You gotta give a little to get a little.... If you've been studying Scripture for any length of time, you've probably picked up on this fact: Investing in others brings a high return to yourself. This is what Paul is talking about in verses 10, 14-18. Yes, he appreciated the gifts they sent via Epaphroditus, but more than that he was happy to know that they got this concept down. They thought about him, sympathized with him and then put those good intentions into action and sent something. Their motivation wasn't to receive a reward, it was to help. Yet, that's what Paul is indicating here: "I am looking forward to what may be credited to your account." ..."They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God."

I'm wondering about those "opportunities to show it" (verse 10) that come along. We who are so busy with, well, busy-ness find it easy to put these opportunities aside and depend on 'others' to do it. The meal for those new parents, the check to that missionary in Russia, the shoebox for some child who needs to hear about Jesus...it's easy to let another handle it while we cope with the business of life. But it seems to me that this must be put to the top of our list, this should be the business of our lives as Christ followers.

• Who are you helping today? Who or what should be on your prayer list that isn't?