Giving is a core principle in the Bible that God calls all believers to participate in. Scripture has a lot to say about the importance of giving, the motivations behind giving, the rewards of giving, and how we should give. Here is a comprehensive overview of what the Bible teaches about giving.
Giving Is an Act of Worship
The Bible makes it clear that everything we have ultimately belongs to and comes from God. Since God owns everything, we are simply stewards of the resources He has entrusted to us during our lifetimes (Psalm 24:1, Haggai 2:8). Therefore, when we give cheerfully and generously to God’s work and to help others, we are worshipping Him with our possessions and declaring His lordship over our lives.
“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce” (Proverbs 3:9). “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Our giving should flow freely from a heart of gratitude and worship towards our gracious Provider.
Giving Reflects God’s Character
As children of God created in His image, we are called to reflect His generous nature with our giving. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Since God gave us the greatest gift possible through the sacrificial death of His Son Jesus Christ, we are to follow His example by freely giving to others.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God did not have to save us, but He willingly gave His most precious possession out of love. As we grow in Christ-likeness, we will grow in generosity and reflect God’s giving spirit more and more.
Giving Demonstrates Our Trust in God
When we give to God’s work and to help others, we demonstrate that we trust Him to provide for our needs. Too often we cling tightly to our resources because we lack faith in God’s provision and ability to care for us. However, we are called to give freely and trust that God will supply all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). As we step out in faith and give generously, we can trust that God sees what we have done in secret and will reward us openly (Matthew 6:4).
Giving Pleases the Lord
God takes pleasure when His people give cheerfully and generously from a heart of love and obedience. Scripture tells us that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7) and that He is pleased with those who hope in His steadfast love (Psalm 147:11). When we give freely as an act of worship and make His work a priority in our giving, it brings a smile to God’s face.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). God finds delight when we invest eternally by giving to His kingdom work and treating heavenly treasures as more valuable than earthly possessions.
Giving Blesses Others and Spreads the Gospel
When we give to our local church or other ministries, our dollars directly enable ministry to happen and lives to be transformed with the gospel. In the early church, giving enabled missionaries and church leaders to be supported and equipped so they could devote themselves fully to the Lord’s work and spread the message of Christ.
“They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:18-19). When we give generously, God uses our gifts to transform lives for eternity.
Giving Should Be Sacrificial
Scripture praises giving that comes at great personal cost or sacrifice to the giver. For example, Jesus upheld the poor widow who gave two small copper coins to the temple as an example of tremendous sacrificial giving, because it represented all she had to live on (Luke 21:1-4). The early Macedonian churches gave abundantly from their poverty with pure joy, even beyond their ability, to support the church in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).
When we give sacrificially whether that’s giving up something we really want or giving beyond our normal capability, it demonstrates the sincerity of our love and gratitude towards God. He sees our heart motivation and is pleased when we give in a way that involves true sacrifice on our part.
Giving Should Be Motivated by Love
Most importantly, all our giving should flow from a heart of love. Our generosity is of little value to God if it is done begrudgingly, out of obligation, or for self-praise. Instead, we should give freely and wholeheartedly, energized by grace and compassion for others. The ultimate model of giving is Christ Himself, who willingly sacrificed everything out of perfect love for us.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). As we become more amazed by God’s extravagant love and grace towards us, it should naturally spill over into generous and loving giving in all areas of life.
Giving Should Be Done With Wisdom
Although giving is extremely important, we are also instructed to exercise wisdom and discernment in how we give. We have a responsibility to give in a way that honors God and advances His kingdom. That means we should give thoughtfully, based on biblical priorities, and evaluate whether organizations are trustworthy, effective, and aligned with godly purposes.
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5). It is good to seek wise counsel and evaluate opportunities for giving, so that we steward resources well for maximum kingdom impact. Wise and strategic giving honors God.
Giving Will Be Rewarded
While we should never give just to get something back, the Bible contains many promises that generous giving will be rewarded and result in further blessing. When we sow generously into kingdom work, we reap generously. God promises to multiply the effectiveness of our giving and provide for our needs as we give faithfully.
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7). The rewards may come in various forms – financial blessing, spiritual growth, joy, eternal treasure, and more. As we give freely, God assures us He will pour out blessing in return.
How Should We Give?
Scripture provides key principles for how we should give in a way that pleases God:
- Give regularly – “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside” (1 Corinthians 16:2). Giving should be consistent, not just a one-time thing.
- Give a percentage of income – Old Testament law called for a tithe or 10%. New Testament calls us to give in proportion to how God has blessed us (1 Corinthians 16:2).
- Give cheerfully and freely – “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). We should give because we want to, not because we have to.
- Give generously and sacrificially – “Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them” (Luke 21:1-4). Give an amount that requires faith and sacrifice.
- Give in secret – Don’t give for public praise. “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3).
- Give to those in need – Remember the poor, give to those who ask, look after orphans and widows (Galatians 2:10, Matthew 5:42, James 1:27).
Priorities for Giving
While all giving that assists people in need has value, Scripture elevates giving to support Christian workers and the local church as priorities for believers. Paul explains these priorities in Philippians 4:14-18.
First priority is giving to support those who dedicate their lives to gospel ministry. This enables more people to hear the message of Christ. Second is giving to our local church or congregation, which allows ministry to continue happening in our communities. Third is giving to other believers who are in need. When we give to support ministries and churches first, there are more resources available to assist individual needs too. Overall, our giving should align with eternal priorities and enable ministry to flourish.
Conclusion
Giving generously is a vital part of the Christian life. Scripture is filled with instructions and examples about giving. When done with a cheerful heart and right motives, our giving pleases God, reflects His generosity, enables ministry, and lays up eternal rewards. We are called to give freely, motivated by grace, according to our ability, with wisdom and discernment. As we make giving a priority in response to all God has given us, He promises to use it to glorify Himself and bless multitudes of people.
