Love is More Than a Feeling
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
This is one of the great promises in the book of Philippians. Paul not only wrote it, he lived it. Countless times, he had seen God come through for him, meeting every need in his life and ministry. To appreciate the impact of this promise, you need to read it in its context. In verses 10 through 18, Paul writes to the church in Philippi and says, “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. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 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; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 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.”
Philippians is a letter the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi expressing gratitude and joy, surprisingly, because it was written from a prison in Rome. Over sixteen times in four short chapters the concept of joy or rejoicing and thanksgiving are mentioned. It may seem strange that Paul would write such a letter from prison. Both his life and his letter, though, would demonstrate that he was not a victim of circumstances but rather a victor over them!
Paul and his missionary team began the church in Philippi on their second missionary journey in Acts 16. It would be the very first church established on the European continent. While there, Paul and Silas were wrongfully arrested, beaten, and jailed. Yet, God miraculously delivered them, and the jailer’s entire family was saved and baptized. By the time Paul and his team were sent away by the city leaders of Philippi, the church was established with many new Christ followers and growing.
In his commentary, Through the Bible, Dr. J. Vernon McGhee points out that after Paul left, the church in Philippi had lost touch with him for two years. “They did not know where he was after he had been arrested in Jerusalem and then put in prison for two years. The next time they heard about him, he had been transferred to a prison in Rome. They apologized to him for not having contact with him and for not communicating their gifts to him during those years. Paul is excusing them in a most gracious manner. He says in Philippians 4:10 (NLT), “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.” In other words, ‘You had lost contact with me so that you didn't have the opportunity to be helpful to me." How gracious Paul was!’”
According to Philippians 2:25, when they discovered Paul was imprisoned in Rome, they sent Epaphroditus, possibly one of the leaders in the Philippian church, to deliver financial support for his needs. Paul sends this letter of thanks back to the church for their gift with Epaphroditus when he returned. He thanks them for their concern for him and their generous heart to care for his needs.
The church in Philippi seized the opportunity to help Paul with their financial resources. They demonstrated their love for him by meeting his needs. It’s been said you can give without loving, but you can never truly love without giving. Their gift met more than Paul’s physical needs. It was an expression of their love and concern for him. Can you imagine how their gift must have lifted his spirits while in prison? But this wasn’t the first time they had supported this church planter. In verses 15 to 17, he writes, “As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.”
You might think that the Philippian church was a wealthy church to afford such generosity. But in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (NLT), Paul wrote, “Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in His kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.”
The Philippian church in Macedonia was a giving church. To be a giver like that, you must first give yourself to the Lord. Paul affirms their attitude in his letter and thanks them for their concern. He’s not milking them for more money or trying to take advantage of their giving spirit. In fact, in Philippians 4:18 and 19 (NLT) he closes out this section of his letter saying, “At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”
Just as God had supplied his needs through the church in Philippi, Paul encouraged them that God would meet all their needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus! The same God will do that for you and me as well. We can trust Him to meet all our needs.
Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.
Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.