CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES
Philippians 4:15. No Church communicated with me.—The lofty independence of the apostle had not unbent to any other Church as to this. There are men from whom one could never receive a gift without sacrifice of self-respect. St. Paul was not the man to be patronised.
Philippians 4:18. An odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.—The last word transfers their deed to another sphere entirely. “Ye did it unto Me,” says Christ.
Philippians 4:19. My God shall supply all your need.—Did I say, “I am filled”? (Philippians 4:18). I can make you no return, but my God will. He will fulfil every need of yours. According to His riches in glory.—According to the abundant power and glorious omnipotence whereby as Lord of heaven and earth He can bestow what He will.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Philippians 4:15-19
A Generous Church—
I. Spontaneously contributing to the earliest efforts in the propagation of the gospel.—
1. Its generosity conspicuous by its solitary example. “No Church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only” (Philippians 4:15). In the account between us, the giving was on your part, the receiving on mine. The Philippians had followed Paul with their bounty when he left Macedonia and came to Corinth. We are not to wait for others in a good work, saying, “I will do so when others do it.” We must go forward though alone (Fausset). Their liberality followed him on distant missionary tours, and when no longer in their own province. One single example of generosity is an inspiration and a hint to others. Any Church will wither into narrowing dimensions when it confines its benefactions to itself.
2. Its generosity was repeated.—“For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity” (Philippians 4:16). Even in Thessalonica, still in their own province and not far from Philippi, they more than once contributed to his help, and thus rendered him less dependent on those among whom he was breaking new ground. Help in time of need is a pleasant memory; and the apostle delights in reminding the Philippians of their timely and thoughtful generosity. Repeated kindnesses should increase our gratitude.
II. The gifts of a generous Church are appreciated as indicating growth in practical religion.—“Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account” (Philippians 4:17). It is not the gift he covets, but that rich spiritual blessing which the gift secures to its donors. The apostle wished them to reap the growing spiritual interest of their generous expenditure. Not for his own sake but theirs does he desire the gift. He knew that the state of mind which devised and contributed such a gift was blessed in itself, that it must attract divine blessing, for it indicated the depth and amount of spiritual good which the apostle had done to them, and for which they thus expressed their gratitude; and it showed their sympathy with the cause of Christ, when they had sought to enable their spiritual founder in former days to give his whole time, without distraction or physical exhaustion, to the work of his apostleship. This was a spiritual condition which could not but meet with the divine approbation and secure the divine reward (Eadie).
III. The gifts of a generous Church are accepted as a sacrifice well pleasing to God.—“Having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18). It was a gift in which God delighted, fragrant as the sweet-smelling incense which burned in the censer. It was felt that God is supreme Benefactor and that all possessions are His gracious gift, that these have an end beyond the mere personal enjoyment of them, that they may and ought to be employed in God’s service, and that the spirit of such employment is the entire dedication of these to Him. The money, while contributed to the apostle, was offered to God. They discharged a spiritual function in doing a secular act—“the altar sanctified the gift” (Ibid.). Giving to the cause of Christ is worship, acceptable and well-pleasing to God. It belongs to the same class of acts as the presentation of sacrifices under the old economy, which was the central act of worship. For the proper use of no talent is self-denial more needed than for that of money.
IV. The gifts of a generous Church will be recompensed with abundant spiritual blessing.—“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 4:19). The money we give to God’s cause is well invested, and will yield a rich return: spiritual blessing in return for material gifts; this is beyond the power of arithmetic to compute. This was no rash and unwarrantable promise on the part of Paul. He knew something of the riches of the divine generosity, and was justified in assuring his kind benefactors of God’s perfect supply of every want of body and soul, bestowed not grudgingly but with royal beneficence.
Lessons.—
1. Gratitude for blessings received should prompt generosity.
2. Money is never more wisely employed than in forwarding the cause of God.
3. Our gifts to God are handsomely rewarded.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES
Philippians 4:15-16. Christian Generosity—
I. Indicates a genuine interest in the work of God and love for its ministers.
II. Is especially valuable in prosecuting pioneer mission work.
III. Should not be conspicuous by one solitary example, but be continuous and commensurate with the pressing needs of the work of God.
Philippians 4:17-18. Liberality a Fruit of the Christian Life.
I. It is not a gift, but the discharge of a just claim.
II. Paul did not desire a gift only to benefit himself, because he wanted nothing.
III. Liberality is a fruit of the Christian life by discharging a debt to which we stood engaged.
IV. Liberality is an advantage in the exercise of our patience before the day of trial come upon us.
V. As God will punish the neglect of this duty, so if we perform it He will count Himself in debt to us.—Farindon.
Philippians 4:19. Man’s Need supplied from God’s Riches.
I. Look at man’s necessity.
II. God’s wealth.—Its abundance; its excellence.
III. The supply the apostle anticipates for this necessity out of this wealth.
Learn.—
1. Contentment with our present lot.
2. Confidence for the future.—C. Bradley.
Our Need and our Supply.
I. Examine the scope of the promise.—There is danger of fanaticism in the interpretation of truth. God promises to supply our need, but not to gratify our wishes or whims. Some of us God sees cannot bear wealth, and so it is not given us; but as our day is so is our strength.
II. The supply—The supply is not according to our deserts, but according to the riches of His glory. The resources of the Trinity are drawn upon. His wealth is unbounded. He is not a cistern, but a fountain.
III. The Medium.—This supply comes through Christ. We can claim it in no other name. But God ordains means and puts us under conditions. As in agriculture, so here, we are to work in harmony with God’s established methods if we would secure fruits.—Homiletic Monthly.