it encourages others...

philippians 4.14-16 (ms), it was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles. you philippians well know, that when i first left macedonia province, venturing out with the message, not one church helped out in the give-and-take of this work except you. you were the only one. even while i was in thessalonica, you helped out—and not only once, but twice.

the philippian church was not a wealthy church. just the opposite. it was a poverty stricken
church. yet they were big hearted, generous, giving. paul said their gift encouraged him. giving
is an encouragement. both the giver and the givee receives a blessing, an encouragement.

some results of giving:

• it gives us a wider ministry than we would normally have. in philippians 1 paul says they are partners in ministry. they were supporting him financially. whatever you support you're partners with. not all of us can go to the mission field, preach, teach. but whenever i give we become partners in ministry. giving allows me to be involved in somebody else's
  ministry.

• giving makes us like CHRIST. the most CHRISTlike thing you can do is give. because JESUS was a giver. HE was sacrificial. the philippians had a reputation for generosity. 2 corinthians 8, paul calls them an example for the rest of the world. they gave out of their extreme poverty. they gave more than they could give. the church had such a reputation for giving that 2000 years later we still know about them.
  
  giving can be an encouragement to others.
  
  just a thought from the front porch…