Philippians 4:10
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; where in ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; where in ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
Paul rejoiced greatly in the Lord that the care of the Philippians for him had revived at last after a time. Their concern and love had continued all along; they had indeed been thoughtful toward him, but they had lacked opportunity to express it or to act on it. That lack was not lack of affection, but lack of a suitable occasion to show it and to help.
The revival is pictured as their affection and acts of kindness coming to life again like a flower opening anew, blossoming afresh. Their renewed care took the form of material support and gifts sent to meet his needs while he was elsewhere, and this is one of the places where the gifts of the church to him are mentioned. He wrote while in prison in Rome, and the Philippian church had sent him support more than once. Sending money from Philippi to Rome was difficult and dangerous, since it had to be carried in coin by a messenger on a long journey. Epaphroditus, who brought their gift, became gravely ill, likely from the hardships of the journey.
His heartfelt thanks for their kindness leads into his lesson that contentment does not depend on favorable circumstances and that inner peace enables useful service even in hardship. The verse serves as instruction in Christian living connected with always rejoicing in the Lord.