Monday, November 8, 2010
"And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus" -Philippians 4:19
These are the familiar words of Paul to the church in Philippi. The interesting thing about this passage is that the Philippians were the ones who were giving to Paul. Paul was in prison at the time that he wrote this letter. The Philippians were concerned for Paul and did what they could to help him. Paul wrote this letter to the church to thank them for their concern, but to encourage them not to worry, but to have joy! Let me share with you the verses surrounding this verse:
"I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. Yet it was good for you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gift that you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
As I prepare for my team's trip to Southeast Asia this summer, my mind speeds through a list of worries and fears: What if I don't know what to do? What if I mess up? What am I supposed to say? How am I supposed to raise all of this money? This last one has been a big fear recently. Yet this passage was brought to my attention again and again.
I love competition. Sometimes, though, my competitive spirit gets the better of me, and I begin comparing myself to others in ways that are unfair to both them and me. As I've been stressing about raising money for my trip, it has been easy for me to look at others and see how quickly God is providing for them and get jealous that He has not provided for me in the same way. As selfish as it is, and as embarrassing as it is to admit, I quickly turn to God and complain. "Why is it always so difficult for me!? Can't you, for once, make it easy like everyone else?" How foolish it is for me to say such things to God. Really! And that is exactly what God told me: that I was being foolish. "This is not about you." What a reality check! God made it very evident that the purpose of this whole trip, even the preparation, even raising money, was to bring Him glory. If I was provided for quickly, it would be to His glory. If money came in more slowly, it was to bring Him glory. I realized that I had become so selfish in getting so caught up in raising money, that I forgot whose money it was to raise in the first place. I don't mean to be passive. Not at all! But I learned that I am not sovereign. I cannot control how I am provided for. Only God can do that.
That being said, I knew that I was still called to "do good to all" as I had opportunity (Galatians 6:10). As foolish as it sounds trying to raise money for my own trip, I knew that I had plenty of opportunity around me to be generous to others. I say this not to brag, but to share how good and gracious God is. As I learned to surrender what I thought was mine to God, He was so good to bless me in my area of need. I am so encouraged and humbled by those who desire to help me as I prepare for this trip. I don't mean to compare myself to the Philippians by any means, but I do have a new found appreciation for this passage. God is good, and I am so blessed to experience His goodness through the kindness of others.
I don't want this blog to become all about money, and I hope in the future to write about other things that God impresses on me, but I did want to take the time to share how He has blessed me so far and what I have learned from it and say thank you for your support and prayer. God is good. :)
These are the familiar words of Paul to the church in Philippi. The interesting thing about this passage is that the Philippians were the ones who were giving to Paul. Paul was in prison at the time that he wrote this letter. The Philippians were concerned for Paul and did what they could to help him. Paul wrote this letter to the church to thank them for their concern, but to encourage them not to worry, but to have joy! Let me share with you the verses surrounding this verse:
"I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. Yet it was good for you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gift that you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
As I prepare for my team's trip to Southeast Asia this summer, my mind speeds through a list of worries and fears: What if I don't know what to do? What if I mess up? What am I supposed to say? How am I supposed to raise all of this money? This last one has been a big fear recently. Yet this passage was brought to my attention again and again.
I love competition. Sometimes, though, my competitive spirit gets the better of me, and I begin comparing myself to others in ways that are unfair to both them and me. As I've been stressing about raising money for my trip, it has been easy for me to look at others and see how quickly God is providing for them and get jealous that He has not provided for me in the same way. As selfish as it is, and as embarrassing as it is to admit, I quickly turn to God and complain. "Why is it always so difficult for me!? Can't you, for once, make it easy like everyone else?" How foolish it is for me to say such things to God. Really! And that is exactly what God told me: that I was being foolish. "This is not about you." What a reality check! God made it very evident that the purpose of this whole trip, even the preparation, even raising money, was to bring Him glory. If I was provided for quickly, it would be to His glory. If money came in more slowly, it was to bring Him glory. I realized that I had become so selfish in getting so caught up in raising money, that I forgot whose money it was to raise in the first place. I don't mean to be passive. Not at all! But I learned that I am not sovereign. I cannot control how I am provided for. Only God can do that.
That being said, I knew that I was still called to "do good to all" as I had opportunity (Galatians 6:10). As foolish as it sounds trying to raise money for my own trip, I knew that I had plenty of opportunity around me to be generous to others. I say this not to brag, but to share how good and gracious God is. As I learned to surrender what I thought was mine to God, He was so good to bless me in my area of need. I am so encouraged and humbled by those who desire to help me as I prepare for this trip. I don't mean to compare myself to the Philippians by any means, but I do have a new found appreciation for this passage. God is good, and I am so blessed to experience His goodness through the kindness of others.
I don't want this blog to become all about money, and I hope in the future to write about other things that God impresses on me, but I did want to take the time to share how He has blessed me so far and what I have learned from it and say thank you for your support and prayer. God is good. :)
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