The saying "You can never outgive God" may be doubted by overanxious or tightfisted people. But Paul's letter to the Philippian believers fully supports this saying. Having just received their generous gifts to meet his needs in prison, he assured them that because of their generosity God wouldn't allow them to suffer undue need. He told them, "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19). God's people have relied on the truth of those words ever since.

To help us place our trust more confidently in this promise of God, someone has put Philippians 4:19 in terms we can all understand:

"My God [the bank] shall supply [the check] all your need [the amount] according to His riches in glory [the capital] by Christ Jesus [the signature]."

As with any valid check that we have received, we need only endorse God's check through our "signature of faith" and it will be paid in full. As long as we're willing to be content with much or little, as Paul was (v.12), we can dare to be generous people. Only then will we discover for ourselves that we can never outgive our rich and generous God.  — Joanie Yoder