Biblical Basis for Saying Thank You 1 of 2

Have you thanked your partners in your Christian work lately? Would you like some new ideas on how you can do this?

 

Welcome to another addition of MemCare by Radio. I’m Scott Hollinger. I ran across this article from Dr. Ken Williams and I thought it was so good that I wanted to share it with you. In our kind of work each of us has supporters, whether they are prayer supporters or financial supporters of our work. But Ken writes:

 

“Many of us have been taught that our relationship with ‘donors’ means that we receive money and prayer support, and they receive information and that’s about it. So our goal is to find churches and people who will give to us as to the Lord, expecting very little in return.”

 

Ken relates something that he discovered while translating Philippians for a people group in Guatemala. He discovered that Paul was writing a letter to people who were partners with him in serving God (1:5, 4:15 RSV). It was a partnership of ‘giving and receiving’ in which each was giving and receiving to each other.

 

As we hear this there are some aspects of our relationship with our supporters that we should give consideration to: “What are we giving to those who support us, besides information?” According to Ken, as he pondered his relationship with them, it became clear that it was not a true partnership.  Partnerships are mutual. According to Ken he had been doing almost all of the receiving and very little of the giving. Does that sound like your relationship with your supporters?

 

These considerations began a journey for Ken Williams which eventually brought to him a fresh new view regarding missionary support - a paradigm shift from traditional thought. As I share what Ken learned please consider it with an open heart, to learn what the Lord might have for you. You may have already adopted this approach. If not, you don’t have to agree with everything. Take what is helpful and leave the rest.

 

Today we’re going to look at the Biblical Example of Partnership in Christian work and then in the second part we’ll look at some ways to stay in touch.

 

Philippians was Paul’s letter to a church in partnership with him. Here are a dozen principles Paul used in his letter which we can use also. I urge you to make these a part of your relationship with your partners.

 

1.      Paul expressed his gratitude to them (1:3-5)

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

 

Paul specifically mentioned their gifts, past and present (4:10,15-18).

 

2.      Paul was in partnership with them and let them know it (4:15)

My friends at Philippi, you remember what it was like when I started preaching the good news in Macedonia. After I left there, you were the only church that became my partner by giving blessings and by receiving them in return.

 

 That partnership was mutual: both were giving and receiving.

 

3.   He reminded them of how God looked on their part and that He would reward them (4:17-19)

I am not trying to get something from you, but I want you to receive the blessings that come from giving. I have been paid back everything, and with interest. I am completely satisfied with the gifts that you had Epaphroditus bring me. They are like a sweet-smelling offering or like the right kind of sacrifice that pleases God. I pray that God will take care of all your needs with the wonderful blessings that come from Christ Jesus!

 

Partners need to hear often how precious their part is in God’s eyes.

 

4.      He communicated his joy: in his service and situation (1:18, 2:17),

But that doesn't matter. All that matters is that people are telling about Christ, whether they are sincere or not. That is what makes me glad.

   I will keep on being glad, for their concern for him and for their prayers (1:19).

because I know that your prayers and the help that comes from the Spirit of Christ Jesus will keep me safe.

 

People want to be involved with missionaries who serve God joyfully!

 

5.   He expressed his love and affection for them (1:8,4:1)

 Dear friends, I love you and long to see you. Please keep on being faithful to the Lord. You are my pride and joy.

 

 For many partners it is quite possible you will be the only person who tells them you love them and long to see them.

 

6.      He thanked God for them and told them so (1:3,7)

You have a special place in my heart. So it is only natural for me to feel the way I do. All of you have helped in the work that God has given me, as I defend the good news and tell about it here in jail.

 

Do you faithfully thank the Lord for each of those who support you, and then let them know it?

 

7.   He prayed for them and let them know he was praying (1:4,9-11)

I pray that your love will keep on growing and that you will fully know and understand how to make the right choices. Then you will still be pure and innocent when Christ returns. And until that day, Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God.

 

 You may be the only person who prays regularly for many of your partners.

 

8.   He talked about the relevance of his ministry (1:12-17)

My dear friends, I want you to know that what has happened to me has helped to spread the good news. The Roman guards and all the others know that I am here in jail because I serve Christ.

 

9.   He reported on his work and circumstances, and how he felt about them in chapter 1:20-21.

I honestly expect and hope that I will never do anything to be ashamed of. Whether I live or die, I always want to be as brave as I am now and bring honor to Christ. If I live, it will be for Christ, and if I die, I will gain even more.

 

10. He shared very personally about his growth, struggles, victories, goals and walk with the Lord (1:19-24, 2:17,27, 3:8-14, 4:11-13). Here is an example from Philippians 3: 12 through 14:

      I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. My friends, I don't feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.

 

 Paul certainly didn’t try to put on a facade of being a perfect missionary.

 

11.  He exhorted, taught, encouraged and was a blessing to them.

 

12.  He focused on Jesus, and encouraged them to do so (2:6-11)

Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain equal with God. Instead he gave up everything and became a slave, when he became like one of us. Christ was humble. He obeyed God and even died on a cross. Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored his name above all others. So at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, "Jesus Christ is Lord!"

 

As you apply these principles you will begin to see that a very real purpose of relating to your partners is to have a ministry in their lives—a ministry of encouragement, prayer, exhortation and teaching, motivated by gratitude to God and to them.

 

I hope this program has been helpful in providing a slightly different look at the support, both prayer and financial, that we receive. If you would like to listen to this program again or check out the other programs offered by MemCare, you can surf on over to membercareradio.com. I’m Scott Hollinger and I would like to thank you for joining us today. MemCare By Radio is here each day for you. Our prayer is that God will bless you in your work for him during the coming week.