Philippians 4:19

MEDITATION:  “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (NLT)  “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (KJV)

Context:  The Philippian church was the first to financially support Paul in spreading the Good News and they did so more than once.  Paul told them that their financial gifts were a “fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God” (v. 18).  Because of this, he assures them that they will not lack or go without their needs being met.

REVELATION:  (1) God’s ability is not the issue.  (2)  There is no lack in God.  (3)  Our riches are irrelevant.  (4) Jesus, not our efforts, is the guarantee.

APPLICATION:  One area in which many Christians stumble is giving, especially the tithe.  One of the last areas that many Christians surrender to God is finances.  Why is it that the enemy doesn’t say, “You can’t afford to pay that amount” when you’re out shopping for things that you don’t need and really can’t afford?  Why is it that the enemy says, “You can’t afford to pay your tithe” or “You can’t afford to give a sacrificial offering” whenever it comes to giving to God?  At the forefront of our minds are our bills and any other reasons to rationalize withholding from God.  At the root of our rationalizations is fear – fear of going without.  If we accept the truths revealed in Paul’s statement to the Philippians, we will be freed from the bondage and deprivation that fear causes.  Paul is not telling the Philippians what he thinks will happen; he is telling them what he knows will happen.  How does he know it will happen?  He knows because of his personal relationship with God through Jesus.  Paul says, “my God”/”this same God who takes care of me…”  He knows what God has done for him because of his commitment to the work of the Lord.

Truth #1:  God’s ability is not the issue.  This verse does not say that God might be able to.  It says that God “will supply”/”shall supply”.  “Will” and “shall” are concrete and definitive; they leave no room for doubt as to what God will do.  Since creation, before sin ever entered the picture, God provided for all that He created.  One of the names of God is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides.  Thus, it is the will and nature of God to provide for His children.   The same God who provided manna from heaven and water from a rock for the Israelites is the same God who will provide for His children today.  The same God who kept the oil flowing until the widow had filled every jar she had so that she could pay off her husband’s debts and have enough left over to sell and live off of is the same God who will provide for His children today.  God’s ability is never the issue.  The issue is always our availability and obedience to God.  The issue is whether or not we trust God to do what God promises to do in the lives of those who trust God.

Truth #2:  There is no lack in God.  We will always be disappointed when we look to anyone or anything to meet all of our needs, including our spouses and/or our jobs.  The promise of God is not just to supply, but to supply all of our needs.    There is no insufficiency or lack in God.  God will never post an “Out of Stock” sign or give us a rain check/I Owe You.  God is not restricted by the stock market.  God is the source of all that is; so, God never runs out.   Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the LORD’S and everything in it.  The world and all its people belong to him.”  Psalm 111:5 says, “He gives food to those who fear Him; He always remembers His covenant.”  Psalm 104:14-15 says, “You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use.  You allow them to produce food from the earth–wine to make them glad, olive oil to soothe their skin, and bread to give them strength.”  Psalm 84:11b says, “The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.”  Don’t let the devil make you think that you will go without if you give to God or that God won’t come through for you.  Matthew 6:32-33 tells us that God already knows all of our needs and He will give us everything we need if we seek His kingdom and live righteously.  2 Corinthians 9:7b-8, 10 tells us that “God loves a person who gives cheerfully.  And God will generously provide all you need.  Then, you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others…For God is the One who provides seed to the farmer and then bread to eat.  In the same way, He will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.”

Truth #3:  Our riches are irrelevant.  This, in and of itself, is a reason to shout.  God’s ability to supply all of our needs is not based upon what we have in our pockets, wallets, purses, or bank accounts.  God’s ability to supply all of our needs is based upon His riches in glory.  My adopted mother said to me, “Your budget is not God’s budget.”  Every time that my funds get low and aren’t enough to meet my financial need, I remind myself of this and I thank God that my budget is not His budget.  I thank God that my riches are irrelevant and that His ability to meet my needs is not based upon what I have, but upon His riches in glory.  God’s riches are inexhaustible.  The enemy will always try to get you to focus on what you don’t have and what you can’t do because of what you don’t have.  When this happens, we have two options:  become worried; depressed; and desperate, trying to make things happen on our own OR become even more determined to stand on God’s Word, thanking God that our riches are irrelevant to His ability to meet our needs.  Receive this in your spirit and be liberated from worry, depression, desperation, and fear.  Your praise will confuse the enemy.

Truth #4:  Jesus, not our efforts, is the guarantee.  The Bible clearly teaches us that our access to the promises of God comes through Jesus, and Jesus alone.  This verse, in particular, explains how we have access to the glorious riches of God:  “…which have been given to us in Christ Jesus“/”by Christ Jesus“.   When we believe on Jesus and confess Him as Lord of our lives, we gain access to every promise that God made to His children.  Never again do we have to try to figure out how we are going to make things work.  Never again do we have to feel as if we can’t afford to give to God.  As the context of this verse conveys, this guarantee of provision spoken by Paul is to those who give financially to advance the kingdom of God.  Jesus ensures that our needs will be met.

George Williams is credited as drawing an analogy using the bank of faith to help us better understand this verse:  My God = the Banker; Shall supply = the promise to pay; All your need = the value of the bank note; According to His riches = the capital [or wealth] of the bank; In glory = the address of the bank; By Christ Jesus = the signature at the foot [of the note], without which the note is worthless.  Jesus guarantees that we will always have what we need.  I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely banking with the bank of faith!