Sermon Cloud

I. Giving = Sharing (partnering) in the Gospel (14-18a)
We should be Looking for opportunities to give
We read here of Paul's thankfulness to the Philippians for their generous gift which is interesting because Paul considered taking money from the church as "robbing" the church (2C11:8)
Now he did not mean it would have been a violation of the 8th commandment because he was at the same time an advocate for ministers earning a living from their ministries even saying they have a "right" to earn a living from their work (1C9:3ff). But despite having a right to such benefits - Paul decided he would preach free of charge so that he would not "hinder the gospel". (1C9:12) Instead Paul earned a living with his own hands as a tentmaker so that his critics could not accuse him of being "in it for the money."
Paul never asked for assistance - the Philippians became aware of his need and they met it without bothering to ask him first. And he responded by saying that though he didn't ask for it "Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles."  Good not for his benefit but for theirs.
Giving is a benefit to the giver
Why would he say this? The generosity of the Philippians from Paul's perspective, was not isolated from the larger context of gospel ministry. Their generosity was not so much for the purpose of making sure Paul had enough to eat - it was an act of identification with Paul's gospel labors and standing along side of him in his troubles as he said in the very beginning of the letter: I thank my God everytime I think of you...because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." (1:3ff)
And this was not the first time they had done this - many years before  when Paul had set out from Macedonia - he says "you Philippians were the only church that supported me." Not just once but "even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again..." Again, remember Paul never asked for their assistance and even here in vs 17 he makes it clear he is not looking for anything from them by bringing the matter up - so why is he bringing it up? Why does he always thank God for them with joy? Because they get it.
Giving is an Investment
They are not investing in this world but in the Kingdom and that's really what gets Paul giddy. They partnered with Paul much like how churches today partner with missionaries. When we give to missionaries - we're not simply making it possible for them to eat and be clothed - it is so much bigger than that!
Even here in our local context - when you give of your resources to DaySpring Church - you are not giving money to the feed-the-Horrigans-and-the-Bradshers fund - you are investing in the work of the Kingdom!  And it is the best investment you could ever make.
And by investing in the work of the gospel you are participating in the mission of Jesus Christ to make disciples of the nations.
Therefore you will also receive the eternal returns on your investment.
As Paul says here in vs 17 - I am [not] looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. Let's be careful - Paul does not mean their generosity will somehow gain them favor or score brownie points with God. Remember what Paul says in ch 3 - we put no confidence in the flesh or anything else - its all rubbish. Giving does not merit righteousness at all. But it does count for present and future blessings and rewards.
Their gift was an investment entered as a credit to the account of the Philippians heavenly treasury, an investment which is and will continue paying them rich dividends.

ILLUSTRATION: Just recently I was speaking to a missionary - some of you know him - Dan Iverson - missionary to Japan. He is the guru for the PCA on Japan and has been there now for over 20 years laboring in a land that is less than 1% Christian. Jesus' name is hardly known there. And Dan was here in the states recently seeking to raise more support for his work. And he said something to me that is so good that lines up perfectly with what Paul is saying here - he said investing in Japan is a better investment than a 401k or the stock market because it is guaranteed to increase in value.
Jesus said: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ^{20} But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

In the gospel we are promised our investments in the kingdom will not decline in value. They will yield enormous dividends. And not just in the life to come - but also in the here and now - for we have a bit of that reward right here in our church - our own Tomoko Bibby was baptised by Dan Iverson - her coming to know Jesus Christ is a return on the investment of so many people and churches over the last 20 years who have given,  not to the feed-and-clothe-the-Iverson Family fund - but to the make-disciples-of-the-Japanese-People-mission. Giving to the work of the gospel is an investment in the economically-unshakeable kingdom of God.

APPLICATION: But this is not how we view giving. We look at it the wrong way. We see it as a loss. We put it in the offering plate and its gone for good - sucked into a black hole - never to return. I confess this is often how I view giving and I dont think I am alone. We look at our monthly bills and we ask ourselves: "How much is an acceptible loss this week?" Why is this? Scarcity Mentality! We have such a small, earthly, temporal perspective! Shame on us for being such poor stewards of what God has given us. Shame on us for storing up treasure on earth. You've heard the saying: he who dies with the most toys wins. That's a scarcity mentality. And the truth is he who dies with the most toys still dies...then what? Why is giving so hard for us? It all goes back to contentment.

There is a direct correlation between our contentment and our giving habits.
Last week Pastor Mike mentioned how we are chronically discontent and he is correct - contentment is a huge problem because we have bought the lie that we need all the stuff that clever marketers tell us we need. And I believe that our current economic woes are a result of discontentment and a scarcity mentality. And the cure for the economic meltdown is to learn the secret Paul knew well - the secret of being content in all circumstances.
As Christians, right now in this present crisis we are being put in a strategic position to show this world the secret of contentment. It is something the world knows nothing of and cannot know apart form knowing Christ.
We have a grand opportunity as followers of the Lord Jesus to blow the minds of people everywhere by our contentment in difficult times. How do we show this?
By having an abundance mentality that leads us to being faithful in our giving and tithing.
Paul demonstrates this right here in vs 18: ^ I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.
Now we have no idea the amount of support the Philippians sent Paul but It is possible that it wasn't much by our standards today. But clearly his abundance mentality is evident and only possible because he has learned the secret of contentment.
I have no idea what you all give - but you do and if you are not giving regularly it is because you lack contentment.
And if you lack contentment it is because you are looking for contentment in a happy meal.
"But giving will hurt too much. I can't afford to give because I have so many bills - electric bill was $400.00 last month, I owe too much to credit cards." This is my unbelieving heart speaking. Yes it does hurt!
The kind of giving that is born out of gospel-centered contentment hurts my friends and it should.

TRANSITION: In Luke 21 Luke tells us that "Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. ^He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.^{3} “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ^{4} All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Lk 21:1-4)  Her faith in her heavenly Father to provide for all her needs was great.  No doubt giving is a sacrifice and Paul acknowledges that in the latter part of vs 18. [Your gifts] are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

II. Giving = Offering "Pre-Approved" Sacrifices (18b)
Giving out of Gratitude Toward God
ILLUSTRATION: Most of you have probably regularly receive pre-approved credit card applications in the mail - guaranteed to be accepted. I hate those things because I have enough credit as it is and then I have to dispose of those things properly to avoid id theft. I have been tempted at times to shred the application and mail it back to them in the prepaid envelope they always include - just to send a message.
But I love the pre-approval God extends to our offerings - when we give out of gratitude by faith our sacrifice is guaranteed to be accepted as a pleasing aroma to God - this is a good thing! Ithurts but it also blesses and brings joy to our lives! You've heard the saying - No pain no gain!
But gratitude (or thankfulness) toward God is a necessary condition for our sacrificial giving. We don't give out of charity toward God, he doesn't need our money - for everything we have comes from his Fatherly hand anyway, as James says "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (Jas. 1:17) So God gives us everything we have. And we don't give with the belief that God will like us more. His love for us is not based on our performance. No we give out of thankfulness as an act of worship - God sent a greater gift to us - greater than any gift we could ever hope to give in return - that gift was his Son Jesus who died to take away our sin, to make us holy in God's sight and to give us new life.
We have been blessed immensley through God's gift of his Son. Doesn't this make you want to live your life with gratitude in a manner that is "worthy of the gospel", that is worthy of all that Jesus is and all that he has done?
Doesn't Jesus' willingness to suffer the wrath of God for you make you want to invest in his mission to bring many other sons and daughters to himself?
But is not only out of gratitude towards Christ that our sacrifices are accepted, but it is also by faith in Christ's sacrifice
Giving by Faith
Jesus was the perfect sacrifice and so he perfects everything we do and everything we offer - praises, financial offerings, time, energy - its all covered. 
This does not mean we shouldn't strive to do any of these well - it only means that because we will never do them perfectly they are not acceptable to God on their own.
But Jesus covers our imperfections and makes us "acceptable" to God.
We also give sacrificially because we know God will supply all of our needs. Everything you have was given to you by the Father. If you demonstrate your gratitude and your faith by giving he will not withold his blessings: (19) my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

III. Giving = Receiving (19)
Trusting God to Meet our Needs - the Key to Faithful Giving
Jesus said: "do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ^{26} Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ^{27} Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?