Word@Work Phil52 - Philippians 4:15-16
Published: Fri, 12/04/09
Word@Work from BeaconLight
PARTNERSHIP DEMANDS CONSISTANCY
Phil. 4:15-16 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. (NIV)
Paul had experienced true partnership in the gospel. But these verses highlight some alarming contrasts with the ways many followers of Jesus think about mission partnership today. Paul built mission training into the earliest stages of discipleship training for the new believers in Philippi. It was not an afterthought or a 'bolt-on extra'. Spreading the word about Jesus was an integral part of being a Christian. When Paul moved south to the rest of Greece, the church in Philippi wanted to become a 'sending church'. They assumed responsibility for supplying Paul's physical needs. When he arrived in Thessalonica, it was Philippian support which enabled the brief and persecuted mission to the city.
Paul says that their excellent example was not followed elsewhere; and so other churches missed out on the privilege of giving, and also the joy of receiving news and encouragement for further giving and prayer. True mission partnership must be two-way; and that is one of the reasons why Paul held this church in such high esteem. He received from them and they received from him (including this letter which is one of the gems of the New Testament). They also had the great characteristic of true partnership: consistency. This is vitally important in business, marriage and parenting: it is also critical in enabling gospel work to continue unhindered. The Philippian church kept on giving, 'again and again'. They were not project supporters, or committed for a short time: they were true partners, in it for the long haul.
How much we need to revisit this apostolically validated approach to gospel mission partnership! It is certainly not universal today. Partnership without persistence is the kind of patronage which does not build two-way relationships, and is unlikely to sustain a ministry. Partnership, in which supporters do not intend to be gospel practitioners themselves (albeit in their local communities), will always lose momentum; as interest is diverted onto the next exciting project elsewhere, or onto more self-satisfying pursuits. Partnership which only involves giving to ones own family, tribe, nation, has lost the point of cross-cultural mission. So, do you think that this might be the wake-up call you need so that you can be a real mission partner, and therefore a wholehearted follower of Jesus?
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank You for calling me to follow Jesus as I understood the gospel message which somebody else shared with me. Please stir my heart to be a consistent partner in cross-cultural mission, starting where I live and work, but with a heart to see many others won for Christ. Please show me how I can play my proper part in Your world-wide mission of love and hope. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Paul had experienced true partnership in the gospel. But these verses highlight some alarming contrasts with the ways many followers of Jesus think about mission partnership today. Paul built mission training into the earliest stages of discipleship training for the new believers in Philippi. It was not an afterthought or a 'bolt-on extra'. Spreading the word about Jesus was an integral part of being a Christian. When Paul moved south to the rest of Greece, the church in Philippi wanted to become a 'sending church'. They assumed responsibility for supplying Paul's physical needs. When he arrived in Thessalonica, it was Philippian support which enabled the brief and persecuted mission to the city.
Paul says that their excellent example was not followed elsewhere; and so other churches missed out on the privilege of giving, and also the joy of receiving news and encouragement for further giving and prayer. True mission partnership must be two-way; and that is one of the reasons why Paul held this church in such high esteem. He received from them and they received from him (including this letter which is one of the gems of the New Testament). They also had the great characteristic of true partnership: consistency. This is vitally important in business, marriage and parenting: it is also critical in enabling gospel work to continue unhindered. The Philippian church kept on giving, 'again and again'. They were not project supporters, or committed for a short time: they were true partners, in it for the long haul.
How much we need to revisit this apostolically validated approach to gospel mission partnership! It is certainly not universal today. Partnership without persistence is the kind of patronage which does not build two-way relationships, and is unlikely to sustain a ministry. Partnership, in which supporters do not intend to be gospel practitioners themselves (albeit in their local communities), will always lose momentum; as interest is diverted onto the next exciting project elsewhere, or onto more self-satisfying pursuits. Partnership which only involves giving to ones own family, tribe, nation, has lost the point of cross-cultural mission. So, do you think that this might be the wake-up call you need so that you can be a real mission partner, and therefore a wholehearted follower of Jesus?
Prayer: Gracious God. Thank You for calling me to follow Jesus as I understood the gospel message which somebody else shared with me. Please stir my heart to be a consistent partner in cross-cultural mission, starting where I live and work, but with a heart to see many others won for Christ. Please show me how I can play my proper part in Your world-wide mission of love and hope. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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