From the Pulpit

Sometimes I wonder if I am growing in my relationship with Christ. That may come as a shock to you as you might think, “What? You are a pastor! Surely, you would know whether you are growing!”

Well, hold on; you know it is easy to deceive yourself. Sometimes you think you are one way, but then you find out from a trusted adviser that how you perceive yourself and how you really are can be quite different. That’s why it is always good to have an outside opinion you can trust.

Then when they see your growth and verbalize it, you can trust their opinion.
In chapter 1 of Philippians, that is exactly what Paul is saying, that he can see their growth of the Philippian church. Let’s take a look at it: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Paul is saying, “Even though I am in jail and I am not in your presence, I can see your growth and from the growth that I see, I know God is going to continue to work in you. You are on a great path. And when I see this growth, it gives me great joy and causes me to continue to pray for you.”

How could Paul tell the Philippians were continuing to grow strong in their walk with God without being around them? The key is the word partnership. Paul says, “because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day, until now.” That word “partnership” is a word that is translated from the original Greek, which the New Testament was written in, from the word koinonia, which means participation, distribution, or fellowship.

The Philippian church participated with Paul from the very first day they met him to help get the good news of God’s message out to the world. How? If you keep reading the rest of the book of Philippians, you will find out in chapter 4 that they were the first and only church that continued to finance his missionary journeys. Paul is saying “that I can tell that you are still strong in your walk because I am still receiving my support from you. Just because I am out of sight, I am not out of mind.”

The only indicator Paul had of where they stood spiritually was their giving to him. That means that our giving is one of the indicators of where we stand in our spiritual maturity. Even in hard times, the Philippian church continued to support Paul.

What does my giving say about me? What does your giving say about your walk and your spiritual maturity? And even better, do you have someone you can trust who would be honest with you and tell you if they see growth? What about if you allowed them to look at your giving? I think I would do well as an individual, but as for the church, I think we have a way to go to be like the Philippian church.

But we are on our way.

Pastor Eric Partin is the lead pastor of Shoreline Church in Destin and can be reached at epartin@cox.net