What Does The Bible Say About Giving?
At its core, the Bible teaches us that giving is an important part of serving God and serving others. Giving is a way we can show our love and appreciation to others, as well as a way to demonstrate our trust in God. The Bible offers many examples of giving, both financially and materially. The Bible speaks to the importance of giving in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, and encourages those who have resources to use them for the benefit of others.
Giving to the Poor
One of the most frequently discussed Biblical topics regarding giving is to the poor. This is partly because, ultimately, helping those in need is one of the most powerful acts of love. The Bible speaks about being generous to the less fortunate with numerous scriptures such as; Proverbs 19:17 says “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.”, Deuteronomy 15:7-8 states “If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.”, and Leviticus 25:35-36 calls out “If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself among you, help him as you would a foreigner or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you.”
While it seems that giving to the poor is mostly a moral obligation of the faithful, there are many practical benefits as well. In fact, the Bible clearly implies there can be a financial reward for acts of generosity. Beyond this, Christians understand there is the potential for spiritual rewards for giving, as mentioned in the passage from Proverbs 19.
Tithing
Perhaps one of the most recognizable acts of giving in the Bible is tithing. Tithing is when a person takes 10% or more of their income and gives it to a church, or other charitable organization. This practice is so heavily entrenched in Christian life that it is has become a defining characteristic of religious faith in some circles. The origins of tithing can be found in the Old Testament, with numerous scriptures mandating 10% of one’s income to be given to the Lord.
Examples of tithing in the Bible include Proverbs 3:9-10 which states “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”, Leviticus 27:30 declaring “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.”, and the Hebrew of Malachi 3:10 calling out “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”.
Giving to Others
Another area where giving is discussed in the Bible is when it comes to giving to family, friends, and other individuals. The Bible recognizes that, aside from the moral imperative of helping our fellow man, there can be important financial benefits for givers and receivers. For example, Proverbs 11:24-25 states “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” This passage stands to remind us that oftentimes, when you give to another, you will receive in return.
The Bible directs us to give freely and freely give cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7). By giving cheerfully, we are reminded that giving doesn’t have to be a chore, but can be a joyful experience, especially when we see the blessings return. Notably, the Bible also cautions us to be cautious of giving recklessly and without forethought, and to ensure our giving is taking place within the boundaries of wise financial stewardship.
Inspiration from Jesus
Many of the most uplifting Biblical passages about giving come from Jesus and the teachings attributed to him. Some sayings of Jesus about giving include; “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38) , “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) , and “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35).
Jesus himself, was an example of selflessness when it came to giving, as he gave his life for all of us and asked us to love God and love others. These teachings all serve to remind us of the power of generosity, and how it can be a wonderful blessing for both parties.
Honoring our Blessings
In addition to the moral and financial implications of giving, there is also a spiritual component to understand. The Bible teaches us that by seeing God as the author of all blessings, rather than as a divine ATM, we can honor what we are given. In other words, by recognizing that all blessings come from God, we can better appreciate His grace and providence.
In this way, our giving is not just a recognition of financial resources, but also a practice of spiritual gratitude. We demonstrate our faith in God’s provision and trust that He will continue to be generous in our giving. As we incorporate the giving of our resources as a part of our faith journey, we can increase our faith in the Lord and our understanding of His ways.
The Spiritual Reinforcement of Giving
Not only does the Bible share practical examples of giving, it also gives us a number of spiritual reinforcements for our motives. Examples of this include Scripture like Galatians 6:7-10 which says; “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
This passage serves to remind us that God will ultimately reward us for acts of love and generosity, even though the rewards may not be immediately apparent. Thus, even though giving may be hard, we can be encouraged to keep going by trusting in God’s ultimate reward. In addition to this, the Bible encourages us to “give and it shall be given unto you.” (Luke 6:38) This statement serves as one of the most powerful statements on giving in the Bible and reminds us that our giving is an important practice to cultivate as it returns blessings from God.
Responding to Need and Acting out of Faith
The Bible encourages us to give of our time, talents, and resources to serve those around us. Whether through tithing, helping the poor, or simply supporting others in need, the Bible encourages us to show our love through the power of giving. To this end, we are called to respond to need and to give in faith, knowing that our giving can bring about spiritual and emotional benefits, as well as tangible circumstances – all by the grace of God.
All in all, the Bible paints a powerful framework for giving, one that helps us understand our obligations, both moral and spiritual, to give to others. We can look to scripture and the example of Jesus to find motivation to be generous and to use our resources to share hope and love with others.
Relying on Faith and Prayer to Guide Giving
At the end of the day, giving should be grounded in a relationship with God, and must be done with faith. Consequently, we are called to seek wisdom from the Lord in regards to our giving and to pray for guidance as we make decisions about what, where and when to give.
In other words, we should not just give with our pocketbooks, but we should also use our hearts and minds, to be thoughtful and prayerful in our giving efforts. We can use prayer to give us clarity on how best to honor God with our resources and how to serve others through our giving. Ultimately, prayer can also help us become more giving and can help us to trust more deeply in God’s providence.
The Ministry of Giving
In addition to our individual giving, the Bible speaks to the importance of congregational giving as well. In the New Testament, the concept of stewardship is used to describe the collective offering of the church and is a model of giving embraced by many Christian denominations today. In his writings, Paul offers us a glimpse into the ministry of giving and encourages us to live as living sacrifices, offering up all that we have, including our time, talent, and resources.
Ultimately, the Bible teaches us that giving is an important part of our faith. It not only teaches us the moral obligation of generosity, but also reminds us that giving can and should be an act of faith and trust, both in terms of our financial resources and in terms of submitting to the will of God. We can use the Bible to guide any giving decision, to strengthen our relationship with God, and to encourage our giving practices.
Examining our Hearts and Giving with Grace
Finally, it is important to remember that it is not just the act of giving that is important, but it is the attitude of the heart that matters most. The Bible encourages us to examine our hearts to make sure our motives are pure, and to give out of grace and love rather than out of obligation. When we are able to give with a generous and humble heart, we can truly experience the blessing of our giving.
The Bible offers numerous examples of giving and reminds us that generosity is an important part of our faith journey. We can use scripture and the teachings of Jesus to guide our giving and to ensure our motives are pure. Ultimately, by understanding the Bible’s teachings on giving, we can begin to see giving as a way to serve God, honor our blessings, and demonstrate our love and appreciation for others.
