And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:19
Do you remember the empty store shelves just a few years ago during COVID? One of the “big-box” stores even hired extra guards to keep watch over their limited supply of toilet paper! Fear had driven people to hoard such items, while major disruptions in supply lines reduced the inventory of infant formula.
In Proverbs 3:9-10, Solomon writes, “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be free flowing with wine.” Pastor, author, and teacher Dr. Dwight Pentecost discusses the caveats of Philippians 4. “’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.”
Is God looking for a relationship with you based on reciprocity, or based on a quid pro quo? Theologians have debated Scriptures that suggest that might be the case. Luke 6:38, for example, says, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” The context of today’s verse in Philippians comes as the church there, while not among the wealthiest, had nonetheless given for the work of the Gospel.
God sent His Son to reconcile the broken relationship between Himself and those who would believe. His great work was of His own will and means, and not by any form of reciprocity. He has given the ministry of reconciliation to believers. It is all on the grace of the Lord Himself, grace that is pure and undeserved. His grace was extended to humans out of His great love, nothing more.
God’s grace is never in short supply. In 1941, hymn writer Annie Johnson Flint penned, “He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength as our labors increase… For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.”
Today’s Verse: Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: John 1:14-18
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
