Who Should We Thank for the Money Given to the Church?

 November 29, 2024

Friday

Churches operate from the freewill offerings of people. That's what you will hear from many churches. Is that what Paul would say?

Philippians 4:10-20 (ESV) ¹⁰  I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. ¹¹  Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ¹²  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. ¹³  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. ¹⁴  Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. ¹⁵  And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. ¹⁶  Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. ¹⁷  Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. ¹⁸  I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹  And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰  To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Let's take a look at what Paul has said. Paul tells them that he is grateful for their gifts but they were unnecessary. He has learned the secret of having much and having little. In other words, his ministry was untouched by their gifts. He would continue to serve the Lord regardless of their gifts. It is not the gifts that give him strength. It is the Lord. Yes, he is thankful for their faithfulness. He seeks their benefit that comes from giving rather than his own. He tells them that their gifts have been pleasing to God. He also wants them to know that God will supply their needs richly.

Preachers sometimes tell the congregations things like, "We will not be able to do all the things we planned to do if you don't give." The preachers are correct in this. However, does God plan things that He doesn't supply the resources to complete? And if He doesn't supply the resources to complete something, should we understand that God was depending on the people to supply but they failed Him? So that, when someone fails God, God just changes His plans?

Remember what happened to Abraham's father.

Genesis 11:31-32 (ESV) ³¹  Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there. ³²  The days of Terah were 205 years, and Terah died in Haran.

So, God decided that His people didn't need to settle in Canaan because Terah stopped short of where he was going, right? Absolutely not!

Genesis 12:1-4 (ESV) ¹  Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. ²  And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ³  I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” ⁴  So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

God assigned the task to Abraham. He was not going to be stopped because of disobedient people. 

So, God may do something differently because people are disobedient but He is the One moving in the hearts of people to command them. If one doesn't give, another will take his place. If there isn't enough money, then it must be done with less that was originally planned. It is God who assigns the tasks and God who supplies the resources. 

Therefore, we can praise God as Paul did.  ²⁰  To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

So, I thank God that you have been obedient in your giving. I thank Him because He has supplied through you. Praise God that He is giving us this opportunity!