"Ye have well done." (Phil. 4:14.)

This was a precious commendation of the Philippian Assembly. Paul had told them he was not anxious about daily needs, and that he was gladly a learner in God's school, by the trials of the way. But they had " well done " in "taking part in his affliction." A testimony of impatience with the assemblies, and of distrust toward God was far from him.

The assembly of Philippi had sent once and again to his necessity (4:16). Paul rejoiced because he sought fruit that would abound to their account.

There is something instructive in the reference to no other church having helped him at a certain time. The New Testament contains no letter of admonition to any such assembly by him or by any other apostle; only this brief general mention of the neglect. Are we not to gather instruction from this ? Are we not taught delicacy in dealing with this subject, while at the same time graciously and gently warned as to neglect ?

Under law the order was, "Bring ye all the tithes into the store house, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me … if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing." (Mal. 3:10.) That is, obey and be blest, is the order; while under grace it is, You have been blest, therefore let the heart overflow. "Freely ye have received, freely give." "As the elect of God, holy and beloved," we are to have "bowels of mercies, kindness." (Col. 3:12.) Love flows forth from hearts happy in the knowledge of God's rich goodness and grace.

Moreover, the tithes of the fruit of the land of Canaan were tithes of what is a type of heavenly blessings we have and realize in Christ. Thus again we see how acceptable " giving' is from a heart filled with the grace of Christ, with the joy of the Lord. These considerations prepare us for the different tone of the New Testament exhortations as to giving from those of the Old Testament, and guard us from legality of thought and exhortation.

Nevertheless, in the liberty of grace, exhortation has its place on this subject, and Paul very freely, as graciously also, exhorts and encourages and incites the assembly at Corinth not to fall short of liberality. Chapters 8:and 9:of 2 Corinthians truly warn and cheer the heart, and in how much they rebuke us let us judge. And in what we may call his farewell words to the church, Paul closes with the words, " I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, ' It is more blessed to give than to receive;' and when He had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all " (Acts 20:35).

This exhortation is written specially to encourage more giving by assemblies. Such giving calls for love and unity in the assembly, and fellowship in the gospel, and self-denial. And the example of the Philippians serves to encourage us to have in mind from time to time some one laboring in the gospel; and to be exercised about one and another so laboring, and to communicate with them. This has the example of Scripture and draws out the heart more than to simply pay into a fund, in the hands of some one of the assembly, who in counsel with one or two others distributes the amount collected.
The scriptural example of Philippi is not given to be slighted; but in giving in this way the assembly acts in faith and in loving exercise towards the laborer, and he in turn has his heart drawn out to them. And hearts are cheered by a heartfelt report from the field of work to those whose fellowship in the gospel draws it out. Note the tone of the epistle to the Philippians in this respect.

May our hearts be stirred to this great and holy service.

It is good to send abroad to laborers and not to give only when they come to us, nor does the coming of a laborer to an assembly call necessarily for help from that assembly. Such a thought is bondage. Help might have come from another quarter, leaving the brother the more free, (especially in a low state in an assembly) to minister in full liberty before the Lord-however blessed a privilege it would also be for an assembly to minister to one laboring in their midst. Still to confine our giving to those laboring in our midst, would surely not be right. It would tend to hinder going to "regions beyond," and lay a snare for the feet of the laborer.

When we consider the dangers we are exposed to, we should walk in fear and trembling.

We are unfit for God's service, except we take unto us His whole armor. We cannot give or receive for His glory, but by His grace and by His Spirit.

May we love His name, and love those who serve Him. And may we have such trust in the living God that we shall be ready and glad to give-ready to share the burden of the conflict. E. S. L.