Does God really meet all my needs?

Does God really meet all my needs?

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:19

2 Corinthians 9:2-8

 5 So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.

 6 Remember this – a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.

 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

Financial investments carry some degree of risk. In modern times, relying on interest income instead of the principal is a wise economic approach for those aiming to preserve their wealth while having a consistent income stream. This method depends on the interest generated from diverse financial instruments. It enables individuals to protect their principal and economic well-being.

What happens when we give away our principal? That is what first-century children of the King in Philippi did when they invested in the kingdom of God. The Philippians were all in and committed to supporting Paul. They generously supplied all he needed to carry on his service for the Father.

Philippians 4:15-17

 15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this.

 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent help more than once.

 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

Those who are generous in their investments in the kingdom of God will discover that the Father generously reciprocates. How did the Father respond to their kindness and generosity? What did He promise?

He promises that their every necessity will be met in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Have you ever taken a moment to ponder the meaning and implications of Philippians 4:19? Do you suppose this applies to all children of the King? Many people do. However, it’s crucial to consider the old maxim: a text without a context is a pretext.

Simply put, interpreting a verse in isolation can often lead to misunderstandings. One must consider its context to fully comprehend and extract the truth from scripture. This approach allows for a more accurate interpretation. Further, understanding the author’s intent, the target audience, and the purpose of the scripture enriches its meaning. Another maxim comes into play here. Every scripture has one interpretation but many applications.

Paul writes to the altruistic Philippians. He expresses his deep appreciation for their financial assistance. He conveys reassurance that the Father will meet their needs (Stanley). Paul acknowledges their generous contribution made to meet his needs. Paul notes that their gift was offered to the Father to fulfill His purposes. Thus, their donation was a sacrificial offering to God. The Father owes nothing to anyone and never will. He is a debtor to no one. He reciprocates and rewards those who have given to Him. “God’s supply to the Philippians is considered a natural consequence of their generosity” (UBS).

Paul assures them that the Father will reciprocate and provide an appropriate return. He ensures the Philippians that “God will fill up every need of yours” (Fee).

REFLECT & PRAY

Ephesians 3:20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Father teach me to be generous and support Your kingdom work. You love a cheerful giver.

INSIGHT

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

The Greek word rendered as supply or meet is pleroo. Pleroo means to fill, fulfill, complete, or satisfy. Figuratively, it has the sense of abundantly supply, richly in part, supply entirely, cause to abound, furnish, or supply liberally. It may be translated as fully provided for or to have all we need.

The Philippians are assured of a generous return for their support to Paul. The context of this pledge merits careful consideration. Paul addressed those who were actively involved in the Lord’s work. His declaration in Philippians 4:15 encapsulates his point: “God meets the needs of those who give to him” (Melnick).

“Paul looked on their missionary gift as an investment that would pay them rich spiritual dividends. . .. The church entered into an arrangement of ‘giving and receiving’; the church gave materially to Paul and received spiritually from the Lord. The Lord keeps the books and will never fail to pay one spiritual dividend! That church is poor that fails to share materially with others” (Wiersbe).

Why do you suppose the Philippians are now in need? Could it be that they have exhausted their financial resources? Have they used up their capital? “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’” (Homer A. Kent).

The Greek term translated as needs is chreia. Chreia denotes anything necessary but lacking. The Philippians contributed repeatedly, even to the point of personal hardship. They gave and gave again until it hurt. Their goal was to further the Father’s kingdom work. As a result of their generosity, they found themselves in need. How would they recover from this situation and recoup?

Proverbs 11:25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

The somewhat academic yet unspoken question is: how can God manage to reward all His children who have invested in His kingdom? How can He compensate everyone for their myriad acts of kindness and sacrifice throughout the ages? It doesn’t take much reflection to recognize the absurdity of this query. However, Paul offers a profoundly insightful response. The Father doesn’t just possess vast resources. His wealth is infinite. He has a claim to everything He has created and is the creator of everything. Paul adds a novel perspective. The Father has transferred all His wealth to the Son.

Philippians 4:19 . . . according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

This thought can be expressed “since my God has so much wealth through Christ Jesus” or “in view of the fact that God is so very rich through Christ Jesus.” “God’s wealth may be shared with others by means of Christ Jesus,” or “wealth which God gives through Christ Jesus.” (UBS)

But there’s more.

Here’s another valuable insight: When we dedicate ourselves to serving the King and carrying out the assignments, He entrusts to us, He ensures our needs are met. “When God’s work is done in God’s way for God’s glory, it will not lack for God’s supply” (Hudson Taylor).

“Paul does not see this gift as simply coming from Philippi. He sees it as the supply of his need from heaven. Paul’s trust was in the Lord. There is an interesting contrast between Philippians 4:18 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 your needs. You gave out of your poverty, but God will supply your needs out of His riches in glory!’” (Wiersbe).

No one cannot give God!

Try it for yourself and see.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

© Dr. H 2023