ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY

In today's topic, the particular verse we are going to study focuses on divine supply. God's provision and supply are the heritage of His children; it is designed to be so, just like its natural for parents to provide for their children's need. This means that God is responsible for supplying even our seemingly little and inconsequential needs. Everything we need in life is a part of His supernatural supply and provision. Therefore He wants us to see Him as the only source of supply to every need we have, whether big or small.

Reference: Philippians 4:19 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

God's favour in our lives is usually demonstrated in His desire to supply everything we require to function in life. To supply also means to provide, guide, help, furnish, equip and empower. All of these terms are used to communicate God's ways of meeting our needs. So we mustn't condition ourselves to believe that God's supply or provision can only be experienced when we have a material or financial need. This is why Paul mentioned, "all your needs". For instance, divine guidance is a mysterious supply from God. It's not everybody that has access to it. Divine protection is another form of supply because God sends His angels to supply it. We also receive multiple graces, supplied from the fullness of Christ (John 1:16).

Therefore, we need to keep in mind that the supply we receive is not limited to or necessarily material or financial. They can come in form of strength, joy, peace, protection, grace, artistry, restoration of relationships, etc. This is because, as long as we are in the world, we will always have a need which comes in different forms. However, every Christian need invites divine supply. If we don't have a need, there won't be any reason for divine supply. And as we trust God, He is always committed to working them out and supplying them by the agency of His Spirit.

How does God get the resources He uses to supply our needs? Before I answer this question, let's look at it from the human standpoint. It is not going to be difficult to believe that a wealthy person can spend their fortunes on acquiring private planes because considering their net worth, they can afford it. Simply put, anyone can purchase something of high value, depending on their bank balance, which also means - according to their riches. So there's a deeper message Paul is communicating to us here than simply about God supplying our needs and providing for us. Paul was declaring God's asset publicly. Now let me tell you what the phrase "according to His riches in glory in Christ" means.

The original Hebrew Bible also translated the word, "glory" as weight or heaviness. It is the Hebrew word, Kavod. In the context of Philippians 4:19, God's riches in glory means indescribable resources that are heavy and weighty in size. His riches are heavy and weighing a great deal. In fact, He owns all that exists and all there is. The sum total of God's assets cannot be estimated. Its recorded in Psalm 24:1 as, "The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him (NLT)." God owns the world and the people in it. If you can't calculate the worth of everything in the world - including men's lives - in monetary value, then you can't describe the total amount of His wealth and resources.

So you must understand where apostle Paul was coming from because he was always specific in his epistles. In Ephesians 3:20, Paul also said, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us"(NIV). Notice again that he was specific about how God would do what we ask or think: "According to His power that is at work in us". Yes, Paul noted how both "the supply to our need" and "answer to our request" are going to happen. Therefore, from today's topic, we can understand that our supply comes from the weight and abundance of God's riches in Christ and they are glorious riches because they are divinely supplied. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Psalm 65:11; Ecclesiastes 5:19; Matthew 6:33; 2 Corinthians 9:8.

Guided Prayer:

Heavenly Father, your purpose is that I should live my life in all its fullness and abundance. Therefore, I thank you for your abundant supply and daily benefits from the good treasury of your glorious riches. They're provisions that empower me to live for you and do your will on earth. I'm forever grateful for always being gracious to me and for showering me with your favour and all-round blessings in Jesus' Name, Amen!