Philippians 4:17 - Three parties

"Not that I am seeking after the gift, but rather I am seeking the fruit increasing unto your word." 

-One might normally assume there is only one truly interested party in a gift transaction - the one receiving (I mean, who doesn't look forward to receiving gifts?!?) - whereas in fact there are three. The one giving the gift also has a vested interest in the transaction, because as it turns out the third party is God Himself, Who Paul here tells us actually keeps track of our giving somehow. When we give there is fruit which increases into our giving account. The more we give, the more fruit we get in our account. Giving is one of the ways we lay up treasure in heaven (cf Matthew 6.20-21), but it involves more than just the transaction of providing something for another at no cost.  We must consider the motives behind the giving - more on that in the next verse.

-As it turns out, Paul's interest in this transaction has nothing to do with receiving.  What amazing selflessness he shows at this point, and how rare indeed. We know that he was in prison and was likely completely dependent on the generosity of others for his daily provision, and yet he flat out states that he is more interested in how this act of giving will benefit the ones giving to him, how it will increase their store of heavenly treasure. How does one get to the point where you are not looking out for your own needs but rather for the needs and interests of others? Oh yeah - we already talked about this in chapter 2.  Look to Jesus and follow His example... let go.  Clearly Paul had let go, and that so completely that he doesn't even seem to care about his needs at this point, certainly not compared to how he was caring about the needs of others.