The Christian and His Money - 23

Well as you know in our series, through the book of Philippians we come to trip to Florida and we are now examining the life section before the greetings in conclusion, it generally come at the end of Paul's epistles and we have learned that verses 10 through 20 is an extended thank you note Paul thanking the Philippian church for the gift which they sent to him and Roman Roman imprisonment sent by the hand of a path for digestion.

Those who traveled with him in this extended note contains two very famous texts that are often quoted but often misunderstood when they're not considered in the light of the context.

Verse 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me does not mean that I can do anything I put my mind to a beckoning Christ to help me since I'm a Christian, but rather in the context it says I can face hardship.

I can face financial difficulty. I can face a poverty with God's help I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me, and extending beyond that, I can do all things that pertain to the difficulties of life as God appoints them for big I can face them with a cheerful heart and with honor and glory to Christ. I can accomplish all of the things that are assigned to me by God. The duties that seem so difficult but by Christ's strength I can carry those out because he appointed them and he helps me I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. Last week we took the first part of this note in verses one through 13. Today were going to take the center part four I divided it into three parts so today will take up verses 14 through 17 and the Lord willing. Next week will take the final part of this thank you note in verses 18 through 20. With that second famous text about God supplying all of our needs. All of this, of course, of necessity, because it is a thank you note in thanks for money that has been donated to Paul. The note, the section of the.

The verses that were looking at all pertain to the subject of money and to Christian giving, which can be a touchy subject for some people and certainly has been abused and misused down through the years, but nevertheless it is an important part of Bible doctrine as our text before us makes clear is included in the word of God.

In many places and therefore is an important part of Christian development, so let's continue to examine how Paul dealt with this touchy subject in the Philippian epistle somewhat different from how he dealt with it. For example, in his Corinthian epistles in our section for today we have number one. A word of appreciation. Verse 14, number two, award of recollection. In verses 15 and 16, and finally a word of clarification.

In verse 17. First of all, a word of appreciation for in verse 14, Paul says, nevertheless, you have done well that you shared in my distress.

Nevertheless, in spite of Paul's present lack of need and that's what he said in the preceding verses right. I thank you for your gift, but I he didn't put quite this way was more delicate than this, but I thank you for your gift, but I want you know I really didn't need it it's welcome. It's abundant. It's greatly appreciated, but it really didn't come at a time of need.

My needs were being supplied in other ways from other sources which Paul does not specify, I'm not really sure I'm not really hungry. I'm not unable to pay my rent in my rented house that I'm living in Rome, I'm not unable to keep up with my living expenses. God has faithfully supplied all of these things even before your gift arrived and so I just thank you for sending it, but I want you to know that God has already faithfully supplied my needs before your gift came but that does not mean that your gift is inappropriate.

That's what the nevertheless is about, in spite of the fact that I didn't come at a time of need. As other gifts have come at a time of need. In fact, you make reference to that in our section for today but in spite of the fact this particular gift did not come at a time of need.

Nevertheless, it came at. Well, what should I say it came at an opportune time for another reason's. Your gift is not inappropriate and I'm not ungrateful. I am most grateful fact, he goes on from this clarification to this commendation you have done well. Nevertheless, you have done well that you shared in my distress you have done well. Even though God is already metal my present needs. You have done well in sending this gift. Your gift is a good thing. It pleases the Lord reminds me of that gift that Mary gave to Christ and anointing him for burial without expensive ointment should remember that. Think about it that wasn't needed, but all caught up wonderful gift that honor the Lord and was highly commended by Christ. In fact, let me reach you.

That account as it's given to us in Mark just to remind you and being in Bethany, the house of Simon the leper is Jesus out of the table. A woman came having an alabaster flax a very costly oil of spikenard then broke the flax and poured it on his head, but there were some who were indignant among themselves and said why was this fragrant oil wasted. Ford might've been sold for more than 300 in their yard given to the poor, and this criticized her sharply. But Jesus said letter alone.

Why do you trouble her work she has done a good work for me, for you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good but me you do not always have. You do not have always. She has done what she could.

She has come before hand to anoint my body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you that, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done and I left the final words often cutting up Maya by photocopy section of the of the section marked with anyway what she has done shall be spoken of her in honor for it was a good thing. What she did was a good thing not because Christ needed not because it supplied a time of of one to hunger or or financial resources to pay bills that he needed to pay as he course had to live and to deal with these mundane affairs of life, just like all the rest of us, but knows a very extravagant gift. It was pouring out a year's salary in 11 anointing is boom there while she broke the yellow Baxter box and poured the whole point. The whole whole contents out, upon Jesus Christ and an act of love and devotion and gratitude and extravagant good giving and she was criticized by some of the apostles for doing that that wasn't needed. That's a waste. You should give that money where it is needed. Jesus said no, you're wrong. It was good.

What she did was a good thing in similar fashion, Paul is now saying to the Philippian church. Even though I honestly told you that I'm not in me. Don't you appreciate my being honest with you what you want me to tell you what I am in need and don't you appreciate it when I don't act like I'm always in need.

So keep sending sending sending sending because I'm always needing meeting meeting meeting.

No, I was not in need when your gift came but nevertheless you're sending it was the right thing to do. It was a good thing very honorable and noble thing like Mary's anointing of Jesus. It allowed Paul to enjoy some surplus my needs have been met, but your gift gives me some comfort. It gives me some cushion after all. I just told you.

I go through these ups and downs financially in life.

Sometimes I am hungry and sometimes I'm full sometimes I am abased, other times I found and I have been satisfied and needs taken care of until this time, but your gift now allows me some abundance some extra some some some elastic, some margin and I thank you for it to you have done well. However, what is really important is is what it communicated from you. You have done well that you shared in my distress, the distress Paul is referring to courses his Roman imprisonment, though he was allowed to live in his own hired home his own rental home that had to pay the rent and had to feed himself and had to take care of his other expenses, purchasing the things were necessary for his ongoing ministry until the situation was much better than if he had been thrown in the dungeon, but in that house as you remember, he was trained 24 72 a Roman guard that wasn't comfortable and there were other severe limitations upon what he normally did in his life and ministry, so he was in a time of what he calls distress. It was uncomfortable, he was hindering his ministry as he normally carried out but they have, by this gift entered into partnership with him in his distress and suffering. That's what that word shared means not only demonstrate a genuine concern, which in itself is a wonderful thing and a very appropriate purpose for their gift to come to him, but it made them partners in Paul's suffering, bound them together with Paul and an increased fellowship that was larger and greater than what they had before. They are joining themselves together with Paul they can be imprisoned with him, but they can become partners with him in his imprisonment through this way by this gift.

There giving what they can in the situation to Paul in his situation. His his distress and giving him some extra comfort and help and encouragement and by that they become his partners, and so he begins with this word of appreciation. Deep appreciation for the gift which they have sent.

Secondly, we have a word of recollection. In verses 15 and 16 were Paul gives a short rehearsal of the history of their giving. For more than a decade body Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel. When I departed for Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving. But you only for even in Thessalonica you send aid once and again for my necessities. Paul begins by telling them that this is something that they know and he knows mutual understanding you. Philippians know also. You Philippians know that you did this, but I want you to realize that I know also. Maybe not even so much a matter of knowing, but it's fresh on my mind as I'm sure it is on your human nature being what it is.

It would be very likely that the Philippians would have a pretty keen memory of the number of times they had sent gifts they had done it out of love, out of worship to the Lord Jesus Christ of appreciation for the apostle Paul out of a desire to give abundantly to the Lord, but they did it and remember doing it. We we tend to do that we do good things right things noble things. We tend to remember those better sometimes than the other things we do it we just assume forget, so it's no surprise that this history of their giving was still fresh on their minds. But Paul says I want you to know. It's also fresh on my mind. You flip in snow. Also, as I know about this history of your giving. I want you to know that I remember what you have done and he talks about the remarkable beginning when he says that at the beginning of the gospel at the beginning of the gospel, and it ends up by saying no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving.

But you only at the beginning of the gospel of the beginning of the gospel is a bit ambiguous. What is Paul talking about is he talking about the beginning of his gospel ministry was after he was saved on the Damascus Road will clearly not Philippians didn't know him them. The Philippians were still in pagan idolatry. At that time you can't be talking about that beginning of the gospel for tracing it back even earlier to the life and death of Jesus Christ. He can be talking about that is the beginning of the gospel is clearly talking about the time when the gospel came to them in the beginning, and we know a great deal about that. Acts chapter 16 when Paul came to Philippi and preach the gospel publicly down by the Riverside were the women gathered to worship the Lord in the streets with that slave girls following them around in the other members of the team.

These men are our servants of the most high God and he finally rebuked the demons demon in her and casted out in and then landed in jail and the earthquake came and sprung the jail opened and we know a great deal about the beginning of the gospel in Philippi and we can we can identify some of the people who were saved in those early days, Lydia the seller of purple down by the Riverside and undoubtedly some other women who worship there with her. No doubt the slave girl that was freed from from by demon possession and the Philippian jailer and his wife and his family servants in his home, children, older children in his home is the passage makes very clear because he preach the gospel to them and they believed and were baptized, and the number of converts that took place very early on and then others to follow. No doubt that's a promise tracing it to pieces back there when the gospel first came to you and you were first saved. Shortly after that you began to exercise exemplary and remarkable, giving way beyond that which most people do generous giving began early in the beginning of the gospel as a came to you and change your hearts. Most Christians grow into the grace of giving more slowly, but they hit the ground with her feet running them in regard to giving some Christians never seem to develop the grace of giving beyond very minimal and occasional giving but not these Philippians they gave generously from the very beginning from the start and enjoying that showed remarkable spiritual maturity at a very early age in their Christian lives. You have to realize this, giving to Paul was missionary giving and it was beyond giving it went beyond the requirements of their own local church.

They had God-given instructions and and the commands in regard to support of the ministry of their own church and taking care of people in need in their own church and and so those things always came first, the giving to their own local church. But this missionary giving beyond the needs of their local church was something that they got involved in very early when the other churches didn't. The other churches were little slow about that. You are the only church that ministered to me in giving and receiving. No other church did that the other churches were off struggling I supposed to collect enough money to take care of their own needs all the other churches were those churches that most of us have been familiar with that one time or another down through our lives and some people been familiar with. Only this kind of church all of their life. Where there always on the edge, always ready to to fall into difficulty and to data and to financial problems and are always begging please give please give some more were not making it work are in desperate need. Please help and that was going on and all the other churches and in the Philippian church.

The regular giving was sufficient to take care of their local needs and they had a surplus to give to the work of missions to give to the apostle Paul as he went on his way down the road discloses any connection there. You suppose that the Philippians generous giving at home and the surplus and enabled them to help the apostle Paul might have been blessed of God to enable them to give generously at home and abroad. The others were struggling because they were not giving quite so freely and generously in and the cheerfully perhaps perhaps that's not spelled out in the text, but it is clear that there giving demonstrated remarkable spiritual maturity and I have learned over the years the people grow at different rates after they save some people grow very rapidly. Other people grow so slowly that sometimes you wonder. Have they really been saved but every now that you see a little glimpse of spiritual life in a little glam's a little more growth comes slowly slowly some people who been saved for decades still have difficulty understanding anything but the most simple truths from the Bible, but of course there are people in the Bible like that to the writer of Hebrews chided those he was writing to when you should have been teachers. I got to teach you again the elementary things you haven't been going very much in grace and knowledge – some people grow quickly. The most rapid examples of Christian growth that I've seen over the years was our dear departed brother Jerry general who is now with the Lord and almost from the day he was saying to you to thought he had been saved and studying God's word for decades.

Just amaze six months. He was more mature and more knowledgeable in Scripture more wise and spiritual things than the average Christian is been saved 10 or 15 or 20 years. It was just remarkable.

He just group zapped. How did that happen. That's the way God doesn't. That's the spirit of God is able to do that sometimes he does.

He did that the Philippian church. They showed remarkable spiritual maturity in their giving. From the very beginning and that indicates probably they showed remarkable spiritual maturity in other areas early on as well. So Paul rehearses in a few lines there instructive pattern of giving. We can start in verse 16 because chronologically that comes first. They said support to Thessalonica, he says, for even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessity.

That was Paul's next ministry location after Philippi, he got kicked out of Philippi. Remember the officials came and said we sure wish you would would leave quietly. We know we did a bad thing. We we made a mistake big boo-boo and putting her and flogging a Roman citizen putting them in jail.

So we sure are sorry that we did this with just kind quietly disappear so that this whole situation will go away. And Paul said no, not quite like that.

They beat me openly beat us openly for us in jail openly and savagely highest city officials themselves personally come down and let is out of jail. Okay, just a little reminder and they did deposit okay, I won't make things any more difficult.

I think it's time for me to go and now seeing what we see here we can realize the Paul probably was confident that even though the church at Philippi had only been instructed over a period of a few weeks short months. Probably we don't know how long exactly that their spiritual maturity was above average, and Paul thought they would do fine on their own and so he left them, probably with at least one or two other missionary partners and his team behind but nevertheless he went and he ended up next in Thessalonica about 100 miles down the road you can read about that in the book of acts and Paul had been to Thessalonica more than probably a week or two to help prepare co-messengers from Philippi, bringing financial support. Thank you I needed that Paul calls this a necessity, even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.

When he wasn't in need.

Prior to the gift from Philippi, he says so God is already supplied my needs.

I wasn't in necessity when you sent your gift to Thessalonica. That meant a real need without your gift.

I couldn't have ministered the way I did.

I would've had to cut way back on my gospel labors and made tents to support myself but your gift, timely gift generous gift supported my ministry and enabling me to preach the gospel freely in Thessalonica and he hadn't been there more than another week or two until who shows up another delegation from Philippi with another gift some people reading the book of acts think the Paul was only in Thessalonica.

Total of three weeks before he moved on to Brea and eventually further south.

I think a lot of indications that there must've been more time than that. That is not stipulated in the historical account of acts and this is one of them. It would've been very challenging for the church at Philippi who had to send their gifts by courier, even though it was only 100 miles. That was 100 miles on the interstate in the in a nice American automobile that was 100 miles on foot. That took some time just to make that distance and the comedown deliver their gift and go back and to do it again at least twice, so he was probably there more than three weeks, but at any rate, he said you sent a gift to Thessalonica on two different occasions and then when I left Macedonia. You continue to send gifts that takes us back to verse 1590 Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel. When I departed for Macedonia. You see Thessalonica in verse 16 is in Macedonia so he doesn't put this in chronological order. He puts it, the way that it came to his mind and he wrote it down that way. He first remembered their gifts that came to him after he departed from Macedonia and then he said will actually you even started giving before that even even in Thessalonica in Macedonia.

You sent aid once and again for my necessities but after I left Macedonia and went to Acadia. I still read continued receiving gifts from you. You in the beginning of the gospel. When I departed for Macedonia shared with me concerning giving and receiving. So his next stop was Athens and he was only there briefly read about it the next and then over to Corinth Tory had an extended ministry that went on for work at least 18 months while he was there now coming several hundred miles south of the church at Philippi.

On some occasions we don't know how many sent couriers down to Corinth with financial support for Paul so that he could mentor, stir to the Corinthians that he talks about that in second Corinthians 11 seven and following chiding them.

He said that I commit sin and humbling myself that you might be exalted because I preach the gospel of God to you free of charge. I didn't take any financial support from you and then this this verse, verse eight I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you.

Course he didn't literally rob other churches what he say his other churches supported I accepted support from other churches so that I could minister to you without you giving me any financial support and that meshes perfectly with what Paul tells us here in Philippians chapter 4 the Philippian church sent financial aid to Paul after he left Macedonia when he was evidently in Corinth and so what we have. You have called this an instructive pattern. What we have here is a pattern for missionary support then and now. This is how it was done from the very beginning missionaries who went into places where the gospel had not been preached.

Churches were not established in where it was not advisable to receive financial support, maybe not even possible, and even more possible maybe not advisable in the early stages received their support from well-established churches that now wanted to be in partnership with them in the work of missions and so they are sending missionary support on a regular basis. We would say they put Paul in their missions budget and sent him support every month or so like we do sets a pattern instructive pattern.

But beyond that Paul refers here to a unique partnership when he tells us you were the only church to do this. He doesn't say shame on the other churches you neither excuses them and makes justifies why they weren't able to do it, nor ignores their failure to do it.

He just states a matter fact and goes on, you did it. They didn't you're the only church to do this, you are the only church who was involved with me in this phrase giving and receiving, which turns out to be a commercial term well-known in that day something like expenses and receipts you are involved with me in a business relationship. It was a partnership to be sure it was a business partnership involved expenses and receipts and you sent the money and I'm sending you the receipt paid in full. Here it is. This note I received all of it goes on to say in verse 18. Indeed, I have have all and abound I am full, having received from Pepperdine is a thing sent from you and so there is his receipt and this is important business finances is important business is important in the business of the church is important in the personal business of every Christian. It is not an untouchable matter that we don't talk about money that's in the realm of the of the material we only talk in the realm of the spiritual know money is in the realm of both the material and the spiritual and it has a great effect on the spiritual and we need to learn to do this in a God honoring business way as the Bible teaches us how to do it, but this giving and receiving is a two-way street and finances. They gave and Paul received in spiritual matters. Paul gave and they received in financial matters. They gave and Paul received spiritual matters.

Paul gave you minister to them to minister the word that come to salvation by his preaching. They had learned Christian doctrine by his preaching and given to them only in things spiritual and they reciprocated by helping him financially get Zach in the according to the biblical pattern which brings us finally to a word of clarification. Verse 17 not that I seek the gift but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.

Word of clarification.

This is a narrow distinction that is not easily made, and sometimes even when made, is not easily understood. A narrow distinction between what Paul was interested the end and what it might have seemed he was interested in in this matter of their giving to him. But there was a narrow distinction.

It's an important distinction and Paul tells us what first what he did not seek.

And secondly, what he did seek what did you seek Paul not the gift. Not that I seek the gift. Your gift that's not what I was seeking.

Paul wasn't seeking money. Paul wasn't looking for money. Paul wasn't preaching for money, though he was happy when they said it and he was very happy to bit benefit by it. There was nothing ungodly about that but here's personal welfare is not what he sought.

That's not what he was most interested in. In the situation of giving and receiving.

What did Paul seek over 17 not that I seek the gift that I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. I seek the fruit, which is first of all, continued evidence of the spiritual health. They had demonstrated remarkable spiritual maturity was markable spiritual health by their early giving and then as we know there was a period of time when that stop Paul said I'm really glad that your care of me has flourished again after this period of lapse, but he says I know it wasn't for lack of concern is that you liked opportunity.

We talked about that last week with those possible hindrances to their giving might have been put.

Paul is delighted to see this can tenured evidence of the spiritual skill they had started out in a remarkable way they work showing spiritual maturity, but had the grown cold had the lapsed had the backslidden were they no longer growing spiritually. Were they going backward, spiritually all know your gift at this time makes it very clear that their students still spiritual fruit developing in your life. I'm delighted not so interested in the gift as I am in the fruit that it represents in this first piece is abounds to your account to your account. Where was their account in heaven. God's keeping track that keeps track of your giving. It is a spiritual matter as well as a material matter. You have an account in heaven, and your giving is accumulating interest or investments in heaven. That's what he's saying I seek the fruit that is added abundantly to your account in heaven where God keeps a record's you are earning great interest on your giving in heaven.

These are investments that are being made, both for time and for eternity. They are entered upon your account in heaven. These are dividends that you are earning on the giving that you have done and those dividends are the object of my greatest concern not that I seek the gift but that I seek the fruit that abounds to your account so it really was not for his sake, but for theirs that he desired the gift. The only way this fruit could be manifested. The only way this fruit could be deposited in their account in heaven is if they gave it in course of the giving that they gave to the local church.

The people there would benefit from that Paul would necessarily know about that but the giving that they gave to the apostle Paul serving as a missionary Paul knew about and this was evidence of their spiritual health.

And that's what he's looking for. He's not looking for the benefit of the money that they sent to him, but he's looking for the fruit that is applied to their account because of the money which they give because the Bible tells us over and over both of the Old Testament and the new that the right kind of giving from the right heart attitude always enriches the giver. These words just one statement in second Corinthians 916 seven the words of the apostle Paul again, but this I say, he who sows sparingly shall reap sparingly is talking about your giving. Give little, you don't get much return. He was out sows bountifully will also reap bountifully, so let each one. Give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly, or of necessity if I don't give God's going to get me if I don't tie them to get sick, not grudgingly, or of necessity, but bountifully abundantly for God loves a chew full giver shall we close with a few applications.

First of all, about the gospel and giving the gospel is not about our giving, it's about his you give everything you've got, you will buy one day in heaven. You know that don't you. Salvation is not by our giving. It's by his giving he gave his son an atonement for our sin. He who gives us everything necessary to bring us into union with Christ and to secure our salvation.

He who sends his spirit to regenerate us to life it. Salvation is of the Lord.

Salvation is all his giving. It's not about our giving, it's about his giving, but here we must also understand that the gospel when received changes our hearts and one of the things it changes is our selfishness and our are wanting to hold onto everything and turns us into from hoarders into givers. That's one of the things of the new birth does in changing our hearts. One evidence of a changed heart is a desire to give you show me a professing Christian who has no desire to give and I will have to put a? Over his profession. I can't see his heart but that's not very good evidence because the Bible shows us that when God saves soul and changes the heart. He gives a desire to give that person has a changed desire, and so one evidence of a changed heart is a desire to give and one evidence of continued spiritual growth is continued desire to give. In fact, growing and giving as we learn to give more and more as we walk with the Lord. And as we grow in our Christian lives. The gospel and giving number two let's learn some lessons on giving and the various financial stages of life. Paul makes references to different financial stages.

I know how to abound. I know how to be based.

I know how to hunger out of the hungry full.

I have been through all the stages back and forth many times in my lifetime.

They exist in the lives of all of us. In fact, I've identified three stages. Of course you can continue to divide them and come up with more if you want but three stages of financial stages of life.

Number one financially tight. Some of you are there, barely making it. No extras at one stage. I've learned how to be hungry. I've learned how to be abased, I learned how to suffer need financially tight second stage in life is barely comfortable. You've gotten past the point where you are really wondering where your next meal is coming from, but you barely comfortable. You still have to be exceedingly careful. You have to be very disciplined.

There are a few extras in your in your life when you financially tight and barely making it.

There are no extras absolutely none.

If you say will I deserve this vacation I deserve this extra that I can't afford all you do is put yourself in more trouble and make things tighter. You can't do that when you are financially tight when you're barely comfortable you have to be very careful. There are a few extras, but you have to be very disciplined in those and then as 1/3 area will call comfortable and that's when God blesses you sufficiently to be able to enjoy some surplus in that situation, you have some extras, but of course there's no such thing as unlimited extras.

So there's always a limit to still after have to be careful. We will know to people who won multimillion dollars in the lottery and within a few months were at flat broke his all they had to do if they wanted to have a good time. They could've just put half of it. Investments in and spent the other half in later been fine.

But no, they couldn't do that. They were just so caught up with all of the surplus.

It's gone. Another group so even when you're comfortable and able to enjoy some investments and can have some extras you still have to be frugal and wise.

But in these three stages. What do we do stage number one tight, barely making it.

No extras. What's your attitude toward God thankful to him.

He is supplying your needs, just barely, but he is supplying them trustful you going to trust him day by day and week by week, in ways that other people may not and giving by faith is that I can afford to give.

You can't afford not to giving as part of it as part of the Christian life and God will reward you for giving God rewards a cheerful giver. Even if you can't give much you need to be faithful and giving in those type times and you'll find that those type times will be better for your giving then for you're not giving. I promise you that number two. What about the second level, the barely comfortable very careful few extra stage of life will again thankful to God he's brought you out of the barely making it financial tightness category, but you still have got to be disciplined. But God has blessed you and brought you to a little bit better place. And that means you can increase your giving by at least a little bit. He who sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly should suppose bountifully shall reap also bountifully and then what about stage number three comfortable able to enjoy surplus extras. Be thankful but disciplined.

Even here, but now your giving should be enlarged. A great deal so let's giving in the various financial stages of life. But let me quickly touch on this.

How do we separate faithful preachers from money grabbers, health, and after a lot of money grabbers out there who are preaching for money and they week we can usually spot them.

If we have any wisdom at all, and there a lot of things we could look for but also just three number one. How does a preacher live if he's living in a multi-multi multimillion dollar mansion and driving wanted to ship private jets and so forth that might be a red flag heat might be of money grabbers instead of the faithful preachers of God's word.

You might just consider that when you can see these areas of extravagance. How does he live number two. This will be hard to tell. But how does he give you may not have access to that information, but the preacher who isn't giving has no business teaching other people about giving preacher who isn't doing anything that he preaches is a hypocrite. He's preaching for you to do this and he isn't doing it. He's a hypocrite.

So is there evidence that he's giving generously but then this is very important. What else does he teach what about the rest of his doctorate. For some there is much else every every sermon, every program is about giving plan sure you're seeing money and you'll get a great harvest and return the way you plan to send money to me Saturday money you get more back in return. That's just about the extent of his preaching repertoire.

That's a red flag giving is in the Bible but is not the only thing in the Bible. What else does he teach and how some busy in his preaching about the gospel. Does he understand that a right house on the sea in other areas of teaching that will help you to separate between faithful preachers and money grabbers number four and here's where we shall conclude what are some of the benefits of generous giving notice that the listings quickly. I can even coordinate a verses that support them. What are some of the benefits of generous giving number one enlarged financial capacity. We see evidence of that in the Philippian church. Number two. A good conscience when you know your giving you have a good conscience before God. When you do spend some on some extras because you know you are being selfish and hoarded and taking away from what you want to give to the Lord in order to do that.

Number three enriched fellowship with other believers, we see that with the Philippians, the apostle Paul. What a close relationship they had. What a loving relationship.

They had one appreciation. Paul had for the church at Philippi. Almost above every other church in their giving head in large measure produce that kind of strong fellowship. Number four increase joy and love. God loves a cheerful giver.

You give cheerfully, God will will pour out his love upon you, and there is a mixture of joy and love in the right kind of giving number five. This one increased rewards both on earth and in heaven. Both are taught in the Bible and I don't have time to show you that those who give with the right heart attitude benefit materially on earth and even far more in heaven as you make to yourselves friends by means of the famine of unrighteousness that they may receive into everlasting habitations, shall we pray father teaches more about walking with you, trusting you partnering with you and your servants who are preaching the gospel, giving generously and receiving the rewards that you promise in return, growing in grace becoming more mature, helpless Lord, we pray in Christ name, amen