Philippians 4:19 “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.”
The little four-chapter book of Philippians is one of my favourite books in the Bible. It’s filled with expressions of joy. The irony of such a joyful letter written by Paul to the church in Philippi is that he wrote it from a prison in Rome.
Paul and his missionary companions began the church in Philippi on his second missionary journey in Acts 16:11-40. It would be the first church established on the European continent. Years later, however, Paul finds himself imprisoned in Rome for preaching the gospel, and it was this Philippian church that sent him financial support to sustain him and encourage him. He wrote this letter to thank them for their gift and to assure them that God would meet all their needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.
As you read the verses preceding verse 19, you’ll see that Paul talks to them about the joy of contentment in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, regardless of the situation, whether in plenty or with little. His trust was in God, and he viewed their gift to him as the supply of his need from God Himself.
We should note the interesting contrast between verses 18 and 19. We might state it this way if we were to paraphrase Paul: ‘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!’”
I love the way the Amplified Bible puts this promise: “And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
God loves to supply our needs! He is a loving and benevolent Heavenly Father who gives good gifts to all His children. While this promise assures us of His abundant supply, it is not a promise to supply all our greeds. He supplies all our needs. God provides where God guides. Hudson Taylor, a missionary to China and the founder of the China Inland Mission, often said, “When God’s work is done in God’s way for God’s glory, it will not lack for God’s supply.”
The promise of God’s supply is the secret of contentment. When we put our trust in God, we will find sufficient strength for every demand of life and experience joy in all its fullness!
Meditate on this passage today and whenever you find yourself with a need, remember that God promises to “liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”