Gospel-Driven Generosity
Text: Philemon 6 & 8-16

...and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ (Philemon 6).

In verse 6, "sharing of your faith" is not evangelism but mutual participation in the gospel (it's the Greek word koinonia, like the "K" in Kgroups). Paul emphasizes koinonia because he is appealing to Philemon on the basis of "mutual participation in the gospel" or "gospel-driven sharing/generosity" (e.g., Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 8:4).

Paul is appealing for Philemon to accept Onesimus as a brother in Christ. He grounds this appeal in the gospel. He is saying that believers are generous to one another because they belong to one another in Christ. We are family. If Philemon allows the truth of the gospel to inform his thinking and living, then the right results will follow.

I like the way the New Living Translation states verse 6, "And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ."

As I've said in sermons, I begin my prayers each morning by rehearsing the depths of the gospel. Love and faith in Jesus and my identity in Him motivate generosity.

Paul Tripp reminds us, "Every day you preach to yourself some kind of gospel—a false 'I can’t do this' gospel or the true 'I have all I need in Christ' gospel. We either preach to ourselves a gospel of aloneness, poverty, and inability or the true gospel of God’s presence, power, and constant provision." Those who believe the true gospel live generously! 

Why don’t you make praying and preaching the gospel to yourself part of your practice, and see the difference it makes to begin each day reminding yourself of who you were, and who you now are in Christ? It will change duty to delight!