“And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, CSB)
Before we can enter this promise, we must slay the dragon of the prosperity gospel. We can do that with two verses. The first verse is one of those quickly quoted by the false prophets, “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13, CSB) The verse itself is true: the Lord does answer our prayers. The false prophets of prosperity abuse the verse by ignoring other parts of the Bible that temper its application.
The second verse to slay the dragon of the prosperity gospel is one of those tempering verses. “The little that the righteous person has is better than the abundance of many wicked people.” (Psalm 37:16, CSB) Or consider Paul’s advice, “I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:12–13, CSB) Wealth is not the purpose or destination of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In slaying the dragon, it may seem God doesn’t care about our needs. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus said, “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you—you of little faith? Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.” (Luke 12:27–30, CSB) God does know our needs.
Jesus gave us the key in the next verse of the passage from Luke. “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you.” (Luke 12:31, CSB) Seeking the Kingdom means following Christ in all things. “The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need.” (Psalm 23:1, CSB)
It isn’t easy, however, to seek the kingdom in want or in plenty. The wisdom of Proverbs provides a prayerful attitude. “Two things I ask of you; don’t deny them to me before I die: Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor wealth; feed me with the food I need. Otherwise, I might have too much and deny you, saying, “Who is the Lord?” or I might have nothing and steal, profaning the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:7–9, CSB)
I know that some of you reading this have what we in the Midwest call a hardscrabble life. The basic needs of life are an everyday concern. Jesus knows your needs. He also lived a hardscrabble life. When inviting someone to follow, Jesus told them, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”” (Luke 9:58, CSB) It’s not an enticing recruitment pitch. And yet, as we seek after the Kingdom of God, He will meet our needs according to His riches in glory. As the psalmist writes, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:25, CSB) God’s promises are true, and His mercies are new every morning.
Other verses for this promise (Compiled by David Wilkerson)
- Philippians 4:19
- Luke 11:9
- Luke 12:24
- 1 Peter 5:7
- Psalm 84:11
- Matthew 6:32
- John 16:24
- Luke 12:32
- Psalm 37:3
- Psalm 37:25
- Matthew 7:11
- Luke 12:31
- Psalm 37:16
- Luke 12:7
- Luke 12:28
- Luke 12:30
- Psalm 115:12
- Deuteronomy 29:9
- Psalm 1:3
- 1 Chronicles 22:13
- 2 Chronicles 26:5
- Mark 11:24
- John 14:13
- John 14:14
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