God's Fire Hose of Grace

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Too many times my prayers sound like Oliver Twist begging for more gruel. “Please, sir. I want some more.” I’m willing to ask God but for some stupid reason I picture Him as a stingy Mr. Bumble from Charles Dickens’ classic novel. Where did I get this horrible picture of my amazingly generous Heavenly Dad?!? He’s a far cry from some heavenly tightwad who only dolls out room temperature porridge by the thimbleful. 

Here in the closing verses of his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul paints a picture of God’s overwhelming grace to His kids. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (v19). This isn’t some kind of twisted fundraising letter from some prosperity gospel televangelist promising you a six-figure salary if you just send him a check for his new private jet. Far from it. This is a letter from a prisoner in Rome (Phil 1:7, 13) to one of the most broke congregations around (2Cor 8:1-2). 

Now read this verse one more time. God won’t just give you a little bit here and there. He’ll “supply EVERY need” (v19 emphasis added). And He’s not looking at a limited budget during financial crisis. He’ll make it happen “according to His RICHES in glory” (v19 emphasis added). It’s just another stunning example of one of the Bible’s mega-themes. Paul desperately wants us to know and experience God’s mind-blowing generosity. When we rely on God, buckle up. He’ll blow us away with His fire hose of grace.

Every. Single. Time.

The man from Tarsus starts off this jaw-dropping idea by pointing back to his intimate and personal relationship with Almighty God. The one behind all this is “my God” (v19). He doesn’t just know a guy. He’s got the Creator of the universe on speed dial. When he writes to his various recipients, Paul always thanks “my God” for his friends and for how the Lord is  working in and through them (Rom 1:8; 1Cor 1:4; Phil 1:3, Phm 4). He’s already made it clear that pursuing anything other than a deeper relationship with Jesus is total waste of time (Phil 3:7-11). For the apostle, He’s “my God” (v19). Are you able to make the same claim? Is Christ your God too? 

Paul’s God is the ultimate source who “will supply every need of yours” (v19). When he talks about this supernatural provision, he’s NOT talking about God dolling out a few bread crumbs or making minimum payments. When we see “supply” in the ESV, the apostle uses the Greek verb plero’o. It means to fill up completely, cause something to become full, and provide the complete amount. We’re talking fill to the top. Supply liberally. Gorge. Stuff. Fill full. To the brim. Overflowing. God is ready and waiting to provide an endless supply. He loves it when His kids belly up to His divine all-you-can-eat buffet.

We’ve just read the very same word in the previous verse. Paul tells his friends back in Philippi “I am well supplied (Gr. plero’o) having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent” (Phil 4:18). Back in the opening moments of this letter, Paul prays that his friends in Philippi will be absolutely “filled (Gr. plero’o) with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:11). He also encourages them to fill his joy to the rim by being united in the Gospel (Phil 2:2). Check out a few other appearances of this fill-it-to-the-brim-and-overflowing verb. Jesus says God’s kingdom is like a net so full of fish it’s about to break (Mt 13:48). When our Savior first pours out His Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the jet engine roar completely filled every corner of the house (Acts 2:2). Sometimes when you go to a wine or beer tasting the amount in your glass barely gets your tongue wet. When God does the pouring, He doesn’t hold anything back. Talk about a generous pour!

One reason for God’s lavishness is His unlimited goodness. He’s able to do this “according to His riches in glory in Jesus Christ” (v18). You see, it’s not up to Paul. And it’s not up to the Philippians. It’s not based on what’s in their checking account or their 401k. The source of this over-the-top supply is God’s glorious riches. If you’ve not been paying attention, let’s take a quick look at His divine portfolio. He owns the universe. Take a look around. If you see it, it’s His. Cattle on a thousand hills, check (Ps 50:10). As a matter of fact, He owns the hill the herd is standing on (Lev 25:23). He also holds the minerals rights to His creation (Hag 2:8). Just in case you something might slip through the divine cracks, King David wrote a hit song about God’s total ownership (Ps 24:1). And if you’re a follower of Jesus, He paid a high price for you too (1Cor 6:19-20). So it’s not like He’s running out of grace. Jesus isn’t worried about having too much month left at the end of His money. There’s no budget crisis when it comes to Christ. And He’s ready to share. He wants to make His endless resources available to you and me.

This verse is STRONGLY related to Paul’s earlier statement about how he’s learned the secret of surviving and thriving in any and all situations (Phil 4:11-12). By finding his satisfaction in his Savior, the apostle is like an ATV of contentment. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). He desperately wants the folks back in Philippi to realize the very same truth. Our incredibly gracious and liberally generous God will absolutely blow our socks off when we find our contentment in Christ.

Maybe you’ve still got your doubts about God’s totally reckless generosity. I get it. I’ve been there. But just check out what His Word has to say. The whole deal starts with one of the most over-the-top acts of grace in history. Creation (Gen 1-2). The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are completely and totally satisfied relationally in the Trinity. God certainly didn’t create the universe and humanity in His image because He was bored and lonely. He did it out of His amazing grace.

His radical goodness starts on the opening pages of Scripture and rolls like a tsunami of generosity. David sings, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want…My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Ps 23:1, 5-6). Later the same king cranks up another rock anthem about the party at God’s house. “They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights” (Ps 36:8).

God’s one-way love we call grace keeps flowing into the New Testament with the gift of His Son on our behalf (Jn 3:16). Jesus told His followers that if you really want to see His Dad get crazy with His goodness, start being generous yourself. “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put in your lap” (Lk 6:38). Our Savior didn’t come to put us on a tight budget of limited resources. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10).

This is all part of God’s incredibly promiscuous plan to save you and me. Almighty God doesn’t use threats to soften our rebel hearts. It’s His incredible kindness that leads you and me to repentance (Rom 2:4). Once our Heavenly Dad entices us back into relationship with Him through His Son, He doesn’t suddenly cut us off. “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Rom 8:32). And His grace just keeps on coming. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2Cor 9:8). At one point, Paul seems to give up trying to write about God’s overwhelming grace because he can’t wrap his feeble brain around it. “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the work within us” (Eph 3:20). 

Paul wants us to know God is anything but Mr. Bumble. He’s NOT greedy. He’s NOT stingy. As a matter of fact, He’s anything but!! You see, when we rely on God, buckle up. He’ll blow us away with His fire hose of grace.

Every. Single. Time.