AND MY GOD
SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS: o de theos mou plerosei (3SFAO) pasan
chreian humon: (2Sa 22:7; 2Chr 18:13; Neh 5:19; Da 6:22; Mic
7:7; Jn 20:17,27; Ro 1:8; 2 Co 12:21; Philemon 1:4) (supply Ge
48:15; Dt 8:3,4; Neh 9:15; Ps 23:1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 41:1, 2, 3; 84:11;
112:5, 6, 7, 8, 9; Pr 3:9,10; 11:24,25; Mal 3:10; Lk 12:30, 31, 32,
33; 2Co 9:8, 9, 10, 11)
"And my God shall fulfill all your necessities"
(Geneva)
"My
God will richly fill your every need" (GWT)
"But my God shall
satisfy to the full your every need" (Wuest)
"And this same God
who takes care of me will supply all your needs" (NLT)
The KJV
Commentary writes...
The Philippians had met Paul’s need
out of their poverty by Epaphroditus; God will meet their need out of
His riches by Christ Jesus. (Dobson,
E G, Charles Feinberg, E Hindson, Woodrow Kroll, H L. Wilmington: KJV
Bible Commentary: Nelson)
Don't yank this verse out of context and apply it indiscriminately.
Such amazing generosity does not allow for foolish and frivolous
spending on our part while at the same time we consider God is responsible for
necessities! Rather, because the Philippians had been so generous in
their Christian giving, God would meet their needs as well. (see
Jesus' promise of the Father's intimate care of His children's needs
in the notes on the Sermon on the Mount - Mt 6:25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,
31, 32, 33, 34- see notes
Mt 6:25-26,
6:27-29,
6:30-32,
6:33-34)
Commenting on the phrase "my
God" Eadie
writes that
my
God, so honoured
and so pleased with your gift to me, will supply all your need. I who
receive your contribution can only thank you, but my God Who
accepts the sacrifice will nobly reward you. You have supplied one
element of my need, but my God will supply every need of yours...The
apostle uses the simple future (tense), as if he pledged himself for
God; for he felt most assured, that God as his God would act as he
promised in His name.
Vine writes
that
"the possessive pronoun (my) here suggests that while he could not do all that he would like to
do for these, who had ministered on his behalf, his God would see to
it."
The value of a promise depends
entirely upon the one making the promise. "My
God" is faithful
to His promise and will never let you down. Paul could not repay
the Philippians, but God could and would.
J M Boice
asks the important application question:
“Is He your God? If He is not
your God, if you have never come to Him through faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ, the promises of God’s care in the Bible are not for you.
On the other hand, if you do believe in Him and wish to obey Him, you
will find Him strong in your need. You will find Him entirely and
consistently faithful” (Philippians, p. 258).
Paul is saying
“You met my
need, and God is going to meet your need. You met one
need that I have, but my God will meet all of your needs. You
gave out of your poverty, but God will supply your needs out
of His riches in glory!”
Paul is reminding
"his
benefactors that "his" God ("my
God") will do
what he himself is in no position to do namely, reimburse his
benefactors. This assurance of the divine supply of the Philippians'
needs implies that they had given so liberally that they actually left
themselves in some real "need." (Expositor's)
Shall supply
(4137) (liberally supply) (pleroo
[word study]) means to be filled (passive voice =
saints acted on by outside force) to the brim (a net, Mt 13:48, a
building, Jn 12:3, Acts 2:2, a city, Acts 5:28, needs Phil 4:19), to
make complete in every particular, to cause to abound, to furnish or
supply liberally, to flood, to diffuse throughout, to pervade, to take
possession of and so to ultimately to control.
Note that some translations suggest this verse is a prayer (eg, the
Contemporary English Version has "I pray that God will take care of
all your needs...") but most versions do not hold to that view.
Barnes paraphrases this verse as
"You
have shown your regard for me as a friend of God, by sending to me in
my distress, and I have confidence that, in return for all this, God
will supply all your needs, when you are in circumstances of necessity."
(Barnes)
Pleroo - 86x in the NT -
Matt. 1:22; 2:15, 17, 23; 3:15; 4:14; 5:17; 8:17; 12:17; 13:35, 48;
21:4; 23:32; 26:54, 56; 27:9; Mk. 1:15; 14:49; Lk. 1:20; 2:40; 3:5;
4:21; 7:1; 9:31; 21:24; 22:16; 24:44; Jn. 3:29; 7:8; 12:3, 38; 13:18;
15:11, 25; 16:6, 24; 17:12f; 18:9, 32; 19:24, 36; Acts 1:16; 2:2, 28;
3:18; 5:3, 28; 7:23, 30; 9:23; 12:25; 13:25, 27, 52; 14:26; 19:21;
24:27; Rom. 1:29; 8:4; 13:8; 15:13f, 19; 2 Co. 7:4; 10:6; Gal. 5:14;
Eph. 1:23; 3:19; 4:10; 5:18; Phil. 1:11; 2:2; 4:18, 19; Col. 1:9, 25;
2:10; 4:17; 2 Thess. 1:11; 2 Tim. 1:4; Jas. 2:23; 1 Jn. 1:4; 2 Jn.
1:12; Rev. 3:2; 6:11.
The NAS renders pleroo
as accomplish(1), accomplished(1), amply supplied(1), approaching(1),
complete(1),completed(3), completing(1), elapsed(1), fill(3),
filled(16), fills(1), finished(1), fulfill(5), fulfilled(35), fully
carry out(3), fully come(1), fully preached(1), increasing(1), made
complete(2), made full(5), make complete(1), make full(1), passed(2),
supply(1).
All
(3956) (pas) without exception or “every” need is a
comprehensive description covering all kinds of need. Paul emphasized
the all
inclusiveness in the Corinthian letter writing that
"God is able to
make all
grace abound to you, that always having all
sufficiency in everything,
you may have an abundance for every
good deed as it is written, "HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR,
HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ABIDES FOREVER." Now He who supplies seed to the
sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for
sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness, you will be
enriched in everything
for all
liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God."
(2Cor 9:8-11)
Needs
(5532) (chreia from chréos = debt) necessities or
that that which should happen or be supplied because it is needed.
Note that Paul says the promise is to meet needs not their
"greeds" and all of their wishes, wants, or whims. Men have physical
needs, mental needs, social needs, economic needs. These needs are
temporal, but spiritual and eternal because all men need perpetual
pardon, perpetual peace, and perpetual power. All would be supplied to
the saints at Philippi!
Chreia - 49x in the NT -
Matt. 3:14; 6:8; 9:12; 14:16; 21:3; 26:65; Mk. 2:17, 25; 11:3; 14:63;
Lk. 5:31; 9:11; 10:42; 15:7; 19:31, 34; 22:71; Jn. 2:25; 13:10, 29;
16:30; Acts 2:45; 4:35; 6:3; 20:34; 28:10; Rom. 12:13; 1 Co. 12:21,
24; Eph. 4:28, 29; Phil. 2:25; 4:16, 19; 1 Thess. 1:8; 4:9, 12; 5:1;
Tit. 3:14; Heb. 5:12; 7:11; 10:36; 1 Jn. 2:27; 3:17; Rev. 3:17; 21:23;
22:5.
The NAS renders chreia
as necessary(1), need(40), needed(1), needs(6), task(1).
Jesus reminds busy Martha (and all of us) that
only a few things are
necessary (chreia),
really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be
taken away from her. (Lk 10:42)
Paul says that practical sanctification shows itself in
contributing to the
needs (chreia) of
the saints, practicing hospitality. (see note
Romans 12:13)
hose who freely give (like the Philippians) will also receive--not their wants, but all they need for their service
for Christ. The world's richest person was Jesus, Who had no place to
sleep (Mt 8:20). He shared the Heavenly Father's unlimited resources.
We can, too, if we dedicate all we have to Him.
Dwight
Pentecost offers an important caveat writing that...
The promise that, “My God shall
supply all your need.” presupposes obedience. To claim the fulfillment
of the promise without giving obedience to God is presumptuous. It
shows a lack of faith...The Philippians were obedient. They were
obedient to the Gospel, they were obedient to the demands of love for
the apostle, and they were obedient in their obligation to God’s
servant. Because of their obedience the apostle can say categorically
to them, “I realize that in your poverty you gave and that you are
reduced to dire want, but my God shall supply your needs because they
arose out of obedience.” It is foolish to think you can squander what
God has given you on yourself and then expect Him to step in and meet
your need. (Pentecost,
J. D. The Joy of Living: A Study of Philippians. Kregel Publications)
Solomon exhorts us to
"Honor
the LORD from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce, so
your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow
with new wine." (Pr 3:9,10)
And again he says
"There
is one who scatters, yet increases all the more, and there is one who
withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want. The
generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be
watered." (Pr 11:24,25)
Although in
context God was speaking to Israel in the following verse, the
principle applies that God's people have the responsibility to support
the work of God, rather than to heap luxuries on themselves. Thus God
tells Israel to
"Bring
the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My
house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will
not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a
blessing until it overflows." (Mal 3:10)
Barnes
has a practical comment noting
God supplying all their needs
does not mean that the
Philippians would now be justified in becoming lazy. "God's word
does not advocate fanaticism, nor does it say that one should throw
his pocketbook into the nearest river and then announce that he is
going to live by faith" (Tenney). To be sure, God was taking
care of Paul, but one of the ways in which he was doing so was
exemplified by the gift from Philippi.
Calvin
writes that the saints at
Philippi
had...been truly sowing in the
Lord's field, from which a sure and abundant harvest might be
expected. Nor does he promise them merely a reward in the future
life, but even in respect of the necessities of the present life:
"Do not think that you have impoverished yourselves; God, whom I
serve, will abundantly furnish you with everything necessary for
you.
F B Meyer cautions that
we must distinguish between our needs
and our desires. It is possible to want a good many things
which we do not need. We often want things which it would
injure us greatly to have. Paul wanted to be delivered from his thorn,
but his real need was for more grace. We want a great many
things which it is not possible for our Heavenly Father to give us,
except to the great detriment of our best life. There is no promise
that God shall supply all our desires or wishes, there is a certainty
that He will fulfill all our need. Some may read these words
whose needs are clamant (crying, beseeching), the need for
guidance, for help against temptation, for the quickening of
languishing devotional life, the need for daily bread or employment.
Let all such take this to their heart for their comfort that God will
supply all their need. (Commentary on Philippians)
KJV
Commentary
has an excellent summation of
this section writing
We see first of all in this verse a great
need. God promises to meet all of their need, not all of their
wishes, wants, or whims. Men have physical needs, mental needs, social
needs, economic needs. Men have not only temporal needs, but spiritual
and eternal needs. Men need perpetual pardon, perpetual peace, and
perpetual power. Secondly, we see in this verse a great helper.
Paul says But my God. Paul could not repay the Philippians, but God
could and would. Paul does not say my God can supply all your needs,
but my God shall supply all your needs. This was Paul’s personal
testimony and confession of faith. We see next a great Supplier.
There is a total supply for a total need. God’s supply is infinite,
abundant, inexhaustible, limitless, boundless. God many times uses the
agencies of men to meet our needs. Next we see great resources.
God’s riches in glory. Paul says according to his riches, not out of
His riches, not off the top. God’s supply is not according to our
deserts, but according to His mercy; not out of debt, but out of
grace; not according to our emptiness, but according to His fullness;
not according to our poverty, but according to His wealth. God has
great riches. Lastly, look at the great and glorious channel
by Christ Jesus. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God
and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to
be testified in due time” (1Ti 2:5–6).
There is no other Mediator; there is no other channel. With such
precious truth before us there can only be concurrence with the past,
contentment with the present, and confidence for the future. " (Dobson,
E G, Charles Feinberg, E Hindson, Woodrow Kroll, H L. Wilmington:
KJV Bible Commentary: Nelson)
ACCORDING TO
HIS RICHES IN GLORY IN CHRIST JESUS: kata to ploutos autou en doxe en
Christo Iesou: (Ps 36:8; 104:24; 130:7; Ro 9:23; 11:33; Ep
1:7,18; 2:7; 3:8,16; Col 1:27; 3:16; 1Ti 6:17) (glory Ro 8:18; 2Co
4:17; 1Th 2:12; 1Pe 5:1,10)
According
to (2596)
(kata) reveals the
extent to which God would supply the Philippians’ needs.
According to
(kata) which is not the same as
"out of" His riches. If I am a billionaire and I give you ten dollars,
I have given you out of my riches; but if I give you a million
dollars, I have given to you according to my riches. The first is a
portion; the second is a proportion. The first would take it out of
His riches, & would be like Mr. Rockefeller who used to give his caddy
a dime. God gives in proportion to His infinite and inexhaustible riches!
Spurgeon
comments...
“You have supplied my need out of
your poverty; my God shall supply all your need out of his riches.
Your greatest need shall not exceed the liberality of his supplies.”
In his sermon on
Philippians 4:19
entitled
A New Year's Wish
Spurgeon adds that...
His riches in glory”...
means not only the riches of what He has done, but the riches of what
He could do; for if He has made hosts of worlds, He could make as many
myriads more, and then have but begun. The possibilities of God
omnipotent, who shall reckon? But the Lord shall supply all your need
according to such glorious possibilities. When a great king gives
according to his, riches, then he does not measure out stinted alms to
beggars, but he gives like a king, as we say; and if it be some grand
festival day, and the king is in his state array, his largesse is on a
noble scale. Now, when God is in His glory, bethink you, if you can,
what must be the largesse that He distributes,-what the treasures that
He brings forth for His own beloved! Now, “according to His riches in
glory,” He will supply all your needs. After that, dare you despond?
O soul, what insanity is unbelief? What flagrant blasphemy is doubt of
the love of God! He must bless us; and, blessed by Him, we must be
blest indeed. If He is to supply our needs “according to His riches
in glory,” they will be supplied to the full. (Amen!)
Riches (4149)
(ploutos
[word study])
properly denotes abundance, plentitude, and literally is used to refer
to material wealth or prosperity (abundance of earthly, temporal
goods) which is the meaning in the parable of the seed and the soils
(Mt 13:22, Mk 4:19, Lk 8:14 = Material riches are deceitful and choke
out reception of the Word of God. Be careful all you wealthy readers!
Contrast spiritual riches - Ep 3:8) Indeed, think of the people who
know whose whole lives glow with the glory of God for they are rich in
spiritual possessions, albeit often poor in material possessions!
Ploutos - 22x in NT - Matt.
13:22; Mk. 4:19; Lk. 8:14; Rom. 2:4; 9:23; 11:12, 33; 2 Co. 8:2; Eph.
1:7, 18; 2:7; 3:8, 16; Phil. 4:19; Col. 1:27; 2:2; 1 Tim. 6:17; Heb.
11:26; Jas. 5:2; Rev. 5:12; 18:17
The NAS renders ploutos
as riches(19), wealth(3).
Figuratively ploutos refers to spiritual
abundance or prosperity. Ploutos refers to a high point on any scale with the implication of value as
well as abundance. God's storehouse will never go bankrupt for He who
own everything and has abundant fullness has an inexhaustible ability
to supply their needs.
Francis
Havergal alluded to true riches in these lines...
Take my silver
and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
Play Hymn - Take My Life
and Let it Be
(Another
Version by Chris Tomlin)
In Greek Plutus was the god
of riches. Liddell-Scott records secular uses of ploutos as referring
to treasures of gold, silver, the "riches" of the earth. Our English
word plutocrat means one who rules because of his wealth. In Greek the
word is connected to pleroma, the word for "fullness" so that a rich
person is one who is "full of money or property."
Detzler writes that...
In early Greek literature, the
fullness of material things was contrasted with the fullness of
spiritual things. It was regarded as crude to be wealthy in terms of
possessions but poor in terms of immaterial things. (Sadly, many
people still make this foolish exchange. They surrender spiritual
wealth for financial fatness.) Along the lines of this spiritual
wealth one reads of Zeus, who was a pagan god rich in peace. But Homer
spoke of wealth which made it possible for one to live without
working. Socrates said that the rich were regarded as being socially
sought after. (Wayne A Detzler. New Testament Words in Today's
Language)
The KJV Commentary draws our
focus to His...
great resources. God’s riches in
glory. Paul says according to His riches, not out of
His riches, not off the top. God’s supply is not according to
our deserts, but according to His mercy; not out of debt, but out of
grace; not according to our emptiness, but according to His fullness;
not according to our poverty, but according to His wealth. God has
great riches. (Dobson,
E G, Charles Feinberg, E Hindson, Woodrow Kroll, H L. Wilmington: KJV
Bible Commentary: Nelson)
(Bolding added)
Vine writes regarding "according
to His riches in glory"...
that is, in accordance with His
infinite and exhaustless fullness. This fullness is in the heavenly
sphere, where His attributes and power are in unceasing manifestation,
as emanating from His own person. This glory shines into the hearts
and lives of His people, expressing to and in them all that centers in
Himself. (Vine,
W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson)
A
T Robertson
adds that
"God has an abundant treasure
in glory and will repay the Philippians for what they have done for
Paul. The spiritual reward is what spurs men into the ministry and
holds them to it."
In
Christ Jesus - (See related studies on
In Christ
and
in Christ Jesus)
This phrase emphasizes the Source and Channel of all riches.
Writing to Timothy Paul declared
that...
there is one God, and one
mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave
Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time.
(1Timothy 2:5-6)
In Christ Jesus, God gives enough
grace to meet whatever we face. Our needs can never exhaust His
supply for Paul explains in Colossians that in Christ "are hidden
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
(see note
Colossians 2:3)
Williams (in
Student's Commentary) calls Philippians 4:19 a
note drawn upon the bank of faith:
My God—the
name of the Banker.
Shall
supply—the
promise to pay.
All your
need—the
value of the note.
According
to His riches—the
capital of the bank.
In glory—the
address of the bank.
By Christ
Jesus—the signature
at the foot, without which the note is worthless
Have you ever heard the false
statement "God helps those who help themselves." The
real truth is brought out in this verse:
"God helps those who cannot
help themselves!"
How easy it is to take this verse out
of context and use it as a soft pillow for Christians who are
squandering their money on themselves with seldom a thought for the
work of God!
“That’s all right. God will
supply all your need.”
While it is true in a general sense that God does supply the needs
of His people, this is a specific promise that those who are
faithful and devoted in their giving to Christ will never suffer
lack.
The famous missionary to China,
Hudson Taylor, wrote
"It matters little to my
servant whether I send him to buy a few cash worth of things, or the
most expensive articles. In either case he looks to me for the money
and brings me his purchases. So, if God should place me in serious
perplexity, must He not give me much guidance; in positions of great
difficulty, much grace; in circumstances of great pressure and
trial, much strength? No fear that His resources will prove unequal
to the emergency! And His resources are mine, for He is mine, and is
with me and dwells in me."
When God leads He provides. Hudson Taylor
observed,
God’s work, done in God’s way,
will receive God’s supply
Our God hasn’t
changed. When the child of God is in the will of God, serving for
the glory of God, then he will have every need met.
As Paul closes this letter, he again affirms the centrality of
Christ Jesus as the Source of every spiritual blessing and
benefit from God. The preposition in
emphasizes the essential nature of the believer's personal union
with God through Christ and that it is via this dynamic union that
God will supply every need.
So wonderful is the truth
of v19 that Paul cannot refrain from breaking forth with a doxology of
praise in the next verse. All saints should continually show a similar response to the
incalculable riches bestowed upon us in Christ Jesus.
Think back over the past few
days. Has the Lord taken care of some minor needs in your life? Has
He solved some nagging problem? Thank Him! As today unfolds,
remember that He provides the little things too.
"If you can't be happy with what you already have, why should God
trust you with anything else?" Good question. Far too many people go
through life chronically unhappy with their circumstances. Yet in
every situation we have whatever we need to be content (if not happy).
When we focus on material things, we will often feel frustrated, but
when we focus on the Lord, we can rejoice that what we have can never
be taken from us.
A classic illustration of the
truth of this Scripture comes from the life of
George Muller (Online
biography).
Things looked bleak for the
children of George Muller’s orphanage at Ashley Downs in England. It
was time for breakfast, and there was no food. A small girl whose
father was a close friend of Muller was visiting in the home. Muller
took her hand and said,
“Come and see what our Father will do.”
In the
dining room, long tables were set with empty plates and empty mugs.
Not only was there no food in the kitchen, but there was no money in
the home’s account. Muller prayed,
“Dear Father, we thank Thee
for what Thou art going to give us to eat.”
Immediately, they
heard a knock at the door. When they opened it, there stood the
local baker.
“Mr. Muller,” he said, “I couldn’t sleep last
night. Somehow I felt you had no bread for breakfast, so I got up at
2 o’clock and baked fresh bread. Here it is.”
Muller thanked him and gave
praise to God. Soon, a second knock was heard. It was the milkman.
His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. He said he would
like to give the children the milk so he could empty the cart and
repair it.
Eadie
comments that in
Christ Jesus...
designates the sphere
of God's action. In
Christ Jesus will He
supply their wants, or from the fulness in Him, His merit and
mediation being the ground of it. What a glorious promise for the
apostle to make on God's behalf to them!—a perfect supply for every
want of body or soul, for time or eternity, for earth or heaven. If
man is but a mass of wants, wants for this world and wants for the
world to come, and if God alone can supply them, what confidence
should not such a pledge produce? Is it physical fare?—He heareth
“the young ravens” when they cry. Is it the forgiveness of sin? —He
“delighteth in mercy.” Is it purification of soul?— His Spirit
produces His own image. Is it courage?—He is “Jehovah-Nissi.” Is it
enlightenment?—His words are, “I will instruct thee.” Is it the hope
of glory?—Then it is, “Christ in you.” Is it preparation for
heaven?—He makes “us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the
saints in light.” Is it contentment in any circumstance?—All things
may be done in the strength of Christ. Nor was it rash in Paul to
make such a promise, nor did he exceed his commission. He did not
speak without a warrant. He knew the character of his God, and did
not take his name in vain, for his varied and prolonged experience
had fully informed him, and he was assured that the state of heart
in the Philippian church must attract towards it the blessing. Would
God resile (withdraw) from His servant's pledge, or act as if in thus vouching for Him
he had taken too much upon him?"
F B Meyer comments that
Christ
is God's Answer to Our Need. "
In Him are all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge hidden.
It pleased the Father that in Him
should all the fulness dwell.
In Him dwelleth all the fulness
of the Godhead bodily.
The Divine-Human nature of Christ is replete
with every possible supply for His people.
He filleth all in all.
Those that trust Him can say, as the Apostle did of the Philippian
gifts, "I have all things and abound; I am filled, hating received
from Christ the things that came from God, and which were treasured
in Him for my enrichment and thanksgiving." The teaching of the
Apostle is full of this thought, as when he says, "I thank my God
always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in
Christ Jesus; that in everything ye were enriched in Him" (1Co 1:4-5),
and again, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly
places in Christ" (see note
Ephesians 1:3). Peter also affirms the same
thought.
Grace to you, and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of
God, and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His Divine power hath
granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness"
(see notes
2 Peter 1:2;
1:3).
Christ is the
complement i.e. the complement of every soul. Just as the dark
face of the moon taken with her first crescent of light makes a
complete circle, so the unseen Redeemer together with our infinite
need makes a complete man after God's stature. The greater our
deficiency the larger His supply.
The Prime Necessity.
The prime necessity, however, is that we should reckon it is so,
and avail ourselves of all the treasures that are prepared for our
use in our Risen Lord. Too often we act as if we had to meet the
demands of life from our own limited exchequer, instead of believing
that we have been taken into partnership with the Son of God, and
can at any moment draw upon His all-sufficiency. What would you
think if a clerk, who was sent to a distant land to open a branch of
some great business firm, were to seek to meet the expenses out of
his own limited salary, when the head of the firm had told him to
draw upon his credit to any extent which he deemed necessary? But we
make the same mistake when we meet the calls of life apart from the
boundless wealth which is placed to our credit in Jesus.
A story is
told by Dr. Richard Newton of an old and poverty-stricken Indian,
who many years ago made his way into a Western settlement in search
of food to keep him from starving. A bright-coloured ribbon was seen
around his neck, from which there hung a small, dirty pouch. On
being asked what it was, he said it was a charm given him in his
younger days. He opened it, and took out a worn and Crumpled paper,
which he handed to the person making the inspection. It proved, on
examination, to be a regular discharge from the federal army, signed
by George Washington himself, and entitling him to a pension for
life. Here was a man with a promise duly signed, which if presented
in the right place would have secured him ample provision, yet he
was wandering about hungry, helpless, and forlorn, and begging bread
to keep him from starving.
What a picture of many Christians who
are in need of everything when they might be rich and full!
Perhaps their own life had not been generous, certainly their faith
has never put in its claim to God's great bank of promise.
(Commentary on Philippians)
Spurgeon
has the following devotional entitled Limitless Riches...
PAUL’S God is our God, and He
will supply all our need. Paul felt sure of this in reference to the
Philippians, and we feel sure of it as to ourselves. God will do it,
for it is like Him: He loves us, He delights to bless us, and it
will glorify Him to do so. His pity, His power, His love, His
faithfulness, all work together that we be not famished. What a
measure doth the Lord go by: “According to his riches in glory by
Christ Jesus.” The riches of His grace are large, but what shall we
say of the riches of His glory? His “riches of glory by Christ
Jesus,” who shall form an estimate of this? According to this
immeasurable measure will God fill up the immense abyss of our
necessities. He makes the Lord Jesus the receptacle and the channel
of His fullness, and then He imparts to us His wealth of love in its
highest form. Hallelujah! The writer knows what it is to be tried in
the work of the Lord. Fidelity has been recompensed with anger, and
liberal givers have stopped their subscriptions. But he whom they
sought to oppress has not been one penny the poorer; nay, rather he
has been the richer, for this promise has been true, “My God shall
supply all our need.” God’s supplies are surer than any bank. (Faith's
Checkbook)
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The following
devotionals are from Our Daily Bread (Copyright
RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights
reserved)
The saying
"You can never out give God" may be doubted by overanxious or
tightfisted people. But Paul's letter to the Philippian
believers fully supports this saying. Having just received their
generous gifts to meet his needs in prison, he assured them that
because of their generosity God wouldn't allow them to suffer
undue need. He told them, "My God shall supply all your need
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).
God's people have relied on the truth of those words ever since.
To help us place our trust
more confidently in this promise of God, someone has put
Philippians 4:19 in terms we can all understand:
"My God [the bank]
shall supply [the check] all your need [the amount] according to
His riches in glory [the capital] by Christ Jesus [the
signature]."
As with any valid check
that we have received, we need only endorse God's check through
our "signature of faith" and it will be paid in full. As long as
we're willing to be content with much or little, as Paul was
(v.12), we can dare to be generous people. Only then will we
discover for ourselves that we can never out give our rich and
generous God. (Our Daily Bread)
God's riches fill up our supply,
Whatever we may need,
So we can then be generous
And not controlled by greed. --Sper
God gives freely to us so that we can give freely to
others.
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Winds Of Love - A farmer had
a weather vane on his barn, on which was written "God is love." When
friends asked why, the farmer said, "This is to remind me that no
matter which way the wind blows, God is love."
When the warm "south wind" with its soothing and balmy breezes brings
showers of blessing, God is love.
"Every good gift and every perfect
gift is from above" (James 1:17)
When the cold "north wind" of trial and testing sweeps down upon you,
God is love.
"All things work together for good
to those who love God" (Romans 8:28)
When the "west wind" blows hard upon you with its punishing intent,
God is love.
"Whom the Lord loves He chastens"
(Hebrews 12:6)
When the "east wind" threatens to sweep away all that you have, God is
love.
"God shall supply all your need
according to His riches in glory" (Philippians 4:19)
Perhaps you are discouraged and downhearted. If so, remember, God
still cares for you. What you are experiencing has either been sent or
it has been allowed by Him for your good.
Yes, no matter which way the wind is blowing, God is love. —Richard De
Haan (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
God is love: His
mercy brightens
All the path in which we rove;
Bliss He wakes and woe He lightens—
God is wisdom, God is love. —Bowring
No affliction would trouble us if we knew God’s reason for
permitting it.
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Faith & Riches - Do you want
to be rich? Do you think your faith will bring you riches? What kind
of riches are you looking for?
There's good news and bad news if wealth is what you want. The good
news is that God's Word does promise riches to the believer. The "bad"
news is that it doesn't have anything to do with money.
Here are some examples of the riches that can be ours as believers in
Jesus Christ:
An understanding of God the Father and the Son, "in whom are hidden
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col 2:2, 3-see notes
Col 2:2;
2:3).
Christ, "the
hope of glory," living in us (Col 1:27-see note
Col 1:27).
Mighty strength
in our inner being, "through His Spirit" (Eph 3:16-see note
Ep 3:16).
Having all our
needs met by God (Php 4:19-see note
Php 4:19).
The "wisdom and
knowledge of God" (Ro 11:33-see note
Ro 11:33).
"Redemption
through His blood, the forgiveness of sins," which comes from God's
grace (Eph 1:7-see note
Ep 1:7).
Yes, God's Word promises us great riches—treasures that we cannot even
attempt to purchase with any amount of money. It is these riches that
we must seek, enjoy, and use to glorify their source—our heavenly
Father.—Dave Branon (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
The treasures of
earth are not mine,
I hold not its silver and gold;
But a treasure far greater is mine;
I have riches of value untold. —Hartzler
God's Word promises riches that money cannot buy.
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WHEN THIS GETS ALL - We had
thoroughly enjoyed the meeting in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and the
privilege of greeting many friends of the Radio Bible Class who
attended the service that evening. Some dear friends invited us to
their home after the meeting for a lunch; but when we got there, it
was more like a full-course dinner, and what a feast we had! As we
were eating, one of the hostesses came into the living room to see if
we had enough. Upon leaving, she turned around and said, "There's more
in the kitchen when this gets all!" Since I come from the Midwest,
this Pennsylvania Dutch expression really tickled me. "There's more in
the kitchen when this gets all!" It was just another way of saying,
"When what you have is all gone, there's more where that came from!"
That was good to know, but how much more wonderful this is in the
spiritual realm. How comforting the assurance that no matter how great
our need, no matter how heavily we might have already drawn upon
Heaven's resources, there's more "when this gets all!"
God's love has no measure; God's grace has no limit; and God's power
is supreme. His wisdom is unbounded; and, praise His name, His
provisions are never exhausted! No wonder the Apostle Paul wrote to
the church at Ephesus expressing his desire that they might "know the
love of Christ which passeth knowledge" and be conscious of the fact
that He "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that worketh in us."
Oh, that we might learn to walk in this confidence each day, and never
worry about tomorrow! Thanking God for His present provision, we
should go forward a step at a time knowing that "there's more when
this gets all!" (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
"There's more,
there's more, when this gets all";
Assurance blest: He hears our call,
Though sad our way — filled with regret —
Through His supply we'll conquer yet! —H. G. Bosch
Our prayer and God's supply are like two buckets in a well; while
one ascends, the other descends!
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The Ultimate Giver - If we put our trust for our well-being in
a person, any person, we are putting it in the wrong place.
Ultimately, our faith must be in God. To transfer that trust to a
spouse or pastor or child is to put it where we will be disappointed.
In his book The Business of Heaven, C. S. Lewis wrote,
At first it is natural for a baby
to take its mother's milk without knowing its mother. It is equally
natural for us to see the man who helps us without seeing Christ
behind him. But we must not remain babies. We must go on to recognize
the real Giver. It is madness not to. Because, if we do not, we shall
be relying on human beings. And that is going to let us down. The best
of them will make mistakes; all of them will die. We must be thankful
to all the people who helped us. We must honor and love them. But
never, never pin your whole faith on any human being.
The author of Psalm 146 (notes) said not to trust in mortal men--even princes
(Ps 146:3-note). Instead, he wrote, "Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for
his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God" (Ps 146:5-note).
God can be trusted because He always provides what He promises. He is
the ultimate Giver. --D C Egner (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
I belong to the
King, and He loves me, I know,
For His mercy and kindness, so free,
Are unceasingly mine wheresoever I go,
And my refuge unfailing is He. --Smith
My God shall supply all your need. --Philippians 4:19
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PHILIPPIANS 4:19 - Pastor
Harold Springstead was driving along, on his way to preach at a little
country church, when he felt a sudden vibration. A tire had gone flat.
As the 78-year-old pastor maneuvered his car to a stop, a trucker
pulled up behind him. A young man jumped out, assessed the situation,
and cheerfully changed the tire. Pastor Springstead got to the service
in plenty of time, and it was not until later that he realized his car
didn't even have a jack!
It was a minor problem. He was a retired faithful servant of God. It
was a tiny congregation. We might think God would be too busy with
larger and more important needs than to be concerned about a flat
tire. But His promise to provide for the needs of His people covers
little things as well as big ones.
The same God who helped Elisha retrieve the borrowed ax head (2Ki
6:5, 6, 7), who supplied food for a faithful widow (1Ki 17:8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16), and
who provided wine at a small-town wedding (Jn 2:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9,10) meets our needs
as well.
Think back over the past few days. Has the Lord taken care of some
minor needs in your life? Has He solved some nagging problem? Thank
Him! As today unfolds, remember that He provides the little things
too. --D C Egner (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
If God sees the
sparrow's fall,
Paints the lilies, short and tall,
Gives the skies their azure hue,
Will He not then care for you? --Anon.
Nothing is too great for God to accomplish, nothing to small for
His attention.
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An Answer For Everything -
Dad, can I have 10 dollars?" "Dad, can you help me with my math?"
"Dad, what's the capital of Maine?" "Dad, why can't we get another
car?" "Dad, I didn't make the team."
The questions and requests and needs of my children seem endless.
Whether they are in junior high, in high school, in college, or
married, they never stop needing help.
Often I can provide the help they need, but sometimes I am unable to
come up with the answer or the solution. As much as I would like to, I
don't have an answer or the resources for everything. But I know who
does. I know that God supplies all of our needs (Phil 4:19). And He
knows when our requests are genuine needs, or when He must redirect
our thinking instead.
Consider this: When we think we are too tired to go on, Jesus says, "I
will give you rest" (Mt 11:28). When we think no one cares, Jesus
says He loves us (Jn 15:12, 13). When we can't figure things out, God
says He will guide us (Ps 48:14-note). When we need forgiveness, God says
He will forgive us if we confess our sins (1Jn. 1:9).
God is our heavenly Father, who wants us to come to Him with our
requests. He wants us to listen to Him speak through His Word. He has
an answer for everything. –J D Branon (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
For answered
prayer we thank You, Lord,
We know You're always there
To hear us when we call on You;
We're grateful for Your care. –JDB
God never tires of our asking
