Great Promises of the Bible - Philippians 4:19
Great Promises of the Bible:
Philippians 4:19
Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee
Spiritual Life Officer
USA Southern Territory
Paul was thoroughly convinced that he would never taste freedom again. He waited in prison for his trial before Nero, the insanely evil Caesar who relished torturing
Christians and watching them die. But if the prospect of a painful and grueling death bothered him, it is not at all apparent in his little letter to the Philippian believers. Throughout the epistle he speaks of joy, even at dying! Nor did he allow his bleak prospects hinder him from being grateful to this little community of believers who remembered him in his lonely isolation.
The Philippians were like most of the first generation Christians in the first century. They tended to be from the lower strata of society, either desperately poor or slaves. Following Christ often resulted in their precarious financial condition worsening. Because Christians would not participate in pagan feasts nor offer sacrifices to false gods, the all powerful trade guilds blocked them from membership or expelled them if they already belonged. Without trade guild certification, shops were boycotted, goods not bought.
The Gift
Despite their debilitating poverty and the increasing danger they faced from a hostile government, the Philippians unselfishly took up a collection to provide for Paul’s needs in prison. Paul was extremely grateful for their thoughtfulness but it placed him in a very awkward position. The rules of friendship in the Roman and even Jewish world at this time demanded that when a gift was given, one of equal or greater value was expected in return. Paul was obviously in no position to provide even a token gift. While the Philippians were well acquainted with the apostle’s circumstances and knew full well he could not return a gift to them, this cultural expectation weighed heavily on Paul. How he handled it not only surprised but pleased the Philippians: Paul called on God to return their favor.
He wrote, “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). Imagine that! Rather than a gift scraped together by a forlorn prisoner, the Philippians received a blessing that draws on the infinite resources of God Himself! This was more than the custom anticipated, more than a mere human could pay back.
Misapplication
While this sounds fantastic, this is one of those verses that has suffered from misapplication with people treating it as a blank check to draw on Heaven’s bank accounts. It’s not that this promise applied only to the Philippians and not to believers today. But it is not to be taken as an all-inclusive statement to be quoted and dispensed under the title “God’s big giveaway.”
The Philippians heard this promise following their own sacrificial gift. They gave unselfishly from their poverty with no expectation of any return. And this points to a fundamental difference in viewpoint from the New Testament days to the present in regard to giving. The Bible is clear that all God’s people were to contribute – no exceptions were made regardless of an individual’s financial condition. The Bible, after all, was written by poor people for poor people living for the most part in a poor country. Why was that? Because God pours out His blessing on those who honor Him. When we excuse a poor person from not giving, we are denying them the blessing that God intends for them to have. It sounds spiritual to pray, “Bless those who give and the one who cannot give at all.” The Bible makes no such allowance. The poorest, the widow and her mites if you will, are to share from their poverty.
Only the Best
Nor is this to be a token gift. The tithe was established as the standard but it was supplemented by numerous other giving opportunities. In the agrarian culture of the day, God demanded the first fruits. This was not only the first of the harvest to come in but the very best. They were not to bring in bruised fruit, mangled grain, or defective animals. The best. Only the best. In modern terms it would mean that when we receive our pay or pension check, God’s offering should be set aside before bills are paid, outings planned, the latest gadgets in our hands. To look at most offering plates, it appears that God is relegated to getting the crumbs left over rather than the best.
It is also important to note that needs were to be supplied – not wants. We recall the children in our lives who each Christmas or birthday have a long list of what they want. Seldom does a child ask for socks and underwear. Instead it is something that beeps, glows, shoots or can be dressed. But far too many never outgrow that same approach in their requests to God. Prayers are wasted for a parking place close to the door, a winning lottery ticket, a sports team to prevail. The wants of the moment eclipse the real needs. People may get what they want when praying for these things, but it is more coincidence than God’s intervention on their behalf.
God will Supply the Needs
It was when the Philippians offered their best at the point of personal sacrifice that Paul was able to respond that God would supply all their needs. Look at a homeless person as an example of how little a person really needs to survive. Go visit someone in the nursing home whose frail body makes every movement painful to discover how little is needed to have a spirit that rejoices in the Lord. After that, take a look at your petitions to God and ask yourself, “Is this what I really need?”
If you have unselfishly given to the Lord without concern for the bauble you can’t buy, you are ready to appropriate this promise. It doesn’t mean people will knock at your door with oversized checks. It does mean that with your heart in the right place, God will greet you with His wonderful provision. And it will be just what you need.
Our Worldwide Prayer Meeting
Pakistan Territory
Reaching Out to Others
There will be a challenge this week for you to give something to someone that might be sacrificial on your part. While you should not be foolish, seek the Lord and if He urges you to trust Him, share as He directs. Trust Him as He allows you to bless someone else and then trust Him to in turn bless you.
Notable Quotables
"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Paul in Acts 20:35.
"He Giveth More Grace" Yes, God always gives far more than we can ever give to Him. Listen to this Living Stones Quartet share this old favorite.
We would appreciate any feedback and/or suggestions on how to improve these devotionals. Please email comments to: [email protected] or by going to our website: https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/uss/spiritual-life-development.
We would love to hear from you.
Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee
Territorial Spiritual Life Development Officer/THQ Chaplain
USA Southern Territory