We all have memories from our childhood that rises to the surface of our minds from time to time. I have many such memories. One memory in particular serves as a reminder of how God provides exactly what I need in the moment I need it. When I was a very young boy around 6 years old, my dad was serving as pastor of his first church. It was in a rural area known as Owens Cross Roads Alabama. We lived on an old dirt road in a single wide trailer surrounded by a hog farm. We did not have much money and my parents did the best they could to make ends meet. One particular Sunday as we were leaving church I overheard the worrisome conversation of my parents that we had nothing to eat for lunch. There was no food in the cabinets and no money to go and buy anything. This, of course, concerned my young 6-year old self. As we turned down that old dirt road I became increasingly concerned that there would be no lunch when we got home. We turned into the drive, got out of the car and as we headed to the porch we noticed something stuck in the door. To the surprise of our family there was a wad of cash in the door. No note, just cash. Enough cash to go to the local Burger King and have a wonderful meal. God heard the prayers of my parents. He knew what we needed and He provided. I am sure many of you can share similar stories of how God provided in the smallest and simplest of ways.
The apostle Paul is in prison in Rome. He was in need of support. God used the Philippian church to provide exactly what he needed at just the right time. In the conclusion of Paul’s letter to the Philippians we learn five principles concerning the joy of provision.
Thankful for provision. In verse 10 Paul states that he rejoiced in the Lord for the care that came from the Philippian church which obviously lifted Paul’s spirits. He recognized that the church wanted to send a gift sooner but was unable to do so. The Bible Knowledge Commentary says, “They had not forgotten him; through them God had met his needs. Even before they sent Epaphroditus they were concerned but had no opportunity to show it.”[1] Paul was indeed thankful for the provision that God brought through the church at Philippi. Too often we take for granted what we have been given. We neglect to recognize even the small things in life are gifts from God. Everything we own, everything we possess, comes directly from the loving hand of God. When is the last time you stopped and thanked God for your house, your car, your clothes, and other possessions? When is the last time you stopped and thanked God for the gift of family, friends, health, etc.? God provides for us in ways that we often don’t recognize. Be thankful for His provision.
Content with God’s provision. In verses 11-12 Paul says that he has learned to be content. He explains how he has experienced various levels of life situations. He has been poor and he has been rich. He has been in good health and he has been in bad health. He knew what it was like to have a lot and he knows what it is like to have nothing. Yet, in whatever state he was in, he was content. The Pulpit Commentary says, “St. Paul had experience both of sorrow and of joy, both of distress and of comfort; he knew how to bear himself in both, because his chiefest joy was “in the Lord.” This abiding joy raised him above the vicissitudes of this mortal state, and gave him an αὐτάρκεια, a Christian independence, which enabled him to act becomingly both in adversity and in prosperity.”[2] There have been times in my life when I’ve had very little. My wife grew up in a poorer home than I. She grew up all the way until we were married in a very poor environment. She has never had much. For me, I grew up with little but always enough. I have been blessed. One thing that has always impressed me with my wife’s family is their contentment. They have nothing. Yet, they are some of the happiest people and some of the most giving people you will ever meet. I will never forget a time many years ago when I served as pastor of Spruce Head Community Church in Maine. My wife’s grandmother and parents attended that church. One Christmas the church decided to help a family in need. It happened to be my wife’s nieces and nephews. We did not want to announce the name of the family, we just simply said we knew of a family that could not afford to purchase presents for their children and we asked for donations. One day, our church treasurer came to me in tears. I asked her what was wrong. She said the church received a check from my wife’s grandmother for the project. We both knew she did not have the money and was probably going without a meal or sacrificing Christmas for her own family in order to help the family in need. We received the check to not rob her of a blessing and then made sure both her and her entire family had the best Christmas ever! Talk about contentment. She was content with her own state and willingly sacrificed what little she had to help another family not knowing the family we were helping was her own. Paul said he was always content whether he had a lot or a little. What about you? Are you content with God’s provision?
Strength in God’s provision. Verse 13 is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Paul declares that God gives him exactly what he needs in the very moment he needs it. J. Vernon McGee writes: “Whatever Christ has for you to do, He will supply the power. Whatever gift He gives you, He will give the power to exercise that gift. A gift is a manifestation of the Spirit of God in the life of the believer. As long as you function in Christ, you will have power. He certainly does not mean that he is putting into your hand unlimited power to do anything you want to do. Rather, He will give you the enablement to do all things in the context of His will for you.”[3] If God calls you to do something, you be can be assured that He will enable you to do it. The provision of His strength is continual and is available at all times. “Nor is it by strength once communicated, that we are strong; but from continual communications of grace from the same overflowing fountain. It is not through Christ who hath strengthened, but who doth strengthen us, that we can do all things. We need fresh life from him, in order to the production of good fruit; exactly as we need fresh light from the sun, in order to a prosecution of the common offices of life. One moment’s intermission of either, would instantly produce a suspension of all effective industry.”[4] There is no way I can stand in the pulpit every Sunday in my own strength. Let me tell you a secret about this preacher. I am naturally a quiet and reserved person. There are close friends and family that I am more open with but overall I am not one to naturally engage in one on one conversations and relationships. I like to keep to myself and my small inner circle relationships. I do not have a natural out-going personality. So, when I stand in the pulpit to preach, it is not my natural self, it is the Spirit of God overtaking me. By His strength I can preach up a storm and then as if a light is switched I crawl back into my shell. There are things that are expected of me as a pastor that is outside my comfort zone and personality. Yet, God always makes me who I need to be in the moment. He gives me strength. I am thankful God made me the way I am. For it keeps me humble. Trust me, what I do does not come from me, it is the power of God. It is Christ who strengthens me! He can do the same for you. One thing I have learned, is to never say never. I never thought I could visit people in a hospital because of my fear of needles and doctors, but I do just about every week. I never thought I could fly in a plane and go to a foreign country on mission trip, but I have. I never thought I could lead a youth ministry and see it grow, but I have. I never thought I could baptize anyone, but my first baptism was for over 20 people! I never thought I could stand in a pulpit and preach. I wanted to be a radio guy hiding in a small studio where no one can see. But God had other plans! I never thought I could be smart enough to finish a Master’s Degree in Theology, but I did. I never thought I could help start a new ministry to reach teenagers across and entire state, but I did. I never thought I could organize, develop, and lead a new local chapter of a great international ministry reaching thousands of children for Jesus, but I have. I certainly never dreamed I would ever be the pastor of large church with multiple staff and the potential of exponential growth, but here I am. God took this scrawny basketball playing pimpled faced introverted teenager who had no desire to be a pastor and just wanted to be a small town radio DJ and called him to the ministry and here I am! Don’t tell me that God can’t use you! Don’t tell me that you are not good enough or strong enough! God can use anyone who is willing and obedient. With God, nothing shall be impossible. YOU can DO ALL things through CHRIST who STRENGTHENS YOU!
Understanding of God’s provision. In verses 14-19 Paul states that the church of Philippi is his biggest supporters. They supported Paul from the very beginning when the church was first formed and they share in his affliction. Jamieson and Brown says, “That is, ye made yourselves sharers with me in my present affliction, namely, by sympathy; of which sympathy your contribution is the proof.”[5] When it comes to understanding God’s provision there are three things we can learn. First, as the church, we share in each other’s afflictions. We are family. Therefore, as Paul states in another place, “When one member suffers, we all suffer.” We feel the pain that our brothers and sisters endure. We have sympathy toward them. As a parent feels the pain of a sick or injured child, so we feel the pain of those in the household of God. Every time my children hurt, I hurt. A few years ago, my son was injured in a football game. It was pouring rain and he was playing a great game. Halfway through the game he was part of a gang tackle and his leg shifted in an awkward direction causing a serious knee injury. He lay on the wet field hollering out in pain that echoed across a silenced stadium. I wanted to make my way on the field, but as I watched the trainers surround him I began to feel light headed and was close to passing out. So, I had to wait until I got control of my own self before I could check on my son. It was rather comical after the fact. However, I shared in his pain. I could not bear to see my child in such pain and the pain he felt shot through me. As a church, we share in each other’s pain. We bear each other’s burdens. It is the church’s responsibility to care for one another. Therefore, we need to allow for that. There is nothing wrong with accepting gifts and assistance from those you go to church with. When we refuse assistance from the church, we are robbing our brothers and sisters from the joy that comes from giving. Sharing burdens is part of what being a church is all about. Secondly, God blesses us through His people. God uses His people to care for our needs. God used the Philippian church to meet Paul’s needs. Benevolent ministries in the church are some of the most vital ministries of the church. We should embrace this responsibility with joy understanding that God provides through His church. Thirdly, God blesses according to our investment. In verse 19 Paul says that however his needs are met, it is God who supplies all his needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. The Holman New Testament Commentary says, “As they met all of Paul’s needs (v. 16), so God will meet all their needs. God does this out of the abundance of his treasury, a glorious resource without limits. How does one draw from these unlimited resources? Through Christ Jesus. Only those in him have access to God’s account and can ask him to meet their needs.”[6] God’s treasury is without limits, but those treasures are available only to those who know Christ personally and are living in obedience to Him. As believers, we cannot expect God to supply if we do not invest in His kingdom. If we are living in sin and rebellion and we do not live a life of service, we cannot expect anything from the Lord other than our salvation. The blessings we gain (whether material or spiritual) are proportionate to our level of faithfulness.
Praise for God’s Provision. In verse 20, Paul gives all praise and glory to God the Father. How and what He provides, we should always praise Him. We must understand that all we have comes from our Heavenly Father. We should praise Him continually for His provision.
Oh the joy in knowing we have a God who loves and cares for us. There is no need to worry and no need to fear, for God is our provider. There is great joy in the provision of the Lord.
[1] Lightner, R. P. (1985). Philippians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 664). Victor Books.
[2] Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. (1909). Philippians (p. 158). Funk & Wagnalls Company.
[3] Anders, M. (1999). Galatians-Colossians (Vol. 8, p. 264). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Simeon, C. (1833). Horae Homileticae: Philippians to 1 Timothy (Vol. 18, p. 144). Holdsworth and Ball.
[5] Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 369). Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[6] Anders, M. (1999). Galatians-Colossians (Vol. 8, p. 265). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Pastor Chris Noland 