Philippians 4:17 (YLT)

Passage

not that I seek after the gift, but I seek after the fruit that is overflowing to your account;

Nearby Context

Philippians 4:15 and ye have known, even ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the good news when I went forth from Macedonia, no assembly did communicate with me in regard to giving and receiving except ye only;

Philippians 4:16 because also in Thessalonica, both once and again to my need ye sent;

Philippians 4:17 not that I seek after the gift, but I seek after the fruit that is overflowing to your account;

Philippians 4:18 and I have all things, and abound; I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things from you--an odour of a sweet smell--a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God:

Philippians 4:19 and my God shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "seek", "after", "gift", "fruit", "overflowing", and "account". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "seek" and "after", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "because also in Thessalonica both once and..." into verse 18's "and I have all things and abound...", so "seek" and "after" belong inside that flow. In Philippians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "seek" and "after" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.