"The Greatest Promise" (Part 4)

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:13-19 NLT).

Today I want to emphasize the third characteristic of this greatest promise: it is a plentiful promise. Our focal verse today is “from his glorious riches which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” It is out of this inexhaustible treasure of God’s love and power that God supplies our need.

Suppose for a moment that I was walking the streets of one of our nation’s busy cities with a very wealthy man, a billionaire. Suppose a beggar approached us and asked for a dollar to buy some food. It so happens I only have a dollar and I give him everything I have. The billionaire also gives him a dollar, but it is not all he has; it is “out of his resources.” Mine is “according to my resources.” When we have a need, the Lord brings all of heaven to meet that need. His riches are never exhausted. They are fathomless!

There is another important truth here. Notice that these riches are “in Christ Jesus.” This is Paul’s way of reminding his readers that they do not need to search far for the treasure chest of God’s provision. It is as near as Christ. He is the living presence to meet our every need. This is the truth that takes the cannot out of life and replaces it with the can! All we must do to receive these provisions is to reach out to Christ Jesus. In Him we find more than enough to guarantee our victory over every trial and supply our every need to the fullest.

There is one last word for you to note. The Apostle Paul uses the past tense to describe God’s provision in Christ. They HAVE been given already! Lay-away purchases are becoming more popular these days. You know the concept. You want to purchase an item, but don’t have the cash to pay for it now, so you begin to make payments. As soon as it is paid for, you can claim it and take it home from the sore. It is reserved for you, but you cannot have it until it is paid for. Well, God doesn’t have a lay-away plan for His blessing! Everything we could ever need is already paid in full by the work of Christ. All that remains is for us to pick it up and take it home! It is the greatest of promises!