For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

4:10   I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.

A revived concern? What are you speaking of Paul?

Cold hard cash, or at least the equivalent of funds. But you see, Paul was a “classy fellow” when it came to this topic. He wasn’t in it for the money. Far from it. At times he would refuse any assistance from a church in order to keep his conscience clear.

The Philippian church was a different matter. The Philippian church was a major supporter of Paul in his journeys, and in an earlier posting, I offered some background to the following summary of gifts the church had provided to the apostle.

• The Philippians had supported the Apostle in the following ways (that we know of).
• When he left the Philippian church the first time
• Twice in Thessalonica
• At least once in Corinth
• At least once in prison (the reason for the writing of this epistle)

The phrase that warms my heart this morning is that opportunity only provided the expression of their continual care they had for the apostle. He freely states that the church had an active and continuous care for him, and this care was expressed when then could, when they had opportunity.

Are we looking for opportunities to provide for those we say we are concerned for?

Proverbs 3:28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”–when you have it with you.

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