The Riches of His Glory

Philippians 4:19 And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (NRSV)

In a world that’s becoming increasingly affluent, it’s getting harder and harder for us to draw a line between our wants and our needs. All too often, especially when we’re praying, we get the two confused.

Where I live, most people consider a hot shower to be a fundamental human right. How could you possibly start the day without it?

That was certainly my view until I first encountered true poverty in a village called Halia in India. And again, in a leper colony in Tanzania as I placed cakes of soap into the deformed hands of men who’d lost fingers and toes.

Those things tend to sharpen your discernment between needs and wants. But in the absence of that sort of clarity, I wonder if all too often we go to God imploring Him to meet basic needs (or so we think) when in truth, we’re talking about our wants.

The Apostle Paul had sharp clarity in differentiating between his needs and wants in writing these words from his cell on death:

Philippians 4:19 And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (NRSV)

God is very much in the business of meeting the needs of His people. Remember, Paul was in chains. He was ultimately executed. He’s now in God’s Presence for all eternity.

We can find ourselves in our very own dungeon on occasion, and in that place our God will satisfy fully our every need. Not in a stingy way, but according to His riches in glory in Christ. That’s who He is. But let’s not for a moment confuse our needs with our wants.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.