The church at Philippi was a very giving church.  Their willingness to give was experienced firsthand by Paul, and he praised them for their generosity.  In the book of Philippians, Paul thanks the brethren for supplying his needs while he was in Thessalonica (Philippians 4:15-18).  Because of their willingness to help Paul financially while he preached the gospel, the Philippians would have a part in the fruit borne by Paul’s evangelistic efforts.  The Philippians were willing to sacrifice for the cause of Christ, and Paul assures them that it would not go unnoticed by God.

While the saints at Philippi helped to supply Paul with what he needed, God would continue to supply for them.  Paul affirms confidently to the brethren in Philippi that God would supply all their needs.

Philippians 4:19 (ESV)
19  And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

God has always been a wonderful supplier.  He provided for Adam and Eve, even after they sinned against Him in the garden (Genesis 3:21).  He provided a sacrifice for Abraham in place of his son Isaac (Gen. 22:13).  He provided for the Israelites as they wandered through the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:11-16).  God has never ceased providing for His people.  Does He still supply?  Of course, He does.  He supplies for us in two ways.  Consider the following.

  1. God supplies our physical needs.

No, God does not give us everything we want.  Sometimes we want things that are not in our best interest to have.  However, God does supply our needs.  Jesus assures us of this in Matthew 6:25-34.  When it comes to putting food in our stomachs and clothes on our backs, God will make provision for us.  Remember, God is our Father and every Father desires to take care of his children.  Do you think that earthly fathers have more love for their children than God does?  If you do, it stems from a lack of faith in the love and loyalty of God.

Matthew 6:30 (ESV)
30  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 7:7-11 (ESV)
7  Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9  Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

As long as we seek God first, He will provide us with the necessities of life (Matthew 6:33).  Does that mean that Christians will never struggle?  No, sometimes it is hard to make ends meet, even for God’s children. There are poor Christians in the world.  However, in the end, God does supply all of His children with what they need.  God is indeed a giving God.

  1. God supplies our spiritual needs.

God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).  The word “life” here means more than just our physical existence.  It refers to the spiritual life that we enjoy based on our relationship with God.  “Godliness” denotes a piety that is characterized by a God-ward attitude, and does that which is well-pleasing to God (Vine’s Expository Dictionary).  So life and godliness encompass the totality of our existence before God.  In other words, everything necessary to please God and make it to heaven is covered by the statement “life and godliness.”

God has provided us with everything we need to be successful in the spiritual realm.  He has given us a plan of salvation that is accessible to all.  This was not an accident.  God made salvation based on obedient faith rather than meritorious works because He desires for all to be saved.  Listen to what Paul says about the blessedness of justification.

Romans 4:16 (ESV)
16  That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

Anyone who wants to be in fellowship with God can be because God has provided the means necessary to establish such fellowship.

But there is more.  God has provided us with everything we need to maintain that fellowship.  What has God supplied along those lines?

  • His Word to guide us (Psalms 119:105).
  • Prayer to strengthen us and keep us strong (Ephesians 6:18).
  • A family to motivate us in doing right (Hebrews 10:24; Galatians 6:1).
  • A mediator to help us when we fall (1 John 2:1-2; 1 John 1:7; Acts 8:18-23).         

You can see that if we fail and miss out on heaven, it is certainly not God’s fault.  We will have no one to blame but ourselves, for God has supplied us with everything we need to be and stay in fellowship with Him.

God is indeed a wonderful supplier of needs.  He has blessed us both physically and spiritually.  Let’s be thankful every day.