Paul wraps up his letter to the church at Philippi with an acknowledgment of the financial support they had provided him. You don’t get the sense from the Paul’s letters that he spent a lot of time “raising support” for his mission . . . but you do pick up on the fact that Paul seemed to placed great value on the giving of one’s means to help other believers. And in these last verses in Philippians, Paul doesn’t just say, “Thank you.” Instead the Holy Spirit through Paul brings wonderful spiritual perspective to the act of meeting needs.

Paul says that he “rejoiced in the Lord greatly” at the renewed practical concern shown him through the generosity of the church at Phillip. And I don’t think the rejoicing was so much a result of, “Whew!!! Sure glad that bill got paid!” . . . for Paul says that he had learned to be content whatever his circumstances, whether living in plenty or living in want . . . and that it really wasn’t “the support” that enabled him for ministry, but rather the reality that he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him. (Php. 4:10-13)

So Paul’s rejoicing was less about having his needs met for the day . . . but about the implications for the givers in THAT day. He rejoiced because their giving to him would have eternal consequences for them.

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. (Philippians 4:17 ESV)

For Paul, though the check to his missionary fund was appreciated, what really jazzed him was the thought of the deposit being made in the B of H (Bank of Heaven) . . . the NKJV translates it “the fruit that abounds to your account.”

Their giving, their acts of kindness, their determined joining with Paul in such practical terms, had an eternal, spiritual dimension . . . being accrued to a yet-to-be-cashed-in spiritual account. The giving of wealth on earth was being matched with an unimaginable giving program in heaven. It’s true . . . living for Jesus here and now results in reward there and then.

And while I don’t think we should be motivated by greedily building up a big “investment trust” in heaven with each dollar we give, I do think we should remember that God “is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints” (Heb. 6:10) and that He will reward that which is done in His name and for His kingdom. We should have an eternal perspective tied to worldly stewardship . . . mindful that what we do for Jesus now will factor into our experience beyond this world.

Paul tells Timothy to remind those who are “rich in this present age” that . . .

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (1Timothy 6:18-19 ESV)

Storing up treasures . . . fruit credited to my account . . . building up a good foundation for that day when I am in His presence . . .

Oh that I might be mindful that I am putting away for a reigning day . . . for His glory alone. Amen?