Sure Supplies
S. Martin. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. I. GOD IS RICH — gloriously rich. 1. In life. He is the living God. 2. In the power of imparting life — a fountain that can never be exhausted. 3. In strength. "Is anything too hard for the Lord." 4. In knowledge and wisdom. "Oh, the depth," etc. 5. In mercy. "He spared not His own Son." 6. In all that constitutes goodness. 7. The earth is full of His riches — there is not a poor province in creation. 8. He is rich in possession, for "all things were created by Him and for Him." 9. Rich without obligation to another, for "of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things." 10. This gloriously rich God is our Father, and to His boundless wealth His firstborn had free access.But they became prodigal, and all their younger children have trodden in their steps, and now we have not free access to the whole of our Father's wealth. We now inherit God's glorious riches by Christ Jesus, and become heirs of God by becoming joint heirs with Him. II. THE CHRISTIAN'S SUPPLIES ARE SURE. This is secured — 1. By the source — God. (1) The ordinary sources of supply to us are ever changing and multiplying as we advance. The first we recognize is that which we denominate "my mother"; then "my father"; then "my teachers"; then "my books and companions"; then "my trade or profession"; then "my husband, wife, friends, country, Church."(2) But these are only subordinate sources of supply — cisterns which cannot long hold water. My mother and father — their days are as grass; my friends — how many are worthy of the name; my daily calling — if it yield bread enough is a weariness; the happy wife may become a widow; upon your country you may have to turn your back; the Church may be a wilderness to you. With everything you now term "my" you may be disappointed and disgusted. (3) But Paul is positive that this source shall never fail, because it cannot. 2. By the channel — Christ Jesus. (1) When our supplies fail the channel is sometimes at fault and not the source. The supply of fuel in midwinter sometimes fails, not because the coal fields are exhausted, but because the snow blocks the railways. The supply of water or gas may be insufficient, not because the reservoirs are low, but because the pipes are broken. A good scheme perishes through bad agents; and though sure of the source if we be doubtful of the channel we can never speak confidently of the supply. (2) But in this case we are as sure of the channel as we are of the source. "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever." 3. By the scale of distribution. "According to His glorious riches."(1) Human supplies are not always according to means. The rich husband will sometimes supply his wife so sparingly that the wife of the working man is less straitened. Not according to their wealth do some parents educate their children, but according to their niggardliness. Wealthy masters remunerate their servants according to their own selfish hearts. Offerings cast into God's treasury are often only "according to necessity." But when we find men supplying the need of others according to their resources we are sure that they are kind and liberal, and are sure to supply the need of all that are dependent upon them. (2) Now God gives "according to His glorious riches." Not as the poor give, in the abundance of their poverty; not as the rich, when they give grudgingly; not according to our low views, restrained prayer, or feeble faith; not according to any liberality we see in each other. If the gloriously rich God give according to His wealth we may say with confidence, "My God shall supply," etc. III. THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IS ESSENTIAL TO CONFIDENCE IN HIM. There are few things in which we are oftener disappointed than the resources of our supplies. This is especially the case with men who look for patrons to carry them forward. The power to help is overestimated: disappointment comes and confidence is wrecked. Now this man knew God, and that knowledge was the basis of his trust. He had looked to God for the supply of his need of wisdom, guidance, protection, strength, etc., and God had supplied it. With this personal experience of the riches of the Divine liberality, he says, "My God shall supply all your need." (S. Martin.) Parallel Verses KJV: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. WEB: My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.