What Does Philippians 4:17 Mean?

(17) **Fruit that may abound** (rather, *abounds*) **to your account.**—The metaphor is still kept, hardly disturbed by the introduction of the word “fruit,” since this is so constantly used in the sense of “recompense” that it readily lends itself to pecuniary associations. There is, says St. Paul, “the fruit” of reward, which “is over” as a surplus, or rather a balance, “placed to their account.” Their gift is a token of love and gratitude to him; but, as Christian almsgiving, it is something more, and what that something more is will be seen hereafter, when all accounts shall be finally taken. The idea is not unlike that of Proverbs 19:17, “He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and behold, what he layeth out it shall be paid him again.”