The Promise of Divine Supply
“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.” Philippians 4:19 (NLT)
The little four-chapter book of Philippians is one of my favorite books in the Bible. It’s filled with expression 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 the Philippian church 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 in little. His trust was in the Lord and he viewed their gift to him as the supply of his need from heaven itself. Warren Wiersbe notes an 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!’"
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 bountiful 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 be sufficient for every demand of life and experience joy in all its fulness!