But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
The riches of the Christian are most remarkable as this short series of studies highlight. We are rich because of Christ’s treasures of wisdom and knowledge; treasures which are within his perfect humanity for our benefit. We are also rich because these unsearchable or unfathomable priceless riches have been granted to us – making us heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. While we can value these riches theologically in terms of Christology (the doctrine of Christ) and Soteriology (the doctrine of salvation) they are also to be valued in terms of their daily impact upon us in the material world. Therefore, these riches have an anthropological (human) aspect in that that are are relevant for regular living.
Philippians 4:19 is one of the favoured texts in Scripture, quoted often by believers. Paul, writing to a group of Christians with whom he was bound in a most treasured fellowship, brought his remarks to a close with a most precious guarantee. This guarantee, limitless and inexhaustible as it is, relates to the need of the modern church as much as it related to the Philippian Christians almost 2,000 years ago,
THIS IS GOD’S UNCHANGING AND UNENDING SUPPLY
1: A PROFITABLE SUPPLY
With God’s supply we are never poor. Our wealth is not be measured by our bank balance, savings, inheritances, investments, income or property value. We could be millionaires or billionaires and be in poverty. The Christian may be poor in the eyes of society but yet, at the same time, be materially rich. Even with our little we will be rich beyond the wealth of all the world because our needs are supplied from God’s generous hand.
Psalm 37:16
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
There is no part of the life of the Christian that faith and grace does not affect. The understanding that all of life is a gift and that we are God’s children in home, business as well as Church makes us the richest people in world because of our generous and diligent benefactor.
Isaiah 48:17
Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
2: A PERSONAL SUPPLY
The supply that the Christian receives is from the hand of God. Paul describes him personally as “my God”. Paul’s God was also the God of the Philippian Christians. There is no hierarchy within the company of the redeemed. We all can claim the supply because He is equally without reservation our God.
Paul had proved to the Lord to be his God. Converted on the Damascus road, preserved through a multitude of trials, persecutions, beatings, incarcerations, long and arduous journeys including terrible shipwrecks. God’s help and supply had never once failed. The Lord had never been a disappointment. Everything that God meant to Paul, He would also be to the Philippian Christians. They too were God’s children as Paul was God’s child. The relationship was no different. So it is with us. We have no need to doubt God’s supply because He is our God with whom we are bound in a covenant relationship.
Psalm 48:14
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
Such a personal supply from a personal God intimates that we have one who understands precisely what our needs are. The widow of Zarephath needed only a little oil and a handful of meal whereas Hannah needed a son. Elijah at Carmel needed the sound of abundance of rain whereas at Horeb he needed the still small voice. Hezekiah in his sickness needed fifteen more years of life whereas Methuselah needed 969 years. Noah needed an ark of gopher wood whereas Moses needed an ark of bullrushes and both were effective in the most dramatic manner. You may not altogether know what your own needs are but what an amazing comfort to know that God knows!
3: A PROMISED SUPPLY
This text is a promise written by the Holy Ghost for God’s people in every time and in every place. The promise has no limitations. God says that he will supply all our need. The word “all” is wide in it’s import while the word “will” defines something that mere mortals could never give. The history of humanity is littered by broken promises whereas God’s intentions are clear. He has the moral capacity and the infinite power to supply what he promises to deliver. He therefore tells us that He will supply all our need. To do otherwise would be to dethrone Him from his throne of omnipotence.
4: A PRACTICAL SUPPLY
This promise is practical because it is given to a people who had given practically. Philippians is a thank you letter written with love. These people had from their humble resources gathered and then sent a practical gift for the comfort of their Church founder as he languished under Roman imprisonment.
Philippians 4:18
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
This gift was no surprise as these people had regularly collected gifts for Paul and had supported him above any other congregation.
Philippians 4:15-16
Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
Therefore, Paul was promising them that his needs had met been by God through their giving, they likewise would have their needs met by the same God.
Essentially, by their giving the Philippians were investing in the bank of heaven. This institution pays the best interest. No man or woman loses by giving to God.
Paul was deeply enriched spiritually by the giving of these people, because they did it not it for selfish gain or egotistical praise but for God.
Philippians 4:17
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
Therefore the gift became in itself “an odour of a sweet smell”, like the incense offered upon the brazen altar. God was pleased with the giving of His people. Therefore as they gave, so they would receive.
Luke 6:38
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Spiritual blessings come with all the gifts of God, even though they be practical in their nature. These blessings are claimed as we bless others with our giving and enrich their lives by our grace. God is no man’s debtor.
5: A PRINCELY SUPPLY
These needs are measured according to God’s riches in glory by Christ Jesus. They come to us through the work and mediation of Christ. Therefore God treats us as He would treat His Son. We walk in this world as Kings and Queens. Every Christian home is a palace and every penny is a rare jewel because everything is blood-bought for the heaven-bound.
Glory has begun in the Christian life, the riches of glory are unfolded in the most unlikely ways.
We never need fear. Our God’s riches include every vein of gold, every oil reserve and the cattle upon a thousand hills. Our God is rich, He is our Father, His Son is our Saviour and He never will leave us alone.
Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church 