Trust in Divine Providence

My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
–Philippians 4:19

The apostle Paul was able to live above his circumstances because he trusted in divine providence. In Philippians 4:19, he told the Philippian Christians, “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Now, this wasn’t a blanket promise for every Christian everywhere at every time. This promise was directed specifically toward Christians who had given generously to God’s work.

Let’s be honest. Isn’t one of our greatest fears about giving to God’s work that if we give generously, we won’t have enough money left over to meet our own needs? Paul confronted this fear when he told the Philippians, “You have given generously to God, and God will give generously to you. My God shall supply all your needs.” Notice Paul didn’t say that God would fill all their greeds, but He would supply all their needs.

Notice how God supplies our needs. When we are faithful to give to Him, He will give to us “according to His riches in glory” (v. 19). Paul didn’t say God gives to us out of His riches; He gives to us according to His riches. That’s a big difference. Think of the Salvation Army volunteers ringing bells and collecting money in red kettles. Imagine that Bill Gates walks by and drops in a check for one hundred thousand dollars. Can you imagine the expression on the volunteer’s face when she pulls out that check? But as large as that gift is, Bill Gates still has a big pile of money left. In that case, Bill Gates gave out of his riches. Now, if instead Bill Gates had written a check for two billion dollars and placed it in that kettle, that would’ve been a gift according to his riches. When God chooses to supply your needs, He doesn’t just give a piddling amount and keep most of it for Himself. Instead, God blesses you proportionate to His riches in glory.

Paul was saying to the Philippians, “Just as God has been faithful to take care of my needs in whatever situation I’m in, you can depend on Him to be faithful to take care of your needs in whatever circumstances you face. And that’s how we can be content. Together, we trust in God’s providence.” Providence is God’s ability to see beforehand what happens to us. Nothing happens to you that takes God by surprise. God is in complete control of His whole creation, which means He is in control of your life and my life. Scripture says, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). We will never learn contentment until we trust in God’s sovereignty.

We will never be satisfied in life until we believe that every situation in life is part of the perfect plan of our loving God. That’s the secret to living above your circumstances and having joy in any situation: choose to trust in God’s providence and purpose for your life.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “When You Can’t Get No Satisfaction” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2007.

Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.