And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 19, NKJV
Lord, when we read these promises, we are so encouraged to know that all we will ever need, is to be found in You! Amen
As we look at the context in which this text is set, we hear Paul complimenting the members of the church at Philippi for their acts of kindness and generosity, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now….inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace….And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment….being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians1: 3-5, 7c, 9, 11).
The church at Philippi makes me think of a warm and loving church; a church where the members take care of each other. They were there with Paul “from the first day until now.” In the good times as well as the bad, “inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” Their love for him seemed to have grown as they grew in knowledge, and became more discerning. The fruits of righteousness were evident in their lives, yet not for their glory, but for the glory of God!
He goes on to remind them, at the end of the letter, how they helped him in the time of his trouble, and when he departed from Macedonia, at the beginning, they were the only church who communicated with him. This was not a one time only act of kindness; but they cared for him time and again, and even now, had sent him some gifts which had “an odour of a sweet smell” (4: 14-16, 18b)!
As Paul reminisced upon these acts of kindness he reminded them of a great truth that is to be found in the Word of God: that the kindness that we show to others God will return to us. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” This is such an unfailing principle of cause and effect, that while we are attending to the needs of others, God will attend to our needs! Another way of putting it would be: “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6: 38).
Remember the widow of Zarephath? It was during the time of drought and famine in the land of Israel, that God sent the prophet Elijah to Zarephath, to be “sustained” by a widow. As she was gathering sticks to prepare the “handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruise,” to prepare it for her son and herself and then die, that the prophet requested that she make him a little cake and take it to him first, and then prepare for herself and her son! What courage on his part! But you know what? She did! With what results? “[A]nd she, and he, and her house, did eat [a full year] (margin). And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruise of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord” (1 Kings 17: 8-16)!
The law of heaven is the law of kindness. “You cannot beat God’s giving no matter how you try.” The next time you read, or quote, this text, remember the context, and may God supply your needs, as you, by His grace, help to supply the needs of others!