Paul’s Thanks for Their Gifts

Philippians 4:10-19

Thanks for Their Gifts

¹⁰ I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

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 more than once when I was in need.¹⁷ Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. ¹⁸ I have received full payment and have more than enough. 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. ¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

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Paul is hurt in these verses, if you listen for it, you can hear. If you just say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me” or “My god will meet all of your needs” without reading all of the verses around it, you miss the essence. Paul is speaking of God’s supply from a place of great need. He said, “No other church helped me… but you.” A man who GAVE HIS LIFE for the Gospel, and in his time of need he said “you were the only one’s there.” You can hear him fighting self pity if you listen for it. You can hear him processing through all of the other list of churches, the places where he served for free, but when he got in trouble and was appealing to Caesar from being on house arrest and no longer able to function in the same ways, he’s wondering… where are all the people that I invested in at the time where I need dividends? 

He says that in pain. But he said “You… You were there for me.” They sent Epaphroditus to bring Him some money to meet his needs, and He says… I appreciate that. This will be a big help. My trial is very expensive. 

 

But he said… It’s not even the money that means the most to me. What means the most to me is that you shared in my troubles.

He say’s I appreciate the money, it will be very useful, but what really mattered to me was that you were there for me.

 

There’s something about people who are there for you in your time of need. You will never, ever forget them.