Note 13 at Phil. 4:17: It is evident from Paul's statements that he is pleased that the Philippians had sent him money. Now lest he be misunderstood, he gives the real reason that he was so blessed. It is not because he now is full (v. 18). He was content before he received their gifts (v. 11). It is because he knows how the Philippians' giving will produce "fruit that may abound to your account."

This implies that there is a spiritual account being kept of our deeds. This would correspond with being judged out of the books that the Lord is keeping (see note 8 at Phil. 4:3, p. 1175). Godly giving, which is giving with the proper motive (see note 6 at 1 Cor. 13:3, p. 938), makes deposits in that account. It is important to see our giving not as money leaving our lives, but money being deposited in our spiritual account which goes into our future where it grows and multiplies.

This is not to say that there is a one to one ratio between the money we have given and what we can expect to receive. The Lord gives one hundred fold interest on gifts that are given in faith (see note 8 at Mk. 10:30, p. 392).