“My God will supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19, Paul to the Philippian saints

This is a favorite verse people quote hoping to convince God to provide for what they need and or perceive they need. Most of those people have absolutely no idea the context from which Paul released that statement.

Do you know the context? I am purposefully not going to copy and paste it here for you in this short blog. What I am going to do is tell you what I see in the context that establishes God’s eternal truth in that one verse.

Paul said “My [His]” God would supply all the Philippians needs.

That is an interesting way to say what he said. Why didn’t Paul say, “‘Your’ God will supply all of your needs . . . ” Ahh, I am so glad you asked that question because that is where the context comes in and frames the text in its eternal purpose.

The church at Philippi was founded by Paul and Silas as they worshiped God at midnight while they were in pain in the Philippian prison for preaching the gospel, and causing a hell destroying and heaven rejoicing revival.

These grateful believers in Christ Jesus began finanically supporting Paul in his kingdom advancing world mission and ministry. But something, the contextual text does not reveal what, happened and they ended their financial support of Paul and his apostolic endeavors.

Something changed however and they re-engaged in sending finances to Paul so that his mission would be provided for. Paul tells them that he is grateful for their past and renewed support and he reveals to them that he has learned to be content no matter if they, or any other church [Christians] sent him financial support. He has arrived at the place where people are not his provider, his God is! And that is why he does not stress over having nothing, or way more than he needs.

You do realize if you do not learn to be content in whatever your financial situation is you will never be content in whatever your financial situation is, don’t you? If not, you best get on with learning that lesson well so you can pass every financial test God will use to reveal to you where you are not content – in Him and His provision for you.

Wherever you abandon God in the valley [low place] you will more than likely abandon him on the mountain [higher place]! Selah!

Paul goes on to say that he was not looking for their support to supply his account. He was looking for their account [resources] to increase. And that my dear reader is when he says, “And my God will supply all of your needs according to [not out of] His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

People who abuse those who find, prepare, and serve spiritual food to them by not “paying” for the time it takes to provide substantive spiritual food or the food they are served, disqualify themselves from receiving God’s supply at the “according to” level of provision.

Jesus taught this principle in several places, one being – “Give, and gifts shall be bestowed on you. Full measure, pressed, shaken down, and running over, shall they pour into your laps; for with the same measure that you use they shall measure to you in return.” Luke 6:38 Weymouth Translation

Paul would later write to the saints in the Galatian churches, “6 And those who are taught the Word must share all good things with their teacher; a sharing of wealth takes place between them.

7 Make no mistake about it, God will never be mocked! For what you plant will always be the very thing you harvest. 8 The harvest you reap reveals the seed that was planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self – life into this natural realm, you can expect to experience a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life you will reap the beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit.” Galatians 6 The Passion Translation

By the way, these verses are often taken out of context too. Most teachers do not include verse 6 in their teaching on “God is not mocked.” Most teachings I have heard through the years lay the mocking at the feet of the devil or his kids.

God, through Paul, lays it at the feet of His kids who feed for free! Selah!

Dr. Kevin M. Drury, DMin
A Spiritual Revolutionary

Receive and steward God’s passion, power, presence, priority, process, promises, protection, provision, pruning, purging, purity and purpose!