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God Will Meet Your Needs
Read: Philippians 4:10-4:23
As a young child, you were fully dependent on your parents. You depended on them for food, clothing, shelter, a bed to sleep in and eventually school supplies, transportation, etc. There was very little you could do without their support and provision. You probably didn’t doubt that there would be food on the table for you to eat or a bed to sleep in. You put immense trust in them and knew without a doubt that they would care for you and provide for everything you need.
Just as earthly parents provide for their children, so your Heavenly Father provides for you. Nothing is too hard or too big for God. Sometimes it takes having faith like a child to trust that God has your best interests in mind and that he will provide for everything you need. He cares about everything that concerns you and, in Paul’s words, “my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches” (Phil. 4:19).
Paul isn’t saying, however, that God will continue to bless you and meet your needs regardless of how you use his resources. In the preceding verses, Paul thanks the Philippians for meeting his needs and for supporting him financially. The Philippian church was not wealthy, but the believers had been faithful to God in providing for Paul’s needs. Paul follows his thanks to them by giving them the promise that because they had been faithful and devoted in their giving and service to God, God would in turn provide for all of their needs. God often uses others to meet our needs, and he blesses his children for being faithful.
Lastly, Paul says God will meet your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. God’s riches are greater than anything our minds can comprehend- greater than all the riches of this world. His riches are limitless and infinite. It’s from this wealth that our needs are met as we are obedient to Christ, so we can remain confident that God is able and will indeed meet every one of our needs, no matter how big or small.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Reflect: Read Philippians 4:10-4:23 and reflect on the following questions:
- How deep is your trust in God that he will meet all of your needs?
- Do you think our obedience to God or how we steward our resources affects how God provides for our needs?
- Do you think God meets the needs of believers differently than the needs of those who do not believe? Why or why not?
Remember: Weekly memory verses
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Phil 4:12-13, NIV)
Going further: Ask God to help you to be obedient to him in using the resources he’s blessed you with and to open your eyes to the needs around you. Pray that he would help you understand the depth and the extent of his love, provision, and care for you.
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