Sharing of Faith = Growth

June 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

June 12, 2009

Text: Philemon 1:1-7

Title: Sharing of Faith =  Growth

Thoughts:

I’ll never forget the revelation I had from Philemon 1:6 several years ago. Involving a bit of ambiguity, this verse, rightfully understood, brings incredible knowledge to the life of the believer. In the NASB it reads: “and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.”

For the most part, the ambiguity surfaces because of the uncertainty of the word fellowship (konoinia) of our faith. For those familiar with Christianity, kononia “is often used in the active sense of impartation, as communication, contribution, almsgiving” (Vincent-Word Studies). While this sharing of his faith certainly involved communication, it was more than the mere verbal sharing of Christ that Paul was alluding to in Philemon’s life.

Indeed, it was the all-around sharing of his resources which would result in a deeper understanding of his faith and what God had placed within him. P.T. O’Brien clarifies this in his translation of v.6: “I pray that your generosity, which arises from your faith, may lead you effectively into a deeper understanding and experience of every blessing which belongs to us as fellow-members in the body of Christ” (F.F. Bruce, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians, pp.209-10).

Paul’s words to Philemon in this passage strongly suggest that there is a direct correlation between the sharing of our faith (time, talents, and treasures) and our “ever-growing awareness of all the resources available in Christ…The implication is clear: Whereas an inactive faith leads to stagnation, an active faith leads to spiritual growth–surely a principle of universal application”(Life in the Spirit New Testament Commentary, p.1289).

Application:

From the experiences in your life, can you see remarkable growth and a new awareness of God’s resources when you are actively sharing your faith?

How active is your sharing in this season of life? In what areas are you sharing?

How does life, the economy, extracurricular activities, etc. affect your sharing and consequently your spiritual growth?

Prayer:

Father,

May I learn from Philemon’s example. In response to his faith, he shared his resources for the benefit of the Kingdom of God. In doing so, he learned more of the vast resources You had placed in the lives of believers. May I grasp how wide, how deep, and how extravagant is Your resources toward Your children. Resisting stagnation, I want to grow in my faith as I give it away. Help me to become generous in all areas of my life.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Money: Mercury of the Heart

April 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

April 30, 2009
Text: Philippians 4:10-20
Title: Money: Mercury of the Heart

Thoughts:

As I sit to write today’s devo, centered in a passage of giving, in the background I have a streaming webcast. It is of a live meeting of my tribe, affectionate term for the denomination I serve in, discussing how they might ‘reallocate resources’ that are sent in by the individual churches throughout our denomination. Though a bit of a distraction while writing, I find it an intricate part of my role as a pastor and leader in this great tribe.

With the ancient text before me and the live-breaking discussion streaming in the background, I find myself caught in a current approach to embody Scripture. The ‘reallocation of resources’ is dealing with the amount of monies our local churches send into the larger denominational offices. The concern: the management of money. At stake: ministry. The epicenter: the heart.

As embodied in Philippians 4:10-20, giving is a natural by-product of the heart. I say money is the mercury of the heart. As seen in a thermometer, mercury does not change the temperature, but responds to the temperature. Likewise, our money, and its flow, merely responds to the temperature of our heart. (And, that varies from one region to the next.)

Thankfully, we have examples throughout Scripture that reveal the harvest that correlates with the generosity that flows from the heart warmed by God. Ministry is funded and fulfilled through generous givers. Sadly, when our hearts grow cold in the region of our contributions to ministry, our hearts have grown cold toward the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The two are inextricably intertwined. Likewise, when the recipients of ministry contributions fail to plant the funds in the harvest of the Gospel, it reveals a temperature change in the heart of the ministry organization.

Giving matters because it reflects the temperature of the heart. Jesus said, “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:21) May we exercise caution when we begin to withdraw from generous giving in ministry, this applies to both the giver and receiver.

Application:

How has your giving reflected a temperature change in your heart?

What region of your heart is the warmest at the moment? (i.e., where does your checkbook say your treasure is?)

What elements initiate climate changes in your giving? (e.g., withdrawing from church, becoming more involved in your faith, latest fashions, new gadgets, etc.)

Prayer:

Father,

Thank You for the opportunity to sow into the ministry. May my generosity and stewardship ever reflect my heart ablaze for You and Your kingdom work. How I long to reveal continuously my devotion to You above my material possessions. Today, help me to find the place that I can invest Your resources into ministries that will proclaim Your sovereignty and beauty.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Lacking Opportunities

April 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

April 29, 2009
Text: Philippians 4:10-14
Title: Lacking Opportunity

Thoughts:

In a near cash-less society, I cannot count the number of times I have been confronted with the opportunity to give to worthy causes, but failed to have a proper means of delivery. Perhaps, you’ve been there too. At the grocery store, outside your local Walmart, or in the spontaneous encounter on the street, we’ve all had those moments where we longed to give, but failed to have a means of delivery.

In Philippians 4, Paul writes the Philippian’s in appreciation for their gift. From the beginning these believers had believed in and partnered with the apostle’s ministry (Phil. 4:15-16). Yet for some unknown, and unmentioned, reason, the believers had “lacked opportunity” to express their “concern” for the apostle and his ministry. Scholars vacillate between defining this “lacked opportunity” as a monetary shortage on the Philippians’ part to an inability to get their gifts to the apostle.

Personally, I believe the Philippians’ “lacking opportunity” was not due to financial circumstances, but to an ailing delivery system (i.e., Epaphroditus [Phil. 2:25-26]). That these believers were willing to give is evidenced throughout verses 10-20. Even the apostle himself noted that they had always been concerned. Furthermore, it is believed that this group gave even to their own impoverishment (Phil. 4:19).

In very dire economic times our concern, or generosity, for others and the ministry can be silenced by lacking opportunities. My prayer is that we would not allow financial worries to be the restricting factor. Certainly many have lost their jobs, faced salary reductions, and the like, but may these losses not be our lacking opportunities. Rather, let those who have, give more. Let those without jobs, give of their time and services. Let those who have not the physical strength to give, pray. That our giving would be marred by an economic downturn fails to embody our trust and faith in God. May we resist the temptation to excuse our concerns and find a proper delivery method to revive our commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and its proclamation.

I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.

C.S. Lewis.

Application:

Have you ever used an excuse not to give to a worthy cause?

When have you been so moved by a cause that you went out of your way to reveal your concern for it? How did you reveal it?

In this time of economic struggles, has your giving increased or decreased? What are the factors involved in this change?

Prayer:

Father,

Thank You for Your continual blessings in my life. Today, I am one of the many who have been blessed with a job and provision. Others have not been so fortunate. In this season, may we all resist the tendency to forego our concern for the Gospel. May those who are blessed increase our giving in order to help those who are lacking. May those who lack an opportunity to give financially find another means of delivery. May we, Your people, rise to this occasion and proclaim Your message of hope!

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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