Get Back to Giving
According to Pushpay, we are not giving like we once were.
We've got to get back to giving.
The Apostle Paul rejoiced over a group of people who got back to giving.
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.
Phil. 4:10
The word "revived" refers to a tree that stops producing fruit, becoming fruitful again.
People are like trees in that we can dry up. Paul doesn't cite the reason why they stopped giving. He only says that they had no opportunity. Maybe they couldn't get resources to him. Perhaps they went through a season where they lacked resources to give. But for whatever reason they stopped giving, they started again.
Why should we get back to giving?
Renewed Concern.
We can get burned out and burned up. We go through the motions of things that were once our passions. We know it's right, good and that we should. But for whatever reason, we just don't.
There's no denying that we pay attention to where our money goes. Perhaps in losing track of Paul, the Phillippians lost interest. Their renewed giving was from a renewed concern. He was back on their radar, and they were interested again.
When we begin to give again, we remember what's important; we reprioritize.
Renewed Involvement.
In Philippians 4:16, Paul speaks of their partnership. The Philippians were not only informed, but they were also getting back to being involved.
Our giving becomes our going. We can't do everything, but when we give we become involved in a lot of things.
We can't feed every family, but when we give a lot of families are fed. We can't possibly participate in every ministry of our church, but when we give, we become a participant in the overall ministry of our church.
When we give, we don't only fund a need, we often see a need, and we get involved.
Renewed Blessing.
Giving is not subtraction; it's multiplication. When you give to God you get a lot from God. In Philippians 4:18-20, Paul expressed the confidence of God's returned blessing on their giving. Giving helps us to remember that we serve a happy God who is Himself an extravagant giver.
At age 53, John D. Rockefeller became the richest man in the world. At the time, his businesses were profiting him over 1 million dollars per week. But he was an unhappy man.
His anxiety was so bad that he developed serious health issues, and his doctors told him that he might die within a year. Realizing that he couldn't take his money to the grave, Rockefeller wanted to make a difference. He gave away half a billion dollars and became the largest donor to the missionary causes of the Northern Baptist Convention.
His giving brought him renewed joy and a new purpose in life. Rockefeller didn't die that year. He lived until he was 98.
Get back to giving.
Bible Study and Challenge
Read Philippians 4:10-20.
- List the promises contained in this passage.
- According to this passage, define contentment.
- In context of this passage, what does Philippians 4:13 mean?
If you've stopped giving or reduced your giving evaluate your reasons why. What do you need to do to get back to giving? Begin giving again.
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