Thanksgiving

Verse: Phillipians 4:19
Context: Phillipians 4:10-20

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus."

The Phillipians had consistently given to support Paul's mission to Gentiles. Paul recalls their generosity at a couple earlier times, when he first left Macedonia and when he was in Thessalonica. Paul thanks them for their continued support in his letter and equates their giving to missions with the sacrificial offerings required by the Old Testament law. His thanks ends with a promise that God will provide for the needs of the believers at Phillipi.

In the context of this letter, the believers are given a promise that their faithful giving will not leave them high and dry. God has ample supply and will meet all their needs.

In 21st century America our culture tells that we 'need' a lot of things - freedom to live self directed life, sexual satisfaction, new clothes or shoes to match the latest style, the latest phone and apps, etc. If we really look at our lives, most of us would realize that our needs, and many wants, are being met, yet we can still be frustrated or unsatisfied because we have confused wants with needs.

Paul speaks earlier in these verses about being content whatever the circumstances. As I think about how this applies to my own life, I realize that being thankful to God is a first step towards trusting him more. Being thankful helps us remember what God has provided. Then we can trust that he will continue to provide in the future - a great message for Thanksgiving 2011!