"No Church Shared With Me...But You Only"

"Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only."  (Philippians 4:15)

Our text reveals the nature of supporting ministers from the early days of the Church.  From the very beginning our Lord Jesus set a principle, "the laborer is worthy of his wages."  Later, Paul would write, "that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel."  Yet there are many, many churchgoers who not only don't tithe (By the way, remember, the tithe was not God's idea; it was man's-- Genesis 14:20b; 28:22), they only give what is left over.

Reasons for such a life style could be many, but I had a university professor who once said in a class-- and this was not deriding ministers; he was stating a fact of our culture-- "Most people could more easily do without their minister than their garbage collector or TV repair man."  While some may initially object, "Oh, that is not so!" I would challenge its denial.  I have lost friends for saying this, but our pocketbooks, what we invest in, reveal our true values and priorities. 

Paul reveals in our text that at a certain period in his life only one Church continued faithful in his support.  Here is the context--- "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.  Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content....I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress."  This is, as Paul said in the first chapter, true "fellowship in advancing the Gospel...."

There is a "bottom line" in life which we must accept as a stark reality today, not just for Followers of Jesus Christ, but all humanity---------We invest in what we value most.  It's just that simple.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I give You ten per cent because I love you.  You gave and give me 100 per cent because You love me.  I am embarrassed.  My desire is to be as Peter Torjesen, "and my life."  Amen.
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There are great prophetic articles @: www.apf327.blogspot.com

When Peter Torjesen, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2