Contentment, Generosity, and Blessing
Tim Melton
Philippians 4:10-20
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
Here we see that Paul was rejoicing for the concern that had been shown him by the church in Philippi. It was the sweetness of loving and being loved. These believers in Philippi held a special place in Paul´s heart and by their actions they were showing that he held a special place in their hearts as well. Verses 14-16 then tell us more about their relationship.
14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
This letter was written around A.D. 61. The apostle Paul was in prison in Rome. The church in Philippi had sent one of their own, Epaphroditus, who had traveled over 1,200 km to bring their financial gift to Paul and to update Paul on the condition of the church in Philippi.
If you were in a Roman prison, your needs were not met by the prison system. You were dependent on friends or family to meet your most basic needs. Paul was a Roman citizen, so his house arrest was likely better than a dungeon where a slave might have been, but nonetheless he still was dependent on others to meet his daily needs such as food and essential care.
The church in Philippi had heard of Paul's needs and had responded by gathering their money and sending it to Paul. Their sacrificial gift touched Paul's heart deeply, but it was not the first time they had come to his aid. Paul never asked for money from the churches that he started. Scripture even tells how at times Paul worked as a tentmaker to provide for himself, but his relationship with the church in Philippi was different. We see in ...
Tim Melton
Philippians 4:10-20
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
Here we see that Paul was rejoicing for the concern that had been shown him by the church in Philippi. It was the sweetness of loving and being loved. These believers in Philippi held a special place in Paul´s heart and by their actions they were showing that he held a special place in their hearts as well. Verses 14-16 then tell us more about their relationship.
14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
This letter was written around A.D. 61. The apostle Paul was in prison in Rome. The church in Philippi had sent one of their own, Epaphroditus, who had traveled over 1,200 km to bring their financial gift to Paul and to update Paul on the condition of the church in Philippi.
If you were in a Roman prison, your needs were not met by the prison system. You were dependent on friends or family to meet your most basic needs. Paul was a Roman citizen, so his house arrest was likely better than a dungeon where a slave might have been, but nonetheless he still was dependent on others to meet his daily needs such as food and essential care.
The church in Philippi had heard of Paul's needs and had responded by gathering their money and sending it to Paul. Their sacrificial gift touched Paul's heart deeply, but it was not the first time they had come to his aid. Paul never asked for money from the churches that he started. Scripture even tells how at times Paul worked as a tentmaker to provide for himself, but his relationship with the church in Philippi was different. We see in ...
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