“For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times.” Philippians 4:16 HCSB
Paul left Philippi and came to
Thessalonica where he encountered stiff opposition from the Jews after three weeks of proclaiming Jesus in the synagogue. The Philippians heard of Paul’s need and affliction and send him some money. I wonder if this is the first Red Cross disaster relief (Acts 17:5)? We don’t know the amount that was sent to Paul but I bet it was exactly what was needed by Paul and those in his company. The amount does not matter it was their heart in giving that mattered. They wanted to give and they gave. Will you be the one who sees a need and will motivate your church to send help to those who need it.
“and from there to Philippi, a Roman colony, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for a number of days. On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was spoken by Paul. After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and departed.”
Acts 16:12-15, 40 HCSB
https://www.bible.com/72/act.16.12-15,40.hcsb
I think that maybe Lydia was the one person who continually encouraged the church in Philippi to give to Paul. After all she opened her house to Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke while they were in Philippi. Lydia gave up a little bit of her home and privacy to help out and learn from Paul while he was at her home. Mary and Martha did this for Jesus in Luke 10:38. The Shunammite women did this for Elijah in 2 Kings 4:10. All these people experienced blessings for welcoming the man of God into their home. The Shunammite women gained a son. Mary and Martha got their brother back from the dead. Lydia gained a heart for giving. And I guess that her business of Purple cloth exploded. What benefits have you seen by giving? What are you lacking because your not giving? When was the last time you invited the evangelist over to your house for dinner? Or your pastor? Open your home for God to use and He Will Bless it and increase 100 times what you have sown into the kingdom.
“Then He told them many things in parables, saying: “Consider the sower who went out to sow. As he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on rocky ground, where there wasn’t much soil, and they sprang up quickly since the soil wasn’t deep. But when the sun came up they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them. Still others fell on good ground and produced a crop: some 100, some 60, and some 30 times what was sown. Anyone who has ears should listen! ””
Matthew 13:3-9 HCSB
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