| Christian Life and Doctrine | July 1987 |
He Supplies All Our Needs
“My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:19
IN this scripture, the Apostle Paul explains that our Heavenly Father is the source of all our blessings. This is why we address our petitions to “Our Father, who art in heaven.” Continuing with his next thought, he says that what he gives us comes through his Son, Christ Jesus.
The context of this chapter shows Paul’s thankfulness to the Philippian brethren for what they had done in supplying his temporal necessities. But, at the same time, he raised the discussion beyond temporal things. Note two preceding verses: “Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”—vss. 11,12
If it were temporal needs that God promised to supply, Paul would never have been abased, hungry, nor would he have suffered want. Clearly, temporal necessities are not what Paul has in mind in this verse. It is something far more important.
Basic Needs
One of our most basic needs is redemption from sin. Paul writes: “We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” (Eph. 1:7) The application of Christ’s ransom-sacrifice on our behalf is required before we can appreciate any other need. Then comes our need for understanding. “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.”—Eph. 1:19
Certainly every footstep follower of the Master realizes how important understanding is to his spiritual life, for his “inner man.” This expression is used in Ephesians 3:16, in the apostle’s letter to the Christians at Ephesus. The needs of the ‘inner man’ can be paraphrased from the first chapter of Ephesians as follows: 1. Having Christ abounding in one’s heart; 2. Becoming rooted and grounded in love; 3. Comprehending many facets of God’s plans and purposes; 4. Understanding the love of Christ which passes all understanding. The ultimate objective is that the saints may be” filled with all the goodness of God.” (Eph. 3:17-19) This is exactly what Paul meant when he said that God shall supply all our needs.
God Hears Our Requests
The Apostle John admonishes the Christian to beware of the conflicts and temptations that will try to destroy the wonderful position we have by faith. He writes: “These things have I written unto you that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.”—I John 5:13,14
This agrees with what Jesus told his disciples: “Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matt. 7:7,8) This does not mean we can ask for anything we please and get it. John is very explicit: if we ask according to his will, he will hear us. Since we are now new creatures in Christ, and sons of God, we must be careful that our requests are for the needs of the New Creature.
When Jesus sent out the twelve apostles to preach the Gospel, they had no money, no provisions, not even shoes. (Matt. 10:10) But they were so enthusiastic about participating in the service, they went anyway. Looking back on that incident, Jesus asked whether they lacked anything. The answer is heart-warming: “No, nothing.”—Luke 22:35
Perhaps when we think we cannot engage in the Lord’s service until this need or that need is satisfied, we should reflect on the power of God to supply all our needs. If we step out in faith as did the twelve, we will surely say afterward that we lacked nothing!
Although material things are important to the world, they should not be important to us. Jesus said: “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Seek not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”—Luke 12:22,23,29,30,32
The proper priority of a Christian’s life is stated in verse thirty-one: “Seek ye the kingdom of God and all these [other] things shall be added unto you.” Our most important necessities concern our spiritual life, because the abundant supplying of these needs builds up the new creature and permits us to be fruitful in the service of God.
Humility
Humility is one of our most important spiritual needs. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit [humble-minded] for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3) This does not mean that humility is the only important grace and that all who are humble will automatically gain the kingdom. But no one will gain the kingdom without humility.
Meekness is a need. The psalmist says, “The meek will he guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach his way.” (Ps. 25:9) Without meekness we will never receive the wisdom that God is pleased to grant to those who call upon his name. Godliness, or holiness, is still another need, because it brings about our sanctification, or setting apart for God’s service.
Many of these needs are supplied by God through our interaction with others of like precious faith. “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”—Heb. 10:24,25, NIV
Conclusion
The Scriptures make it clear that God has promised to supply all our needs if we, as New Creatures in Christ, walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Rom. 8:4) Whatever we need will be ours if we only ask. “If you, then, imperfect as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.”—Matt. 7:11, Weymouth Translation
Today the Christian life is one of sacrifice. Jesus said, “Whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27) And what is cross-bearing? It is the doing of the Father’s will under unfavorable circumstances.
May we, with greater faith, continue to bear our cross and look to the Lord for strength, guidance, and help in all life’s affairs.
“Strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”—Matt. 7:14