Your email preview

“And my God will supply all your needs…: Philippians 4:19

And Paul’s letter to Philippi comes to an end, with the assurance that just as they had faithfully been caring for Paul and others, God would faithfully “supply all their needs” as well.

Two things stopped me in this verse this morning:

“Needs”

“According to”

The “blank check” theology is very pervasive, in a pragmatic sort of way, in too many of the lives of Christians, me too at times. It’s variations on the idea that God gives me whatever I want IF I say I love Him and try my best to follow Him. When that doesn’t work out too many give up. Why did my dad have to die; I’ve been a good person. I heard it not long ago from a distraught, but not a current follower of Jesus. Her husband was gone and she was in a panic. “I’m not a bad person,” were the justifying words from her mouth. As if that fact should have negated any decision on the part of her husband to leave. It’s so easy to get confused between seeking God’s will and seeking a god who will bless my will.

There is a great difference, too often, between what God knows I need, and I “know” I want! Even the famous Matthew 6:33 can get confused as I try and apply it to my life. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and ALL THESE THINGS shall be added unto you.” WHAT THINGS get added if I seek first His kingdom? The text has been desecrated, in my humble opinion, by the prosperity gospel of those who think they get (or even deserve) all the good things as defined by this world, IF they choose God. Cars, money, jobs, fame—you name it- it should be mine IF I “seek first His kingdom.” My ah-ha moment with Matthew came as I was learning those verses and had to spend enough time with them to see that what came right before the famous text are three things—“don’t be anxious about food, water, and clothing.” And THEN Jesus said, “Seek first my kingdom… and all THESE things (food, water and clothing) will be added unto you.” Seek Me and I’ll take care of your “NEEDS.”

Paul concurs; “God IS able to supply ALL your NEEDS…” and He will do it, not according to my whims and wishes, but “according to HIS glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” His riches are “glorious” and far better than I can ever imagine, and He will use those riches to take care of my needs, when I “seek Him and His righteousness” and forget about the “deserve” or “earn” attitude that is bombarding me in this “entitlement” age I live in. He may even throw in a few “wants” now and then, just because He is still a kind, loving, gracious, and giving God, but no guarantees on that one. That’s up to Him! What I do know is that “He will supply ALL my NEEDS, according to HIS glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Have a great day assured that God is faithful to your needs,

Pastor Rich

Quote for the day: “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’” CS Lewis