Those Who Helped in the Early Days

4:15-16 "You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs."

The Roman empire was divided into provinces. The city of Philippi was in the province of Macedonia. During his second missionary journey, when Paul was in Asia, he had a vision (Acts 16:9-10) through which God directed him to cross over into Macedonia (in Europe - present day Greece) in order to preach the gospel. (When Paul says in verse 15 "the first preaching of the gospel," he means the first preaching of the gospel in Europe, i.e. Macedonia, the first preaching of the gospel in THEIR experience.) The first city in Macedonia he evangelized was Philippi. He went from there to another city in Macedonia, Thessalonica. As he preached the gospel elsewhere in Macedonia and then beyond, the church at Philippi sent several monetary gifts to Paul, including more than one while he was still in Thessalonica. (There is also a gift sent to Paul from the Philippians while he was ministering in Corinth referred to in 2Cor.11:9.)

Now, years later, the Philippians have sent another gift to Paul, who is in chains in Rome, having completed three missionary journeys. And in these verses Paul is remembering back to the early days when they alone were supporting him financially in his missionary efforts.

Again we see Paul going out of his way to affirm his friends in Christ. Certainly he has expressed his gratitude to them for these gifts in the past. And yet he does it again now. He reuses their good deeds from the past to offer more praise in the present. And by doing so he floods the Philippians with the love of Christ.

It is natural to have a special appreciation for those who helped you out when you were first getting started. But it’s also easy to forget about them.

Who were the ones who stood by you in the early days? Do you ever thank God for them? Do you ever thank them for what they did? Have you ever told them how much their help meant to you? As I reflect upon this, I can think of some folks who need to get thanked.

It is You, O Father, who sent me help when I so desperately needed it. Indeed You have been there for me whenever I was in need. You are certainly an ever-present help in times of trouble! And thank You for those You used to bless me when I was younger. Forgive me for all the folks in my past who deserved my thanks but never got it. Help me give appreciation where it is due: to You first, and then to those You use to bless me.