Generosity Advances God’s Kingdom

Devotional Reading: This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it. Philippians 1:5 CEV

The Apostle Paul says that the Philippians have taken part with him in spreading the Gospel through their financial support of his ministry. Other translations render that phrase as “partnered with me” in spreading the Gospel. To partner with someone is to share with them.

Pause and think about this for a minute. As these believers took part alongside Paul, they shared in all of the fruit and fruitfulness of the Apostle Paul’s ministry simply by using their money to enable Paul to do these things – to minister to people during shipwrecks, travel and preach the Gospel in Athens, Rome and beyond, mentor young pastors like Timothy so that they could disciple believers to maturity, and write letters to the churches across the known world.

The money God has entrusted us to manage is the very least of all the things we are to be faithful with (Luke 16:11). As we use our money to support the local church and ministries who are serving the cause of the Gospel and helping the hurting world, God’s Kingdom is proclaimed and extended. And you are a partner just as if you yourself were on the front lines.

This is the work Jesus came to do and is still doing.

Today, I encourage you to make (or increase) a giving commitment – even a very small one – to your local church or a Christian ministry that is doing Kingdom work.

Prayer and Confession
Lord Jesus, I recognize that what I have and all that I am belongs to you. I choose to lay down the resources I possess for the furtherance of your kingdom work. Amen.

Further Reading: 2Corinthians 8:1-5, Philippians 4:14-19