But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
— Philippians 4:19
Over the course of the last few decades, it has become very apparent just how temporary and shaky the world economic system actually is. We have witnessed the stock market plummet multiple times in the United States and in many other major markets around the world as well. Global markets reeled in the wake of these dramatic events as established financial accounts were reduced or even obliterated in just a matter of hours.
These troubling economic events reveal the great importance of investing financially into the Kingdom of God. The truth is that investments made into God’s Kingdom are the only ones that have an absolute guaranteed return. This truth is clearly outlined in Philippians 4:19, which contains one of the most important financial promises the Bible gives us as believers. It says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
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Christians constantly claim this verse over their lives. But many do not understand the context in which Paul wrote this verse and exactly what it meant for both his Philippian audience and what it means for themselves. As you’ll see in today’s Sparkling Gem, this verse applies to givers. In fact, the historical context reveals that the promise contained in Philippians 4:19 can only be claimed by people who are givers. But for those who are givers, this is God’s absolute guarantee of abundant financial blessing!
When Paul wrote his epistle to the Philippians, he was incarcerated in one of the worst prisons in the entire Roman Empire. However, because he was a Roman citizen, Paul had the right to receive and send mail. One day as he sat alone in that dark, dank prison, Paul received a letter from the church of Philippi. It had been hand-delivered by a Christian brother named Epaphroditus, and as Paul read the letter, he quickly read that Epaphroditus had also brought a special offering that the church of Philippi had sent to him.
In the Roman penal system, an imprisoned Roman citizen had the legal right for his friends or family to put money into a special “account” held in his name. He couldn’t access the money while he remained in prison, but if he was finally released, those funds were given to him so he could have money to start his life over again. Therefore, it was common for family and friends to bring money to the prison and deposit it into the account of their loved one in case he was fortunate enough to be released at a later time.
When Epaphroditus came from the church of Philippi, he brought Paul a letter that let the elderly apostle know the saints were praying for him. In fact, Paul specifically mentioned their prayers of agreement in Philippians 1:19. And accompanying this letter was a special offering, which was placed into Paul’s account at the prison so he would have money to start life over again when he was released back into society.
That financial gift meant a lot more than money to Paul. First, it meant his friends were so full of faith that he would be released that they were putting money into his account and preparing for his release. This was faith in action that brought encouragement to Paul. He called it “an odor of a sweet smell” (see Philippians 4:18), which simply meant their actions were like a breath of fresh air!
It was in response to the Philippian believers’ offering and generosity that Paul wrote: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
You have to remember that the Philippians had just given a sacrificial gift to Paul. In response to that gift, Paul said, in effect, “Because of what you have done, now look what God is going to do for you. He is going to supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!”
Paul wrote that God would “supply” all the Philippian believers’ needs in light of their giving, just as He will do for us in light of our heartfelt giving. The word “supply” is the Greek word pleroo, which means to fulfill or to make full. In other words, if we have any kind of want or need in our lives, God will take that want and fill it. God doesn’t have any kind of shortage in Heaven. According to Philippians 4:19, He fulfills our needs according to His “riches” in glory by Christ Jesus. The word “riches” is the Greek word ploutos, which describes immense wealth or riches beyond imagination. It is where we get the word for a plutocrat, which describes a person who possesses riches so immense that they are seemingly immeasurable. God is the original Plutocrat; He knows no lack and has no insufficiencies!
When you go out of your way to meet the needs of the Gospel, God will go out of His way to make sure your needs are met. It is the law of sowing and reaping restated in another way. In other words, when you meet the needs of God’s Kingdom, He will see to it that your needs are met — but when God meets your needs, He will do it lavishly, abundantly, excessively, and richly!
I encourage you to quit thinking that God wants to give you just enough to help you scrape by. According to Paul’s words in Philippians 4:19, God wants to bless givers beyond anything they could ask, dream, or imagine! He wants to completely fulfill all their needs! So if you’re a giver, you truly have something to shout about, because Philippians 4:19 was written specifically for you. It is yours to claim!
In this time of uncertainty and instability in world financial markets, it’s time for you to lay hold of this promise and believe God to release a divine supply of provision that is reserved especially for givers. This heavenly reserve has been set aside and kept for you. God is ready to open His heavenly account and lavishly demonstrate that He will be faithful to you, regardless of what is happening in the world markets. His goodness and His faithfulness are not affected by world economies — and if you are a giver, you qualify for God to meet your needs right now!
If you’re not a giver, it’s never too late to get started. Start today by sowing into the work of God at your church, in your neighborhood, or to a ministry like ours that is touching a part of the world with the Gospel. The moment you start sacrificially sowing is the moment you qualify for Heaven’s resources! God is just waiting to see what you will do. And when He sees you move to action — that is the trigger that causes Him to swing into action and begin to pour out Heaven’s resources to meet your own needs!
MY PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, I believe it is Your will for my needs to be met, and, as a giver, I lay hold of Your promise to supply ALL my needs according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus. I admit that I have been anxious at times because I paid attention to financial markets as well as to my personal financial situation. But You, Lord, are my source. You are ready to demonstrate that Your goodness and Your faithfulness to me are not affected by world economies. I will continue to give sacrificially to the Kingdom of God, knowing that as I give, I activate the law of seedtime and harvest, and You will pour out Heaven’s resources to meet my needs. I receive Your provision today because You are faithful.
I pray this in Jesus’ name!
MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY
I confess that I am a sacrificial giver and I have something to shout about because Philippians 4:19 is mine to claim! I qualify for God’s promise to supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. I lay hold to God’s promise, and He faithfully meets my needs lavishly, abundantly, excessively, and richly!
I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!
QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER
- Did you know that Philippians 4:19 was written only for givers and that it is their special promise from God?
- In what ways have you seen God fulfill the needs in your life? Why not take a few minutes to reflect and remember all the various ways God has supernaturally fulfilled your needs? Then you might make a list and put it in the back pages of your Bible as a permanent record of God’s faithfulness to you as a giver!
- What needs do you have right now? What would God have you do to trigger a release of divine answers into your life?
