Is it true that my God shall supply all my needs (Philippians 4:19)?

"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen." The God whom He had learnt to know so well in all circumstances--my God, as he called Him--would supply all their need. It is not a wish that He may do so, nor a prayer that he prays, but it is an assured fact. He knows his God so well that he counts on Him for the supply of all the need of the beloved saints according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

What a promise! "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." The very arrangement of the words is precious. Our need and His riches are strung together, looped as if by two bands. Some have sought to limit the 'need' to temporal needs: but 'all your need' certainly precludes that: and there will be no temporal needs to supply 'in glory.' No, Beloved, take it as it stands. Endorse the promise, and accept it with joy and thanksgiving. It surely includes temporal needs: and in no mean or niggardly way: but according to His wealth, in glory, in Christ Jesus. A millionaire might give a penny to a beggar, but he would not be giving according to his wealth. Our God is the 'Giving God,' and the Lord Jesus said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive:' and He will ever have the more blessed place.

But let us notice it is all our need that My God promises to supply; our need, as one has pointed out, not our greed. And I am so glad to think it does mean our spiritual needs as well as our temporal needs: needs for our soul and our spirit, for these are often greater than the needs of our bodies: need for more devotedness to Christ: need for more earnestness in finding time for prayer and the Word: need to 'break the power of cancelled sin.' And the heart that knoweth its own bitterness will know the other needs over which we so often yearn. And the promise is, "My God shall fill full every need of yours." Whether we use every or all in this verse, both are in the singular, so we are meant to look at each individual need separately: we may spread them out before 'My God' one by one. And yet the word does mean all, and we may still use the lovely translation to which we are accustomed in the Authorised Version, but just remember that when God looks at your need, He sees each, single need individually: and we may do the same.

Verse 19. 'But my God shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory, by (or in) Christ Jesus.'9 What they did thus, in their self-denying love, they might do fearlessly. For the living and true God, whose grace they knew, and whom Paul, in his fuller knowledge, calls emphatically his own, would amply recompense. They had filled this true minister of God with their willing and grateful kindness, and his God should fill them in return with the blessings of His goodness. It is a large promise and of a continuous fulfilment. Both here and hereafter the true need of God's children will be met by Him in faithfulness, according to the measure of His own fulness, both of grace and glory in Christ Jesus: Peace flowing like a river here below through hearts sore tried often by manifold temptations, and His own eternal kingdom and glory when the days of trial have their end.

But what of the Philippians themselves? They had further impoverished themselves, further reduced their already slender resources by their gifts in favour of an aged prisoner who could in no wise reciprocate or help them. Paul felt this and in verse 19 he expresses his confidence as to them. God would supply all their need. Notice how he speaks of Him as, "My God," — the God whom Paul knew and had practically tested for himself. That God would be their Supplier, not according to their need, nor even according to Paul's ardent desires on their behalf, but according to His own riches in glory in Christ Jesus. It would have been a wonderful thing had God engaged to supply them according to His riches on earth in Christ Jesus. His riches in glory are more wonderful still. The Philippians or ourselves may never be rich in the things of earth and yet be enriched in the things of glory. If so we shall indeed respond, in attributing glory to God our Father for ever and ever.

Would such a God allow them to suffer need because of their liberality? Far from it! Well had the apostle learned in experience the sufficiency of his God: "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Let it be well understood however, that this giving is the intelligent service of devoted affection for Christ. We are solemnly responsible, not simply to give, but to give as honouring the Lord. This must involve exercise of soul as to when, where, and in what manner to give. We could not rightly expect God to supply our needs if we squandered that which He had entrusted to us.

But the resources of our God are infinite, for who can measure the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus? Nor can His great heart of love suffer any less standard as to supplying the need of His saints. Therefore let His saints consider no lesser standard. The heart filled with Christ cannot but be deeply content.

Then on the other hand Paul can say to them "But my God" (One whom I know and have proved), "My God shall abundantly supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus". Notice, it is what is needed, not what is wanted, or desired.

And now, Paul, have you nothing to give in return for such a precious gift from those who love you so well? No, Paul must answer, I have nothing. A cloak, and a few books and parchments are all the possessions we ever hear Paul possessed. And yet he can say, though having nothing, yet he possesses all things: and so he can send them a promise, not of anything from himself, but from "My God". "I have been filled full" he had written to the Philippians, from what you sent me: now I can promise that "My God will fill full every need of yours, according to His wealth, in glory, in Christ Jesus." He uses exactly the same word for what "My God" will do to them, as he had used of what they had done for him. Canon Baskerville says that Moody once spoke of this verse as a blank cheque: The firm - "My God" The promise - "shall supply" The amount - "All your need" The capital - "His riches" The Bank address - "in glory" The signature: - "Christ Jesus" "This cheque must be endorsed by the person to whom it is made payable." And Canon Baskerville continues: "All your need". Spread it out before the Lord - needs for your body, for your soul, for yourselves, for your families, needs for the present and for the future — "all your need" — it is quite impossible to catalogue all, but God promises "to fill up all your need". Who shall do it? "My GOD". That is grand! Paul says, See how "my God" has supplied me — "my God shall supply you." The same God is our God. Think of that. His arm is not waxed short, neither His heart grown hard towards any of His children (Isa. 50:2; 59:1)."

214 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Mark the intimacy there is in "my God." It is emphatic. It is saying, I know Him; I can answer for Him; I have come through all kinds of things, and I can answer for it that He never failed me. I know the way He acts even in the small things of everyday life.

"My God shall supply all your need." How could Paul tell that? He knew Him. Not that he had not been in a condition of want, but he had felt the preciousness of being met in it by God. Things may look very dark, but we have always found that, if He led us by the wilderness where there was no water, He brought water out of the stony rock for us there. He always exercises faith, but He always meets it. Their coats even did not grow old for forty years. This is a blessed result.