Faith's Participation

"But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:18-19 NASB

Paul has graciously received all they have sent through their messenger, Epaphroditus. He likens their gift(s) to the sacrifices of the Old Covenant as being a fragrant aroma and an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. Such is our giving. All the sacrifices of the Old Covenant were symbols and pictures of what Christ would do. (And had done before the foundation of the world - in the mind of our marvelous God). The sacrifices themselves, never were redemptive. (Hebrews 10:1-4) So when Paul calls these "pleasing sacrifices," it gives us another insight about the symbolism of our giving.

Our God is a giving God. This terminology in this place, reveals to us just how God views our willingness to give and to help others. He regards our giving as sacrifices - much like He did in the Old. The Old sacrifices were "a faith participation" by the worshippers - trusting God to cleanse them. In the New, we know He has cleansed us by the blood of the spotless Lamb of God - our Lord Jesus Christ! So our "faith participation" in His nature and being, is to
become giving people.

To put it clearly - our giving is "a faith participation" in the giving nature of God imparted to us in Christ Jesus. We apprehend what is ours through our participation in faith -- His very nature.

In 2 Peter 1:3 we are told that He has given us all things for life and godliness. It is apparent that we do not presently possess in our hands these all things. However, by faith we apprehend them by trusting we have them and living in that revelation. This giving revelation is no different. We apprehend what has been given to us, by participating in giving in faith.

Therefore, he can say with all confidence concerning them, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Based on their already received gifts, Paul knows that God will in turn, supply all their needs. But notice this supplying by God is not according to their needs. It is according to His riches. The word "riches" is the Greek word for "wealth." So their gifts to Paul have opened the storehouse of God Himself; their needs are supplied, not according to their need, but according to God's wealth.

Such is at least a part of the wealth of this awesome passage.