Thank You for Your Generosity

 

 

 

When Dr Broadus was a boy in a little town, he was converted to Christ after attending some meetings. He went out to his playmate Sandy Jones, a red haired chap, the next day and said to him “I wish you would be a Christian, won’t you?” Sandy said “I don’t know maybe I will” and sure enough after a little while, one night Sandy Jones accepted Christ. Straight away he stalked across the little meeting house to where John was sitting. He held out his hand and said “thank you John thank you John”. Dr Broadus went out from that little town and became a great scholar and theologian president.

Every summer when he went back to that little town, this red haired farmer, in his plain clothes, with red sand on his boots, would come up, stick out his great bony hand and say “Howdy John. Thank you John, I never forgot” .When Dr Broadus was at his death bed, with his family around him, he said “I think the sound sweetest to my ears in heaven, next to the welcome of him whom having not seen I have loved and tried to serve, will be the welcome of sandy Jones, as he will thrust out his great hand and say ‘Howdy John, thank you John’” (Alexander McConnell)

The Philippians epistle was written to one of the three Macedonian churches (Philippians, Berea, Thessalonica) established by Paul. The letter overflows with his love for these people who truly cared for him. Paul wrote “I thank my God every time I remember you. Always in my every prayer for all of you I pray with joy because of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.” (Phil 1: 3-5). Paul talked about thanking “my God” and not just God or our God. He had a personal God who loved him and not even the present circumstance could change that (Romans 8:35-39).

Every time he remembered the Philippians, pleasant warm feelings flooded his heart prompting thanks giving to God for them.  What is it that Paul likely remembered about the Philippians that flooded his heart with joy?  Paul’s memory possibly went back to the beginning of this great church of Philippi (Acts 16). He thought of that day when the first convert-Lydia gave her life to Christ and together with her household was baptized. He remembered how she invited him and his companions to live in her house.  He remembered how he and Silas had sung in the Philippians’ jail at midnight; how God hit the jail with an earthquake, leading to his release and the salvation of the jailer and his whole family.

Paul was in prison again, this time in Rome and as he thought of all those events, one thing came to his mind.  God had been at work during those days in Philippi.  He was working during the pleasant times when they found the group of women by the river, when they got the first convert and when she provided a place for them to stay. God was also at work during the difficult times when he was beaten and thrown to jail. He recalled how God had used the good and the bad circumstances to touch people’s lives. He knew that even in the current circumstances God was at work too. All things were working together for good.

Paul wrote “In all my prayers for you all” (v.4). Paul was a man who prayed a lot; he instructed the Thessalonians church to pray without ceasing (1Ths. 5:17). He was in prison now and he could not visit the Philippians to minister to them. However there is something he could do, pray for them and he did so with joy. Each time Paul prayed, he prayed for the church in Philippi. Although they were far from him physically, they were always in his heart.  Paul did not just pray a general prayer for the church, he prayed for “you all”.

We are not told how many members were in the church; is it possible that Paul knew them by name? He has mentioned some in this letter. For our prayers to have great impact we need to know what is happening in the lives of the people we pray for , if it’s possible. It helps us to be specific in our requests and to make “their request” known to God.  Also, from the feedback we get to know when our prayers are answered and give thanks to God as required. It’s so good to get clear answers to prayers; it motivates us to pray even more.

Paul wrote “I always pray with joy”. It is remarkable to see that Paul’s first reference to his own feelings in this letter is that of joy; though he wrote from prison and a possible execution soon.  We see here a demonstration of the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding guarding a man’s heart and mind. Paul did not whine about why God had allowed him to be put into prison; instead of wasting time sulking about his sad circumstances, he spent time remembering and praying for the people he loved. This is a wonderful revelation of how life in fellowship with Christ triumphs over all adverse circumstances.

 Praying for the Philippians was not a burden. He loved them, he called them “my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown” (Phil. 4:1). Prayer for them was a vital enjoyable activity and he got concrete results from God. Philippians was one of the greatest churches that Paul planted. They were changed people and getting better all the time.  It is encouraging to lead someone to Christ and watch them becoming more and more like Jesus as years pass. Paul had seen their continuous transformation as the Lord worked in their lives, perfecting them from the inside by His Spirit. No wonder he had so much joy over them!

Paul was thankful to Philippians “because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” The very first day he met them, one of them immediately made her home available as a regular meeting place (Acts 16:11–13). That’s probably the first thing Paul has in mind when he refers to the Philippians’ partnership. The word translated partnership here means a deep, heart to heart fellowship. Paul thanks God for the life he shared with the Philippians; that memory was a source of great comfort and encouragement to him.

The Philippians shared the same vision of spreading the gospel and they invested to make it happen. When Paul was with them, they partnered together physically. When he left, they partnered with him financially, “again and again” when he was in need (Phil 4:15-16).  He was grateful to them for their help, but he was even more grateful to his God who had worked such kindness through the Philippians. He recognized God’s hand as behind the Philippians’ actions. He was at work in them both to will and to do his good pleasure (Phil. 2:13).

To challenge the Corinthians to become givers like the Macedonians he reminded them that it’s God who “supplies seed to the sower and bread for food …God will enrich you in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God…this service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lords people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God …others will praise God for … your generosity…and in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you (2Cor.9:10-14). Gracious giving is regarded by God as an act of righteousness. When the needy saints receive a gift from fellow believers, they recognize that God is the ultimate source of the gift and respond with thanksgiving and praise to God.

Paul models for us an attitude and an act of thanksgiving. He does not take for granted any blessing that comes to him. He does not feel entitled or deserving to receive the blessing; those blessings overflow in thanksgiving. We feel entitled to the gifts that God has given us and consequently we are not thankful to him. We should have that same level of gratitude to the people who have helped us reach where we are! Are there people in your life that when you think of, break out in a prayer of thanksgiving? We should also make it easy for others to be thankful and joyful in their prayers for us. When they remember us their hearts should bubble with joy prompting them to make joyful prayers for us.

Prayer is the most powerful tool we have and often the least used. We are privileged to have access to the creator of the universe through prayers. We should make the most of it. Our prayers should be joyous and offered with a genuine concern. We should always keep in mind that our prayers make a difference, they avail much more than we can even think of. There are things that will happen in our lives and the lives of others only if we pray. Oh how much we have missed in life because we did not pray. This should motivate us to be great intercessors.  

In Isaiah 61 and 62 we have an example of things that can happen if we intercede for others. We have a promise that if we pray, God will bind the broken-hearted, free the captives and release prisoners from darkness. They will be made oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor (61:1-3). We are surrounded by many such people and our prayers for them will avail more than we can imagine. Watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem, on the last day you will be surprised to see many in heaven who only got there because you prayed for them. Others will be missing because you didn’t pray for them.

God says “I have posted watchmen on your walls O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the name of the Lord give yourself no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and make her the praise of the earth (62:6-7). For the sake of the people you love and care for get determined that “I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet till her righteousness shines out like dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch…until they become a crown of splendor in the God’s hand and he rejoices over them( ( 61:3,5).