If Paul Had an Abundance, What Do WE Have?

4:18 "But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God."

In this long thank you for the Philippians gift (which ought to help us understand what God thinks about the importance of generous thank you’s in response to generous gifts), Paul declares that as a result of the gift sent through Epaphroditus he is " amply supplied", and now has "an abundance."

If Paul, in chains in Rome because of his testimony for Christ, is "amply supplied", and has "an abundance" simply because he received some money (for food and other necessities) from the Philippians, what does that say about US? How can we dwell in such affluence (and is there anyone who is reading this who is worse off than Paul was when he wrote this epistle?) and whine when Paul had so little and felt so rich?

We live in a very rich society both in comparison to most of the rest of the world today and in comparison to most people in history. Virtually everyone who is reading this is in the top one percent in terms of wealth from a world-wide or historical perspective. We are rich! We may not FEEL rich (in fact, most of us probably engage in self-pity at times because we compare ourselves with others who have more than we do). But the fact is, we ARE rich. (You may be the poorest person in your neighborhood or church or group and still be rich in comparison to the whole world. The poorest home owner in Beverly Hills is still rich.) And it is wrong for us to think of ourselves as poor or to feel sorry for ourselves that we don’t have more.

Wouldn’t we be embarrassed to have our brothers and sisters in Christ who dwell in real poverty hear us complaining about things we don’t have? The scary thing is that one day they will:

"There is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops." (Luke 12:2-3)

The right response when you receive a gift is gratitude. And those who have received MANY gifts need to have LOTS of gratitude. Let’s get started right now.

O Lord, forgive me for every little grumble and groan that has come forth from this mouth or been thought in this head. I am indeed a rich man, and it all comes from You. Thank You, Lord. Make me a man whose gratitude matches his blessedness. Make me the most thankful person in the world. Even if I were, it would still be less than You deserve, for You are a God of infinite goodness, and Your mercies never come to an end. I praise You from the bottom of my heart.