¹⁴ Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. ¹⁵ You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; ¹⁶ for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.

Of all the churches Paul founded, the one in Philippi was exemplary in their support for him. They had sacrificially help meet his practical needs in the work of the gospel by their financial gifts. In the previous verses, he had made clear that his enthusiasm over their renewed support was not because of the benefit to him, but it was an indicator of their spiritual maturity. This can be difficult for modern day readers to accept at face value. We are so accustomed to hearing slick pulpiteers and “missionary” presentations asking desperately for prayer, or “prayer letters” pleading for partners, but which in reality are fund raising efforts in disguise. Evangelicals have become quite adept at fundraising. Whole organizations exist to guide ministry leaders in how to get constituents to give more money, either openly as “capital campaigns” or under the not so subtle guise of “stewardship” There must have been those in Paul’s day who subscribed to such tactics, for he felt it necessary with the Philippians to make his motives clear. (Caveat: yes, there is a place for “prayer” letters for keeping people up to date on what their prayers have been accomplishing, but every effort should be made not to use such things as a cover for money appeals).

Having made that clear, the apostle affectionately commended the Philippian believers for their part in his ministry. They go a long way back in Paul’s ministry, to the “first preaching of the gospel.” Remember the initial believers there, the women he met by the river outside of Philippi (Acts 16:13), the wealthy woman, Lydia, who was identified as the “seller of purple fabrics” (Acts 16:14) and the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:30-40). From those early days, this young church supported Paul in his missionary tour. In fact, they stood out for their generosity and at times their support was all Paul had received from anywhere! And, while he was at the next missionary stop, while in the city of Thessalonica, the Philippians sent him support there.

Do you get the picture? Paul served sacrificially, traveling around the eastern Mediterranean, and Christians, moved by the Spirit, supported him. When necessary, he worked as a tent maker (Acts 18:3), but he never engaged in fundraising for his own needs.