I. What To Give To 

A. Give To Further The Gospel V. 15 

1. Paul speaks about the “beginning of the gospel”. The Good News about Jesus.

a. He speaks of the beginning of his missionary efforts in Europe.
b. The Philippians were the only church that gave financial support to Paul.
c. The support was to help Paul be free to preach the Gospel.
d. The furtherance of the Gospel was their motivation.
e. Making life easier for Paul or personal friendship was not their motivation.

2. Regarding the free will giving of finances, the preaching/teaching of the Gospel ought to be the highest goal of Christians.

a. See Matthew 28:18-20   
b. Hebrews 9:27a  it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment…

3. Less important causes to give to.  (Not unimportant, or wrong, or sinful)

a. Ecological causes (they will someday cease to exist)

i. 1 John 2:17  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
ii. See 2 Peter 3:10-13 
iii. Both passages teach us that the earth is temporary, and that people and the things of God are eternal.
iv. That does not give permission for ecological irresponsibility
v. Giving to ecological causes isn’t wrong for the Christian.
vi. But people are more important than trees, rivers, and animals.
vii. It needs to be kept in perspective.  Ecology is not the priority.

b. Political causes (Not unimportant, or wrong, or sinful)

i. I am not opposed to Christians giving to political causes
ii. Political decisions/rulings can legally hinder or help the Gospel.
iii. We need to pray for those who rule. See 1 Timothy 2:1-4 
iv. We need to be responsible citizens; vote; some are called to lobby, blow the trumpet, etc., all for the cause of Christ’s kingdom.
v. Christians can make a difference for the Kingdom w/in politics
vi. However, w/o sounding fatalistic, in the end, the kingdoms of man will pass away, and the kingdom of God will go on forever.
vii. John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

B. Give To Help Gospel Ministers V. 16 

1. Paul worked as a tentmaker in Thessalonica.  1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 
2. They helped Paul with his necessities. Daily needs, i.e. food, clothing, shelter
3. They helped Paul repeatedly.  It wasn’t short term, but longer term ministry help

C. Whatever Else God Directs You To 

1. 1 Corinthians 10:31  “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
We are not led by the O.T., or church law, but by the Holy Spirit & God’s Word
2. We need to be able to stand before Jesus and say that we gave for His glory.

 II. God’s View Of Our Giving Vs. 17-19 

A. Fruit To Our Account V. 17 

1. God keeps an account of our giving.

a. Not for the purpose of judging or condemning, but rewarding & blessing.
b. Fruit- could also be translated “interest”.

2. The idea of fruit and fruitful giving.

a. Fruit has within itself the ability to multiply itself exponentially
b. If I give you an apple to eat, you are nourished, but you also have the ability to plant the seeds for yourself, and give seeds to others to plant.
c. John 12:24  Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
d. I may give $100 to God’s purposes.  That $100 may be used to support a Christian worker who shares the gospel, resulting in 10 people becoming Christians.  Those 10 people share, resulting in 10 conversions each.  Those 100 people share, resulting in 1000 conversions.
e. My support of one Christian worker has resulted in there being 1000.
f. My $100 ends up being as effective as $100,000 worth of support.
g. God gives a reward for $100,000 worth of support, and/or a 1000 souls.
h. God can take my faithful offering & greatly multiply its usefulness

B. It Is Pleasing To Him V. 18 

1. Ephesians 5:2 speaks of Jesus’ sacrifice.  Their sacrificial giving is described the same way.
2. As an Old Testament bull or lamb was a costly sacrifice, so was their giving.  God loved it.
3. Their gift had come to Rome and gone on before them into Heaven.
4. We can’t take money with us, but we can send the blessings of it on ahead

C. God Will Always Meet Our Needs V. 19 

1. I (Bill Walden) can only give financial help according to my riches
2. God brings provision for His children according to His riches
3. We are never poorer, but always richer, in giving to God
4. We give to give, not to get.  In giving, our $ needs are met w/spiritual growth.
5. And God supplies every need to the one who gives unto Him.
6. You may not have retirement, or health insurance, or a savings account.
7. We need to let God determine what our needs are.
8. God doesn’t give out of His riches, but according to His riches.
9. Romans 8:32  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
10. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, Paul boasted about the Philippians as an example of the right kind of giving. He describes how they gave willingly, out of their own need, and they gave after first having given themselves to the Lord.
11. 2 Corinthians 9:10, 11  Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

D. The Reward Of Giving 

1. When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ to render an account of our stewardship, we will fervently regret giving so little, since it is inescapably true that what we spend we lose; what we keep will be left to others; what we give away will remain forever ours.