“For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.” (Philippians 4:16–18, KJV)
When people think about benevolent giving there are a variety of attitudes. Some see it as an unnecessary sacrifice of their money and others as a blessing. What is the difference between these two groups of people? One sees it as a loss to themselves. The other sees this as profitable for others.
Paul indicated that he was thankful that the church at Philippi had partnered with him in providing a generous gift for him in the gospel ministry. However, strangely his reasons for desiring that they would be generous in this was were not because he desired the gift. He gave two other deeper reasons. Both had to do with blessings.
First, he desired that they would be generous so that fruit would abound to their account. The participle abound, pleonazo, refers to something that would superabound, to exist in abundance (Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon G4121) to their account. Ultimately, their generosity spoke highly of them as a congregation and it produced eternal fruit to their account.
Second, the gifts that they sent were a sacrifice that blessed God. He stated that it was “an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.”
This should be an encouragement for all true believers to practice the grace of giving. Our gifts that help others, whether we are partnering in the gospel ministry or are helping a brother or sister in need, result in great blessings. They bless the recipient. They bless the work of the gospel. They bless the Lord our God. And they bless those who give. In every way our sacrifices are a blessing.
Renewing the Heart 