More than I Need

 

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Philippians 4:14-20 ESV).

 

You may remember yesterday’s devotional as I posed two questions in developing a lifestyle of gratitude: “What do I need that I don’t have?”; and, “What do I have that I don’t need?” I know it’s altogether too easy to focus on the gaps in our lives between the good stuff and the bad stuff. We all have some of both. Sometimes we have more of the bad than we imagine we can bear. The Apostle Paul certainly knew what it was to “need.” Our reading today is the ending of a letter he wrote to the Philippians as a result of a generous gift he had received while imprisoned in Rome. In explanation to the Corinthians, Paul writes:

 

But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:21-28 ESV).

 

Yep… Paul had some gaps! Even in prison however, he says, “I am well supplied.” The point is that he chose to focus on the blessings knowing that the end was already determined. And, it was an end of eternal abundance. So it is with us! We really do have more than we need or deserve!