22 Bible Verses About Giving
Explore the biblical perspective on giving, highlighting themes of generosity, sacrifice, and the rewards of helping those in need.
Explore the biblical perspective on giving, highlighting themes of generosity, sacrifice, and the rewards of helping those in need.
In a world that often measures success by what we accumulate, the act of giving can feel like a radical departure from the norm. Yet, there’s something undeniably fulfilling about sharing what we have with others. Whether it’s our time, resources, or talents, giving enriches not only the lives of those we help but also our own. It’s a beautiful cycle of generosity that reflects a deeper truth about our purpose and connection to one another.
The Bible, with its timeless wisdom, offers profound insights into the heart of giving. It challenges us to look beyond ourselves and embrace a life of generosity that mirrors the divine love we receive. As you explore these 22 Bible verses about giving, may you be inspired to cultivate a spirit of generosity that transforms both your life and the lives of those around you. Let’s dive in and discover the joy and blessings that come from a giving heart.
Verses About Generosity
Verses About Sacrificial Giving
Verses About Giving to the Needy
Verses About Tithing
Verses About Rewards of Giving
Generosity is about more than just giving what you have in abundance; it’s about sharing from the heart. The Bible often highlights the joy and fulfillment that comes from being generous. Think of the widow who gave her last two coins at the temple. Her story shows that true generosity is measured not by the size of the gift but by the spirit in which it is given. Here are some insights into how the scriptures encourage a generous heart.
2 Corinthians 9:6–7: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Proverbs 11:24–25: “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
Luke 6:38: “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.”
Acts 20:35: “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.’”
Proverbs 19:17: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.”
Sacrificial giving is a profound act of faith and trust. It involves giving up something valuable for the sake of others or for a greater cause. Abraham’s willingness to offer Isaac is a powerful example of sacrificial giving, demonstrating a deep commitment to following God’s will. This kind of giving often requires courage and a willingness to let go of personal comfort. Let’s explore how the Bible speaks to the heart of sacrificial giving.
Mark 12:41–44: “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.’”
2 Samuel 24:24: “But the king replied to Araunah, ‘No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.’ So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.”
Philippians 4:18: “I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.”
Giving to the needy is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing compassion and empathy. The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates the importance of helping those in distress, regardless of their background or circumstances. This kind of giving is about seeing the humanity in others and responding with kindness and support. Here are some ways the scriptures guide us in caring for those in need.
Matthew 6:2–4: “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
James 2:15–16: “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”
1 John 3:17: “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”
Proverbs 28:27: “Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.”
Isaiah 58:10: “And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”
Tithing is a practice rooted in gratitude and obedience, traditionally involving giving a tenth of one’s income or produce. It serves as a reminder that everything we have is a blessing from God. The Israelites were instructed to tithe as a way to support the Levites and the work of the temple. This practice encourages a disciplined approach to giving and acknowledges God’s provision in our lives. Let’s delve into how the Bible frames the concept of tithing.
Malachi 3:10: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
Leviticus 27:30: “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.”
Deuteronomy 14:22–23: “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always.”
2 Chronicles 31:5: “As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything.”
The rewards of giving are not always material but often manifest in spiritual and emotional fulfillment. The Bible assures us that those who give with a sincere heart will be blessed in return. Jesus taught that it is more blessed to give than to receive, highlighting the joy and peace that come from selfless acts. Here are some reflections on the blessings and rewards that accompany a generous spirit.
Proverbs 22:9: “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.”
Luke 12:33–34: “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
2 Corinthians 9:10–11: “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
Matthew 19:21: “Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’”
Proverbs 11:25: “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”