Another Verse Often Taken Out of Context…

Yesterday I wrote about the often misapplication of the verse, “I can do things through Christ who strengthens me”.  The letter to the Philippians ends with another one of those sentences that is often plucked out of its original context.  The sentence is:  “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Sounds like an amazing promise isn’t it?  Sort of like a cookie jar with a never-ending supply of cookies…God will supply all your need.  But how is this promise given?  Well, the context is that the Philippian Christians had sacrificially given money to Paul to help with his ministry.  Here is the entire text starting in verse 14: “ ¹⁴ Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. ¹⁵ Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. ¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. ¹⁸ Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”  They very likely sacrificed money they didn’t really “have” to help Paul.  This giving was used by God to extend Paul’s ministry.  I believe they didn’t give their excess…rather they gave what they needed to survive.  That is the context of the promise.  If you want to experience the blessing of God supplying all of your needs, then you need to make yourself “needy”…putting yourself in a position where you really need God to make a difference.  Of course, I’m not advocating being foolish with your finances and then expecting God to bail you out.  What I am advocating is giving in extravagant ways, as God leads, so that God can provide for you and your needs according to His riches in glory.  This is not a promise to get rich.  This is just a promise to get what you need.  But what is really amazing is that not only do you get what you need but you experience the blessing of God’s activity in your life. Either way you’ll get what you need; but allowing God to supply it instead of doing it on your own; is much more satisfying…and pleasing to God. So don’t be afraid to extravagantly give as God leads you.  When you give to further the ministry of the gospel, God will give you what you need and you will experience the reality of this incredible promise.

I’ve decided that tomorrow we will continue with the book of Colossians in the New Testament. I hope you will be blessed, encouraged and convicted as we study it together.