Fruit that may abound to your account

Philippians 4:15-17 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. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

Not much has changed in two thousand years. Some churches support missions and some do not! The Philippians got it! They understood the importance of helping missionaries to fulfill their part in the Great Commission. They understood Biblical Fellowship. When the Bible here says that no church 'communicated' with Paul in giving and receiving, the Greek word is koinonia. That word is translated 'fellowship' in other places in Scripture. It means partnership in the gospel. Does your church partner with missionaries in the work of proclaiming the gospel to every creature?

The apostle here commends this church for their fellowship with him. He commends them not because he was looking for a gift. As a matter of fact, since they are the only church that was supporting him financially, he was prepared to pay his own way. He commends them for the 'fruit that will abound to their account'. In other words, they will be blessed as a church because they have given to the cause of the Great Commission.

Not only are all Christians responsible for 'preaching the gospel to every creature' (Mark 16:15), but all churches should also be partnering with others to preach the gospel beyond the realm of their city.

Many believers see fellowship as a social time to visit and get to know one another better. The Bible sees fellowship as partnership in the gospel mission. How do you see fellowship? How does your church view it? Will you prayerfully consider how involved you are personally with the gospel mission? We have a very clear word from our Lord Jesus Christ about what we are to be about:

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

In Christ,
Rody