Imagine a child turning to their dad and saying, “Dad? Can I have an allowance paid to me according to "your" wealth, not out of it?” Well, if your heart didn't just skip a beat imagining that conversation, then you're not a parent—or you're the wealthiest parent on the planet, with an allowance structure that works differently from the rest of us.
This cheeky twist on the familiar request can actually serve as a fun way to explore Philippians 4:19, where Paul tells the Philippians that "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Now, this is where we usually focus on the "out of" part—“God will supply our needs out of His wealth.” But what if we flipped that a little, like the child’s request? “According to His wealth”—not just a portion of it, but the full measure of His abundance. This verse doesn't just offer a small dose of divine generosity; it promises "the full inheritance", like getting allowance from a dad who’s got an unlimited supply of treasure!
Imagine that for a second: you don’t have to scrape by with the crumbs; you get the royal treatment, a wealth that stretches from eternity to eternity. The Father isn’t handing you just a little from His pockets, but opening up the vaults of heaven. Who wouldn't want their allowance paid according to that kind of wealth?
It’s like when your child comes to you for an allowance and you think, “Well, I’ve got enough to cover the basics… but imagine if I actually could give you everything you asked for, every time?” In this case, God can do that, and that’s the essence of Philippians 4:19. He doesn’t run out, and His wealth is far more than a little weekly stipend.
Next time you look at your bank account and feel a little discouraged, just remember that you’re not living on what you can see in the physical. You have access to something far greater. So, rather than saying “Lord, can I have enough to get by?” say, “Lord, can I have what’s according to Your wealth?” It might just change your perspective—because if we’re talking about His riches in glory, things are about to get really interesting!
