From the archives of Oral Roberts – First of two parts
Paul had been traveling for months from place to place. Many times he was persecuted and thrown into jail, and he was in prison while he wrote the Book of Philippians.
Traveling so far in many months, those who wanted to help Paul couldn’t find him. But now they had found where he was, and in Philippians 4:10˗11, Paul says, “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
Paul learned to be content because Christ in him strengthened him so he could go ahead and do all things in spite of the circumstances. Paul explains in verse 12, “In spite of the fact that I had to learn how to deal with being abased and being full and knowing how to be strengthened by Christ so I can do all things — in spite of that — you have done well in that you did communicate with me in my destitution.” In verses 14 and 15, Paul continues, Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction (destitution).
Now, ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. In other words, Paul was saying, “I established you as a church. I won your souls to Christ, and I was run out of Philippi for doing that. They drove me to Thessalonica, where there was a riot because of my revival. In Thessalonica, you sent unto me again and again. And you’re the only ones who did that. Your sacrifice was acceptable, well-pleasing to God.” God wants us to be sure we are obedient in our giving and be sure our giving is a sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God — not man, but God Himself.
