TUESDAY February 1, 2022
Having Fruit That Abounds
For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
Philippians 4:16-18
Paul reflected back on the aid sent to him by the Philippians for his necessities through Epaphroditus. He never asked for support––not one penny. He never appealed for anything, because His trust was in the Lord.
However, the Philippians were moved by God to willingly give. They knew of Paul’s financial difficulties, and, as his friends, they wanted to help him. In return, Paul desired that God would give to them fruit that abounds to their own accounts by blessing them with rich, spiritual dividends, not necessarily monetary blessings.
I love what Paul said: ...but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. There is a bank in heaven! God keeps record of those who give to the work of the Lord. It is not so much about the gift given, but the return of an eternal dividend kept in heaven for you. When you help the pastors in Chile or the missionary in Thailand who takes care of about 60 orphans, or you give tithes to provide for the needs of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs, God keeps records eternally.
Oh how sad it is when churches do not help others, and they keep it for themselves. May God help us to give tremendously to missions––to investing into the Kingdom of God. We need to reach our communities and the world for Jesus Christ.
Temporal things are going to burn up; eternal things will last forever and ever, one day you will be rewarded. The gift sent to Paul was an acceptable gift that was well-pleasing to who? God. The Lord is pleased when you give obediently. It is a sweet-smelling offering of praise to Him.
It's what you sow that multiplies, not what you keep in the barn.
~Adrian Rodgers~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
