Devotions based on week 12 of Joy in the Journey: Generosity (WATCH HERE)
Philippians 4:15 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.
The Gospel is powerful.
From the time Paul was privileged to share the Gospel with the Philippians, they desired to respond by supporting the spreading of the Gospel. Here’s the reality:
Generosity always flows from the impact of the Gospel and generosity that flows from the Gospel supports the spread of the Gospel.
Thessalonica was the next stop for Paul after he was in Philippi on his second missionary journey. He didn’t have to write back to the PHilippians desiring a gift, the Philippians just responded by sending their support to take care of Paul’s needs.
The result? The Gospel advanced in Thessalonica and beyond.
This is true for us today as well.
But we sometimes forget.
It’s easy to view our generosity as “paying for church.” Generosity often is encouraged when the “budget is short.” Generosity can sometimes be motivated by a tax break or an engraved plaque of “gold level” givers.”
The Bible does not speak of giving in this way. However, the generosity of God’s people has always served to advance the spread of the Gospel. In 1 Corinthians 9:13 Paul writes, “Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.”
Generosity is always a response to the Gospel. The gifts that are given as a result are gifts first to the LORD. The most common recipient of those gifts is the local church. The leaders of the church are then asked to steward those gifts for the advancement of the Gospel.
In the Old Testament, gifts brought to the temple were given to the Lord. The recipient of those gifts was the priests at the temple. They were then to steward the gifts as God had directed, some of which was used to support the priests and the upkeep of the temple.
Generosity which results in giving to the Lord through your local church is your act of worship in response to the grace of God given in his Gospel. The blessing to your church and church body is your generosity allows ministries and ministers of the Gospel to work to bring Jesus to more souls.
As the Spirit grows your heart of generosity, he is using you to grow the kingdom of God through those resources. What a blessing that God would provide you with an invitation and opportunity to use the resources he has given to you to return to him for the advancement of his kingdom through the Gospel.
Generosity advances the Gospel!
Apply: Prayerfully consider your heart. Has it been generous in giving to the Lord through your local church? Consider the blessings God has given to you through the Gospel. In faith respond with a heart of generosity in your action of giving.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the privilege of giving. Continue to work the power of the Gospel in my heart so I might be generous in all situations for the advancement of your kingdom through the power of the Gospel! AMEN.
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