« Stewardship Devotional
Day Eighteen – Pleasing God
Philippians 4:15,18-19 “… the gifts you sent 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.”
Read
Philippians 4:10-20
Apply
Giving to the work of ministry is really an offering to God himself. When the Philippians gave to Paul they were actually offering their resources to further God’s kingdom. They gave so that his ministry of advancing the claims of the Gospel would progress.
All giving is used by God in this way. Money is never meant to be stored up in some type of bank account but instead used for God’s kingdom purposes. When the church has hoarded wealth, it has strayed far from God’s purposes and needs to repent. He doesn’t desire extravagance; He doesn’t need worldly success. He is a giving Lord who constantly pours out the ‘fragrant offerings’ given to him back into people so that they would know him.
For example, Paul, the recipient of the Philippian’s gift, used that gift to praise God for them. He rejoiced not only for the support, (which he needed), but also for the proof it gave of their changed life. According to his calling, he used their gift to spread the gospel to even more people.
- When you give, do you think of your offering going to God, or just going to ‘pay the church’s bills?’
- What is a better use of God’s resources: luxuries or necessities? Why should Christians live a ‘wartime lifestyle’ instead of a ‘comfort lifestyle?’1
Pray
For a renewed church that constantly gives out as much as it receives, based on the needs of people surrounding the church.
Do
Pick something of your own that someone has given to you (not that thing you keep in the back of your closet!) and give it to someone who needs it.
1 Adapted from a study guide question by John Piper based on “Money: The Currency of Christian Hedonism”, chapter five of Desiring God (Expanded edition. Sisters, OR: Multnomah Press, 1996)
Copyright 1997. Redeemer Presbyterian Church of New York City