Philippians 4:18, commentary and pictures

Paul received through Epaphroditus the gifts sent by the Philippians, which fully supplied his needs while he was a prisoner at Rome and expressed their faithful love for the gospel. Gifts that support God's work and relieve human need, with all unselfish labor done from a pure and sincere heart to benefit others, rise as a fragrant offering acceptable and well-pleasing to God. An offering is accepted only when given in grateful love, willing devotion, and humble reverent sincerity, so that even the smallest gift given in deep poverty is presented before God as acceptable, while even giving all one's substance is rejected when offered in self-sufficiency without gratitude and reverence. A gift made at real personal cost through self-denial is precious to Him like an offering rising from an altar, every such sacrifice is faithfully recorded and will bring spiritual fruit credited to the giver. Such loving gifts do not earn His favor but show that the giver has received Christ's grace, and since He entrusts each person with gifts and income to be improved and returned for His glory, those who diligently increase in order to give become His right hand in benevolence and are themselves made light and joyful.

Paul's Needs Fully Supplied

The gifts sent by the Philippians through Epaphroditus fully supplied Paul's needs, so that he had all and abounded and was full. They were sent to support him in prison at Rome. Their giving was an expression of faithful love for the gospel. It continued even when he refused support and when he was imprisoned. Their support also brought spiritual fruit that was credited to their account, and their generous giving was as a sweet-smelling sacrifice, acceptable and pleasing to God.

Fragrant Sacrifices Please God

Gifts that sustain God's work and relieve those in need are an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God, when they express love and gratitude. Work done for Him with a pure and sincere heart is itself such a fragrant offering to Him. Labor that benefits others is a pleasing offering like pleasant incense rising to Him, including speaking and working for people's good and personal effort to help those seeking truth. Unselfish service is sweet incense offered to God.

An offering is acceptable only when given in grateful love and willing devotion. It must come from a humble, grateful, reverential, pure, sincere heart, consecrated and offered faithfully. Without reverence and gratitude He does not accept it, and even giving all of one's substance is rejected and despised when given in self-sufficiency or Pharisaism as though He were indebted for the favor. Such gifts given in love and gratitude do not earn His favor or recommend the giver to Him, but show that the giver has received Christ's grace and sincerely loves God and others.

The value of a gift comes from grateful love and self-sacrifice, not its size. Even the smallest gift that seems poor to the giver is presented by angels before God and before His throne as a fragrant, acceptable sacrifice, and He accepts it. Even gifts made in deep poverty express gratitude to God, and such prayers and acts of giving are remembered before Him.

A gift to God made at real cost through self-denial is precious like a sweet-smelling offering rising from an altar, and is pleasing to Him. Leaving children to serve God is a heart gift precious to Him, more than gold or silver, and every act of self-denial and sacrifice is faithfully recorded and will be rewarded. God entrusts each person with gifts and income, and each is accountable to use them for His glory, improve them to the best of ability, and return them as an offering. Diligently trading on His goods to increase resources in order to give to those fallen into distress makes the giver His right hand to work out His benevolent purposes. Those who offer Him unselfish service are made light and joyful in Him, and churches are quickened and refreshed when their members engage in it.