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Philippians 4:18 (NET) For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent – a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.
It is important to stress that the believer’s motive in giving is very important. A believer must never treat giving as a money-doubling exercise for any reason. Rather meditate on the following that happens when we give and let love, faith, a sense of responsibility, a need to communicate honor and compassion motivate your giving.
When we give to God, we are performing an act of worship and service to God, we are communicating thanksgiving and appreciation while also honoring Him.
When we give in God’s house and to God’s work, we are contributing to the prosperity of God’s work and playing a part in having needs meet (Exo 25:1-9; Acts 2:44-45).
When we give to parents, spiritual leaders, etcetera, we are communicating honor and regard. This is pleasing to God. (Matt 15:4-6; 1 Tim 5:17-18)
When we give to the poor and the needy, we are communicating love, compassion, and mercy (1 John 3:17). We must always be willing to give to those who cannot repay our kindness, God himself delights in such.
We also exercise faith when we give sacrificially. We don’t just do so by giving to receive, but rather by giving despite mitigating circumstances because we believe that God who supplied that resource will yet supply again (1 King 17:7-16).
We cause thanksgiving to abound unto God when we give. In today’s text, we see how that the giving of the church in Philippi to Paul was recorded as “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God”. Here's how 2 Corinthians 9:11-12 puts it, “You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God, 12 because the service of this ministry is not only providing for the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God.”
Now note, God rewards our giving, it is part of our labor of love and God is not unfaithful to forget them. However, let love, faith, honor, mercy and a sense of responsibility lead your giving and not profiteering. That’s the godly way to go.
Say this: I am a giver, God is my source, he multiplies grace unto me and I always abound unto every good work.
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—Ikechukwu Mpama
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Yearly Bible Plan: Job 5-6 (In the Devotional Audio)
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