I don’t know how many, but I several books of quotations by C.H. Spurgeon. Some of them are one liners – proverbs – and some of them are sentences and paragraphs. Some of them are indexed by subject, and some of them are listed by scriptural reference. On a whim I pulled out one and looked up our text, finding three quotes. This particular one was probably taken from a sermon, but I didn’t look for it. Spurgeon said, “This precious text is one which, when we built the Orphanage, I caused to be cut on one of the pillars of the entrance. You will notice it inside the first columns on either side wherever you go there. This I took for the foundation of the institution, and (I) set my seal to it as true. And it has been so.” “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Opened in 1869 with a £20,000 donation, Spurgeon’s Orphanage, more properly known as, the “Stockwell Orphanage” provided housing, education, and care for thousands of needy children over the years. The buildings were destroyed by Nazi bombing, but they have been rebuilt and continue to serve London kids. Examining old copies of the accounting books readers often find the words, “All bills paid, but no money.” For example, in December 1873, the secretary reported that all bills were settled, but only £3 remained to support over 220 kids. While the orphanage occasionally ran low of funds, it never resorted to loans and was never in arrears to creditors. Spurgeon said his orphanage used the “Shoveling”System” – “I shovel out, and God shovels in.” “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Like Spurgeon, thousands of Christians have proved that Paul’s statement to be true. And I could give you illustration after illustration from the messages of other preachers. But let’s try to stick with Paul, the one whom the Holy Spirit lead to write these words. He uses the words “need,” and “supply,” before implying to how the need was met by the supply.
We’ll start with the word “NEED.”
Pul refers to the needs of the Philippians, after making reference to his own former needs. There were times in his life when he was full, and there were times when he was hungry. He knew “both how to abound and to suffer need.” There were times when he had been in want – not that he wanted things, but that he lacked things. But as he wrote this letter, he was enjoying the bounty that Epaphroditus had brought from Philippi. And while at that moment his needs had been met, he realized that their giving had created needs at home. This verse isn’t talking about Paul’s need but their’s, and as such it can be made to apply to us.
Just as his needs had been practical, and just as the needs of hungry orphans are real and tangible, the giving of the Macedonians had been so generous, it created emptiness in their own pockets. Mybe Epaphroditus told Paul about a couple of widows who gave their last pennies to help him. Maybe he explained how some of the church members sold property in order to enrich their missionary. Paul replied, “I have all, and abound; I am full, having received… the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.” They gave sacrifices; they gave something which cost them dearly. Epaphroditus told Paul about their sacrifices, or perhaps he made that assumption under the leadership of the Spirit. But somehow Paul knew that his Macedonian friends were impoverished because of their giving to him. In other words, these needs were not wants or wishes, but actual DEFICIENCIES.
We all face needs from time to time, and they may come in various guises or appearances. Some may be emotional and immaterial. On some days we desperately need a friend on whom to lean. On another day we may need some counsel and advice. If it is these, “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Sadly, sometimes we create needs for ourselves, because we didn’t listen to our friends’ counsel. Sometimes sin creates debts that we can’t fully repay. And then there are those days when we have genuine needs which are beyond our control or our charge. We get sick, or a loved one is injured; or our car breaks down, creating debts and problems. “My God shall (still) supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Even though this scripture can be applied in several ways, Paul is not talking about those situations. He is referring to needs which have been created by these people’s service of the Lord. These were very real and practical problems, but they were created by way of their obedience to what they felt was the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
I know I don’t have authority to say this: But I picture the church in Philippi petitioning God to bless and spare Paul’s life. They not only asked God to use him as an evangelist to win Romans to Christ, but they also prayed that the Lord would meet his physical needs. And then someone said, “Wait a minute, is there a reason why we can’t answer our own prayer?” “I’ll contribute a hundred dollars if someone will take it to Rome for me.” Another person volunteered to skip a few meals and to give that money to Paul’s support. Some of the poorer folk volunteered to make some clothes and quilts to send. Then Epaphroditus said he’d be willing to pay the fare necessary to sail west carrying their gifts. If it didn’t actually fall out this way, still, the people in Philippi created some needs when they gave to meet the needs of Paul. And the Holy Spirit replied, “my God shall supply all these need that you have created for yourselves.”
But from where will the Lord SUPPLY that need?
“My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Is there a way we can measure the riches of the infinite God? Like you, I have a limited number of dollars in the bank, and my credit will only go so far. If necessary I could go out and get a second job; I could become a greeter at Walmart, earning a little. But even with a second income, there would be limits. Despite what some false prophets say I can’t wish, or visualize, money into my bank account. It is very possible that some day my needs will outstrip my supply. But the God who can create the ginormous wealth of the universe with the sound of his voice, has no limits. The wealth of Jehovah’s beneficent grace is an ocean without a shore and without a bottom. The Bible sometimes uses “sands of the sea” to illustrate immensity. But that fails to describe the bounty of our God. Despite their vast number, there is a finite number of grains of sand in the world.
A.W. Pink introduced me to a word the other day in speaking of the value of Christ’s sacrifice: He said that it is “immeasurable” and “illimitable” – “illimitable” – unable to be limited or confined. He said, “The abiding worth of that sacrifice is as immeasurable as the personal excellency of the Son, and as illimitable as the Father’s delight in him.” When we are talking about God’s ability to meet any of our needs, God’s grace is still illimitable.
In a different letter, but with a similar fiscal feel about it… Paul was encouraging the church in Corinth to help meet the needs of the suffering saints in Jerusalem. Please turn to II Corinthians 9:6 – “Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE ALL GRACE ABOUND TOWARD YOU; THAT YE, ALWAYS HAVING ALL SUFFICIENCY IN ALL THINGS, MAY ABOUND TO EVERY GOOD WORK: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” Doesn’t verse 8 say much the same thing as Philippians 4:19? There was no way that Paul could repay the Philippians for their gifts, but God is illimitable.
I just used the word “repay” – Paul could not “repay” the Philippians. Let me point out that was not the word Paul actually used here in regard to the Lord. As far as I can recall, in only two scriptures is there the suggestion that God repays anything. In Romans 12:19 we read “ Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” That doesn’t really apply to what we’re considering here. The other hint of repayment comes in Christ’s parable of the Good Samaritan who said to the inn-keeper: “Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.” I’m not sure we should ever think that God must repay us for anything. I’ve heard preachers say that “God will not be in any man’s debt.” I’ve probably said that sort of thing, because in a sense there is some truth in it. But today I’m not sure that the word “debt” should ever be spoken in the relationship to God, except that as WE are eternally in His debt. The Lord didn’t owe anything to the Philippians for their gifts to Paul. And yet, “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
How shall the Philippians need be SUPPLIED?
“My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory BY CHRIST JESUS.” “By Christ Jesus.” Do any of us really understand the importance of Christ’s on-going ministry toward us? Yes, we may grasp the essentials of His substitutionary death to save us – once for all. He took our place on the cross, just as literally as He took Barabbas’ cross as His own. I think that I get that. And in a small way I understand that He is currently interceding for me at this moment. But is it really necessary that the Son keep reminding the Father that He died in my place? Is God the Father in some way forgetful of that? Then how is it that Christ is our mediator and intercessor? And does Christ minister to us every morning by sending the Spirit to comfort and guide us once again? If that is true it is only in an anthropomorphic way, because we don’t know how to express it otherwise. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit because of what Christ Jesus has done as is doing for us.
The fact is, “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights” ACCORDING to his RICHES in glory BY CHRIST JESUS. By the merits of Christ we have ETERNAL life, and by the merits of Christ we have DAILY life. By the merits of Christ we have BREAD of LIFE, and by His grace we have sour-dough and garlic bread. By the merits of Christ we have the WATER of life, and by his grace there is water in the Spokane River.
“My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Is Paul PRAYING that God would supply all their need? Is the Apostle telling them to pray that the Lord would restock their shelves? Instead of prayer, isn’t this a statement of fact? “My God SHALL supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” And what are we supposed to do with Biblical facts? Aren’t we supposed to accept and believe them? Aren’t we supposed to save our souls, build our lives, and guide our days on the facts of the scripture? Spurgeon said, “This precious text is one which, when we built the Orphanage, I caused to be cut on one of the pillars of the entrance. This I took for the foundation of the institution, and (I) set my seal to it as true. And it has been so.”
How and when shall God supply our need? He will do it in any number of ways, when we believe Him, and trust Him to do it. Just as salvation is by faith, so the truth of this verse becomes ours by faith.
But, please notice that the word “need” is singular and not plural. At the end of the day, we have only one need, the GRACE of God. You may think, “I need several hundred dollars to pay a certain debt.” God replies, “No, you need my grace” – singular. “Trust me to take care of you and your debt.” You may think: “I have run into a porcupine, and I need the removal of all these thorns.” God replies, “No, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Of course, we can’t afford to be foolish in our defining our needs. Our wants and wishes are not necessarily genuine needs. The Lord knows better than we do what we need. And we can’t quit our jobs, sitting on our chesterfields waiting for the Lord to throw money into our laps. Our responsibilities are just as much a part of our need as what happens when we fulfill our responsibilities.
And remember too, that most of our needs are not one time problems. Our gardens need regular watering; and our pantries need to be constantly restocked. “My God SHALL (CONSTANTLY) supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Glory is the element in which the grace of God operates – God’s glory. In the case of these Philippians, God was glorified in their creation of this need – their giving. The Lord was glorified when Paul received their gifts, praising God’s name for everything. And God will be glorified in the satisfying the needs that their sacrifice created. But what if that need I have doesn’t go away? Well, God is glorified in His time and in His way. It could very well be that the Lord doesn’t agree about what we think are our needs.
This is an exciting promise; this is an encouraging promise. It should excite us to fearlessness. We can’t out-serve the Lord. The Lord will be a debtor to no man. No matter how we serve the Lord and what losses we suffer in the process, “My God SHALL supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”