesus said:

- "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again; and from the joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." - Jesus to the 12 disciples (Matthew 13:44)
- "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven..." "How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." - Jesus to a rich guy who wanted to get into heaven (Mark 10:21; Luke 18:24-25)
- "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God...Woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full." - Jesus to the 12 disciples again (Luke 6:20; 24)
- "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no theif comes near nor moth destroys..." - Jesus to the 12 disciples yet again (Luke 12:33)
- "So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions." - Jesus to a large crowd of would-be Christians (Luke 14:33)

When it's time to leave the house, my three-year-old son will sometimes attempt to carry all of his toys rather than leave anything behind. He'll lodge them in his arm pits. He'll clamp as many as he can under his chin. He'll squeeze as many as will fit between his arms and his chest. Then he wants me to carry him; but he can't look up and reach for me without dropping everything.

We cannot hold onto earthly possessions while reaching to embrace God. We must drop it all and lift our arms to The Treasure of Treasures. Our heart just doesn't have room to cherish earthly riches and God. It's the One. Or it's the other.

God knows that our lives are short and eternity is long. He knows that earthly riches are only a means to an end; and because He loves us, He admonishes us to give it away rather than missing eternal heavenly riches found in Him.

Paul calls this sort of giving "a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God." (4:18, linguistically referring to old testament sacrifices used in worship)

2. Give because it's worship.
If you're giving out of guilt, stop. If you're giving out of obligation, stop. If you're giving out of habit, stop. If you're giving to keep up appearances, stop. Here's why:

"Hear the word of the LORD,
You rulers of Sodom;
Give ear to the instruction of our God,
You people of Gomorrah.
'What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?'
Says the LORD...
'When you come to appear before Me,
Who requires this trampling of My courts?
Bring your worthless offerings no longer.
Incense is an abomination to Me.'" - Isaiah, speaking for God (Isaiah 1:10-15)

He doesn't want our sacrifices, our appearance in church, our offerings, or our gifts. God doesn't want our money. He doesn't need it to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, or advance the gospel. What He's after is our worship. He wants our hearts. And where our treasure is, so our hearts will be also.

Christian, is your heart joyless? If so, where is it? Figure out what you treasure and you'll find your heart.

If it's your car, your house, your entertainment devices, your wardrobe, your savings - anything other than God, joylessness will haunt you. An invisible aparition you feel in your bones.

Let it all go. Look to God. Lift your arms to embrace Him. Find The Treasure.

And find joy in God through Jesus.