WORSHIPPING GOD WITH OUR GIVING

Philippians 4:18-20, "At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen." One of the ways God took care of Paul's needs was through the financial gifts that the Philippian believers sent to him. Their financial gifts to Paul were a sweet-smelling sacrifice that was acceptable and pleasing to God. They were like the fragrant offerings in the holy place in the temple (Numbers 4:16), symbolizing worship unto God. God never failed to take care of Paul. He supplied everything that Paul needed through His glorious riches. If God created the universe, the earth, and everything in it, there is nothing that God cannot provide that is according to His will. Just as God provided for Paul, God would also provide for the believers in Philippi. Since God was the ultimate provider for both Paul and the Philippian believers, God our Father deserved all the glory forever and ever.

Any generous giving that we do in the name of our Lord Jesus is a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. God uses our generous giving to provide for others' needs; likewise, God also uses others to provide for our needs. Selfishness and stinginess are not acceptable in God's kingdom. As Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35)." God wants us to worship Him through our giving. When we give, we must give it to a person or people that God wants us to help, but our giving is directed to God. As a result, the person that we are giving to does not owe us anything because our giving is an act of worship to God. When we understand that our giving is an act of worship to God, we become generous people. Proverbs 19:17 says, "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done." 

The right heart of giving is an act of worship to God. God wants us to be generous because it is a way for God to use us to bless others and fulfill His purposes, and it is also a way for God to bless us. Let us worship God with our giving this Christmas season.

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What is one way that God meets the needs of others? Why is it important for me to give generously? What is one way for me to worship God?

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for providing everything that I need. Please help me to worship you with my giving. Do not let selfishness and stinginess control my heart, but help me to be generous. Please guide my giving so that I can bless those whom you want me to bless. Thank you that you are providing all my needs according to your glorious riches, which you have been given to me in Christ Jesus. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.