Philippians 4:15–20 | Resources
Discussion Questions
What does it look like to be a faithful supporter of our partners? Besides money, how can we faithfully support our partners?
Why is financial generosity a spiritual discipline? Why can’t we avoid talking about how we use our money?
Are you a good steward of what God has given you? Do you faithfully give to and through your church?
If someone was to look at your bank account spending, what might they think you highly value? Does something need to change?
Do you trust God that He will always supply your needs? In what areas do you struggle to trust that He will always meet your needs?
In light of our text/sermon, what would it look like to obey?
Memory Verse
“And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (CSB)
Devotional
Human economics is focused on acquiring wealth and based on the principle that taking is profitable. In a physical world where resources are seemingly limited (land, food, water, oil, gold), people strive to “get all they can” before their wealth is taken by someone else. Here, faith is measured in stored quantities, success is measured through selfishness, security is measured by physical barriers, and morality evaporates in times of distress when our resources dwindle.
The economics of God are very different than our own and seemingly counterintuitive. God’s kingdom business is saving sinners and based on the principle that giving is profitable (Acts 20:35). Transactions are made with unlimited resources that can’t be exhausted, such as love, grace, compassion, and faith. In God’s kingdom business, profit is stored in heavenly bank accounts that are indestructible and eternal (Matthew 6:19-21).
When we give on Earth, we are investing in God’s business by storing up profit (“fruit,” the Greek word karpos used throughout the New Testament). God’s businesses never fail (Isaiah 26:3-4). God promises that he will abundantly replenish our earthly and heavenly resources (Matthew 6:33) if we generously give our wealth away to others (1 Timothy 6:17-19). God views giving as an act of worship (Hebrews 13:15-16) because we are faithfully trusting that by giving we will receive (Proverbs 19:17).
These principles are clearly evident in Philippians 4:15-20 where Paul praises the Philippians for giving generously to his ministry and remarking that they gave overabundantly even in their deep poverty (2 Corinthians 8:1-4). Their generosity was a matter of the heart, not economics, because they gave joyously and eagerly out of love and faithfulness to God, which enabled Paul to quit his “day job” and focus solely on his ministry and resulting in the Gospel flourishing in places like Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:7-9).
How about you? Are you focused more on human economics or investing in God’s eternal kingdom? “He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.” Proverbs 11:28