God Will Supply... In His Way

God Will Supply... In His Way.
"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NLT

I'm confused! "Supply all your needs"? Like in prosperity for all? Houses? Cars? Trips overseas? Perfect health? All the money you desire?

Maybe the keyword is "needs"- not "wants"? And maybe it's the "needs" from God's viewpoint and not our perceived or real needs - that's if we see this verse in the context of the whole of Philippians chapter 4.

Take for example Paul, he was in chains, underwent torture, and suffering, faced despair and death, and survived a shipwreck... So let's look at some detailed examples of what Paul said he experienced.

"I have... been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked..." 2 Corinthians 11:23-30

Is this not a Baptism into the Suffering of Christ? Are you and I to escape the "minor" challenges of life with ease and so-called "prosperity"?

What about a close friend of mine who has experienced the haunting hallucinations of schizophrenia for more than 30 years, with a similar condition of another mental illness? She is one of the thousands across our globe struggling with these conditions.

And then there is my own bipolar condition that I have had since 1987 and it is significantly more stable, but still remains unpredictable and messes with my body and mind when I least expect it.

What is prosperity anyway? Here I have reviewed it, in the greater counsel of God. Not manipulating a single verse or a series of isolated verses that do not provide a comprehensive picture of the relevance of the abundant life that Jesus both lived and called us to. John 10:10

Remember, Jesus' abundant life and relationship with the Father took Him to Calvary to suffer and die for us and rise to give us the power to live and hope for the new life.  

Let's get back to our central text and a commentary on Philippians 4:19.

"He would have us be content, but he will also richly supply what he ordains that we should have. His Word says, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Ps 37:4). This means he will change your desires to match his, and at the same time provide what you newly desire." - Editor in Chief, connectusfund.org

The keywords that strike me are "he will also richly supply what he ordains that we should have" and "he will change your desires to match his." So it seems from this commentary that it's not what we want but our needs as they align with the will and purposes of God. This ties up with the full context of Philippians 4 so please read it before proceeding, unless you know it well.

Sometimes God gives us blankets for the cold. Other times he provides the faith to persist through the cold. Sometimes God answers prayer by supplying friends, support and finances. Other times God provides courage in isolation with no water or food - and no money!

Sometimes, we like Jesus, escape the mob. Other times we walk into persecution, torture and even death. God provides love and forgiveness for the enemies of Christ - as we identify with Him in His suffering.

This has come to be known as the "Baptism of Suffering" - a baptismal sacrament as viewed in some churches. We speak little of this and avoid suffering at all costs for the easy convenient life.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NIV)